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Schools to resume Jan 23

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0

BY NED GAGAHE

ALL schools throughout the country are expected to resume classes by January 23, 2023.

This is according to the approved school calendar 2023 released by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) recently.

MEHRD says that 2023 school calendar will only run for three terms ending on Friday, October 27, 2023.

This is to make way for the 2023 Pacific Games that will begin on November 19 until December 2, 2023.

“As schools look forward to having their end of year holidays, be informed that 2023 school academic year starts on the 23rd of January.

“More importantly, the 2023 school calendar will only run for 3 terms ending on Friday 27th October 2023 as the Pacific Games 2023 will begin on 19th November untill 2nd December 2023.” the statement from MEHRD says.

According to the 2023 calendar schools term one will run for 13 weeks, beginning on Monday 23 January and ended on Friday 21 April 2023.

Term two will also run for another 13 weeks beginning on Monday 1st May 2023 and ended on Friday 28 July 2023.

Then there will be a four-week break for term two beginning on Monday 31 July and ends on Friday 25 August 2023.

Term three will run for only nine weeks beginning on Monday 28 August, 2023 to Friday 27 October, 2023.

Term three break will run for 11 weeks beginning on Monday 30th October, 2023 to Friday 12 January, 2024.

MFAET to pursue clearance of UXO

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
Jeremiah Manele

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) and Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, will continue to pursue the clearance of Unexplored Ordnances (UXO) with USA and Japan.

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

He said they will also seek their support to clear the oil spills from War War II sunken vessels.

Manele said formal outreach to Japan and USA to clear these leakages are being pursued and they will continue to follow up to ensure they clear their mess.

However, in good news, the US Embassy in Port Moresby released a stated-on December 21, 2022, the Department of State provided USD$1 million to The HALO Trust (HALO) to launch a comprehensive unexploded ordnance (UXO) project in Solomon Islands beginning January 1, 2023. 

This project will address UXO priorities and enhance explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) capacity with the Ministry of National Police and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF). 

This project is part of President Biden’s announcement at the United States-Pacific Island Country Summit, where UXO priorities were one of nine U.S. commitments to implement the Declaration on US-Pacific Partnership.

The United States is a Pacific nation—geographically, economically, historically, and culturally—and remains invested in supporting a prosperous Pacific.

In Solomon Islands, the United States has provided more than $6.8 million since 2011 to establish a national capacity with the RSIPF to identify and destroy explosive remnants of war. 

This included training 13 engineers who have conducted more than 1,200 explosive ordnance callouts and destroyed more than 29,746 items of UXO. 

The United States’ work over the past decade to remediate explosive hazards is foundational for a prosperous Solomon Islands and continues to advance humanitarian and development priorities on land free of UXO.

HALO will advance shared United States-Solomon Islands priorities.  With funding from the United States, HALO will locate and mark World War II legacy UXO while providing essential training and capacity building to the RSIPF EOD unit.  This includes using existing data and historical records as well as conducting search activities to update the national UXO database, which will inform future explosive ordnance risk education and explosive hazard responses to UXO contamination by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force EOD unit.  U.S. funding will also provide technical advice while assisting the Ministry of National Police to establish a UXO coordination office.

The United States, through its Conventional Weapons Destruction program, has funded work in the Pacific since 2009. 

Since 1993, the United States has invested more than $4.7 billion for the safe clearance of landmines and explosive weapons of war as well as the securing and safe disposal of excess small arms and light weapons and munitions in more than 100 countries and territories.  The United States is the world’s single largest financial supporter of conventional weapons destruction.

CAMPS LEVEL-UP

Written by
Ben Bilua
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0

Lobbying to form next gov’t in West underway

BY BEN BILUA

LOBBYING for the Western Provincial Executive has reached both sides claiming 13 members each.

Western province has a total of 26 wards meaning both camps are tightening their grip to hold on to their existing numbers.

However, a report alleges that one of the camps are expecting another three leaders to join their side.

This will bring the number of one of the camps to 16 – an absolute majority and likely they will move to establish the executive government if the report is true.

“It is still game-on at the moment. There is no clear indication which camp has the number and when will one of the camps pull the last string and get the number.

“It seems to me that the winning camp will be determined in the next two to three days,” an insider told Island Sun Gizo yesterday.

This paper understands that there are two camps that have been identified and are now tough on lobbying to form the new executive.

Earlier last week, one of the elected leaders said cheap and greedy politics is not good for Western province and its people.

Freedom Tozaka stressed that the only for Western Province to move forward is for elected leaders to compromise and form a strong government to serve the people.

On Monday December 26, Speaker Adrian Gina shared similar sentiment saying that Western province needs a stable and strong government to drive the province going forward.

“Divided and we will be still in the losing side of our development aspirations,” he said.

Gina: I will not contest

Written by
Ben Bilua
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0
Provincial Assembly Hon Speaker Adrian Sinabule Gina

BY BEN BILUA

SPEAKER of Western Province says he will not contest the Speaker’s position.

