THE $500,000 which has been allocated for the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs will be focusing on youths and possibly children and having women missing out is a wakeup call, it is reported.
This was highlighted yesterday in an information sharing forum which was organised by the Solomon Islands National Council of Women (SINCW) executive, the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) as well as a representative from the Prime Minister Office.
It was organised purposely for responsible authorities to come forward and clarify and help women to understand why ‘zero budget’ was a final provision allocated to women of Solomon Islands.
According to the General Secretary (SINCW) Casper Fa’asala, the budget allocation is a wakeup call for the MWYCF, its agencies, women organisations and women individuals in the country.
“Which means it’s a call for the MWYCF, its agencies especially the SINCW to strengthen its work as well as individual women and women organizations in this country needs to be committed seriously on whatever works with regards to women that needed to be done.
“Also there must be collaboration, communications, and a conducive environment in terms of the process for better consultation and improve dialogues on matters where women can understand to help them venture into upper leadership levels,” he said.
Fa’asala adds that these are some of the essential missing links which needs attention for the mentioned parties to relook at and consider them seriously in order to measure all work performances for better service delivery for the benefit of all the women in this country.
Meanwhile the Permanent Secretary of the MWYCFA Dr Cedrick Alependava says the money allocated to them is very small thus only youths and children will be able to benefit in the development sector.
However, he says women can still be able to access funds in the recurrent budget in the form of grant.
THE local organising committee responsible for Isabel province’s upcoming event is in preparation to stage the Kodili Festival that is set to kick off in June at Isabel’s provincial capital, Buala.
Local organising committee member, Mr Eddie Kopala confirmed that while preparations are still in progress with the committee now in the consultation process with participants and ward, the event will take place from June 25 to 29.
The consultations are purposely to brief participants oN the activities that will be held during the festival, as well to confirm the activities they will be participating in.
Stalls and public houses for the festival village are currently in progress and are expected to be ready before the end of May.
Beautification for the events Village has also been contracted out for any interested local beautification specialised groups.
Charges for the stalls will be categorised into three different rates; $1000 for food stalls, $700 for Art & Craft and $1,500 for major companies.
Musical instruments for the event will be sponsored by Hon Steven Abana and will be the biggest system Isabel province will use for the programme.
In the meantime, the participants wards in and around the province, while preparing their items to put on show during the event whilst, other ward participants are making calls, urging their honourable to assist and facilitate them for the upcoming event.
Kwara’ae chiefs attending the one day brief meeting on Wednesday
BY GEORGE MANFORD
AUKI
Kwara’ae chiefs attending the one day brief meeting on Wednesday
MORE than twenty chiefs from Kwara’ae within the central region of Malaita province have attended a one-day meeting concerning reviving the laws within the central, west and east Kwara’ae.
According to the chairman of the Taki Abu I Kwara’ae association (TAIK) Chief Francis To’otalau, the aim of the association is fundamental to restore and preserve the Kwara’ae Abu Gwaumauri (covenant) which has been the way of life or the bedrock of the fabric of moral life for Kwara’ae people from the beginning.
He said the moral, spiritual, social and economic strive of Kwara’ae people is quarantined by the restoration of the Kwara’ae Abu Gwaumauri.
The association also aims to document the Abu Gwaumauri as it has never been properly placed on record.
To’otalau added that should this be done it would be history and a treasure for Kwara’ae’s future generation.
In the past the Kwara’ae society has always been a stable, orderly and holy (Abu) society until it began to decline just before the arrival of the ‘white man’.
The decline got worse with the arrival of the white man culture.
He said this decline is due to the changes over time of the Kwara’ae religious sacrifice and religion.
The association of Kwara’ae people is formed to counteract this decline and to retrieve, restore and preserve the customs and culture and to uphold the traditional rights and practices of the Kwara’ae people today.
It is to ensure that it is being taught and practiced now to mould and reshape Kwara’ae society.
The association is an agent of change for holistic development of life in Kwara’ae society, spiritually, morally, mentally, socially, economically and politically, To’otalau revealed.
