A concerned man from Temotu province is calling on his people to think of the damage logging will do to their resources and future generations if they allow it to spread throughout Santa Cruz.
Outspoken Mr James Menai who hails from Nangu village in Santa Cruz voices that landowners should bear in mind that Santa Cruz is a small island and to allow the expansion of logging beyond Bekapoa district where it is currently operating would be a bad idea.
He stresses that if the above becomes reality, virgin forests will be damaged, marine and sea resources will be destructed and future generations will be heavily impacted.
On another note, with population on the island experiencing a rise, Mr Menai stated that this something their provincial government should address.
He adds that many form 5 drop outs don’t have financial means to continue their education hence to avoid them travelling to the capital to find ways to settle that issue the provincial government should work on initiating a cannery and mineral bottle water industry.
Referring to the latter, Mr Menai mentioned that for a project that has already passed through the ground breaking phase, what the provincial leaders should do is, meet with landowners , seek common grounds and work together to develop the project.
He strongly expressed that if such projects are delivered in Temotu province it will be a great source of employment, especially for school drop outs.
Mr Menai furthered that although logging contributes a lot to the economy, there are also side effects we should consider.
“So I’m calling on my people of Santa Cruz to fight hard to prevent logging from spreading throughout Santa Cruz”, he said.
Cr Tema with form six students inside the new computer lab
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
Cr Tema with form six students inside the new computer lab
EDUCATION Authority of the Honiara City Council will prioritise the White River Community High School and Honiara High School with support in education this year, Ward Councillor Eric Tema said.
The assurance was made in Mr Tema’s speech during official launching of the White River Community High School’s new computer lab yesterday.
“If there is a way to support schools, the priority is, the HCC will look to White River Community High School and Honiara High School.
“I regard white river school is not just like any other school, White River and Honiara High become a senior secondary school of the HCC.”
Tema said over the years, three schools under HCC have made positive records in academic end year performance, and White River School is one of them – between 2015 and 2017.
He commended the School administration and team behind the computer lab initiative for such a milestone improvement for form six and seven students.
He said education is a powerful tool to anything in life and it is better students make use of the opportunities given especially infrastructure and facilities established to boost their academic aspirations.
“I know some student come from high class family and some are not but this a challenge for you students to face,” Tema said.
The education authority of the HCC has 12 secondary schools, 11 primary and 22 early childhood education schools.
A 10-year water problem has reached unprecedented critical levels in the Airahu rural vocational training centre in Malaita province.
Staff and students of the Anglican Church-owned school are calling for their authority to step in and address the problem immediately.
According to Airahu RTC School Principal Fr Eddie Ato, the issue of water shortage in the school has been ongoing for 10 years.
“It is a great need for the school and especially for our staffs and students of Airahu.
“At the moment we only survive on water tanks for drinking and cooking but it only lasts a few days.
“And only in use during the rainy season.
“We sometimes are faced with water shortages during dry seasons where we will fetch water outside of the school boundary. It has affected our students and staff where classes will also delayed and sometimes some students were not able to attend classes because of water problem.
“We call on the national government to see this issue and to address it especially for the welfare of our students.”
He said RTCs are one of the avenues that create opportunities especially for school dropouts in the rural communities.
“I believe that our government should consider and address the needs of RTC’s throughout the country for our unemployed youths and school drop outs that have no chance to further their education.”
Airahu RTC is owned by the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) and is one of the biggest RTCs in Malaita province.
SIOTA Provincial Secondary School’s (PSS) Administration is now under monitor by the Central Islands Province (CIP) Education Authority (EA) and Provincial Executive.
If the school’s Administration continues to be disturbed from operating properly then its student’s size will be reduced by doing away with junior Forms.
“Knowing very well that there are two community high schools near Siota PSS, we can leave them to concentrate with junior Forms while the Premier school of the province can concentrate on the senior level,” said the Premier of CIP recently meeting with the EA and new School Administration of Siota PSS.
“We are expecting the community around Siota PSS to help look after the school as the establishment there has been a benefit for them as well in many areas.”
WESTERN Provincial Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu has encouraged the public to assist police over illegal liquor outlets in Western Province.
With an increased number of illegal black market recorded in the province, police are monitoring the rise of illegal liquor outlets.
Lenialu said that public must comply with law and order under the liquor Act, and those who go against the law will be prosecuted.
“Western Province is a tourism hub and this practice must be stopped.
“Police will continue to monitor illegal black markets within the surrounding communities in Western Province.
“I would like to call on the general public to come forward to the police to report any suspect following this illegal markets outlets.”
Lenialu said police will continue to keep an eye on any black market outlets in Western province to minimise the number of criminal activities.
Meanwhile, Lenialu said Gizo traffic office will soon check on business licences of vehicles, taxis and those who are providing public transportation services around Gizo.
PPC police will carry out traffic check this week.
“Therefore, those of you who have not renewed your licenses are kindly ask to do this before the police check,” Lenialu said.
Agencies and Commissions representatives from around the world who are here for the 3 day Knowledge Exchange program, which is currently underway at the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Headquarter here in Honiara.
