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Keku enthroned as Tandai paramount chief

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The new Paramount Chief Charles Nunu is presented with shell money.

BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

Tandai paramount chief Charles Chilivi commonly known as Keku was enthroned on Saturday, April 21, 2018.

In his maiden speech to the hundreds gathered before him, Mr Chilivi announced that Tandai ward is ‘ready to move’.

He said, “Today, representing the five clans of Tandai, we are taking a new course of journey – a journey that will take us into the future.

The new Paramount Chief Charles Chilivi is presented with shell money.

“Your navigator in this journey is ready to lead.

“It is a milestone, and as the new paramount chief, I’m proud and humbled but honoured to have had the confidence of the chiefs representing the five clans of Tandai who have generously voted me into this office of paramount chief.

“I promise to do my best to serve as outlined by the official duties of the post and be a mouth piece for our people in airing our views and staking our claims to right of the way within our traditional habitat or otherwise to foster justifiable compensation claims for the loss of those rights.

The new paramount chief receiving his certificate.

“Once we have been spectators looking in from the sideline. We have been forced to the fringes of the national capital, Honiara but further, to add insult to injury, we have been diluted as a people and are fast losing our status and dignity.

“Successive generations of this assault are taking their toll on the loss of land, culture and pride of identity for our people.

“By our people, I‘m specifically referring to the people of Tandai; those claiming the land mass between Tamboko and Betikama as their traditional home. The people with the dialects Di, Nginia and Qaria as their mother tongue.”

In assurance, Chilivi however said everything is not yet lost. He said that they are now experiencing a rude awakening which he termed as ‘a wake-up call’.

Paramount chief Charles Chilivi being adorned with shell money.

He further addressed to his people (Tandai ward) that it is now their duty to arrest the decline and re-establish themselves with dignity and pride of position.

“The establishment of the Tandai house of chief is our rescue vehicle. We are now to re-group and to re-discover ourselves. The house of chiefs comprises chiefs of the five main clans occupying land within the confine of Tandai. These are The Gaubata Clan, the Laukili Clan, the Kakau Clan, the Kidipale Clan and the Simbo Clan.

The new paramount chief, ready to receive a gift.

“Together we have forged relationships, together we have forged family units and together we have been sharing and cohabitating in this land from time immemorial. This is our chance to consolidate and to assert our right of position. The House of Chiefs will make available these endeavours.”

He urges all members of the five clans and tribes represented to work together to seek full benefits and productive outcomes from the workings of the House of Chiefs.

He also appeals to all members of the five clans to ‘come on board the rescue vehicle’ and ensure that it sails them in ‘safety and security’ for them in the present and for future generations.

Chupu to be presented to all tribes of Tandai.

Marist held

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Davidson Tome celebrates his goal against Lautoka yesterday at the Churchill Park.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

MARIST was held to a one-all draw by 10-man Lautoka in the first leg encounter of the Oceania Champions League semi-final at Churchill Park yesterday afternoon.

The draw gave an away goal advantage to the Solomon Islands representatives heading into the return leg this Sunday at Lawson Tama.

Davidson Tome put the Jerry Allen-coached side infront six minutes after the half hour mark when he perfectly met a cross in the six-yard box after coming in behind Kavaia Rawaqa to blast the shot past the Lautoka custodian Beniamino Mateinaqara who could do nothing to stop it.

Marist held on to the one goal lead until halftime break.

The match resumed for the second half and veteran striker Osea Vakatalesau was quick to equalise with a glancing header in the 49th minute.

The goal emerged via a corner whipped in from the left by attacking midfielder Cory Chettleburgh where Vakatalesau made no mistake leaping higher above the crowd to send it into the back of the net.

Marist’s hero Tome was shown a yellow card and is certain to sit out the return leg in Honiara through suspension for a second bookable offense.

In the 68th minute, one of Lautoka’s attacking key members Samuela Drudru was sent off after receiving his second yellow card.

While the match was ended in a share of spoils, the fate of the two teams will be decided in the return leg at Lawson Tama this Sunday.

Marist midfielder Atkin Kaua who sat out the first leg through injury is expected to be available for the Honiara leg.

The winner will progress to another two-legged home and away tie in the grand final scheduled for May 12 and May 19, respectively.

The semi-final contest between Marist and Lautoka is set as match one while the other last-four contest between Team Wellington and Auckland City was drawn as match two.

The winner of the Marist-Lautoka encounter will play an away fixture against the winner of the second semi between Auckland City and Team Wellington in the first leg of the grandfinal set for May 12.

Mbokonavera School with new admin blocks

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The newly launched admin block for Mbokonavera school primary division

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE two new admin blocks for Mbokonavera School launched on Friday is a way forward to ensure all resources of the school are available for function and well managed by a set of people like teachers.

