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SFA pays shipping costs for 100 urgently needed hospital beds

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Alfred Sasako

THE Solomon Forest Association (SFA) has again turned “Good Samaritan“ to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, paying the shipping costs of 100 urgently-needed hospital beds for the National Referral Hospital and two provincial hospitals.

The freight and associated costs come to more than USD11,000 (about SBD88,000), which SFA has remitted to Take My Hand in Auckland, New Zealand this week.

They would be assembled in a two 40ft containers from New Zealand to be shipped to Honiara in the next month or so.

“The beds are now being collected from hospitals in New Zealand, where they are surplus to requirements, and placed in storage at the ‘Take My Hands’ (TMH) Charity Trust depot in Auckland prior to shipment to Honiara.

“I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the SFA for this donation and to TMH for its continuing humanitarian work on behalf of the SI MOHMS and local NGO’s,” former police commissioner Frank Short said.

“I … wish to express my sincere thanks to you and the Board of the SFA for kindly agreeing to aid the MOHMS by paying the freight charges associated with the sea freight from New Zealand of 2 x 40 containers with 100 hospital beds,” Mr Short said.

Janette Searle of Take My Hand also acknowledged SFA’s generosity. The two containers are different from a 20ft container Take My Hand had sent to the NGOs including Hearts of Hope in Auki, SIDT in Honiara and People with Disabilities, also in Honiara.

The container arrived earlier this month, but to date the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has not cleared it from the wharf.

Take My Hand has so far sent 982 pieces of medical equipment ranging from hospital beds, to gloves and masks (total weight at 31,950kg), according to statistics provided by the Auckland-based charitable organisation.

Ms Searle said the estimated value of this equipment is $350,819 NZD (actual cost of the projects combined is under $35,000NZD)

“We’ve also estimated based on evidence of extended length of life of equipment that the number of (Solomon Islands’) people helped will be nearly 100,000.

Of the projects we have done with MOMHS are:

  • 1 x 40ft container of hospital beds (SFA funding covered freight and transport costs);
  • 3 x 20ft containers with a range of medical equipment (covered in the MOU with MOHMS, NRH, SIIF and TMH); and
  • 1 x 20ft NGO container – with SFA covered freight and transport costs.

“My understanding is that they are also helping clear the container in Honiara. And now there will be 2 x 40ft containers of hospital beds,” Searle said.

The SFA initially paid for the first couple of containers which brought 148 hospital beds some two to three years back.

The SFA also paid the freight and transport costs for the NGO’s container at more than NZ12,000. It has supplies for local NGO’s, the Disability Association, Hearts of Hope, Women’s Refuge Centres, the Eye Hospital and the SIDT. It arrived in Honiara on April 2. The container had an additional 3,000 pairs of spectacles for the Eye Hospital Lions Clubs kindly donated.

Why multi-million tourism complex in Gizo is delayed

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
The current state of the million-dollar tourism office complex project currently under delay for a year now in Gizo. Photo by Alfred Pagepitu

By Gary Hatigeva

The proposed completed Tourism office complex. Photo supplied

WHAT is being debated as the delay into the million-dollar tourism complex project in Gizo, Western Province, has raised questions among people in the province and responsible stakeholders.

Questions have continuously being asked and issues relating to the project and why it has been delayed for a year.

They questioned the Trades Transformation Company (TTC) progress in the implementation of the project and why head of the company failed to update them about the project.

The project is designed to be a flagship to boost tourism destination in the province as it will develop, promote and market Tourism products and services in the province.

Information has it that it was not until 2013 and 2014, the project finally received its approval and actual construction work began.

TTC, a local contractor in Honiara who has over the past been engaged in various construction of government projects such including roads, bridge and buildings, is the current contractor working on the construction work.

But now people living in the province are expressing deep concerns over the current tourism complex, which has also been described as an eye sore building as they all question the delay of the implementation of the province tourism office complex including the provincial government and Tourism and Culture Division Office.

Information further revealed that no construction work is being done and Island Sun Gizo reports that the project has not moved and grasses have grown tall within the compound.

The current state of the million-dollar tourism office complex project
currently under delay for a year now in Gizo. Photo by Alfred Pagepitu

Sources informed Island Sun that some TTC workers have also raised concerns over not receiving their payments for four fortnights.

“This project was a three-year national project which works should have commenced in 2014, but still there is no investigation carried out to find out why there is a delay to the building until this year,” some of the questions states.

