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Vanuatu selected for a seasonal work pilot project

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, quoting Radio New Zealand International – February 26, 2018

“Vanuatu has been selected to start working on a pilot project to include people living with disabilities to join the seasonal work programmes in New Zealand and Australia.

“The Department of Labour’s, Julie Rereman, said the new project focused on the capability and not the disability of people to contribute to the economic development of the country.

“Disability Inclusion Project Officer Neneth Garae told the Daily Post newspaper that she will meet the first five applicants next week.

“If the project proves successful it is expected to be introduced to other Pacific countries.” Copyright: RNZI.   (All Rights Reserved)

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

More than 100 hospital beds needed urgently at the NRH and two provincial hospitals

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, having been appraised of an urgent need for at least 100 extra hospital beds at the NRH and at two provincial hospitals, one in Isabel and the other in Malaita, I am working closely with the Auckland based Charity Trust, Take My Hands (TMH) to secure those beds for the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MOHMS) as soon as possible.

TMH has assured me that acquiring good condition hospital beds in New Zealand that have become surplus to the needs of locally based hospitals is not likely to be a problem and at least 100 could be shipped in two 40 foot containers as soon as freight charges for the containers can be remitted.

Two 40 foot containers fully loaded with 100 hospital beds could cost between NZ$16.000 to NZ$20,000 with all handling and transportation costs in New Zealand covered by TMH.

100 hospital beds would be valued at NZ$175,000 (depreciated value given they would be pre-used but in very good condition), which would mean the beds would be 50% of what it would cost if the MOHMS had to buy new ones.

The impact on patient care, infection control, recovery time improvement, and staff morale through improved working conditions is something that is highly likely to be affected if the three hospitals could receive the beds they are needing soon.

I am therefore seeking any help I can get in raising the money necessary to cover the freight costs for two 40ft containers and the subsequent costs in relation to the handling and SIPF wharf fees when the containers would arrive in Honiara.

Sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Imitation product warning

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, it is becoming concerning that importers are imitating trusted brands in Solomons Islands. Bulk Shop would like to highlight to customers and retailers that genuine Rinso laundry powder has no association to “Solkai Rinso” imported by Fangs Company.

This imitation product is made in China and visually tries to confuse an unsuspecting customer by offering a cheap shelf price. It is in fact cheap because it is not real.

Additionally Solkai Rinso is an attempt of tricky marketing ploys by using the name “SOL” in an attempt to associate the brand as perhaps being local.

This is a clear case of purposely manipulating customers into buying a product that comes in a very similar packaging but the contents are unknown.

Solkai Rinso could contain cheap harmful chemicals with no proper cleaning properties.

Rinso is a trusted laundry brand in Solomon Islands that is widely preferred for its successful stain removal properties.

Rinso is a safe quality product made by reputable global company Unilever with proper safe guards and controls.

Ultimately uninformed customers buying this imitation product may lose out.

Thank you.

BULK SHOP

Good news for Tawaro health clinic

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, it has been reported that the Tawaro Health Clinic in the East of Small Malaita, built in 1969 and semi derelict has received building materials to aid the clinic’s renovation.

It is understood the generous supply of building materials were provided by the SI Ministry of the Environment with help from the World Bank

I am delighted to learn of this aid to enable the clinic to once again function effectively in accommodating the health needs of the local community.

I very much hope to read of more help forthcoming for the many rural health clinics in need of restoration in keeping with the promise made by the Prime Minister on taking office.

Thank you to the World Bank, Solomon Islands and to the SI Ministry of the Environment.

Sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Honiara welcomes Crystal Serenity today

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Crystal Serenity

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

COUNTRY is expecting 600 tourists arriving on the Crystal Serenity cruise boat today.

Crystal Serenity will port at the country’s international wharf at 8am, later departing at 6pm to Gizo in the Western province.

Destination Solomons is the ground operator for the whole day in Honiara.

They will accompany tourists to the WWII sites, glance on the country’s cultural artefacts and histories, doing city tours and beach snorkeling.

According to Solomon Islands visitors Bureau (SIVB), this is Crystal Serenity’s first visit to Solomon Islands and thus will be a history for them.

SIVB Senior Marketing Officer, Mr Ellison Kyere said SIVB is calling on public to welcome tourists nicely and be friendly to them with a positive manner.

He said ‘if public meet them on the street, say hello and help then with informations when needed’.

Meanwhile, Kyere said people are now starting to see the importance and demand of cruise boats coming to Solomon Islands and slowly there’s a positive support from public.

In this year’s cruise ship schedule, Kyere highlights that two new cruise boat will visit new ports especially Tavanapupu in Marau Sound of the Guadalcanal province.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr Andrew Nihopara also appeals for public cooperation while Honiara plays key role to host the 600 visitors.

Nihopara calls on general public to maintain respect and cooperation during Crystal Serenity’s arrival in Honiara today.

“I call on the general public of Honiara to continue to maintain respect and cooperation particularly during Crystal Serenity arrival in Honiara, since this will leave a lasting impression to the tourist and can lead to this cruise boat future visit,” he said.

 

Public employees union meets SINPF

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

THE Solomon Islands Public Employees Union (SIPEU) and the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) last week held a historic meeting.

The meeting was unusual and could be the SINPF’s response to a move by members of the fund to form a watchdog group for members.

Already an interim committee has been set up to drive the watch-dog initiative. The committee is on a six-month consultation.

While the interim committee is doing its consultations, the SINPF appeared to be having its own consultations as well.