The Taik Abu I Kwara’ae called TAIK association is a body organised and established by a group of founders consisting of church leaders, chiefs, and business men who have strong concern for the moral decline and break down of order in Kwara’ae region in Malaita province.
The TAIK association is the highest traditional, customs and culture, moral, economic and political organization of Kwara’ae society.
The meeting was conducted at the Anglican diocese of Malaita (DOM) conference room.
31 participants attending the Workshop on Developing local food and water microbiological testing capacity held on April 17
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
31 participants attending the Workshop on Developing local food and water microbiological testing capacity held on April 17
THIRTY-ONE officers from Government ministries and private sectors completed a one-day technical workshop on developing local food and water microbiological testing capacity held at the Environmental Health Division Conference Centre, Ministry of Health headquarters in Honiara.
The workshop was organised by the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) of the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MHMS), Cawthron Institute of New Zealand and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN).
The purpose of the workshop is to address gaps and update key government officials and stakeholders on the progress of two concurrent projects.
The projects are; Strengthening the capacity of the National Public Health Laboratory to provide services in support of market access for Solomon Island fish exporters and Strengthening the sustainability of Solomon Islands National Public Health Laboratory to obtain and maintain international accreditation.
FAO-UN is the main funding agency and the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), and ratified by the MHMS.
The Solomon Islands fishing industry is one of country’s major industry sectors employing more than 2000 people and also contributing substantially to government revenues and the national economy.
Processed fish (mainly canned tuna and cooked tuna loins) are among the top three commodities with the highest revenues from international trade.
The Solomon Islands has been approved to export fish to the European Union (EU). Maintaining access to the EU (largest destination market) and other international markets is a national priority.
Substantial support has already been provided by Australia and the EU to establish the competent authority for food safety and the infrastructure for diagnostic testing.
However, additional assistance is needed to enable the national laboratory to carry out microbiological testing in line with international standards to maintain access to overseas markets.
This support is expected to protect jobs in the fishing industry and sustain commercial fish exports which are worth approximately US$45million.
Upon completion, the project will enable the NPHL to comply with international microbiological food testing standards.
Laboratory staff will be trained and essential quality systems put in place to comply with international standards and good practice techniques.
By the end of the project in 2020 the laboratory will be assessed as ready for ISO 17025 certification for microbiological testing by a relevant international accreditation body for example, International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ).
Increased access to clean water and safe food are priority development goals for public health in the Solomon Islands.
By strengthening the laboratory’s capacity to monitor and evaluate contamination risks associated with water and food, the project will support efforts to protect domestic public health.
The laboratory will also be in a position to provide testing support to government agencies and international organizations involved in the delivery of local water projects and water management interventions.
The key government agency for implementing such interventions is the Environment Health Division health inspectors including the Honiara City Council health inspectors who are legally mandated to carry out water and food sampling routines and inspections and respond to public health issues.
The public is therefore advised to address their public health concerns and samples through our local health inspectors who will bring samples to the NPHL for analysis.
The technical workshop concluded with a visit to the National Public Health Laboratory facility located at the Solomon Islands National University, Kukum Campus.
A total of 21 participants were given the opportunity to observe the types of microbiological tests and instruments used to determine water and food quality.
It was a new and rewarding experience for the participants which helped them appreciate the importance of developing local laboratory testing capacity.
There are 31 attendees for the workshop includes key representatives from the MHMS such as Environmental Health Division, Competent Authority and Food Safety, Nutrition and Food Security Unit, NPHL.
Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Ministry of Commerce Industries Labour and Immigration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination (MDPAC) and Honiara City Council Environmental Health Officers.
Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Programme (PHAMA), FAO, Cawthron Institute, local food and water industries such as Soltuna, and Solomon Water.
Temotu Fish Limited, Sasha Water, Southern Seas Investment, Commodity Export Marketing Limited (CEMA), Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands (KPSI), Sol Fish Ltd and Szetu Breweries Ltd.
