Home Blog Page 1404

A blue charter for sustainable ocean development

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

DEAR EDITOR, an article in the Island Sun yesterday, Tuesday, May 1, 2018, cited the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting ( CHOGM) in London where Commonwealth member delegates, including the Solomon Islands PM, discussed climate change and identified the need for a unified global action plan to address rising sea levels, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution and over-fishing.

A Blue Charter set of guiding principles was considered to guide nations in sustainable ocean development and ensure maritime industries are managed in a way that preserves and promotes ocean health.

The Blue Charter plan put forward would apply to ocean governance in accordance with the 16 principles and values of the Commonwealth Charter, including environmental protection, good governance, justice and peace, human rights, gender equality and recognition of the needs of vulnerable nations and young people.

It was envisaged the charter will help support countries to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals in particular Goal 14 to conserve and sustainably use the seas.

To give it practical effect, a knowledge and innovation hub and series of best practice toolkits will be developed, complementing the existing support provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat to its 45 coastal member countries.

It is understood that at the end of CHOGM, the Commonwealth Heads mandated the Secretariat to take forward the Blue Charter plan of action and to have it supported.

Quoting the article in the Island Sun, commentary said, “Today’s situation with a multitude of piecemeal national and regional approaches and policies can neither effectively address the difficulties the environment and especially the ocean face in a coherent manner nor monitor global progress. “

It is imperative, therefore, that the Blue Ocean plan becomes a game changer because of the special vulnerability of small island states and the impact of climate change already impacting on them, especially in the case of the Solomon Islands where five small islands have already been lost to the sea and coastal erosion and salt water intrusion threatening homes and many lives.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

A seminar on innovation soon in Auki

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Director of Malaita Health, Dr Rex Maukera.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

Head of the National Psychiatric Unit at Kilu’ufi Hospital, Dr Rex Maukera.

A one-day innovation seminar has been proposed for Thursday next week in Auki.

The seminar aims to train and develop the mindset of people for positive thinking.

Dr Rex Maukera, who will be conducting the training, says the training mainly focusses on how to develop an innovative and creative mindset.

Having a background in psychiatry, he said so many times the mindsets of people are narrow because of the environment and what has been experienced.

“So I believe if we start to create people’s shift of mindset they will make great use of opportunities around us.

“For example, instead for people to see situation as a problem they will see as an opportunity.

“That will also help people to see opportunity outside to make use of it rather than going to MPs to ask free handouts from them everytime,” he said.

Maukera also added that during the training they will introduce a method of “zoom-in zoom-out zoom-in” on how to generate ideas.

Maukera said he will also cover “grow and fix mindset” that motivates human beings in many aspects of development.

The training is open to youths, women, men and organisations who interested to be part of the training.

Malaita DPS recalled to mother ministry

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

THE Malaita deputy provincial secretary has been recalled to the Ministry of provincial government (MPGIS).

This follows the Malaita provincial assembly’s vote to have the MPGIS deal with the officer.

Malaita provincial secretary, Mr Jackson Gege tells this to Island Sun to clarify rumours that the DPS has been sacked.

Gege explained that people need to understand that Malaita provincial government (MPG) is not an employer of the DPS.

He said the DPS is a public servant, thus the MPG has no right to sack him.

“This is what happened. And as I can remember a resolution was moved in the assembly during the recent sitting to refer my DPS to the mother ministry.

“A vote was taken and majority voted in favour of recalling my DPS back,” he said.

He said reasons were there, and in order to take such actions against a secondary staff it must have strong backups to support the recall.

Gege said the recall does not mean he was sacked; he still is a public servant and the ministry can place him at any place to work.

“So I hope this information has cleared the rumour people had on the recall made on my DPS,” he said.

Businesses discuss 2018 Budget

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

OVER 50 businesses of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) were presented a post analysis study of the 2018 National Budget.

This is the first forum to be organised in the country for businesses to hear an independent and in-depth analysis of the National Budget and the implications it has for the private sector, growth and the economy.

The initiative to understand the Budget is driven by SICCI in partnership with Deloitte, a professional service provider that also do private sector national budget post analysis studies in Papua New Guinea for the private sector.

