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SolAir and AirVan fly closer together

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Air Vanuatu CEO Joseph Laloyer (left) and Solomon Airlines CEO Gus Kraus. Photo credit - Solomon Airlines PR Team.

Solomon Airlines CEO Mr Gus Kraus met with newly appointed CEO of Air Vanuatu Mr Joseph Laloyer in Port Vila last weekend for two days of discussions to further their Melanesian ties and discuss greater cooperation between the national carriers.

“Joseph is not new to the post of CEO for Air Vanuatu and whilst he has only just returned to that office, we had very useful discussions. It was also a great pleasure to meet in person again, with a dear friend and stalwart in the airline industry,” said Kraus.

“Solomon Airlines and Air Vanuatu are neighbour national carriers, with similar responsibilities, aspirations, fleet size and workforces. It makes sense for us to work together.

“This is our first round of discussions, and we will meet again in the near future to map out our longer-term joint aims and to progress to a planned MOU,” he said.

CEO of Air Vanuatu Joseph Laloyer confirmed that in the interim, and subject to approvals by CAAV, Solomon Airlines would provide support pilots for the airline’s domestic fleet.

“In terms of immediate assistance Solomon Airlines has agreed to help tide us over as we seek to employ pilots to fly our Twin Otter aircraft.

“The shortage of pilots is an urgent priority for us, as it is affecting our domestic services.

“We thank Solomon Airlines and look forward to that assistance which is planned by the end of this month,” he added.

Kraus and Laloyer also fully supported the position of ASPA (Association of South Pacific Airlines) that regional airline co-operation is key to regional economic gain and to meeting industry challenges ahead. The airline leaders also paid tribute to Mr George Faktaufon, Secretary General of ASPA.

“As George prepares for his retirement, we wish him well and thank him sincerely for his

leadership, and significant contribution to aviation development in the Pacific region, for over 30 years.”

–SOLAIR PRESS

SUPPORT FOR CARBON TRADE

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Former Malaita Premier, Daniel Suidani

MARA backs USAID project

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE Suidani-led MARA government is supporting the USAID SCALE project – carbon trading.

Speaking when delivering his budget speech yesterday, Premier Daniel Suidani said the country has been operating under an exploitative and extractive development modality.

“A development mode in which forests are harvested through logging and huge portions of the forests are cleared for monoculture in the form of coconut and coca plantations,” Suidani said.

He added it’s time to move away from these very destructive development modalities and seize opportunities for new emerging markets.

Suidani said USAID SCALE project has given communities the opportunity to participate in carbon trading and payment for ecosystem use of their forest and water resources.

“Many of us surely are yet to fully understand and appreciate the full extent of this new development approaches of the new millennium.

“Where these are international markets for the trading of carbon and the conservation of our forests.

“Where international firms that participate in this trade are able to buy off our carbon while we continue to participate in conserving our forests.

“Similarly, where our rivers and streams can be conserved while our communities get paid for not destroying our water catchment areas.

“Where we can also grow our economy while our resources in the form of forests, rivers, streams and seas are conserved,” he said.

Isabel chiefs call for changes in postings

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

TWO chiefs at Sepi village, Isabel Province, have urged police authorities in Honiara to change the posting of officers in the province.

Richard Teopuhi and Hellen Riogano claimed police in Isabel never visited their community the whole of last year even-though requests were made to attend to law and order issues.

“We are really disappointed with police in Buala for failing to attend to our requests to come and resolves law and order issues in our community.

“We do report the matters to the police because it is beyond our control and we need police officers to step in, but Buala Police never act on our requests.

“We call on Commissioner Mangau to remove the officers in Buala and post them elsewhere.

“They are doing a disservice to the people of Isabel,” the two chiefs told Island Sun.

Furthermore, chief Teopuhi said they even went to Buala to report and discuss with the officers about the issues in their community but not at any time police officers arrive at their shores to follow-up with the matters that were reported to them.

He said they need police to work together with the chiefs if law and order issues are to be resolved according to the law.

Meanwhile, chief Riogano said the police’s lack of response shows they are incapable of serving the people of Isabel.

She said officers in Isabel are not doing their job and what they are mandated to do.

She strongly calls on the police commissioner to quickly take action and post out the officers to other provinces.

Riogano said recently they have reported issues of malicious damage, brewing kwaso, larceny, assaults and wounding incidents but officers in Buala never take note and attended to the reports.

“I even went personally to Buala station to follow-up on our cases, but the officers there were ignorant or simply lazy.

“This is why I want the police commissioner to take action and replace these officers at Buala.”

Comments are being sought from Buala police.

Japan to expand support in fisheries.

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Japans Ambassador to Solomon Islands Yoshiaki Miwa.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

JAPAN says it looks forward to expanding its support in the sector of fisheries in Solomon Islands.

Its ambassador, Miwa Yoshiaki, highlighted this at a fisheries seminar in Honiara last week.

Yoshiaki said during his reign here, his office will be looking at enhancing and integrating development in the areas of Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry.

