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NEW STAFF HOUSES FOR PIRUPIRU CHS

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PIRUPIRU Community High School (CHS) in Ulawa Island, Makira Ulawa province has two new staff houses thanks to the government of Japan for the support.

Embassy of Japan in Honiara on Friday handed over the keys of the two new permanent buildings to the school in a ceremony attended by the school leaders, students and people from the area.

The Project for the construction of the two staff houses was funded under the Japan Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security Projects worth $SBD362,720.

Pirupiru Community representative James Eleawao said the community is thankful to see at last their school has completed two new staff houses.

“This would not be possible if it were not for the generouse assistance given to us by your government and people under the Japan Grassroot Project,” he told representative from the Japanese Embassy.

Mr Eleawao said the successful completion of the two new staff houses meant taking them a mile closer to their goals.

“My school and community are now proud owners of the staff houses that will cater for additional staff required for the school’s plan for Form Six expansion next year, 2018.

“Our working together in this particular project to reach completion and handing over prove that much development can take place when donor assistance are placed in good safe hands and are managed well,” he said.

Mr Eleawao also thanked the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development for endorsing the school’s application.

The school’s representative and former Principal, John Lada also thank the Government of Japan, and highlighted that today Pirupiru is placing forms six, some have proceed on and reached form seven in some of the higher secondary institution in the country.

The school provides Early Childhood Education (ECE), Primary and secondary education up to form five, although it has plans to move on to form six soon.

PAWA F6 STUDENTS SENT HOME

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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FORM Six science students at Pawa Provincial Secondary School on Ugi in Makira Ulawa Province have been sent home due to shortage of teachers at the school.

45 students were sent home last week because there was no science teacher to take up the position which has been vacant since January.

Concerned parents and supporters in Kirakira and Honiara took to social media to raise their dissatisfaction with the provincial education authority, while at the same time calling for change to happen.

“I just talk with the teacher coordinating the form six at Pawa and she said that it was a very sad situation,” a concerned Mrs Edith Kaoho said via her Facebook account.

“She said she faced this problem since the beginning of the year. She even went over to Honiara to look for a science teacher. She managed to get one but while on the process of arranging his coming over to Pawa, Honiara High School got hold of this guy and he is now teaching at Honiara High school. “She said searching for a good teacher was not her job. It’s the job of the Chief Education Officer in Kirakira,” Mrs Kaoho said. “She was trying to do her best to help the children. It was a very unfortunate situation. Forty five students of Form six in Pawa were sent back.

“The teacher told me, some of these students were in tears because they do not accept the situation and don’t want to be sent back home. “I appeal to the Education Authority in Kirakira who are responsible in the affairs of Pawa PSS, since the school is under the care of the Education office in Kirakira and the Province of Makira to have more concern over this.

“We do not want our children to be victims just because of our ignorance. So sad. Please get down and do something for our children and this Province,” Kaoho appealed.

“I don’t think we Makira had ran out of human resource especially teachers. I can remember clearly when I was working at the school of education at SINU, a lot of students from Makira were complaining that the education authority in Kirakira have been slack in nurturing young teachers and following up on them in terms of posting them to schools.

“I also remembered that most graduates from SINU did not want to teach under Makira education authority because the process to getting them set up in payroll takes ages. We are losing a lot of young teachers and this is one of the outcomes, teacher shortage,” another concerned man said.

Pawa PSS is not the only school in the province that was having problem with shortage of teachers this year. Waimapura National

Secondary School also faced the same problem which was only resolved at the second week of March this year.

“Education Authority in Makira needs marching orders in this case.

Performance Management system must be enforced right away.

There is no excuse for this. The highest number of graduates from USP and other institutions are those from Education. Common easy, easy type, means poor outcome from our Provincial Secondary school in general,” one parent said.

Attempts to get responses from the Makira Chief Education officer and the Education authority in Kirakira yesterday were all unsuccessful.

MAN ARRESTED FOR ARSON

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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A man from Makira-Ulawa Province has been arrested over the burning down of a home in Makira Province.

The 29-year-old was arrested by Makira police after the incident happened on May 31.

