BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO

THE Western Province Women’s Empowerment and Transformation Policy for Development (WPWETPD) will be launched in Gizo, Western province.

The launching program is going to be held at the Women’s Resource Centre tomorrow at 9am to 12pm.

Hundreds of Women from all 26 wards in the Province and women’s organisation in Gizo, and representatives from UN Women/UNPBF, the Western Province Government and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs will attend the launching.

According to Media Advisory and Communication Specialist Ms Merinda Valley stated that the Western Province Women’s Empowerment and Transformation Policy for Development is a blueprint for the strategies, projects and programmes the province can use to address needs and obstacle that prevent women from developing their talents and fully participating as equal partners in provincial development.

She highlighted that the women’s policy endorsed by the Western Province Government Executive in May, Un Women is organizing a policy launch through the UN Peace building Fund (UNPBF) project in partnership with the Western Province Government, women’s organizations in Western Province, the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs and the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

ONE of the Taiarata licensees confirmed to Island Sun in Auki that the Taiarata concession lands have withdrawn from the intended operations at Wairokai in West Are’are in Malaita province.

He said, the deed of assignment executed between our business ventures is terminated for with on the grounds that “A separate account to be created by contractor for Taiarata and its landowners for payments and liabilities.

He said the current arrangement under Iruhau account bears risks of confusion and mixed up liabilities for repayments of advance.

“There is approval in writing from commissioner of forests on deed of assignment.”

“The deed was executed on advice by Mr. Hii one of the land owners said that a declaration will be filed with commissioner of forest and approval.”

“The commissioner however advised Taiarata that this is not being possible.”

The deed is therefore null and avoid and not binding on parties unless approval is given by the commissioner of forest.

An access agreement shall be the option to allow operation to move inland from log pond.

The concern Are’are man also added that the executive of access agreements with both land owners and licensees in respect of lands held under inter zone license.

He also said that the geographical location of concession makes it impossible for machines to bypass inter zone and Taiarata lands.

The negotiations and signing of Marahu log pond agreement for Irora licensee operation in the case where Hera log pond landing is closed or disturbed of in the case where contractor intend to land all machines in one log pond and later disburse to Irora concession.

An improve show of courtesy, communication, diplomacy, and understanding between PCE coordinator and Taiarata chairman and no opportunity given to discuss and rescue issues raised here in.

The executive of written and signed agreement for skidding logs, execution of agreement construction and gravel of access roads and production of approved harvesting plan which must distinguish the separate license concession and over laps may disturb operation.

Those are some issues raised can be solved quickly but some will need finance to resolve.

The Taiarata believes and insists that these issues must be solved to ensure on successful and undisturbed logging operation.

Even though PCE regard me as nobody important I still advice my fellow land owners in Honiara and malaita regarding all matters of concern I have stated, he said.

The effect of this issue is that any movement of machinery of labour beyond Marahu log pond will be deemed tress pass if no proper access agreements are negotiated and signed.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

LOCALS of Isabel Province approve the idea that the MP for East Fataleka Steve Abana said during his closing remarks at the Kodili Festival 2018 of Buala town needing a museum.

Walter Buku from Bughotu speaking on behalf of local Isabelians said this is such an important idea for their leaders to take note on as such building built will help them preserve and showcase their cultures to the outside world when visiting their provincial capital.

“Not only will it be a place for such but it will also be a place for the province to generate income,” said Buku.

Abana during his remarks at the Kodili Festival 2018 closing said Isabel Province need a small Museum at the province capital so that they keep their artefacts and culture which is another way to honour, translate and transform the way they showcase their culture.

“This is for our children through institution to learn from as well as Solomon Islands by large,” said Hon Abana.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

LOCAL community leaders who have attended the conflict sensitivity training have learnt peace building to transform, reduce and prevent conflict in the country.

Speaking to the participants Florence Swamy Executive director for Pacific Centre for peace building said they have worked very hard to increase the knowledge in peace building, conflict, transformation and human security to encourage and support development that is humane and peaceful in its approach.

She said it is essential for leaders to learn and venture into the knowing of peace building so that Solomon Islands will have a more peaceful nation and to learn to embrace stronger peace vocabulary.

“It is good that you (leaders) have come and sit under this peace building thing because there is a need for us to harmonise your vocabulary on peace building on that we can understand each other better and to avoid irritations that comes from miscommunication when settling conflicts,” she said.

Swamy said if everyone is more competent on how to manage conflicts peacefully there will be no need to resort to violence.

“It is our responsibility to become more conflict competent,” she said.

