BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

THE Malaita provincial health and education sectors combined to work on a healthy promoting schools concept for schools in the province.

In an interview, health promotion officer at Kilu’ufi, Mrs Nester Rara Houmola said coming up with the idea, the two bodies established a working network to pursue the initiative.

She said a committee was formed and its responsibility is to ensure the link is there and programme under the concept to be implemented.

Houmola said under the HPS concept, they are targeting six key factors as main areas to work on in schools.

“They include school health policy, school physical environment, school social environment, community link, action competencies for healthy living and school health care and promotional services.

“The mentioned key areas are just brief, however there are lot of health related areas in school captured under the key areas,” she said.

Houmola said as the programme will implement, other related areas explore will consider in the concept.

She said the Health Promoting School concept is an idea taken to ensure all schools in Malaita Province to be fully health promotional schools.

POLICE at Munda in Western Province have arrested two men aged 43 and 38 alleged to have committed sexual offences at Rendova Island, on separate dates, April 5-6, 2018.

It is alleged between the months of November 2017 to April 2018, the 43-year-old accused had sexually abused her 17-year-old daughter and on March 31, 2018, the other accused, of 38-year-old, had sexually abused her 13-year-old niece. Both alleged incidents happen on two different villages at Rendova Island.

Munda Police Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Sergeant Rachel Lilo says, “I am pleased with the support provided to my officers by members of the community including their crime prevention committee (CPC) at Rendova Island which resulted to the successful arrests of the two accused.

“This is encouraging to see members in our communities are coming forward to police and report these alleged hidden family related sexual offences.

“I condemn these two alleged sexual reports against the two young females, which the acts must not be tolerated in our communities.

“Polis blo iu-your police, is there to investigate any alleged crime and is willing to work together with you to foster a crime free environment for our children’s future. We must all work together to say no to violence against our young girls, especially of alleged sexual nature.”

Both men have been taken to Gizo Magistrate Court on charges of rape and incest and ordered for their remand in custody.

Nearby communities of Munda Police Station can contact phone number 62114 to report any crime.

–POLICE MEDIA

POLICE officers in Munda, Western province are investigating an incident that happened in Munda airport where one of the Twin Otter plane’s tyres was allegedly flattened by a man on April 7, 2018.

“The incident occurred at the Munda airport. A case has been reported and a suspect has been identified and investigation is ongoing,” say Officer Commanding Station (OCS) for Munda Police Station Sergeant Rachel Lilo.

“I appeal to those leaving in and around Munda Airport to come forward and assist Police in our investigations for more information regarding the alleged incident.

“Munda Police can be contacted on phone 62189 or the Police Communications on Phone 23666 or dial toll free number 999.”

–POLICE MEDIA

POLICE in Kirakira in the Makira-Ulawa province have arrested four youths following an alleged unlawful damage incident at Ulahu village, Ugi Island on April 3, 2018.

“It was alleged that a group of drunken youth damaged two tents that are used as temporary classrooms for students at Ulahu Extension School,” says Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Makira Ulawa Province, Superintendent Peter Sitai.

“These four young Men are arrested and charged on April 4, 2018 and are bailed to appear before the Court in May 2018.

“I want to thank the community of Ulahu village and other communities around Ugi Island for your assistance in leading up to the quick arrest of the accused.

“Thank you for your understanding that Police cannot be at your village all times and the partnership in crime prevention is one way we can be able to maintain law and order in our communities,” says PPC Sitai.

–POLICE MEDIA

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

MEDICAL reports from the ministry of health and medical services (MHMS) in Malaita province show a record of 110 sexually transmitted infections (STI) in 2017.

The reports have been collected through the laboratory diagnosis treatment over 2017.

The most infected age group last year was 25 to 49 years.

STI cases include Hepatitis B, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Trichonomous and Candida.

According to the 2017 data collected during the laboratory diagnosis treatment, Hepatitis B recorded 63 cases, Syphilis 42, Chlamydia 0, Gonorrhoea 3, Trichonomous 1 and Candia has recorded only one case with a total of 110 recorded cases.

The youngest which got infected with gonorrhoea according was a female between 10 to 14 years of age.

A young male between 10 and 14 years old got infected with Hepatitis B.

Last year’s records were an increase compared to 2016 data.

The reports recommend that awareness programmes must be carried out in schools and communities to make aware young people and students about the STI cases.

Most infected age groups are youths especially students, the report said.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SELLING of imported products labelled with foreign language will not be tolerated, says chief inspection officer of the Honiara City Council Mr George Titiutlu.

He voiced this statement during an exclusive interview with this paper yesterday.

Titulu said this matter has been a major issue at hand with shops and food outlets and has been raised over and over again, yet importers are not complying with regulations about foreign language issues.

“Selling of any more products labelled with foreign language will not be allowed simply because it can’t be read and understand by majority of Solomon Islanders

“And so importers please comply to the set regulations in placed and try to get clear targets based on importing foreign language products to have all the food importation information products must be totally in English

“Also we a sovereign nation and city hence this kind of matter should not stay pending.”

He said the grace period in exercising this kind of practices already lapsed a long time ago and as of next week they will put words into action.

“So whilst HCC team as an enforcing agency embarking upon this issue we also need businesses houses and consumers to work closely with us and try to meet the required requirement in regards to products labeled in foreign language,” said Titulu.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

KAYAKING project in Ngella (Florida) was not launched last year because the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) and the Ministry of culture and Tourism were called back to reprioritise their budget.

Facing cut on their budget for this year, there is high possibility that the kayaking project will not take place soon.

MP for North East Guadalcanal Hon Derek Sikua during the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) enquiry recently to the ministry of tourism questioned SIVB over what happened to the kayaking programme that they discussed during the past in which he thought had already been launched last year.

The ministry of tourism and SIVB in response however said that they were called back by the government to reprioritise the budget in which affected the whole programme that they were already preparing on in Ngella.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) Josefa Tuamoto said they had done all the ground work but then stopped because of the budget support they were allocated with for this year.

He expressed that the Kayaking project was very exciting because it was driven by the whole sailors.

“Unfortunately we will hold back until we get fund,” said SIVB’s CEO.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

CRACKING down on expired goods oi shops within Honiara still stands, says George Titiulu Chief Inspector of the Honiara City Council.

He said the operation is still stands and will be rolled out as of next week, this is according to their schedule scheme.

“Now we preparing groundwork to equipped us for the operation which will be carried out next week.

“And when the time arrives team comprised of stakeholders and other key partners of government ministries for instance consumer affairs sector under the Ministry of Commerce Industry, Labour and Immigration will be deployed to carry out the operation,” he said.

He said when carrying out this operation target issues they will crack down are dating marking which captures the things like expiry dates like best-before, best-be, used-by, labeling issues in terms of imported products with foreign language.

Titulu said it’s an ongoing practice which mandated for the authority to carry out to protect consumers and business sectors and the same time its form of awareness for the general public.