“Where are we heading and where is Tarzen Holosivi to plainly explain to the people of Western Province why the tourism complex is incomplete,” others asked.

Meanwhile, the Western Province Tourism Association (WPTA) committee also joined the people’s concerns, questioning TTC for not quickly completing the information centre.

“The department hopes to make this model work for Western Province and use it as an example for every province in Solomon Islands.

“This complex will comprise of a reception area that will provide information and educational materials for visitors, students and researchers. The area will have sofas, tables and chairs for those waiting or carrying out information research.

“But no such development rendered, while it is noted that a lot of tourists visit Western Province, students and visitors from different countries and provinces and have experienced difficultly to seek for information,” said WPTA members.

WPTA stated that if TTC is unable to complete the million dollars project, then it or the ministry should hand over to other contractor’s base in the province to complete the complex.

People of Western Province are now planning to seek legal advice to report the halt to the Magistrate Court.

Meanwhile, the TTC Managing Director in an interview explained that the delay is an unfortunate situation as it is something that is outside of their control.

Mr Holosivi when contacted last night on this said there were some technical issues surrounding the first phase of the project, which was based on some unforeseen circumstances to the facility’s design and plan.

He said the original plan never factored the technicalities involved in the location of the project site and based on engineers’ findings (survey and report) changes were pointed out making additional costing, which Holosivi claimed had forced an unexpected exhaustion of the first trench of payment, resulting in the gap that arose the need for additional funds.

“Unfortunately, due to the cash flow issue experienced by the government last year, the request for a variation of funds was not forthcoming, which then affected the progress of our work into the project.

“And that too has affected our payroll structure, but from our own allocation, we were able to manage it,” the TTC Managing Director explained.

He however assured the Western Province public that the company, after dialogues with the ministry, is prepared to take the status of works into the project back on track and normal, having to commit personal funds for its completion.

It is understood that no specific allocation was set forth in the 2018 budget for the project, but according to the contractor, the ministry is keen to see the much anticipated tourism facility completed and have also assured to see that funds become available to fulfil government’s part to the contractor.

TTC questioned over delay in complex

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
The proposed completed Tourism office complex. Photo supplied

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

The current state of the million-dollar tourism office complex project
currently under delay for a year now in Gizo. Photo by Alfred Pagepitu

THE delay to the million-dollar tourism complex project in Gizo, Western province, has raised questions among people and construction workers.

They question the Trades Transformation Company (TTC) progress in the project and why head of the TTC has failed to update them about the project.

The project is a flagship to boost tourism destination in the province as it will develop, promote and market Tourism products and services in the province.

TTC, a local contractor based in Honiara who has over the past been engaged in various construction projects such as road, bridge and building constructions is currently undertaking the construction work.

A visit to the construction site over the weekend confirmed the project has not moved and grasses have grown tall within the compound.

Sources informed Island Sun Gizo that some TTC workers are yet to receive their payments for four fortnights.

Western Province Tourism Association (WPTA) committee questions TTC for not quickly completing the information centre.

The proposed completed Tourism office complex. Photo supplied

“The department hopes to make this model work for Western Province and use it as an example for every province in Solomon Islands.”

WPTA said if TTC is unable to complete the project they will give it to other contractors in Western province to complete it.

Island Sun Gizo was unable to get comments from Holosivi regarding the issue as he is based in Honiara.

West Rennell landowners reject MP’s call to stop mining there

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Mining in Rennell

By Alfred Sasako

WEST Rennell landowners have rejected outright calls by their Member of Parliament to stop bauxite mining on the island, saying his call “has no grounds to base his argument on”.

In a statement issued last night, the landowners said they had sighted two articles attributed to their MP calling for the mining operations to stop.

But they said they had rejected the call for a number of reasons including:

