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Tribe supports US SCALE Project

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Premier Daniel Suidani and team meeting with landowners of Ha’alau tribal group at Kelakwai village in Central Kwara’ae....Photo supplied

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

PREMIER of Malaita province, Daniel Suidani recently met with Ha’alau tribal group of Fiu River upon an invitation regarding the proposed USAID SCALE project at Gwaigeo.

The meeting was successfully convened at Kelakwai village where landowners expressed their support towards the development of the project.

In a statement from PARU, the premier met with the Ha’alau tribal group after a request was sent to his office on the planned developments under the USAID SCALE project at Gwaigeo.

The meeting aimed at seeing how the tribal group could be part of the development on their land.

It was a successful meeting where the tribal group expressed their continues support to such development as they have done with other development in the past.

On the same note, Premier Suidani expressed his gratitude towards the group and encourage continue working together with them.

The project is one amongst other livelihood projects proposed under the USAID SCALE program for Malaita province. 

Australia to fund new Telco towers here

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Left to Right: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, McKinnie Dentana; HOTP Ewen Macdonald, Chief Executive Officer, Solomon Telekom Company, Christina Lasaqa, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Minister for Communication and Aviation, the Hon. Peter Shanel Agovaka, Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, H.E Dr Lachlan Strahan, Chairman, Solomon Telekom Company Limited, Mr Baoro Laxton Koraua, OurTeleKom Chief Technical Officer, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Collin Beck, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication and Aviation, Moses Virivolomo, PS Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Karen Galokale.

Australia will provide grant funding for the installation of six new 3G/4G telecommunications towers across three provinces: four in the Shortland Islands in Western Province, one in Isabel Province, and one in Malaita Province.

This follows a request by the Solomon Islands government to its Australian counterpart for help in this sector to boost it with its covid-19 response efforts.

On March 2, 2022, the Minister for Communication and Aviation, Peter Shanel Agovaka and Australia’s Head of the Office of the Pacific Ewen McDonald exchanged signed copies of a funding arrangement worth SBD37.6 million (AUD6.5 million) for six new telecommunications towers to be built this year, a media statement from the Australian High Commission said.

The support for the towers was requested by the Solomon Islands Government as part of its COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts.

Agovaka said the project aligned with the Government’s National Development Strategy and the National Security Strategy.

“Enabling security, welfare, and connectivity for communities in remote parts of the country especially along the Western border is a key priority of my Ministry.

“We are grateful for Australia’s ongoing support to improving connectivity in Solomon Islands. The support is a testimony to the strong partnership between our two countries in the telecommunications sector that builds on the success of the Coral Sea Cable project to deliver improved internet connectivity to the people of Solomon Islands,” said Agovaka.

The increased 3G/4G internet coverage, particularly across the Shortland Islands, will enable more efficient and effective management of the border with Papua New Guinea. 

Chair, Solomon Telekom Company, Baoro Laxton Koraua, expressed pride at receiving the project on behalf of the people of Solomon Islands.

“These towers are absolute gems for the company and the country and will improve current network coverage across the country,” he said.

Mr McDonald said that the agreement was an example of Australia’s ongoing commitment to improve connectivity especially for people living in the remote parts of Solomon Islands.

“These towers will increase connectivity, which is important not only for the Solomon Islands Government’s ability to respond to humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters, but also for boosting business opportunities for communities along the border, and strengthening health and education outcomes,” said Mr McDonald. 

The towers will utilise Ericsson mobile communications equipment, NEC microwave links and Australian-supplied towers.

The construction package will be fully funded by Australia.

Our Telekom has committed to installing, owning, operating, and maintaining the infrastructure as part of its broader mobile network.

All six towers are expected to be operational by the second half of 2022.

Present at the event were several senior Government officials including Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr Jimmie Rodgers, permanent secretaries for Communication and Aviation Moses Virovolomo, Finance and Treasury, Mckinnie Dentana, Foreign Affairs and External Trade Collin Beck, Police, National Security and Correctional Services Karen Galokale, and CEO, for Solomon Telecom Company Ltd Christina Lasaqa.

Home banking stands in aid during pandemic

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Xynella Eke receiving her $4500 share from World Vision Solomon Islands' Market Linkage Phase II Project Community Development Facilitator (CDF) Clayment Nai.

The saving For Transformation (S4T) model that World Vision Solomon Islands introduced to eleven communities in Makira Ulawa Province has stood in aid during this pandemic, as communities share out recently to assist them with their needs.

