A tone has been set for future dialogue between the national government and the Malaita Provincial Government.
This has been achieved after a meeting on 22nd of December 2021 between a national government delegation and Malaita Provincial Government (MPG) delegates at the Malaita provincial capital, Auki.
A Government statement says the national government delegation was led by Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), Stanley Pirione.
Representing MPG were Premier Daniel Suidani, his nine executive members and Deputy Provincial Secretary (DPS) MPG.
The meeting proceeded despite a slight hiccup where members of the now unlawful society M4D have blocked the government officials from entering the meeting venue at Auki Provincial Town.
The national government delegation met with Premier Suidani and executive and the agendas included;
MPGIS and Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) internal matters with MPG,
MPGIS- Community Governance and Grievance Management project (CGGMP) meeting with MPG on the future of the program in Malaita Province and
To discuss ways in which the current political impasse can be resolved and how best both the national government and MPG can work together in ironing out issues for a way forward thru dialogue, consultation and meetings.
After the meeting resolutions were reached and these including MPG will meet in the first quarter of 2022 “…to organize itself and submit possible resolutions to pave a way forward for future discussions”.
“We look forward for submissions by the first quarter of 2022 from the MARA Government,” the government statement said.
The Malaita Provincial Government is encouraged to utilize this approach since it is the best way forward, it emphasised.
The Malaita Alliance for Rural Advancement (MARA) government was given the freedom to choose the mode or form of dialogue, or meeting or consultation.
MPGIS stands ready to facilitate such meeting upon request.
MARA government is also directed to channel any urgent matters to MPGIS.
The National Government through the MPGIS also reaffirmed its support to provinces “…including the Malaita Provincial government on its mandated functions as required under the Solomon Islands National Constitution and the Provincial Government Act 1997”.
It appeals for understanding and support from all stakeholders and encourages Malaita Church leaders to pray for a peaceful solution concerning MARA and SIG.
AUKI police have reported a peaceful New Year celebration in the provincial town and across Malaita.
Police Operation Manager Michael Ramosaea thanked the public for the good behavior shown during the New Year celebration.
He says police activated their operations during the Christmas and New Year sessions and that there were no reports of any major incidents.
“In fact there was peaceful celebrations in Auki and across the province,” Ramosaea said.
He added there were minor incidents that were alcohol related, but these were brought under control with the help of community leaders. Apart from those, he said there was a stabbing incident in west Kwaio and an incident involving a boat travelling from Ndai island to Malu’u.
The boat experienced mechanical issues and was floating outside the waters before it was rescued at Ata’a.
The police operation manager said people occupied their celebrations with sports and church activities.
AUKI provincial police have found a 30hp outboat motor engine outside Ataa with four children and an adult male from Ndai on Saturday last week.
The boat was found drifting after it encountered mechanical problem while on its way to Malu’u.
Auki Police Operation Manager Michael Ramosaea says the boat was found and everyone onboard was fine
He says after the skipper (adult man) made several attempts to fix the problem and nothing works, the boat was drifting only with the hope to be seen and rescued.
He says luckily, they received coverage signals from one of the towers within Lau area and they alerted relatives in Honiara on the situation.
Ramosaea says from Honiara, a report was conveyed to them and they immediately deployed a search mission on the afternoon of the day to look out for the boat.
He says the search started at Malu’u area and into Lau lagoon as far as Ataa where the boat was found around into the night.
Meanwhile, Ramosaea reminds the public to check their boats well before travelling out to avoid incidents like this.
AUKI police have arrested a man in his 40s yesterday over allegations he raped his two step daughters.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested with the help of relatives.
Auki Police Operation Manager, Michael Ramosaea, says the suspect is from one of the villages in the interior of West Kwara’ae.
Ramosaea said police will allege the suspect on a number of occasions threatened the girls, aged 17 and 15, with knives and forced them to have sex with him.
He said this has been going on for a while until recently when the girls and their mother alerted relatives about it, who in turn reported it to the police and the Malaita Christian Care Centre, where the girls are being kept for counselling.
Ramosaea says the practice continues until recently the victims and their mother alerted their relatives on the matter.
“The suspect is remanded in police custody and he will face charges of incest, defilement and rape,” Ramosaea said.
He calls on relatives of parties to remain calm and allow the matter to be dealt with by the law.
He warns police will not tolerate any unlawful actions that may arise from this incident.
CHC project officer, Andrew, MRD officer Kerly Arthur Kemaiki and Babra Maomaeasi from Kaibia community in front of her family canteen supported by CDF assistance. On the right is Principal Rural Development officer and M&E team leader for Honiara, Kejoa Para.
The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) through its Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Unit has successfully concluded its Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) 2020 funded projects in Central Honiara Constituency (CHC) recently.
The monitoring activity was a success, despite the recent unrest in the capital City that forced the ministry to halt M&E for East and West Honiara constituencies for this year, 2022.
