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Parliament to backdate agenda for debates

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By Gary Hatigeva

TODAY the Solomon Islands National Parliament is expected to go through businesses that were left out last week after the house was adjourned in three consecutive days.

Parliament was last week, forced to adjourn its first and second day meetings due to low turnout from members to form a quorum, and what government claimed to be delays from responsible committees to prepare necessary reports for tabling.

Unfortunately, on Friday, Parliament was again adjourned but this time, based on standing orders of the House, which disallows for the tabling of any government motions or bills.

However, before first day’s adjournment, the government was able to present the Constitution (Amendment) (Dual Citizenship) Bill 2017, for its first reading, but was unable to go through its second reading because of the adjournments.

Meanwhile, the Rick Hou-led government is anticipating a successful second and third readings and a thorough debate into the Constitution (Amendment) (Dual Citizenship) Bill 2017, when Members of Parliament all return for a full house meeting this morning.

Other businesses that were left out included a Question and Answer session where the Member of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga, Matthew Wale, is expected to question the Prime Minister over government’s decision on the method and price of acquisition of the Tenaru land for a national park.

Wale is also expected to question the PM over his recent statement made at the Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting in PNG last month.

In his recent trip to handover the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) chairmanship to his Papua New Guinea counterpart, the Prime Minister Hounipwela apologised for sour relations within MSG, which Wale intends to ask what the causes and nature of these sour relations were and which member countries were involved.

UN assures SI of support in peace project

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Osnat Lubrani speaking at the UN Peace project’s launching occasion.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Osnat Lubrani speaking at the UN Peace project’s launching occasion.

PEACE building is not only a development challenge it is a political challenge and a challenge of an equal two way dialogue at the same time.

The statement was made by UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Osnat Lubrani during the launching of the UN Joint Programme Initiative, the second peace supported program in Solomon Islands funded by United Nations Peacebuilding Fund) UNPBF.

She said that UNPBF has recognized the commitment made by the government and people Solomon Islands and the work that has been carried out so far by all stakeholders.

Ms Lubrani added that with that recognition, they have on an exceptional basis agreed to sponsor the second peace program in Solomon Islands which will be implemented by UNDP and UN Women.

On another note, she expressed that other donors and partners should be invited to join the journey given that peacebuilding is a dimensional challenge.

“Looking ahead, I think we should all invite other partners and donors to join in the journey, peacebuilding is a development challenge, it is a political challenge and it is a challenge of an equal two way dialogue at the same time”

“With this spirit of ambition, openness and our hope for the future for progress, I’m sure that the country’s peacebuilding challenges can be overcome”, said Ms Lubrani.

Furthermore, she assured Solomon Islands of UN’s support in tackling the issues relating to peacebuilding in the country.

“The UN is with you in this challenge. My important message is peacebuilding is a long term endeavor. It is a process and we are in it for a long haul”.

Peace building initiatives must be continuous: PM Hou

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

PEACE building initiatives that are continuous and well-grounded in existing government capacities are vital for peace development.

Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela referred to this as one of Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government’s (SIDCCG) four categories of efforts to sustaining peace in the country.

He stated that his government endorsed the communique from last year’s national dialogue, supported resolutions from the provincial dialogue and also supported the Women Summit and Youth Forum.

“This is in addition to the TRC recommendations. We are adopting key resolutions from the communique in the SIDCCG policy programme, especially in the interest of accelerating inclusive development and maintaining stability”, he said.

Prime Minister Houenipwela also emphasized that development of the peacebuilding strategy will be critical for purpose of implementing peacebuilding initiatives.

He however expressed that the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report, findings from public consultations and outcome of the national and provincial dialogues held last year will all contribute to the present peacebuilding programme and development of the peacebuilding strategy in the future.

The Prime Minister stressed this whilst speaking at the launch last week at the Heritage Park Hotel to mark UN’s second peace program in the country to be implemented by UNDP and UN Women in partnership with PMO, MNURP (Ministry of National Unity Reconciliation and Peace) and other relevant partners.

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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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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0
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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0
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.

 

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