BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinini (SIEVAP) project, Make It 18 Report 2022 -2025, is a call to arms, said New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Rebecca Williams.

Commissioner Williams said during the presentation and handover of the report to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs (MJLA), Friday last week at the Honiara Hotel.

In recognition of the SIEVAP work in keeping children in Solomon Islands safe and advocating for that can empower children Mrs Williams said that the task is difficult and confronting for SIEVAP as frontline responders.

“New Zealand is honoured to be partnering with you in this work,” she said.

She said that children and young people are the Solomon Islands’ greatest sources of strength, and supporting them to be safe and to harness their full potential as future leaders and innovators is essential for a more stable, resilient and inclusive Solomon Islands.

“This report is a call to arms. All children and young people deserve to grow up with a chance to reach their full potential. We know that girls and boys who get married young are less likely to stay in school and less likely to fulfil their full economic potential,” said Williams.

She also notes that the report is a great example of the value of all voices feeding into policy decisions.

“SIEVAP have shown the collective strength of children as advocates. Together with children, youth, parents, caregivers, faith-based and community leaders, NGOs, national and provincial governments, let’s make it a reality. Let’s make it a team in all communities across Honiara and all Solomon Islands,” concludes Williams.

To contribute to this effort, the SIEVAP coalition partner agencies of Save the Children, World Vision, and Child Fund undertook a series of community consultations in Honiara, Malaita, Western and Choiseul provinces on child marriage and whether the Islanders Married Act should be amended.

The Law Reform Commission Office also collaborated with SIEVAP to roll out these consultations.

After the report was drafted, the SIEVAP coalition convened an implementation and enforcement workshop with key government stakeholders and civil society to discuss possible challenges if the law is reformed to prevent child marriages and the potential solutions.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

 A Collaboration and Consultation Meeting was successfully held between the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMET), the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI) and Solomon Airlines Stakeholders.

The Aviation Meteorological Services consultation meeting was held at the Weather Forecasting Office, Vavaya Ridge in Honiara on Wednesday, 14 May.

Mr. Solomon Sammy, the Quality Assurance Manager for Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMS), said the aim is to discuss the continuous improvements that would contribute to the safety, regularity and efficiency of civil air navigation services in Solomon Islands.

He said that the objective of the discussion is to provide a working paper or report for the ICAO/APAC Meteorology Sub-Group 29 Meeting in August this year in Bangkok, Thailand.

He said that the paper will provide a report and evidence to close the Open ICAO deficiency AP-MET-20 registered under the Solomon Islands since 2008.

He said Solomon Islands will provide a working paper that will allow the meeting to discuss the closing of the ICAO APANPIRG Air Navigation deficiency related to the provision of WAFC forecasts in the Solomon Islands.

“Solomon Islands already addresses and implements the ICAO deficiency by providing Pilot Briefing Meteorological information and products to the Airlines. This also includes the weather charts and forecasts from the World Area Forecast Centre (WAFC) in Washington,” said Sammy.

He said that the outcome of the meeting required:

1. SIMS to request the Secretariat for ICAO/Asia & Pacific office, in coordination with the ad hoc group on air navigation deficiencies to assist the Solomon Islands in preparing the appropriate report detailing the rectification of the deficiency.

2. Solomon Airlines to provide an evidential report acknowledging and confirming the reception of the products and services provided by SIMS for Aviation Meteorological Services.

“As part of the ongoing support, continual improvements that would contribute to the safety, regularity and efficiency of civil air navigation services in Solomon Islands. The following has been put in place:

“Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM).

“The Letter of Agreement (LOA) between Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMS) and Solomon Islands Airport Corporation Limited (SIACL).

“The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMS) and Solomon Airlines.

“The annual stakeholder meetings between SIMS, CAASI, SIACL and Solomon Airlines,” he said.

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BY NED GAGAHE

A three-day Teacher Training Workshop organized by the Civic Education Unit (PCEU) of the Parliamentary Public Engagement and Communication Department is currently underway at Luelta Resort in Lata, bringing together teachers from various schools across Temotu Province.

The training aims to boost the knowledge of educators particularly Social Science teachers on key aspects of the National Parliament, including its structure and functions, the principle of separation of powers and the roles of parliamentary committees.

Central to the workshop is the Parliamentary Resource Book, an educational tool developed to support the teaching of civic education in classrooms across the Solomon Islands.

In a statement Chief Education Officer of the Temotu Province Education Authority, Allen Steward, warmly welcomed the initiative and commended Parliament for bringing the training to Temotu.

“I would like to frame this training under the theme: Empowering Educators for a Stronger Civic Education,” said Mr Steward.