“On the fishery scope it is narrowed on the coastline but now I am expanding it to the blue sea and so, the Blue economy is very important,” Yoshiaki said.

“Hence on the view point of our diplomacy blue economy is very important, it also means that we regard marine, maritime resources and marine activities international commodities,” he added.

“So we sincerely hope our cooperation will start and grow in this particular area.”

Director of Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Edward Honiwala said the cooperation between Japan and Solomon Islands in the Fisheries Sector started in 1970s, mainly in Tuna fisheries.

Honiwala said recently Japan through its organisations like Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation of Japan (OFCF), have engage with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources on community-based Fisheries Resources Management, Research and Livelihood support programs.

“Under this program, we work in partnership with communities to sustainably develop and manage their coastal marine resources,” he said.

Honiwala adds that coastal fisheries is vital to the people of the Solomon Islands because about 80 percent of our population rely on marine resources for food security and other social and economic benefits.

“The ministry wants to see this partnership and cooperation, contributes significantly to the development of the Fisheries sector in the country, as well as supporting our communities in food security and their livelihood,” he said.

 

WASTE OF MONEY

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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National and provincial government officials with women of Sepi at the launch of their fisheries project last June.

Gov’t funded project failed two months after its launch

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

This fisheries project (pictured) brought smiles to the women of Sepi in Isabel Province when it was launched June last year.

Government provided $76,372 for the project, which it dubbed “Sepi Women Fisheries Initiative”.

But just two months after its launch, the project collapsed and is no more.

The benefits it promised to bring to the lives of the women of Sepi disappeared with it.

Island Sun was invited to cover the project at its launch last June.

When the paper visited the project site again last week to see how it’s been going, we were told by women of the village the project is no longer in operation.

“It failed just two months after the launching ceremony,” one village woman told the Island Sun.

“We only operate for about two months in July and August. Since then, nothing happens here,” she added.

“The deep freezers that were supposed to store fish are now used for cooling drinking water.

“The many ideas and promises made that the project will benefit the women in the village were nothing but lies.

“The women never worked together to sustain and keep the project going.”

The Sepi Women Fishery Initiative project was ssupported by the National Government, through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI).

It aims to improve the quality and supply of fresh fish and other marine products to Honiara and other market outlets around the country.

The initiative was tailored under the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Programme and geared towards supporting downstream processing and value adding to fish and other marine products.

Deputy Secretary Technical for Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration Eric George said at the launching last year that the newly launched fisheries project will create partnership between the provincial government, the national government and Sepi village and the nearby villages.

“We believe this project will bring rural cash flow and you will be self-reliance meaning you will no longer depend on anyone,” Eric said then.

“We often think women do not have ability and competence to participate income generating but these women have proved us wronged and turned things around.

“We applaud Sepi women for this milestone achievement.”

Sepi village is located in Gao-Bugotu Constituency.

Samuel Manetoali is the MP for the constituency.

Mala direct employees get their covid-19 allowances

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MORE than a hundred direct employees who served in last year’s covid-19 programme in Malaita province received their due covid-19 allowances on Wednesday this week.

They form part of seconded staffs and casual workers in the province who had served in the covid-19 campaign, and continue to receive their allowances.

In a statement from the direct employees, they thank MHMS for facilitating the payment that was delayed for more than half a year.

They said the payment received was part of their first submission which covered their involvement in the campaign from January – March 2022.

They said their second submission which is yet to be paid is from April – June 2022 to complete their allowance payment for the covid-19 programme.

However, they said although they are happy to receive their allowances, there are number of concerns that need clarifications on their payment package.

  • Why staffs performed similar duty and days of work, but paid different amounts of allowances
  • Why not paid with SBD$300 and SBD$350 standard covid-19 allowance rate
  • Why some paid with the standard rate whilst others paid with only SBD$150 rate
  • Some staffs worked only in green zones (not high risk) and received high allowances more than those worked in red zones (high risks)

Director of Malaita provincial health, who also the chairman of Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for covid-19 in Malaita, Dr Rex Maukera explained that payment is mainly done upon number of days staffs had worked.

Saying his office depends on reports from supervisors.

Having said this, he said the ministry of health (MHMS) can offer the workers answers to their questions.

SIG scholarship results to be released before end of Jan

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Deputy Secretary MEHRD James Bosamata

BY NED GAGAHE

Government scholarship results 2023 will be published before the end of this month.

This is according to the acting permanent secretary of the ministry of education and human resources development (MEHRD) James Bosamata.

Bosamata revealed this when asked in a media conference yesterday.

He said he had received an update from Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA), which is responsible for the scholarship programme, confirming that the result will be ready before the end of January.

“Most institution will open in January or early February the scholarship is under SITESA, however, I have received an update this morning (Yesterday) that they are also working very hard to release the scholarship names for the recipients of Solomon Islands Government (SIG) sponsored students this month before the end of the month.”

SIG Scholarship online application opened on October 14, 2022 and closed November 30, 2022.

