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No confidence motion looms in Renbel

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Premier Collin Singamoana.
Premier Collin Singamoana.

A no confidence motion is looming in Renbel Province against Premier, Collin Singamoana, and his executive.

According to the provincial Speaker, Brian Sa’oba, the motion is proposed to happen on the third week of this month.

But, Sa’oba said once the budget for the meeting is not ready, the motion can still talk place on the final week of this month.

Members of the provincial opposition group have outlined15 issues on premier Singamoana, and his executive, to clarify during this meeting.

Mover of the motion and Member of Provincial Assembly for Ward 9, Nick Taika, has outlined serious allegations against premier Singamoana led-government.

Among other things, some of these issues are on the failure of the premier and his executive to pursue national projects earmarked for the province, individual decisions made by the premier without consulting his executive and misuse of funds allocated for the Solomon Games.

Japan hopes to foster young pacific leaders in LEAD

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE Pacific Leaders Educational Assistance for Development of state (LEAD) long term program through Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to foster young leaders within the 14 pacific Island countries.

This was spelt out in a recent news release of JICA.

Having the aim of fostering young leaders has driven JICA to open this new program of higher education for future leaders of the Pacific region.

The report says it offers opportunities for young leaders to study in Japanese Universities that will further strengthen the relationship between their countries and Japan.

Hence, JICA Solomon Islands hope accepted participants from Solomon Islands (SI) will contribute actively to the development of SI with the experience and skills they acquire in Japan.

Ear sickness can kill

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Mary Loduha, Nurse in-charge of the NRH Ear, Nose & Throat Unit checking one of its patients on Saturday. The Unit marks World Hearing Day on that day

By Mike Puia

Mary Loduha, Nurse in-charge of the NRH Ear, Nose & Throat Unit checking one of its patients on Saturday. The Unit marks World Hearing Day on that day

‘SICKNESS in the ear can lead to permanent loss of hearing or even death’.

This is according to the clinical nurse in-charge of the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Unit within the National Referral Hospital (NRH), Mary Loduha.

Loduha was speaking to this paper on Saturday, a special day for the Unit- being the World Hearing Day.

She said ear sickness is a silent illness that is common among children.

“Based on cases we received, children are the common group of people that experience ear problem,” Loduha said.

She said ear sickness is dangerous as when it reaches the brain it can cause brain disease.

She said when an ear sickness reaches the brain the person who is suffering from the sickness will either die or suffer chronic disease such as loss of hearing.

Loduha said their Unit knows there are people who died as a result of ear sickness but they (Unit) have not been able to find out the exact number.

“If proper research is done, we would know exactly how many people die as a result of ear sickness,” Loduha said.

Among other things, she said ear sickness is caused by junk food, no proper hygiene, lack of good nose clearing, poor oral health care and less water intake.

Loduha advised parents to bring their children who complain about their ear to the ENT Unit for early check.

“It is better to bring children who are complaining about their ear early as 80% of ear sicknesses are preventable,” Loduha said.

She said when ear sickness reaches a severe stage their Unit has little to do with it as they have no facilities and equipment.

She said they are lucky that Australian ear specialists regularly visited the country to offer ear service.

Another team of ear doctors will arrive in the country next week. The team will spend a week at the NRH before traveling to Kilu’ufi hospital in Malaita for another week.

Resource owners stop being spectators: Prime Minister

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

SOLOMON Islands is rich in natural resources, yet managing nature’s abundance still remains a challenge.

The sentiment was expressed by Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela who was present at last week’s UN launching of the second peace program that will take place in the country with support from UN agencies, UNDP and UN Women.

Speaking on land and natural resource management, he stressed that as a natural resource rich country Solomon Islands after many years still finds managing it’s natural resources a challenge.

The Prime Minister stressed that among many likely reasons, the main cause for this is possibly that resource owners have become spectators.

“There is no sense of a difference between living on handouts and staying on a sustainable development pathway”, he said.

Henceforth, Prime Minister Houenipwela voiced the need to directly involve the community and resource owners in the development process.

“Land owners and communities must not be spectators or remain by-standers. They must become active participants to support and facilitate development”, he said.