Furthermore participants also use the space to apprehend several different kinds of interventions to bring about peace and this through humanitarian aid and emergency assistance, peacemaking and peace keeping.

At the end of yesterday’s session participants came to know that peacebuilding is addressing the cause of conflict and grievances of the past in terms of undertaking programs designed to promote long term stability and peace.

BY MAVIS NSIHIMURA PODOKOLO

A four-day training on conflict sensitivity eyes developing community leaders capacity to embrace a culture of peace, justice and non-violence.

Addressing the workshop Executive director of the Pacific Centre for Peace building and facilitator of the training Florence Swamy explained the training eyes emerging community leaders capacity in terms of peace building in any conflict.

She said this is a way forward to strengthen the coordination and cooperation towards nation building in relation to peace building for leaders capacities to embrace a culture of peace.

“With this at the end of this peace building exercise women’s capacity in the development of strategies that fosters inclusivity, transformative making and increased participation of women, youth and marginalised groups in a decision making structures will be strengthened.”

She adds the intended outcome of this activity is to trained participants to help educate communities and as well as advocate for peace.

Swamy said the knowledge imparted upon the trained participants will be implemented and extended to the community level to work out issues that are point of conflicts.

Hence the four days training will mainly focuses on peace building tools, such as conflict mapping, mediation and restoration of justice to name a few,” she said.

Swamy said they have chosen Solomon Islands to run this training as their work has included working in Solomon Islands and also Papua New Guinea.

The activity got its support from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariats and the action was funded by the European Union.

It starts yesterday with the theme; Strengthening women’s peacebuilding leadership programme and will ends on Thursday with a peace visual.

By Alfred Sasako

THE Attorney General, James Apaniai, has dealt a heavy blow to Sevev Land Trust Board (SLTB), which claims it has forfeited all Fixed Term Estates (FTEs) on Russell Islands in Central Province.

“SLTB’s purported forfeiture is … invalid and of no effect”, Mr Apaniai said in an email dated 27 June 2018.

Island Sun has obtained a copy of the email, which apparently was in response to queries by government officials following a declaration by Sevev Land Trust Board that it has forfeited all FTEs on Russell.

Island Sun published the story last month.

In what it described as a “historical milestone”, Sevev Tribal Chief and Chairman of the Sevev Land Trust Board, Leslie Norris, confirmed the takeover to Island Sun at the time.

“We are finally in control. The people of Russell Islands and indeed Solomon Islands should be relieved that after 100 years of foreign ownership of the plantations on Russell, the Sevev Tribe has resolved the ownership issue,” Mr Norris said then.

He also said that his Board had resorted to the action because Lever Solomons Ltd failed to pay up its rentals for the entire Russell Islands Plantation Estates Ltd (RIPEL).

But in his email dated 27^th June 2018, Attorney General Apaniai said:

“Section 139 of the Land and Titles Act provides for relief against forfeiture. It does not give power to forfeit FTEs,” Mr Apaniai said in his email, which was sent to a number of officials including Cabinet Secretary James Remobatu, Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, John Usuramo, his predecessor Robson Tana Djokovic and a Mr Leonard Rotu.

“That relief is in respect of forfeiture by the Commissioner of Lands under section 136. Forfeiture under section 136 applies only to FTEs granted by the Commissioner of Lands. Section 138 makes it mandatory for the Commissioner of Lands to give notice to the FTE holder before forfeiting the FTE,” the Attorney General said.

“Section 12 of the Land and Titles (Amendment) Act 2014 only amends section 139(2) of the Land and Titles Act by reducing the six (6) months’ period within which any challenge to the forfeiture is to be made to 1 month only.

“Reading all these provisions together, it is clear that the position in regards to the actions by Sevev Land Trust Board (SLTB) is as follows:

[a]            the power of forfeiture under section 136 only applies to Grant of land given

by the Commissioner of Lands;

[b]            Section 139 does not give SLTB the power to forfeit land. That section gives a

person aggrieved by the forfeiture to apply to the High Court for remedy within six (6) months from the date of forfeiture;

[c]             Section 12 of the Land and Titles (Amendment) Act 2014 only reduces the six (6) months mentioned in (b) to one (1) month. It does not give power to forfeit FTEs; and

[d]            SLTB’s purported forfeiture is therefore invalid and of no effect, “the Attorney General said.

A tribal land owner said last week the Sevev group was never a land-owning tribe on Russell.

It is understood a recent meeting of the local tribal group has found the Sevev group was never part of the land owning tribal group on Russell.