International Cooperation Department Consultant Tetsuya Ishikawa showing the progress of the project
BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO
THE project for the improvement of Honiara International Airport is progressing well with most work on the international apron now 100 percent completed.
Project manager Takeshi Iwasaki confirmed this during a site visit yesterday organised for Solomon Islands National University Students Civil Engineer students and the media.
Iwasaki said for now the focus of the work is on the international terminal building, which is the new departure terminal and on the existing terminal which will be used as an arrival terminal after its completion.
Consultant Sofuku Iwaki Gyros, second from left, accompany the students
He told Island Sun they expect to complete the airport project, funded by the Japanese Government at a cost of about $348 million, by early 2023.
Upon its completion it will be handed over to the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, which is the implementing agency.
“The work progress is going really well despite the eight months delay we experienced last year,” Iwasaki said.
He said he is looking forward to the competition of a brand new international terminal.
The consultant for the project is Gyros Corporation and the contractor is Kitano Construction Corporation.
WKK consultant Shunsuka Mori, right, provide important information to Lavan Taikao
Iwasaki said Kitano Construction has a long history of engagement in the infrastructure development of the Solomon Islands.
“We have had involved in the construction of a great number of major infrastructure projects that you can see around Honiara and in the places like Guadalcanal, Gizo and Malaita.
“Also, aside from the current Airport Project, we are also undertaking the execution of Kukum Phase 2 Road Project under the Japan Grant Aid Project,” he said.
Timothy Taukui demonstrating the making of the Ngama (torch) during the festival workshop for flying fish catching
The Ta’uika Festival, held on November 2 and 3, 2021 on Bellona Island, Rennell Bellona Province, was inaugural hosting of the annual event developed over traditional fishing practices on catching Flying Fish.
Hosted at Ahanga Beach, the western end anchorage of Bellona Island, the Ta’uika Festival 2021 arrangements surrounded the making, finalising and use of the “baka’eha”, the outrigger canoe specifically designed for flying fishing expeditions.
The baka’eha outrigger canoe took two months to prepare, and it should last between four to six years.
The finalising of the baka’eha used for the Ta’uika Festival 2021 event was deliberately set aside to be carried out during the Ta’uika Festival event – to allow young people and the public of Bellona to witness some of the finer details of traditional baka’eha canoe-making.
The complete Traditioanl Canoe for Ta’uika Fishing
As a two-day affair, the Ta’uika Festival 2021 started with an Official Opening on day-one, November 2, followed in the evening with the “Hakaanga” ritual ceremony for the “Bengo” event – the baka’eha first flying fish outing.
The Official Opening involved cultural dance performers ushering in the Festival Coordinating Team, officials and invited guests, chiefs and other community leaders of Bellona Island; the presenting of Official Opening speeches; and refreshments with cultural dance entertainment.
The Ta’uika Festival is developed by the Rock Community – one of the extended families of Matamoana village, Sa’aiho district, of West Bellona.
Participants of the Gender & Family Violence workshop
In welcoming the officials and guests at the Official Opening, Chief Kusolo Tepuke of the Rock Community explained that the main aim of this festival is to put together the opportunity for the young generation of Bellona Island to learn about traditional canoe-making, to learn the skills around making all the necessary traditional tools and equipment for flying fish catching, and especially to witness and experience the details of flying fish expeditions.
Tepuke thanked the Coordinator of the “Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies, Solomon Islands Campus, USP, Calvin Rore, for the Campus Collaboration over this festival event, and specifically acknowledged him for being present to officiate the Ta’uika Festival 2021 inauguration.
He also thanked the Centre’s film crew for filming the event for recording purposes and with intentions to develop a film documentary.
Chief Kusol Tepuke of the Rock Community welcominig offical and attendance at the Ta’uika Festival
Chief Tepuke also thanked the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, especially the Director of the Women Division, Vaela Falefehi, for responding positively to invitations to be part of the Ta’uika Festival event.
He gave a special thank you to Provincial Women Development Officer, Cyrene Vai, for being present as part of the officiating team and especially to run the Festival Event Workshop on Gender Equality and Family Abuse and Violence.