CENTRAL Islands Province (CIP) Deputy Premier and Minister of Education Selwyn Luga urges teachers of McMahon Community High School (CHS) to avoid unnecessary class absenteeism.
He said this after unnecessary class absenteeism too was one of the concerns raised by parents and students over teachers this week during the open forum that was held on Monday to address lack of students discipline occurring in McMahon.
“When teachers are absent from classes unnecessarily then it also contributes to student’s behaviours and attitudes,” said Luga.
However, he said the blame cannot be on teachers alone too as parents are also responsible for their children’s behaviour.
The open forum was the provincial authority’s response to the report that a student of McMahon was arrested on April 13 for being in possession of marijuana.
The student’s arrest was deemed as the last straw to the growing issue of discipline in the school, hence the open forum to find resolutions.
“This issue of arrest has become a national report and it is not heartening to hear that the incident has occurred in our province,” said Luga.
He said the open forum was a success on the understanding that they will be addressing the issue of lack of discipline.
POPULAR Papua New Guinea-based Solomon Islands singer Samson Saeni, best known as Sharzy, will travel to Australia in June to promote his new album.
Sharzy plans to travel to Cains on June 16 to launch his album.
He plans to travel to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
With about seven week before making a debut of his new album in Australia, Noro and Gizo in the Western province will have a taste of the new album this weekend.
“I will perform a couple of my new songs during the Noro and Gizo show,” Sharzy said.
Sharzy will perform in Noro tomorrow and in Gizo this Saturday.
The new album called “One Summer” has different style of music when compared to his first albums.
Most of the songs in the album are about love and happiness. They are all written by Sharzy.
“The songs in the album are love and happy songs. The songs are all positive vibes,” the three-time award winning singer said.
Sharzy’s new album is recorded in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea under the Big Time production owned by a local.
He will perform two days before appearing in the Gizo magistrate court over his recent entry into the country crossing the border from PNG.
(Second from right) Professor Mark Henaghan with the Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer, New Zealand High Commissioner to Solomon
Islands and Judges at the High Court Chamber.
BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
(Second from right) Professor Mark Henaghan with the Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer, New Zealand High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Judges at the High Court Chamber.
THE Dean of Law of the University of Otago New Zealand Professor Mark Henaghan says that Law should reflect what is important to the society.
Speaking to local journalists earlier this week at the High Court, Henaghan said it is important for the lawyers and judges to listen to the people and say what is not working and what is working in the legal system.
“Are we doing things good or badly it is important for the lawyers to open their minds to the people because the Legal system is only as good as how the people accept it if the people reject it then we do not have any rule of law,” he said.
He said legal system is a system working for the people and not for lawyers and not for judges this is a system for the people to resolve their dispute.
“Anyone out there in the streets will say if something happens I expect the legal system to work for me if it does not work then everyone loses faith in that and then we do not have any law to resolve disputes,” he said.
He also said that everyone in the society has to question the legal system and it is a healthy thing to do that.
Henaghan is currently in the country conducting training for judges, magistrates and lawyers on how they can effectively play their role in delivering their services to the people of Solomon Islands.
The training was made possible by the New Zealand Government who funded Professor Henaghan to come here and conduct the trainings.
He said this training for the justice system for the judges and lawyers of the Solomon Islands and for them to be best lawyers and judges for the Solomon Islands people.
MAKING criticisms against the legal system especially lawyers, magistrates and judges does not mean the legal system is weak.
Responding to questions raised by journalists, Professor Mark Henaghan, who is in the country conducting training for lawyers, magistrate and judges, said public can criticise lawyers and judges putting things online and on Facebook – that is normal.
“When people lost their case they criticise the lawyer and the judges and it is normal, because two people go to court and one loses and they never happy with the legal system because they can’t both win, it is the same in every legal system in the world they get criticism,” Henaghan said
“But I can say you have very good lawyers and judges here they are working very hard to deliver though they have very limited resources.
