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15 babies born on New Year’s Day

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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The National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

FIFTEEN babies were born on New Year ’s Day at the labour ward, National Referral Hospital

This was confirmed by Delight Oloifana, nurse in charge for labour ward, National Referral Hospital on January 2.

“During first day of the new year 15 babies were born. Of the 15 eight are males and seven female,” Oloifana said.

Last year 11 babies were born on New Year, 2022. Of the 11, nine were males and two female. In 2021 more babies were born compared to 2022.

This year the number of newborn babies at the NRH is increasing again.

New Year’s Day

BIG CHALLENGE

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Governor General Sir David Vunagi

Growing unemployment must be urgently addressed, says Vunagi

By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNOR General Sir David Vunagi has highlighted the need to address the growing unemployment in the country.

This comes after university graduates and school drop outs could not find any jobs in both public and private sectors.

Delivering his New Year’s message on the 1st of January 2023, Sir David said it is obvious there is no quick solutions to this problem.

He said the seasonal mobility schemes in Australia and New Zealand may assist to alleviate the situations, but not the panacea.

Sir David said maybe the graduates and schools should try to create job opportunities and not merely waiting around to be employed.

Furthermore, he said Solomon Islands is abundantly rich in resources, which are divine gifts for us to use and enjoy.

“In view of that, universities, schools and training centres need to review the curriculum they offer to the students.

“The status quo for schools and university to prepare their students for white collar jobs or even blue-collar jobs is no longer true,” he said.

Sir David said very often students graduated with theory and academia, something very abstract but lacking economic strategy.

“I believe economic strategy is a missing link that needs to be incorporated into the schools’ curriculum.

“The economic strategy should instill in students what is available to them after graduations, including what financial facility is available to help them create jobs,” he said.

Further to that, Sir David said students must be encouraged to exercise resilience and the freedom of taking risks to pursue tasks to create jobs.

He said it is the morale responsibility of the nation to see these things available for newly graduating students from our universities, schools and training centres.

Moreover, he said it’s been a practice that school levers drift to urban centres in search for job opportunities.

However, he said constituencies that make up the nine provinces are resource owners.

“That said, provincial governments are indirectly resource owners, so they should engage in economic activities to provide job opportunities for their working age populations in their provinces.

“Let us not put all the eggs in the national basket,” he said.

Sir David said after 44 years of Independence, we should now be able to define the manpower needs of this country.

He said in the pre-independence era, scholarships were offered to successful candidates who would occupy jobs that are available to them when they graduated from universities.

However, he said that is not happening now because we are offering scholarships to students that do not have jobs to come back to.

“In view of that, we must establish a general conscious plan for training where our human resources development can take us to.

“It is only those who do not know where they are going, can afford to travel without a map,” he said.

Communities undergo conservation training

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Participants during the training session at the Western Provincial Council of women conference room in Gizo.

BY BEN BILUA

TEN communities in Western Province successfully completed a series of Rangers training earlier this month.

Representatives from Kolombangara Island, Munda, Rannonga Island, Simbo Island, Vella la vella Island and Gizo Island were part of the training.

The training was carried out by Solomon Islands Rangers in partnership with WWF-Pacific (Solomon Islands) staff.

Topics covered during the training include;

  1. Rangers’ effective communication and issue handlings in protected areas.
  2. Developing good mindset, and how to conduct a meeting that really works at the community.
  3. Equipment handling and caring.
  4. Field data management
  5. Principles of fundraisings
  6. Fundraising strategy for sustainability and
  7. Simple project proposal development for communities.

Solomon Islands Rangers Program Manager, Eddie Huitarau said the training aimed at equipping rangers to professionally handle and mange any issues that may take place within the community management area.

“The training is looking at developing excellent mindsets and behaviors in relation to management area.

“It enable rangers to conduct meetings and programs that they see fit in the community to promote an awareness and understanding of the benefits of management areas provide to communities,” he said.

