THE petition signing against the withdrawal of the Anti-Corruption Bill which started on Sept 8, 2017 remains on a strong hold as signing continued yesterday.
The campaign’s leading figure, Dr Huddie Namo said the petition signing coordinated by the civil society organisation is to remind the government that the people of this country are calling for the return of the bill.
In addition, he says they will not stop and will continue with their work in advocacy and education until the bill makes its way back into parliament.
“Still, we want to be proactive, at least present the petition to the PM to show people’s wish for DCCG to bring back the bill.”
On another note, Mr Namo explained that if the government brings back the Bill in October then the move will be very much appreciated.
“If DCCG, the government of the day, brings back the bill in October then that’s fantastic.
Duff Islands Taumako tribes members and Fara’ngaw tribe members prepare the Traditional Bamboo raft vessel for sailing trials offshore of Mamula Beach in Taitung, Taiwan
Duff Islands Taumako tribes members and Fara’ngaw tribe members prepare the Traditional Bamboo raft vessel for sailing trials offshore of Mamula Beach in Taitung, Taiwan
A group of five Duff Islanders of Temotu Province have recreated history by successfully linking their canoe making and sailing traditional knowledge, technology and skills with Fara’ngaw Tribal Nations of Amis ethnic group in Taitung County of Taiwan.
Led by Dr Simon Salopuka and Hon Stanley Tehiahua, Member of Provincial Assembly for Ward 13 in Temotu Province, the group includes Ambrose Miki, Captain of Tepuke the traditional sail canoe of Duff Islands, Joselyn Tatara Laua a weaving specialists, and Harry Vanosi a young Vaka Canoe designer/builder and sailor.
The sailing cultural project is part of studies undertaken by Professor Jesse Chiunghsi Liu, CEO of Foundation of Ocean Taiwan, about the Austronesian cultural group migration and peopling of Pacific Islands by tribesmen.
Studies have shown many archeological, linguistic, anthropological evidences, and DNA patterns of human, animals and plants suggest Taiwan was the original source from which the Austronesian peoples set off to settle the vast Pacific Ocean west of Taiwan, and the Indian Ocean south-east of Taiwan.
How did they voyage to settle in islands of Pacific and Indian Ocean, successfully navigating the vast oceans and also reached northern Philippine, Boneo, Malaysia, and Vietnam carrying with them the famous Taiwan jade jewelry, about 4,000 years ago?
The bamboo raft vessel sail built using Taumako tribes materials and Fara’ngaw tribes sail design.
Professor Liu believes the bamboo sailing boat was the common navigating vessel at that time, because this type of boat constructed with bamboo and powered by the quadrilateral sail were popular in Taiwan, Vietnam and Philippine islands before War World II.
Indigenous Taiwanese tribes lost the bamboo sailing boat culture several hundred years ago. It was their strong desire to restore the culture and sail again, that the Foundation of Ocean Taiwan invited the Taumako Vaka Valo culture group of Duff Islands in Temotu Province, Solomon Islands to Taiwan in August this year.
With the assistance of Raranges Hoki Na Tungaw, the Administrative Chief of Fara`ngaw nation the Taumako group joined forces with master bamboo canoe builder of the Fara’ngaw tribe nation to reconstruct the traditional sailing vessel. The work started on August 19 and was successfully completed before the group departed Taiwan on September 8.
The materials for the sail was brought in from Duff Islands, while the sail design was that typically used by the Fara`ngaw builders themselves.
The two groups then worked together to stitch the sail over hours of thoughtful calculation, meditation and discussion.
A ceremonial launching of the vessel and sail was held on August 31 presided over by elders of the Fara’ngaw tribe, and witnessed by officials from the Taitung County Administration officials, officials and student representatives from the National Taitung University Community College for Austronesian Culture, and members of the public.
Solomon Islands Ambassador to ROC Taiwan His Excellency Joseph Waleanisia represented the Solomon Islands government.
A crew which included two members each from Taumako and Fara’ngaw tribes then took the vessel on several trial sailing sessions in an artificial lake in Taitung.
Members of Taumako Vaka group pose with Professor Liu (back third from left), HE Ambassador Waleanisia (back row second from right), Mrs Lichai Lin, President of Foundation of Ocean Taiwan (third from right in front row), and two Officials from Taitung Community College of Austronesian Culture Studies.
Following the trial sessions in the lake, and under the testimony of Mrs. Lichai Lin, President of Foundation of Ocean Taiwan, the group successfully sailed the bamboo along Mamula beach during the noon time of September 5.
Two more trips were made the following day, before the group agreed that the sail worked brilliantly in powering the bamboo vessel in the open sea.
