DEAR EDITOR, as a Tribal Chief, Member of a Tribe, Community member whom living along the Tina river since birth fall short to believe that the so-called Tina River Hydro development project is a real project.
It seems to most of us who still have “Land Outstanding Issues’’ whether pending in high court or chief hearing that government is using our resource for fundraising.
This short piece of script is meant to be given for purpose of the KK water, World Bank, Asian Development Bank or any Aid donors who committed their money for this project, please just don’t take the risk, our silence does not mean we fully support the undertaking, it simply means we are tired of being ignored, and tired of all the liars made by the Tina River Hydro Development project office and the Government of Solomon Islands our own Sovereign government.
Finally, stop any Tina River Hydro Development Related Activities.
DIVING expert in the Western province, Dive Gizo, has injected $10,000 toward a major clean-up planned in Gizo and nearby islands next week.
Western Province Network for Sustainable Environment (WPNFSE), a body coordinating non-government organisations and groups in the province, is organising this clean-up.
According to David Boseto, of the WPNFSE, the clean-up is part of activities they planned to hold to coincide with this year’s World Environment Day, World Ocean Day and Coral Triangle Day which will be commemorated in Gizo next Wednesday and Thursday.
Boseto thanked Gizo Dive for the support and for its support toward prizes for the king and queen show that will also be held during the event.
The winning contender is expected to show innovation and great talent displaying concern for the environment. The prize is a diving package worth about $4,000.
Dive Gizo owner, Danny Kennedy, told Island Sun Gizo that he and his wife, Kerrie, have been rendering support towards clean-up and conservation efforts since they started Dive Gizo about 32 years ago.
Danny said the money they provided toward the clean-up comes from a donation made by Mr Jon and wife Mrs Tea Pollack.
He said the couple gave them the money and asked them to use it toward conservation and marine preservation.
Danny said it is fitting that they use this money to support the upcoming clean-up.
The clean-up is mainly to collect plastics underwater and to weed-out crown of thorns, a dangerous star fish that is posing a threat to the reefs.
MPA for Ward 18 South Rendova Hon. George Solingi Lilo
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO
MPA for Ward 18 South Rendova Hon. George Solingi Lilo
MPA for Western province’s Ward 18 South Rendova George Solingi Lilo has proposed that MPAs, ward and electorate allowances be paid from the provincial fund.
Lilo spoke during the province’s Sine Die on Wednesday that an outdated motion under Standing Order 239 resolved that the Western Provincial Assembly allocates in its Annual Budget Estimates the provisions for MPAs Ward/Electorate allowances of $20,000 per ward to be paid from the provincial fund.
He said that as per section 34 of the PGA 1997 the amount may vary annually subject to a review report by the assembly office.
Lilo, who is a former premier, said, “This would allow our elected members to access equipment and accessories, together with related stationeries’ to perform their duties effectively and efficiently.
“This would be complimented by a policy guideline to ensure the facility is managed properly.
“This motion is forwarded looking and it is not only intended for those of us present here, today, but for those who are yet to come.”
Lilo explained that it is for the government and people of Western province now and the years to come.
He said that this should improve elected members’ competence to be able to respond to the growing demands of electorates’ aspirations and thereby promote good governance and accountability.
Lilo believes only those who know they would not retain their seat would object and oppose this motion.
A good number of MPAs have contributed at the Sine Die, and the motion of adjournment will continue today.
The current Assembly is being held at the Women Resource Centre and is expected to conclude the final sitting under Premier Wayne Maepioh’s capacity.
THE Wesleyan Methodist Church in Gizo, Western province, pays tribute to one of its founding fathers, the late Lawry Wickham who passed away last week.
The Church’s National Secretary, Pr Joshua Loko, said the passing of late Lawry Wickham shocked the whole community of the church.
Loko said late Lawry Wickham was one of the founders of the re-birth of their church in 1996.
He said the late Wickham has lefty behind a legacy as a man of principle who believed and stood by his words.
Loko said late Wickham treated different people alike and their church members greatly missed him.
He said late Wickham’s passing is “a great loss for the Wesleyan Methodist Church in the Solomon Islands”.
Loko said late Wickham’s final contribution to the church was his successful moving of a motion during the National Conference in Noro in January to extend the term of their National Board for four years.
The funeral service of the late Wickham was conducted by the National Superintendent of the church, Rev George Vilopide, and the principal of their Noro Bible Training centre, Rev David Collins at the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Gizo before the casket was transported to Rendova for his burial.
Loko said their church is proposing to conduct a memorial service to honour the late Wickham.