Those attending the discussions were given the opportunity to ask questions to the Panel of four speakers; Donald Kiriau (Treasurer of the Economics Association of Solomon Islands [EASI]), Andrew Harris (Partner Deloitte Tax & Business Services), Frank Wickham (General Manager of National Fisheries Development [NFD]) and Tony Hughes (a freelance consultant and Transparency Solomon Islands Board Member).

The panel brought an in-depth overview of how the private sector and economy will be affected by the budget cuts – occurring mostly in the Development Budget.

Most significant is the decreased expenditure in the Development Budget, which has been subject to more than $400 million cut from 2017.

One of the issues discussed is on forecasted revenue growth, envisaged to grow by around 10 percent in 2018 compared to 2017, with new IRD measures and the increase in import duty on fuel contributing to the revenue growth.

The Budget has certain implications which may impede future long-term growth due to the reduction of capital expenditure, the rise in tax burden and cost to businesses and lesser support for key growth industries.

Nonetheless, some key positive aspects of the national budget include, a greater focus on fiscal consolidation and achieving a balanced budget, while rebuilding cash buffers over the medium term.

EASI Treasurer and Panel member, Mr Kiriau further explained, “After the past couple of years of budget deficits, the fiscal consolidation in the 2018 budget has been anticipated. It is indeed welcome as it would contribute to rebuilding the buffers and ensuring fiscal discipline.

“However, there are also issues surrounding the quality and efficiency of the development budget.

“In the near term, the reduction in the capital expenditure could lessen the impact of government spending on the economy and the private sector.

“In the long term, the concern is that sharp reductions in suitable public investments might hamper the country’s productivity and future growth prospects.”

There was also strong emphasis for reform to the current tax system to support growth.

Wickham reflected on his expertise in the fisheries and education sectors when providing comments on the Budget, while veteran economist Hughes supported the panel dialogue with his wealth of experience in development policy.

SICCI CEO Dennis Meone said he was satisfied with the analysis and depth of discussions.

He emphasised SICCI’s continued partnership with the government and assured businesses that SICCI will use existing platforms such as the MOU with the government and the Advisory Committee to push for more private sector consultation and involvement in shaping government policies and important reforms.

“This budget presentation was an important session to help inform the business sector about the Budget and what it may mean for business activity,” the CEO acknowledged.

“The yearly Budget is the key fiscal tool that guides government expenditure each year, so we see increased dialogue around the Budget as a positive thing.”

–SICCI PRESS

Western, Choiseul treasuries get capacity boost

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

By Mike Puia

Gizo

ABOUT 14 Treasury Divisional staff from Western and Choiseul provinces are attending a two-week training in Gizo, Western province.

The training, which was officially opened by the deputy provincial premier, Maloney Lopoto, on Monday promises to enhance the capacity of treasury staff.

The training is conducted under the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP) of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).

One of the key areas the training focusses on is the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS).

In his opening remarks, Lopoto said the training has improved the performance of their treasury staff since its introduction in the province in 2010.

He said it has led to the province being able to produce its first financial statement (2011/2012).

The deputy premier told training participants that they are part of a crucial training that would help them in their work to be able to perform their duties competently.

He said it will help political leaders and administration to be responsible in managing public resources well.

Western provincial government’s chief planning officer, Walter Salo, said the training is an ongoing programme under the PGSP.

“No, this training is not a respond to any reporting issue in the province. It’s an ongoing programme to capacitate provincial treasurers and accountants,” Salo said.

Besides looking at financial statement production, the IPSAS also looks at issues relating to budgeting and other financial concepts.

Salo said provincial treasurers and accountants need to be regularly updated about the IPSAS.

He said all provincial treasurers and accounting officers must be well versed and report up to the current provincial government financial reporting.

An expert in IPSAS, Momodou Sawaneh, and a staff of the MPGIS, Priscilla Cheka are facilitating the training.

Temotu LOs refute MOU to Bauxite prospecting

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

THE Nende/Santa Cruz indigenous landowners of Nea/Noole ward 10 have refuted the MOU allowing access to customary land for bauxite prospecting on Nende which was signed on April 27, 2018.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by representatives of the prospecting objecting party (POP), prospecting consenting party (PCP), representative of Eight South Investment Limited (ESIL), and Premier for Temotu province.

