DEAR EDITOR, I think the above topic is not a new thing but I would like to share my opinion so that the public could rethink on how to behave and act when coming to rubbish disposal.

Firstly, I would share what I had witnessed.

Yesterday, I was travelling in a public bus with a woman and her three children sat beside me.

Along the way they ate some snacks and when they finished eating, the mother held those plastics nicely and threw them out off the window.

However, to my expectation she would take them nicely and dispose them at the right place but that scenario surprised me to see a woman in about her 30s for doing that and so I stared at her for a minute.

While staring at her, these three questions prompted at the back of my mind, firstly, what did she expect when leaving the rubbish behind?

Secondly, who will be responsible for that rubbish?

And finally did she know that she is educating her children for acting irresponsible?

Again, all good citizen of Solomon Islands, we must understand that the cleanliness of this country especially Honiara City depends on us, therefore, be mindful to our behaviours and act responsibly when coming to rubbish disposal.

I reiterate my call to be responsible by applying these 3 Rs, Reuse, Recycle and Reduce to stop littering and help keep our country clean.

ALICE PENLOPE HOTE

Honiara

DEAR EDITOR, I strongly recommend that due to our current serious government’s financial constraint, all social events should be terminated ASAP from our national government budget for the next 5 years in order to cater for our vital economic development activities and needed services to help boost our economy and serve the livelihood of our people.

Example, national security, health and education are needed services for our current and future safe, educated and healthy society.

Social events such Melanesian Art festival, Pacific Games are some of the social events that are waste of public funds and do not bring into the country any sustainable and tangible benefits to our economy and people.

These events only bring our government and people huge burden on our government budget and burden on our needed services delivery.

A classic example was our hosted Pacific Art Festival that had resulted in the governments lack of funds which contributed to lack of appropriate medicines at our hospitals and clinics.

Such government action deprived our people rights to access the appropriate medications for our health and wellbeing.

Our people did not feel or see any sustainable and tangible benefits from this multimillion-dollar social events, instead more negative results overwhelmed the event positives such lack of appropriate government services, lack of medicines, increase of new diseases etc.

I therefore called on our current government and PM as the leader to withdraw all funding for any social events for that matter until our economy is strong enough to host such events.

Let us not hide ourselves from the truth and reality on the ground because at the ends of the day, our own people will suffer the ripple effects of those wrong and bad decisions.

J Diau

Honiara

DEARE EDITOR, a family of seven luckily escaped being killed when two huge rocks came crashing down the hillside at Kena Hill last Friday instantly smashing their wooden home and destroying it completely.

The family are now homeless and have appealed to the community in the Solomon Islands for help.

The disaster occurred as Beverlyn Keniherea was alone in the house cleaning the bedroom. Her children had gone to school and her husband, Gideon, was away in Aoke.

Mrs Keniherea was very lucky not to have been killed and has been left in deep shock

I appeal to the Solomon Islands Red Cross Association to try and give some early assistance to the distressed and now homeless family and also appeal to the generous nature of the Solomon Islands business community and people to help the family.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, quoting Radio New Zealand International – March 18, 2018 – “Over 270,000 people in Papua New Guinea are estimated to be requiring immediate humanitarian assitance after last month’s magnitude 7.5 earthquake.

“According to the latest situation report from the United Nations, the priority needs are medicine, tarpaulins and tents, blankets, food and water.

“At least 125 people have died and infrastructure has been severely damaged.

“Around 18,200 people have been displaced and are reported to have converged in 26 informal care centres.

“The UN also estimates that over 544-thousand are affected across the five most affected provinces.

“The provinces are Hela, Southern Highlands, Enga, Western and West Sepik.

“Papua New Guinea’s Health Department says more people will die in earthquake-hit districts if health issues are not urgently tackled.

“The head of Emergency Medicine says that following the 7.5 quake 17 days ago there’s a risk that food and water borne diseases could kill thousands of people.” Copyright: RNZI (All Rights Reserved)

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, quoting the newsletter of ‘Take My Hands March 19, 2018 – “The latest container to the Solomon Islands will arrive in Honiara any day now.   This container is full of furniture and equipment that will be supporting several NGO’s in the Solomon Islands including Hearts of Hope Charity that works with widows and orphans, Solomon Islands Development Trust focused on improving the lives of villagers, Disability organisations and the National Eye Centre. We couldn’t have done this without the help of some amazing organisations and people here in New Zealand. Thanks All Heart NZ, PBT Couriers, Swire Shipping, Ports of Auckland, Container Co, Sea Containers and the Waitemata District Health Board. We were also able to use the opportunity of our loading day to work with two young men from the YESS programme in West Auckland (www.aawcollectiveimpact.org).

“This was quite a rewarding shipment to coordinate because we were working with “new contacts both in New Zealand and in the Solomon Islands which is a sign that Take My Hands’ reach is expanding, and also that there are some really caring groups of people out there and we are super lucky to be getting to know them!” Copyright: ‘Take My Hands’ (All Rights Reserved)

I am extremely grateful to ‘Take My Hands’ and all those in NZ that supported my request for help for the Solomon Islands NGO’s mentioned in the newsletter.

I am also grateful to the SFA for paying the freight costs from NZ and to Mr J Sy the Past President of the SFA who has agreed to cover the landing fees when the container arrives in Honiara.

Thank you all.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT