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St Joseph’s Tenaru school water problem to be over soon        

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Signing of the CRISP project between the St Josephs’ Tenaru National Secondary School Principal Abraham Hihiru and CRISP project Coordinator Ms Mary Alalo on Monday.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

Signing of the CRISP project between the St Josephs’ Tenaru National Secondary School Principal Abraham Hihiru and CRISP project Coordinator Ms Mary Alalo on Monday.

ST Joseph’s Tenaru National Secondary School signed an agreement with the Community Resilience to Climate and Disaster Risks in the Solomon Islands Project (CRISP) under the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology to ease the school’s water issue.

The officially signing ceremony between the two parties was held at the CRISP office in Honiara yesterday.

Principal of Tenaru School Abraham Hihiru says the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology has been very supportive to drive this initiative to reach the signing phase of the project.

“Thanks for giving us this opportunity and recognising this very important need of the school, I can only say we are very pleased we are very happy because it is one key important area which needed to be addressed and now you step in to support us and soon the school water problem will be over,” he said.

CRISP project Coordinator Ms Mary Alalo says this project falls under component C of the project where MECDM really work to build up vulnerable communities to manage the impact of climate change.

“With regards to this Tenaru have been assessed that it is vulnerable to flooding and other climate and environmental risks so it made it eligible to be funded under the CRISP project,” she said.

The project will be of highbred system including collecting water underground and harvesting of rain water for drinking with a total cost of $390,000.

The next phased to proceed to is transferring of money to the school account to finance the implementation of the project.

NZ supports HCC-YD and HYC in youth development

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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One of the Officer from the New Zealand with a youth leader from the Solomon Islands Deaf Association

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

 

One of the Officer from the New Zealand with a youth leader from the Solomon Islands Deaf Association

YOUTH Division of the Honiara City Council and Honiara Youth Council have established a solid partnership with New Zealand to build young people to become future leaders.

The New Zealand Government through the Solomon Islands Policing Support Programme have selected HCC-YD and HYC to work with community youth groups within Honiara.

Deputy Team Leader for the Solomon Islands Policing Support Programme Mr George Fa’alogo said their participation with the HCC-YD and HYC was to have young people become nation builders and leaders of the country.

“Our ultimate goal of this programme is to have young people become nation builder and leaders of the country, we realise to build leaders will take a time.

“We also aim to plant a seed with these current group of young leaders so that they can go on to be leaders in the community and leaders in whatever area they choose to specialise in—weather in sports, work, community and church.”

He explained they are part of the Solomon Islands Policing Support Programme from the New Zealand.

He add such programme is a partnership created between the Solomon Islands Government and New Zealand Government to support RSIPF to operationalise the crime prevention strategy.

One of the drivers of the crime prevention strategy is the issue affecting young people which they have chosen the HCC-YD and HYC because they already worked with young people.

In their mission, Fa’alogo said they have a number of specialists in its mission to work with young people internationally which including Solomon Islands.

To work with young people, Fa’alogo said they target to increase capability Solomon Islands police officers to work with young people because young people are the future leaders of Solomon Islands.

Youth Development Division of the Honiara City Council is thrilled to work with the New Zealand Government through its programme which will support youth development programme in Honiara.

On Monday, they convened at the Ginger Beach Retreat to train youth leaders in Honiara to be equipped in facilitating.

It was funded by the New Zealand Government through the Solomon Islands Policing Support Programme and facilitated by the HCC-YD and HYC.

Deregistered logging company operating

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THERE is a logging company operating at Ngella for the past five months that has already had their Felling Licence deregistered since December 2017.

According to the Ministry of Forestry and Research letter by the Commissioner of Forests sighted on notice to cancel felling license A10319 to Tropical Resources Development Company Limited, they have received advice from the Office of the Registrar of Companies that the company has been deregistered on December 1, 2017 due to failure to file annual return.

“Your failure to re-register as legal entity which has now caused to exist means that you are no longer entitled to be granted a felling licence nor can any licence be held in your name and/or your company entered into any agreement with any company.”

“As such, pursuant to Section 39 of the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization Act, we hereby serve you with this fourteen days notice to make representation to the Office of the Commissioner of Forests as to why your felling licensee A10319 should not be cancelled,” stated in the letter on May 22.

According to Central Islands Province (CIP) Provincial Secretary (PS), Christian Siale, in an interview, finding out of the company’s deregistration is one amongst other grounds that the province has put to the Commissioner of Forest through confirmation of certificates.

“That is amongst other grounds being the reason why the province has put this report,” said the PS.

He confirmed that the Forestry, Ministries (including the environment ministry) and Attorney General (AG) are aware of this situation as there has not been any renewal of their license.