Late Wickham was a former Member of Parliament for Gizo/Kolombangara and a respected businessman in Gizo. He owned the popular PT 109 restaurant in Gizo.
Officers listen attentively as former Government Statistician and facilitator Joseph Naesol go through the specific
topics covered in a power point presentation.
Officers listen attentively as former Government Statistician and facilitator Joseph Naesol go through the specific topics covered in a power point presentation.
STAFF of the National Statistics Office (NSO) within the Ministry of Finance & Treasury (MoFT) have concluded an intensive two weeks of training in data processing last week.
Held at the NSO conference room in Honiara, the training run from May 7-22.
Trained officers will be responsible for the data entry and processing of the National Village Resource Survey 2017-2018 (VRS) that is now nearing completion.
Facilitator and former Government Statistician Joseph Naesol said the training is necessary to equip officers with the essential skills and knowledge on how to use the data processing software and well-versed with the operation system.
“The trained staff now well armed with skills and capability in using CSPro, the software used for data entry and validation-which they trained to enter data collected from the filed using questionnaire and data has to be entered and validated in the computer.
“The questionnaire is around 44 pages, and the validation process is quite strenuous,” Mr Naesol said.
CSPro is an acronym for Census and Survey Processing System (CSPro), developed by the US Census Bureau, ICF International, and Serpro SA. The version used is 7.0.0 released on May 8, 2017.
Specific topics covered throughout the training include: CSPro structure and Meta data; Computer procedure in data entry using CSPro; Form editing guidelines; Non-sampling errors and how to control NSE; Manageable units in storing data in the computer; Going through the 2007-8 VRS, and the lessons learned to improve current VRS; House-keeping matters; Final comments on the VRS 2017-18 questionnaire.
The training was in two parts. The theoretical aspects of processing a survey, and the software CSPro in how it deals with survey data and the hands-on practical aspect in which data operators actually punch in data from completed forms into the computer using CSPro software.
“The training fully equipped the officers to have confidence in entering the VRS questionnaire, which has 14 sections, and 10 of the sections having 24 sub-tables. The VRS 2017-18 hopes to cover around 7,000 villages’ throughout the country, and processing period is envisioned to take seven months using at least 6 data operators,” Naesol said.
THE Lau Mbaelelea constituency road construction is reportedly progressing well.
A Mr Eddie Kaia recently told this paper that construction of roads in the constituency is advancing as they are looking towards tangible road construction in the constituency.
He acknowledged their MP for the initiative, saying Augustine Auga is addressing one of their major problems head on.
Kaia also accredited MP Auga for the proposal in place to connect roads to every place having difficulty with road access in the constituency.
He said the only means of transportation in the constituency is through road.
Kaia said it has been quite a while since late Mariano Kelesi, who was their MP in the 1970s, pursued road in their constituency.
He appealed to everyone to put aside any political differences they might have and team-up in their work with this project for their betterment.
Meanwhile, Kaia believes that the benefits to having roads in the northern region of the island will only be realised once the other MPs in the region follow Auga’s path and build roads in their constituencies.
This paper understands that Hon Manasseh Maelanga was also doing the same in his constituency of East Malaita where roads are currently under construction.
From L to R, Toga community leader, Michael Kukule, and NGF’s travelling
team member Mr Kenneth Sagupari during the awareness and signing of
petition against logging and mining in Ngella. PHOTO SUPPLIED
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
CENTRAL Islands Province (CIP) citizens thank Social Media’s famous Ngella Forum (NGF) Team for their efforts of carrying out awareness over the weekend on the effects of logging and mining.
The team that travelled went to Toga Village at Sandfly Passage carrying out also the signing of petition against anymore logging and mining prospect to take place in Ngella as negative impacts have been occurring from logging alone that has been operating at Ngella for some time now.
From L to R, Toga community leader, Michael Kukule, and NGF’s travelling team member Mr Kenneth Sagupari during the awareness and signing of petition against logging and mining in Ngella. PHOTO SUPPLIED
From report reaching Island Sun, hundreds of people including community leaders, women and students of young age as far as 8 years old had signed the petition giving their support to stop anymore logging or mining in their islands.
It is said that the mining and logging petition will cover the whole of Ngella and will be launched hopefully this coming weekend at Tulaghi Provincial Head Quarter.
All petition forms should be collected and compiled in the team meeting expected today, at the Coconut Cafe ready for the launching.
Ngella Forum’s Constitution will be launched by July this year as NGF encourages young educated graduates and secondary students from Ngella and everyone as a whole to join the Forum in order to give ideas contributing to issues that affect Ngella and its livelihood.
“We must stop logging and mining because they do not go together. This is our chance to protect our land and future,” said NGF.