Police Commissioner reported yesterday that it is alleged the incident rose because of a family dispute.

He said as a result the man set fire to a house at Kaonasugu village in central Makira.

Mr Varley said the man has been charged with one count of arson.

However, he said police investigation into the incident is still going on and commends the good support rendered by the community.

Commissioner Varley warned that arson is a very serious case and holds serious penalty for the offense.

Currently the man remains in custody at Kirakira Correctional Centre.

ISABEL YOUTH CONSTITUENCY TOURNAMENT OPEN IN STYLE

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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ISABEL Youth constituency tournament has kicked off on last Sunday after a colourful parade at the Solomon Islands Ports Authority Soccer Field.

Guest of Honour, Leader of Opposition Parliamentary group Hon Jeremiah Manele took time off his busy schedule to be part of the official opening of the Isable Provincial Youth Forum Constituency games.

Youths around Isabel province in Honiara turned up in numbers to witness the grand opening ceremony as well as took part in the games.

Four soccer games have been played yesterday coupled with netball games and also volleyball for both and girls.

The competitions were played according to three constituencies of Isabel Province and are fairly distributed into three pools.

First match was in Pool A and the game was between Hograno/Kia/Havulei B and Gao/Bugotu A, in which Hograno/Kia/Havulei won the game by one goal to nil.

Volleyball game in action

Soccer in action

In Pool B, Gao/Bugotu B won their game against Maringe/Kokota A by one goal to nil in the second match of the day.

In Pool C, Maringe/Kokota B won their first game against Hograno/Kia/Havulei by similar goal margin (a goal to nil).

Second game for Pool A was between was between Gao/Bugotu A and Maringe/Kokota, Gao/Bugotu won the game by a goal to nil.

Chairperson of Isabel Youth Sports Committee Pual Avoso said the games will continue for the next two Sundays.

He said winners of the competition will be presented with prizes during the Isabel Second Appointed Day.

Mr Avoso applauds the teams who have participated yesterday and at the same time calls on teams to be at the Port Field early next Sunday so that games can kick off early.

HON MANELE HAPPY WITH IPYF CONSTITUENCY TOURNAMENT

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele

THE Leader of Opposition Parliamentary, Hon Jeremiah Manele has applauded Isabel Province Youth Forum (IPYF) for organising the Isabel Youth Constituency tournament.

Speaking during the official opening of the tournament on Sunday Hon Manele said the tournament is a great initiative that will foster lots of benefits for Isabel Youth, Isabel province and Solomon Islands as a whole.

He told those present that sports is a unifying instrument that can enhance solidarity, unity and prosperity in any society.

Hon Manele said engaging youth in sport activities is a way forward to promote peace and at the same time forge greater partnership among youth for better future.

“It is equally important to engage youths in sport activities to keep them busy from involving in anti-social activities

“These activities are very important in nurturing Isabel youths to become one in the future,” he said.

Hon Manele continues to say that sport activities coupled with healthy diet can foster healthy practices for youths.

He said human health plays an important role in a society.

Hon Manele explained that a healthy society paves way for productive development not for Isabel but also Solomon Islands as a whole.

He encourages the participants to maintain peace and unity while taking part during the tournament.

Hon Manele also wishes the participants and the organising committee a good outcome and success throughout the tournament.

Hon Manele was the only Member of Parliament representing Isabel province in the current government who turned up during the opening of the tournament.

He also assisted his constituency’s team with registration fees before retiring for his other appointment yesterday.

LOGGING SCANDAL SCARES ISABEL COMMUNITIES

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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A proposed logging operation which is expected to land on Lava land close to Bagovu village, Maringe district, is scaring communities within Gao in Isabel province.

Report reaching this paper stated that a logging company was granted a timber right to undergo logging operations at Lava land in Bagovu area but instead of establishing a log pond on areas within Bagovu, the company landed at Giloto land, close to Tanade village in Bogotu district.

The report stated that the landing took place because the company was unable to get positive negotiation with other landowners of Bagovu who own land in the coastal areas to establish a log pond close to the operation site.