Education to probe missing school results

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) Mr James Bosamata .

BY NED GAGAHE

The education ministry (MEHRD) will investigate why some schools are missing in this year’s form-one placement results.

The form-one placements (or grade-six results) were released this week by MEHRD, but some schools were reported missing.

Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) Mr James Bosamata they will probe this matter ‘as soon as practical’.

Bosamata confirmed that they are aware of the issue and officials at MEHRD have been directed to look into the matter and resolve it as soon as possible

“That was true, some schools might not in the list, the work on the year six (grade 6) for placement into year seven (form 1) is very challenging for us,” Bosamata said.

Basamata said the task involves a lot of processes and collaboration between schools, education authorities and MEHRD which relevant documents are transferred and processed before actual placement is made.

He said along these process things might go wrong which has resulted to the missing schools.

Bosamata assured affected schools and individuals to they are currently working on it and will resolve accordingly before the academic year begins on January 23.

“During these process documents might go missing.

“At the moment we are get in touch with the education authorities why those schools did not appear.

“So that we ensure placement of the schools appear.

“It’s not too very late, we have two weeks more to go. In fact, we’ve already contacted the schools concerned through their education authorities why their documents have gone missing.

“Hopefully in the next two weeks we will rectify that and ensure that it will appear and published,” Bosamata said.

DELAYED SCHOOL RESULTS

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Deputy Secretary MEHRD James Bosamata

November 7.3 earthquake blamed

BY NED GAGAHE

Placement results for forms four, six and seven will be delayed, the education ministry (MEHRD) has announced.

The huge 7.3 earthquake in November last year is the main cause.

Speaking at a media conference yesterday, Acting Permanent Secretary of MEHRD James Bosamata said the cause of the delay was due to the late administration of all the exams in November last year and the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that forced MEHRD to cancel work on results for almost three weeks which he said is beyond their control.

Bosamata said no date has been promised yet as to when the results will be released, but it could be after January 23 when all schools begin the academic year.

He also confirmed that marking was completed yesterday and clarified that marking is just one part of the process.

He said despite completion of marking, other underlying tasks and steps of the process are yet to be completed which leads to the delay.

Bosamata calls on parents to be patient and as ‘MEHRD is working hard and doing everything to ensure results are released soon as possible’.

Bosamata urged parents, guardians and fee payers to ‘get prepared and plan ahead before school starts and not to wait until the last-minute when results come out’.

“In fact, by the look of things will delay further but our staff are working really hard to complete the task but will inform the public about the possible dates for the release of those results.

“In fact, the year 2022 was a challenging year for all of us, for us at the Education Sector there is no exception that also affected us, our work. You know it’s a global pandemic.

“The impacts were hugely felt in the Education Sector and really affected our work. For example, the late administration of the exams.

“Despite the late released of the exam results but the start of the academic year will still remain as it is on the 23 January.

“We remained firm that schools will open on that date.”

Bosamata urged all schools, (Primary, Secondary and ECE) to return on that date.

He said forms one (result already out), two, three, five will commence classes on January 23.

“Forms four, six and seven will wait until the placement results are released,” Bosamata said.

MPCW  to kick off programmes for 2023

Written by
Samie Waikori
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0
President of Malaita Provincial Alliance (MPA) who also the President of Malaita Provincial Council of Women (MPCW), Ms Martha Rurai.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MALAITA Provincial Council of Women (MPCW) is set to kick start its programmes for 2023.

President Martha Rurai said yesterday this includes ongoing projects as well as new ones which centre on Gender Based Violence (GBV). 

“This year, we are heading for GBV and human trafficking project that will be funded by International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for selected communities in the province.

“It will be a six months project and communities to work with are Waisisi, Kware and Rufoki. These communities were selected based on experienced they encountered on the issue,” she said.

Rurai said the projects include counselling for victims of GBV and trafficking, followed by trainings for communities.

She said people to carry out counselling and trainings are specialists provided by IOM. IOM is one of the UN agencies supporting civil society groups and organisations on areas of migration and trafficking.

Rurai said still under the project, IOM will liaise through National Council of Women on infrastructure set-ups like counselling space and accommodation for Malaita province.   

The president adds that this year, Oxfam through MPCW will resume work with 10 communities they worked with in five wards in the province on Safe Family project.

She said the project focused mainly on GBV and communities they have been working with were two each from wards one, two, three, 28 and 29 in the province.

Rurai however said that based on their findings last year, they will be adjusting communities they worked with based on their participation in the project.

She said they will look only at communities are willing to take on the project.   

Moreover, Rurai said the UNDP Women Outstanding program will also happen this year.

She said the program will be funded by UNDP where programmes will support women within wards affiliate to MPCW in the province. 

Rurai said under the programme, they will liaise with women in the communities and work on areas they will come-up with to be supported.

She said the support will be to try and address issues face by women in the communities. 

Rurai said the program supposed to begin last year and trainings, but not eventuated and they hope for this year as per its rescheduling.

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