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Tuasulia faces election petition

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Member of West Kwara’ae, Alfred JM Tuasulia. Photo supplied

West Kwara’ae new MP faces election petition despite landslide victory

BY EDDIE OSIFELO

NEWLY elected Member of West Kwara’ae, Alfred JM Tuasulia, is facing a petition despite his landslide victory in the by-election held in May.

This follows allegations of bribery committed by Tuasulia at Bio Bridge, Bubuitolo, Fauabu clinic, Taisol, and Buma prior to the polling day.

The petition has been filed in the High Court by losing candidates Fred Ramoli and Barnard Gale, as well as a registered voter, Bobby Ngalingwa’a.

The petitioners want to emphasize that an Election Petition should not be considered a private matter but rather a case of public interest.

They believe that it is important to ensure free and fair elections, which are the cornerstone of our democracy, particularly in the West Kwara’ae constituency.

The petitioners acknowledge that in our Melanesian context, gift-giving is a cultural norm.

However, during elections, this can become blurred and fall under the offense of Election Bribery as stated in the Electoral Act 2018.

They highlight that only the High Court can determine what conduct is appropriate during elections, and it is crucial for people to understand the difference between culturally appropriate gift-giving and corruption.

The petitioners expressed the view that merely complaining and murmuring about corruption will not lead to a better understanding, but seeking the court’s determination through an Election Petition is necessary.

If the petition is successful, it would mean that Tuasulia was not duly elected, found guilty of Election bribery and treating, and would be barred from contesting any elections for five years.

The petitioners also mention that criminal prosecutions may be pursued against Tuasulia and others involved, as election bribery is considered a corruption offense.

The advocate for the petitioners is David Lidimani, a private lawyer and a candidate who did not succeed in the by-election.

Tuasulia assumed office following the passing of the long-term MP for West Kwara’ae, Samuel Iduri, who had been battling a long illness.

Millions of dollars untapped in Northwest Guadalcanal beaches

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Piaru Beach in Northwest Guadalcanal. Photo credit - MCT

BY NED GAGAHE

Northwest Guadalcanal beaches are an important tourism asset for the country. Trapped within it are millions of dollars of untapped potentials, which Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) discovered in a survey conducted in February 2023.

MCT Technical Advisor Mr Björn Svensson and MCT Beach Development Coordinator Joan Sautehi presented the findings at a brief presentation with the media yesterday in the presence of Tourism Division Director (acting) Mr. Gregory Auta’a and Principal Tourism Officer (training) Rachel Sibisopere.

MCT led initiative, the Northwest Guadalcanal Beach Development Initiative is part of MCT’s preparation towards the country hosting Pacific Games in November.

MCT has been tasked with improving tourism attraction sites around Honiara in particular the beaches in North West Guadalcanal.

MCT surveyed all beach operations in Northwest Guadalcanal which included in depth interviews with the beach operators.

“41 beach operations were identified, including 6 that also offers accommodation.

“Out of those operations 27% were found to have acceptable facilities. At the majority of beaches facilities are either non-existent or in a very poor state. Domestic tourist spends an estimated $713,600 SBD per month on entrance fees, accommodation and other services.

“This adds up to 8.5 million SBD per year, the equivalent of 530 full time jobs (based on SI minimum salary).

“These beaches are important tourism assets with huge, largely untapped potential. They are also very important to Honiara residents, as one of the few recreational areas available to the public.

“Despite the poor state of the beaches, they are a major contributor to the local economy in Northwest Guadalcanal.

“In conjunction with the site survey, a visitor survey was also conducted. 193 regular beach visitors participated and provided detailed feedback on their experiences.

“By analyzing these surveys MCT was able to identify the key issues that is limiting domestic tourism in the region: Facilities – dilapidated or nonexistent, particularly the lack of toilets and running water.

“Safety – theft, harassment, roadblocks, drunk and disorderly behavior. Environment – poor waste management, lack of infrastructure to manage waste. Services – nonexistent services and low level of hospitality. Access – Rapidly deteriorating roads.” MCT said.

Furthermore, MCT said it will address some of those issues through community awareness, training of operators, funding of facility upgrades and waste management capability.

