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Western province thanks United Church for contribution

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

Gizo

THE Deputy Premier of Western Province, Maloney Lopoto, acknowledges the United Church mission for its contribution to the province.

Among other things, Lopoto said the United Church mission has contributed a lot to the province in the areas of education, health and so forth.

Lopoto uttered these statements when conveying the province’s congratulation to the church when it celebrated the mission’s 100th year since its arrival to the people of Choe tribe in the Marovo lagoon.

The people of Choe tribe who now settle in Nazareth village celebrated the arrival of the gospel on Sunday.

The village invited members of United Churches from regions and circuits in the province and in Choiseul Province and Honiara to witness the four-day centenary celebration.

Lopoto, who was a guest at the event, said the United Church has made significant contribution to the development of the province and country.

And, he added, it has also produced fine human resources.

Other senior government official like the Deputy Mayor of the Honiara City Council, Eddie Ngava, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Communication, Moses Virivolomo, and the former moderator of the United Church of Solomon Islands, Rev Philemon Riti, who is from Nazareth Village, also witnessed the occasion.

PM welcomes Japan’s technology and innovation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Pacific Island Leaders at the Forum

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO IN JAPAN

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has made an official invitation seeking interested Japanese companies to explore and invest in Solomon Islands.

He made the announcement when addressing the Economic Forum in Tokyo on Thursday.

Houenipwela said Solomon Islands has diverse resources that Japanese investors can tap into.

He adds that Japanese expert in technology, health and education are some of the benefits that Solomon Islands can enjoy.

Houenipwela stressed that there are various sectors such as health and education that Solomon Islands and Japan would work on to further strengthen economic ties.

He said such partnership will encourage Solomon Islands the opportunities to contribute to global value chains through involvement of Japanese companies and products.

“We welcome Japanese companies to explore the possibility of investing in Solomon Islands in these sectors.

“Additionally, Solomon Islands welcomed the technological innovations Japan has in the field of educational and health to boost accessibility in the rural areas,” Prime Minister Houenipwela said.

He said Japanese multinational companies continue to be at the forefront of Solomon Islands development ambitions and that his government is ready to welcome interested Japanese companies with open arms.

Local artists called to produce nationally inspired artwork

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Mr Kalamani poses with some of his works.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

Mr Kalamani poses with some of his works.

A renowned local artist has spoken out on the trend of increasing duplicity in the country’s art industry.

“Today’s (on Thursday) local artwork seems to imitate each other, even the use of colour looks the same,” said the former Art lecturer of Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE) now known as SINU (Solomon Islands National University).

Mr Henry Kalamani of Malaita province expressed that nowadays local artists produce work that looks similar to another artist’s work.

He stressed that as artists, they should produce artwork that is individually creative but embody our country’s symbols like Western province’s famous nguzu nguzu and Malaita province’s gorgeous shell money.

With the Melanesian arts and culture festival approaching, Kalamani urges local artists to show real art, art that is individually inspired but created to illustrate something that depicts the country distinctively.

“As an artist, stick to what you have because through your art you are showing your identity and your identity is your country. I want us to show real art that belongs to us,” he said.

Cultural artefact sellers must be pro-active

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Cultural artefacts from carvers from Marovo lagoon, Western province.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

Cultural artefacts from carvers from Marovo lagoon, Western province.

LOCAL carvers in Solomon Islands continue to face challenges in selling their cultural artefacts. Carvers from Marovo lagoon, Western province told Island Sun that in order for them to sell their artefacts they have to be pro-active.

All the way from Gatokae village, Dennis Pelobule had been selling his products at the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) complex during regional gatherings.

Pelobule told Island Sun that since they have no space to sell their artefacts, they have to find places where they can be able to sell.

He said it is an issue for them but with the support they have from the Regional organisation, they can be able to sell their artefacts during regional gatherings at the Secretariat.

Also selling his artefacts at the FFA complex, another carver from Marovo who reside at Titinge says in times like this, he will have to travel from Titinge to Kolaridge to sell his products.

Mr Willie Posala is a carver who had lost a part of his hand in a dispute way back in the late ‘70s. No matter being disabled from the loss of his hand, he had defied the odds by using his feet to make carvings. “I use my feet,” he says.

Posala said he has no problem using his feet to carve object he wants and with the support from his wife together they sell cultural artefacts. His wife specialises in making local hand fans and baskets and he does the selling apart from making carvings.

“I go from door to door, visit expat homes, offices in order to sell our products including exhibiting our products at art gallery.” He says it is difficult to get people to buy their products thus they need to be pro-active in how they do their selling.

Posala says as a local carver, he wish the government will provide a big gallery for them, divided into the different provinces so that it is more orderly for people to visit them.

“In our belief as craftsmen, we believe that we bring in more money into our country but government doesn’t recognise our contribution.”

Currently local craftsmen and women are allocated a space outside and inside the National Art Gallery to sell their artefacts. However most of their bulk customers are tourists and not so much from the domestic market.

The local carvers said they are most grateful to the FFA Executive management to allow them access to sell their products in the complex during regional gatherings.

