BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

 A documentary about Climate Change in Solomon Islands will be screened at the Honiara City Council library as part of celebrating the World Environment Day.

The screening is set for June 5 starting from 5.30pm-7pm, and is opened for public.

The event is organised by the UNDP Solomon Islands through Solomon Islands Water Sector Adaptation Project (SIWSAP) and the Pacific Environmental Journalist Network.

This is an informal evening with a number of documentaries about Climate Change in Solomon Islands to be filmed.

According to UNDP, the documentaries will present a wide range of global issues with experts from around the world.

UNDP said the feature documentary will be preceded by a collection of short videos that will help public understand the challenges of climate change in Solomon Islands.
Following the celebration of World Environment Day, UNDP stated such event will open opportunities for discussion of the issues in the documentaries and how it relates to Solomon Islanders.
This is a monthly series and the first series of screening will kick off on World Environment Day, June 5.
The first documentary will be “An Inconvenient Sequel,” the updated version of Al Gore’s advocacy efforts that helps us understand the significance of the Paris Climate Accord and the latest footage of how climate change is impacting people all around the world.

By Mike Puia

Gizo

THE Western Province Network for Sustainable Environment (WPNFSE) says it stands by to support the Western provincial government.

WPNFSE is a body set up in the province to coordinate non-government organisations in the province.

WPNFSE had a meeting in Gizo on Monday where it agreed on how it will complement the work of the province.

Speaking on behalf of WPNFSE, David Boseto said their group will carry out awareness on the proposed plastic ban the provincial government is proposing to implement in July.

Boseto said the network will render help on waste management and with small waste recycling at home.

He said their group will continue to complement each organisation with equipment and human resources.

One other big event the group will work on is the event to mark this year’s World Environment Day, World Ocean Day and Coral Triangle day.

The event will be held in Gizo next Wednesday.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

A rally was recently held at Takwa Catholic parish for women representatives there.

The rally was organised by Takwa parish where women learnt their role as women or mothers in the church.

Senior catechist, Mr Eddie Kaia said the objective of the rally is to strengthen their faith and their work in the church.

He added that the programme looked at supporting women to build them from their weaknesses both in the community and with parish participation.

Kaia said the rally came under the parish programme which looked not only at women, but other gender groups and church ministerial activities under the parish.

He said there were programmes also for Sunday schools, youths, men’s groups, catechist and other areas under the parish which mainly to strengthen their faith and work in church.

Kaia said women attended the rally were representing 22 Catholic communities in Lau and Mbaelelea under the Takwa parish.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

SOLOMON Islands Women in Business Association (SIWIBA) has been an opportunity for women to showcase their skills and creativity while contributing to their household incomes.

This is according to Ms Gayle Ramosaea who hails from Malaita and Western provinces.

She expressed that it was back in 2014 when she signed up as a member before getting into the art of producing locally inspired accessories as a craft artist.

Ramosaea explained that she decided to join the association so that she would be able to help support her husband and children.

She stressed that one major challenge in the journey has been the essence of time in juggling her roles and responsibilities as a wife, mother, grandmother and business person.

All the more, Ramosaea proudly displays her items which range from matching earrings and necklaces, the popular Langa Langa shell money necklaces to head pieces and other accessories.

Besides producing beautiful accessories, she is also involved in two other businesses.

Ramosaea was among other women who showed up at SIWIBA’s first market for 2018 yesterday at the Girl Guides headquarter.

Formerly known as Mere’s Market, SIWIBA is set to hold a total of six SIWIBA markets this year.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

IT is encouraging to know that students are interested to learn the Mandarin language after finding out what it is.

This is according to Ms Li Kuei Mi who teaches Mandarin at SINU.

Speaking to the paper yesterday, she said that for this year alone, she has visited more than two schools in Honiara and has come to see that students are pretty much interested to learn Mandarin.

Ms Li explained that as part of her Mandarin awareness activity, she introduces her country, Taiwan, her culture and language through a presentation of brief video clips, songs and questionnaire sessions.

She added that with the help of her students from her Mandarin class at SINU, she also teaches basic Mandarin phrases to see if students are interested to learn the language and mentioned that while the response was overwhelmingly positive it encourages her to visit more schools.

Li stated that she plans to visit schools in the provinces and is already considering Makira and Temotu provinces as the two first provinces to visit.

She furthered that although she is aware how far Temotu province is, she is willing to take up the challenge.

“I want to share with students the Mandarin language and see if they are interested to learn about it because in one way or the other it can help open the door for many opportunities for them. Solomon Islands does not just include Honiara but all the nine provinces so that is why I plan to also visit schools in the provinces,” said Li.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

THE Parish Pastoral Team Animation committee in Takwa Catholic parish in Lau region of Malaita province have proposed to work on the historical content of the establishment of the parish.

The work will be in preparation for celebrating the parish’s centenary since the arrival and establishment of Takwa parish in 1935.

Senior catechist, Eddie Kaia said the PPTA committee has proposed the work as it will be on various ministries administered under the parish since its establishment.

He said information is expected to be gathered on the history of clergies, catechists, women and men church groups, youths Sunday schools and other church ministries and activities which happened in the parish over the century.

Kaia said the purpose of compiling the historical work is to be told during the centenary celebration.

He added that the work is also important as it will help young generation or researchers of the history of the Catholic Church in Lau region.

Kaia said as part of the work he will be leading the work on profiling the history of catechism work in the parish.

He said he will team up with his colleague catechists in the parish to carry out the work.

Kaia said Takwa parish will celebrate its 100 years in 2035.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO

THE Western Provincial government is planning to improve on land issues in the province, says acting premier Maloney Lopoto.

Lopoto in his opening address at the provincial assembly yesterday said land is a sensitive issue and government is undertaking a very comprehensive and easy approach cautious land reform programme as part of its drive to prepare the province for new investment opportunities and partnership ideas with people, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, mining and other sectoral development.

“We have three people owning land in this province, the Commissioner of Lands, the Premier and the Tribe/clans include customary.

“We need to liase and work closely with them in terms of land issues.”

Lopoto stressed that the government through the lands ministry have done so many things with land matters and achieved some progress.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRINCIPAL Magistrate Leonard Chite has adjourned the case against an accused Luke Kemakeha to June 5 allowing both prosecution and the defence lawyer to sort out outstanding issues on the case.

Appeared in court for the Office of the Director Public Prosecution Dalcy Belapitu said all other disclosures in relation to the charges against the accused has been provided to the defence except for the medical report in relation to the 2010 incident.

The court was told that the prosecution already consulted the Tulagi police in relation to the medical report and they are saying that they will check with Dende clinic in Central Island Province.

Probably the medical report will be provided this week, the prosecution said yesterday.

Meanwhile defence lawyer confirmed receiving the disclosures and said that if the medical report is difficult to obtain then the defence is intending to make negotiation in relation to the charge of 2010 incident.

The defence also said in relation to the charges occurred in 2018 all disclosures were already provided and the accused is prepared to take his plea.

But the presiding Magistrate said both counsels have to sort the outstanding issues before dealing with the case as all facts will be considered on the case.

The accused Kemakeha is charged with one count of unlawfully attempt to strike with knife, one count of causing grievous harm and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.

This is in relation to incidents occurred in Ngella Central Island Province.