  • The argument on the process of the mining in Rennell under APID and its contractor BMSI and the mining in Rennell has already begun in 2014 and was suspended in 2015 due to the argument between APID and Bintan Borneo.
  • It (has) not died its natural cause as mentioned by the Renbel MP in his article that was published on April 23, 2018. The matter was referred to the High Court of Solomon Islands and it was ruled in favour of APID in 2016, the statement said.
  • The mining operation then resumed normal in 2016 starting with the removal of the stockpile in Ward 3 and continued on with the full operation with the support from the Ward 3 landowners who voluntarily consented their land for mining.
  • The call from the Renbel MP is not accepted by the Rennell landowners as it has no grounds to base his argument on. He just highlighted his insistence with the Prime Minister to stop the mining in Rennell and his refusal to listen to his colleagues, namely the Minister of Planning and Minister of Mines,” the landowners said in the statement.
  • He also highlighted the court case that was taken up by a taskforce formed by some of the West Rennell landowners but the case was weakened due to the fact that most landowners in the taskforce have withdrawn their support for the case and consented their land for mining.
  • The very sad thing about the call from the Renbel MP to stop the mining in Rennell is that he should be appreciating the sacrifice from landowners who offered their lands for mining to contribute to the economy of this country to pay for his entitlements as an MP and the grants he is receiving from the National Government. In addition, the very reason why Renbel Constituency qualifies to be allocated with a large amount of money to purchase the marine vessel that was named Avaikimaine was because of the logging and mining operations in Rennell.
  • There (are) no secrets about the government’s decision not to cancel the lease as stated by the Renbel MP. The country needs foreign exchange to strengthen its economy and this could be made possible by having more exports. The country’s economy has been depending on the exports of round logs and it is now winding down and the gap needs to be filled in order to prevent the country from being declared bankrupt.
  • The so-called public who backed the Renbel MP’s call to revisit Rennell mining is in question as most landowners in West Rennell have consented their lands for mining.
  • Most landowners in Wards 3, 4, 5 & 6 in West Rennell have signed agreements with the mining company to venture into mining. Only a handful is yet to sign up for mining due to land issues that need to be sorted out first before entering into any agreement with the company.

 

Two men arrested over alleged rape of 12-yr-old twin sisters

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

TWO men in their late 30s are in police custody over alleged rape incidents of two 12-year-old twin sisters in Sikaiana island, Malaita Outer Islands, it is reported.

The first incident reportedly took place during the Easter festive season, and the other allegedly occurred two weeks later.

The second incident was reported by Island Sun in its issue 2877, and on April 18 a group of police officers and humanitarian workers including a nurse embarked on the patrol boat for Sikaiana.

According to sources, the team arrived at Sikaiana on April 19 with the initial mission to arrest one suspect alleged of rape, however, they were informed of another rape allegation in which the victim is the twin sister of the first reported victim.

Thus, police made two arrests.

“The unreported alleged rape incident took place in the Easter week and was not reported earlier because the victim was living under the guardianship of the accused, hence she was scared to report him for fear of retaliatory action by the suspect,” Island Sun sources say.

The sources further that the second incident had become public knowledge because the victim was living with her grandmother and openly related her experience when queried of her injuries.

Island Sun understands that the two victims have been brought over to Honiara for trauma counselling on Sunday, April 22.

The suspects, both married men, were also brought over to Honiara on the same day, and are reportedly in police custody.

Police media confirmed to Island Sun last night that the suspects are in police custody, however declined to comment further.

“An official police press statement will be released soon regarding this matter,” police media personnel said.

Meanwhile, the community House of Chiefs in Sikaiana is calling for a police post to be set up on the island.

House of chiefs spokesperson says police presence on the isolated community is critical to maintain law and order, and also to serve as a deterrent to crime.

“Crime cases have occurred but no one reports because of fear amongst the community themselves.

“But if a police post is being set up then definitely crime cases will be reported, or potential perpetrators will fear the police and refrain from committing crime freely.”

The spokesperson says the population on Sikaiana island is growing, and so too are unlawful incidents.

So happy to be home: Sharzy

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Mike Puia

Gizo

TOP local musician, Samson Saeni (famously known as Sharzy), who was arrested in Gizo, Western province last Tuesday, says he is so happy to be home.

The three-time award winning Sharzy, who is currently facing illegal entry charges, is unhappy that he was charged on arrival in his Gizo home town.

An immigration officer based in Noro arrived in Gizo and opened a case against Sharzy, claiming Sharzy failed to notify their office of his entry.

Speaking to Island Sun Gizo, Sharzy said he was not expecting anything to happen since he felt he was only re-entering his country.

He said there are many people who move in and out of the country’s common border with Papua New Guinea.

Sharzy said it is surprising that he was picked out from the many people on both sides that cross the border to come through this “sad situation”.

“The immigration officer asked for my travel documents then how many band boys are coming with me,”

“I told him that I come by myself. Maybe he thinks I come with a band as he arranged a vehicle for pick up,” Sharzy said.

He admitted failing to get an exit stamp from Buka prior to coming due to a tight travel schedule and because his coming was a last minute decision.

“I arrived in Arawa on 15th. I had no chance to go back to Buka to get the exit stamp. Since I was closer to home, I decide to come,” Sharzy said.

