A concerned citizen is calling on responsible authorities to put in place control measures to address the many problems associated with logging operations in and around the country.
A Mr Henry B Kahui from East Are’are expressed that no matter where a logging company might operate, it seems that problems always follow.
He said that such problems often occur between the licence holder, resource owners and the operating company.
In relation, Kahui stated that this goes as far as disagreements, arguments and disputes amongst tribes.
“At the end of the day, criminal activities happen just because of logging operations. The logging industry has become an evil industry for this country,” he said.
On another note, Kahui stressed that resource owners are the most affected because they earn much less compared to the government and logging companies.
He added that the nature of logging operations is what causes such problems and is something that the government must address.
Kahui calls on the government, forestry association and relevant stakeholders to relook at the scope of logging operations in the country and identify the areas that most need addressing.
The winners of the Senior and Junior categories with their awards
By ELLISON.T.VAHI
THE 2017-2018 secondary school poster and essay competition on women’s leadership and political participation successfully ends with a prize-giving ceremony yesterday afternoon at an award ceremony held at the Art Gallery.
After taking the top places in the women’s leadership and political participation general essay and poster competition 27 students and teachers from various schools throughout the country received prizes ranging from laptops to school stationeries and t-shirts.
The competition was created to engage students and their teachers to reflect and share their views on issues in connection with gender equality in the schools, their recommendations to promote gender awareness and their views on temporary special measures.
It aimed to raise awareness on the problem, and anti-corruption measures and initiatives being undertaken.
The winners of the Senior and Junior categories with their awards
In his keynote address at the award ceremony, Mr George Palua, PS Home Affairs said the country’s young people are vital to the fight against corruption.
“It is my sincere hope that you will manifest the messages that you have conveyed on your posters and in your essays,” he said.
The competition has attracted increased participation of 170 posters and essay entries from 31 schools throughout the country, a dramatic increase compared from the 41 entries that competed in the 2016 competition.
The secondary school poster and essay competition were categorised under three categories; junior category was for forms one to three students, senior category for forms four to seven and teachers’ category, which is the divided into two components that is a poster competition for artists and an essay competition for writers both male and females.
Competing on the key elements to achieving gender equality in schools in Solomon Islands the junior category was to answer either through an artwork/poster or an essay while the senior category Identify barriers that make it difficult for women to be in parliament, provincial assemblies and other senior government offices as well suggest possible solutions to increase women’s leadership and political participation.
Junior students category with the high level stakeholders backing the competition in a group photo
In the teachers’ category they were asked to discuss key factors to consider successfully implementing the Temporary Special Measures (TSM) or discussing if the school curriculum is promoting the importance of increasing women representation in parliament, provincial assemblies and in senior government offices.
The poster and essay entries were marked by various professionals from the media, SINU, MWYCA, MEHRD, SI artists association, CSO and some teachers.
There are numerous obstacles to women’s political participation and representation in all societies, including in the Solomon Islands.
History, institutional design, and cultural barriers such as deeply rooted traditional gender roles, all have roles in limiting the access of women to appointed and elected government positions. As an initiative to start addressing these barriers and facilitate engagement and discussion amongst the next generation of policy makers, youth and children, as well their teachers and parents, SIEC in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource and Development initiated and rolled out this initiative in 2016.
The Competitions (2016 and 2017-2018) have been supported by UNDP through the Strengthening the Electoral Cycle Project of Solomon Islands (SECSIP II). SECSIP II is implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC). It receives financial support from UNDP, the European Union and the Government of Australia.
The Poster winner of the Junior Students Category Danielle Baura (left) from Woodford International and the Essay winner of the Senior Category Lois Toramo (right) from Mbokonavera School with their awards yesterday. Picture Benz Newman
ATOIFI Adventist Hospital’s major health expo is set to be launched in June this year, it is reported.
Chaplain for Atoifi Hospital Mr Gary Manele said it will be held in Honiara, and activities will be spread across three zones; eastern, central and western.
Programmes will include checking individual’s health status in preparation for the future and maintaining or improve one’s health whenever found diagnosed with any disease.
“This expo will focus more on helping the public to understand their individual’s health status in terms of looking after ourselves and how we adjust to the way we live, so that we live a little bit longer and live life to the fullest.