By looking at the map of Isabel province, these two pieces of land are separated by approximately 70 kilometres with lots of innocent land and resources that are not included in the concession area.

Report stated that the logging company has already handed on Giloto land and are now settling down ready to kick of their operation.

The issue looks murky as there are two separate maps displaying concession areas for the said logging operation.

The first map which was endorsed by the Ministry of Forestry and Isabel provincial government displayed that the only concession area is within Lava land.

But there is another map which shows an extension to the concession area from Lava land to Hobaba – now the standing concession area is from Giloto in Bugotu to Hobaba in far north of Maringe district.

A Timber Right hearing held at Kologaru on January 13 early this year clearly stated and recognise that Lava land is the only concession area for the logging operation.

The Isabel Provincial Executive in its deliberation of the Timber Hearing made the following decisions; that the trustees of Lava Customary Land are true landowners of the concession area as seen in the map – refers to the first map but that there were not dispute from the objectors on the identified concession area (Land Land).

Isabel Provincial Executive also made it clear that they do not grant access for the logging company to establish a log pond on land close to the area but rather encourages the company and its co-hosts to consult other landowners who owns the land on the coastal area to establish their (company) log pond.

It is believed that consultation for the land access was negative and that has forced the logging company to establish its log pond at Gilota land.

Those familiar with the issues is currently taking the leading role to dig the issue and investigation so far found that there are fishy dealings at the top level.

Landowners, elders and Isabel Provincial government are also questioning the second map and who endorsed the concession area.

Commenting on the issues, Isabel Province Youth Forum (IPYF) strongly condemns the apparent unscrupulous deals being involved behind the issue.

“We will fight to expose the individuals behind this unlawful act.

“We will work with the legitimate landowners to get rid of this people and company from their lands,” the group said in a statement.

IPYF is a social media platform that Isabel youths discus critical issues and also share ideas.

AUSTRALIA SIGNS $5.8M GRANT FOR YOUTH@WORK AUKI AND GIZO

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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THE Australian government has committed SBD$5.8m to Youth@Work for another two years of operation in Malaita and Western provinces, as part of its ongoing support for youth development in Solomon Islands.

The announcement follows visits of Australian High Commissioner Roderick Brazier to Youth@Work in Honiara and Gizo to take part in activities, interact with youths, and to demonstrate Australia’s continuous support.

During a recent visit to Youth@Work in Gizo, HE Brazier met with youths participating in the program and encouraged them by sharing his own experiences of hard work and perseverance.

‘Youth@Work is doing a great job to provide opportunities for young people in and around Auki, Gizo and Honiara. Make use of these opportunities. Do yourselves and your communities proud,” His Excellency said.

In 2016, following requests from Provincial communities and leaders, Australia supported Youth@Work to extend its operations to Auki and Gizo.

This year over 140 interns have already graduated from the Youth@Work programmes in the provinces.

Australia is the major supporter of Youth@Work in Malaita and Western Provinces and the recent commitment means the programme can successfully maintain its support to youths in rural areas for two more years.

Youth@Work is implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC), in partnership with Provincial and National Solomon Islands Government bodies.

The Youth@Work Programme aims to provide training, mentorship and support for youths to find employment or to start their own businesses.

FLASH FLOOD IN EAST FATALEKA’S RURU SCHOOL

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

RURU primary and secondary school was flooded after heavy rains last Saturday, in east Fataleka, in Malaita province.

Ruru School principal Wesley Rubea told this paper yesterday that the flooding started in the early hours on Saturday morning from a river nearby when it flooded into the school area and into the classrooms.

Children and women used canoes to paddle around the school compound to collect school equipment and valuable materials.

He said, “The school is located on the plains in east Fataleka where it was easier for floodings to takes place.

“It is so dangerous for school students especially for smaller ones in the primary sector.

“We are also lucky that it was during weekend so no students were in the classrooms.”

Rubea said this is an urgent call for the responsible authority to look seriously on this issue.

He insists that the ministry of education and human resources department seeks funding to relocate the school in a safe place for staffs, families, and school children.