MCT said the issues of safety and access are overarching issues for the whole region.

MCT is currently mobilizing and coordinating relevant stakeholders to address these issues.

Meanwhile, according to Joan Sautehi the Beach development Initiative is geared towards two important goals.

She said the short-term goal is the Sol23 Pacific Games preparation of local attractions and the long-term goal is to boost economic development of Northwest Guadalcanal region through domestic tourism.

MASI lauds SI journos dominating regional climate change story awards

Written by
Irwin Angiki
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Gina Kekea. Photo supplied.

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Solomon Islands journalists have won four of six awards in the inaugural Pasifika Environews awards, announced yesterday by President of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Wiliame Katonivere in Suva to celebrate World Ocean Day.

They are Charles Piringi (In-Depth Solomons), Ben Bilua (Island Sun), Moffat Mamu Ghala (Solomon Star) and Irwin Angiki (Island Sun).

Charles Piringi, Solomon Islands winner of the SPREP Best Environment Story

The Solomon Islands Media Association (MASI) is over the moon about it with a jubilant president, Gina Kekea reacting to the announcement with a huge “congratulations!”.

“As MASI president, I am proud of the achievements of the Solomon Island journalists in the regional award,” she said.

“These achievements are what MASI wants to see and hear and are proud of. Solomon Islands have very good journalists working in a stringent environment and unfavorable working conditions.

“Despite the challenges, the determination and passion by the journalists is what I as MASI president is proud of.

“I congratulate the winners again and wish them all the best in bringing out the stories that matter to the people, no matter what.

“Congratulations!”

Ben Bilua of Solomon Islands who is the runner up of the OPOC Best Ocean Story.

The inaugural Pasifika Environews awards is a collaboration between the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), Internews Earth Journalism Network (EJN), Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC), and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

The two other awards were won by journalists from Fiji.

The awards honour exemplary reporting on environment, ocean, and climate change in the Pacific, a media statement from the Pasifika Environews yesterday said.

Investigative journalist Charley Piringi won the SPREP Best Environment story for his investigative piece on mining in Guadalcanal.

Moffat Mamu Ghala, Solomon Islands winner of the Pasifika Environews Best Climate Change Story.

“As an environmental and investigative journalist, this is one of the stories I am so keen on working on. It took me six months to work on the story alone,” he says. “Gathering information for the story was challenging especially when there were officials who were not so willing to share information, and there was also the challenge of traveling down to remote Guadalcanal where the mining operation was happening. I traveled two times to the remote village for interviews, and at some point, I was not allowed to enter the mine site to do my work. Simply, it is not easy working on environmental stories that involve mining and logging in the country.”

Makereta Komai, Pacific Islands News Association Manager and PACNEWS Editor, commended the winners and journalists who submitted entries.

Irwin Angiki of Island Sun Newspaper who is the runner up of Pasifika Environews Best Climate Change Story.

“We were impressed with the quality of the entries received from journalists across the region. We thank our partners – Internews Earth Journalism Network, Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme for supporting this inaugural Pasifika Environews Awards,” Komai said.

The winners of the three main categories will each receive USD$1,000 prize money while the runners-up will each receive USD$500.

The winners of the Pasifika Environews Awards are:

•             SPREP Best Environment Story – Charles Piringi, Solomon Islands

•             Runner Up- Sera Sefeti, Fiji Islands

•             OPOC Best Ocean Story- Vijay Narayan, Fiji Islands

•             Runner Up- Ben Bilua, Solomon Islands

•             Pasifika Environews Best Climate Change Story- Moffat Mamu Ghala, Solomon Islands

•             Runner Up- Irwin Angiki, Solomon Islands

Preferred supplier system – one of government’s wallet-holes

Written by
Irwin Angiki
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BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Government’s preferred supplier system is one which is wrapped in controversy despite its purported creation with good intentions.

Not for its initial purpose of bringing about efficient service for government to the people, but rather, for notions of corruption, abuse and exploitation.

And, like other reported similar activities in loopholes in the titanic government machine, while it is practised both openly and discreetly, it is hushed and no one talks about it – more so to a journalist.

