Home Blog Page 1635

Blue problem

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Two of the Vietnamese blue boats anchored off Pt Cruz, next to the RSIPF Maritime port, two weeks ago. ISUN File photo

Central Islands province caught up in Vietnamese blue boat dilemma

 

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

TWO weeks overdue to the day, the Vietnamese blue boats which had been paid $400,000 by government to be destroyed in four weeks are still anchored miles away from proposed site of destruction.

Two are anchored at the RSIPF maritime base at Pt Cruz while the other is causing much alarm in Ngella, Central Islands province (CIP).

And, the CIP government is demanding the boat’s removal from its shores.

Reports from CIP’s agriculture division in Tulagi, which has been closely monitoring one of the blue boats anchored in its Hakama station port, says the boat had ran into an engine problem on its way to Auki to be destroyed, and has been anchoring there since.

There is growing concerns among the CIP government and the CIP agriculture division that the boat is on the verge of sinking, which would bring catastrophic effects to the surrounding environment there.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, CIP Premier Patrick Vasuni says they are insisting that the contractor takes the blue boat to where it is destined to be destroyed – not in Ngella.

“There should be anchorage fee now paid under the business license of the province for staying this long outside of Hakama Station at Mboli passage. We call on to not use CIP’s Zone as a dumping hive,” said the Premier.

“Why the contractor is still anchoring the blue boat in Ngella is what the province wants to know.”

Premier Vasuni says they are trying to get into contact with the contractor, whom he adds is elusive to them.

“Ngella seems to be a place for many ships to be dumped in. Currently, Bikoi II is also anchored near the undersea water supply pipeline for Tulaghi on which we are calling to its owner to remove it or it might end up causing trouble for the province,” said the Premier.

Tulaghi police after checking the anchored boat recently, confirmed that it is one of the controversial Vietnamese blue boats which have made headlines for poaching in Solomon waters earlier this year.

Permanent Secretary (PS) for MFMR Dr Christian Ramofafia recently said Iona Firi of Langalanga lagoon had won the bid to destroy the boats at a $400,000-cost to the government.

The deal included a four-week timeframe within which the boats were to be destroyed.

It is clear that Iona Firi has failed to meet its deadline, and that the government has found itself being duped of $400,000.

The question now is, what now? What will become of the blue boats? What are the penalties for failing the government four-week timeframe?

 

 

Solomon culture displayed on Asia-Pacific platform

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Taiwanese Premier Mr Lai Ching-Te and Minister for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr David Lee were impressed to see Solomon Islands’ art and crafts, and spent time on its information booth.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

In Taiwan

 

Taiwanese Premier Mr Lai Ching-Te and Minister for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr David Lee were impressed to see Solomon Islands’ art and crafts, and spent time on its information booth.

SOLOMON Islanders in Taiwan took part in the 2017 Asia-Pacific Cultural Day held at the Taipei Main Station, raising the country’s profile through showcasing on the Asia-Pacific level.

Local students of SI, staff of the embassy and members of the high-level delegation to the 2017 Nihao had a field day promoting Solomon Islands in the country’s booth.

Taiwanese Premier Mr Lai Ching-Te and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr David Lee were impressed to see Solomon Islands’ arts and craft, and spent time at the SI booth seeking to know more of our culture.

The Asia-Pacific Cultural Day is organised by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an annual festival which is currently on its sixth year, with the previous event drawing up to 100,000 visitors.

The two-day event convened features on dancing and music with cuisines from six ROC diplomatic allies—Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu—as well as 13 other Asia-Pacific countries.

The Minister for Taiwan Foreign Affairs, Dr David Lee said organising the event is a government effort to strengthen ties with Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies and partners throughout the region in line with the new Southbound Policy.

He adds, the event will give people of Taiwan the opportunity to gain deeper understanding of the nation’s allies and partners and serve as a platform for fostering cultural exchanges.

SI students studying in Taiwan in group photo with delegation to NiHao Taiwan programme.

Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary for Culture and Tourism, Andrew Nihopara said, “Solomon Islands’ presence and participation at the 2 days event in Taipei presents a great opportunity to be amongst ROC (Taiwan) allied to demonstrate collaboration and partnership through cultural exchanges and sharing.”

He adds SI presence at the UNGA also reiterates the country’s stance and support for ROC (Taiwan) to recognise Taiwan at the UN level as widely publicised in the Taipei Times.

