Ender and Atkin Rence taking part in roasting fish as well during the launching.
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
Ender and Atkin Rence taking part in roasting fish as well during the launching.
NGELLA People were denied by relevant authorities when seeking for assistance to host the Pana Festival in the island.
Because authorities failed to listen to the community request, Imperial Travel Service has stepped in to support the people of Ngella after setting the idea to hold a cruise on July 6 at Ngella that will be coinciding with the festival.
According to Mrs Ender Rence the Managing Director of Imperial Travel Service, there assistance is not about competing but complementing each other in the tourism industry being in line with the government tourism policy.
“The community came and asked if they could showcase their Pana (local food crop) during the cruise in which we set our plans. It will be the community who will be organising in the village for the festival and Imperial Travel Service will assist in promotion and marketing,” said Rence.
The Pana Festival will be marked as history in the making for the first time for Ngella people to hold a festival for their significant custom food that is usually harvested more than one time compared to others provinces.
Launching for the 2018 Imperial Islands Cruise that will be coinciding with the Pana Festival took place over the weekend at Haroro Village, Central West Ngella.
Recap: Former SI PM Rick Hou speaking, former MHA PS Geroge Palua and former 2023PG taskforce chair Gabriel Suri meets female weightlifters Jenly Wini (second left) and Mary Kini Lifu (third left). Both lifters are trying to come home amidst the coronavirus pandemic spreading across the world. Picture ISNFile.
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has attended the Partnering with the Pacific gathering at the Commonwealth House in Gold Coast on Saturday.
The gathering was organised to promote businesses in the Pacific and attended by other dignitaries, Pacific Island businesses including the Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk and Governor of Queensland Paul de Jersey.
During her opening and welcoming remarks, Premier Palaszczuk formally welcomed Prime Minister Hou and other dignitaries, highlighting the importance between the trade relations between Australia and the Pacific Island countries.
PM Hou addressing Team Solomon.
Senator for New South Wales and Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells also welcomed the Prime Minister and said Australia treasures its relationship with the Pacific Islands.
Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Solomon Islands HE Colin Beck represented Solomon Islands as one of the panelists during the event.
Mr Beck said Solomon Islands has a lot to offer in trade and businesses in the region.
He said with the country’s second international airport in Munda to be opened soon, Solomon Islands will offer a lot for tourism and trade opportunities.
PM Hou congratulated Solomon Island’s first ever Commonwealth Games medalist Jenly Wini
Beck also informed the panel and dignitaries of the current national projects which include the Tina Hydro Project and the Submarine Cable Project.
“These projects are expected to boost trade and business opportunities in the country,” he said.
He also said that the Pacific island nations should not be regarded as small island states; however, they should be known as large ocean states since they come from the Pacific Ocean, the largest in the world.
PM Hou, Minister Mewa and H.E Colin Beck welcomed at the Games Village.
Representatives from Fiji and PNG also made presentations on the importance of doing business in the Pacific island states.
Prime Minister Hou also informally met with the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden; both prime ministers were invited by the Queensland Premier to join her in watching the opening of the Men’s Rugby 7s event at the Robina Stadium.
–OPMC PRESS
PM Hou speaking to PS Palua, 2023 PG taskforce chair Suri and female weightlifters Jenly Wini and Mary Kini Lifu.PM Hou and Minister Mewa meeting Team Solomon upon arrival. Photos by PM Press Secretary.
PM Hou addressing Team Solomon in Gold Coast on his way to London.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
PM Hou addressing Team Solomon in Gold Coast on his way to London.
SOLOMON Islands joins 53 nations under the Commonwealth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which starts on the 16th April 2018.
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela and his delegation are in London for the CHOGM, with the official opening ceremony taking place on the 16th April at the Buckingham Palace.
In the coming days, PM Hou will join other leaders in working sessions to discuss shared global challenges, attend a dinner hosted by Her Majesty The Queen at the Buckingham Palace and gather at the Windsor Castle for the leaders’ retreat.
This will give the opportunity for leaders including Hou and his delegation to interact and engage in frank dialogue and set the course for future Commonwealth co-operation.
The CHOGM is an opportunity for Solomon Islands to share the country’s pressing issues related to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Solomon Islands joined the Commonwealth in 1978, since then after every two years the country is privileged to participate in the CHOGM gathering.
