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PMO halts church devotions on SIBC

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

OFFICE of Prime Minister and Cabinet has ordered the suspension of the government-sponsored church devotion programme on Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) early this month.

SIBC signed a contract with the Government since 2019 during Covid-19 to allow Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA) and Solomon Islands Full Gospel Association (SIFGA) to encourage citizens with the Word of God from Monday to Sunday on air.

The contract is expected to end this month.

But recent, SIBC was directed by the PMO to end the programme because the Government would not longer meet its cost.

However, SIBC last Friday informed the churches to continue with the devotion because the existing contract is still valid until the end of this month, which saw the devotion resumed on Monday.

One church leader told Island Sun they were told the Government has directed SIBC to end the daily devotions.

He said some of the leaders of SICA and SIFGA were shocked because it was the government’s initiative to sponsor the programme.

“The Government actually invited SICA and SIFGA in Cabinet and asked them what they could do to help the people during the pandemic.

“We told the government a way forward is to continue preach the word of God to the people,” the church leader said.

However, the church leader said they are happy to bless citizens with word of God in the last three years to the people on air.

“We do it from our hearts for this nation and never get paid for this activity,” the church leader said.

The reason behind Government’s move to suspend the devotion programme is still unclear.

However, recently the churches opposed Government’s move to extend the term of Parliament from four to five years.

Its like a dream come true

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Press Release
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Wheelchair with joel, mum Eve, Rotarian Tina and Doreen

Joel Tereoha was born 11 years ago with severe Cerebral Palsy. 

His grandmother, together with his loving family, have coped with his disability until he became too heavy for them to lift.

The Rotary Club of Honiara are engaged in an on-going project to source medical equipment for hospitals and clinics throughout Solomon Islands through Rotary in Australia. 

Francis Kennedy, an Australian nurse at NRH, who assisted the family manage Joel’s care, was contacted by the Rotary Club of Honiara and she identified Joel’s specific needs. 

With the help of The Rotary Club of Surfers Sunrise on the Gold Coast, a specially built wheelchair was sourced, together with a portable bed hoist unit that is able to lift Joel from bed to the wheelchair and to/from other parts of the house.

The next issue was to get the equipment to Honiara. It was very heavy and would be expensive through normal routing.

Rotary approached the Australian Defense Force, that is currently working in Honiara; they agreed to airlift the equipment on one of their military aircrafts that comes in regularly from the Amberley Airbase in Brisbane. 

Colin Laurenson, Club member of Rotary Surfers Sunrise and Director of Medical Repurposing Network Inc, undertook to deliver the equipment to the base.

The chair and the hoist machine arrived last week in Honiara. 

rotary hoist, Rotarian Keithie, and President Tina with Eve and Opaka

With the assistance of Francis and Kevin Kennedy the equipment was delivered to the parents’ home of Eve and Opaka Tereoha.

Mother Eve said “it is like a dream come true”, and a huge blessing for the family to receive such a wonderful gift for Joel!  

The whole family were so grateful for the donation.

New hemodialysis machine to deal with Kidney issues

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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A Hemodialysis machine at a hospital.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Solomon Islands will soon take charge of a hemodialysis machine to assist patients with kidney problems.

This was confirmed by the Medical Superintendent of the National Referral Hospital, Dr Janella Solomon during the Gala Chinese Cultural show last week.

“I am moved by Chinese Medical Team’s sincereness; they will take one container drugs and equipment for NRH which include a new hemodialysis machine for us.

“The nation will have its first hemodialysis machine and under Dr Carry’s help, NRH will have the capability of using hemodialysis to save lives, as we have seen people die from us not having this machine,” Solomon said.

Dr Carry from China is working with the internal medical ward at NRH.

Dr Jones Ghabu, Consultant Physician at the National Referral Hospital adds that the that the hemodialysis or dialysis is a machine used to filter blood.

Ghabu said this machine can be used when kidney fails to do its work by removing toxins accumulated and poisoning the body.

He said blood will be filtered by using this machine then given back to the human body.

TRC REPORT COMING UP

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

Sogavare intends to have it discussed in parliament

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE five-volume report of Truth and Reconciliation Commission is among important businesses the Sogavare-led Government plans to discuss in the current 11th sitting of Parliament.

A Commission of five members mandated under Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act 2008 came up with the report after conducting public and closed hearings; collecting statements from victims, perpetrators, and other involved parties; facilitating focus group interviews with all sectors involved in the conflict; and organising research on issues related to the conflict from 2009-2011.

This was to discover the causes, details and effects of the country’s “ethnic tension” crisis of 1998-2003.

However, the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) is still to table the Bill in Parliament to extend the term from four to five years.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare confirmed this during the opening of Parliament meeting on Monday.

Sogavare said the report was handed to government in 2013, laid in Parliament and yet to be discussed fully by Parliament.

He said Caucus would like to have a meeting with relevant ministries to prepare the government for presentation of very important recommendations.

Furthermore, Sogavare said Caucus would like to meet with relevant ministries, especially Ministry of Finance because the Payment System bill is before Parliament.

