WESTERN province will ban plastics as of July this year as part of its effort to be a plastic-free province.
The province is the first to impose such ban.
Premier of Western Province, Wayne Maepioh, said the plastic ban is part of the province’s plans and his administration is aggressively pursuing it.
Mr Maepioh said his administration is conscious about the environment of the province therefore the need to impose such restriction.
“The plastic free campaign which has been aggressively pursued will now reach its phase two for implementation.
“Effective as of July 1, 2018 Western Province will effect the banning of plastic shopping bags in markets and shops.”
He said the ban on plastic will includes ice-block plastics.
Maepioh revealed there is another ban planned on water bottles.
He said it is a separate ban that his administration will also follow up on.
“The issue relating to water bottles will be further pursued. But, for the meantime, the sale of plastic shopping bags and ice block especially in Gizo market and all markets elsewhere in the Province will be ceased,” Maepioh said.
He said this ban would give the women of the province a lucrative business opportunity to tap.
“This am sure will give women the opportunity to weave baskets or to sew shopping bags, a lucrative business,” Maepioh said.
WITH the recent revelation in the alleged manufacturing of tobacco product under a ‘Youki’ brand name that is said to be done without approval of the responsible authorities, there is also confusion over similarities in appearances and status as compared to current existing products in the country.
Yesterday, Island Sun’s publication on the issue also noted from sources including follow ups with those inside the Solomon Islands Tobacco Company (SITCo) for clarification on product similarities.
However, this paper was able to establish an official interview with the management for formal clarifications on this confusion over product similarities who officially disassociate SITCo from the reported brand name.
In an interview with SITCo’s General Manager, Shusendra Singh, he confirmed yesterday’s information on the product and distanced the company from being owner or part of the Youki brand.
Mr Singh clarified and further explained that the current brands manufactured by SITCo in the Solomon Islands are Pall Mall, Rothmans, and Solbako.
He said all brands sold in the country are packaged in compliance with the laws and contain the contact details of the company.
“The brand reported in the media article is not a product of SITCo,” the SITCo General Manager affirmed.
Meanwhile, he expressed SITCo’s supports to any government initiatives to carryout investigations into the reported issue as a matter of fairness.
“We welcome an even playing field for all tobacco manufacturers in the Solomon Islands in full compliance with all laws and regulations,” Singh added.
Currently, the country only has two major tobacco manufacturers, the Solomon Islands Tobacco Company Limited and the Solomon Sun who is the manufacturer of the Bro brand.
DESPITE how much shop owners may love their pet(s), they just cannot keep them in their shops.
Honiara City Council Chief Health Inspector George Titulu says unregistered pets kept in shops within town boundary is illegal.
He said this in response to complaints from public on shop owners keeping animals or pets in their shops, which public say poses a health risk to customers and members of public.
The animals are also regarded as a nuisance by many.
Mr Titulu said the dog ordinance of the council states that animals found without a disc or wondering at large in circumstances which constitutes a nuisance or danger to public or to any person renders them (animal) illegal.
“With these circumstances it endangers the health of daily consumers in terms of pets’ nuisances.
“Due to these mentioned circumstances taming of unregistered pets at shops in town boundary is illegal,” he said.
In relation to its penalties the ordinances states that any person found breaching this ordinance will be charged in the magistrate court in relation to the offence.
Titiulu says shop owners who are in the habit of rearing pets in their shops should be made aware of the ordinance.
Hence the council is planning a campaign in mid-year to educate and inform pet owners, shop owners who have pets and general public over the set ordinances of dogs and animals.
THE Paramount Chief of North Guadalcanal’s Thimbo tribe, Mr Benedict Garimane is calling on the former Member of Parliament for North Guadalcanal constituency, Mr Martin Sopage to explain to the people how he carried out constituency projects during his term as MP, a positon he held for two terms.
He said Mr Sopage is one of the candidates that will contest in the upcoming national elections, and people have been curious and are seeking explanation from him regarding how he took charge of the constituency projects when he was their MP.
Garimane said that these issues include financial assistance given by the government to build a constituency centre, a roofing iron machine, a machine to drill water, Lucas mills, housing project, a health clinic, a roofing iron project, a water tank project and the issue of constituency funds that were transferred to a private account.
With documents to show, he informed the paper that Sopage had received a sum of $500,000 for roofing iron project in 2010 and $300,000 for a 2012 water tank project both under the Ministry of Rural Development Project.
Garimane adds that an amount of $1,200,264 was also received by a private account instead of being deposited into the constituency’s account.