The S4T model is a saving model that encourages community members to establish saving clubs where they can save money.

While saving, the members can also access small loans from their savings, which can repay with little interest.

They also have different passbooks for different areas like Saving Producer Groups Funds, including Sustainability Fund, Operation Funds, Profit funds, and Sector Funds, including social, church funds, youth, and women funds.

The passbooks can help them access money when the need arises from these different areas. Annually the Saving groups can do share out with their group members.

Usually, 25 people are in each saving group.

Most people referred to the model as home banking.

Through the Market Linkage Phase II (MLP II) Project funded by the Australian Government through the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), World Vision introduced the scheme to eleven communities in Makira Ulawa Province.

The Communities form their producer groups to oversee their production of the selected commercial products.

The majority is in Central Makira Constituency that already are existing cocoa farmers.

The project encouraged them to use solar driers for their cocoa beans and established a relationship with the Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands (KPSI) as a market outlet.

A coconut crushing mill was set up at Tawarodo in Ugi Island, while a fish facility was at Gupuna in Santa Ana.

The production of their selected commercial products enables them to continue saving.

 The total Members of savings is 250, where 101 are men and 149 are female members. Interestingly, at the end of January 2022, they have recorded $450,580.00 (SBD) as their value of saving. The loan fund is $497,570.20 with an outstanding loan of $176,615.00.

Meanwhile, the Social Fund passbook recorded an amount of $24,155.55.

With the challenges faced due to COVID 19 Pandemic, the social fund seems relevant and, in some way possible, could ease the financial pain that saving club members are currently facing.

Most saving groups then do share out of their social funds.

Mwanihuki community has also done their share out towards the end of January this year.

Interestingly, Mwanihuki’s saving group has encouraged young people also to join the saving group.

Like other youths, Xyneella Eke also joined the saving group. During their recent share-out, Eke received the highest share of $4500.

Eke is now 15 and currently a student at Manama Primary School.

“Home banking makes life easier for my family and me here at home, and so even I am young, I decided to save since I knew something good will come out from this saving,” she said.

Eke further said that her funding for saving is cocoa, copra, and marketing.

—World Vision

Plan put in place to ease travel restriction

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

PEOPLE can travel from Honiara to the provinces and back on ships, Solomon Airlines and Outboard motor engines under strict conditions.

This after the Government plans to ease travel restriction to allow people movement and do businesses.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Dr. Melchior Mataki confirmed this to media yesterday.

Mataki, also Chairman of National Disaster Council, said the process is being finalized and put across to Cabinet for decision.

He said NDC is not eliminating but easing the restrictions to balance the economic aspects and manage the transmission.

“NDC through its arrangement tasked to look up and simplify process to be used to support movements of people through ships, planes and OBMs.

“There would be conditions attached to them,” he added.

PS Mataki said NDC has started with movements of passengers onboard MV Fair Glory on Monday.

He said OBMs entry and exist point is between Yatch club and Aola base.

According to NDC, Solomon Islands Government remains committed to its overall strategy on COVID-19 to protect all Solomon Islanders and all people living in Solomon Islands, to keep the economic engine of the country going, and to position the country to emerge from this challenge stronger and united.

This strategy is the foundation of our COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan, and other measures implemented by the Government.

The NDC Arrangement is employed as the country’s whole of Government response approach in the coordination of COVID-19 through the National and Provincial Disaster Operations Committees (N-DOC and P-DOC).

The N-DOC and P-DOC through its Sector Committees COVID-19 Preparedness and Response.

COVID transmission reversed

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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The roundabout at the Honiara City Council

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Jimmy Rodgers says the country actually reserve the trend of community transmission less than five weeks.

He highlighted this during a press conference at the Mendana conference room yesterday.

He said when the country discovered the first case in January 17, 2022 there were perception that health and the country would not be able to respond and that covid-19 transmission in Honiara would not slow down but increases.

“We did actually reverse the trend of community transmissions in less than five weeks and we did that. No country has done that,” he said.

“We reverse it within that period because we had a plan that works out and that was ready. If we are not ready more lives would be lost,” he said.

He confidently says that the country is ready and prepared in its fight against the deadly virus that is transmitting inside the country.

He clarifies this following report saying the health and the country was not ready to respond to the current community transmission.

“Let me just put it this way, if we did not have a response plan, we were not ready in two years ago. So, for those that say we are not prepared, we were prepared,” he said.

