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Gizo embraces bright side of heavy rains

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The recent water crisis affecting people living in Gizo town as you can see Children with their buckets collecting water from boreholes few weeks ago.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

The recent water crisis affecting people living in Gizo town as you can see Children with their buckets collecting water from boreholes few weeks ago. PHOTO BY ALFRED
PAGEPITU

THE current heavy rains is affecting Gizo town and its citizens, however they are showing resilience and vigilance by choosing to take advantage of it.

The town had been wrought by serious water problems before the rains, but not anymore.

People are trapping rain water and storing them in whatever containers, small or large, they can lay their hands on.

However, many are also concerned what will happen when the rains stop – because they know that the rains are only a temporary respite.

Some question if the national government or the provincial counterpart have any plans on store to address Gizo’s longstanding water problem.

“Water shortage few weeks ago in Gizo was so bad, residents tried drilling through basement floors for groundwater as reservoirs dry up and people have no access to safe drinking water,” says one drenched Gizo man.

Water problem had been a battle that the Western Provincial Government, NGO, private sectors and other business houses have been trying to address for years.

A Mr Andrew Koke claims that few weeks ago, before the rains, Gizo was facing a ‘severe critical’ stage in its water issue.

He adds that Gizo people are not satisfied with officials from the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) in Honiara who visited Gizo town few weeks ago to assess the water shortage in the provincial capital.

NDMO Director Loti Yates had promised that they will establish certain points in Gizo where water can be delivered to people from tanks.

Koke added that NDMO also suggested that a formal request be made to the Solomon Islands Red Cross to bring a water module to Gizo to purify water.

“When will these promises and statements will come true because I’m very concern and question over the long standing issues that they fail to address for many years now.

“I’m very sad to hear responsible authorities always hoping for rains to come and solve the water crisis as people struggling to get water during dry session,” said Koke.

Businessman Patrick Wong in talks with Kadere party president over $50 million waste land payout

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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President of Kadere party, Peter Boyers

By Alfred Sasako

President of Kadere party, Peter Boyers

BUSINESSMAN Patrick Wong, once declared a persona non-grata, yesterday held talks with the President of Kadere Party, Peter Boyers, in Honiara igniting suspicion that both men are pushing the new government to pay $50 million for the Hell’s Point waste land in east Honiara.

Kadere Party with nine MPs is a coalition partner in the new Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change (SIDCC) government led by Prime Minister Ricky Houenipwela.

It is understood Prime Minister Houenipwela is against the payment ordered by the High Court.

Instead, he is reportedly supportive of the view by the Attorney General’s Chambers and private lawyers that the recent amendment to the Land and Titles Act be used to buy back the land.

In this way the cost to taxpayers would be substantially less but a reasonable compensation for the land, which is being used as a bomb disposal training school by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).

The $50 million award has in recent weeks driven a wedge between Prime Minister Houenipwela and his Deputy and Minister for Finance, Hon Manasseh Sogavare, who claimed the Prime Minister had reneged on his undertaking on the matter.

Last week, both men issued a statement denying they were not in talking terms.

Government insiders told Island Sun last night Mr Wong arrived from Sydney on Saturday.

He was seen meeting with Mr Boyers and others including landowners at a hotel in Honiara yesterday.

“There will be further meetings with landowners during this week.

“Mr Boyers is representing the nine (9) Kadere Party MPs, who no doubt are using the non-payment of the $50 million as a way to get rid of Prime Minister Houenipwela,” one insider said.

The insider said businessman Wong was allowed back in the country several months ago to attend court cases in Honiara.

“He has been using his time here to contact landowners and politicians to push his own agenda. His ban should be reimposed,” the insider said.

Red Cross develop school curriculum for disable

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Principal of the Red Cross Special Development Centre school, Mr Jiope Iputu

By Mike Puia

THE Solomon Islands Red Cross is working on developing a school curriculum for people with special needs.

Currently, the country has no curriculum for these people.

As a result, the school for people with special needs at lower rifle range only use the school curriculum that is taught in schools for able people.

This is a challenge for teachers of the school at lower rifle range.

Principal of the school, Jiope Ralulu Iputu, confirmed they are expecting an overseas volunteer to come to their school and help develop a curriculum for their school.

Iputu said the curriculum they will develop should become the one used in all school for people with special needs across the country.

He said they are open to work with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development on this if need be.

Iputu said this year they expect to have 104 students.

The school charges a fee of $200 per student. However, the fee rate offered is not enough to sustain the school’s programmes.