In December last year, the issue of a corrupted preferred supplier system was brought to the floor of parliament for the first time, by a newly elected member of parliament (MP) presenting his maiden parliament speech.

Two constituency development officers have agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, a rare success in a journo’s attempt to crack through a tightly-knit network of Solomon Islands’ elite and their cronies.

The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) is responsible for implementing the preferred supplier system.

A well-placed source had also agreed to speak on condition of anonymity.

However, while this seemingly patriotic public servant was keen to exonerate the preferred supplier system, there were some compromising information that was kept from the journo.

The preferred supplier system was designed to help government services be more efficient, enabling government to make use of trusted, legally registered companies to supply goods and services to citizens.

Companies vying for a place in government’s preferred supplier list have to go through a stringent process whereby their integrity and capacity are scrutinised. Once having passed all these checks, a company can be given a one-year licence to be a government preferred supplier.

This year 67 companies successfully convinced the MRD that they were worthy of being government’s preferred suppliers for 2023, a slight increase from last year.

Every year the number of preferred suppliers increases, the source says.

Among the preferred suppliers, there are certain companies which have been there ‘since day-one’ and are unofficially referred to as the ‘traditional suppliers’. They are the ones who have proven themselves every year. One can say they never disappoint.

Once selected, a preferred supplier company can be used by either a member of parliament (MP) for the constituency programmes or a government ministry for any project.

Now, this sounds good, until whispers of abuse suggest otherwise.

Just before Christmas, 2022, West Kwaio MP Claudio Tei’ifi, having just won his constituency’s by-election in October of that year, displayed the traits of the innocent newby, horrified by realities of corruption in the country’s government systems.

One of them was the preferred supplier system.

Addressing the Sine Die motion in parliament, MP Tei’ifi said he was “shocked to note that prices of materials and goods accepted between MRD and the Suppliers in the Preferred Supplier Agreement or PSA are either doubled or tripled more than the normal price for over-the-counter purchases or sales by some hardware companies in the PSA.

“For example, a hardware in Honiara is selling a Makita plane for 1,980 dollars as displayed on the price tag in the shop.

“That same Makita plane when it is acquired by the constituency under the PSA is charge 4,180 dollars, a difference of 2,200 dollars. More than enough for another Makita plane

“Basically, the government under the Preferred Supplier Agreement is agreeing on and contracted to purchase and implement a project at a cost of two or three projects. This is not a joke and is not sustainable for use of public funds to benefit the people of this nation. This is a total rip off and day light robbery of public funds, in a scheme that is seen as normal and legalised through government contracts and agreements.

“If this scenario or scheme is applied to all government funded projects, it simply means the government is budgeting for a project at a cost of two or three similar projects. The same for government recurrent expenditures.

“Where is the tax incentives, remissions, and exemptions applied to government expenditures in this?

“No wonder, we appropriated billions of dollars for projects over the years and yet nothing much achieved.”

The two constituency development officers who spoke to the paper in confidence, verify MP Tei’ifi’s concerns. [Constituency Development Officers are seen as the MP’s right-hand. They act as the MP’s secretary, liaison person between MP and constituents, manage and implement constituency projects and programmes]

“Some MPs use preferred suppliers as ATM machines,” one CDO said.

“For example, my boss [MP] would give a list of constituents to collect hardware materials from the preferred supplier, and inside this list, there are ghost names, sometimes, names of his children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, etc. And, he would go and collect the cash equivalent of the listed material amounts, and also give the preferred supplier their cut.

“I’ve accompanied my boss [MP] on a few occasions to do this, he goes by himself other times.”

A constituent of one of the small constituencies, Mead [not her real name], shared her experience with a preferred supplier, which stood out to her as a symptom of corruption, but she could not openly express her disappointment to her MP for fear of being left out of little assistances she receives from him.

“I was given a $5,000 voucher for the constituency’s preferred supplier at Kukum. I had made a list of goods that I wanted to get, which I had estimated based on the shelf prices, totaling near $5,000.

“However, the preferred supplier after going through my list, reduced the items before giving them to me, saying my initial list had surpassed $5,000 worth of goods. He did not provide prices for each item.