The objectives of the M&E were:
To verify the implementation status of projects funded by CDF program in the constituency in 2020.
To establish community participation in the CDF funded projects in the constituency.
To investigate the level of awareness of CDF among community members.
To determine the level of satisfaction of community members in CDF funded projects.
“Constituency monitoring of CDF projects is part of the ministry’s ongoing activity on CDF funded programmes being implemented within the 50 constituencies,” a statement from the ministry said.
Chief Kokem Noga from Yellow Bamboo Community at New Zealand Camp, Constituency Project Officer for CHC, Andrew and Principal Rural Development officer and M&E team leader for Honiara, Kejoa Para at a water supply project funded by Central Honiara Constituency with PRC CDF assistance. The project worth $12,000. Over 50 households benefited from the project.
“With financial support from government in 2021 for Monitoring of CDF projects, it enabled officers to carry out the activity which focus mostly on projects funded by the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) including the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) CDF funded projects for 2020,” the statement added.
The statement said that relevant data/information collected will support the ministry in its undertaking to assess status of projects and impact’s the fund (CDF) have on the lives of constituents.
“Not only the data collected is important but gathering evidences on the ground by officers that constituencies utilized the funds as intended is paramount.
CHC housing assistance project delivery in full swing. Pictured is the delivery of timbers, full skeleton for a two-bedroom house for Stephen Aofia at Jericho community as witnessed by M&E officers.
“There are positive and negative responses we have received and that is the main purpose of the activity, to get comments/feedbacks, so that we can draw up recommendations for improvement and consider a way forward to guarantee every Solomon islander participated meaningfully in socio-economic development activities.”
MRD thanked the CHC administration office, beneficiaries of the fund and communities in the constituency for the support rendered towards officers that resulted in the success of the monitoring survey.
Given the challenges CHC office faced in relation to its growing population and budget constraints to fully assist the development initiatives within the constituency, the team however, witnessed important infrastructure and socio-economic developments evolving within in the constituency.
Some of the development initiatives witnessed by the M&E team include;
• Construction of a permanent guest house for Matariu SSEC Church.
• Development of a standard soccer field, 40mx80m at Jericho 2. Work in progress.
• Construction of a water supply project for Yellow Bamboo Community at New Zealand Camp.
• Supports livelihoods by assisting constituents with financial support to engage in small income generating projects such as canteen, poultry, piggery, fishery, transport, tailoring as well as education (school fees) to name a few.
Delivery of timbers, full skeleton for a two-bedroom house at Jericho community. This was funded by CHC with CDF money.
Similar activity was conducted in Ngella Constituency in Central Island Province and Gao-Bugotu Constituency in Isabel Province.
However, due to the recent unrest in Honiara City, East and West Honiara Constituencies, Savo-Russell Constituency, Central Guadalcanal and Northeast Guadalcanal Constituencies in Guadalcanal Province as earlier planned for the M&E has been halted for this year 2022 on a date yet to be confirmed and will be covered with the remaining constituencies across the country.
Alfred Efona is the current Member of Parliament (MP) for CHC. He replaced former MP John Moffat Fugui who lost the seat through a petition in the high court of Solomon Islands in early 2020.
Efona was the petitioner.
Government through MRD supported the M&E activity.
CHC also supported poultry farmers.
SIG CDF allocation for Central Honiara Constituency for year, 2020 was 3 million. Allocation by sectors showed $1,171,385.00 allocated for General, which include Administration and Logistics, Education, Empowerment of Women, Youths, Sports, Medical/health and General Assistance while, $1,828,615.00 apportioned for Infrastructure/Housing Scheme which include housing Hardware Materials plus Poly pipe rolls of different sizes.
The constituency was also allocated in 2020 the PRC CDF support of $1.8m to fund income generating, community infrastructure projects such as education and health facilities and community water and sanitation projects.
MRD is fully committed to see that all rural Solomon Islanders become meaningfully participated in development activities to improve their social and economic livelihoods.
WANT to hide away with your family during holidays?
Epanga Island Resort is the perfect place and the best choice.
Epanga Island Resort is less than 10 minutes boat ride from Gizo. You can enjoy the view overlooking Kolombangara, more importantly the popular John F Kennedy Island.
The resort has four accommodations, all of which are designed for both single persons and families. There is also a conference room that can accommodate up to fifty participants.
The welcome signboard at Epanga
It has a bar and huts where guests can wind down their evening while watching boats cruising by, birds dancing around schools of fish and the sun slowly disappearing on the horizon.
A built-in timber jetty close to the huts is a perfect spot for children to enjoy themselves jumping to the sea with parents’ supervision.
An open space for picnic or conference
Hospitality is not an issue. The owner is Austin Beto and his family have the expertise to treat visiting guests with absolute generosity.
According to Beto, Epanga is also part of the government travel bubble known as the “Umi Holiday Package” but only few guests have enjoyed their time at the resort.
