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Malaita proposes exchange visit to Guadalcanal

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

THE Malaita provincial government through its ministry of education and human resource has proposed an exchange visit to Guadalcanal province in May this year.

The visit is part of the Peace Through Education (PTE) established between the two provinces to create a culture of peace and harmony through the two provinces’ education sector.

Minister for education and human resource who also chairman of Malaita education board, Randoll Sifoni made the statement in an interview with this paper.

Mr Sifoni also during the recent Malaita provincial assembly moved a resolution on the need for the exchange visit which was supported by the house.

He said under the programme the Guadalcanal province government through its education sector has already visited the province some years back.

“Now it’s Malaita Province’s turn through its education sector to exchange the visit, so that discussion could embark on how to execute the activities under the programme.

“On my side, this is priority and before Malaita province will engage in any major activity under its education sector in the province, the first thing to do is to pay the visit.

“The visit is very important as my side see areas of improvement and inclusion of some more ideas under the concept that we will discuss for the future of the relationship,” Sifoni said.

According to information this paper obtained on the PTE concept, the mission of the programme is to create opportunities for school students in the two provinces.

This is so that they can share learning spaces, participate in cross cultural exchanges and experience and interact with each other in ways to create understanding, tolerance, and national consciousness.

The proposal will also help young people from the two provinces to appreciate and understand each other’s cultures, experiences and perspectives, challenges faced and culture shared as Solomon Islanders.

According to the proposal, the concept of PTE is meant to boost post-conflict peace building.

The idea is to create understanding that will ensure sustainable peace between the two once-rival sister provinces and stability for the country.

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Putting money where our mouth is

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Dr Melchior Mataki, PS Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

Dr Melchior Mataki, PS Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology

THE recent report on Climate change and disaster risk finance assessment was basically putting together all the information that is already known about climate finance and also to look at areas needing improvement so as to better access climate finance and how to manage it.

Speaking to Island Sun newspaper, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Dr Melchior Mataki says in order for us to have access to these funds, we must have very robust public finance and mechanism processes in place.

“In other words, the developing partners or the funding agencies, must have confidence in our systems so that when they give us funds, they are comfortable that the resources can be managed well and we are able to achieve our aims and objectives,” Mr Mataki says.

Mataki says with the report, for Solomon Islands this is just the start as the report also comes with its own set of recommendations and work plan.

“For example we need to address coordination between government to ensure programmes are developed and that they align well with the government’s National Development Strategies (NDS) and also in alignment with the needs of the country, so to speak,” Mataki says.

He said studies done for this report identified lack of coordination as one area that needs improvement. Coupled with that, Solomon Islands is yet to attune to climate finance.

“What is becoming clear to us now is that we can actually use climate finance to leverage development finance and also to see that development work is carried out,” Mataki says.

He said it is important that we position ourselves to benefit, optimise and access and manage these resources so that people who are affected will benefit from these resources.

“Like every other thing, it is not easy to access these sort of big funds. It is not like you have to go down to the market and collect it the next day. You have to satisfy these conditions. Of course it demands our time, but if we are to use somebody else’s money, we have to meet the conditions which they want us to meet,” Mataki says.

For the Green Climate Fund (GCF) only accredited entities can submit funding proposals to the fund at any time.

For Solomon Islands, the National Transport Fund (NTF) is recommended to act as an entity to seek funds from GCF. With that work is currently in progress by MID and an USAID funded project to seek accreditation from GCF.

Guadalcanal and Malaita urged to explore areas of relationship

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

Member of the Malaita Provincial Assembly for Ward 27 (Siesie) in West, Hon David Nguiburi

GUADALCANAL and Malaita provincial governments have been urged to extend their relationship beyond the Peace Through Education (PTE) concept they have established.

MPA for Ward 27 (Siesie) in West Kwaio, David Nguiburi made the statement when contributing to the resolution moved by minister for education and human resource on the endorsement for the two provinces on the PTE initiative.

He applauded the concept, saying it’s a way forward for the two sister provinces to establish relationship, as a mean to contribute to the post-conflict peace building for the country.

Mr Nguiburi said the idea came about between leaders of the two provinces in a way to build-on from the past civil unrest they were engaged in.