“When we returned home and went through the items and the new list, we found out that they only totaled near $4,000 by estimate, according to prices of the same goods in other shops in Honiara. Which means that we have been cheated of $1,000.”

Management and staff of this particular shop declined to comment. The CDO of Mead’s constituency declined to comment.

During MP Tei’ifi’s speech in parliament on the matter, he noted that a contributing factor of government losing funds through the preferred supplier system is that the responsible ministry, MRD, channels 76 percent of constituency funds (CDF) through the preferred supplier agreement (PSA).

“I was puzzled and surprise to know that more than 76 percent of the CDF grant is disbursed through the Preferred Supplier Agreement or simply say to the hard wares for acquisition of hardware materials and goods.”

Tei’ifi suggested that government “seriously and quickly consider redirecting the use and accounting for CDF grants by developing a blue print and improving the CDF Act”.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told parliament when closing the sine die motion that he was ‘shocked’ to hear of Tei’ifi’s revelations implying some MPs and cronies benefiting out of government’s procurement system.

Mr Sogavare assured the nation then that he would ‘follow up’ on these allegations.

To date it is unclear whether he has actioned this promise.

‘NO MINING MACHINES THROUGH’

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Atori landowners make another bold stand against mining company landing at their seafront

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Atori landowners in East Malaita are once again making a stand to block a mining company’s machineries from landing on their shores.

Following a successful stand by Atori landowners early last month, the New Asia Mining Company has reportedly used a different tactic, which is to try and land their machineries few at a time and using passenger ships instead of its landing crafts.

As of yesterday evening, Atori landowners, having heard of this plan by the company, gathered at the seafront waiting for the company machineries.

MPA for ward 16, Preston Billy Faarobo, whose ward includes Atori, said they stand united not to allow any mining machineries to land at Atori.

Mr Faarobo said they had received reports that MV Gulatatae was heading to Atori with two machines onboard.

The machines, a landcruiser and a dump truck, reportedly belongs to New Asia Mining Company and were to be offloaded at Atori, he said.

“The vessel departed Honiara on Wednesday evening and expected to arrive at Atori today (yesterday) afternoon. Since today (yesterday), we gathered waiting for the vessel to arrive at Atori.

“We all agreed to only one resolution and that is to turn the vehicles back and not to allow them set foot on Atori shore. This is our message and its clear and simple as that.

“Further to that, we the landowners of Atori seafront are united against the mining company to access any of our seafront,” Faarobo said.

Meanwhile, landowners of areas in which the New Asia Mining company is purportedly planning mining operations have said that they are surprised and suspicious with just how fast the company attained a mining licence for their area.

The landowners of interior East Malaita have called on the ministry of Mines to explain to them. They have also made the same call on the company. To date, neither party has responded.

They said prospecting was just done in the first quarter of this year, and the way the process was “so fast that now reaches the operation stage” has dumbfounded them.

The landowners said they willing to partner for development, but only when every process is transparent and inclusive of their terms and conditions.

Corruption through a local lens

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0

Solomon Islanders are vulnerable to corruption practices due to poor living standard and lack of financial security.

This is according to interviews with Gizo residence in the Western Province of Solomon Islands.

Independent research carried out in February – March this year found that financial insecurity and poor living standard are two elements that encourage corruption to thrive in Solomon Islands.

A summary of the finding from the interviews describes reason why corruption is ingrained in all of the society in Solomon Islands.

Out of 20 people interviewed, 18 responded that people accept bribery for many reasons – the most common reason was poor financial security.

To get a clear understanding, let’s look at Solomon Islands as a country and the struggle people faced on a daily basis.   

Firstly, and for most, Solomon Islands is a country where access to employment is very difficult and people find themselves in very low paid jobs with no savings.

Money, they get from their salaries are not enough to meet basic needs such as water and electricity bills, school fees as well as family basic needs like clothes and healthy foods.

According to the latest data provided by Trading Economics, Solomon Islands standing on unemployment is at 1.8 percent.

Solomon Islands youth unemployment rate for 2021 was 1.93%, a 0.25% increase from 2020.