PM Hou addresses Pacific-Japan economic forum

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PM Hou delivering his statement at the Forum.
PM Hou delivering his statement at the Forum.

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela on Thursday has addressed a high-level Economic Forum between Pacific Island Leader’s and the Japanese companies in Tokyo.

The Prime Minister and Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama were the only two leaders’ that were invited to present an overview of Japanese assistance and investment in their respective countries.

When delivering his statement, Prime Minister Houenipwela embraced the opportunity to learn from Japan – describing Japan as one of the world’s renowned economic giants.

“Indeed Japan has a lot to offer in enhancing our economic development aspirations, more especially in boosting our efforts towards achieving our SDGs,” he said.

Speaking on the topic Solomon Islands-Japanese economic relations, the Prime Minister emphasised that whilst Japans economic relations with Solomon Islands may be small in terms of Japan’s own standards; Solomon Islands values its relations with Japan as not only very significant, but it has become multifaceted and has grown in respect of the diversity of their engagement.

“In recent years Japan has divested from large scale investments in fisheries, and simultaneously it has increased its investment in public sector infrastructure development in the transportation sectors such as Aviation, Maritime as well as in the Road Transportation,” Houenipwela said.

At the same time, the Prime Minister said Japan has also significantly increased its engagement over the years in social and economic areas including education, health, waste management, water and climate change mitigation.

“Indeed Japan plays a crucial role in the Solomon Islands economy. In recent years, Japanese grant assistance has boosted major and critical infrastructure projects in our country, such as the Honiara International Port upgrade, Honiara Urban water supply upgrade, and now the current work on Phase One of the Main Kukum Highway upgrade, to name a few,” he said.

The Prime Minister also informed the Forum of the current and new major projects under the Japanese programme.

These includes the; Current major road upgrading project being implemented by Kitano Construction Corporation; the recent MOU signing between Solomon Power with Hitachi Ltd in Tokyo for the supply and installation of a major sustainable Power Supply project in Solomon Islands; and also the recent signing between the Foreign Minister Milner Tozaka with his Japanese counterpart on the 2nd & 3rd Phases of the main Highway Upgrade, including the Honiara International Airport upgrade projects.

The Prime Minister’s speech has received overwhelming response from many Japanese companies that have shown great interest in investing in the Solomon Islands in the areas of health, renewable energy, agriculture and tourism.

–OPMC PRESS

PM Houenipwela graces milestone signing for new solar power plant in SI

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
PM Hou congratulates Mr Pradip and Mr Banno after the signing
PM Hou congratulates Mr Pradip and Mr Banno after the signing

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has graced the occasion of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Solomon Power and Hitachi Ltd in Tokyo on Wednesday this week.

The MOU is aimed at resolving energy issues in the Solomon Islands.

The MOU was signed between Mr Pradip Verma, Chief Executive Officer of Solomon Power and Mr Yutaka Banno, Managing Director of Social Innovation Business Division of Hitachi Ltd.

Speaking during the ceremony, Prime Minister Houenipwela thanked and congratulated Hitachi Ltd and Solomon Power for venturing into a collaborative construction to design a solar power plant with other stakeholders that will be involved in the operation.

“It is a great development and a sustainable one for the people of Solomon Islands and I would like to acknowledge Solomon Power and Hitachi for this important milestone,” he said.

The Prime Minister also thanked Hitachi on behalf of the Government and people of Solomon Islands.

Solomon Power chief executive officer (CEO) Pradip Verma said under this MOU, Hitachi Ltd and Solomon Power will work collaboratively to develop a solar plant in Solomon Islands.

He said the aim of the MOU is to assist Solomon Power to lower the cost of energy generation thereby reducing the electricity tariff and to improve energy security for the country.

Pradip said Solomon Power is actively moving forward to reduce energy costs and improve energy security by providing power to more of the country’s residents via renewable energy sources by reducing fuel consumption.

“These are all in alignment with the vision of Solomon Power ‘energising our nation’,” he said.

Pradip has also thanked the Prime Minister and his delegation for gracing the occasion.

The signing was also preceded by presentations by Hitachi on the developments that Hitachi has achieved over the years in Renewable Energy, Energy Storage Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Energy Management Systems.

Hitachi is a Japanese powerhouse company which is also specialised in renewable energy, drawing upon its experience in the construction of high-efficiency solar and wind power stations, and its expertise in applying Internet of Things (IoT) technology to ensure power generation stability.

–OPMC PRESS

Poor oral care high in Marovo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Mike Puia

Gizo

POOR oral care is high in Marovo lagoon in the Western province. This is according to the Chief Dental Therapist at Gizo Hospital, Michael Piasi.

Piasi told Island Sun Gizo that in some of the villages his department visited in the Marovo lagoon, they received about 100 patients in one day.

He said his department has been visiting communities in the lagoon to help relieve pain suffered by villagers who have tooth problems.

Piasi said based on data, the lagoon has recorded high cases of teeth problem.

He said many people in villages in the lagoon resort to relieving the pain they experience with their teeth using leaves or Panadol.

He encourages villagers in the lagoon to have proper oral care to avoid them from suffering tooth pain and from having to foot the cost of getting to the nearest hospital for medical attention.