At the CHOGM, member countries discuss and share common ideas and interests.
Across the Commonwealth, member states face common challenges such as weak global trade and investment-flow, new cross-border security threats and the effects of climate change on small islands and other vulnerable states.
Discussions will also highlight threats to the 53 nations’ shared values of democracy, good governance and inclusivity as set out in the Commonwealth Charter.
This year’s summit’s theme is “Towards a common future”.
The theme is focussed on building on the strengths of the Commonwealth to ensure this unique organisation is responsive to global challenges and delivers a more prosperous, secure, sustainable and fair future for all its citizens, particularly its young people.
In this year’s CHOGM, the forums will centre on ‘people’, ‘business’, ‘women’ and ‘youth’.
On the global context, Human Rights Advocator in Uganda, Africa Mr Opiyo called for discussions on unfinished business in Uganda’s human rights which the Commonwealth has been seen as having ‘failed to address’.
At the CHOGM, Uganda human rights advocators will bring to the table human rights abuses which continue to impede any progress towards the establishment of an accountable government and the rule of law.
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern will use this CHOGM as an opportunity to meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss bilateral and international issues, including the shared goal of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) once the UK has left the European Union (EU).
Meanwhile, Island Sun understands PM Hou will officially open Solomon Islands diplomatic office in London.
NEARLY a thousand women from the North Vella la Vella constituency are set to undergo financial training.
Virginia Pilua, coordinator of Jorio, Jawa and Dovele women’s Association (JJWDA), said 900-plus women from Jorio, Jawa and Dovele, North Vella La Vella Constituency will by the end of this month sit for the training.
She said this training would help rural women of the constituency to acquire knowledge on banking; its importance and processes.
Mrs Pilua said the training will prepare the women for the proposed bank agents which will be established throughout the constituency soon.
This plan would also remove the cost of having to travel to Gizo, the Western province capital, to do banking.
She said financial training is the heart of effective, finance management, generating, reporting and as well as to enable the JJDWA association to run effectively in terms of business perception.
“Women from North Vella La Vella are now looking forward for this financial education training, to help them recognise the importance of regular savings and expenditures, showing them how to calculate costs, profit and cash flow plans.”
She adds that the training is not only for women alone but interested men and youths in the community are also welcome.
It will be facilitated by the Gizo Bank South Pacific (BSP).
WOMEN of North Vella la Vella constituency are resorting to cocoa as their main source of income, it is reported.
The recent success of the product domestically and internationally has convinced the women to choose cocoa.
The tree also grows easily on the island, and is said to be growing all over Vella island.
Speaking to this paper in an exclusive interview over the weekend, coordinator of the constituency Mrs Virginia Pilua said they are eyeing cocoa as the main source ‘to earn money with less hard work’.
“We all know besides, the end products of cocoa bean especially chocolate and beverages are considered among the basic food in many countries of the world.
“However, the most important post processing is drying of its beans is drying before storage,” said Pilua.
She said talks are underway on how to get a cocoa dryer for the women.
“As soon our cocoa dryer proposal is approved, will buy the dryer so that women amongst five zones of the constituency will work their cocoa plans as source of income into action,” she said.
BIOSECURITY Solomon Islands (BSI) has come up with strategies to battle the coconut rhinoceros beetle during a workshop with domestic shipping companies in Honiara recently.
Although the meeting was short, the outcome was positive as domestic shipping companies in the country agreed to help with slowing down the movement of coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) around the country.
Coordinator of CRB, Bob Macfarlane said they hope that companies would take the issue seriously and suggest practical ideas that could be put in place without the need for legislation.
Mr Macfarlane said, “Industry is very willing to cooperate with Biosecurity Solomon Islands (BSI), and industry is interested in agreeing a MoU about management of CRB with MAL/BSI, perhaps via the Solomon Islands Maritime Transport Association (SIMTA).”
He adds, the industry is happy for BSI to train captains and crews to recognise CRB and high risk cargoes.
Macfarlane said strategies recommended as outcome from the workshop is ship owners will consider trying to arrange all loading and departures for daylight hours whenever possible.
To slow movement of beetle, ship owners would educate public through displayed posters and stickers onboard and make announcements about the control of CRB.
Passenger boat owners will display videos about CRB when provided by BSI, he said.
Macfarlane said BSI will follow up on these ideas over the next few weeks and try to continue to interact with the industry, particularly the logging industry.