It was witnessed by MPA Nevenema ward seven, MPA Lata/Luova ward eight, MPA Graciosa Bay ward nine and MPA for Temotu Neo ward 17.

However, the landowners who claim indigenous landownership over the tenement say they do not recognise the MOU.

“We treat it as their own piece of paper with no value to us, and it has no mandate and is not binding and important to us indigenous landowners for ward 10 where bauxite are,” the indigenous landowners said.

“The title of the MOU is Access to customary land for bauxite prospecting Memorandum of Understanding who gave them the right to sign a MOU to access to our customary land. We are questioning, why do we have to have understanding on this access to our land?

“Understanding means compromising but we do not want prospecting and mining on Nende.

“Our position is plain clear for our customary lands and our understanding is no prospecting and no mining – no more, no less.”

Section 4 of the MOU says ‘the purpose of the MOU is to allow equal participation of landowning groups and ensure equal distribution of benefits derived from the customary prospecting activities and ensure peace, unity and harmony amongst all parties is maintained’.

The disgruntled landowners question this: “Any equal distribution of benefits amongst members of our tribe can be agreed among us not the TPG or pro-miners and mining company.

“When did we give away our tribal customary land for prospecting? Who does the POP represent and when did we appoint them to sign as MOU on our behalf?

“We also question why curbing of security situation turned an MOU into access of customary land for bauxite prospecting? Why resort to any MOU when full Nende landowners are not aware of the MOU’s purposes?”

LOs said the parties who signed never held any awareness or public consultation to get views from landowners on accessing their land.

“There has never been any public awareness given to us to resort or given that MOU prior to study it and understand its contents. It belongs to those who signed only, not us the indigenous landowners.

“This was in breach of our constitutional rights and indigenous rights to have a say on what affects our lands and properties.”

The LOs said what POP and PCP did is likened to stealing their (LOs) birthrights, and they have given away tribal customary land for prospecting without first consulting tribes and clans.

“The so-called MOU is vague and has a lot of loopholes for manipulation and corruption especially on section 5.2 and 5.3 (a b and c),” the LOs said.

Mental health needs advocacy

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Participants attending the two-day mental health training in Auki.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

Participants attending the two-day mental health training in Auki.

MENTAL health is still a hushed issue, with many refusing to openly talk about or address.

With an aim to stress the importance of disseminating information on mental health, a workshop is current in Auki to train health practitioners on mental health, domestic violence and the family protection act that links with the health component.

The training workshop is a continued module of a project that looks at educating health practitioners from various health establishments in Malaita province.

Facilitator of the workshop, Dr Rex Maukera from the National Psychiatric Unit at Kilu’ufi Hospital, said the training is very important as it teaches the participants to understand mental health and important areas relating to it.

He said one area of importance is the understanding that a healthy life does not simply mean the absence of disease or physical illness.

“Health also associates with our thinking which means if you are not thinking right or always thinking negative it also affects your health.

“We talk about major mental disorders and minor mental disorders, for example, anxiety disorder, stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“We also discovered areas on gender base violence, domestic violence, sexual violence and the family protection act itself.

“Other areas we covered include mental health and well-being, psychosis and schizophrenia, bipolar and depression,” Maukera said.

He said another area was also on the referral pathway for clinical intervention to domestic violence.

Maukera said the training will end next week where it took two days of this week and another two days of next week.

He said participants attending the training were staff from various departments within Kilu’ufi Hospital and health practitioners in central region of the province starting from Hauhui in West Are’are to Fauambu in West Fataleka.

Maukera said the other four regions in the province were yet to cover, but that depends on the funding from Oxfam to continue with the project.

Roads belong to MID: Rini

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Director of Civil Engineering under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, Mr Harry Rini.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

MINISTRY of Infrastructure Development’s (MID) Director of Central Projects Implementation Unit (CPIU) Harry Rini confirms that the city road works falls within their jurisdiction.

Rini said this in response to accusation from public to a recent article on City Mayor Andrew Mua who said that the responsibility for road improvement and maintenance belongs to MID.

The Mayor had been accused of shirking responsibility and pushing the blame on MID regarding road works in Honiara.

Mua had, in the article, responded to calls by public for the Honiara City Council (HCC) to improve and do maintenance work on the roads in Honiara.

He clarified that HCC is only responsible for licensing or giving authorisation to businesses wishing to operate in Honiara.

