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Leaders encourage PILP alumni

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PM Rick Houenipwela made his speech during the PILP alumni reunion on Wednesday

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

PM Rick Houenipwela made his speech during the PILP alumni reunion on Wednesday

A community building workshop is underway in Honiara convening nine Pacific islands countries who are part of the Pacific Islands Leadership Programme (PILP).

At the opening ceremony, which coincided with the PILP alumni reunion event on Wednesday, Prime Minister Rick Houenipweala says it is appropriate to bring the community building workshop to Solomon Islands since the alumni participants also come from different countries across our region.

He said his government believes the tourism industry should be encouraged and developed further with the intention of one day surpassing forestry and the unsustainable logging industry in Solomon Islands.

“I hope as a tourism experience, that you will enjoy your stay here in Solomon Islands and that for your workshop you will have a meaningful, fruitful and productive workshop here in Honiara,” PM Hou said.

Hou thanked the Taiwanese Government for such an initiative especially Taiwan Ambassador Roger Luo and his staff for such thoughtfulness.

Minister for Culture and Tourism Bartholomew Parapolo encouraged participants to use the opportunity not only to enjoy Solomon Islands but to learn and return home with stories and memories.

Minister Parapolo with his PS Andrew Nihopara pictured with Taiwan
Ambassador HE Roger Luo.

Parapolo congratulates the alumni and encouraged them to continue the professional interaction as future leaders for their respective countries.

Taiwan’s Ambassador His Excellency Roger Luo in his remarks, recognised the contribution of the East West Centre as a world renowned think-tank for the Asia-Pacific’s young leaders.

Mr Luo said East West Centre has many outstanding scholars and professors supporting the PILP training programme.

The PILP is designed for early and mid-career professionals from all walks of life from 25-38 years of age. The seminar convened young leaders from Papua New Guinea, Nauru, French Polynesia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Solomon Islands and PILP programme coordinators from the East West Centre in Hawaii, USA.

Tinted taxi fears in Gizo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Heavy tinted cab in Gizo

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

GIZO public are becoming increasingly worried about the rise in number of taxis with heavy tinted windows, and are calling on authorities to address the issue.

A Mr Andrew Koke shares with Island Sun that Gizo town authorities should follow Honiara City Council’s example and ban heavy tinted public transport vehicles.

He says likewise for Munda and Noro towns.

“There are now many dark tinted taxi incidents being reported around Gizo and passengers fear and double thoughts to many tinted cabs.

“Dark tint glasses living fear among Women and young girls because taxi services are now increasing in Gizo, Noro and Munda and such incidents occurring behind taxis dark tinted glasses include stealing, drinking and road accidents which drivers themselves cause from not looking properly through these dark tints.”

Y@W get youths to do community service

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

YOUTH at Work (Y@W) programme has combined youths from about 14 communities in Honiara in a huge clean-up in the heart of the city.

The two-day clean-up which ended yesterday is part of the Y@W community service. About 250 youths involved in the clean-up.

Moses Manu who represented Y@W’s registration and training team confirmed those who involved in the clean-up are new faces to their programs.

Mr Manu said they will select some of the youths who attended the clean-up for their career expo.

He said after the expo they will select some of them to attend Y@W’s pre-employment trainings.

About 200 of those who attended yesterday’s clean-up will make it to become an intern. Y@W will help the youth to find employment as intern.

Manu said they issued 400 forms and the interest shown by youths is overwhelming.

He said they hope the programme will help reduce unemployment in Honiara and enable youths to be able to make informed decisions to progress in life.

“Getting youths involved in work will get them to start and seriously think about their future,” Manu said.

During Wednesday, day one of the clean-up, a business house freely donated cartoons of mineral waters to the youths.

The cartoons of water donated were enough for yesterday’s clean-up work.

“What happened shows that businesses appreciate youths engagement in community work. People in the street also appreciate it and you can tell that by their look,” Manu said.

SIPA steps closer to digital world

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Group photo of CBS Software with the staff of SIPA

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Group photo of CBS Software with the staff of SIPA

SOLOMON Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) signed a new agreement with the CBS Software group based in Australia to install a 24-hour streamline terminal operation system software.

The software is capable of tracking and monitoring containers coming in and out from Solomon Islands.

This new initiative is part of SIPA’s reformation project into digitalising its services and efficiencies.

SIPA CEO Eranda Kotelawala said the CBS software will improve efficiency to keep track of containers, something which has been a challenge in the past.

Mr Kotelawala said the software ensures that operations are carried out and recorded digitally, making data collection easier and accurate.

Kotalawala said the new software will help to implement processes to increase operation efficiency, improve client communication and increase staff expertise.

He also adds now they will operate digitally with their operation at the yard and international wharf.

He said the programme will save a lot of time, efficiency in delivering of containers, tracking of ships discharging and financial recording purposes.

Kotelawala described the new setting as SIPA’s one step to more digitalising.

CEO Kotelawala said trial run will take place in Honiara, to be moved to Noro port in the Western province when the software operates smoothly.

Director of CBS Software Mr Mark Jenkins said they have been operating for 20 years, and the software is meant to improve efficiency.

It can also be controlled by tablets through signal from the Terminal Operation System, he adds.

Significant area about this software, Mr Jenkins said it can track containers and customers accurately on daily basis.

CBS Software is a group based in Australia.

Its mission statement is to for all terminals and deport have software solution that will improve their efficiency and safety, enhance client communication, and helps conform to industry regulations.

Safety highlighted in survival training

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

WESTERN Province Gizo base SIMSA Senior Maritime Officer Mr Wheatley Douglas has urged participants to think safety first before traveling at sea.

Speaking during the safety at sea training for small craft survival training yesterday, he said people need to know basic knowledge on safety and how to survive when at sea.