He said his decision to travel from Arawa to Gizo was a last minute decision but one that works well with his other plans.

He plans to visit his family and to perform in Noro and Gizo this weekend.

“The immigration office in Noro might follow up on my arrival by seeing posters for my gig this weekend in Noro,”

“I am a public person and everyone knows me. I have nothing to hide,” Sharzy said.

Sharzy, who has Malaita and Western parentage, was born and raised in Gizo.

He is from Paeloge Village in Gizo and speaks Simbo, Ranogga and Roviana dialects proving his strong connection to the province.

Sharzy, who currently resides in Goroka Province in PNG, has been released on bail and will appear at the Gizo magistrate court next Monday.

All in the open

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Bauxite mining at the Rennell Island.

Bintan Mining (SI) Ltd releases documents on bauxite shipment

BY ALFRED SASAKO

BINTAN Mining (SI) Ltd has released documents which the company says exonerate it from false claims its Solomon Islands’ bauxite exports were without proper documentation.

“It is absolutely wrong for anyone to suggest that there were no documents to show quality and quantity of our shipments, the company said in response to recent claims to the contrary. The claims were made at the recent hearing of the Public Accounts Committee.

“It is absolutely wrong as it is common knowledge that there are independent entities to oversee and countersign shipments. Every government, including the Solomon Islands’ government ensures this process is undertaken. We have been doing this.

“It is for this reason that Bintan Mining (SI) Ltd has decided to release the documents to show that the Company’s activities remain above board,” sources close to the company, told Island Sun over the weekend.

These documents include:

  • Independent Survey draft report by China Certification & Inspection Group, which is well known in the trade, for quantity;
  • Independent Mate’s receipt by Tradco, for quantity;
  • Independent Stowage Plan by the Shipping Company, for the quantity dividing into individual hatch of the vessel;
  • Independent Certificate of Quality, for the quality & moisture content; and
  • Original Bill of Lading by the Shipping company

Island Sun has obtained copies of these documents. In one, a Letter of Authorisation to sign Bill of Ladings (BLs) the Master of the Panama-flagged Bulk carrier, MV Expert, Captain Sun Daohui, wrote:

“I, the undersigned, the Master of MV Expert, IMO9122564, Panama flag, loading cargo of 73,800,000MTS bauxite ore in bulk in port of Rennell, Solomon Islands, for main port of China destination, hereby authorise you as agent on my behalf to sign the Bills of Lading for the abovementioned shipment which are to be strictly in conformity with the Master’s receipt and other documents concerned.

“Any Bill(s) of Lading and/or documents issued in non-conformity with this authorisation will be null and void,” the letter dated April 19, 2018, said.

The letter was addressed to ABC Shipping (Hong Kong) Ltd.

It is understood that before any shipment leaves the country, it is inspected by a government clearance team which consists of officers from the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Customs Division of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Immigration Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Immigration and Labour and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

The team uses the various documentations to verify shipments prior to departure.

West Pacific qualifiers team depart for Fiji Saturday

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Zorika Morgan is one of the Fiji-based netters named in the squad.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Zorika Morgan is one of the Fiji-based netters named in the squad.

MEMBERS of the Solomon Islands tennis team for the upcoming West Pacific Regional Championship (WPRC) in Fiji will depart Honiara for Nadi this Saturday.

Head coach Doreen Ningalo confirmed to SunSPORTS yesterday.

A total of 12 Honiara-based players will team up with other four players based in Fiji making a total of 16 players.

The Fiji-based quartet includes Zorika Morgan, Prudence Bird, Lachlan Guba and Jermain Kari.

Morgan, Bird and Guba are training at the regional tennis training center in Fiji under International Tennis Federation (ITF) scholarships while Kari is privately sponsored.

Solomon Islands participated with 14 players last year.

Looking at this year’s team, there is an increase of two players.

The West Pacific Regional Championship will run from April 30 to May 5 and it is a competition sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and organized by the Oceania Tennis Federation (OTF).

Countries attending the event alongside Solomon Islands include Kiribati, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Norfolk Islands and host nation Fiji.

The competition features round robin play to determine entry into the main draw and play-offs for places in each of the under 12, 14 and 16 age categories.

Top players emerging from the championship will be chosen to represent the West Pacific team, who will compete at the Pacific Oceania Junior Championships (POJC).

The POJC is the region’s flagship elite junior tennis event and will be held from July 23 to August 1 in Fiji, with teams from the West, East and North Pacific regions competing against each other.