“However, when looked into issues aroused the ethnic tension, it related to issues of land, occupancy of Malaitans in Guadalcanal and other social issues.

“With that I suggested the two provinces should also work together and establish working relationship on those areas as well.

“Because I believe having established relationship on those different sectors it will bring the two provinces more closely to work hand-in-hand in areas of development for the provinces,” he said.

Contributing in support of the resolution Hon Nguiburi said the PTE has paved the way forward for the two provinces to pursue other sectors of establishing relationships.

Western province is flourishing: Maepioh

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Former Western Province Premier Hon. Wayne Maepio

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

WESTERN Province is flourishing, proving how effective its policies have been in the last four years, according to Premier Wayne Maepioh.

He makes this declaration in response to questions over the effectiveness of the policies of the province by Mr Ramrakha Talasasa, MPA for ward 16, during last week’s first assembly meeting on Monday.

Talasasa had called out Western province’s government to prove whether its policies have been effective in the last four years.

Maepioh, speaking to Island Sun yesterday, says that on the contrary to Talasasa’s opinions, Western province’s developments especially in investments is flourishing compared to other provinces.

“Western Provincial Government’s policy is very vibrant. In terms of policies directions, we are achieving a lot in terms of business confidence in the province which is a big achievement to our policy.

“One of my objectives when I came into power as the Premier of Western Province is the open-door policy. That policy is now starting to pick up resulting in investors having interests in the province.

“To me, there is already a positive confidence by the people which is economically proven in terms of confidence from investors. Apart from logging and other activities, the tourism sector is picking up in the province though other productive sectors need more emphases.

“For the cocoa, copra and tuna industries sectors, we will try to relook in them again to talk with the National Government Ministries for their directions in terms of their policies so that we implement them too.

“If we look at the positive side of these areas, the government is trying to promote the province as a place to invest in. This is only what we are trying to echo out to the public to create a welcoming environment.”

The Premier added that not everything can be automatically achieved because of the limits of funds too for the provincial government levels.

This financial year round 2016-17 during the supplementary of the provincial government, Western province managed to have a surplus revenue of $8million compared to the grant given by the national government of $9million.

Police in GP arrest man over house break-in

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

POLICE officers at the Tetere Police Station in Guadalcanal Province have arrested a key suspect on March 30, 2018 in an outstanding break-in case.

“The incident happened at New Tenabuti Village, North East Guadalcanal in early February 2018, where it was alleged that the suspect and five other accomplices broke into the New Tenabuti Clinic and a staff house and stole some valuable properties,” says Officer commanding Tetere Police Station, Inspector Hughes Nevol.

“The other five suspects have already been arrested, recovery has been done and now the key suspect has been finally arrested after escaping Police arrest several times.

“The arrest was successful with the help of the community leaders and members and the hard work of my officers.

“I want to thank the community of New Tenabuti, and surrounding villages in North East Guadalcanal for working together with the Police in such situation. We must continue to work together to make our communities a safer place to live in.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Watermelon farms brings huge income for women in Malaita

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

WATERMELON is helping empower women in north Malaita, it is said.

This changes the whole dynamics of agriculture and women are more empowered, said SPC consultant, Mrs Ruth Maetala when speaking at the “Gender in Agriculture in Livelihoods” workshop last Thursday at the Kairos conference room, Hyundai mall.

Speaking of her experience in conducting field research in north Malaita, she stressed on how watermelon farming in Kakara village is empowering women.

Maetala added that income women earn from their watermelon farms are used to pay for their children’s secondary school fees, university tuition, iron roofs for their houses, water tanks and solar.

She also mentioned that they also use the income to pay for farm labor.

In relation, Maetala stated that just from their watermelon farms they can earn up to as much as $20,000.

While watermelon farms are bringing in a handsome income for the women, it however has an impact on subsistence farming she stressed.

Maetala furthered that she also found that women allocated more land for their watermelon farms while leave little to plant crops for food consumption.

Local writers association celebrate today

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

AN event to mark the Solomon Islands Creative Writers Association (SICWA) is set for today at the National Museum.

The event will convene SICWA members and interested individuals.Presentation of local writers’ work, displaying of association work and registration will be carried out for current and new members.