Adrian S Gina made the announcement before elected Provincial Members during a brief meeting on December 26.

“To clear all doubts, I will not be contesting the Speaker’s Position. Reason is because I have other commitments and other matters I wants to pursue,” he says.

Island Sun understands that the date for the nomination of Speaker’s position has been rescheduled from Monday December 26 to Wednesday December 28 due to the special gazette order which recognize Monday December 26 as a public holiday.

“Under Section 11 of the Western Province’s Standing Orders, we cannot kick off nomination because it’s a public holiday.

“The Clerk and Assembly Office have determined that nomination will begin on Wednesday and election of Speaker will proceeds on Friday.

“This is to comply with section 11,” Gina says.

Gina also explains that the date to elect the Premier will also be rescheduled due to changes on the election of the Speaker.

“It will be still next week,” he said.

“As soon as Speaker is elected, the Speaker will use his power under Section 60 of the Standing Order to give a seven days’ notice for an Assembly meeting to appoint members of the Provincial Public Accounts Committee.

“This is important because of the urgency to table the 2022/2023 revised budget, Gina adds.

He calls on MPAs to collect the nomination forms at the Clerk’s office and submit their candidates for the Speaker’s position.

As per Western Province’s Standing Order, nomination of Speaker will close two (2) days after the Clerk’s announcement (s10).

Section (12) provides that the Speaker must be a registered voter, ordinary resident in a ward of the Province and not a member of the Assembly or the National Parliament.

Section (13) provides that nominations must be in writing, signed by two members and personally delivered to the Clerk during the nomination period.

Section (14) provides that the candidate shall sign the nomination form to indicate acceptance of the nomination.

And, section (15) provides that no member may nominate more than one candidate in any election for the Speaker or Deputy Speaker.

Section (16-40) stipulates the proceedings during and after the election of the Speaker’s position.

Body of Late Ambassador Fugui to arrive today

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
The country’s first ambassador to China, John Moffat Fugui

THE body of the Solomon Islands Ambassador to China, His Excellency late John Moffat Fugui will arrive in the country today (27 December 2022).

The flight carrying the body of the late Ambassador, his three children and the Second Secretary to the Solomon Islands Embassy left Beijing yesterday afternoon and will arrive in Honiara 2pm today (Tuesday).

The Prime Minister, Hon.Manasseh Sogavare, cabinet Ministers and Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade will receive the casket of the late Fugui from the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, His Excellency Li Ming.

The Prime Minister will then hand-over the casket to the family of the late Ambassador which will be taken up to the private residence of the late Fugui.

An Official funeral program will be held at the St. Barnabas Anglican Church on Thursday (29th December).

Details of the program will be made available soon to the public.

The 61-year-old late ambassador passed away in Beijing after suffering Cardiac Arrest on Thursday (22nd December 2022).

—MFAET PRESS RELEASE

Damage assessment for 7.0 earthquake completes

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Initial Damage Assessment (IDA) for the 7.0 earthquake of November 22 has completed.

Guadalcanal province emergency operations centre (PEOC) conducted the IDA, completing it on December 8.

PEOC’s findings say more than 18,000 people were exposed to the earthquake, 362 dwelling houses sustaining some level of damage, school infrastructures severely damaged, and livelihood (food gardens) sustaining damage or destroyed. At least two water sources were reported to be destroyed.

Following that IDA report the Guadalcanal Province Disaster Operation Centre is committed to ensure that recommendations must be actioned.

The recommendations are resourcing of the Sector Response Plan of Action to ensure implementation to support the affected population of South and Southwest Guadalcanal.

Sectors to prioritise recovery activities for South and Southwest of Guadalcanal in their 2023 work plan.

Development Partners to support the Sector response plans for South and Southwest Guadalcanal through working with Sector Committee Chairs

Meanwhile development partners have also assured of their support towards the affected areas of Guadalcanal.

According to the Situation report, the government of New Zealand has approved SBD200,000 to support the IDA on Guadalcanal, whilst the Peoples Republic of China has donated SBD1.7 million for the earthquake disaster relief and early recovery.

The implementation of the relief will be through the appropriate government sectors and the Guadalcanal provincial government, the report says.

MCT to expand site identification for tourism potential sites

Written by
Ofani Eremae
-
0
Hon. Minister for Culture and Tourism, Bartholomew Parapolo.

BY NED GAGAHE

Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) says it will expand its work on identifying tourism potential sites to other provinces throughout Solomon Islands.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Bartholomew Parapolo revealed this following the success of the site identification carried out by MCT to facilitate tourism investment in the country.

Parapolo told Parliament earlier this week that investment in the tourism sector needs to be supported and accelerated in order to meet our targets of increasing the volume and quality of rooms inventory in the country

“Mr Speaker, another milestone achievement I would like to highlight here is the ministry’s program on facilitating tourism investment in the country.