SIPEU’s General Secretary Robert Au confirmed they met the SINPF board last Monday.

Au said the meeting was very good as it gives representatives of both party the opportunity to share their minds.

“We also talked about the issue of having SIPEU, being the body representing government workers, having a voice in the SINPF board,” Au confirmed.

He said they will make a nomination and whoever is nominated his or her name will be given to the Minister of Finance and Treasury, through the SINPF board, to make an appointment.

Au said SIPEU used to be a member of the SINPF board in the past.

He said it is exciting that the SIPEU is moving closer to getting back into the SINPF board after over 10 years.

Most members of the SINPF board are appointed by the Minister. One member represents employers. This member is nominated by the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Au added they are happy with the initiative taken by the SINPF board to sit down and have a talk with the SIPEU.

He said they also discussed other matters like full cover insurance, housing for public employees.

 

Products expensive and no price tags, say tourists

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Stalls selling crafts.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

RECENT international visitors to Honiara have complained that local products are expensive and that they do not have any price tags on them.

This is the feedback from tourists on the two cruise boats which visited Honiara six days ago.

They explain that the unfair practice of not tagging products allows venders to change prices to different tourists. Some may pay more than others.

The tourists suggest the country applies standard pricing and to enforce venders to put price tags on their products.

However, on the overall, tourists said they really enjoyed the whole day here.

SIVB Senior Marketing Officer, Mr Ellison Kyere said the issue of pricing and price tag has been a talked-about issue for a long time.

Kyere said responsible authorities have progressively worked on it with associations such the Artist Association of Solomon Islands, Fashion Association and SIWIBA.

He adds venders should have price tags on their products and that their prices must be reasonable.

“The issue is a long time issue, SIVB considered the feedbacks but currently we are not really strict but we will try to work on that to ensure it becomes regulated,” Kyere said.

Kyere said if everything becomes regulated all products will not be displayed on the ground, and they must have price tags and pricing should be under control.

The significant part is the marketability of Solomon Islands and lasting impression for tourists to return, Kyere adds.

Meanwhile, President of Artist Association of Solomon Islands, Mr Bannie Ronnie said there are several contributing factors to why pricing varies and are high.

He explains that many of the venders retailers who buy products from local artists and carvers and resell them to the tourists.

For price tag and price control, Ronnie supports the idea of enforcing regulations for the country’s reputation with regards to tourism development.

He encourages ministries responsible to look at this issue seriously.

Members reminded of parliament responsibilities

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Acting Governor General Mr Ajilon Nasiu has put all MPs on notice regarding the Prime Minister’s election

By Gary Hatigeva

SPEAKER of the National Parliament, Ajilon Nasiu has reminded members of Parliament (MPs) to reorganise their priorities, while at the same time respect Parliament proceedings and schedules.

The Speaker made this statement when giving his remarks to welcome members before Parliament resumed for its seventh sessions under the 10th Parliament yesterday.

Mr Nasiu was also making this statement in response to the delayed start of the sitting due to late arrivals of members to form a quorum according to parliament schedule.

“This is also to avoid the issue of quorum and I encourage members to make good use of this meeting,” Nasiu stressed.

In an earlier statement, the Speaker made similar calls to MPs but yesterday’s situation had forced him to reiterate the importance of attendance of all members to all sittings of parliament.

He said this is to allow parliament to continue deliver its overall mandate as the law making institution of the country, and this he added, calls for the cooperation of all members to attend parliament.

On the same note, His Excellency, Governor General Sir Frank Kabui also in an earlier statement reminded MPs that people hold envious confidence in their leadership abilities and capabilities, to provide sound guidance and clear vision, not as micro-scale project managers, but as national legislators.

IMO is coming next year

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Mike Puia

THE International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which deals with world maritime, is coming next year.

IMO external auditors are interested in assessing how well this country is implementing obligations under maritime conventions it signed.

Despite being a maritime nation and a member of the IMO, this country has not been doing well in the international maritime community.

According to the Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration (SIMSA) Director, Captain Tim Harris, the IMO auditors are also interested in assessing how well this country is implementing the amendments of these conventions.

IMO member countries, including Solomon Islands, have 580 obligations.

As for Solomon Islands, SIMSA has conducted an audit from 2016 to 2017 and found out that this country only satisfied 10 percent of these obligations.

The last convention this country signed is the Civil Liability Convention it signed in1992.

Mr Harris said there are important conventions, like the Fund Convention 1971 and Protocol 1992, this country has not signed.

He said these two conventions gives this country access to huge funding without costing the country anything.

The convention allows a signature country to access millions in an event there is an oil spill.

Harris said the IMO auditors are interested to look at the legal system in the country, the work of Parliament with regards to maritime legislation, the work of the Attorney General Chamber, the work of the High Court, the condition of the industry and ships and how well the SIMSA is implementing the content of the conventions.

 

Forestry Division called upon to assist tree growers

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

A tree grower at Sirobesi in Northwest Choiseul makes a call again for the Forestry Division to assist tree growers around the province in order to sell their trees.

Mr Francis Qoloni on behalf of other tree growers said it has been a very long time now since the Forestry Division assured to assist them in finding buyers for their trees.

“We call on them to come fulfil their assurance in order for us to earn some money from these trees. Assisting us to export our trees will be good as well,” said Mr Qoloni.

It is understood that tree growers of Choiseul Province have planted hundreds of acres of Teak, Eucalyptus and other species of trees.

Attempts for comment from the Forestry Division in Honiara were not possible yesterday.

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