In explaining the background to the Ta’uika Festival, Tepuke thanked the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the support they gave to his community which made it possible to bring in and use the expertise of AFT Consultancy for festival coordination, and to bring in the official and technical team from the USP Culture and Art Programme for Melanesia to the event.
Tepuke mentioned that the Director of Culture is currently away in the Dubai World Expo, which impacted on the absence of the Culture Department in this event, but hoped that this departmental support will continue into the future, and departmental officials could attend the 2022 hosting of this festival.
Coordinator of the Ta’uika Festival, Angikinui Francis Tekatoha of AFT Consultancy, also welcomed the USP and Ministerial officials to Bellona Island and to the event, and explained the Ta’uika Festival purpose of addressing the concerns about the growing loss of traditional cultural knowledge, skills and expertise among their young generation.
Coordinator of the Inaudgral Ta’uika Festival Mr Angikinui Francis Tekatoha introducing the Festival during the opening ceremony
Angikinui hoped for the details around the Ta’uika Festival – the Festival Workshops, the preparations and actual Flying Fishing Expeditions, and the sharing of knowledge and skills about the making and use of fishing canoes and all equipment and tools related to Ta’uika fishing activities – to be instrumental in ensuring the passing on of relevant traditions and culture.
The Ta’uika Festival, according to Angikinui, is developed around the annual Ta’uika season in Rennell and Bellona traditions between the months of July to December, where fishing activities surround the catching of flying fish at night with the use of fire torches and mounted nets.
Angikinui clarified to the people attending the Official Opening that the event being put together as the Ta’uika Festival was not a project earmarked for Bellona Island – from government or any other organisation – and not a Research Study pushed forward by any institute.
He explained that the festival is an annual event developed by the Rock Community, and AFT Consultancy coordinating is strictly based on the commitment to ensure sustenance of traditional knowledge and skills through cultural organic applications.
In his remarks, Angikinui highlighted the Women focus of the Ta’uika Festival in acknowledgement of the direct management role of women over family affairs and community productivity throughout the Ta’uika season, while the men are continuously busy with nightly fishing outings, morning rests, and afternoon preparations.
Ms Vai presented her thank you to the Rock Community and to the festival coordinating team on behalf of the Minister and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs for the invitation to run Gender and Abuse workshops for the Ta’uika Festival inauguration.
Provinceial Women development officer Ms Cyrene Vai, Ministry of Women, Youth, Children & Family Affairs addressing the audience
This Ministry, according to Vai, looks forward to expanding the workshop programmes for this festival event in its future hosting, especially to support and strengthen the role of women in community and family management and the part played by youths and children regarding cultural learning during this event and throughout the Ta’uika season.
In his Festival Inauguration Official Opening address, Mr Rore pointed out that his introduction to the Ta’uika Festival led him to recognise the Ta’uika Flying Fish season between the months of July and December in the traditions of Rennell and Bellona islands.
This recognition, Rore explained, led to his realisation that all activities surrounding the Ta’uika Flying Fish season and expeditions are based on relevant knowledge and understandings about annual cycles of stars, moon cycles, and their implications on the characteristics of the ocean and coastal areas, and of diverse wind directions, within Rennell and Bellona traditions and culture.
Rore mentioned his appreciation of the fundamental nature of Ta’uika season and activities to Rennell and Bellona culture, and that he was excited to collaborate over the hosting of this event and to film and record its sustaining through the Ta’uika Festival.
Coordinator for Pacific Outreach Program for Melanesia – USP, Mr Calvin Rore Officially opening the Ta’uika Festival
Rore stated he is very supportive of the development and hosting of the Ta’uika Festival because it is a meaningful vehicle to use specifically for passing on traditional and cultural knowledge to the younger generation.
Day-two of the Ta’uika Festival, November 3, was focused on Workshops on Gender Equality and Family Abuse and Violence, which was put on by the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Afairs. Another set of Workshops were specifically on the skills around the making and drying of coconut leaf torches used for catching flying fish.