He said they hope to foster responsible shipping arrangements to slow down the spread of CRB without resorting to legislation.
More than 30 local shipping and logging companies were invited to attend the workshop but only four large shipping companies plus two small companies from Russell Islands and a canoe driver bothered to turn up. No logging company attended.
THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is set to open a new police post this week in the Western province.
Poetete police post opens tomorrow in Kolombangara Island.
The new station extends the reach and visibility of law enforcement in the communities at Poetete station.
Provincial Police Commander Western Province Chief Supt Mathias Lenialu together with the General Manager of the KFPL will officially open the new post.
Lenialu said, “The new police station located at Poetete station will allow us to further our efforts in providing superior law enforcement services within the surrounding communities to keep our law and order.
“We thank the RSIPF for continues support and contractors to completed the new police post building for Poetete community.
“As we continue to experience population increases, we will continue to engage and cultivate relationships with the community.
“Western Province Police will continue to provide security for people living around the province.”
He said invited guests from Munda, Noro and Gizo, RSIPF, senior executive members and KFPL management will witness the official opening ceremony.
He said guest of honour, Western province’s supervising Premier and the Deputy Commissioner of Police will take on the dais for the general salute, inspect parade and cutting ribbons.
RISKY DIGGING
Gravel digging near Lunga bridge illegal, endangers lives
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
THE company currently digging gravel at the eastern side of the Lunga Bridge is said to be carrying out an illegal activity.
It is reported that the company does not have a permit to carry out this operation plus it is posing a great threat for the people living downstream because of the changes done to the river bed which will affect the flow and route of the river.
Upon consultation with the Mines and Mineral division, it is found that such digging operation for gravel is under the category of mining process in which one needs a permit under the Mines and Mineral Act to extract gravel from any river.
“Whether they are using any permit for building or construction services, they must have a Building Material Permit (BMP),” said the mines and mineral division.
Island Sun understands that to obtain a BMP, approval must come from the Mines and Mineral Board.
Only five companies in Honiara have a BMP and this BMP is valid for only one year, but renewable.
Apart from acquiring a BMP, the mines and minerals division said an applicant must also have a development consent from the Ministry of Environment before they can be awarded with a permit from the mines and mineral board.
The development consent from the Environment division is mainly on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
EIA is the process of examining the anticipated environmental effects of a proposed project - from consideration of environmental aspects at design stage, through consultation and preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR).
The Mines and Mineral division revealed they have not seen any EIAR on the activity at Lunga Bridge and also questions the legitimacy of such activity.
“Such operation should be a kilometre away from the river in which that is not the case. They are only digging for gravel just beside the river.
“So it is not allowed for such operation to take place. The company does not have a work permit and there has not been any EIA process.
“They are breaking the law and operating illegally.”
The mines and mineral division added that operating beside the river currently is destabilising the normal flow of the river in which it will have an impact.
Island Sun has not been able to get comments from the Ministry of Environment on the EIA.
The Mines and Mineral Division said they understood the company is called AJ and they have already contacted them - but they (AJ) does not want to discuss with them (Mines and mineral division).
“They only said that they already have a permit from the landowners having spent money on the operation already also and they do not need any more permits,” said the Mines and Mineral Division.
AJ Company is said to have received the go-ahead for their operations by a former Minister in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID).
Caption: The site at Lungga River that AJ Company is currently digging gravel at.
Gravel digging near Lunga bridge illegal, endangers lives
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
THE company currently digging gravel at the eastern side of the Lunga Bridge is said to be carrying out an illegal activity.
It is reported that the company does not have a permit to carry out this operation plus it is posing a great threat for the people living downstream because of the changes done to the river bed which will affect the flow and route of the river.
Upon consultation with the Mines and Mineral division, it is found that such digging operation for gravel is under the category of mining process in which one needs a permit under the Mines and Mineral Act to extract gravel from any river.
“Whether they are using any permit for building or construction services, they must have a Building Material Permit (BMP),” said the mines and mineral division.
Island Sun understands that to obtain a BMP, approval must come from the Mines and Mineral Board.
Only five companies in Honiara have a BMP and this BMP is valid for only one year, but renewable.
Apart from acquiring a BMP, the mines and minerals division said an applicant must also have a development consent from the Ministry of Environment before they can be awarded with a permit from the mines and mineral board.
