Gizo market new re-development market house project temporary fence.
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO
Gizo market new re-development market house project temporary fence.
GIZO market venders have questioned the delay in the new re-development market house project construction at the main market in Western province.
They question why work on the project funded by the Australian Government has not begun yet, even though it has been widely publicised that construction would begin in March.
A Mr James told Island Sun Gizo yesterday said that local contractors have already installed the temporary fencing at the main Gizo market area, but since then, no further work has been done.
“We understand that work on the new-redevelopment market house project should begin last month but why they fail to start?
“We are calling on Western Provincial Government, responsible Gizo market committees, and Reeves International to quickly build our market house that has been promise earlier.”
He cautions that such delays are what usually lead to projects being abandoned or prolonged beyond timeframes.
He stressed that the temporary market is becoming increasingly crowded as more people come in from the surrounding islands to sell their produce.
Gizo Market steering committee meanwhile say they are still waiting for Reeves International to respond when they should start off with their construction.
THE delicious and unique flavours of Solomon Islands chocolate will be showcased at SolChoc (Solomon Islands Cocoa and Chocolate Festival) a fun and festive event, which is set to be launched today.
SolChoc, the annual festival to support the local cocoa sector will be held in Honiara from April 30 to May 5 with industry specific events in the first half of the week, and events for the public will held from May 3 – 6.
SolChoc spokesperson and Strongim Bisnis Coconut Business Advisor, Brown Onahekeni said, “This is the first year a programme of public events will be offered alongside the annual cocoa competition which is very exciting.
“Profits from the events will be channeled back into supporting local farmers and the cocoa sector, which is showing increasing economic promise with more than 22 of rural households involved in cocoa here and a rising global demand for chocolate.”
Outline of the SolChoc public events include, Interactive Chocolate Tasting on May 3 at the Coral Sea Resort with free chocolate tasting, free entrance and live music (only paid for ice-cold glass of yellowtail NV sparkling at $30).
On May 4 will be the masquerade Cocktail Party, fundraiser for the development of the Solomon Islands cocoa industry at the Honiara Hotel with an evening of fun and festivities including entertainment, canapes, cocktails, dancing and a live auction – tickets $60.
May 5, celebrating chocolate at the SolChoc Fair for all the family at the Heritage Park Hotel, car park from 10am to 3pm, it’s a free event.
Silver Screen Chocolate Cinema will be on May 6 at the Coral Sea Resort.
Event organisers encourage families to bring kids along to see the family-favourite film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and back it up with the French village set, romantic, comedy-drama, Chocolate.
CEMA’s Chief Produce Inspector, Patterson Siliota said the one-week SolChoc Festival will showcase Solomon Islands cocoa to boutique and fine flavor chocolate-makers and cocoa and bulk buyers from the UK and the region.
Strongim Bisnis, funded by the Australian Government, is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA), the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), the Pacific and horticultural Market Access Program (PHAMA), the Rural Development Program (RDP) and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) to bring SolChoc to Honiara.
The cocoa sector is one of three sectors Strongim Bisnis supports as part of efforts by the Australian Government to help Solomon Islands with its economic development – thus prosperity.
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).