Rodgers acknowledges those from Health and every individual that have worked hard to serve this country.

“Please continue to do what you can do in serving this country in fighting against the community transmission,” Rodgers said.

But according to a source closely monitoring the data says that to justify the current trend by observing of no reported sickness at clinics, hospitals with no enough testing or swabbing is not good explanation.

The source said according to data reports from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services it is so slow. So, it is not really reverse.

The source says if they do test within 5 days confirmed by PCR testing with a compulsory PCR and RAT test it will justify the trend of community transmission is reversed.

“Only those who come forward is what they based on to say the trend of community transmission is reversed.

“If only OSC & MHMS build up the current laboratory test space to do more testing would be an ideal and more test can be done.

“From then the results coming out from there we can say we are able to reverse the transmission,” the source said.

Gizo stands still as lockdown enforced

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Central part of Gizo

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

GIZO town entered first day of the second lockdown since the covid-19 outbreak and the response has been good.

There was no movement in the town except essential services.

Cargo ships were seen unloading goods and material with little disturbance from the public.

Gizo under lockdown.

Shops took the time to restock goods and fill their empty shelves ready for business when lockdown would be lifted tomorrow.

However, while the lockdown appears adhered to in the town, in the surrounding communities, people are reported to be moving about.

Police have set up a tent at the Corner shop and parts of Gizo to crack down unnecessary movements.

Police patrolling the empty Gizo Streets

Island Sun Gizo was given exemption to move around during the lockdown and managed to capture Gizo town as it came into a standstill.

Gizo, Noro, Munda and Seghe is currently on lockdown after approval was granted on late Sunday evening.

Institutions providing essential services are exempted from the lockdown.

The lockdown will be lifted on Thursday 6am.

15 Solomon Islanders become first to hold a micro-qualification in Seafood Safety and Quality

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Congratulations.. L-R USP Solomon Islands Campus Director, Dr Billy Fito'o congratulating Ms Alison Meiara and Mr Wilson Kiyo accompanied by the facilitator of the two week course, Ms Madeline Kili and USP Solomon Islands Campus Coordinator-Sub-Degree, Mr John Paikula.

Fifteen Solomon Islanders are now the first in their country to get awarded a Micro-Qualification in Maintaining Seafood Safety and Quality through scholarships funded through the University of the South Pacific (USP) Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership Programme (PEUMP).

Six women were part of this two-week face-face cohort held in the capital of Solomon Islands, Honiara delivered in collaboration with the USP- Pacific Technical and Further Education (TAFE).

Out of this 15, five awardees are also holders of the coveted Micro-Qualification in Establishing and Operating a Small Seafood Business through USP PEUMP scholarships.

In December 2020, 15 Fijians and one i-Kiribati woman were part of the first cohort of the Micro-Qualification in Maintaining Seafood Safety and Quality delivered in Suva, Fiji.

Former gender community worker, Alison Meiara, who has walked an hour to mangroves to glean seafood and then take a ride in an open punt with her mum, aunts and sisters from the age of ten to sell their catch at ports said these learnings’ will help her work in building on from the traditional knowledge currently used and empower women in the Isabel Province with new techniques.

“The interconnection of the changing climate and the global pandemic, COVID-19, is affecting the livelihoods of our women, as seafood is what we rely on to feed our families and our income. These skills can now be harmonised with traditional knowledge to ensure there is taste, freshness and quality on peoples’ tables and plates,” she said.

Fisheries Officer, Wilson Kiyo’s, role includes the inspection of seafood sold in the Solomon Islands domestic market, to establish and monitor whether raw or cooked is safe and nutritious for consumption.

“This micro-qualification is an added bonus to the skills I can use to inspect and share the knowledge with my peers, fisherfolk and seafood sellers to help them embrace and recognise the importance of proper seafood handling and maintaining quality,” he said.

USP, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, Professor Jito Vanualailai, in congratulating the awardees said through the PEUMP Programme, USP, is making an effort to build capacity through education, training, research and development for key stakeholder groups in fisheries and marine resources management in the 15 Pacific ACP Group of countries (PACP).

“USP is a regional community and whilst staying true to our core values and ensuring that we remain Pacific Ocean Custodians and drivers of the future of our region, we are “Shaping Pacific Futures”. The delivery of such unique micro-qualifications extends our outreach to the very heart of our Pacific communities,” he said.

