THE Solomon Islands Women in Business Association (SIWIBA) received its first official handover of support from the Pan Oceanic Bank (POB) to support their upcoming 2017 Solomon Islands Women in Business Awards.

The event is earmarked to take place Saturday December 9, 2017, at the Coral Sea Resort & Casino and will be the second since its launch last year.

POB Chief Executive Officer, Mr Suresh Amerasekera officially handed over their support as Gold Sponsor to the SIWIBA Awards Committee Chairlady and Board Vice President, Mrs Julie Gegeu Haro.

The handover took place last week Wednesday at the POB Office that was witnessed by POB staff.

Speaking at the handover, Amerasekera highlighted on the vast contribution by the Solomon Islands women to the economy of the country.

“It is very appropriate to acknowledge SIWIBA who give leadership to recognise women in business in the country and their contribution to the economy.”

“While congratulating SIWIBA on their initiative to recognise women in business through their annual awards event, we hope this recognition will motivate many more women in their business ventures,” Amerasekera said.

He adds that POB is happy to join in the upcoming awards for women in business as a measure to empower women in the country.

In response, Haro expressed gratitude to POB for their positive response to partner with SIWIBA in support of the awards event.

She highlighted that 20 percent of the proceeds will be for the initial set up of the revolving fund for SIWIBA informal sector members.

“These are members who cannot access the financial institutions due to collateral and the requirement for the growth of their businesses or a new creation of a new business set up,” she said.

Haro adds that the 2017 Solomon Islands Women in Business Awards will be officially launched this evening for sponsors and potential sponsors who would like to support a great cause for the local business women and their families.

SIWIBA acknowledge their main funder, DFAT for their continuous support towards its programmes and activities.

–SIWIBA PRESS

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

HONIARA Youth Council (HYC) is now fully equipped with human resource to run its governance to represent the youth’s voice within Honiara city.

HYC has announced four additional young people accepted to join the executive board of four office bearers—President, Harry James Olikwailafa, Vice Christina Ora, Secretary Christina Mark and Hency Charles as member.

The HYC’s new executive board members are Kerry Jionisi from Girls for Change (G4C), Merinda from Bethlehem Chapel, Andrew Taloa from Music Gateway youth and Lemuel from CY community.

Now HYC has eight staffs to man administration.

New interim members were already announced during the reflection workshop organised by HCC-YD and HYC in partnership with Oxfam Solomon Islands which was attended by community youth leaders.

HYC President, Mr Harry James Olikwailafa said now Council started to look at how to strengthen its governance, and since the interim came on board it made HYC in full force to handle its administration.

Mr Olikwailafa also adds in previous years, HYC is running in volunteer concept so whenever members have other commitments they may exit at any time.

But with support from Oxfam’s Statim Faia project and Honiara City Council-Youth Division, HYC manage to made progress in its service deliveries to effectively represent young people in Honiara.

With the past executive, Mr Olikwailafa appreciated them for their commitment throughout the years until HYC has new interim executive board.

“HYC understand their commitment in studies overseas which maybe an added value to HYC on their return,” Mr Olikwailafa said.

Mr Olikwailafa said council believe in one way or the other on past executive involvement and through their engagement with HYC, they have improved in capacity building.

THE much anticipated nationwide Village Resource Survey and Household Listing 2017-2018 first phase is set to start with deployment of field enumerators as of next week.

Headed by the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO) within the Ministry of Finance & Treasury (MoFT), this is a pre-census count for the 2019 national census.

VRS National project Director, Raphael Aipaina said the first phase will cover whole of Renbel and Temotu provinces with ward one and two in the Shortland Islands of the Western Province and ward 31, 32 and 33 in the Malaita Outer Island (MOI) of Malaita Province.

These two provinces (Renbel & Temotu) and wards were selected for the first phase considering the geographical location and transportation problems they often face each year.

Deployment of enumerators to Renbel and Temotu province and selected wards will inaugurate next week followed with enumeration the week after next week which will run for a period of two months.

The movement of field enumerators to designated provinces and wards a week before the actual enumeration on Monday November 13, 2017 is to give them apple time for traveling and to ensure they settle down in well at their enumeration areas before work (enumeration) can start.

Aipaina said this is a nationwide survey thus every single villages will be enumerated and listed.

He said since the survey is the basis for the national census count in 2019, there’s no exception for any village and household to escape it.

“VRS is coming to your door mouth and your village and household will be enumerated and registered,” Aipaina said.

Phase two set for Choiseul, Central Island and Makira provinces will kick off in December 2017, while, phase three is scheduled to commence in February next year (2018) for Western, Malaita, Guadalcanal and Honiara.

Meanwhile, Aipaina said that whilst this is a nationwide survey including the Honiara City, it is not always an easy task as the diverse nature of the islands has to be taken into account, as well as the logistic support arrangements necessary for the survey such as transportation to outer islands.

The Director then called on every single citizens of the Solomon Islands to cooperate and support the NSO and the officers (field enumerators) who will be deployed into the field to provide them with the correct information.

He said this is a very important survey given the national census is just over a year away thus collective support and cooperation is decisive in this regard.

Government Statistician, Douglas Kimi said this VRS project will be a benchmark for the official/gazetted village names in the country.

He said once the survey (VRS) is conducted and successfully accomplished it will provide avenues to look at pathways to gazette village names.

“Generally the information to be collected in the VRS 2017/18 will also help to ensure the kind of resources that exist in the village. It is a good check to align policy implementation for the kind of development project the villages have received from the government and those who still experience the challenge.