It is said that when it comes to the Forestry license, the Forestry might have not done background research on companies applying for licensee resulting in not picking this up, however, CIP’s provincial government picked this up and made it known to them about the situation.

Tropical Resources Development Company Limited was registered before December 2017 when it was deregistered.

Logging activities now having negative impact on the environment of Ngella has led to the Constituency’s citizens being fed up in which a petition to ban logging there had already been launched over the weekend at Tulaghi seeing CIP’s Premier Hon Patrick Vasuni and the PS receiving it.

It is understood that the petition presented to the provincial government will be part of CIP’s State of the Forests Report 2017-2018 to the Ministry of Forestry.

Man facing arson charge to appear on June 18

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man facing one count of arson will appear again in court on June 18 to allow police prosecution to transfer his file to the Office of the Director Public Prosecution.

The court was told yesterday that investigation into the case has been completed and the file will be transferred to the DPP’s office for prosecution.

Prosecution also said yesterday that the file was supposed to have been transferred previously but due to pending investigation, the file will be transferred today.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea also asked the accused whether he has secured any lawyer to represent him, to which the accused said he has not yet received any response.

Mr Iomea then adjourned the case to June 18 and told the accused to follow up on his requests.

The accused Alex Salau is charged with one count of arson in relation to an incident on April 3, 2018 at a village named Kolohasi in Guadalcanal.

The case was reported to the police in which he was arrested for the alleged offence.

Mayor commends ‘Friends of the City’ initiative

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Gary Hatigeva

LIKE everyone else, the Honiara City Mayor, Andrew Mua has acknowledged and commended the Friends of the City initiative for what he described as a continuous job well done on the face of the city.

The City Mayor in an interview yesterday highlighted that the founders of the initiative should be given credit for this programme, which he says showcases important characteristics that all Honiara citizens should follow.

He however called on all Honiara residents to join hands with the initiative to continue giving the city a beautiful face and a clean place to live in.

He said like those that chose to participate in the weekly cleanup programmes of the initiative, everyone else should have the same pride.

“Be proud of your city because it is where you and I are live in, year in and year out, and it will be where our children and their children’s children, will certainly live in.

“As the mayor, a citizen of Honiara City and also a member of the initiative, I would like to thank the heads of the Friends of the City initiative and its members for the great works done so far for our city.

“It gives me great joy and pleasure to also witness a lot of young people taking the lead in this initiative, which I am very sure, will also benefit them as ambassadors for not only a clean city, but so as clean environment in an overall picture,” Mayor Mua expressed.

He also thanked Friends of the City for taking the initiative, which will save the Council a few funds to set focus on other things.

The initiative over the weekend took it back to the street to clean up the rails of the island along the main highway running through Point Cruz and the Market area, making it the forth set of major cleanup campaigns within the city.

It is understood that the direct responsibility to maintain and clean up these infrastructures and facilities, especially the roads and rails, belongs to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), and this is also something the Mayor stressed, the group should be given proper recognitions for.

Meanwhile, a former senior government officer who asked not to be named, joined the Mayor’s sentiments, and suggested for the rightful authorities to give established recognition to this initiative.

He said the initiative is understandably an nonprofit organisation and all its wonderful activities are executed under pure voluntary basis, but the government and responsible bodies should see that at least small funds or allocations are made, which he is confident, will go a long way down the line.

“They are actually doing the responsible authorities and government a huge favour, and expected nothing, therefore, they should be recognised for this. At least establish any form of direct incentive for the sake of this wonderful initiative and also for the good of the city,” the former government officer said.

He also joined the Mayor to call on all Honiara residents to be part of the initiative during its scheduled timelines, adding that those who have not done so, will find themselves changed have new perspectives of Honiara, knowing they are giving back to their own city.

The friends of the city (FTC) is a non-profitable organisation that brings together volunteers, made up of people with similar interest, to discuss the development and social challenges facing Honiara City, and to fashion the best way forward to a clean, safe and beautiful Honiara City.

Established with a vision to build a clean, green and prosperous Honiara City, and a Mission to enhance people participation through people’s volunteerism to build a clean, healthy, pleasant and sustainable Honiara City

The initiative according to the founders, have the strong believe that with such initiative, partnership is very vital and that it is better to collaborate than to compete.

It continues to bring together all interested volunteers from all works, which include churches, government, community and the private sector, that have the heart for the City.

Our City Our Pride Our Home

The initiative was established also with the intention to create mind set grooming that recapture the public taking ownership of their city and be proud of it, with the need to have their own sense of responsibility to cultivate cleanliness, and ensure a nice and comfortable surrounding for every residents.