Secondly, poor standard of living is another factor that contributes to corruption practices. According to the interviewees, almost half of Solomon Islanders are living below or on the poverty line and this lures them to fall into corruption practices when there is opportunity.

When asked which corruption practices are common in Solomon Islands, all 20 interviewees agreed that bribery, diversion of public funds, nepotism and conflict of interest are common corruption practices popular in Solomon Islands.

Interviewees have different views on who or which institutions are most corrupt practitioners in Solomon Islands.

Sixteen out of 20 interviewees point at national leaders and those holding top offices as the most corrupt people while four respondents believe that corruption has permeated throughout the society.

An Anglican Priest who was among those interviewed, Rev Barclay Voze describes corruption as a virus that has invaded the lives of Solomon Islanders.

He says corruption thrives because people have disregarded their morals and values particularly their Christian upbringing which prohibits corruption.

“We call ourselves a Christian country but our action failed to reflect this notion. We have been pulled by demonic forces and I believe this is the reason why corruption is difficult to eradicate in our country.

“If we have the moral responsibility to serve our country and serve the God who we believe, there will be no corruption in country,” Voze commented.

Another interviewee, Leilani Makini shared similar sentiment saying that corruption manipulates the desires of people from money, wealth and power.

She blames leaders for turning a blind eye on corruption practices.

“There is high rate of unemployment, high number of school drop outs with limited work opportunities for those coming out from tertiary institutions.

“Our laws are also weak to fight corruption. Anti-corruption institutions in the country have limited provisions to carry out their duties, So, at the end of the day, corruption practitioner always get away without penalties.

“Corruption is a result of many factors, from poor financial security to poor living standard and it will continue to thrive unless leaders of this country address these issues,” Makini says.

Another interviewee, Ms Julie Misimake says power and money are the root cause of corruption in Solomon Islands.

She says most corruption practices always involve money in exchange for favor and power to the other party.

“Our country is shaped according to our culture and tradition where dominance is one of the elements of life in our society.

“To become dominance, those with higher class influenced the lower class through barter system in exchange of money or gift.

“This action comes tin the fore prior to national general election where intending candidates dish out huge amount of money to voter in echange for their votes,” Julie says.

The investigation also found there is confusion between corruption practices and culture and traditional moral obligations.

Not only that, lack of legislation to prosecute corruption practices also played a pivotal role to management breakdown.

According to a lawyer, government top officials especially Permanent Secretaries and Members of Parliament are immune to law as there is no legislation specify provisions to directly hold the officials accountable.

The lawyer also mentioned that very limited cases of corruption ended up in court but in most cases the accused always find leverage to walk free due to poor legislation.

Solomon Islands is ranked 77 and score 42 in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in 2022.

According to CPI perception researchers, Solomon Islands fell one point compared to 2021 – in other words, the perception of corruption practices worsened in 2022.

However, there are questions as to why Solomon Islands lost one point and spiraling downward at the CPI index record.

Interview respondents agreed that corruption exists in both public and private sector.

What is corruption in a Solomon Islands Context

There is no clear definition of what is corruption in Solomon Islands. This is because Solomon Islands has deep respect for its culture and tradition where practice of giving is described as goodwill and not corruption.

In the eyes of Solomon Islands culture and tradition, the act of giving or conflict of interest are not criminal offense.

Anti-corruption Institutions

Anti-corruption institutions in Solomon Islands are mere agent of the state – they exist under the law but lack power to carry out their duties.

These anti-corruption institutions Ombudsman Office, Office of the Auditor General, Attorney General Office Transparency Solomon Islands are like “dogs without teeth”.

It is obvious that the media so as other NGOs do exposes corruption practices however, these anti-corruption institutions including the local police fail to investigate those who are involved in corruption practices.

Worst still, reports compiled by these anti-corruption institutions means nothing as there is no law to deal with corruption practices.

In conclusion, corruption is not negotiable in a country like Solomon Islands where standard of living is very expensive and life expectancy is rated highest in the world.

– BY BEN BILUA, for anti-corruption story grant.

G-Province steps up preparation for 2nd appointed day

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0

BY NED GAGAHE

Guadalcanal Province is stepping up preparation to host its 2nd appointed day on August 1, 2023 with the endorsement of a committee to lead the preparation work.