“Some people in communities had to pay about $600 to get to Gizo hospital to have their teeth removed, temporary refilled or replaced. This is very expensive,” Piasi said.

He said the cheapest way is practise good oral care.

PALM8 meeting starts today in Japan

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Part of the 150 top business men and women of Japan at the EConomic Forum at Captiol Hotel Tokyo on Thursday

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE eighth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, PALM8, starts today at the Iwaki City, Fukusima Prefecture, in Japan.

PALM8 takes place every three years where leaders and representatives of Pacific Islands countries (PICs) and regions are invited to Japan to strengthen the traditional partnership of Japan and the PICs and the region through promotion of cooperation regarding various issues facing the Pacific island region.

The main objective of the meeting is strengthening of cooperation towards implementation of the “Free and Open Indo Pacific” – strategy through sharing a vision including rule of law at the sea, promoting of marine cooperation including maritime safety and affirming the importance of development of quality infrastructure in accordance with international standard.

As well as supporting self-sufficient and sustainable development of Pacific Islands countries with regards to supporting the sustainable development of Pacific islands countries and regions, including climate change, environment and disaster risk reduction and to support self-sufficient development through promotion of trade, investment and tourism.

Discussion will also focus on revitalising and building partnerships between Japan and Pacific island countries in terms of strengthening of human resource development, building of multi-layered people-to-people exchanges, including exchanges with local governments and strengthening of bonds by revitalising the movement of people and also strengthening of cooperation in the international arena be about affirming cooperation on the issue of North Korea including the United Security Council reform.

Participating countries and regions are Japan (co-chair), Samoa (co-chair), Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and French Polynesia.

Solomon Islands is represented by Prime Minster Rick Houenipwela and his delegation.

The meeting starts today May 18, 2018 and will be concluded tomorrow on May 19. It will be hosted by the Japanese government and chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan.

With regards to PALM1, it took place at Tokyo way back in the 1997, PALM2 at Miyazaki, PALM 3 and PALM4 at Okinawa, PALM5 at Hokkaido, PALM6 at Okinawa, PALM7 and PALM8 at Iwaki. All of the meetings took place within Japan.

NRH continues support of tertiary in-patients

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

CHIEF Executive Officer for the National Referral Hospital says the hospital will continue to provide tertiary in-patient health services for all referred patients but not meet the cost of return sea traveling.

NRH’s CEO Mr Steve Aumanu said NRH will continue to provide support fo tertiary in-patients health services for referred patients but will no longer be responsible to meet the cost of their return sea travel.

He said each provincial health office is responsible for their patients.

Aumanu said MHMS and NRH will continue to maintain responsibility for emergency provincial hospitals referrals to the NRH

That means patients in need of emergency medical care may need to be flown into Honiara for treatment at the NRH which may include charter flights, he said.

He also said the decision to transfer patients to the NRH must be consulted and approved by PS for MHMS with endorsement from the NRH medical superintendent.

In terms of referral to tertiary care – NRH to overseas hospital, Aumanu said they will continue to refer patients to overseas hospital because not all clinical services can be provided in the Solomon Islands.

Aumanu said it is necessary to refer patients to overseas hospital for tertiary level medical services

This policy direction and process will come into effect from May 21, 2018, he adds.

He called for citizens’ cooperation in implementing the return sea fares for referred patients.

No payment for referral patients as of May 21

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
NRH’s Chief Executive officer (CEO) Dr Steve Aumanu

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

NRH’s Chief Executive officer (CEO) Dr Steve Aumanu

THE National Referral Hospital will no longer be responsible to pay return sea fares for referred patients as of May 21, 2018.

In the past, NRH was responsible for meeting all expenses related to patients return sea fares for referral, but now the Ministry of Health and Medical Service (MHMS) has agreed to share its responsibilities.

Now the Government budget for referred patient sea fares will be transferred to each provincial health finance department.

In a press conference yesterday, the NRH’s Chief Executive officer (CEO) Dr Steve Aumanu said such changes of arrangement was agreed to by MHMS, NRH, and the provincial health directors.

Mr Aumanu explained that according to the new referral patients sea fares policy, Solomon Islands Government’s allocated budget for referred patients’ sea fares will be transferred to each provincial health finance department.

He said costs of inward and return travel by all referred patients to NRH for treatment will be the responsibility of the provincial health services.

Meanwhile, MHMS and NRH plans to implement such initiative due to the following reasons:

  • Pressure on NRH and MoFT payment process would be minimised
  • Avoid withdrawal of huge amounts of hard cash about $100,000 per payout two-week and kept at NRH, risk fraud, theft and trim off the standing imprest threshold
  • Avoid patients gathering at the NRH Accounts Department waiting for sea fares; can be as long as weeks
  • Help saving us time to do other accounting tasks
  • Better management monitoring of referred patients by Directors of Provincial Health Services

The number of referred patients repatriated in 2017 was 455, number of patients per payout, 300 and total spending of 2017 is $3.7 million.

For the past years the NRH has been responsible for managing the repatriation of referred patients back to their provincial port of disembarkation.

All directors of provincial health services will enforce their own patient’s referral policy and are ready to implement this new process.

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