School equipment such as books, stationeries and other valuable things were washed away during the flood.

Staffs with their families had to escape to higher ground for their safety.

He also calls on the provincial ward member and the Member of Parliament for Fataleka regarding their concern towards education in the eastern region in Malaita.

“If we want quality education first we must look on the safety and welfare of our children in our schools.

“Ruru School is the only senior school in East Fataleka that the responsible authorities must consider this issue urgently,” Rubea said.

No casualties have been reported from this flash flood.

WAISISI PALM OIL PROJECT IS REAL: MAL

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE Waisisi-Wairokai Palm Oil Project is real says the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).

Ground work is ongoing at Wairokai where the nursery is located and transplanting of the first 9,000 seedlings is implemented.

MAL made the revelation for the sake of clarification and putting straight the information on the piece by Birau Wilson Saeni, Solomon Star issue No 6633 on Friday June 30, titled “Waisisi palm oil project is far from being real”, and again on front page Sunday Star, July 2, with a bold title “Waisisi queries oil palm project, Landowners: We want the truth from gov’t”.

On the outset the Waisisi Oil Palm Programme is as real as the five tribal lands that were registered to cater for this development.

These are Marapa Tribal Land (846.1 ha), Suruniai TL (689.9 ha), Ainapo TL (145.7 ha), Torohane TL (582.8 ha) and Otenimae TL (130.6 ha). A total registered land area of 2,395.1 hectares, out of a total gross area of 6,000 hectares.

For the sake of the reporter and the good pastor Andrew Mahoro of Surairo Village, Waisisi Oil Palm project and Wairokai oil palm nursery are one and the same.

Implementation of the project is ongoing in Wairokai rather than Waisisi due to the reason stated below.

MAL Permanent Secretary Jimi Saelea explained the fact is that, the land originally earmarked for the nursery in Waisisi was DISPUTED, as a result and thanks to the Rapusia Tribe, the nursery was relocated to and established in Wairokai instead, the communities of Waisisi and Wairokai are close to each other and the people are related thus the acceptance by the Rapusia Tribe of Wairokai to host the nursery.

“I am sure Pastor Andrew Mahoro may not be telling the TRUTH of not knowing what is happening on the ground with the Waisisi Oil Palm project.

“He should tell Solomon Star why the oil palm nursery was relocated to Wairokai, from the original plan to establish the nursery in Waisisi,” Saelea said.

He added that Pastor Mahoro should be consulting the Southern Maasina Oil Palm Growers Association (SMOPGA), and West AreAre Constituency Development Association Task Force (WACDATF), the bodies responsible for awareness on matters related to the oil palm project.

“These two bodies have members on the ground in Waisisi and Wairokai that can be consulted for updates in order to be informed on factual information.”

“So please my good Pastor and good Solomon Star reporter Saeni from Auki, do seek the TRUTH first from these two registered entities, and of course the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to ensure untruths are not released in the public domain,” the MAL PS reiterates.

To clarify further, in order for the oil palm nursery seedlings at Wairokai to be transplanted by 32 farmers who have already been identified and their lands already cleared, the tractor mentioned was shipped to Wairokai on a chartered boat.

On the same trip various farming tools for distribution to farmers to facilitate oil palm planting were also sent.

The handover of the tractor and tools was done at Wairokai where the work is ongoing, and not in Honiara for one to be suspicious of the expenditure.

Pastor Mahoro has all the right to raise questions of progress, and benefits from the Waisisi Oil Palm programme.

The biggest benefit that Pastor Mahoro should be thankful of the Government for is the registration of his Marapa Tribal Land of 846.1 hectares.

The Registration of Land Title was handed to him on a plate so to speak.

Since the establishment of the oil palm nursery at Wairokai, around 30 casuals representing families have been employed up till now.

Their children’s school fees and other needs are met easily from the wages they received.

MAL hope that one day most families in West AreAre will benefit directly and indirectly from oil palm development when it will become the main economic driver in the southern region of Malaita Province.

It is only understandable that expectations are sometimes unreasonably bloated without reasoning the determinants that slows down the momentum following land registration.