Among other areas, the school offers trainings on sign language, livelihood and life skills, and therapy for students and for members of the public.

When compared to teachers, Iputu said the ratio they have is a single teacher is to 15 students.

He said the availability of special trained teachers is an issue in their school, likewise resources.

The school will close its registration today.

Boreholes task to restart in Ngella

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

WORK on digging up water boreholes around Ngella communities will continue after the National Government passes the Budget (financial) this year said the Constituency’s Office.

After starting the task around Small Ngella last year 2017, work on digging up boreholes stopped at Boromole Village during late December purposely for the Christmas period.

According to Ngella Constituency Officers, work will now start at Ward 1 (Buena Vista) Sandfly area and proceed up West Ngella reaching the Central territory.

“The machine for digging up water boreholes is currently in Honiara and will be taken down to Buena Vista soon after the National Government passes the budget,” said Ngella Constituency Officers.

It is understood that work on water boreholes under Ngella Constituency’s Office is to support the Constituency Housing Scheme as well through ways of supporting water to be accessible to use in homes.

Bad example of project implementation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Chuckhole at Cross Road Bus stop Green Valley East Kolaridge

BY BEN BILUA

PIPING Project from West to East Kolaridge has left chuckholes prompting vehicle owners to call on responsible authorities to address the issue.

In an interview with this paper, a Mr Eddie Diva said some parts of the road are becoming narrow posing risk to drivers and passengers.

He said drivers are cautioned when driving westward from Pakoe to Talise Bus stop as the road is narrow after a company who carried out piping project at the concerned area left without re-sealing the tar that was removed.

“I understand that this company ripped the tar to make way for the piping project. It took the inner part of the road.

“My disappointment is that, this company failed to refill the tar that they ripped off as a result the road became smaller,” Diva said.

He adds that another road work at Green Valley close to Cross Road bus stop left the area with a chuckhole.

Diva said the company who implement the project also ripped the tar across the road and failed to re-tar the chuckhole.

“If you drive eastward you will come across a chuckhole close to Cross Road which causes the traffic to slow down trying to avoid the chuckhole,” he explained.

Diva stressed that such development indicated pure carelessness and lack of proper assessment before implementing a project.

He strongly emphasised that proper assessment must be made before implementing such project.

Diva adds that companies who are appointed to carry out such development must seek advice from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Honiara City Council so that proper strategies are put in place.

In the meantime he calls on responsible authorities and the company concerned to take a look at the two concerned area and carryout proper maintenance.

Tourism sector appeals for bigger budget

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Ms Joyce Konofilia

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

TOURISM sector in Solomon Islands is appealing to the Solomon Islands Government for an increased budget.

The appeal was made by Ms Joyce Konofilia of Solomon Host in the 2018 Tourism in Focus conference held at the Mendana Hotel recently which was attended by Government and members of the country’s tourism industry.

As the country sets to increase its marketing strategies this year, Konofilia said government needs to increase its budget to move tourism development in Solomon Islands with sectors effectively.

“I am appealing to Solomon Islands Government through Ministry of Culture and Tourism for an increase of budget because we have to have money, without money we will not do anything,” Konofilia said.

She said MCT, Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau and the private sector as a whole need money in its budget to boost development of tourism this year

With last year’s success, Konofilia congratulates the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and SIVB along with other members of the industry in Solomon Islands.

“Congratulation MCT and SIVB lets all work together, from the private sector point of view there’s no time to complained and pointing figure on each other because this is our Ministry and we need each other to help tourism grow,” she said.

MCT’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Andrew Nihopara said, “There is always room for improvement and scoop for us to work together and get things moving in right direction.”

He welcomed Konofilia’s point of view, adding that the agenda could be lobbied for.

Nihopara also said this will demonstrate tourism’s capacity in working together, reflecting positively to development partners and government.

Also during the forum, PM Rick Hounipwela said that 2018 will be the year to push new boundaries and to challenge the industry’s status quo.

Hounipwela said, “The visitor arrival target is set at nine percent growth for 2018.”

He said SIVB will need the cooperation and support of the tourism industry to realise its goals and objectives, to build the momentum with strategic and clinical approaches to its activities.

Where is the ‘Fee Free’ policy?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Permanent Secretary for MEHRD, Dr Franco Rodie.

By Mike Puia

THIS is a question most parents ask at the beginning of each year since 2009.

Footing school fees for one or a couple of kids are stressful, especially after the Christmas and New Year festive period.

This is where the question of ‘where is the Fee Free Basic Education policy’ becomes very relevant.