This was the first successful voyage since Taitung Austronesian Community College restored the Fara’ngaw sailing boat in 2014.
Earlier the Fangarau tribe had built a similar vessel in 2007 and invited traditional sail designer and canoe builder from South Africa.
The latter tribesmen traditionally built and used similar sails in the past and the expectation was the African would help restore the traditional sail piece to sail the bamboo vessel in the open sea.
The sail designed and built by the South African however failed the initial test to sail the vessel. The vessel capsized when they tried to sail the vessel in the artificial lake in Taitung County, and so the project was immediately abandoned.
This project is truly a historic achievement, according to Dr Salopuka and Professor Liu. It symbolize the successful blending together of traditional canoe building skills, knowledge and technology of Solomon Islands Taumako cultural nation, and Fara’ngaw tribal nation.
It was not only a marvelous outcome but one that is truly historical and goes to prove how people-to-people diplomacy conducted in the form of cultural interchange of cultural knowledge and skills promotes a peoples; identity and integrity and therefore bring countries and people closer together in the common pursuit of mutual respect, peace, unity and prosperity.
PUBLIC have been urged to mobilise and have their voices heard on matters of national interest.
Member of parliament for West Makira Hon Derrick Manu’ari, signing the petition to have government return the anti-corruption bill to parliament yesterday, said that we must not be complacent with what government promises since it has proven to be inconsistent in living up to them.
The ongoing petition signing against the withdrawal of the Anti-Corruption Bill commenced yesterday.
Manu’ari said while he supports the petition he also encourages citizens to mobilise and have their voices heard on things of national interest.
He added that a lot of MPs especially those from the opposition and independent group are in support of people who are in the fight against corruption.
Speaking on the government’s statement about the return of the bill, he said that there is no guarantee that such will take place because the government has been inconsistent in what they have said and done.
In addition, Manu’ari stressed that the biggest loop in this anti-corruption bill scenario is the government raising the hopes of people, making them think that the bill would be passed in parliament only for it to be withdrawn instead.
Moreover, he said that the Prime Minister’s statement on members of the opposition group filling in the ears of his ministers about what would happen regarding the bill is misleading.
In this regard, Hon Manu’ari alluded that government ministers are capable of reading the bill themselves thus are in no need of the opposition group or any party to read or explain anything to them.
“We have nothing to do with the withdrawal of the bill,” he said.
The Member of Parliament for West Makira also mentioned that the withdrawal of the anti-corruption bill was motivated by quest for political survival.
Audit finds SI Ports Authority without key policies
By Alfred Sasako
SOLOMON Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) does not have key polices despite it being the nation’s oldest State-Owned Enterprise (SOE), an external audit has found.
KPMG Fiji, which last year audited SIPA’s accounts for the year ending September 30, 2015, in the middle of SIPA’s tumultuous period, said such a situation raises “serious concern considering the nature and significance of its operations and the volume of transactions”.
Island Sun has obtained a copy of the audit report.
”Policies and procedures for the key processes for SIPA is not only critical but fundamental to the effectiveness and efficiency of activities carried out. We noted that the key policies for SIPA are non-existent and this is a serious concern considering the nature and significance of its operation and the volume of transactions.
“The following issues had occurred due to the lack of effective policies and procedures. Numerous instances of significant breaches in the norms due to the lack of an effective procurement, tender and payments processes. The matters raised against Mr Colin Yow is a notable example of significant losses absorbed by SIPA due to non-existence of policies and procedures,” KPMG said.
It recommended that Management “consider developing the following as a matter of high priority:”
Procurement and Tender
Delegated level of authority
Fixed asset management
Project Management
Finance; and
Corporate Governance
In response, Management said it would engage an external party to “develop policies and processes” for the six areas KPMG has identified.
“These should enable SIPA operations and activities more aligned to international practices. These will also help reduce wastage, fraud risk, instil efficiency and can be used as a learning tool not only to the Finance staff but other departments as well,” Management said in its response.
Whether or not Management has carried out the recommendations is not clear.
Many of these issues have now polarised the relations between staff and management and have the potential bring down the organisation.
Assistance Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in
Solomon Islands, Ms Rosemary Kafa.
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Assistance Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Solomon Islands, Ms Rosemary Kafa.
A new project was recently launched under the joint partnership of STDF, FAO and SIG during the one-day inception workshop on NPHL ISO 17025 accreditation.
The aim of the project is to develop the capacity of the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) in Honiara.
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) representative in Solomon Islands, Ms Rosemary Kafa said the project will ensure NPHL conducts microbiological testing on water and food products in compliance with international standards.