The development consent from the Environment division is mainly on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
EIA is the process of examining the anticipated environmental effects of a proposed project – from consideration of environmental aspects at design stage, through consultation and preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR).
The Mines and Mineral division revealed they have not seen any EIAR on the activity at Lunga Bridge and also questions the legitimacy of such activity.
“Such operation should be a kilometre away from the river in which that is not the case. They are only digging for gravel just beside the river.
“So it is not allowed for such operation to take place. The company does not have a work permit and there has not been any EIA process.
“They are breaking the law and operating illegally.”
The mines and mineral division added that operating beside the river currently is destabilising the normal flow of the river in which it will have an impact.
Island Sun has not been able to get comments from the Ministry of Environment on the EIA.
The Mines and Mineral Division said they understood the company is called AJ and they have already contacted them – but they (AJ) does not want to discuss with them (Mines and mineral division).
“They only said that they already have a permit from the landowners having spent money on the operation already also and they do not need any more permits,” said the Mines and Mineral Division.
AJ Company is said to have received the go-ahead for their operations by a former Minister in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID).
Max catering businesses deliver's food on site for his customers. These young people with speech and hearing impairment share their time eating what Max has provided
Max Webo on the right with Collin Albert the Group Leader for Y@W Young Entrepreneur’s Component, when decided to start his catering buiness, Y@W programme helped him with the materials he need.
IT is a local norm that the role of women and girls is limited to the kitchen in our male dominated society.
Picture a rare sight: a man in a kitchen, sweat perspiring from his forehead as he learns over a boiling soup, the aroma of onion and garlic seeping through his clothes and the air as he pinches off cabbage leaves from its stalk.
A practically extinct sight would be if that man is a youth who has lots of energy to do fun stuff with friends instead.
Seeing this is as an opportunity to start his business, Max Webo – a young man from Malaita has decided to take up catering.
His business, Hoodlum Catering, provides food on training sites and in offices for certain events.
Apart from spending time in the kitchen, Max, like many other young people his age, enjoys playing soccer and listening to music.
Max grew up in a family of six boys where his interest for cooking was bred, no doubt, in his mother’s kitchen.
From here, he fully embraced the skills learnt, inspiring him to become one of the best cooks in town.
When asked what is unique about his catering, the 20-year-old replied, “I am very reliable and always on time. Most of my dishes consist of local food which are sold at an affordable price.”
Speaking to one of his customers, Desmond Mane, who currently attends trainings under the Y@W programme, he said “I really like the food. Max’s catering team usually come and delivers every time at our training venue.”
He went on to say, “I do not have any preference on the dishes he delivers as I enjoyed the food every time it was brought here.”
Growing up, the young lad always admired the professional chefs he watched on TV and wanted to be like them in his later years.
Young Max was pushed out from high school due to disciplinary measures decided by the school and was not allowed to return because his parents would not agree to the idea of him going back to school.
Max’s mum is his biggest and only staff in the business. she does the delivery to the training sites, while Max stays back at home doing the wash up
He went on to attend vocational centres in the hope of finding work at the end of the day.
Unfortunately, this was to no avail.
“I was not able to get a job immediately after attending a vocational training centre because the course I took did not align with my interests.”
It was not until Max was involved in the Y@W programme that he decided to nourish his interest of cooking and earn a living out of it.
“The first kind of training I ever attended was organized by Y@W back in 2014. It was a training on how to bake cakes and create chicken dishes through deep frying.
“Afterwards, I came back in 2016 and joined a series of basic business training under Youth@Work. I then set out to do my business.
“One of my biggest Y@W gigs was doing catering for the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). It was a four-day training and I was engaged to set up and provide food.”
He went on to explain that doing such big gigs gets very hectic and requires a lot of hard work.
“It’s a lot of pressure when I have to prepare and deliver on time. However, I quite enjoy the adrenaline, especially with the YWCA four days catering which included morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea,” he said.
He continued on, “The drive that keeps me going is my aim and goal at the end of the day.”
At the moment, Max gets help from his mum who usually delivers lunch for young people with disabilities who are doing their training at the Bahai’i centre.
Max and his mother have an agreement where they distribute catering responsibilities equally between them.
While Max’s mother does deliveries, Max himself does the dishes and cleans up.
Max’s unorthodox business has roused the interest of a number of his friends.