Huitarau the training is very important to make sure conservation groups understand the requirements so that standing procedures are aligned with the national legislation and policies.

He said most conservation groups are tribally owned and accessing funds to anticipate transformation.

One of the participants Rinda Melsen acknowledged the training saying that enhancing the capacity of local rangers is paramount going forward.

She said knowledge obtained from the training is a huge bonus for her community to better improve conservation activities.

Secretary of Vitu Tribal Association, Varina Toribule said building a foundation with sound knowledge matters to rangers to carry out their duties.

She said the training has established confident among ranger to carry out their duties with perfection.

Mr Dickson Taniveke of Uriapo Tribe Conservation thanked the facilitators for the sessions on Rangers’ effective communication and issue handlings in protected areas.

Participants were given certificates after completing the three days training.

The training was proudly funded by WWF-Netherland.

COURT ANNULS ‘GUILTY PLEA’

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Magistrate says it’s a ‘not guilty’ case

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

CHIEF Magistrate Emma Garo has reversed the guilty plea of a defendant, Happy Christmas, to a plea of NOT guilty after the defence lawyer submitted his client acted in “self-defence”.

This is the case of Happy Christmas who was charged for one count of grievous harm in relation to an incident occurred on November 22 2022.

CM Garo in her ruling yesterday emphasizes that from the agreed facts, the submissions put forward by the defence lawyer Tracy Aisa and the failure by the prosecution to dispute the version of events by the prosecution to dispute the version of events as put forward by Ms Aisa, self defence is being raised as a mitigating factor.

“I have a duty to not proceed to sentence, I vacate the guilty plea entered, I enter a not guilty plea. I must hear the evidence, to determine whether or not self-defence, is available to the defendant”, Ms Garo said.

She therefore listed the matter for trial on January 9 to 13 2023 and will be conducted via zoom in which all witnesses will give evidence through zoom from Gizo.

The defence lawyer Tracy Aisa submissions on sentence argued that the complainant challenged the defendant for a fight three times and was armed with weapons.

She argued that the injuries inflicted on the complainant by the defendant, were inflicted as a result of trying to defend him, from being injured by the complainant.

Mr Fanasia submitted that the defendant threw a stone at the complainant, and not dispute the version put forward by Ms Aisa in her submission.

The allegation said that the defendant Christmas had an affair with the wife of the complainant since 2021 and between November 1 and November 22 2022, they ran away and lived at an Island in the Western Province Vasavasara for about two weeks.

On November 22 2022, the complainant went to Vasavasara Island to look for his wife.

The defendant seeing the complainant approaching the tent he lived in on the Island, told the complaint’s wife to run and hide in the nearby bush and then he waited for the complainant.

At that time the complainant approached the defendant armed with a bush knife and a chain, the defendant told the complainant to go back and threw a stone at the complainant, the complainant missed the stone and it was at that time they started fighting each other.

It was further alleged that the complainant was armed with a knife and a chain while the defendant armed with a knife.

They both ran towards each other and swung their knives at each other. The defendant’s knife landed on the complainant’s right deltoid/shoulder.

The defendant again struck the complaint, the knife landed on the right wrist of the complaint. The complainant also sustained injuries to his lower abdomen and lips.

When the defendant saw that the complainant was covered with blood and was helpless, the defendant escaped.

The complaint’s wife heard someone crying in agony came out from where she was hiding and saw it was the complainant, she then assisted him to the clinic.

The matter was then reported to the police in which the defendant is arrested for the offence committed.

Public Prosecutor Paul Fanasia appears for the crown while Tracy Aisa of the Public Solicitor’s represents the defendant.

MFAET to launch foreign policy 2023

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs and External Trade will launch Solomon Islands foreign policy during the course of 2023.

Currently, there is a draft policy on the country’s foreign policy in place.

Minister of MFAET, Jeremiah Manele told the sine die motion in Parliament last week that his Ministry will undertake consultations with all line ministries during the first quarter of 2023.