With participation of SI students studying in Taiwan at the cultural event, Mr Nihopara said it also highlights commitment of our children studying in Taiwan to their ambassadorial roles as Solomon Islanders.

He said the Asia-Pacific platform for cultural cooperation and exchange can be further utilised in the future to expose other SI cultures and artistic talents.

Meanwhile, the initiative aims to deepen Taiwan’s relations with 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand in areas spanning agriculture, business, culture, education, tourism and trade.

Disability is not inability: Acting PNG High Commissioner

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Students at the Special Development Centre.

By Alice Nantara

Students at the Special Development Centre.

SOLOMON Islands Special Development Centre received a donation yesterday from the Papua New Guinea acting High Commissioner.

PNG acting High Commissioner Mr Tommy Argau handed over $5,000 to SISDC School Principal Mr Jiope Iputu at SISDC compound located at Rifle Range.

This fund was raised during the recent PNG Independence celebrations last week, intended as a donation to any organisation that really needs assistance and in this case Mr Argau choose to assist SI Special Development Centre.

In a short speech presented by Mr Argau yesterday he stated that “disability is not an option. People with special disability should not be ignored but included in society because they too deserve to be happy and enjoy life.

PNG acting High Commissioner handing over the donation to SISDC school Principal.

“With all the right help, disability will never be associated with inability.”

SISDC School Principal Mr Iputu said that his admin appreciates the help they received and assured everyone present that the money will be put to good use.

Currently there are 100 students enrolled at SISDC with different special needs and only 13 teachers to assist and try their best to provide quality education.

It’s my fourth and I keep asking why

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

LAST week was, from memory my fourth visit to Guangdong Province on the eastern coastline of China. I remember how the place looked in 1985 when as a journalist working in Papua New Guinea then, I was selected to be amongst a group of senior journalists invited by the Beijing (at the time called Peking) government for the week-long visit.

That visit took in Tianjin, not from Beijing, a cruise on the Yangtze River, the third longest in the world, Shanghai, now China’s business and commercial centre as well as Guangdong Province. Not much to see in those days.

On my return to Port Moresby, I wrote that China was a sleeping giant. It would be a matter of time before the sleeping giant got on its two feet and start moving. It was a prophetic pronouncement.

How things have changed in just 32 short years – in terms of infrastructure, facilities and yes, economically. Today, everything about China is big, bigger and getting bigger.

Guangdong Province, formerly known as Canton, has a special historical link with Solomon Islands. Talking to officials on this trip, it would seem that Chinese people in this southern coastal Province embraced adventurism and a special trait for taking risks.

Most Chinese doing businesses in Honiara come from Guangdong Province.

“Chinese from this Province are everywhere around the world, not just in Solomon Islands,” one official told me.

The Province’s total land area is around 180, 000sq km – home to some 106 million people. It is China’s most populous Province. Its capital, Guangzhou, sits on the banks of the Pearl River.

According to official records, Guangdong has achieved “remarkable economic and social development” over the past three decades since China’s reform and opening up to the outside.

“In 2016, its GDP reached 7.95 trillion RMB (about SBD24 trillion),” according to a brief introduction prepared for our visit. This translates into per capita GDP 79, 512.05 or SBD238, 536.15, that’s 7.5 per cent up over the previous year (2015).

At 6.30 trillion RMB (about SBD19 trillion) Guangdong’s import and export volume represent almost one fourth of China’s total output.

Unlike my first trip 32 years ago, this Province has truly undergone a remarkable transformation. There are sky crappers everywhere, modern shopping malls, technical advances and more.

Guangzhou, the capital, never sleeps.

Business is everywhere. For example, the Pearl River has become a huge source of tourist money with night cruises daily. We were on one a week ago. For the newcomers, it was an eye opener. For the golden oldie like me, it was tiring.

As we took a 45-minute drive from the airport to the city of Guangzhou, there were men on the road, still working around 10pm. It is no wonder world economists have described China’s economic rise to global fame as a runaway economy.

Perhaps one of the highlights of the visit, certainly for me, was the tour of Guangzhou’s 450-metre high tower. We never quite got to the 450-metre mark, but at 433-metre above the ground it was a near enough height to take your breath away.

My two friends, John Teddie Usuramo and Oscar Vahimana, were simply too scared to go near the glass-clad walls of the tower, the third highest in the world. It remains China’s tallest.

In nearby Zhoushan which has the Chinese government has designated a permanent International Islands Tourism Conferences, signs of economic growth is everywhere on the island, linked to the main land by a 55km long bridge.