“Most of my peers earn their income by selling betel nut and cigarettes in small huts or in front of their homes so they become curious about the activity that I am involved in. I usually get a lot of questions about it,” Max said.
Max also shared that, at the area where he lives, there was a man who used to work at Pacific Casino as a chef.
“I would, at a number of occasions, go and help him out in his kitchen serving noodles and eggs. I really enjoyed it. That experience reaffirmed my interest in becoming a professional chef – a goal I am working towards achieving it at the moment.”
When asked where he sees himself in the next five months and how he is going to achieve it, the young lad replied, “Five months from where I started, I see myself having gained a good amount of experience and would have already paid for most of the utensils I would need in my kitchen.”
He went onto say, “Since starting up my catering business, I have tried to save up my profits. However, because I do not deposit my profits at a bank, I have a tendency to use it up again. This is a major challenge that I have been struggling with for a while.”
Max catering businesses deliver’s food on site for his customers. These young people with speech and hearing impairment share their time eating what Max has provided
Fortunately, he has found an antidote to this, “Whilst attending a refresher training for those of us who are registered under the Y@W Young Entrepreneur’s Component, I found out that I could save my sum of profits under the NPF initiative called YouSave.”
It was with the YouSave scheme that Max realised his profits were growing well, building him bridge to reaching his goals within his planned timeframe.
“At first I did not know what procedures to follow so I could properly save my money. When I came across it during one of our trainings, I knew I had the solution to my challenge.
“The YouSave scheme would allow me to successfully save money as it makes it difficult for me to withdraw whenever it suits me,” he laughed.
“So in five months from now, I would like to see myself opening up a kitchen serving fruits, veggies and local food,” Max said.
At the moment, Y@W and SPCSI are his main customers.
“I have difficulties promoting my set-up – not because I do not have much to show – but because I do not know how.
“My first attempt is to create a page on Facebook and share it with friends in order to build my client base.”
Max is available for business doing catering for any individuals or businesses who might be interested in his menu outline: local motu cabbage and chicken, fruit platters, soup, beef or fish stew, and vegetables.
He concluded by saying, “Work hard on your business – be faithful and committed to whatever you are doing. At the end of the day, you will be able to achieve your goals or for whatever you are aiming for.”
Max is a young entrepreneur who is growing and improving by the day.
His business is at a stage where he is building his client base and is open to anyone who is interested in supporting him.
Being young and venturing into the business world is tough.
He may need support in terms of mentoring on marketing and catering management to take his small scale business to another level where he can expand and develop.
Choiseul police detains man for illegally crossing SI-PNG border
POLICE Taro, Choiseul province, are holding a 28-year-old man from Ukraine who had illegally entered the country through the border with Papua New Guinea.
Police had been alerted by the Immigration Department alleging that the man entered Solomon Islands illegally through the border.
Provincial Police Commander, Choiseul Province, Superintendent Cedar Nevol said, “We were alerted by the Immigration Department on April 9, 2018 that the man had entered Solomon Islands through the Shortland Islands and was believed to be in Taro.”
Nevol said her officers tracked the Ukrainian down and invited him to the Taro police station, where they discovered that he was without passport.
“Following instructions from Immigration in Noro, Police instructed him to get on the Solomon Airlines flight on April 10, 2018 at his own expense to travel to Honiara to meet with Immigration Officials.
“The Ukraine national however failed to board the Solomon airline flight and took off to Fauro Islands in the Shortlands by boat.
“With information from members of the community, Police discovered he had travelled to Toumoa village on Fauro Islands in the Shortland Islands.
“My officers travelled by stabi craft to Toumoa where the man was picked up and brought back to taro the evening of Wednesday April 11, 2018.”
The Director of Immigration Solomon Islands has now instructed the PPC Choiseul Province to detain the Ukrainian national who has been held at Taro station.
According to the instruction of the Director Immigration, the Ukrainian will be detained until arrangement have been made for him to be transported back to the Papua New Guinea side of the common border with Solomon Islands.
“Police in Choiseul province as one of the border provinces will continue to assist the Immigration Department to ensure such alleged illegal entries are processed through the legal channels,” says Superintendent Nevol.
“I wish to thank members of the public for information which led to the location of the Ukrainian national and my officers for bringing him back to Taro after he escaped to Fauro Islands.”