“Sir, over the last three years my ministry was working to identify registered land that would be suitable for tourism development and appalling to the tourism investors in the Western Province with the support of International Finance Corporation (IFC).

“Sir, I am pleased to report that the end of the survey we have developed a portfolio of investment ready registered land in the Western Province that our investment team can now promote to potential investors.

“Sir, based on the success of the work done in the Western Province investable sites identification and selection my ministry will continue with the same project to include other provinces.

“We will do these under project called Accessing Land for Tourism Investment Facilitation (ALTIF) which is funded under Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

“My ministry will continue to identify registered land parcels that have high potentials to attract outside tourism investments to Solomon Islands and to support process by which an investor obtain access to that land via a long-term lease.”

Tuita: bridge and road work for Malaita soon

Written by
Samie Waikori
-
0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

CONSTRUCTION work on five bridges and rehabilitation of some roads in Malaita province will commence soon.

Deputy Provincial Secretary, David Filia Tuita told SunAuki the work comes under Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Programme (SIRAP).

He said SIRAP has two components, and under SIRAP 1 will be the construction of Bio 1, 2 and Kwa bridges in West Kwara’ae constituency.

Tuita said also under the component, there will be rehabilitation of roads from Auki to Dala and parts of East-road, leading to Atori and Kwaiba’ita River.

He said under SIRAP 2 there will be the construction of Su’u and Mbira bridges along South road in Dorio of West Kwaio constituency.

Tuita said for SIRAP 1, some of the infrastructure projects have already awarded to contractors and work will soon to happen.

He thanked SIRAP through Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID) for the projects, assuring MPG’s support to the implementation of the project.

Tuita also called for cooperation and support from communities the projects will implement towards these very important projects for the province.

Kili calls for peaceful Christmas celebration

Written by
Samie Waikori
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

PROVINCIAL Police Commander (PPC) Malaita, Superintendent Lesley Kili has called for peaceful celebrations across Malaita province during this Christmas and New Year festivity.

He made the call yesterday urging Malaitans to let this festive season be a time to enjoy with families and friends, and allow the true meaning of Christmas prevail.

Kili said the provincial police activated festive operations yesterday and will last until January 3, 2023.

He said during the operation police will provide high visibility in Auki and surrounding communities as well as throughout the province.

Kili said they will monitor alcohol outlets and other social gatherings will happen during the festive session.

He warned that police will not tolerate any unlawful activities/behaviours, and whoever found to have infringed the law will face the rule of law.

Kili also said that police are ready to respond to any report they may receive on unlawful activities across the province.

He called on Malaitans to enjoy the festive season with a sound mind and to refrain from taking the law into their own hands in whatever situation they may face.

Kili called on community leaders, church and other stakeholders in the province to support the police to ensure the safety of the public is shelter during this festive session. 

OLD BOMB CLEAN-UP!

Written by
Ofani Eremae
-
0
old WWII bombs left behind by the Japanese and Americans during World War II on Guadalcanal.

US launches $8.2m UXO project in SI

UNITED States this week launched a USD$1 million (SBD$8.2 million) project to address the World World II bomb issue in Solomon Islands.

The funding will be channelled through The HALO Trust (HALO), which will launch a comprehensive unexploded ordnance (UXO) project here starting 1 January 2023. 

“This project will address UXO priorities and enhance explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) capacity with the Ministry of National Police and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force,” a statement from the US Government says.

“This project is part of President Biden’s announcement at the United States-Pacific Island Country Summit, where UXO priorities were one of nine U.S. commitments to implement the Declaration on US-Pacific Partnership,” the statement added.

“The United States is a Pacific nation—geographically, economically, historically, and culturally—and remains invested in supporting a prosperous Pacific.

“In Solomon Islands, the United States has provided more than $6.8 million since 2011 to establish a national capacity with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force to identify and destroy explosive remnants of war. 

“This included training 13 engineers who have conducted more than 1,200 explosive ordnance callouts and destroyed more than 29,746 items of UXO. 

“The United States’ work over the past decade to remediate explosive hazards is foundational for a prosperous Solomon Islands and continues to advance humanitarian and development priorities on land free of UXO.”

The statement said HALO will advance shared United States-Solomon Islands priorities. 

“With funding from the United States, HALO will locate and mark World War II legacy UXO while providing essential training and capacity building to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force EOD unit. 

“This includes using existing data and historical records as well as conducting search activities to update the national UXO database, which will inform future explosive ordnance risk education and explosive hazard responses to UXO contamination by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force EOD unit. 

“US funding will also provide technical advice while assisting the Ministry of National Police to establish a UXO coordination office.

“The United States, through its Conventional Weapons Destruction program, has funded work in the Pacific since 2009.” 

Since 1993, the United States has invested more than USD$4.7 billion for the safe clearance of landmines and explosive weapons of war as well as the securing and safe disposal of excess small arms and light weapons and munitions in more than 100 countries and territories. 

The United States is the world’s single largest financial supporter of conventional weapons destruction.

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