SICWA President Mrs Jasmine Navala-Waleafea said the event is an important opportunity to rally more publication and maximise opportunities since SICWA has been voted to become member of the International Authors Forum (IAF).

She adds the occasion is regarded as an opportunity for members contribution, as SICWA this year has been nominated to look after Literacy Art Component of the Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival.

“Please use this opportunity to get registered for this association’s financial year, feel free to pass registration form along to any interested person,” she said.

Following the event, SICWA executive members and MACF 2018 Technical team will meet to finalise draft programme for the Festival which set for July 2-9.

Meanwhile, the writers association calls on local writers, both professional and amateur or any interested person to join them in their celebration today.

There will be interested activities and motivational talks to aspiring writer in Solomon Islands.

Good Friday celebrated across Solomon Islands

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

ON Friday last week Christians across Solomon Islands joined other Christians worldwide in commemorating Good Friday which signifies the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

It is a day observed around the world before the Easter Sunday. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s Passion, crucifixion and death which is told in the Christian Bible and it was the day after Maundy Thursday.

Also, it is an important festival in the Christian calendar usually celebrated annually throughout Solomon Islands with great pom and show in churches and glimpse of local Easter traditions for some Christian believers.

The observation involves people fasting and praying as well; churches across the country hold services in the morning up until around 3pm.

On Friday, churches within Honiara held some really interesting and fascinating activities of the Easter occasion especially the Good Friday happenings.

The Holy Cross Catholic church youths re-enacted the procession of the Cross as in the ritual station of the cross which depicts the final hours of Jesus’ life from Honiara Central Market to the Holy Cross Cathedral.

2 men arrested over armed robbery in West

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

POLICE in the Western province have arrested two suspects on March 29, 2018 for alleged armed robbery during an incident at Malohuna Logging Camp, at Harapa in the Shortland Islands.

It is alleged that on March 25, 2018, around ten men, believed to be from Bougainville as well as two Solomon Islanders, allegedly armed with firearms, robbed the Camp Manager of One Link Logging Company and removed cash of around $8,000 as well as goods in the company’s canteen, three chainsaws, a mobile phone, torches and clothes as well other valuable items.

It is alleged the men fired several gun shots in the air before leaving the company site.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Western Province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu, says, “The successful arrest of the two alleged robbers was possible in a joint police operation comprising of the Police Response Team (PRT), police from Western and Choiseul Provinces as well police investigators from Honiara and officers of Police Maritime.

“The two men are facing one count each of robbery and appeared in court on 31 March 2018 and ordered to be remanded in the Gizo Prison, Correctional Service Solomon Islands (CSSI) Centre.

The two arrested suspects believed to be in their 40s and 20, are Solomon Islanders.

The investigation into the matter is continuing as other alleged robbers are still at large.

“I want to appeal to the chiefs, church leaders, village elders, women groups and members of the communities in the Shortlands Islands to come out and work together with the police as the investigation continues into this case,” says Lenialu.

“I want to thank members of the community for helping police with information so far and further appeal for more information from communities to assist police as there are other suspects still at large and are a threat to the communities in Shortlands and as well as those in Choiseul Province and the rest of Western Province.

“People with information can get in touch with police at the Kulutanai Police Station or call police at the Gizo Police Station on phone 60999.”

The two men will re- appear in the Gizo Magistrates Court after 14 days.

–POLICE MEDIA

Woman arrested over Auki Travellers Motel death

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

INVESTIGATORS from Auki Police Station in Malaita province have arrested a 25-year-old woman on March 31, 2018, alleged to be involved in the death of another female at the Auki Travellers Motel last year.

Acting Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Malaita Province, Superintendent Timothy Apaesi says, “My investigators arrested a female person alleged to be involved in the death of a female in her 20s at the Auki Travellers Motel on December 23, 2017 in the Malaita Province.”

“The suspected female is currently in police custody and expected to appear before the Auki Magistrates Court in due course for a remand application on a charge of alleged murder.

“I would like to thank members of the communities in Auki town for providing information to police and I also appreciate my investigators for their hard work which resulted in the identification of a suspect and her arrest.

“I continue to appeal to members of the public and communities in Auki who may have any information that may assist our investigation to contact my officers here at the Auki Police Station.”

The Auki Police Station can be contacted on phones 40132 or 40224.

–POLICE MEDIA

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