It took almost two years for SIG through MAL and Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS) to facilitate land mobilization, surveying, and eventual registration of the 2,395.1 hectares, a costly feat that resource owners need only appreciate, and whatever comes next takes time and of course substantial financial resources to progress things going forward for the Waisisi Oil Palm programme.

The DCC Government through MAL is doing its best to ensure the 9,000 oil palm seedlings are planted and to continue assisting the farmers until an investor takes up full responsibility for the programme.

Saelea continues to explain that soliciting investors is not as easy as some may think, as most investors do have their basic requirements which must be provided up front. The oil palm industry is no exception.

“Various models of oil palm development will need to be considered in light of the various constraints related to topography (land ya hemi hil or flat), infrastructure (road and wharf stap?), production (soil hemi gud?), and marketing.

“The GPPOL model cannot be applied in Waisisi or elsewhere in the country unless land is 0 – 5% slope gradient. Thus it will take time to carefully determine which production model suits Waisisi and other potential oil palm growing areas in the country.”

He clarifies that for a crop that has a productive life of 25 to 35 years, planting it now will ensure when a mill is built, product to feed the mill is also ready. It is a chicken and egg argument.

Potential investors too will be informed of the actions taken by resource owners to initiating growing the crop in anticipation of a processing facility. Whether the investor is foreign or local does not really matter. What matters is that a lot of jobs will be created and cottage industries developed in rural areas.

The MAL PS calls on every one to have a positive mindset towards developing our nation.

“Waiting for the government to get the project rolling” is not the right mindset for development of this country. We should all be partners with the government to develop our resources, and then only can we “own” the development.”

“My advice to resource owners of Waisisi and elsewhere in respect of government programmes is to directly seek answers to questions from the right authorities. In this way answers to your queries will be provided to you directly and not through the media as is the case here.” Saelea said.

MALA PREMIER ANGERED BY SLOW RESPONSE TO BOAT TRAGEDY

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

PREMIER of Malaita Province, Peter Ramohia has lashed out at the slow response of the country’s search and rescue unit following the boat tragedy that claimed lives between the seas of Malaita and Guadalcanal Provinces last week.

About Five dead bodies have been recovered off the coast of Marau, with 11 still missing when the boat travelling from West Areáre enroute to Marau met its fate.

Ramohia said on Wednesday when the incident happened he received a message that one of the boats was missing and he called the search and rescue unit to respond to the incident,

He said no action was taken quickly and lives have been lost due to no rescue attempts being made at the first instance.

“This is not the first time for this unit to fail, they have failed many incidents in terms of rescue and many have lost their lives in our waters.

Ramohia added that the mission carried out by the search and rescue unit was not a rescue mission, but a recovery mission to recover the dead bodies of those people.

He pointed out that this is one of the National Government Departments that should be alert at all times rather than giving excuses of no support for the unit to operate.

“Why is this unit established, the unit should be dissolved because of no proper work being done.

Premier Ramohia said the National Government should also put in place the relevant laws to ensure that people take safety measures to avoid the loss of lives in our waters.

“The laws must be put in place immediately, especially for our safety measures.

Even one life is counted and when 17 or 18 lost their lives it is a sad thing for our people.

The Premier therefore send his condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.

The incident happened on Wednesday last week when two boats believed to be carrying a youth group from Harumou village in the Uhu area on west Are’Are set off for Marau, East Guadalcanal.

They were planning to raise funds for their church building in one of the communities at Marau.

The second boat believed to have carried 24 people, mostly women met its tragic end.

Ramohia said it was the biggest tragedy to have happened to his people of west Are’Are people.

“I want to remind my people of malaita and the country at large that before travelling to sea we must look for safety measures first.

Sea is a different environment from land, the environment can change at any time and so those that travel by boats must ensure safety first before travelling.

On behalf of the malaita provincial government I send our condolence to all chiefs, leaders and immediate family members of those who lost their lives.

My heartfelt sorrow is always with them even though without my presence but through spirit we are all present.

May god’s comfort be with them and May god gave them a peace of mind.

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