He added that the workshop would fill important gaps in the current curriculum and improve students’ understanding of how Parliament operates.

“Make this training a great success so that our children understand how Parliament works. This is an investment in the future. Share what you’ve learned here with fellow teachers and your students,” he encouraged the participants.

Acting Director of the Parliamentary Civic Education Unit, Alex Seama, also expressed his appreciation to the educators in attendance many of whom travelled from remote parts of the province.

He also acknowledged the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its continued partnership.

Seama said the importance of spreading civic knowledge to the wider population, noting that an estimated 70 to 75 percent of Solomon Islanders still lack a clear understanding of Parliament’s role and functions.

“The Parliamentary Resource Books were developed especially for our young people particularly secondary school students as supplementary materials that align with the school curriculum,” he said.

The workshop includes interactive presentations, discussions and practical classroom strategies aimed at equipping teachers with both the knowledge and skills needed to effectively deliver civic education.

This training is part of Parliament’s long-term effort to promote civic awareness through the education system.

Since 2010, Parliament has been developing civic education materials and in 2021, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) officially incorporated these resources into the national curriculum.

Three civic education resource booklets tailored for both teachers and students have since been published and distributed to all secondary schools across the country.

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Council of trade union slams govt’s 3 percent cost of living adjustment, calls for body to advise finance minister on real issues impacting workers and employers

BY NED GAGAHE

The Solomon Islands trade union council has slammed government’s recent 3 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) as a failure.

The Council of Trade Union (SICTU) also called for the immediate establishment of a Tripartite Advisory Body with equal representation from government, employers, and workers to advise the Minister of Finance and Treasury on critical issues relating or impacting workers and employers like Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA).

The recently awarded 3% COLA fails workers as it failed to meaningfully address at least in the minimum, struggling workers and their family long suffering due to high cost of living.

“A 3% COLA to a worker with a gross salary of $2,000 is only an increase of an additional taxable $60,” the SICTU statement said.

This adjustment which is unilaterally decided by the government, ignores skyrocketing cost of living and workers’ hardships, SICTU adds.

“For years, COLA decisions have been made without meaningful consultation, prioritising fiscal convenience over workers’ survival.

“This undermines trust and worsens inequality workers continued to experience from national government top down approach.

“An ancient approach long thrown away by government around the world over more consultative one,” SICTU said.  

The high cost of living stems from poor price management of goods and services by government agencies.

Workers cannot sustain families on unjustified, token increases bring about by a government failure to protect its workers and citizen from high cost of living.

“The government’s unilateral approach must end.

“We demand a seat at the table to ensure COLA reflects real needs, not spreadsheet calculations,” SICTU said.

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BY JOHN HOUAHINHAU

The Solomon Islands Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinini (SIEVP) coalition has called on the government, chiefs, churches, parents and partners to work together to put a stop to child marriage in the Solomon Islands.

Erin Fritz expressed this during his remarks at the official handover of the SIEVAP project report -Make It 18, 2022-2025 to the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS) Mr. George Hoa’au Friday last week at the Honiara Hotel.

The SIEVAP project is a joint initiative between the New Zealand and Solomon Islands agencies of Save the Children, World Vision and Child Fund. It was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“I speak today on behalf of the SIEVAP Coalition, and more importantly, on behalf of the Children of the Solomon Islands. We are here today to hand over a special report called “Make It 18.” This report is not just paper. It holds the voices, dreams, and rights of many children, especially girls, across our country.

“Right now, in our laws, a girl can be married at 15. But at that age, she is still a child. She should be in school, playing, learning and not be forced to become someone’s wife or mother.” Said Fritz.

He said that this is not fair, not safe and therefore must change.

“Make It 18” means changing the law so that no child-boy or girl-can be married before they turn 18. We believe 18 is not the right age because it gives children time to grow, learn and choose their future,” he said.

He said that this report shows the voices of young people who say, loud and clear, “Let us be children. Let us be free. Protect us by making the legal age of marriage 18.”

“To our leaders in government, to our chiefs, churches, parents, and partners, we need you to listen, act to protect us. Please use this report to guide your decisions and change the law. We are counting on you to help stop child marriage in the Solomon Islands. Together, we can make this country a safer and better place for all children,” said SIEVAP rep, Fritz.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinini (SIEVAP) project -Make It 18 Report stems from a task of the Solomon Islands government that aims to change the Islanders’ Marriage Act, which was put in place in 1945, almost 70 years ago.

The report was handed over to the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs (MJLA) Permanent Secretary (PS) George Hoa’au Friday last week.

The Islanders’ Marriage Law allows people to get married as young as 15 years old.