The paper was able to contact Sopage, who explained that during his two terms as North Guadalcanal’s member of parliament, the government had carried out auditing work in the constituency where people were questioned about the projects he carried out.
He also said that everything he had done was audited and he was not questioned about it.
THE court was told yesterday that investigation into the case against a man charged for three counts of sexual offence and one count of intimidation is still pending.
Public Prosecutor Dalcy Belapitu, under instruction from colleague in carriage of the case, said police investigators are yet to complete the investigation – this is in regards to the photographs and the sketch place of the crime scene.
Ms Belapitu said once all required documents are collected they will serve it to the defence before the accused can enter his plea on the charges against him.
Meanwhile the accused also told the court that he is yet to secure any lawyer to assist him with his cases.
Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika then adjourned the case to May 10 to allow prosecution time to gather all outstanding evidence and also for the accused to secure a lawyer to represent him in court.
PRINCIPAL Magistrate Jim Seuika has committed the Bauro murder case to the High Court.
Magistrate Seuika said after having looked through the documents tendered by the prosecution, at this stage prosecution is yet to prove the charge of murder as they are still to produce additional evidence relating to the case at the High Court.
Prosecution yesterday tendered the preliminary documents to the court and also made an application that prosecution will still tender additional documents to the High Court, this is in regards to the autopsy report.
Prosecutor Dalcy Belapitu, who appears on instruction of her colleague prosecutor, said that the autopsy report is yet to be produced as they are still waiting for the exhumation to be conducted.
The accused also was re-arraigned and he entered a not guilty plea.
This is in relation to the murder incident that prosecution alleged Jimmy Baukuhu of killing another person.
The allegation said Mr Baukuhu and his associates killed a man from Bauro on May 24, 2016.
The Prosecution said that the deceased was found lying dead at a seaside near Kirakira with a rope tied to his neck.
A Solomon Islands player turns around. Solomon Islands defeated host Papua New Guine 5-4 in a dramatic come
back.
BY ROMULUS HUTA
In Port Moresby, PNG
A Solomon Islands player turns around. Solomon Islands defeated host Papua New Guine 5-4 in a dramatic come back.
THE Solomon Islands national under-18 hockey men’s team made a perfect comeback in the final third to edge hosts PNG 5-4 in a nail-biting action yesterday in the second round of the Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey Qualifiers in Port Moresby.
The contest was a repeat of their earlier meeting during the tournament’s opener on Wednesday where they drew two-all at the Sir John Guise Hockey Pavilion.
Like in the first meeting, the hosts opened scoring in the first third and came out leading 1-0 after the first 10 minutes.
The match resumed into the second period and Solomon Islands bagged a goal to equalise. However, PNG added two more goals and extended lead to 3-1 by the second interval.
The match grew tense as it entered the final period and Solomon Islands fought to their best to score a total of four goals through a last-gasp effort in the dying moments to win the match.
PNG tried to make a comeback in the final two minutes and could only manage to get one goal but it was too late as Solomon Islands held onto the 5-4 margin to win the match.
Solomon Islands head coach Allen Temoa was overwhelmed with the result.
“I knew we would win the game.
“After they came out leading us after the second period, I told the boys to focus and play with a strong winning mentality.
“Going into the final third, we made a lot of changes to our game approach.
“PNG players appeared to have slowed down in most of their turning and we used that as a weapon to redirect our game plan and ended up scoring the four goals,” Temoa added.
The Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey Qualifiers is being competed by the hosts, Australia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.
The competition is conducted in a round robin format of two rounds. This means that each team get to play all opponents twice.
In their other match yesterday against Australia, they lost 19-0.
Solomon Islands currently sits at the third position of the ladder with four points behind Australia and Vanuatu, respectively, while PNG occupies the bottom spot.
The men’s team have two more matches to play before all round robin matches are wrapped up.
The two winners of the men’s competition will qualify into this year’s Youth Olympic Games set to take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October.
Guntimac players set up defense as Kooline's Geroge Stevenson hangs infront their goal mouth
Mataks bags first win.
By Taromane Martin
Guntimac players set up defense as Kooline’s Geroge Stevenson hangs infront their goal mouth
SIPA National futsal league table leaders Kooline FC were held to a disappointing 3-3 draw by Guntimac FC at the Multipurpose Hall yesterday.
A win for Kooline yesterday would have seen them sitting comfortably in pole position with 12 points but were forced to share the spoils by a determined Guntimac side.
