A concerned citizen is calling on the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to give reasons as to why their application for a grant for small scale projects was halted while others in the province received approval.
Mr Silas Topi of Western Province explained that he and others had applied for the grant and signed an MOU with the Ministry of Commerce and Trade on August 25, 2017 which was then submitted to the finance ministry.
However, he said that they were disappointed to find out that after their application reached the finance ministry, it was halted while those from the eastern part of the province got approval for their applications.
Mr Topi stressed that this issue has caused them inconvenience and they feel that they have been unfairly treated labelling the ministry’s action as ‘unjust’.
He added that not one word of explanation was given on the ministry’s decision.
On another note, whilst referring to an article that was published in the Solomon Star newspaper on Sept 5, 2017 headlined “Cash Crisis Is Over” citing the Finance Minister’s statement indicating that the country’s cash crisis was over, Mr Topi questioned why the Finance Permanent Secretary failed to approve their application if this was the case.
“Who is telling the truth?” he said.
Mr Topi stated that this is something that needs to be sorted out thus is calling on the Permanent Secretary for Finance and Treasury to clear the air on the matter.
POLICE at Honiara Central Station are investigating a report that $16,000 was removed from a car of a guest visiting the Iron Bottom Sound Hotel on September 20, 2017.
It was alleged that the guest left the car in the hotel carpark and the money was placed in a yellow envelope under the driver’s seat.
When the guest returned to the car, he discovered that the vehicle had been broken into and its doors unlocked.
The matter was reported to police the next day, September 21, 2017.
Police are investigating the report
“I appeal to the public especially those in the vicinity of the Iron Bottom Sound Hotel in West Honiara to come forward with any information that might assist them with their investigation into the report,” says Rolland Tautaumao, Head of the Honiara Central Police Investigations Unit.
THE successful police crime prevention strategy (CPS) will likely become a national government strategy next year.
Deputy Police Commissioner, Mr Gabriel Manelusi recently revealed the intention of incorporating the CPS into a national strategy.
He said the role of RSIPF now is to lead the government and community into planning and coordination of action.
Mr Manelusi said they are looking also to partner with businesses to support development of mechanisms of community stability and development.
He said this is the correct response to crime prevention which acknowledges that crime is just the symptom of the problems, which is invariably far-reaching across different aspects of society.
Mr Manelusi said police is working with many institutions across the country to strengthen the CPS.
He said their works are in areas including, education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and development, environment, women youth and families and others.
This is so that communities and government engage in understanding problems that cause crime and collectively find and implement solutions.
He said the effective CPS will move the country towards less reliance on being a cash-based society and remove lots of opportunity for potential crime, as well as support developments in infrastructure around the economy.
Mr Manelusi said the ultimate purpose of the crime prevention strategy is to ensure all communities to be a problem solvers to their problems rather than living it for police.
He said community leaders and everyone needs to stand up and assist the police in whatever problem.
THE Government through the Ministry of Communication and Aviation is looking at hosting one major information and communication technology (ICT) workshop next year.
Speaking during the closing of the first ICT awareness programme on Friday last week, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation Mr Moses Virivolomo said the major ICT workshop will take place around May next year.
He told those present that more players will be invited to the workshop.
Mr Virivolomo said the proposed event will provide an avenue for the government, ICT regulators and operators to discuss ways forward for ICT in the country.
“As we know relationship with government, regulator and operators are not effective and that this proposed event will help get the actors together,” he said.
Mr Virivolomo said his Ministry will need to plan ahead of the awareness programme so that everyone involved will get a better idea of the importance of ICT to the economic development of the country.
“I can assure you that this ICT awareness programme will not be the last, my Ministry along with our core partners will facilitate more awareness as we implement our National ICT policy,” he said.
On the same note Mr Virivolomo acknowledges the participants and the organising committees for facilitating and also being part of the first ever ICT awareness in the country.
SOLOMON Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare travels to the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan this Sunday on an Official Visit following an invitation by the ROC Government.
The Prime Minister and his delegation leaves New York early on Sunday morning (New York time) after successfully attending the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly last week.
While in Taipei, Prime Minister Sogavare is scheduled to meet President Tsai Ing-wen and will also be engaged in a number of official talks including discussions on the proposed construction of the 2023 Pacific Games Stadium in Honiara.
Over the past 39 years, Solomon Islands and ROC Taiwan has enjoyed cordial and mutually beneficial diplomatic relations and continue to work closely together to successfully implement a fair amount of development aid and technical cooperation programs through several signed agreements.