Gov’t will pay $50 million for Hell’s Point but don’t hold your breath

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Alfred Sasako

UNCONFIRMED reports have suggested that there is in-principle agreement by Government to pay the $50 million ordered by the High Court for the Hell’s Point waste land in east Honiara.

But don’t hold your breath. It may not be this government that would fork out the bill.

There are indications that the Government has received fresh legal advice that the ruling by the High Court on the matter “is binding.”

As a result, the government is required to honor the High Court ruling. However, the delay in settling the payment has been attributed to hard economic time the nation is going through.

There is a possibility that the payment could be addressed either wholly or in part in the event a mini budget is brought down mid-year. Last year the government brought in three mini budgets after budgetary targets were missed.

The tussle over the $50 million almost brought the government to its knee in recent weeks. There were those who supported the payment and there were those who were against it.

In the end Prime Minister Ricky Houenipwela was accused of reneging on undertakings he allegedly entered into with his Deputy and Finance and Treasury Minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

Since then both men have reportedly made up, consolidating the position of the new SI DCC Government.

Meanwhile Russell Islands’ tribal landowner, Silas Selo, says the government should never pay the $50 million, saying the terms of the sales of land to RIPEL and Levers Solomon Ltd lands have expired almost 40 years ago.

“The terms of sales of all the alienated land – and this includes RIPEL and LSL land in Solomon Islands – expired at midnight on 7th July 1978 when Solomon Islands gained political independence from Britain.

“All the alienated land returned to their original owners on that day by virtue of the expiry of the terms of sales,” Mr Selo said.

“This fact alone puts an end to any claims of ownership by anyone, including Patrick Wong and LSL over any of the alienated land.”

Mr Selo said he was encouraged by an assurance given by the Premier Patrick Vasuni that his government would not issue an operating licence to Mr Wong to operate any business in Central Islands Province.

“The Hon Premier’s position is based on two factors – the expiration of the terms of the land sales prior to independence and secondly the fact that Mr Wong had surrendered all the lands he once claimed in Russell Islands to the Commissioner of Lands in recent years.

“The Hon Premier says all the legal issues must first be cleared before issuance of operating licence can be considered,” Mr Selo said.

Maelanga lauded for development plans in East Malaita

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Deputy Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

Member of Parliament Hon.Manasseh Maelanga.

A church leader in East Malaita has lauded his Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Manasseh Maelanga for his development plans in East Malaita constituency.

Church leader Anthony Mamali said, Hon. Manasseh Maelanga through his leadership in the past eleven years has shown great improvements and achievements through infrastructures and assistance for his people within the East Malaita constituency.

“In the past, East Malaita is one of the lowest developed constituencies in Malaita with no strong support from previous MP’s for its development plans. I salute the East Malaita MP Hon. Maelanga for taking this leadership role and meeting the needs of the people in east Malaita through infrastructure and other assistance in the constituency”, he said.

Mamali said, East Malaita is currently setting a model both in spiritual and physical developments compared to other constituencies in Malaita province.

“We are heading towards the upcoming national general election and I call upon the good people of East Malaita to think wisely and choose a unique leader like Maelanga to lead his people especially in developments and welfare concerning the important issues within East Malaita constituency”, Mamali said.

“Today life is much easier for the people in East Malaita as they now have access to roads where transport services are daily unlike before”.

Mamali said in the past, people in the highlands in East Malaita used to walk seven to ten kilometers to reach the main road from Auki to Atori to wait for public transport.

“Today trucks are carrying people from Auki to their door steps”, Mamali said.

Rinso imitation a tricky marketing scheme

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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RINSO-IMITATION

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE Solkai Rinso laundry powder is an imitation product of Rinso laundry powder. This was revealed by Bulk shop through a press release Tuesday last week.

Rinso is one of the first mass trusted laundry washing powder brand in Solomon Islands that is preferred by all for its successful stain removal properties.

RINSO-IMITATION

According to Bulk shop, the product (Solkai Rinso) is an attempt of tricky marketing schemes to fasten the diffusion of new goods by using the name “SOL” in an attempt to associate the brand as perhaps being local.

“This is clear case of purposely manipulating customers into buying a product that comes in a very similar packaging but the contents are unknown, the product (Solkai Rinso) could contain cheap harmful chemicals with no proper cleaning properties,” according to Bulk shop.