We attended the 2017 International Islands Tourism Conference there. Except Tonga, there were no tourism representatives from the Pacific.

It’s again a demonstration of China’s engineering feat.

Malaysia helps towards baby Peter’s surgery

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Secretary to the Malaysian Consulate (RIGHT) presents baby Peter’s mum with the donation.
Secretary to the Malaysian Consulate (RIGHT) presents baby Peter’s mum with the donation.

THE Malaysian Consulate presented a special donation this week to support the medical treatment of Baby Peter Sidi who needs urgent surgery for a congenital heart condition.

Baby Peter and his mother Lyn Sidi are heading to India for medical assessment and surgery because such medical care cannot be provided in Solomon Islands and without it, baby Peter will almost certainly die.

The donation by the Malaysian Consulate follows other good news received by the family this month that the Indian Government will cover the surgery costs.

“I am so grateful to the Malaysian consul for their generous donation, because along with the Indian Government generosity to cover the surgery costs, we can now quickly move forward and get Peter to India for treatment while he is still well enough to travel,” said Mrs Sidi.

When they heard that the family had a shortfall in donations, the Malaysian consulate stepped in to cover the costs of flights and accommodation associated with the month long stay in India.

In handing over the cheque, the Secretary to the Honorary Consulate of Malaysia Sylvia Wong said she was happy that the Malaysian Government could play an active part in getting Peter to India quickly.

“We sincerely hope that Baby Peter stays strong and his medical treatment in India is a success. We very much look forward to hearing about his progress,” said Mrs Wong.

Mrs Sidi said that this is the first time a Solomon Islands child has been accepted by an Indian hospital for such treatment and is hoping that this experience will lay the foundations for future Solomon Islands children to consider treatment in India.

“I am overwhelmed by the generosity shown by so many local and expatriate people and including social clubs in helping raise the funds to give baby Peter a chance at life, God bless you all,” she said.

–MDPAC PRESS

Move over copra, virgin coconut oil tipped to replace coconut industry’s pioneer crop

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

COCONUT Day was recently celebrated at the Museum’s auditorium earlier this week, supported by a range of stalls showcasing various coconut products followed by an open forum.

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Jimi Saelea took the opportunity to enlighten the audience of how the coconut industry first made it’s mark in the country.

He said that coconut was the first plantation crop to devour Solomon Islands soil in the early 1990s by companies like Levers Pacific Plantations Ltd, Burns Philip and Company, Carpenter and Company and Fairymead Sugar Company.

Mr Saelea added that during those Protectorate days, copra was the primary product and main export commodity.

Moreover, he said that in the 1980s the transfer of coconut plantations from foreign ownership to local ownership took place but the business transfer deemed unsuccessful as it experienced a downfall due the latter’s failure to continue productivity maintenance.

In this case, Mr Saelea explained that the land purchase cooperative (LPCs) of the former plantations were not sustainable hence former coconut plantations in Isabel, Western Province, Guadalcanal, Makira/Ulawa and Central Province where in most cases coconuts are neither collected or processed remain unmanaged.

Adding fuel to the fire, is the RIPEL-Yandina saga, he said that this issue contributed immensely to the country’s decline in copra production.

In relation, Mr Saelea stressed that this was triggered by the absence of effort to bring back the plantations to optimum productivity.

However, all is not lost as he assured the audience of the government’s commitment in addressing the issue thus stated that the DCC government is doing its best to see the important asset rejuvenated back to its full productive capacity.

Flashing back to the copra historic outline, Mr Saelea mentioned that the pioneer crop took a turn in the 1990s, being processed into coconut oil by efforts to add value to copra citing that only large companies were producing the commodity at the time while small famers still tended to producing copra.

 

Furthermore, the country’s present day’s coconut industry just might be making history again as the Agriculture permanent secretary expressed that although copra is still being produced and exported, the option of replacing copra with high priced value added products with low volume is on the table.

Speaking of value added products, Mr Saelea stated that virgin coconut oil and other coconut products would eventually replace copra.

“The potential for the coconut industry to expand into downstream processing and value adding to capture niche markets is enormous.

“We should not be doing business as usual but concentrate on replanting of the senile plantations and address quality aspects in order to access premium prices for our coconut products.

“The challenges the coconut and oil palm industries faced by the CRB should not deter advancements and private sector investments in the coconut value chain.