Cultural Dance performance during the opening ceremony
By the end of the second day the festival came to a quiet closure, a sharing of a group meal and thank yous, and promises to do this event again next year, with resolves for a bigger event.
And at this point the second Ta’uika Festival is set for a four-day event on the last week of July in 2022.
Hospital moves to replace doctors whorefuse to take COVID vaccine
By EDDIE OSIFELO
THREE top anti-vax doctors at the National Referral Hospital did not turn up for work following Government’s ‘No Jab, No Job’ policy which came into effect on November 1.
Chief Executive Officer, Dr George Malefoasi confirmed this to Island Sun yesterday.
Malefoasi said they are working on ways to replace these three top doctors.
However, he said the departments are still continuing because they have specialist consultants on the ground.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Pauline McNeil told a Radio Talkback show on Sunday that out of the 17 doctors, three of them are still to get their vaccine.
She said three of the doctors still stand on their position not to get vaccinated.
Given their strong stand not to get vaccinated, McNeil said her ministry has respected their decision to not get vaccinated, and that is their stand.
“So, we let them to take their position, and we have appealed to them to reconsider their decision.”
For health workers, she said 76.8 percent of have at least got their first dose.
“Thus, we have thanked all our health workers from Malaita that about 96 percent of them have been vaccinated with at least one dose vaccination.”
The Permanent Secretary has assured that health workers are doing very well, thus she encourages all health workers to get their jab.
MALAITA Premier Daniel Suidani and Auki police have denied any moves to overthrow Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
This was after some Government supporters claimed about 5,000 people are expected to visit Honiara after the proposed reconciliation at Aimela on November 18 to stage a protest against PM Sogavare.
A police officer in Auki said he is aware of a plan for people to come over to Honiara after the proposed reconciliation at Aimela on November 18.
But he said he is not aware of the purpose of the plan.
“We just watch the situation,” one police officer said.
Premier Suidani has denied any moves from his provincial executive to remove Prime Minister Sogavare.
Suidani said the planned reconciliation is purposely to allow tribes in Malaita to reconcile between each other in order to allow development to take place on their land.
He said it is always claimed in the media that no national development can happen on Malaita because of land dispute.
“We want to bring Malaitans together to reconcile to remove the notion of land dispute hindering developments on Malaita.
Malaita 4 Democracy is organising the planned reconciliation.
Suidani said the MARA government is not funding the reconciliation but come out from the expenses of the people.
“The tribes will bring their own food from their gardens to display during the reconciliation.
“We are not supporting it with any funding. This is happening at the initiative of M4D,” he added.
MINISTRY of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification is screening the application of Nickel Enterprise SI Limited (NESI) showing interest to do bauxite mining on West Rennell.
This comes as a so-called West Rennell Land and Resources Owners Association denounced the recent deal between the National Government and NESI.
Permanent Secretary, Dr Christopher Vehe said the company had submitted its application to the former director Nicholas Biliki.
Vehe said the application is currently going through a due diligence check on technical, financial and other requirements before it is tabled before the Mines and Mineral Board.
The West Rennell Land and Resources Owners Association claimed that NESI is the replica of Asia Pacific Investment Development’s (APID) subcontractor, Bintan Mining SI Limited.
Island Sun checked the Company Haus and found out that NESI’s two directors are Ka Chun Michael CHUI and Long Long SU.
Private lawyer, Whitlam K Togamae is NESI’s contact point.
Solomon Enterprise PTE Limited owns NESI, a Private Company Limited by Shares, incorporated on October 12, 2017 in Singapore.
Bintan Mining SI Ltd is owned by Bintan Mining Corporation, incorporated in British Virgin Islands, and registered in Hong Kong as a ‘foreign company’.
Bintan’s two directors are Grace Mercado Aquino and Kwok Fung Wai.
Permanent Secretary Vehe said there are court cases of APID for judicial review after the Mines and Mineral Board cancelled its mining licence and Registrar of Titles in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey cancelled its Perpetual Estate Title.