Saying it means testing results will be accepted by trading partners, especially the European Union.
She said the project will address technical knowledge gaps of the NPHL staff and provide improvements to the facility system.
Ms Kafa added that the project will look on procedures to ensure compliance with SPS import requirements of the EU and other trade partners to gain and maintain access to those markets.
She said the overall impact of the project includes ISO 17025 accreditation of the NPHL for microbiological testing to facilitate market access for trade with partners.
And to strengthen the public health role of the NPHL in monitoring and evaluating water and food safety by robust testing for pathogenic microorganism, Ms Kafa said.
She said the project comes in two components and they include strengthening NPHL to provide services and strengthening the sustainability of the lab to maintain international accreditation.
Ms Kafa said the funding for the project is USD606,000 and comes from MHMS USD112,800, FAO and IANZ assessments USD20,128, Donor and IANZ assessment 20,000 and FAO TCPf is USD100, 000.
She said FAO is very happy to assist SIG to strengthen capacity and sustainability of NPHL to acquire the ISO 17025 standard and further maintain the standard.
The process to establish the improvement of the NPHL into an accredited laboratory is expected to take almost two years.
YWPG members at the SIPPA clinic after their tests
YWPG members at the SIPPA clinic after their tests
THE Young Women’s Parliamentary Group (YWPG) is again taking the lead in advocating to end cervical cancer.
The group did a group pap-smear test at the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) clinic on Tuesday, September 12, 2017.
This is part of their ongoing advocacy to end cervical cancer among women.
With the alarming rate of this type of cancer among Solomon Islands’ women it is a great concern to our society.
Looking back in history, the youngest to have developed cervical cancer is 18 years and as such YWPG is calling on all women who are in any sexual relationship to get tested.
Now it is much easier to do tests than three years ago. Tests are freely done at SIPPA and Kukum clinic where one get her results straight after.
Anything to do with reproductive health for men and women is still a subject not openly discussed and a lot of women find it difficult to come out.
“Some are just too busy with work and family life that they do not have time to get tested. Therefore, it is a great concern to us and we’re calling on all women again to take that step,” YWPG advisor, Marisa Pepa said.
The SIPPA clinic is open from Mon-Wed-Fridays for outpatients, so get tested and stay safe.
The Young women’s Parliamentary Group is a voluntary organisation under Parliaments Parliamentary Civic Education Department.
Its role is to nurture young women leaders, network with current leaders and given its location it aims to influence government policies and legislation not necessarily women’s issues only.
The group is headed by the Speaker of Parliament and Prime Minister. They have a five-team executive that manages the group activities.
THE Solomon Islands national under-17 futsal team will open their campaign in the upcoming Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Youth Futsal Tournament against American Samoa and New Zealand in the opening day on October 4.
The Oceania Youth Futsal Tournament will take place October 4-7 at Bruce Pulman Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.
Solomon Islands along with six other Oceania nations are participating.
The others are American Samoa, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The tournament’s fixtures were made known after it was released on the OFC website this week.
After the first two matches on the opening day, another two awaits them on October 5 against New Caledonia and Samoa respectively.
On October 6, Solomon Islands will play against Vanuatu in the morning part before wrapping up their campaign against Tonga later in the evening.
Looking at the schedules above, the competition is being conducted in a round-robin format with the overall winner qualifying for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, where futsal will make its debut.
The management of the Solomon Islands national youth side has already named its final squad and boasts some new upcoming talents including the Bulkshop Under-16 competition golden boot winner Raphael Lea’i.
The team will leave the country on September 21 where they will they make a stopover in Australia to play some warm-up matches against Dural Warriors in Sydney before flying across to New Zealand on September 30 ahead of the tournament kick off on October 4.
The final national U-17 12-man squad and officials are as follows:
A man stands accused in Auki court for lying to people and obtaining money from them.
Yesterday, the court read out allegations against Mr Peter Fakaia which include making false promises to people in return for money.
On August 29, 2017, Peter allegedly met a Isaac Nogwae of Kona village, central Kwara’ae and told him that he was the field operations manager for most of the logging companies operating in Solomon Islands.
The accused reportedly said he dealt mainly with piggery projects for interested applicants, who he said must first fill in an application form which would qualify the applicant to receive $7,200 every September for five consecutive years.
Court was told that the complainant, Mrs Prudence Olofia, became convinced and gave Mr Fakaia $2,500.
Next day, the suspect went back to the complainant’s home and gave a form, titled Monitoring Logging Operation, PO Box 135, phone 30824, to her for signing.