However, the Opposition has asked the Prime Minister and his government to clarify a planned payment of $300,000 to ex-militants.

Former police officers and others categorised under Essential Services that worked during the ethnic conflict from 1998-2003 have also submitted their claims to the Government.

However, members of Guadalcanal Post -Conflict Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Restoration Association for Western Region are not aware of the $300.000 payments.

Association Secretary, George Hilly said they are only aware of the Re-integration and Rehabilitation for ex-combatants and victims of the conflict.

Hilly said from information relayed by Prime Minister Office to him, a Commission funded by United Nations will be set up to run the programme.

He said the Commission will identify genuine applicants and submit to the 34-line ministries to implement the programs.

Both Guadalcanal Post -Conflict Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Restoration Association and Malaita Solomon Islands Post-Conflict Rehabilitation and Restoration Association will have offices to work with the Government in the implementation of the programmes.

Island Sun contacted Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs, Peter Mae yesterday but he declined to comment.

The Parliament meeting resumes on Monday 25th July 2022.

Buka biggest ever can-earning!

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Patteson Buka was $3,378 richer yesterday.

By MAVIS N. PODOKOLO

BUALA resident Patteson Buka was $3,378 richer yesterday after selling 563kilograms of empty cans to buyers Tin King.

Tin King, a company owned by Northwest Guadalcanal MP Bodo Dettke, is the leading buyer of empty aluminum cans in the country.

“I’ve never earned this big before,” Buka told Island Sun after receiving his cash from Jeff Hou of Tin King yesterday.

“I’ve been collecting and selling empty cans to another buyer since 2001 but this is the biggest earning I’ve made since then,” he added.

From Buala, provincial capital of Isabel, Buka loaded bags of empty cans in a ship and travelled over to Honiara.

Patteson Buka loading his bags of cans into a vehicle at Point Cruz wharf yesterday morning

He arrived yesterday morning, and Hou was at the wharf to meet him.

By afternoon, Vuka was smiling with $3,378 cash in his pocket.

“I’m heading back home tonight,” he said.

“Need to go home and collect more cans.”

According to Hou, this was the biggest purchase they’ve made from a single person.

“Vuka is now our agent in Isable,” Hou said.

“He’s a long-time collector and a consistent client,” he added.

Hou explained MP Dettke decided to establish Tin King as his contribution to cleaning up our city and country of empty aluminum cans.

“We pay $5 a kilo.

“This is the best and highest price anyone could offer,” Hou said.

He encourages low-income earners and those without a job in Honiara to find empty cans for extra cash.

“In doing that, people not only engage in cleaning up our city, but will also earn a bit of income when they sell their cans.”

For Buka, his next can collection plan has been already hatched.

“There were seven beer outlets around the Buala area,” he said.

“On my return, I will put up collection bags at each of the outlet.

“Instead of throwing those empty cans away, people can just drop them in the collection bags.

“In that way, we keep Buala and the surrounding environment clean of empty aluminum cans,” Buka said.

200 visitors expected for war anniversary

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Press Release
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The Battle of Guadalcanal will be commemorated in Honiara

HOT on the heels of its official border reopening, the Solomon Islands tourism industry is back in business in a major way, preparing to welcome international tourists attending the 80th anniversary of the Guadalcanal campaign. 

More than 200 visitors are expected to attend the event including dedicated tour groups from Japan and the US who will all stay at the Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel in Honiara during their stay with all arrangements being managed by local tour operators, Travel Solomons and Pure Solomons.

Tour programs, in the main running from 07 – 12 August, have been designed to incorporate many of the key battle sites in and around Honiara and will also include a visit to Tulagi’s famous Blue Beach and Tokyo Bay in the Florida Islands.

Itinerary highlights include both the Japanese and American Memorials, Galloping Horse Ridge, the Matanikau River, the National Parliament Building (a gift from the American Government on the 50th Anniversary), the Gifu, Fighter 1 and Fighter 3 and the Crash Strip, Henderson Field, Alligator Creek, and Beach Red.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manesseh Sogavare, representatives from the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand governments, ministers and cultural leaders will be in hand to commemorate official anniversary proceedings which take place on 07 August, the date on which in 1942 US Marines landed in Guadalcanal, Tulagi and the Florida Islands.

Tourism Solomons CEO (Acting), Dagnal Dereveke, said the destination’s heavily impacted tourism sector’s revival could not have got off to a better start so soon after the border reopening.

“We appreciate this is a small start on our road back to recovery but it’s a good start,” he said.


“Placing us in the world tourism spotlight, even if only for a short time, gives us confidence the G80 Anniversary will act as a catalyst for a fast return to where we were before we closed our border in March 2020,” he said.

Malaita soon to have children desk office

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Group activity during a meeting conducted by a team from Ministry of Women (MWYCFA) with stakeholders and MPAC last week in Auki. The meeting is in preparation to establish a Children Desk office under MPG.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

The Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs is working closely with the Malaita province government to establish a Children’s Desk office in Auki.