International fisheries agencies and commissions from developing nations here to learn about FFA system
By Gary Hatigeva
FFA Director General James Movick and the program facilitator, welcoming and giving an overview of the meeting and an overview of the agenda
REPRESENTATIVES of Fisheries Agencies and bodies from nations across the Indian Ocean down to the Mediterranean, right across to the Caribbean and Asian seas are here in Honiara for a three-day unique exchange programme, which looks to share fisheries management knowledge and skills with these participants.
More than a third of the world’s tuna supplies come from the waters of the Pacific Islands and by working together, island countries have promoted sustainability and given themselves a much bigger bite of revenues from the global tuna sandwich, something these participants are keen to understand and learn from.
Now, the Pacific island countries are sharing their knowledge and skills with other developing country regions.
Speaking to officially open the summit, Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Director General James Movick said this meeting will help explain how the region has been meeting this challenge over the past decades and more strongly asserting our rights in what used to be a completely distant-water flag-state fishery.
“We have stood together and claimed our right to both manage and benefit from these valuable fishery resources,” Mr Movick said.
“We want to share this knowledge and assess what lessons might be transferable to other developing regions – and also learn from the unique experiences that others bring to our table.”
Also at the summit is the CEO of the Parties to the Nauru agreement, Mr Ludwig Kumoru, who described how the PNA’s Vessel Day Scheme had been a global game-changer in the sustainable management of tuna resources.
Agencies and Commissions representatives from around the world who are here for the 3 day Knowledge Exchange program, which is currently underway at the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Headquarter here in Honiara.
He said the VDS put a cap on the number of days that fishing vessels can operate in our waters, and steadily ramped up the cost of access so that the PNA members receive a fair share of revenues.
He added that before the VDS came into being there was no proper valuation placed on the fishery and we were at the mercy of foreign interests and that has all changed.
Fisheries revenues now account for more than 50 percent of all government revenues in several island countries.
Meanwhile, the FFA Director General explained that participants in the exchange will also have the opportunity to see first-hand the operation of the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre at FFA headquarters.
“The fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishery is an area where the Pacific is leading the way.
“Through the development of regional registration and effective vessel monitoring systems we can now exert a level of scrutiny of vessel operations that we only dreamt of previously,” Movick further explained.
The meeting heard that the advent of enhanced aerial surveillance and new e-monitoring and satellite coverage will give the FFA members the ‘eyes in the sky’ that can keep a close watch on the fishing fleets in the region.
This will be supplemented by effective enforcement of catch reporting and transhipment of fish by licensed vessels.
Other areas of discussion will include assessing stocks and sustainability, securing market access and increasing local participation in the value-added onshore processing.
A centrepiece of the discussion will be the RoadMap for Sustainable Pacific Fisheries endorsed by Island leaders in 2015.
Participants from Senegal, Mauritania, India, Sri Lanka, St Kitts & Nevis, Maldives, Indonesia, Tanzania and Seychelles joined officials from regional and international fisheries and oceans management agencies in the exchange.
The meeting is funded by the World Bank’s Ocean Partnership Program (OPP).
Meanwhile, Director General Movick gratefully acknowledged what he described as the crucial role provided by South Pacific Commission’s French translation services in addition to the Offshore Fisheries Programme for non-English speaking participants.
THE number of cases of males suffering from complications to their penis due to failed enlargement practices has lowered dramatically at the national referral hospital (NRH).
However, in the streets there are many ‘untold’ stories of youths suffering in silence from a backfired penis enlargement injection. They are too embarrassed to take their medical problem to the clinic or hospital for fear of being ridiculed.
Visiting injection hotspots in Honiara, youths say that those who have undergone injection with silicone gel during the past years now only have sex during certain times, fearing that the penis skin may tear from frequent sex.
“The current state of most that are injected is they do not enjoy usual sex anymore as a normal human being though they want to. This is because of the situation faced with the skin of the penis,” said youths.
“Truth is many are ashamed to present their problem at the hospital making them having continuous silent sufferings for this case.”
According to NRH Medical Superintendent Dr Rooney Jagilly, he did not see any case last year from which he guess it may mean that males have realised it is a bad practice hoping that the message has gone out to the male community.
“There have been statements in the media two years ago, this might mean of hardly seeing any cases last year. But we need to inform the public of the risks as people who do the injections are only after money.”
He elaborated that the infection happens because of the fact that the material used for injection is foreign and that it might not be sterile or the technique used may not be sterile.
“When the silicon is injected, the body mounts a strong reaction to it causing swelling and hardness. This is what makes the penis much larger than normal,” said Mr Jagilly.
“The main complications patients present with are pain, ulcerations, infections, numbness, phimosis (inability to retract the foreskin) and poor erection. Because of these, having sex can be difficult.
“It has been reported overseas that injection of the penis by untrained people can interfere with its blood supply and cause the penis to fall off.”
The surgery done according to the Medical Superintendant depends on the presenting of complications.
He said the aim of the surgery is usually to treat the immediate complication and then to try to make it as functional as it can be. Corrective surgery may include circumcision and excising the enlarged skin and soft tissue and putting a skin graft.