“The information will be more powerful to confirm the development that are happening in the villages and communities. NSO also include questions on climate change and the level of challenge this Climate Change have had on villages and communities,” Kimi said.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) is also calling on development partners and donors to support NSO in terms of funding and technical assistance as they prepare ahead for the 2019 National Census.

–SINSO PRESS

WOODFORD International School has announced full scholarships for deserving students to pursue Cambridge ‘A’ level world-class Cambridge secondary curriculum (Form 7 equivalent) qualification.

Applicant must have earlier completed minimum Form 5.

Students who have successfully completed Form 6 can also apply.

Ministry of education and human resource development (MEHRD), Solomon Islands Government accepts the A Level qualification as equivalent of Form 7.

Candidates with A level qualification are eligible to apply for various scholarships for higher education offered by Solomon Islands government.

‘A’ Level is a 2 year qualification and it prepares students for university and higher education.

Every year, nearly a million students from 10 000 schools in 160 countries prepare for their future with Cambridge programmes and qualifications.

Success with Cambridge often gives students admission to the world’s best universities – in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and beyond.

Direct Admissions to SING6SC (Form 6) and Cambridge A level programmes are now open.

More details on scholarship is available from school. Further information can be obtained by visiting school or write to [email protected] or [email protected].

–WIS PRESS

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THREE senior lawyers from the Public Solicitor’s Office and a lawyer from the Attorney General’s Chambers are currently in Samoa for advocacy training.

The training has started yesterday to be completed on November 9.

The Director of the Public Prosecution who is currently in Samoa said more than 40 participants from across the Pacific will undergo the training and three senior officers from PSO and one from AGC are among the participants, they are Nigel Galo, Sarah Tesua, Stanley Aupai and Rose Maefiti Soma

The Director of the Public Prosecution Ronald Bei Talasasa who also part of the faculty to conduct the training said the Faculty comprised of Judges and Barristers in New Zealand and headed by the Director of PILON LITIGATION TRAINING, Mr Robert Lithgow

He said five senior lawyers from around the Pacific have been selected to join the faculty teaching Advocacy and out of the five in the Pacific, two are from the Solomon Islands.

They are Chief Magistrate Emma Garo and Director of Public Prosecutions; Ronald Bei Talasasa Jr. DPP Talasasa completed the Advanced Litigation Skills Training in Wellington, New Zealand last year.

Mr Talasasa said the Faculty members have undergone trainings yesterday under the watchful eyes of Director Robert Lithgow and the Director of NITA, Professor Hoffman.

The methodology used in the training follows the methodology of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy in the United States of America.

“I am personally overwhelmed for being selected but I am sure it will be hugely beneficial not only for me but for the ODPP and the Justice Sector, as well”, Mr Talasasa said.

The training is organised by the New Zealand Crown Law Office and funded by the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODKOLO

CREDIT Cooperation Solomon Islands Limited (CCSIL) has celebrated its 12th   year of establishment in the Solomon Islands yesterday at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara.

Articulated at the commemoration ceremony on Wednesday night Managing Director for CCSIL Mr Tony Langston point out CCSIL continues to engage and delivering a very important role in the Solomon Islands economy since its inception in 2005.

“Basically it functions to deliver attractive and competitive financial services to individuals, organisations, small businesses and commercial customers and it is well positioned to continue the same in the future.

“The company is now mounting up and we thinking of acquiring a ne w building to operate in and also it has effective control measures enforced by the business,” he expressed.

He added the company’s long-term plan is to extend their services to operate in provinces, however, at the moment they only have one branch here in Honiara with eight fulltime employees.

It was incorporated as a company in July 2005 and on the same year on the month of September it did registered under Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) and commence its operation.

The mission of this corporation wants to be known as a great company to invest in, to work in and to form a strategic alliance with, in order to underpin the prosperity of the Pacific Nations and also with a vision to become a leading financial institution assisting in developing the aspirations of all the Pacific Island Nations.

Its values including integrity, customer commitment, maintaining highest standards in all aspects of business and building s strong ,honest and motivated employees group.

Present at the commemoration ceremony are the Sir Wilson Kamit chairman for CC in Papua New Guinea Tor Bowen Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for whole CC which operated in the Pacific islands and also he is the CEO CCSIL, their clients, companies and other business houses.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE wharf project in Ugi which had previously made headlines after it was disputed, has been given the greenlight to continue.

Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) Director for Civil Engineering Mr Harry Rini said yesterday that the compensation claim hindering progress in the multi-million government project has been cleared.

He said since the issue sparked earlier this year, the Makira-Ulawa province government had been hard at work, seeking resolutions to the problem.

It had been mediating between the opposing party and the ministry.

He said finally they did as the person demanding compensation from the national government for the land the wharf project will be constructed now compromised with his stand.

Mr Rini said the province recently came up with the conclusion paving way for further procession of the national project.

In the meantime, the director said receiving positive confirmation on the issue it shows people’s positive understanding on government’s development for them.

Rini thanked the Makira Ulawa provincial government and people on Ugi Island for their collective efforts to resolve the issue.

Adding that he was delighted for the people to understand the importance of the project especially as a lead to other development aspects on the island and in the province.

He said with the positive response received on the issue his office will now pursue the evaluation of the tender and other necessary works needed.

Rini said his office will work on those areas and as long as they complete them they will award the contract for construction.

However, the issue is a $SBD3.2m compensation demand for the site proposed for the construction of the wharf in Ugi Island.

The proposed site for the project is a registered land but was given under a “grant of profit” to the person by the Ministry of Lands and Housing upon request to use the land.

In a recent interview with the commissioner of lands, he confirmed the grant of profit was given and valid for the next 10 years.

However, Rini said the successful dialogue made to address is what needed for the project and for the benefit of the people.