“It is our hope the final document or policy will be ready before August 2023.

“We intent to have a foreign policy with phase and power to advance Solomon Islands vital and core interests,” he said.

Further to that, Manele said the foreign policy is to guide and boost the full potential of the country.

“And this policy will no doubt take into account the ongoing competition for influence in our region or geo politics,” he said.

Moreover, Manele said the Government sees the geopolitical competition for influence in the region and elsewhere, both as a challenge and opportunity.

“It is not new.

“I don’t think it is matter that is haunting us,” he said.

“I believe it is a matter that we should see, though it is a challenge, but there are also opportunities.

“And Forum leaders have come to see geo politics in the region both as a challenge and as an opportunity,” he added.

West’s election of Speaker Tuesday next week

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Provincial Assembly Hon Speaker Adrian Sinabule Gina

THE election of the Speaker for Western Province has been rescheduled to Tuesday January 3, 2023.

Speaker of Western Province Adrian S Gina made the confirmation on Wednesday December 28.

He said the changes are due to public holidays lining up during this festive season until next week.

Gina said nominations for speaker was opened on Wednesday and will close on Friday – two clear days in accordance to Western Province’s standing orders.

“As I’ve alluded during my opening statement, the changes on the previous timeline was due to public holidays which are beyond our control.

“We cannot do business during public holidays as it against our standing orders,” he explained.

Gina adds that nomination for the premier’s position will follow.

“The Assembly and new Speaker will give two days for nomination of Premier, Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th.

“By Friday 6th election for the Premier’s post will be carried out.

“We anticipate that over the weekend which is on 7th and 8th, the Premier will appoint his executive and by Monday 9th the new government will be announced.

“On the 13th of January 2023, the new Speaker will give a seven days’ notice for the Assembly Meeting,” he said.

Gina said the meeting is purposely to appoint the Provincial Public Accounts Committee (PPAC) so that member of the PPAC can immediately look into the revised budget 2022/2023.

He said other seven days’ notice will be issued on 13th for the Assembly to scrutinize the 2022/2023 revised budget.

“It will be a tight timeline considering that we need to approve the Appropriate Budget 2022/2023 before the end of January.

“This is important because we need our province’s business and operations start immediately for the betterment of our province and people,” Gina said.

Island Sun understands that one nomination has been submitted to the Clerk’s office.

The nomination is from one of the camps and it is likely that another nomination will be submitted before the closer of nomination period from the other camp.

HIGH DEMAND

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Jeremiah Manele

Seasonal work applications expected to hit 16k next year

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs and External Trade expects to receive around 16,000 applications when the recruitment for seasonal workers programme opens in first quarter, next year.

Minister of MFAET, Jeremiah Manele confirmed this during his contribution in the sine die motion in Parliament, last week.

He said the last recruitment was on August 2021 and that time received 8000 applications.

“We expect the numbers to double,” he said.

Manele said his ministry will inform the public on the date so that those whose interested can apply.

Currently there are 5,000 Solomon Islanders currently working under the seasonal labour programme in Australia and New Zealand – 4,500 in Australia, 500 in New Zealand.

Furthermore, Manele said the ministry is working in collaboration with other ministries and agencies to reduce the costs of health checks.

“For example, medical clearance is now down from $1500 to $1000,” he said.

He said they will continue to work with other stakeholders to explore the possibility of further reducing the costs of people applying for seasonal work.

“We will also explore ways to reduce banking costs,” he added.

Looking beyond 2023, Manele said they are looking forward to get half of the Pacific labour markets and also explore opportunities beyond the Pacific, especially countries like Canada and United Arab Emirates.

Responding to calls by the Opposition to look at returning workers, Manele said his ministry has heard the call to do more on returning workers and will look on that.

Auga lauds government for supporting Lau-Mbaelelea

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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MP for Lau Mbaelelea, Augustine Maue Auga

BY NED GAGAHE

MEMBER of Parliament for Lau/Mbaelelea Augustine Auga Maeue has applauded the national government for continuing to support his constituency.