He said lack of knowledge and ignorance are the leading causes to sea disasters.

He encourage OBM skippers to always take precaution when thinking of travelling during bad weather.

“We are travelling every day on the open sea and within the lagoons but the sea are unpredictable and it is important to think safety check lists and other safety equipment before travelling.”

“This training can make a difference that is people missing and dying in the sea can be reduce and prevented from any emergency on the sea,” he added.

He said sea equipment are very important tools for those who wish to travel by out-board motor.

Bad pavement condition risk road users

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Captured photo of the damaged pavement along the newly constructed bus bay

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

A bad pavement condition recently discovered along the newly constructed town council bus bay is posing as a risk to road users.

The newly observed damage was considered risk to general public says an outspoken working mother who wants her name disclosed.

She said public and road users seen it as a minor pavement damage, however, if it is not seriously considered it could result in injury to road users who walks that path daily and those who users it at night times.

“Therefore as a daily road user I call on responsible authorities to assess this bad pavement damage and address it quickly,” she said.

Captured photo of the damaged pavement along the newly constructed bus bay

Gov’t urged to prioritise agriculture in creating healthy economy

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Hon Douglas Ete giving his keynote remarks during the Ribbon cutting ceremony at Vura Community High School Compound

By Gary Hatigeva

THE Solomon Islands government has been urged to step up efforts to accelerate the country’s path to prosperity, inclusive growth and decent jobs-creation by moving from commitments to action.

Member of Parliament for East Honiara and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said despite the budget cuts, agriculture should be its top development agenda as an economic driver for inclusive and sustainable development and urged concrete action to transform the sector.

He said after securing political, policy, and financial commitments, the government now needs to harness this surge of support for agriculture and ensure it creates decent jobs and drives economic growth across the country.

Mr Douglas Ete shared this when interviewed after one of the PAC sessions yesterday where matters of direct impacts to the economy were raised and issues affecting all sectors in the country, by the delegation from the Central Bank of Solomon Islands and World Bank.

Meanwhile the PAC Chair suggested that in Solomon Islands, private sector actors, donors and development partners need to work together to improve the agriculture sector, being one of the major back bone of the country and highlighted that this is the path to Solomons’ prosperity.

He said the Central Bank has raised the fact that production of cocoa, apiary sector, honey bee, and coconut have all depleted and that was the view that came out from the economic overview report 2018.

He explained that in the case of Apiary being depleted is because of the bromate, it has not been tackled properly, something Ministry officials confirmed when contacted, that the government has worked on it.

He added that last year cocoa also went down to around 4500 metric tonnes, but with the policy of the government, agricultural sector is basically the back bone of this country.

“And in my view, this is one of the most important sectors that should be bolstered and has to have the reflection in the budget and I encourage the government to do so in order to bolster our productive economy as a whole.”

He further added that budget cut has always been like this in the past for a number of years however, he encouraged the ministry of agriculture especially the government in general, to see that these productive sectors are important for the productivity of the country.

“True, the budget has been slashed affecting all key priority areas including that of the agriculture ministry, but the government can still deliver if they work within their limitations, however, in this case, all that has to have the reflection in the budget and I encourage the government to do so in order to bolster our productive economy as a whole,” the PAC Chairman stressed.

He concluded that as such he sees the money projected in this year’s budget has been sliced and therefore suggested that ministry prepare a supplementary bill to ensure all key areas within this sector is funded and that he is confident will certainly bolster the status of the country’s economy.

Women in Maritime launches Association

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands Women in Maritime Association (SIWIMA) is officially launching its setup today.

In a recent interview, Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration (SIMSA) Director Captain Tim Harris briefly explains the detail of this association.

“SIWIMA is different from SIMSA, and it has its own constitutions, aims and missions.”

Mr Harris said its aim is to raise women working in the Solomon Islands Maritime Industry and to enable all working individuals to have equal opportunity and also to promote women in this sector.

Also SIWIMA is to create national support system to raise awareness and advocate issues concerning women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Naha clinic closes for renovation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Naha clinic

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

AS of today Naha health clinic is closing its doors so that renovation work can be carried out by the Honiara City Council (HCC) maintenance team.

Mr Arian Simbe, Nurse Manager of Honiara City Council (HCC) Nursing Service division, says renovations will commence on Monday next week.

“Replacing of facilitates will be more on the entire structure of the building including, roofing iron, ceiling, walling and other minor parts of the heath facility.”

A notice issued by the Naha clinic manager stresses that public must seek medical attention from other HCC clinics until Naha health centre resumes operations

“We regret for any inconveniences this may cause. However we appreciate your understanding and corporation in this matter,” the notice said.

For the nurses serving Naha clinic, Mr Simbe said they will be deployed to Vura Clinic, Kukum Clinic and some will join the Kukum night shift that ends at 10pm.

With the closure of Naha clinic, Mataniko health centre is now set to reopen.

Mataniko clinic has also undergone renovation and will resume health care service as of next week.

$64m remain in Gov’t arrears

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Minister Hurry Kuma

By Mike Puia

THE government’s total arear now stands at $64 million. In 2017, it was $138 million.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT), Harry Kuma, could not elaborate on what made government arrears reach $138 million.

Instead Mr Kuma said they hope these remaining arrears will be settled by mid this year.

When responding to questions, he said there is no payment arrear related to the Bloody Ridge land.

In fact, Kuma revealed most of these arrears are orders by the High Court.

Kuma however confirmed their Ministry and the Prime Minister’s office signed an agreement on the Hell’s Point waste land.

He did not disclose anything about the agreement.

Kuma said the Ministry of Lands and Housing Survey can provide information about land acquisition.

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