The construction of the two admin space is the replacement of the first office block of the school which was burnt down into ash on Tuesday May 3, 2016.

These two buildings are purposely for the two division’s primary and secondary division office space.

On an officially opening ceremony held yesterday guest of honour Clement Aetorea interim Chief Education Officer, Honiara City Council Education Authority said it’s wonderful to see how much things have changed over those decades both for primary and secondary division of the school and the surrounding area with regards to positive developments.

“I want to say work hard as you can to take advantage of the benefits this school is giving you-better teaching both here and when you go to other schools.

“Show the good stewardship and team work that have been doing and finally achieve what as we witnessed today,” he said.

On the same event principle responsible of the school Agnes Te’e says the presence of all gathered to witness the gracing of the building has indicated commitment and support.

“Your presence has indicated to our school you strong commitment and support demonstrated through joint efforts such occasion and events, thus a manifestation of our collaboration and cooperation in the quest to deliver better and improved education services to our students.

“Now the school has space to ensure all resources are well function and managed by school staff,” she said.

The building witnessed yesterday was successfully through the support Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA), school administration 2017 – 2018 and through parents’ contribution.

Gold Ridge set to reopen

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Members of the new GRML Partnership set up, including Directors, Board members, Managers and initial establishment employees, pausing for a group photo with a delegate from the government who visited the site on Thursday to witness the preparations for the resumption of gold mining

LOs get 10 percent share in new GRML set up

By Gary Hatigeva

NEW life is being breathed into the Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML).

As the gold price shows evidence of a recovery, GRML has announced set plans to restart operations at the old site that was used formerly by the last two operators, Rose Mining Limited and the St Barbara Mining Limited.

The component has been sitting idle in care and maintenance since it was abandoned by the last operator over two years ago, but the new partnership under the GRML name has revealed intentions to recommence production and is very confident it will happen this year.

The adjacent site was separately acquired by the Gold Ridge Community Investment Limited (GCIL) who went on to sell 90 percent of its shares to foreign investor, the AXF Resources Company of Australia.

The new partnership extended and got a third partner, one of the global Chinese company, Wanguo International Mining who became the major shareholder in the GRML having been sold 60 percent by the Australian partner.

Following numerous meetings and consultations between the three partnering companies, the group settled for a structure that gives the Wanguo International Mining major shares of 60 percent, while 30 percent was given to the Australian partner and 10 percent to the landowners through the GCIL.

Prior to the forged partnership, the GCIL had the site valued and based on the valuation for its contribution through the remaining infrastructures on site, was how it came down to the 10 percent share, which was welcomed by the landowners after the structure was revealed.

Members of the new GRML Partnership set up, including Directors, Board members, Managers and initial establishment employees, pausing for a group photo with a delegate from the government who visited the site on Thursday to witness the preparations for the resumption of gold mining

According to the GCIL/GRML Director, Benjamin Afuga when interviewed revealed that the GCIL being the original owner, acquired both the company and the company name (GRML), which the partnership chose to continue using as the merging company name.

“So we will continue to use the Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) name, which it sort of portrays or reflects our partnership in this company,” he said.

He however stressed that unlike some other similar set ups, the striking thing about the Gold Ridge partnership deal is, landowners through GCIL do have representatives as board members in the GRML Board of Directors.

“And they will still get the royalties and other waving benefits that are set aside for the landowners as agreed to by the new partnership,” Afuga added.

This is something a lot of business analysts interviewed, both local and international, felt was a worthwhile agreement, knowing that the landowners will have influences and contributing say in the decisions to made regarding the operation of GRML.

Meanwhile, in another interview, AXF representative and GRML General Manager under the new partnership, Dr Fiona Martin explained that the setup is an advantaged position because the infrastructures and some of the needed facilities already in place to commence extraction.

“The Gold Ridge mine has the existing sites with facilities that are involved to complete the cycle of operation, are already in place, providing an opportunity to begin mining with minimal delays but will need small additional investments for little adjustments,” she said.

Island Sun was unable to get the exact figures before this story was put in for publication, but earlier estimation highlighted that the operation is tipped to employ over 1000 workers when it formally starts.

Currently, the company (GRML) has workers representing the three partnering investors on site, putting together resources and doing final touch ups on various facilities and related components to ensure administrations of the operation starts.

Follow Island Sun as we continue to cover the progress in preparations and further announcements for both the breakeven timeframe and other developments of the operation.

PS clarifies budget

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs, Dr Cedric Alependava.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs, has come out to reassure women that there is enough money in the budget to cater for their activities in 2018.

Dr Cedric Alependava wishes to clarify the issue of development budget on behalf of MWYCFA and the Minister and the government.

Alependava says there are two budgets – development and recurrent.

He says though the development budget has been cut, it is enough for their activities and they can always go back to the recurrent budget should the need arises.

“I wish to clarify to the public that there is no such thing as zero budget and there is a good amount of money for investing in women activities.”

Island Sun understands MWYCFA is not the only Ministry faced with budget cuts. All SIG line ministries are faced with the same dilemma.

Malaita Masina pushes for the removal of entire NPF board

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MMF President Charles Dausabea.

By Alfred Sasako

THE Malaita Masina Forum is pushing for the sacking of the “entire Board of the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) before things get worse with the workers’ savings”, President Charles Dausabea told Island Sun yesterday.

Mr Dausabea was meeting with members of the MMF executive yesterday afternoon to discuss the matter.

He told Island Sun he petitioned the Minister of Finance and Treasury and Deputy Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare MP, in two letters but so far there was no response from Mr Sogavare on both occasions.

“I have set him deadlines, but on both occasions he appeared to have ignored us,” he said.

It is understood one of the measures being considered by the MMF executive is to approve plans to collect SINPF members’ signature demanding the immediate removal of all SINPF Board members.

“We must remove the entire Board before things get worse with SINPF savings,” Dausabea said.

The SINPF Board is chaired by former politician and President of the Kadere Party, Peter Boyers, who allegedly owes South Pacific Oil (SP Oil) an estimated $2 million in unpaid fuel bills which he incurred when he was the chairman of the SP Oil.

He relinquished the position to his then deputy, Gideon Zolaveke in 2016.

Kadere is a coalition partner in the ruling Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change (SIDCC) Government.

SP Oil is a subsidiary of the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF).

Kenilorea Jnr resigns PS of foreign affairs

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Peter Kenilorea Jnr

By Alfred Sasako

PETER Kenilorea jnr has reportedly resigned as Permanent Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and External Trade in pursuit of a like-father-like-son political career.

Mr Kenilorea jnr is reportedly eyeing the East Are seat, once held by his late father, Sir Peter Kenilorea at the next national general election.

The seat is being occupied by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Survey, Hon Andrew Manepora MP, who according to some accounts is eyeing contesting the East Honiara Constituency.

The young Kenilorea could not be contacted yesterday for comment as he was away in London attending the official opening of Solomon Islands new High Commission there. The official opening is due to take place today (April 21).

In March this year, the Government formally appointed him as the new substantive Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

Prior to his appointment, Kenilorea jnr was an International Civil Servant who worked at the United Nations Secretariat in New York.

From 2000-2017 he has held positions in the UN Office of Legal Affairs, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the UN Department of General Assembly and Conference Management, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the UN Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States.

In 1996-2000, he worked at the Attorney General’s Chambers and from 1994-1995 he was employed by Jennifer Corrin Barrister & Solicitor.

Peter obtained an LLB from the University of Waikato in New Zealand which he has attended from 1991-1994.  He also obtained an LLM in International Law from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom which he attended from 1997-1998.

Most of his secondary schooling was done at Wesley College, New Zealand which he attended from 1986-1990.  Kenilorea jnr also spent a year at the Su’u National Secondary School on Malaita in 1985.

He is married with two children.

Kenilorea jnr told the media shortly after his appointment that he was truly honored to serve as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade.

“I look forward to representing the interest of the Solomon Islands Government and its people. At the national level the Ministry will continue and enhance it close cooperation with all substantive ministries.  At the international level we will continue to engage constructively with our many partners,” he said.

“I am bringing the experiences I have gained over the years at the global level to my new position to hopefully make a positive contribution that would ultimately benefit our beloved nation, Solomon Islands, and its peoples,” he added.

Medical care blunder

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
nurse

Nurse accidently cuts off finger of 5-week old baby

By Gary Hatigeva

A nurse (name withheld) at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) has been accused of negligence and dereliction of duty which resulted in a five-week old baby girl’s finger being cut off.

The baby had been taken to the national referral hospital for medical care.

This happened on Tuesday this week at the children’s ward when the nurse was reportedly attempting to remove a plaster and bandage around the baby’s right hand.

The bandage and plaster according to the father, Willie John from East Guadalcanal, were put on by earlier shifts for drips given to the baby after being first attended to in the afternoon of that day.

John said after settling in at the children’s ward, their baby was getting the fever again, and so they called on the nurses on duty at that time for assistance.

He said following a quick check on the baby, the nurse who attended went away and came back to give their daughter her second drip.

He recalled that it was during the process of trying to identify the spot on the baby’s hand for her second drip, when the finger-cutting incident occurred.

He said because the spot was identified on the left hand, the nurse was asked to check on the bandaged right hand, where the first drip was given.

“I don’t know what the procedures are especially when dealing with infants, but I thought it was careless of the nurse’s part to use the scissors,” the young father stressed.

He further recalled that when the nurse was cutting through the bandage and plaster, the baby was crying out loud for a while and then stopped.