This is the first for the province to have an office charged with children’s affairs and promote advocacy for children’s rights in the province.

A team from MWYCFA visited Auki last week consulting various stakeholders as part of preparations to incorporate plans for the establishment of the office.

MWYCFA’s Provincial Desk Coordinator for Malaita, Isabel and Central provinces, Donnie Saelea said the whole effort came as part of the plan of the ministry to establish a children’s desk office in the province.

He said in doing so, the ministry created Malaita Provincial Advisory Committee (MPAC) which comprises of various stakeholders in the province to lobby with MPG for the establishment of the office.

“The team is here to consult with stakeholders and align action plans require from responsible offices to support the operation of the children’s desk office when operates,” Saelea said.

He said upon report from the advisory committee and Save the Children, MPG agreed to take onboard the child desk office for the province.

The understanding now is, Saelea explained that MPG will house the officer under the Women, Youth and Sports desk and Save the Children will be responsible for the officer’s salary.

He said based on the understanding, in the future the office will be absorbed into Malaita’s provincial system.

Saelea said recruitment of the officer has been done and awaiting formalities.

SICTU offers government, view on parliament extension

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0
National Parliament of Solomon Islands

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

THE Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union (SICTU) calls on the government to set up a special select committee that will consult on the government’s intention to defer next year’s national election.

“The committee would undertake appropriate consultations throughout the country on the proposal,” SICTU said in a statement.

“The four year-term life of the parliament has been provided for under the National Constitution, which had been formulated based on the peoples’ views collected under the leadership of the First Chief Minister late Solomon Mamaloni,” the statement added.

“The national consultation on our national constitution continued under the leadership of the country’s first Prime Minister Late Sir Peter Kenilorea, before Solomon Islands attained its independence on the 7th of July 1978.

“In view of the wider consultations which our former leaders had conducted before independence, there is a clear obligation on the current government to facilitate and implement the same level of wider national consultations with our people, on its proposal to extend the life of parliament from four to five years.”

SICTU is made up of the Workers Union of Solomon Islands (WUSI), The Solomon Islands Public Employees Union (SIPEU), and the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA).

The trade union body says it will work with all its affiliated members to consult their general membership on what possible forms of actions the trade union movement will take should it becomes necessary.

HOSPITAL DRINKING PARTY PROBED

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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NRH CEO Dr George Malefoasi. Photo by GCU

NRH management apologises to patients, caregivers

By MAVIS N PODOKOLO

HEALTH authorities have launched an investigation into reports that certain staff at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) held a drinking party at the Emergency Department, Friday night.

Island Sun reported on the incident in a front-page article yesterday.

Reports say a number of doctors and nurses were involved.

Their party got noisy and caused disturbances to patients and their caregivers.

Last night, NRH chief executive officer Dr George Malefoasi said in a statement:

“The news is very disturbing and NRH Executive Management is treating the matter very seriously with investigations now underway through the Emergency Department management.

“As part of our investigations we have also requested the Emergency Department to submit an explanatory note in response to the media report.

“Based on their explanations and findings from overall investigations, we will be undertaking necessary disciplinary actions accordingly, if need be.”

Malefoasi also apologised to patients and caregivers who were affected by the noise from the party.

“We sincerely apologize to you all and will ensure that the persons responsible for this will be held accountable for their inconsiderate, careless, and unethical actions.”

Malefoasi also advises the public to immediately call the hospital’s general phone line 44000 to raise complaints should any suspicious, unacceptable, and deviant behavior from staff is encountered.

“This is so directions can be made to the relevant individuals within the hospital to provide the necessary assistance,” he said.

Those affected by the incident told Island Sun patients who were critically ill at that time were badly affected by the noise from the party.

NRH DRUNK PARTY?

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
The National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara

……Claims of Drs, Nurses boozy night in Emergency Department

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOME nurses and guardians are calling on the National Referral Hospital administration to investigate an alleged drinking party inside the Accident Emergency (A&E) staff room last Friday.

The loud noise that came out from the senior nursing room had irked patients & their guardians on the night.

A guardian who wants to remain anonymous witnessed the unusual activity, and alleged a number of doctors and nurses got together in a senior nurses’ office where they spent the night drinking alcohol causing disturbance to patients in the ward.

“They were loud and noisy and a lot of patients and their guardians were very annoyed and irritated by the behaviour of these nurses,” said the guardian.

“The unprofessional behavior displayed by these docs and nurses is unethical and needs to be promptly investigated by hospital authorities.”

“As health professionals and public servants, they have a duty to uphold their medical and nursing ethics as well as their public service code of conduct,” guardian said.

The guardian said there are some patients who are critically ill and deserved respect and care in a place where highest possible quality of care is expected to be observed.

Furthermore, a nurse on shift on the night confirmed hearing the loud noise as well.

“I worked that time.

“Why should this activity happen during working hours and in the place of patients,” the nurse asked.

NRH Chief Executive Officer, Dr George Wilson Malefoasi said he is not aware.

“I have to find out what exactly happened,” he said.

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