Epanga Island Resort Bar
“We received less than five guests coming to our resort under the Umi Holiday initiative and they enjoyed their time here.
“One family in particular came back for the second time here and I think they really like it here,” he said.
Being part of the Umi Holiday initiative was not that impactful for Epanga Resort, but that doesn’t matter.
Local guests always stormed the resort nearly every week enjoying themselves with cool beers before heading to their respective destinations.
“The bar and the leaf huts are two important assets that I have at the moment,” said Beto.
Owner of Epanga Island Resort Austin Beto
“Boats pull up at our jetty every week with guests trying to enjoy few beers in our huts. Our guests are top priority so we open the bar anytime when guests request to do so,” he added.
Beto said Epanga Island Resort has come a long way and is slowly developing into a perfect environment that would add value to services.
St Luke Sunday School recently host their picnic at Epanga Island Resort.
He said the future plan includes setting up a snooker table, dart and another bar for people who are interested in playing the games while enjoying their evening.
“I want to accomplish many things but I don’t have the fund to do so. It is pain taking to see the pace of development on my resort but I accept the fact that I’m not financially capable to do all I want one time. I hope and pray that one day my vision will come to fruitful,” Beto said.
St Luke Youths enjoy their lunch at the Jetty
Like any other tourism operators in Solomon Islands, Epanga is not immune to the economic impact of COVID-19.
Beto said everything has been slow and I understand what he (Beto) meant was, that the income was low, low turnover of visitors due to border restrictions and overall the incapability of the country’s economy to assist private sectors.
At 80 years of age, soft spoken Beto is still hoping the situation will return to normal soon so that business will be good again.
PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has confirmed that booster doses have commenced on frontline workers using the Pfizer vaccine to further strengthen their protection against the Omicron and Delta variants of COVID-19.
In his nation-wide address yesterday he said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stressed that it is important to be vaccinated to protect against the other widely circulating variants such as the Delta variant.
PM Sogavare said, “So fellow citizens, make sure to get vaccinated. If your vaccination involves two doses, it is important to receive both doses to have the maximum protection.
“We are still witnessing the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in Australia and other neighbouring countries.
“It has the same potential to spread very quickly in Solomon Islands because our vaccination rate is extremely low.
“More than 82 percent of our population is not protected because they are not fully vaccinated or not vaccinated at all.
“If Community transmission occurs in Solomon Islands, we will see a lot more suffering and deaths.
“Information is still limited, but there may be a small reduction in the effectiveness of vaccines against 5 this new variant. However, WHO reports that the currently available vaccines offer significant protection against severe disease and death,” Sogavare said.
He said researchers are still looking into the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron variant.
THE National Referral Hospital will not have the capacity to care for covid-19 patients in any case of a covid-19 break-out.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare confirmed this during his nation-wide address yesterday.
“If Community transmission occurs in Solomon Islands, we will see a lot more suffering and deaths.
“The NRH does not have the capacity to look after large numbers of people infected by COVID-19. In fact, I have been advised that we must not bring covid-19 patients to the NRH simply because it will spread very quickly among patients in the hospital due to their already compromised immune status,” Sogavare said.
“This simply means that most COVID-19 infected people will remain in their own homes.
“This will spread the infection to everyone else in the household. Many of the unvaccinated people will get infected, many will get seriously ill and sadly, many could die.
“I have been asking you all to get vaccinated since we launched our COVID-19 vaccination program in March this year. Sadly, only 18% of the population listened and got fully vaccinated. Another 29% came for their first doses. These people must take their second doses as soon as their due dates come because one dose does not protect you from COVID-19.
“Today, I again, ask all members of the public to ensure you are fully vaccinated. That is the only proven way to protect yourselves, your families, and your communities from COVID-19,” Sogavare said
COMMUNITIES in Marovo Lagoon, Western Province have celebrated Christmas in style.
Boats were decorated with Christmas colors and paraded the lagoon on Christmas Day.
In a brief comment to Island Sun Gizo, Don Harry Kereseka Report said that the event was held to mark a special event so dear to the communities called the Sea Festival.
He said the festival which started back in 2017 has attracted families and friends who work and live in other parts of the country so as overseas to return home every Christmas to be part of the festival.
A glimpse of the Sea Festival at Marovo Lagoon
Kereseka said the festival aimed to unite communities and at the same time gave an opportunity for people to reflect in search of better approach to live in harmony.
“But basically it’s a one high light to open up sea festive and Christmas game. The sea festival parade hem been on for years now since 2017 and gain popularity.
“It raise interest for families and even friends to return home where everyone look forward like every other communities around the country too.
Another boat decorated with Christmas color ready for the parade
“The aim is to unit and have our community live a harmonious living with us and also with diverse of people we have through intermarriage and also friends invited to come home,” he said.
Kereseka said the organizers are looking at hosting a bigger event in the future.