He said this support continues despite Lau-Mbaelelea being one of the largest constituencies in the country.

“Despite being among the largest constituencies in the Solomon Islands, the national government continues to support it through various development fronts especially in road construction, bridges and other sectors over the years.

“Mr Speaker, I thank the national government for the support to Lau Mbaelelea over the years. The constituency is one of the largest in the country in terms of population and boundary.

“The constituency has over 30,000 people, it comprises those who speaks Lau, Mbaelelea, Baegu and To’obaita dialects. It consists of four electoral wards. Ward six in west Mbaelelea, ward nine bordering North Malaita, ward 10 east Mbaelelea and ward 12 Lau Lagoon.

“Since coming into this government in 2014 one of the flagships is the road development from West Mbaelelea to east Mbaelelea. We are still continuing on despite financial constraint. Since then, there is no financial support received from the government through MID.

“This year 2023 we very lucky our name is in the 2023 budget, we received potion of funding for the roads. I highly commended the MID for what they have offered.”

Auga said the road is half way through and they hope to complete it in 2023.

“I will be committed to ensure that this road must be completed.

“The MID fundings are available to those that meets the requirement before accessing these fundings.

“Mr Speaker I always prepare to continue the same cooperation in 2023,” Auga said.

SI ready to support US embassy return

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands stands ready to support the United States’ efforts to establish her Embassy in Honiara.

This is after USA showed commitment to re-establish its embassy here, after downgraded it to a consulate in 1993.

The 1993 downgrading had left Solomon Islands to rely on the US Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele confirmed this during his sine die motion speech in Parliament last week.

Apart from that, he said Australia will soon be constructing a bigger Chancery at Lengakiki.

Mr Manele said Australia’s old Chancery will be handed back to his Ministry to meet our host country’s obligations with our multilateral institutions.

International media reports that USA and Australia efforts to boost their presence in Solomon Islands come about due to of China’s presence in the country and influence in the Pacific.

Auga: MAL committed to resolve West Kwaio cattle project in 2023

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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MP for Lau Mbaelelea, Augustine Maue Auga

BY NED GAGAHE

Issues surrounding the failure of government-run Gono Kukufo cattle project at Mao’a, West Kwaio, Malaita will be sorted in early 2023.

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) and Member of Parliament (MP) for Lau/Mbaelelea Constituency, Augustine Auga said this when contributing in Parliament.

Auga highlighted this after MP for West Kwaio Claudius Tei’ifi raised the issue in Parliament.

Whilst commending the MP for West Kwaio for raising the issue, Auga said he understood that there are some issues that need to be resolved but MAL will prioritise it in early 2023.

Auga also called upon the MP for West Kwaio to liaise with MAL in early 2023 to resolve issues for the cattle project.

Auga said the government through MAL is committed to deal with these issues in order to position the farm as a strategic distribution point for Malaita and the rest of Solomon Islands.

“Mr Speaker let me thank my colleague MP for West Kwaio for raising the issues regarding the cattle project, my Ministry (MAL) is prioritizing the cattle program in early 2023.

“I call on the MP for West Kwaio to come forward early 2023 so that my Ministry can sort out the issues regarding Gono Kukufo farm.

“Speaker Sir, I understand that the cattle project has few outstanding issues to resolve. We will be committed to deal with these issues in order to position the farm as a strategic distribution point for Malaita and the rest of Solomon Islands.

“Sir this farm and others across the country like Guadalcanal, Isabel and other farms the basis of our new cattle strategy

“Mr Speaker, I kindly requested my honorable colleagues from West Kwaio to come forward and discuss with my Ministry to sort out this out early 2023.

Meanwhile, Auga also acknowledged MP for Maringe Kokota Dr. Culwick Togamana in pushing for cattle projects for his constituency in 2023. “I understand we have talked about some priorities for some time now, let us do it in 2023,” Auga said.

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