“While addressing the CRB let us not lose sight of the fact that jobs are at stake as well as food security and livelihoods,” he said.

Prosecution yet to update court on investigation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PROSECUTION is yet to update court on the status of investigations into the case of an alleged rapist.

John Zoze of the Public Prosecution told the court that the matter was taken carriage of his colleague Prosecutor Elma Rizzu, and currently she is in Kirakira on a court circuit.

Mr Zoze said that he has no instruction and was unable to assist the court on the status of the investigation.

Meanwhile Principal Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi said the case was adjourned for prosecution to update court on the investigation but has failed to do so.

“It is a Prosecution’s case and all prosecutors should be updated on the status of the cases your office is taken carriage of,” Ms Taeburi said.

She told the prosecutor that he should have contacted the prosecutor in carriage before mentioning the case in court.

Defence Counsel Clifton Ruele said that he is still waiting on the prosecution as on the previous occasion the prosecutor in carriage of the case said that they are still to obtain additional statement from the victim and once that is completed, the defence will be opted for a shot form preliminary inquiry.

However since there was no instruction to assist the court regarding the investigation, Magistrate Taeburi adjourned the matter to October 10 and all required documents be filed on October 3 to the defence counsel.

The accused is further remanded in custody.

Police prosecutors told to stop disobeying court orders

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRINCIPAL Magistrate Tearo Beneteti has called on police prosecutors to stop disobeying orders of the court.

She made the comment following the delay of filing of documents by the police prosecution in relation to the case against Patterson Maesusuia.

The case was adjourned for filing of PTC documents and agreed facts on September 14, however, defence just only received the papers on Monday this week from prosecution.

Defence Lawyer confirmed to the court that he only received the document on Monday and already responded to the document just after he received them.

Ms Beneteti said if everybody abides by court orders the cases should progress smoothly rather than coming to court and asking for an adjournment.

She said that the cases should progress according to the law of Solomon Islands rather than delaying and denying the rights of the accused.

She said that “if the prosecution and defence always up to date with their files they will always be commended for their work but if you are not doing your work as the court expects you to, you will be told off by the court”.

The case against Maesusuia has been adjourned for next week for Pre-Trial-Conference and filing of PTC document on September 29.

Jail for men stealing from businessman

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

TWO young men aged 17 and 19 years were given jail sentences by the court yesterday.

Tom Gagame Junior and his juvenile co-accused faced a charge of larceny.

On September 11 this year Tom Gagame Jr and his co-accused stole SBD$10,000 and USD$5,000 at the Kukum area outside one of the shops there.

The two were arrested after a woman was seen changing US dollars at the Good Luck shop and was caught on CCTV; it was at that time the woman was approached and admitted that one of the accused gave her the money to do exchange for him.

The two accused when questioned by police in relation to the offence, admitted to committing the offence and told police that they used an instrument to open the victim’s car.

Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga in delivering his sentence said the offence of stealing is one of the criminal offences very much hated in the community of this country.

He described those people who steal as lazy people.

“It is also a shameful act especially when one used the money to feed himself or his family, knowing very well the money was obtained as a result of stealing,” Magistrate Aulanga said.

He said offenders are lucky Solomon Islands is lenient in its punishment for the crime, compared to some countries around the world where harsher penalties are paid.

Gagame Jr is sentenced to two years while the juvenile gets one year and six months.

From the court’s record police investigators were able to recover the shoes and the USD$4,500; USD$500 is still missing.

In regards to the SBD$10,000, only $700 was recovered.

Maepio in Indonesia for ship

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO

WESTERN Province Premier Wayne Maepio has left for Indonesia in search of a ship for the province.

He is accompanied by his minister of finance Lester Huckle Saomasi, western province Maritime officer of SIMSA Gizo Wheatly Douglas and Mr Boroka.

A person familiar with the issue said the aim of the Western provincial government is to boost economic activities for the people in the rural areas.

“They will parch a vessel mainly for the surrounding Islands who didn’t access to services twice in a month.

“Most rural communities around the province were find difficulties in terms of shipping services. Therefore the provincial government decides to peaches a ship that will travel from Island to Island.

“Those Islands are Vella la Vella, Simbo, Ranonga, Kolombangara, Vonavona and Roviana Lagoon, Rendova and Marovo Lagoon.”

He said the shipping service will transport all the services straight to Noro rather than transport cocoa and copra to Honiara for export.

The team is expected to arrive back next month.

1...1,6341,6351,636...1,665Page 1,635 of 1,665