In a statement this week GP media says the hosting venue is yet to be confirmed, however, Chairman of the Committee has been identified.

He is Mr. Joseph Sua, the province’s new Deputy Secretary.

“Our 2nd Appointed Day Committee is in full swing with fundraising ideas and preparation stages.

“The venue is yet to be confirmed.

“The 2nd Appointed Day Committee is endorsed and approved by the GP Executive Government.

“Members are selected based on willingness to perform extra commitments, creative and innovative ideas, and services to the people of Guadalcanal.” GP media said in a statement.

Suidani’s lawyer to make application to recuse presiding judge

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Former Malaita premier Daniel Suidani’s legal team is turning its eyes on the presiding judge on their case against the Solomon Star and veteran journalist Alfred Sasako.

Suidani’s lawyer, Ms Lily Ramo, is intending to make an application to recuse the current presiding judge on the Suidani v Sasako lawsuit.

Daniel Suidani sued Solomon Star and Alfred Sasako for publications that served as evidence of false, malicious, and defamatory publications against Suidani.

The case was mentioned in court and was adjourned to June 27 2023 for the hearing of the application.

According to Mr. Suidani, the numerous reports he saw in the Solomon Star’s publication weren’t due to errors or oversights on the part of the newspaper’s staff or veteran reporter Mr. Sasako; rather, they were an example of the newspaper’s and Mr. Sasako’s reckless behavior over a period of months in an effort to damage Mr. Suidani’s good name among his supporters in Malaita and the Solomon Islands as well the world.

Mr. Suidani says that Solomon Star and Mr. Sasako will be forced to produce evidence of the truth of what they reported in several print newspaper publications and on Solomon Star’s online website to the Court and for the public to see.

Intensive dialogue continues at 5th PIF-Japan meeting on Fukushima wastewater

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Photo: IAEA task force members during a site visit to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station to conduct a comprehensive review mission regarding the planned discharge of ALPS treated water. Image credit: TEPCO

Forum experts will meet with the IAEA in virtual mode in early June, to discuss the planned discharge of treated nuclear wastewater from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean.

The session with the International Atomic Energy Agency experts comes after Pacific Islands Forum and Japan scientific experts met for a fifth time on June 1, 2023 to further discuss a number of technical issues.

This meeting follows their fourth meeting held April 14, 2023, and in pursuit of a clearer understanding on the data and information, and thereby on matters related to the safety or otherwise to Pacific Island states of Japan’s proposed plans.

The fifth meeting was co-chaired by PIF Acting Secretary General, Dr Filimon Manoni, and Mr Shinichi Sato, Director of the International Nuclear Energy Cooperation Division of the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Acting SG Manoni recalled and emphasised the assurance by Prime Minister Kishida that Japan will not discharge the ALPS treated nuclear wastewater until such time that that it is verifiably safe to do so and based on a relationship built of trust and in the spirit of friendship.

Intensive scientific dialogue will continue next week when PIF experts meet a second time with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts, following a first meeting on 20 April 2023.

Further, an Informal Working Group of Forum Members are looking at international legal issues related to the proposed plans.

These include identification of relevant international legal treaties and instruments, and assessment of related rules and mechanisms, noting the transboundary and intergenerational issues related to the ocean, environment, health, and human rights.

In a high-level face to face meeting between the Forum Chair, the Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at an initial meeting in Tokyo on February 7, 2023, concerns over urgent sharing of scientific information and progressing political dialogue were raised.

They agreed on further intensive dialogue at the scientific and political level, affirming the need for facilitated exchange of information and dialogue between Japan and PIF experts, and the importance of science and data to guide the political decision on the discharge.

At the Special Leaders Retreat on 24 February 2023, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders “recalled their strong concerns for the significance of the potential threat of nuclear contamination to the health and security of the Blue Pacific, its people and prospects, and reaffirmed the importance of ensuring international consultation, international law, and independent and verifiable scientific assessments as per the PALM9 Declaration”.

The PIF Panel of Independent Scientific Experts continue to support Forum Members with independent scientific assessments of data and information provided by Japan on its plans to discharge over a million tonnes of nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean over the next four decades.