“Also it is essential to remember that health checks provide an opportunity to identify early signs of some disease,” he said.
He highlighted that when the programme commenced mid this year the general public is welcome to be part of the programme.
THE 2017- 2018 secondary school poster and essay competition was conceived as a way of raising awareness on issues relating to women’s leadership and political participation.
This statement was highlighted yesterday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Mr George Palua during the competition award ceremony in Honiara.
He said this avenue has provided a space for students and teachers in Solomon Islands to express ideas concerning women’s participation in leadership in the political arena.
Palua said it is good to see the involvement of both youth and educators, young citizens who soon will have the opportunity to participate as voters to help advocate this common issue.
“I believe many who have participated in this competition will strongly consider this issues and fight to take up future career in the political arena especially the female competitors,” he said.
He said it is upright to see educators who make essential contribution to the society as they are building the next generation to be front liners in fighting this growing human interest issue.
OUTSPOKEN man, Mr Robert Mani, has come out questioning the legality of Reginald Ngati’s presidency of the Solomon Islands National University Students Association (SINUSA).
Mr Ngati has been making headlines leading students on a sit-in protest.
They are demanding the SINU Council to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will address issues they have raised with the university’s management.
SINUSA claimed that the SINU Council has refused to sign the MOU resulting in the protest being dragged to this week.
Mani claims Ngati’s presidency is illegal as he is not a full time student of the institution.
“Ngati is a Distance Flexible Learning (DFL) student therefore he is disqualified to be president,” Mani said.
He claimed Ngati is been used by a politician to shake the institution and it has a bad effect on students.
Mani claimed Ngati is employed by a Member of Parliament and they are advancing a political agenda using the institution.
He appealed to students not to easily “fall into a trap”.
Ngati was not reached last night for comments but those close to him confirmed Ngati is firm that he is qualified to the SINUSA’s presidency position.
PERMANENT Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma, provided an interesting observation on how government money is being spent on the field and the results it produces.
Mr Kuma revealed that based on data from 2017, the government spent a lot.
On the records, the 2017 development budget shows that spending has been well-done, hitting 90 percent.
“On financial terms, such level of spending is A-plus,” Kuma said.
But when one goes out to the field, he said implementation or what has been done in the field is less which does not reflect the level of spending on their records.
Kuma urged implementing agencies to do more in order that this country realises this level of spending.
PERMANENT secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Mr George Palua highlighted that women’s leadership and political participation is not an isolated matter.
“On the contrary it is an issue that affects our society as whole, where men and women, young and elders should work together.”
He said this matter needs collaboration amongst public and private institutions and civil society.
Palua said the recent school and essay completion creativity is a fine example of collaboration involving the Solomon Islands Electrical Commission (SIEC), the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA), Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) and civil society representation who have contributed to make it successful.
“This continued collaboration has set an example for all citizens to support women to participate in the political arena,” he said.
DEPUTY Police Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi says police recorded a very peaceful Easter celebration this year compared to last year.
He said that no death has been reported, compared to last year there were three deaths and with other types of crimes happening last year.
Mr Manelusi thanks police officers for their hard work and commitment in making sure the citizens of this country were safe during the Easter session.
Though several incidents occurred but that were minor compared to the previous year, Manelusi said.
He also acknowledges the support from the community and police officers for their hard work in achieving two successful arrests made during the Easter weekend.
Therefore he continues to urge the communities to work together with police in combating crime in this country.
LIQUOR outlet owners in Malaita province are being urged to pay their business licence.
The call follows observations that many beer outlets are popping up in the province with no mention of them in the province’s licence records.
Senior Revenue Officer from the Revenue Department under the provincial Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Mr John Houma said his office keeps an articulate record of businesses operating in the province.
“But if you go out in the province the number of those selling beer without licenses exceed those obtain license for the business.
“This is not legal and it also makes it not easy for those with proper licenses to do their market.
“Another this is the nature of the business involve lot things the society not really welcome.
“These include behaviours of people when under consumption of liquor and other related activity pertaining to it,” Houma said.
Houma reiterates that this call is for the benefit of the businesses – so that they can operate within the boundaries of the law.