Western provincial assembly concludes last meeting

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Members of the outgoing MPAs under the Alliance for Rural Reform Development (ARRD) Government lead by Wayne Maepioh including Clerk to the Assembly, Kevin Paia and Provincial Speaker, Richard Tekifono pose for a group photo at the Women Resource Centre on Thursday

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO

THE Western province has concluded its final full assembly meeting on Thursday.

The main agenda discussed is the province’s Division Annual Report for the 2017/2018 financial year, the 2017/2018 revised supplementary budget and the 2018/2019 Appropriation Ordinance.

The assembly went through on the minutes of the previous meeting, received presentation from the Provincial Public Accounts Committee and extensively deliberated on the 2018/2019 Supplementary Appropriation (No 1) Bill 2018/2019 in the presence of the Clerk to the Assembly, Kevin Paia and Provincial Speaker, Richard Tekifono.

Acting Premier Maloney Lopoto in his final remarks at the Sine Die on Thursday said Alliance for Reform and Rural Development (ARRD) government since coming into power had produced a roadmap in terms of plans, policies and programmes to guide and help in the development of the province.

“We have travelled through this road up to this very moment with most of the issues, challenges, failures, achievements and success.

“I believe we have made some kind of significant achievements and some success taken into account the time we come into power as a government.

“It will surely be another challenging year for all of us, as we strive to fulfill our plans and programmes as stipulated in our policy statement 2014 – 2017 as well as our three years rolling plan,” said Lopoto.

The Western provincial government under caretaker Premier Wayne Maepioh was dissolved on Thursday last week.

Western province passes one last bill

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO

THE Western provincial government, in its last assembly last week, passed a bill.

The Western Provincial 2018/2019 Supplementary Appropriation (No.1) Bill 2018/2019 was passed on Tuesday, to be submitted to the Minister of Provincial Government for assenting and gazette.

Western Provincial 2018/2019 Supplementary Appropriation (No.1) Bill 2018/2019 went through the first reading stage during the second day of the meeting.

Provincial minister for finance and treasury, Lester Saomasi announced the province has appropriated a budget of $4,925,757 over the next fiscal year.

Saomasi while detailing the content of 2018/2019 budget estimate set before the chamber on Tuesday, said there is a supplementary expenditure of $4,925,757 for the services of the Western provincial government in respect of the fiscal year 2018/2019.

Saomasi thanked MPAs who presented their debate during the sine die motion in the last full assembly sitting under Premier Wayne Maepioh.

“It is time for this province to rise to its challenges, but in order for this to happen, we MPAs as elected leaders to working together to achieve goals.

“I would like to wish and hopeful that the next government will amicably solve the finance situation in terms of good management in the coming years.

“I hope some of us will not hinder the smooth implementation of this lawful exercise.”

The budget was passed before the house on Tuesday May 29, 2018.

The assembly concluded its final sitting on Thursday.

Meanwhile, MPA for Ward 18 South Rendova George Solingi Lilo speaking during the Sine Die said he was not satisfied with the MPAs’ overall attendance and contributing.

Choiseul businessman appeals to authorities to open up province to other shipping services  

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Alfred Sasako

 

A Choiseul businessman has called on authorities to open up for other commercial shipping services, saying Lauru shipping can no longer keep up with demands for regular shipping services between the Province and Honiara.

“Our copra and cocoa productions have suffered setbacks since two of Lauru Shipping’s boats have had engine problems. Both ships are sitting here in Choiseul for quite some time now with no indications when they might be back in service.

“That is really affecting us in a bad way,” the man who spoke on anonymity told Island Sun on the weekend.

“The only other boat that Lauru Shipping operates does not have the capacity to cater for the volume of copra and cocoa we produce on Choiseul. This is why I am calling on appropriate authorities to do something about the shipping service to the Province,” the man said.

He said the Choiseul Provincial government should look into the matter and do something about the situation.

“As businessmen and women, we just cannot sit back here and wait. For us, time is money and money is time. Therefore as taxpayers, we are calling on the Provincial Government and Lauru Shipping to come out and tell us what they are planning to do about the urgent need for shipping services.

“There are plenty of shipping companies operated by Solomon Islanders that would be willing to move in immediately,” the businessman said.

He said without shipping a lot of hard work by ordinary men and women in doing businesses would be pointless.

“I am appealing to them to please do something about the shipping service to Choiseul,” he said.

Meeting the challenge of vocational education and training in the Solomons

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, as one who has been keen to follow the good work of the Youth@Work programme in the Solomon Islands in providing vocational skills training aiding the job prospects for young Solomon Islanders, I was pleased to read an article in the Island Sun last week about a proposal for a new rural training centre.