The Solomon Islands Government has consistently expressed in international forums and multinational meetings its strong support for Taiwan gaining membership in multilateral development agencies concerned with promoting democratic governance and protection of nations’ sovereign rights.
These includes protection of human rights, health and education, poverty alleviation, and global environment protection from climate change and its adverse effect on peoples’ right to secure and just livelihood standards.
At the UNGA on Friday 22nd September, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare called on the UN to act swiftly to address the right of Taiwan and its 23 million people to self-determination.
The Prime Minister’s delegation includes Madam Emmy Sogavare, the Minister for Education John Dean Kuku, the Minister for Culture and Tourism Bartholomew Parapolo, Special Secretary to the Prime Minister John Muria Junior and five officials from OPMC and Foreign Affairs.
Victimised students of Manddela Inclusive (Extension) Primary School not attending classes for nine weeks now.
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
Victimised students of Manddela Inclusive (Extension) Primary School not attending classes for nine weeks now.
GUADALCANAL’S Education Authority (GPEA) stands their ground on the deployment of teachers from Manddela School because of continuous non-cooperation with its owner.
This is according to the Chief Education Officer (CEO) for GPGEA Mr Maesac Suia in an interview with Island Sun yesterday.
Manddela Inclusive (Extension) Primary School is now eight weeks out of classes since the beginning of Semester 2. The reason for such had come about from management disagreements raised between the school owner Mrs Linda Ago’okah and the schools Head Teacher during the first Semester of this year, 2017.
Mr Suia said teachers deployed are to be reposted to other schools under the Guadalcanal Educational Authority and not directly to Lunga Primary School as being claimed by rumours stating it is now being overstaffed because of the recent deployments.
“We really want to support Manddela School because Lunga PS cannot support the growing population of its surrounding community. But because of the situation that took place causing the school to not be inactive for nine weeks now makes the authority being fed-up of such resulting in the course taken,” said the CEO.
“We do not want the school to be closed so this is why one of the recent resolutions we presented to the school is for its management to pursue registering the school as a private one in which GPEA will support them on it.”
“In taking this step will make her control the schools management in the way she wants things to be.”
“As we sympathise with the school children being victimised over this situation, we are encouraging them to enrol at Lunga PS for the meantime.”
Manddela School owner/parent Mrs Linda Pauka Ago’okah when speaking to Island Sun agrees on resolutions 3 and 4 being presented to her by the GPEA but calls on the authority to quickly help them solve their current situation as the school is now nine (9) weeks out of classes.
“Though GPEA has encouraged students to enrol at Lunga PS, the reality is not more than 10 students have transferred. The 300-plus students enrolled at Manddela PS remain victimised from this situation as we still regard the school to be an extension of Lunga PS,” said Mrs Linda.
Despite of all the past misunderstanding and several personal verbal arguments between her and the Head Teacher, Mrs Linda said that she is willing in finding mutual resettlement for the protection of the children’s education.
The recent resolutions given to Manddela Primary School on the 1st of September were;
(i): The GP Education Division to recall all posted teachers to Manddela Primary School to the mother school (Lunga PS) with immediate effect.
(ii): Students of Manddela Primary school are welcome to enrol at Lunga PS whereby parents and children are to be informed by the Lunga mother school.
(iii): Manddela Primary school Management to pursue registering the school as a private school on which the GP education office will support Mrs Linda and the current School Board of Management to register the school as a private school and
(iv): Should GPEA deploy teachers in 2018 and beyond to Manddela inclusive, an MOU must be agreed and signed by the school management and GP education office.
PS Andrew Nihopara and Taiwan’s MOFA Deputy Counselor on Home Assignment Department of Policy Planning Mr Liang-Ruey Ke during their seminar at MOFA Headquarter
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
In Taiwan
PS Andrew Nihopara and Taiwan’s MOFA Deputy Counselor on Home Assignment Department of Policy Planning Mr Liang-Ruey Ke during their seminar at MOFA Headquarter
PERMANENT Secretary of Culture and Tourism, Andrew Nihopara says Taiwan’s steadfast relations with Solomon Islands needs to translate into people-with-people through tourism.
Nihopara made the statement during a seminar on the Republic of China Foreign Policy held at Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Headquarter in Taipei.
He said the tourism ministry wants to see both countries taking their relations another step forward by introducing the people-with-people concept.
He adds the 30-year relationship between the two should by now mature and grow beyond political friendship.