Team Captain Ellis Mana gave Mataks the lead in the first half after combing well with his little brother Benjamin Mana for their opening goal.
Kooline responded through experienced Alvin Hou who picked up a yellow card a minute earlier for a tough challenge on Benjamin Mana, to level the scores 1-1 before the break.
Ellis Mana regained the lead for Guntimac in the second half but saw Hou again beating their defence to draw the match level for the table leaders once more.
George Stevenson stole the lead for Kooline five minutes from time after Guntimac opted to defend deep in their arc.
Ellis Mani made sure Guntimac shared the spoils finding the equaliser for his side with a minute from time.
“We are pleased with the result. Most of our boys do not have enough experience compared to Kooline who has the likes of George Stevenson, Coleman Makau, Alvin Hou and Atana Fa’arodo,” Guntimac Team Captain Ellis Mana said.
“Unfortunately we decided to defend deep while leading 2-1 and allowed them to level before stealing the lead.
“We look forward for our next matches,” he said.
Kooline Team Captain Coleman Makau although disappointed with the draw says they will need to move on and get ready for their next match.
“First of all thank you to Guntimac for giving us a good fight. Even though we have the experience in the squad they proved they are up to the task,” he said.
“It’s good to see this happening because most people expect teams who have national players in them to always win.
“But the young boys now are proving everyone wrong as Guntimac has shown today which is a good sign is for futsal’s’ future in the country.
“I always tell my boys to collect all three points in our matches. The draw today was disappointing but that is that and we have to move on and get ready for our next game,” Makau adds.
Despite yesterday’s disappointing draw, Kooline are still top of the competition table with 10 points after four matches played while Guntimac are with seven points.
Meanwhile, Mataks FC also picked up their first win in the competition after defeating Vania FC 8-2 yesterday.
Team Official Joel Iro was pleased with the win saying it is a good sign for his side because it shows their formation is starting to gel.
“Our previous two games we were not settled because our players were scattered therefore did not have enough time to work on our formation and game plans.
“After those two games we went back and worked on it in preparation for this match and claiming our first three points is a good sign.
“We’ll need to work on our defensive side and most importantly our fitness. There is still enough to work on these areas,” Iro adds.
SIEC confirms list for Gizo-Kolombangara constituency by-election
FIVE candidates have been nominated to contest the Gizo/Kolombangara constituency by-election next month.
The Office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission received the nominations by the close of nomination period at 4pm, Wednesday this week.
Returning Officer Christian Siale immediately after the close of nomination on Wednesday conducted a draw in Gizo, to determine the standing of candidates on the ballot paper.
The order of names on the ballot paper as a result of the draw is as follows:
In accordance with the process, publication of the List of Candidates at the close of nominations has been done throughout the constituency as of yesterday.
The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) in a press statement said the current standings are still subject to change if any candidate withdraws.
“After the close of nominations on Wednesday this week, 72 hours (3 days) was given, according to the Electoral Act, for any candidates wishing to withdraw to do so,” the statement said.
SIEC said the final list of confirmed candidates will be published after the withdrawal period lapses at 4pm on Saturday, April 28.
“If any candidates who wish to withdraw must do so in writing to the Returning Officer, within 72 hours after the close of nominations.” SIEC said.
The Returning Officer acknowledges the good people of Gizo Kolombangara for respecting and allowing the process to reach this far and would call for the same support and cooperation of the public during this campaign period to respect each other’s rights.
His Excellency the Governor General Sir Frank Kabui had officially proclaimed Wednesday, May 23, 2018 as the date for the Gizo Kolombangara By-Election.
SIEC would like to advise voters from Gizo Kolombangara constituency to be prepared to choose their representative and to listen to SIBC and Radio Happy Lagoon, as well as other media outlets including SIEC’s Facebook page for updates regarding important activities in the lead up to the By-Election.
A concerned citizen is calling on the Members of Parliament for West, Central and East Honiara constituencies to upgrade roads located in the inner section of Honiara.
Mr James Menai of Nangu Village, Santa Cruz voiced this to the paper yesterday.
He stressed that people living in and around areas accompanied by these poor conditioned roads often find it difficult when travelling.
Menai added that it is even more difficult for those who need to use public transportation to get to their destination because some cabs will not be able to travel on those roads.
On top of that, he said that it will also be critical in the case of emergencies especially when it involves transporting someone who needs to get to the hospital as fast as possible but can only get there at the pace the condition of the road allows.
Menai furthered that there are also many public servants who live along such roads.
He reiterates his call for the MPs to work together and have these roads upgraded.