The proposed rural training centre was raised by Pastor John Hugo when he was speaking at the official handover of a newly built six room double story building providing extra classrooms at the Global Harvest School in Gilbert Camp.

Pastor Hugo envisaged the concept of a new rural training centre, although still seen as a dream, could lead to an upgrade of the east Honiara school.

The Pastor likened his dream as a challenge to educational stakeholders for he felt the development of a rural training centre would enhance the Human Resource development aspirations of many in the Solomon Islands in the years to come.

Importantly, Pastor Hugo was reported to have said, “Once established, vocational education and training (VET) would aim at creating opportunities for productive employment and provide access to adequately paid work, which could enable people to lead a self-determined life.”

Citing the need for a rural training centre, the Pastor told his audience, “The demand results from the outcomes of primary education, which has placed heavier pressure on secondary educational systems, because a growing number of primary school-leavers are entering the labour market directly or need further training.”

“The steady growth of the informal sector is also coming to the attention of international education policy debate”, he had added.

The proposal for a rural training centre is a sound idea given a growing focus locally on secondary and tertiary education and I would hope Pastor Hugo’s dream will be realized and coupled with job creation, added gender equity and much better health and environmental improvements.

 

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Health sector support a missing factor in ADB aid to the Solomons

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, looking at the Asia Development Banks (ADB) operational strategy for partnership with the Solomon Islands till 2020 I see the overall plan is to help the Solomon Islands with transport infrastructure assistance, to help with improved internet connectivity by providing power to provincial centres and asset management, all reportedly relevant in the context of development challenges, government priorities, and the division of labour among development partners.

In terms of the ADB’s country operations plan (COBP) till 2019 the COPB will support three sectors: energy, public sector management and transport in the Solomons.

Noting that ADB assistance both overall and in terms of the COPB is guided and relevant to SIG priorities I am somewhat disappointed that there is nothing envisaged to support the delivery of health services in the Solomon Islands, especially health service delivery by rehabilitating rural healthcare infrastructure, improving the availability of medical supplies, supporting new health partnerships, and using smart technologies to support digital information systems.

With such concerns in mind, it came as a surprise, today, to read that The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Directors has approved a total financing package of $195 million to support the delivery of accessible, affordable, and high-quality health services in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Quoting Radio New Zealand this is what I read of the aid assistance: “The delivery of accessible, affordable, and high-quality health services in Papua New Guinea is the target of an Asian Development Bank finance package.

“The ADB Board of Directors has approved a total financing package of $US195 million to support PNG’s efforts towards achieving universal health coverage

“The ADB Health Specialist for the Pacific said PNG’s poor health outcomes are the result of deteriorating healthcare services caused by volatile and unpredictable health financing as well as weaknesses in government systems and in health sector capacities.

“Inez Mikkelsen-Lopez said this program builds on the Bank’s long-term engagement in PNG in the health sector.

“Deficiencies in health sector governance, weak public financial management, and fragmented funds flows will also be addressed.

The financing package is comprised of two regular loans worth $100 million and $45.10 million and a $49.90 million concessional loan-all sourced from ADB’s ordinary capital resources balance sheet-to help PNG’s efforts in achieving universal health coverage.

“In a statement, the ABD said despite a period of high economic growth in recent years, averaging 6% annually from 2006-2015, PNG failed to achieve its targets for the Millennium Development Goals on maternal and child health.

“Limited investments in the country’s health infrastructure as well as suboptimal health sector governance also undermine service delivery.

“The Health Services Sector Development Program combines a policy-based operation and project financing to support critical sector reforms and investments in PNG, enabling the long-term sustainability and effective use of the country’s health sector financing.

“The program will support the implementation of an integrated public health model linking primary and secondary health facilities in rural areas to improve patient health outcomes.

“It will also support decentralized health service delivery by focusing on capacity building of staff at the sub-national level in public financial management and reporting to better plan and budget.”

While the ADB views the SIG’s key development challenge as (quote) “Controlling recurrent expenditure amid modest growth in revenues. The economy is based on primary commodities, and alternative opportunities to generate income are scarce. Economic growth prospects rest on the private sector and on developments in mining, agriculture, and fishing, with some potential for tourism.”

Given such a development challenge it is inherent that the Solomon Islands also, like PNG, has deficiencies in health care as manifest in recent reports about drugs shortages at the National Rural Hospital (NRH), alleged shortages of equipment and facilities there, and to say nothing about the poor state of the country’s rural health clinics and the fact that many communities across the country are experiencing great difficulties in accessing basic medical care.

I am aware of the many ADB’s country strategies and business plans in the Solomon Island, both current and past, but am not aware of any support for the ailing health sector.   If that is the real situation then I pose the question why not?

Yours sincerely

 

FRANK SHORT

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