The question is related to the Basic Education Fee Free (BEFF) policy cabinet approved in 2008 and implemented in 2009.

The BEFF policy apply to years one to nine with the vision that effective implementation of the policy will promote equitable access to quality education for all Solomon Island boys and girls aged six to 15.

The principle in the policy is to abolish all school fees in Public and Church schools for years one to nine.

The policy includes supplementary grants to cover school costs relating to teaching and learning resources and other operational costs.

Since the policy was adopted in 2009, schools are still enforcing various fees to raise additional revenue to fund academic and non-academic pursuits.

Some of these fees include; development fee, caution fee, boarding, parent contribution, textbooks, laboratory and other fees.

Some schools are not implementing the Fee Free policy and are enforcing fees at exceedingly high rates which have impacted on students’ access to education.

There was also uncertainty on whether the high fees charged in schools matches the facilities and the quality of teaching and learning provided in the school.

Obviously, there is lack of proper implementation and monitoring of the BEFF policy.

It was based on this that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD), Dr Franco Rodie, commissioned a research into school fees and contributions charged by Schools late last year.

The research was contracted to Solomon Islands Development Project Solutions (SIDPS) and was conducted in accordance with the terms of reference developed by the MEHRD.

The study was carried out in the 9 provinces including the Honiara city Council, on Government and Non-Government education authorities.

The research was to establish;

  1. The type of fees and rates charged to students and if they are within the range of fees approved by the Cabinet in 2008.
  2. The justification or reasons for charging the different types of fees.
  3. Participants level of knowledge or understanding of the approval process and authority to charge or increase fees.

To date, the results of the research are unknown.

According to Rodie the final report of the research has yet to be submitted to his Ministry for endorsement.

He said they are waiting on the final version of the report from the authors or company that did the study.

Rodie said as soon as his Ministry is provided the final version of the report and formalities are completed and their minister or the cabinet viewed the report then it will be made available to the cabinet and other authorities.

Parents welcome CIP education move on Siota

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

CONCERNED parents and guardians of Siota Provincial Secondary School’s (PSS) welcome the move by Central Islands Education Authority to address the situation.

This follows the recent revelation that the school had been on a three year running streak of poor performance of its form six.

They say it is a timely move for CIP’s Education Authority to step in and solve the situation as it has been ongoing for around three years now, the Premier school of the province producing poor national examination results for both Form’s Five and Six.

The province Provincial Education Officer (PEO) Charles Kasuni when speaking to Island Sun last week said the concern of parents is also their worry as they have seen the poor performance of the school.

“We are now trying options such as posting new teachers to the school for this year,” said Kasuni.

“The main school posts for the Principal, Deputy, Carriers Master and the Form Six Arts Coordinator have been changed.

“Our reason for such change is because of complains from teachers teaching examination classes saying that they do not receive any good support from the school’s administration.”

It is understood that Siota PSS’s Principal has been removed and reposted being replaced due to weak academic support.

U-19 selectors yet to release list

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Taromane Martin

SELECTORS for the national U-19 national football teams say they are yet to release their list for national training squad.

Batram Suri confirmed this yesterday saying the list is ready and expected to be announced soon.

Meanwhile, football fans on social media were left disappointed after Youth Solomon Cup golden boot winner Charles Mani was not named in a squad list leaked on Facebook.

The list was published on the Honiara Football Association (HFA) page.

However, Suri said the golden boot winner is definitely in their list for the national U-19 training squad.

Tough groups for Youth qualifiers

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ROMULUS HUTA

SOLOMON Islands has been drawn in two tough groups for the Oceania Under-16 and the Under-19 qualifiers taking place respectively this year.

The draws were made at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Secretariat in Auckland, New Zealand last Friday afternoon.

The under-19 qualifiers will take place in Papeete, Tahiti from August 5 to 18.

Solomon Islands was drawn into Group B alongside all Melanesian rivals namely New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu.

In Group A are hosts Tahiti, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the winner of Qualifier.

The qualifier will be contested by Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and American Samoa.

In the under-16, Solomon Islands as hosts welcome Vanuatu, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in group A. Group B is made up of the teams representing Fiji, New Caledonia, Tahiti and the Qualifier winner. The qualifier will be contested by Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and American Samoa.

The championship in Honiara will be played from September 9 to 22.

The two Oceania youth championships serve qualification pathways toward next year’s Under-17 and Under-20 FIFA World Cups.

Oceania has been given two qualification spots for those two FIFA Youth World Cups.

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