As articulated at the First Rarotonga Treaty States Parties Meeting held 15 December 2020, Forum Members “urge[d] Japan to take all steps necessary to address any potential harm to the Pacific” and “to take all appropriate measures within their territory, jurisdiction or control to prevent significant transboundary harm to the territory of another state, as required under international law”.

–PIF PRESS

Arnon Atomea Scaling Up to ICT – Linking Education Opportunities to Northern Region Youths

    Written by
    Ofani Eremae
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    0

    The Arnon Atomea provincial secondary school in Malu’u, Malaita province, is now expanding into information and communication technology (ICT), giving young people in the northern region a chance to pursue their educational goals.

    For many years, when it comes to educational prospects, young people from Malu’u, Lau/Mbaelelea constituency, and even Baegu/Asifola constituency have long traveled to Honiara. It’s because Honiara serves as the hub for several training institutions, including USP and the Solomon Islands National University.

    Such a movement is linked to numerous difficulties facing young people and the guidance. For instance, knowing that the cost of living in Honiara is too high has become a hardship for them in terms of their living expenses and social welfare. 

    As a result, Arnon Atomea school is stepping up to address this issue by creating an ICT hub and inviting USP and the Solomon Islands National University to establish at the school so that young people in the northern region can have access to the same opportunities centralized in Honiara.

    As of right now, the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, Malaita Province and Solomon Islands National University, all support the school by providing WIFI, satellite discs, and three computer labs. With 10 students, the Arnon Atomea started the first-ever form seven arts this year, and form seven science will be the next soon. It is run by the University of the South Pacific Solomon Islands campus.

    Additionally, enrollment in the Distant Flexible Learning (DFL) program offered by the Solomon Islands National University at the Arnon Atomea provincial secondary school is growing. Now, young people in Malu’u and across northern region will share the same opportunities of education, trainings, and employment available in Honiara.

    The principal of Arnon Atomea school, Henry Bare, stated that the achievements and opportunities provided by the Arnon Atomea provincial secondary school in Malu’u are commendable and have the potential to have a significant impact on the educational prospects of young people in Malaita province’s northern region.

    He added, by expanding into information and communication technology (ICT) and establishing partnerships with institutions such as the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Solomon Islands National University, the school is bringing much-needed educational opportunities closer to home, addressing the challenges faced by young people who had to travel to Honiara for further education and training.

    “These achievements and opportunities are transformative for young people in Malu’u and the northern region. It offers a chance to pursue their educational goals without the burden of significant expenses and geographical barriers.”

    “This initiative has the potential to positively impact the lives of individuals, families, and the community as a whole, by creating a more accessible and inclusive educational environment.”

    Mr Bare further explained saying the goal behind bringing these opportunities to the remote level, is to address the educational limitations and difficulties faced by young people in the northern region, particularly in Malu’u and surrounding constituencies.

    According to Nason Nunufia, a youth club leader at Raubabate community in Malu’u, said Arnon Atomea provincial secondary school’s collaboration with these institutions is truly a milestone for not only the young people in Malu’u, but also for the northern region as a whole.

    He adds that such collaboration will provides the opportunity and change for young people to showcase their potential and abilities to pursue further academic as well as skill-set trainings, and it helps reduce parental costs, especially with relatives living in Auki and in Honiara,” he said.

    “I strongly believe as a youth, it will provide maximum benefit in terms of student research as well as access to other programs at USP, SINU and even other online programs available. Given this opportunity at our door step would be truly a blessing to our region,” Nason said.

    Arnon Atomea is a provincial secondary school under the Malaita Education Authority. The school was established by the late Arnon Atomea of Manakwai village, who was also the first Reverend of the South Sea Evangelical Church in the Solomon Islands.

    The school was established with a vision to ensure all school-age children are enrolled and given the education they need to live independently in a setting where learning takes place in a secure, welcoming, stimulating, and joyful environment.

    Furthermore, they envision that their communities taking an active role in the school’s development in physical, spiritual, and social, and through the upskilling of teachers and the Board of Management, the school acting as a catalyst for healthy community growth.

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