The Solomon Islands tennis team will return to Honiara on May 5.

Solomon Islands squad for West Pacific Tennis Championship:

12 and Under Category

Boys: Tristan Gregory Kelesi, Jefter David Beck, Lachlan Guba (Regional Training Centre)

Girls: Kerry Phillia Waita, Hilda Kafeta Agi and Jasnet Matafu

14 and Under Category

Boys: Habson Habu and Clivert Vakola

Girls: Zorika Dalice Morgan (Regional Training Centre), Prudence Bird (Regional Training Centre), Lorraine Gaote’e, Shirley Mani

16 and Under Category

Boys: Joel Riju, Junior Miki, Jermain Kari (Regional Training Centre

Girls: Marion Gaote’e

Team Officials

Dorrine Numa Ningalo (Coach), Selwyn Lam (Team Manager)

We have a chance: Allen

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Marist captain Henry Fa’arodo driving past a Lautoka player during the first leg of the OCL semifinal on Sunday.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

MARIST coach says they have a high chance of reaching the grand final of the Oceania Champions League (OCL) following the one-all draw attained against Lautoka in the semi-final first leg away encounter at Churchill Park on Sunday.

Speaking during the post-match conference, Marist head coach Jerry Allen said the away draw gives them advantage over their opponent heading into the second leg where its outcome will decide on the fate of the two teams in the region’s premier club competition.

During the away encounter, Davidson Tome scored to put Marist infront within 36 minutes of the first half 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 Fijian 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.

The equaliser appeared to have frustrated Allen, especially after previously warning them about the talent of Lautoka’s players.

Allen told the boys to avoid conceding any goal when they were leading 1-0 by halftime break.

“I think we played well in the first half and okay in the second, but we conceded. I knew it would happen there, from a set piece,” Allen said.

“I know Osea (Vakatalesau) well, Brian (Kaltack) some of the other boys, I used to coach them before with Hekari and so I reminded my players what they can do.

“Osea has good height, and he used it in the corner even though I warned them.”

Allen stressed that the plan now is to go out and win the final leg at home where he expects their performance to be buoyed by the support they will receive from fans at Lawson Tama.

“The plan now is to go home, work on some things and prepare once more – we have a big chance to do something great at home next week.”

Atkin Kaua will make a return onto starters’ list this Sunday. The young midfield maestro sat out the first leg through injury.

Marist’s goal scorer on Sunday Tome will miss the second leg on suspension after picking up his second yellow card at Churchill Park.

Goalkeeper Anthony Talo is also in doubt for the return leg as he is currently nursing an injury following a collision with Vakatalesau earlier on in the game infront of the goalmouth.

The collision left first-choice Talo to be replaced by second choice Harold Nauina.

The second leg at Lawson Tama this Sunday will kick off at 3pm.

END///

 

With an action pic of Fa’arodo in action

SIVB staff laid to rest

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Late Stella Lucas.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

THE body of the late Stella Lucas Laugasau was laid to rest yesterday. Ms Laugasau was one of the victims in a tragic incident at the Mataniko Falls last week.

Yesterday friends, colleagues, relatives, members from the tourism industry and those who have come to know Stella attended her burial service at Henderson.

At the time of her death, Late Stella was SIVB’s Marketing Officer, responsible for Australia and New Zealand region and looks after the Romance Market in the country.

She was described by many as a woman who is passionate about what she does, and one that has demonstrated unwavering commitment to her job in the tourism industry.

Apart from her life in the Tourism Industry, Stella was also a netball player. In the past, she had represented the country in a number of netball games and was an avid supporter of netball in the country.

On her Facebook page, SIVB’s Marketing Manager, Freda Unusi wrote that Stella is driven by a very passionate, selflessness with dreams of presenting Solomon Islands as an authentic paradise.

“She has demonstrated unwavering commitment, endurance and her love for Destination Solomon Islands is what drives her until she was called to rest.”

Mrs Unusi described Stella as someone who had touched the lives of many people through her love for the country in the International and Local Markets.

She says Late Stella Lucas has invested her life for the Solomon Islands and the people that she was acquainted with. She has affected the lives of many tourism operators and made so many friends and today is a testimony to some of her influence.

“With your famous line ‘for the love of the Solomon Islands’, Stella from a country lost without your soul, who’ll miss the wings of your passion more than you’ll ever know. Now you belong to heaven.”

Stella Lucas tragically died while assessing a new hiking programme in the Mataniko region. Her colleague, Chris Nemaia is still reportedly missing.

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