“The crying was on and off during the process of cutting, and to our surprise, even the nurse, the bandage fell off with blood all over it and my baby’s hand was bleeding and we suddenly realised that it was her finger that had fell with the bandage,” the new dad explained.

The Guadalcanal man however stressed and questioned, why the nurse was not able to differentiate the pressure of knowing if the scissors was actually cutting through the bandage and something harder than the bandage.

Upon realising the incident done to their daughter, the parents said they were lost for words and looking on with shock that something as awful has happened to their baby.

John also explained that while he and his wife were still in shock and disbelief over what had happened, the nurse attempted to apologise to them and begged to offer money.

“The nurse actually took out a bundle of cash, which we are not sure of its value, and begged me to take it as a form of trying to say sorry for what had happened, but we refused the money. The money will not fix my baby’s finger.”

John revealed that he and his wife were given counselling, but said the counselling will not help their baby’s situation.

“Of course it is part of their duty to do especially when going through such situations, will you accept this? Don’t you think it will affect my baby’s life when she grows up? Where is the duty of care?

“We are therefore challenging management of the National Referral Hospital to explain not just to us but to all Solomon Islanders. Again, how is it that the registered nurse tend to carry out duties like a trainee and careless attitudes?

“Management of the National Referral Hospital has to explain a lot of things to us and then afterwards, if it is not satisfactory, of course, nothing can change the way things have happened, but we believe in victory of good over evil and we are looking to go to court over this,” the unhappy father vowed.

He said they blamed the medical practitioners on duty, and it was not their intention to rundown the sacrifice of medical practitioners but they are not ruling out carelessness and negligence of duty in their way of doing things at the Hospital.

“We will not entirely discount the fact that incidents of similar nature through whichever means is an everyday activity at the National Referral Hospital,” he added.

John and his wife came over to Honiara from the province over five weeks ago, for the delivery of their first born baby.

After being discharged from hospital, they went to leave with relatives where they spent over a month in town with intentions to allow for the baby to grow stronger and fit to travel, before they can make their way back to Isabel where the wife was doing some internship work there.

On Monday, the John and his wife took their baby down to the Rove clinic for further medical care after the baby felt sick from swells at the back of her head.

The family made it to the clinic only to be referred to the NRH, which they did the next day, only to find themselves in an awful situation, which they believe will affect their daughter for the rest of her life.

Meanwhile, a senior management official from the NRH, who wished not to be named, spoken to on this said the alleged conduct of the nurse if true, was unfortunate and does not represent what nursing is all about, but formal comments in response and clarification from the National Referral Hospital Management is being sought.

Southwest Gela MPA called to explain touring grant

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

THE President of Peoples’ Power Association, Mr John Visivisi is calling on the provincial member for Southwest Gela ward, James Galini to explain how he has spent his touring grant since taking office in 2014.

Visivisi voiced that Mr Galini has not held any political meeting or toured his ward and still continues to submit false budgets for his yearly touring grant to the ministry of provincial government.

Referring to the money as public money, he said that it should be used for the betterment of the people in the rural areas.

However, speaking with Island Sun, Galini refuted Visivisi’s claims, saying that he has held political meetings and has toured his ward in 2015 and 2016.

Galini explained that although he did not tour his ward in 2017, he arranged for a meeting that was attended by two representatives from each village of his ward and a delegation from the provincial government.

He also denied continuous submission of false budgets to the ministry of provincial government.

Regarding the touring grant budget, Galini pointed out that it is to enable him to visit his people in the ward so he can communicate with them and inform them about his work in the provincial assembly and his development plans for Southwest Gela ward.

He furthered that the ward development grant is the grant that is used to assist people in the ward and not the touring grant.

SI waste management a tough challenge: Sogavare

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Deputy Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare and British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands David Ward with other participants who were part of the event on Thursday

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

Deputy Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare and British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands David Ward with other participants who were part of the event on Thursday

SOLOMON Islands rubbish or waste management and marine pollution is a ‘depressingly formidable challenge’, says Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

He revealed this yesterday during the beach clean-up event held at the Yacht Club in Honiara.

Mr Sogavare said regardless of the huge problem there are small ways to demonstrate participation, commitment and contribution towards tackling the problem of plastic rubbish, environmental and marine waste and pollution.

“But if serious measures are not taken now and put in place to address those problems, it will only become grater,” he said.

Sogavare said the initiative organised yesterday by the British High Commission demonstrates ways to address rubbish and in particular marine litter and plastics.

He explained one of the best approaches to seriously think about and address rubbish and littering generally in Honiara is through effective education.

“I must admit we in Solomon Islands have a very long way to go. Just look around Honiara and you ca see litter especially plastics everywhere, along the roads and streets, in the drains and waterways, drainage system and along our beaches and seashores,” said Sogavare.

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