“Now, the government of Solomon Islands tasked the Solomon Islands Law Reform Commission to inquire into whether the act is consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and recommended changes to this law. So, to contribute to this effort, the SIEVAP Partner Coalition undertook a series of community consultations in collaboration with the Law Reform Commission office,” said Ellen Siale Kahui SIEVAP Project Manager.

The SIEVAP Coalition Make It 18 Advocacy Campaign advocates to protect children against child marriage.

The SIEVA Coalition works closely with child protection stakeholder partners from the government sector plus the civil society sector to implement its project deliverables.

“Under the SIEVAP Coalition projects, we have three outcomes. Outcome one is focused on legislative reform. Outcome two is more focused on empowering children to be informed about child rights and advocacy. And through outcome two, we established our Children’s Advocacy Committee.

“Outcome three in the SIEVAP project is focused on training faith leaders as well as community leaders, parents, and caregivers on child protection, as well as strengthening community reporting and referral pathways for child abuse cases,” said Ms. Kahui.

“So, the Make It 18 Advocacy Campaign stems from the ageing need to ensure children are protected from early marriage, and this advocacy campaign comes under outcome one of the SIEVA project,” she said.

The SIEVAP Project is a coalition project between the New Zealand and Solomon Islands agencies of Save the Children, World Vision and Child Fund.

The four-year project, 2022-2025, is funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The country’s existing Islanders’ Marriage Act is inconsistent with two UN conventions that prohibit the marriage of children under 15 years of age.

Ellen Siale Kahui, Solomon Islands Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinin (SIEVAP) Project manager, said this when she presented the (SIEVAP) Make It 18 Report Friday last week in Honiara.

Solomon Islands is a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The country ratified the CRC on April 10, 1995 and acceded to CEDAW on May 6, 2002.

Kahui said that the country’s legal context accepts child marriage with parental consent based on the current situational analysis in the country.

“There is no proof needed to verify the parties’ age. The law also recognises customary marriage and the importance of bride price. Plus, there is no requirement to register customary marriages,” she said.

“It should be noted that our country has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). With these inconsistencies in our law, our children are vulnerable to getting married at an early age,” she said.

She said that this is even more sad because the cultural and traditional practices, whereby early forced and arranged marriages are widely accepted.

“Economic hardships. Bride price also influences early marriage decisions. Limited education access. School dropouts. Not going to school increases child marriage risk, especially for girls. Legal gaps when it comes to the definition of a child,” said Ms Kahui.

She said that statistics also show that 21% of girls and 4% of boys are married before the age of 18, while 6% of girls are married before the age of 15.

She said that the government of Solomon Islands has ratified the CRC and CEDAW and so is legally obligated to implement legislative and policy measures to prevent child marriage.

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BY NED GAGAHE

The President of the Malaita Youth Council, Phillip Subu, has issued a strong statement following the tragic death of a young man from Makira Province, allegedly at the hands of youth.

In a statement, Subu expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the incident, describing it as a collective wound to the nation and a painful reflection of underlying issues affecting young people in Malaita.

“The act of taking another youth’s life is a stain on our community. It shatters hopes and dreams, and reveals that something has gone terribly wrong among our youth,” Subu said.

He said that the senseless act of violence does not reflect the values of all Malaitan youths and called for calm, unity, and peace among young people especially those living in Honiara.

“We seek to live in a world where there is peace and respect towards our provincial brothers and sisters. What has transpired does not reflect the heart and values of Malaita at all,” he added.

Subu acknowledged the current despair faced by many young Malaitans, citing lack of education, employment, and meaningful opportunities as major contributing factors to social unrest and violence.

In a direct appeal to Malaitan leaders, the youth president urged a re-evaluation of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), calling for a more youth-focused approach to development.

“The funds and resources allocated through the CDF should be redirected towards initiatives that directly benefit the young people of Malaita. We need to invest in education, vocational training, and job creation.”

He proposed several solutions, including: Improving access and quality of education, expanding vocational training in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, agriculture and supporting youth entrepreneurship and return migration to Malaita for economic development.

Subu thanked the Members of Parliament from Malaita who have constructively engaged with the grieving family and helped calm the situation.

“Let the tragic loss of this young life be a wake-up call for all of us. Let it be a catalyst for change.”

He concluded by urging all unemployed Malaitan youths living in Honiara to return to Malaita and invest their time in agriculture and local industries, contributing to rebuilding their province and creating a sustainable future.

“If you have no purpose to live for in Honiara, you must return to Malaita and help build our province,” he said.

Subu reaffirmed that Malaita Youth Council’s stand for peace, unity and development and calls on all Solomon Islanders to work together in respect and solidarity.

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