“I have seen there is a lot of scope for Taiwan to implement not only on political relationship but taking it down to country level.
“With agreements already signed between Solomon Islands and Taiwan we want to capitalize on that and starts looking at flow of people between two countries.”
He said Solomon Islands is focusing its tourism key market on Australia and New Zealand lately, and wants to look north and south especially by capitalising on Taiwan’s national tourism market.
Nihopara commends and acknowledges Taiwan for mutual development in terms of economic and social developments in Solomon Islands.
Meanwhile, Deputy Counselor of Home Assignment Department of Policy Planning, MOFA, Mr Liang-Ruey Ke said the political level of bilateral relationship exist in every allies countries not only between Solomons and Taiwan.
Mr Liang Ruey said Solomon Islands’ geographic location is one challenge Taiwan faces, which will take time to encourage Taiwanese people to visit.
However, Mr Liang Ruey said there are other ways of doing exchange services to help people in partner countries, such as sending medical doctors and nurses to Solomon Islands for the past years.
THE Junior Kurukuru U-17 futsal team has won their second friendly match yesterday as they continue with preparations for the OFC U-17 qualifiers.
The squad arrived safely in Sydney on Thursday and is settling in well at the Dural Sports Center according to Team Manager and Chaplin Pastor Nacaneili Seru.
“Yes we arrived safely on Thursday night and are settling in well. Pastor Brian as usual was waiting at the airport with a fatherly smile giving a big welcome for the team with a big hug to each one of us,” Pr Seru told Sun SPORTS yesterday.
“The boys started playing their frat session this morning and they enjoyed. The two coaches were happy with the session in the mornings.
After defeating Dural Warriors U-16 futsal team 4-1 on Friday thanks to two goals each from Raphael Leai and Travis Sau the Junior Kurukurus followed that victory with a 10-4 win over Dural Warriors youth team in their second friendly match yesterday.
Team Manager Pastor Nacaneili Seru said the boys performed exceptionally well in their second friendly match saying the team is in good spirit in their preparations for the qualifiers.
“The size of the court in Dural is totally different from our court back at home and it’s really good to be here in Dural for training and friendly matches before flying to Auckland next week,” Pr Seru said.
““Head coach Stanley Puiarana was happy with his boy’s achievement and said that there is still more room for improvement.
“Our 10 days in Dural will be of great help towards our preparation for the youth OFC qualify on 4th to 8th of October.
“The team is in a good spirit, as the boys have developed a good relationship with each other. They are taking every moment serious and they want to thank everyone who has given their support one way or another. Go solo go and to God be the Glory,” Seru adds.
The Junior Kurukurus yesterday took time out from their trainings to attend a general church service at the Dural Baptist Church in Sydney.
“After the church service they gave me the opportunity to preach and the boys also sung in the general service at the sports center where Dural Baptist Church also has their church services,” Seru adds.
NEW CHAMPIONS...Bellona players with their Inter-Islands trophy...Photo supplied.
Wins second Inter-Islands title
By Taromane Martin
NEW CHAMPIONS…Bellona players with their Inter-Islands trophy…Photo supplied.
BELLONA Island rugby team is the new champions of the 2017 Solrice Inter-Islands rugby competition after defeating Malaita Subi in the grand final.
Bellona reclaimed their islands pride in the final on Saturday defeating Malaita Subi 17-15 in an exciting grand final at the Town Ground Rugby Staduim.
Despite trailing 15-0 in the opening 40 minutes of the match, Bellona clawed their way back into the match to trail by a point 15-14 with minutes to play.
Bellona stole the lead in the final minutes of play after experienced Fijian match referee James Bolambiu awarded them a penalty inside their opponents ten meter mark.
Leslie Puia’s conversion attempt was successful as Bellona held on for a 17-15 victory over the impressive Malaita Subi side.
“Subi is a good side and we were very lucky to get the win today,” Mr Puia said.
“The message was to fight until the end. We lost concentration in the opening minutes of the first half and got punished.
“However, credit to the boys for sticking together and believing in ourselves which saw us coming back stronger in the second half,” he said.
In the third and fourth position playoffs it was out going champions Rennell who claimed third position.
Rennell defeated Makira 22-10 to maintain their winning streak over Makira who settle in fourth position.
Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation (SIRUF) will be hosting an opens sevens competition next month.
The SIRUF rugby 7s competition will kick off on October 14 at the Town Ground Rugby stadium.