Community leaders on behalf of their communities, as well as members of NGF have acknowledged the NGF Team for their stand to fight for the people of Ngella through such matters.
On behalf of the team travelling to Toga village last weekend, NGF also thanks Ngella Forum members and locals for their assistance in one way or the other towards the recent trip.
With no time to lose, it is understood that NGF is now walking the talk.
Group photo of the members of the Constitutional Congress and the Eminent Persons Advisory Council.
THE final plenary on the Solomon Islands Draft Federal Constitution is underway in Honiara after its opening this week on Monday, May 28.
This is the last joint meeting of the Constitutional Congress (CC) and the Eminent Persons Advisory Council (EPAC) who were mandated to promulgate a proposed Federal Constitution for Solomon Islands.
The meeting’s main focus is to endorse and bless the 2017 Final Draft Federal Constitution after it was refined by the Professional Legal Draftsman, Dr Philip Knight from Canada.
Director of the Constitutional Reform Unit (CRU) of the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) Philip Houlia said members will go through the entire document page by page before endorsing it as true and exact records of their work for the last 10 years.
Mr Houlia said the endorsed document will be handed over to the Prime Minister who is also the Minister for Constitutional Affairs at the conclusion of the current meeting.
The meeting concludes on June 22.
–GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
Group photo of the members of the Constitutional Congress and the Eminent Persons Advisory Council.
ALL member countries of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) have finally confirmed their total number of delegates attending the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival (MACFest) in Honiara this July.
Chair of the MACFest Programmes and Events Committee and Director of Culture, Dennis Marita have received confirmation of numbers from his counterparts in PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia last week.
PNG will send a total of 150 participants, followed by New Caledonia with 147, Fiji with 80 and Vanuatu with 62.
Solomon Islands as the host nation has confirmed the highest with a total of 300 participants taking the total number of participants to 739.
Mr Marita said the total is expected to reach the 1000-mark once the other invited countries send in their participant numbers.
The invited countries include the Melanesian populations of West Papua in Indonesia, East Timor, Torres Strait Islands of Australia and the indigenous people of Taiwan.
The MACFest National Organising Committee in Honiara is currently in full swing with preparations to host the event.
The 10 days event will run from July 1-10 on the theme “Past Recollections; Future Connections” which is programmed to coincide with the country’s 40th Independence Anniversary.
Solomon Islands was the first MSG country to host the Melanesian Arts Festival in 1998.
After this inaugural event, the festival has been held every four years on rotational basis in the five Melanesian countries.
The Festival was conceived in 1995 by the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to promote and preserve Melanesian culture, tradition, values and contemporary arts in the region.
The Bills and Legislation Committee headed by Chairman Hon. Matthew Wale with two MID officials appearing before them.
THE Bills and Legislation Committee has concluded its hearings into the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority Bill 2018 on Wednesday.
The Bill has 92 clauses and is an Act to establish the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority and other related purposes.
Its intended purpose is to complete the progression of change at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development from the former Marine Division, operating ships on behalf of the Government (former government fleet) as owners, to monitoring and controlling the registered private sector fleet as regulators (the Maritime Authority, or SIMA).
The Bills and Legislation Committee headed by Chairman Hon. Matthew Wale with two MID officials appearing before them.
This final organisational progression will ensure the administration has sufficient resources, flexibility of staff and volume of assets to be able to fulfill its mandate to enforce compliance with the shipping Act 1998 and associated national maritime legislation.
The Bill will also enable the new maritime authority to monitor commercial aspects of shipping and engage more with the international shipping community.
Solomon Islands Maritime Authority or SIMA’s objective, created by the Bill, is to monitor domestic shipping to improve the safety and comfort of passengers; develop a marine environmental protection section to minimise, mitigate and prosecute marine pollution incidents, especially by foreign-owned ships; and to advise on improvement of energy and economic efficiency of shipping services, especially to the provinces.
Fulfillment of the obligations of the maritime conventions to which Solomon Islands has acceded, and future accession to more recent international maritime conventions, together with greater involvement in the international shipping community, will help to ensure control in the escalation of freight rates to and from Solomon Islands (currently escalating at one of the highest percentage annual increase rates in the world).
Appearing before the Committee during the course of the inquiry were officials from the sponsored Ministry of Infrastructure Development.
Although the Director of SIMSA, Captain Tim Harris was overseas for medical attention, the committee was fortunate to have contact with him via tele-conferencing, in which he presented comprehensive perceptions surrounding policy matters of the Bill.
BLC will make a written report to Parliament containing the observations and recommendations arising from its deliberations soon.