Rini, in defence of the City Mayor, says, “Now there are sometimes reports that are not consistent making people confused but yes I can confirm that the responsibility for addressing the conditions of the roads in Honiara falls back on MID as the ministry responsible.”

The CPIU Director did not deny the fact that bus operators have also complained to them over the road conditions after the short routes were enforced.

“It is because of the roads conditions are why they decided on making this complaints but it is our responsibility,” said Rini.

He admits that the roads in Honiara are in a bad state, and that immediate measures need to be taken to address this problem.

“Currently what JICA is doing in construction along the roads of Honiara will really relieve a lot of problems faced on the main road.

“This project on phase one (1) will be completed by the end of this year. On the other phase we are currently discussing on with JICA will start off from where phase one is completed, going all the way reaching Henderson Airport. So we will have a better main road when it comes to year 2019 and 2020.”

The CPIU Director said there are bigger plans coming up, but with the financial situation currently faced with the Solomon Islands Government stretching the budget, MID cannot really do much with what they have.

Illegal squatters in Gizo raises alarm

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

By Mike Puia

Gizo

ILLEGAL squatting is slowly growing in Gizo, the provincial centre of Western province, raising concern among public.

Some provincial workers confirmed the issue is now becoming clear in the township.

They also said the last government had been planning to tackle the issue but could not implement its plans before the new government came in.

The current government has expressed concern over the issue but is yet to come up with a tangible action plan.

Provincial secretary, Jeffery Wickham said they are worried about this issue but to date there is no serious discussions around it.

“The province is concern about this but it has yet to come up with a concrete plan although there have been ad hoc discussions around this issue,” Wickham said.

He said the issue of illegal squatting exists in every developing country because of the gap between the rich and poor.

“Illegal squatting is in every developing country. It’s an issue that is not easily be dealt with,” Wickham said.

The issue is also reported in Noro mainly on national and provincial government lands.

Wickham added there are ‘things’ which must be addressed first before any move to deal with illegal squatters.

Hockey teams paid courtesy call to MHA to say thanks

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Members of the Solomon Islands hockey teams who participated in the recent Oceania Youth Qualifiers in PNG last week during a visit yesterday to the Ministry of Home Affairs office thanking them for the support rendered to them by the government. PICTURE: ROMULUS HUTA.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

MEMBERS of the national under-18 men and women’s hockey teams paid a courtesy call to the Ministry of Home Affairs to thank them for support rendered to them during their participation at the recent Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey Qualifiers.

The qualifiers were held last week at the Sir John Guise Hockey Pavilion in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Solomon Islands participated in the event with both the women’s and the men’s teams.

The qualifying tournament is part of the qualification pathway for this year’s Youth Olympic Games which will be held in Argentina in October.

During the visit yesterday, the youth teams were received by the MHA Permanent Secretary George Palua.

The men’s under-18 team captain Linford Talosui thanked the government through the ministry responsible for sports, the Ministry of Home Affairs for the financial assistance rendered toward their participation.

“We are humbled with the support we have received from the government. We have tried our best and the bronze medal was the result we ended up with.

“We are proud ambassadors and will be always be honoured to carry our flag whenever we represent Solomon Islands in future international competitions,” he said.

Members of the Solomon Islands hockey teams who participated in the recent Oceania Youth Qualifiers in PNG last
week during a visit yesterday to the Ministry of Home Affairs office thanking them for the support rendered to them
by the government. PICTURE: ROMULUS HUTA.

On the same note, the women’s under-18 captain Claudia Votu said the assistance given by the government through the Ministry of Home Affairs has enabled them to play to their best.

“We are thrilled by the assistance and are thankful for the support. Our visit to your office is basically just to thank you for your assistance,” Ms Votu told Palua.

The men’s under-18 won a bronze a medal and that was enough to them to earn a spot for the event scheduled to run from October 6 to 18 in Buenos Aires.

The women’s under-18 team finished in fourth place and missed out on qualification.

The spot won by the men’s under-18 will be confirmed by the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) when they lodge their final submission to the Organisers of the Summer Youth Games come August 31 deadline.

This is due to the limited quota where only a few team sports will be eligible to represent each participating country at the world event.

1...1,4031,4041,405...1,675Page 1,404 of 1,675