The statement adds that the product is made in China and aims to confuse unsuspecting consumers to go for a cheap shelf price which in fact it is not real.

Island Sun has contacted Fangs Company limited regarding the manufacturer of the Solkai Rinso product but was unsuccessful in getting comments from them.

 

Fuel price increase

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

FUEL Price has increased by 4.02% for Diesel, 1.92% for Kerosene and 2.99% for Petrol according to comparisons between 1st of February 2018 to 1st March 2018 fuel prices.

The increase of fuel price is said to be from two causes.

The increase of Means of Platts Singapore (MOPS) prices for this month and the Import Duty rate under the Customs and Excise Act.

In detail, MOPS is the average set of Singapore-based oil product price assessments published by Platts a global energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information provider and a division of McGraw Hill Financial of which its primary areas of business are financial information and analytics.

Platts assessment process determines the value of physical commodities 15 – 30 days forward for many oil products loading in Singapore. From this, for the month of March the world market fuel price are reported to be increasing for all three (3) commodities.

For Solomon Islands the second cause for increase on the Import Duty rate, under the Customs and Excise Act (for Petrol, Kerosene, ADO), this was amended (increase) as per the gazette Order (N0.10) on Monday 5th February 2018. The Order commences on 12th February 2018.

According to John Wesley Dokama the Secretary to the Price Advisory Committee (PAC) under the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labours and Immigration the duty rates are a component of selling price for fuel and fuel prices.

“Compliance to this is critically important to the credential of the order and its execution by the Customs,” said Dokama.

National Government is regulating Fuel Price under the Price Control Act which is administered by the Ministry of Commerce under the Consumer Affairs and Price Control Division through its Price Advisory Committee.

Campaign starts for International Women’s Day

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SOLOMON Islands will join the world to campaign for women’s rights in the International Women’s Day (IWD) set for March 8 under the theme: “Press for Progress.”

As a main key player for IWD in Solomon Islands, the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) revealed that preparations for women’s day is underway with support from relevant stakeholders.

“Already there is a campaign on SIBC and Barava FM and online campaign on social media with slogans carrying #genderequalityforsolomonislands and #pressforprogress”.

Acting EWAWG Policy Coordinator, Mrs Serah Angeika Buka said the country will be joining a global campaign on gender equality and activities to stop violence against women and girls.

Mrs Buka said they have already started their campaign strategies but their focus now is on the social media platform.

She said also they will host a panel discussion with high school students from selected schools in Honiara based on the IWD theme.

Following the campaign in Honiara, Mrs Buka said the aim is to celebrate women’s achievements, successful stories and their contribution in their homes, communities and country as a whole.

She said women’s group in Guadalcanal, Western and Malaita province will also join the celebration in their respective provinces.

Women in Malaita province will use IWD as an opportunity to launch their women policy, Mrs Buka said.

The MWYCFA are calling for both men and women to join the international day to campaign for women and girls’ rights.

EL Divas win tip off challenge

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Taromane Martin

EL DIVAS are the women’s champions of the 2018 D Fenders Tip-Off basketball challenge after defeating Sunrise 20-17 at the Multipurpose Hall yesterday.

The competitions entered the finals, after the last pool matches yesterday but saw the heavy rain forcing organizers to cancel the men’s grand final match.

El Divas led by Nicola Pongi, on the three point’s duty, led Sunrise 14-8 at the end of the first quarter but saw Sunrise clawing their way back in the second quarter.

Sunrise came strong for the second quarter with Elsie Daiwo, Joey Basia, Rebby Basia and Carrisa Malma shooting a combined nine points but could not find enough to deny El Divas the win.

Finals score 20-17 to El Divas.

Meanwhile in the men’s division both Marist and Gunnerz are through to the grand final of the competition.

Gunnerz defeated Pool A runners ups Canberra Cannons while Pool A leaders Marist defeated Pool B runner-ups Chamba Pinoy in their semifinal match yesterday.

The grand final match was postponed and is set for this Sunday at the Multipurpose Hall.

Results from the men’s final pool games are as follows:

Canberra Cannons lost 38-21 to Marist.

Hillcock Bandits lost to SOSSA 14-7

Ronkay Knights drew 17-17 with the Chamba Pinoy while Crusaders lost to Pool B leaders Gunnerz who are still undefeated in the competition.

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