“Many of them are not paid as much as they would be in other countries they worked really hard worked long hours, so I don’t think you have a weak system.”
He also gave a talk which explained that lawyers have to be disciplined if they do something off track.
He also touched on young new graduate lawyers going into practice, which Henaghan cautions they be monitored by senior lawyers to guide them for an initial period of time.
“We want lawyers to have good protection and just the same in journalism you only learn from the people who are experienced, if you do it your own you can go off track, same for all profession.”
THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) commemorated World Malaria Day yesterday through dissemination of information to the public about important work of the Vector Borne Disease and Control Programme (VBDCP) at both national and provincial levels.
With this year’s celebration the VBDCP highlighted great achievements related to addressing vector borne disease globally and challenges the organisation faced throughout the years.
The National VBDCP director, Mr Albino Bobogare said, “Although we are continuously making achievements, there is still a lot of work to be done before we can eliminate malaria in Solomon Islands.”
Bobogare said there was substantial improvement in data coverage and completeness during 2017 as a result of the full roll-out of the VBDCP’s data collection programme.
He said such data allows the MHMS to ascertain whether confirmed malaria cases are being treated correctly according to the national guidelines.
The programme continues to assist provinces that are yet struggling to achieve timely entry of records as a result of poor internet connectivity.
The programme is placing additional emphasis now on developing simple web-based tools that will provide near-instant analysis and reporting at provincial and sub-provincial levels.
This information is crucial to ensuring that the VBDCP can respond to problem areas appropriately.
These achievements are significant, however the public also needs to make changes to keep the malaria cases down, Bobogare said.
He urges public to use mosquito nets properly as directed by health workers as to reduce mosquito bites at night, and strongly emphasises the importance of cleaning our surroundings, covering all storage containers, and ensuring drainage are not blocked with rubbish or other wastes.
Besides that, he advises people diagnosed with malaria to complete their dosage as directed.
“With the MHMS and the public working together, we can move in the right direction towards eliminating malaria in our country,” Bobogare said.
THE female candidate for the Gizo-Kolombangara by-election, in the Western province, Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada, wasted no time as soon as the nomination period closed yesterday.
Lanelle completed her nomination formalities in Gizo yesterday morning and in the afternoon launched her campaign.
The campaign launching started with a parade through Gizo town. At the venue for the official programme, Lanelle delivered a powerful speech that got the crowd cheering throughout.
Lanelle is the wife of the former Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Jimson Tanangada.
She is contesting along three male candidates. One of them is a former MP and Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo.
Mr Lilo was defeated by Mr Tanangada in the 2014 national general elections.
However, Lilo successfully lodged a petition against Tanangada which led to his disqualification from the seat last November ordered by the High Court.
Since then the Gizo-Kolombangara parliamentary seat has been vacant.
Lanelle said she is contesting the seat in response to calls by the people in the constituency for a leader to continue the work her husband had started.
Jubilation in the air.
This call becomes clear when speakers at the launching programme took their time to speak about their hope for a humble leader. They say Lanelle is the perfect person for the seat.
Lanelle said she had already received criticisms for contesting the seat as a woman.
“I think I know my place. I am a mother and I can speak for the silent majority especially the women and children in the rural areas.
“I want to do my best for the interest of the people in the Gizo-Kolombangara constituency,” Lanelle said.
She said she is confident and is prepared to be the voice of the constituency.
The 38-year-old calls for unity, solidarity and respect during this time until the polling day on May 23.
Lanelle is no ordinary woman. Like her husband, she is a teacher by profession. Lanelle graduated with a Masters in Education at the Waikato University in New Zealand.
She has given up her job as a teacher at Burnscreek School in Honiara to contest the seat.
Lanelle said she is contesting with no “revenge” as she is only putting to action the call by people in the constituency especially their leaders and women.
This is the first time a woman is contesting the Gizo-Kolombangara seat.
Whoever wins this by-election will only serve for seven months before parliament dissolves preparing for fresh national general elections next year.