The standards of this micro-qualification focus on the fundamentals of maintaining the safety and quality of seafood. The awardees outlined causes of seafood spoilage and quality control factors; demonstrated basic post-harvest seafood handling skills; and applied inspection techniques and guidelines to maintain seafood quality.

This micro-qualification, like the previous cohorts of the Micro-qualification in Establishing and Operating a Small Seafood Business, is a subset or component of a qualification that is designed to address a specific need where only certain skill sets are required. Both micro-qualifications are accredited to the Pacific Register of Qualifications and Standards.

The USP is one of four key implementing partners of the overall PEUMP Programme, an initiative funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden. The overall EUR 45million Programme promotes sustainable management and sound ocean governance for food security and economic growth, while addressing climate change resilience and conservation of marine biodiversity. It follows a comprehensive approach, integrating issues related ocean fisheries, coastal fisheries, community development, marine conservation and capacity building under one single regional action. (ENDS)

—USP MEDIA

Authorities urged to pull up socks in enforcing COVID measures: Opposition

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Customers buying local foods and cold water at the White River market yesterday. Both sellers and customers were seen not wearing mask and practicing social distancing measures.

OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Wale says authorities need to pull up their socks in enforcing COVID-19 measures and restrictions within the emergency zones.

Mr Wale made the call following the statement from the health minister last night that people are not adhering to measures such as wearing masks, social distancing, hand sanitizing, use of vaccination cards and when traveling in public transport.

Whilst encouraging people not to be complacent, Hon Wale said it is also the duty of authorities to make sure people adhere to the COVID measures and restrictions.

“People should not be complacent but then again, authorities need to pull up their socks and make sure people adhere to these rules,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said other countries have imposed strict fines for people who do not adhere to COVID-19 safety measures and it is something the government and authorities ought to consider.

He encouraged law-enforcing agencies to practice what they preach and to be physically on the streets to enforce the COVID-19 these measures.

Wale on the other hand has reiterated his earlier calls for the government to provide free masks to the people.

The Opposition Leader said the cheapest masks on the counters are single day use surgical masks that costs around $4-$5.

He said people could not afford to pay for this to use each day, as it is too expensive at this current state of health crisis and state of economy.

“Whilst we encourage people to wear masks in town and in order for them to enter shops and public transports, we must also take into consideration the majority who will not have enough money to purchase masks at this time. Authorities should provide free masks and sanitizers in front of shops for our people or supply free masks and sanitizers to people at designated locations. It will greatly assist our people,” the Leader of Opposition reiterated.

Auki market resumes normal service

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Business has resumed at the Auki market.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MANAGER of Auki Central Market in Auki, Mr James Hagi says Auki market recently resumed normal service after weeks of restrictions.

He said yesterday the market resumed service following the need for the service and a view that the situation is becoming normal.

Hagi said when Auki registered its first cases, the market management imposed certain measures on the service until.

“The first measure taken was we called off the service and shortly after we allow only certain essential sectors within the market to operate.

“Thus, with findings that the exercise has affected vendors, we later organized the market into schedule to allow other sectors to resume services on designated days.

“Hours of service also restricted to 8am-3pm for the market.

“Just recently, we called off the schedule and previous arrangement of hours for service within the market to a complete service,” he said.

On that note, Hagi said the resumption of the market service comes under very strict covid-19 measures.

He said all covid-19 basic measures must be observed whenever doing businesses within the market and they have people in place to monitor vendors and public.

Hagi called on people in Auki and the travelling public of Malaita to take all possible precautions against the virus to protect everyone while doing businesses at Auki market.

DPS Malaita calls on half-pay staff to resume duty

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

DEPUTY Provincial Secretary of Malaita province, Mr David Filia Tuita calls on unvaccinated staffs of the province to resume duty.

A number of unvaccinated staff of the province had recently left work after receiving half-pay as a consequence to the “no jab no job policy.”

He said there are about 40 and most of them are from departments within MPG that provide essential services.

He said this is a national policy and MPG is an implementer of it that needs to be clear to its staffs.

“One thing they must understand is that when they’re on half-pay, it doesn’t mean they are suspended or would stop coming to work.

“They must continue to discharge their duties or otherwise that could lead to another issue of absenteeism,” Tuita said.

He said MPG respects the rights of its staff on the vaccine; however the policy is mandatory from the national government and MPG is just an implementer of the policy.

Tuita said MPG has been lenient with its staffs on the policy so far.

He said MPG is yet to advice on the final date to action the policy; that is left upon decision from MPGIS with the Ministry of Public Service (MPS).

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