“It is unlikely the penis will be normal again as it was before the injection. This depends on the operation done but may take weeks to months,” said Jagilly.
The most common used for injection reported by youths is the wax jelly (petroleum) for hair being sold at shops for $13 to $15.
NRH’s Medical Superintendent wants to make aware that injection of foreign material into ones penis is dangerous and can have very bad outcome. These complications result in damage to the penis permanently.
“Part of the negative outcome is the embarrassment it can cause to the person. The patients that I have seen have all regrated what they did.
“Do not be fooled by the nice stories that it improves your sexual performance, it will more likely do the opposite.
“However those who unfortunately have themselves injected and have problems please see any of the surgeons and we will do our best to help you.
“I also call on those who do this practice to stop as it is causing more harm than good.”
Warriors goalkeeper Abraham Izomo Bird was sent off in the 63rd minute.
SOLOMON Warriors coach Moses Toata says the sending off of their goalkeeper coupled with wasteful finishing had cost them the 2-0 loss succumbed to Vanuatu’s Erakor Golden Star in their opening match of the Oceania Champions League Group B competition at Stade Pater in Papeete, Tahiti yesterday.
Goalkeeper Abraham Izomo Bird was sent off in the 63rd minute after handling the ball outside the area, leaving Warriors to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
The horrible mistake occurred when Bird, who let the ball slip out of his grasp as he went to throw it then handled the ball outside his area to earn a red card, swung the opening game in the favour of Erakor after what had been a seesawing opening match to that point.
Blaming that red card along with a number of chances squandered infront of goalmouth by Warriors players, Toata said “the red card was the turning point in the match.”
“I’m very disappointed because we could’ve finished the game in the first half.
“We had three clear goal scoring opportunities and we wasted them.
“We must give credit to Erakor’s goalkeeper. He saved a number of our chances. We lost the game because of a bad mistake from the goalkeeper.”
Bird’s sending off gave the advantage for Erakor to dominate and they managed to come away with two quick goals in the 66th and the 67th minutes respectively to win the game.
Barry Mansale curled a pinpoint free-kick past replacement custodian Jospeh Komu and before the Warriors players had time to take stock, Tony Kaltack had doubled the lead to compound the misery for Warriors following the loss of their number one keeper.
Erakor coach Obed Jimmy was pleased to take all three points and with the confidence it now gives them heading into Thursday’s top of the table clash with AS Dragon.
“I’m very proud of my boys and of the result. Two nil is a huge result for us,” Jimmy said.
“It’s always important to start well. It’s great motivation for the boys. We believe we can keep winning in the next game.”
Group B of the 2018 OFC Champions League continues on Thursday when Warriors and AS Lossi meet in a must win clash followed by AS Dragon and Erakor Golden Star chasing a chance to potentially book a quarterfinal place.
SOLOMON Islands champions Solomon Warriors played with 10 men and lost 2-0 in their opening Oceania champions league Group B match against Erakor Golden Star of Vanuatu yesterday in Tahiti.
Warriors played with 10 men following the dismissal of number one goalkeeper Abraham Izomo Bird in the 63rd minute.
Bird was sent off for early shower after handling a shot from Tony Kaltack outside the area.
Kaltack latched onto the opportunity after capitalising on a genuine error by Bird.
Bird, after a loose ball, attempts for a throw to his team mate but somehow it slipped off his hand and landed infront of Kaltack’s boot.
Kaltack picked up the ball and went for a shot but was handled by the keeper, resulting in a straight red card in the process.
The show turns out to be a misery for Warriors for the next five minutes after Bird’s dismissal where Erakor quickly grabbed two goals in the 66th and the 67th minute through well-taken strikes by Brian Mansale and Tony Mansale.
The two quick goals by the Ni-Vanuatu side compounds Warriors misery as Erakor held on to claim maximum competition points in Group B.
The give-away by Moses Toata and his boys against Erakor places them in an uphill battle situation where Warriors must win their remaining two matches if they are to remain in contention for a place in the last eight.
Their final two matches are against all francophonie rivals namely AS Lossi of New Caledonia and AS Dragon of Tahiti.
Chiefs and traditional leaders from Western and Choiseul provinces need proper customary reconciliation to be done with Bougainville.
During the Border Dialogue last year held in Gizo, Chiefs and traditional leaders from Western and Choiseul discussed more on boarder issues with Autonomous Regions of Bougainville Council of Chiefs (AROB).
A number of Chiefs said traditional ties and importance of re-establishing this history and cultural linkage through customary reconciliation between Chiefs and Traditional Leaders of Choiseul, Shortland Islands and (AROB) must done as part of the peace building process for the shared boarder communities.
“Traditional governance and shared resource management.”
“Immigration concerns on the people movement, trading activities and challenges of border by enforcement agencies,” they added.
“We need National security policy development and progress to establishing a national coordinating mechanism for muilti-sectorial collaboration in border security and management,” they said.
The chiefs said that Choiseul Province, Shortland Islands and Western Region of Western Province national compensation and rehabilitation claims to Solomon Islands National Government in response to Bougainville Crisis Spill-over effects.