The accused was given another $1,000 by the complainant as approval fee.
He then advised the complainant to attend a meeting at Rarasu Motel on Monday September 4, 2017.
The complainant went there on that date only to find out that there was no such meeting scheduled for that day, and no sign of Fakaia.
Prosecutors further that on September 6, the suspect returned to the complainant and told her that her project had been approved, which would cost her an extra $2,000 approval fee – she gave him the money, totalling her contributions to $5,500.
The accused then asked her to find a partner she trusted to sign and work alongside her.
This new partner, said Fakaia was going to receive a substantial amount of money.
Mrs Olofia then persuaded a sister of hers who signed and gave $1,500 to Fakaia.
He then advised both females to attend a meeting at Rarasu motel on September 8, which again resulted as the first promised meeting.
The complainants then realised that they had been duped and reported the matter to the police.
On Sunday, September 10, Fakaia went back to the complainants and tried to make some more arrangements.
However, this time the complainants would have none of it and insisted that the suspect refund their money.
He tried to escape but youths from the village chased him and took him to the Auki police station.
The suspect is remand for 14 days and will appear again on the 27th of this month at the Auki Magistrate court.
PUBLIC signing of the petition against the withdrawal of the Anti-corruption Bill in Parliament is still on process.
It is understood that yesterday was the date reported for the signing of petition to be presented at Parliament by the Member of Parliament for West Makira Hon Derick Manu’ari after doing the last signing, however, he confirmed that the process of signing is still on process.
“The CSO’s Anti-corruption Committee has not yet updated me but the process of signing is still on-going which is the reason we have not yet presented the petition in Parliament,” said the MP.
An attempt to contact the Chairman of CSO’s Anti-corruption Committee for further updates yesterday was unsuccessful.
The CSO Anti-corruption Committees aim is to reach 10,000 signings from the general public before the Member of Parliament for West Makira Hon Derick Manu’ari will do the last signing.
Rennell forwards on the attack as Makira defense lead by team captain Philemon Campbell looks to contain the pressure. Rennell won 24-12...Photo Taromane Martin
By Taromane Martin
Rennell forwards on the attack as Makira defense lead by team captain Philemon Campbell looks to contain the pressure. Rennell won 24-12…Photo Taromane Martin
DAY three of competition from the 2017 Solrice Inter Islands rugby challenge yesterday sees Bellona rugby team leading Pool B.
Bellona climb to the top of the table after destroying Isabel, 72-7 in their final pool match of the competition, to bag their second win after defeating Malaita Subi 30-20 in their opening match last Sunday.
Despite the huge defeat Isabel Head Coach Trevor Manemahaga said their team is young development side and believes they still have a chance of progressing on to the semi-finals.
“It’s a very disappointing result however Isabel is not a province well known for playing rugby union,” he said.
“But out of passion we decided to join this year’s Inter-Islands. The score line does not matter to us. Fielding a team for the competition and promoting this game in our province and country is more important to us.
“This is our first game. I believe we can win our next game and get through the semi-final. Again the score line does not matter and I believe we still have a chance of making it into the semis.
“Hopefully we can secure the services of some of our players at Selwyn College once we get permission from our principle for Saturday’s game,” Mr Manemahaga said.
Meanwhile in the Pool A clash between Makira and competition defending champions, Rennell, it sees both sitting at the table summit with three points each, after Rennell claimed their first win yesterday.
Makira who defeated Western They defeated Makira 24-12 at the Town Ground Rugby Stadium yesterday.
Roger Tepai, Castro Teaheniu, Simon Tepuke, Eugene Tekobi, Solly Seuka and Tony Kaipua socred a try each for Rennell while Jack Akao and Junior Samani scores a try each for Makira.
Chris Saru converted one conversion from two attempts while Simon Tepuke and Eugene Tekobi both converted a try each for Rennell.
Makira Team Captain Philemon Campbell gave credit to Rennell for the win but said some of their boys were in a relaxed mood after their 17-6 win over Western.
“It’s been good for team Makira. However the result today was unfortunate. I think after coming off our win some of us boys were in a relaxed mood,” he said.
“We’ll need to work on a lot of things. However the main area will be on our set pieces which always let us down during our scrums, line-outs and really moved us back three steps.
“We’ve completed our pool matches now and will wait for the final pool match on Saturday to see where we lie on the table.
“We have one week now to prepare and turn around our game and prepare for the semi-finals,” Campbell said.
Pool matches for this Saturday will see Western taking on Rennell at 2pm followed by Pool B action at 4pm as Malaita Subi meets Isable at the Town Ground rugby stadium.