APID’s lawyer, Gabriel Suri said APID has challenged the cancellation of the registration of Perpetual Estate of PN. 298-005-1.
He said the parties are still waiting for a ruling.
Furthermore, he said APID appealed against the cancellation of the Mining Lease No. 1/2014 by the Minister for Mines.
He said the parties are still waiting for the court’s ruling.
Deputy Premier, Hon Glen Waneta between the two newly sworn-in ministers, Hon Simon Ke’ebo (left), Hon Jimmy Daoni (second from right) and Clerk Matthew Maefai (right).
The Ministry of Provincial Governments and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) has dismissed an Island Sun report that claimed Minister Rollen Seleso delays the endorsement of MARA Government appointments.
In a statement, the MPGIS said it has already engaged in the process of formally appointing new ministers submitted by Premier Daniel Suidani.
“But unlike Choiseul Province, the documents from the Malaita Assembly are incomplete,” the statement said.
“The Assembly Clerk only submitted a basic cover letter listing the names of newly appointed executive members plus a copy of an appointment gazette draft, but no further details,” it added.
“We are still waiting for individual copies of sworn statements and details of Executive members before we can confirm with AG Chambers to proceed with the draft Gazette instrument.
“These are basic administration matters and Minister Seleso has already given instructions for the formal appointments weeks ago.”
The statement said in the case of Choiseul Provincial, the Clerk had submitted all required signed documents including signed copies of swearing-in documents by the minister of the new executive members under their new Premier, upon which the Minister duly appointed.
“We are yet to receive signed sworn copies from Malaita Province despite sending an email to the clerk and his assistant officer,” the statement said.
“The premier should not be worried.
“He should proceed with his Provincial Government’s business and not to worry about administrative matters.
“The Minister has already given his approval and the Gazette should take place once the draft in finalized from the AG Chambers,” the statement added.
It said this case should not be confused with similar cases when the premier was overseas and under quarantine.
“Those previous cases should be clarified by our laws or courts.
“But the requests when the Premier is in the country are straight forward. The Ministry will process as instructed by the Minister.”
SECREATRY to Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers is calling on everyone in the country, church members in particular, to get their vaccination.
Rodgers made the call following reports that COVID-19 deaths in Fiji are mostly church members and leader.
“The plea from me to everyone in the country and in particular our church members, please take this seriously,” Rodgers said in a talk-back show, Sunday.
“I think there could be theological debate on whether this is right or wrong,” he added.
“There are some that says this is the mark of the beast (666)
“Let me ask you all, if COVID-19 is the mark of the beast then what is the measles vaccine?
“What is the tetanus vaccine? What is the Tuberculosis vaccine?”
Rodgers stressed these are the vaccines that save the people and the children of this country exactly the same way as COVID-19 vaccine is.
“COVID-19 vaccine is not the mark of the beast it is God that give us the wisdom to make sure we have something that protect his creation which is you and me.
“So let us not interpret this wrongly.
“I beg you, please do not use knowledge that maybe misdirected so that we convinced people not protect themselves.
THE third COVID-19 vaccine to be introduced in the country, the Pfizer vaccine, is confirmed to arrive today.
Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health, Pauline McNeil announced this Sunday.
“We will receive 100 thousand doses of Pfizer vaccine this week on Tuesday (today),” she said.
“We are looking forward to receiving Pfizer vaccine especially for less than 18 to 12 years and above and pregnant women.”
McNeil stressed for now the Ministry of Health has been working closely with Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development to map out to administer COVID-19 doses in schools.
That is still an ongoing discussion.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Friday 12th November confirmed in his national address that Pfizer vaccine will arrive in the country today.
Sogavare said Pfizer have been approved by the World Health Organisation for Emergency use for all persons 12 years and above.
He said that rollout will commence in Honiara and slowly expand to the provinces.
THE unusual king tide which affects low lying islands in the country has forced Transfiguration Church at Fishing Village, Western province, to skip one of its programme.
Speaking to Island Sun Gizo, church member Emma Edau said for the past few weeks their church has been filled with salt water due to the high tide.
This has forced the church to postpone their programmes.
“As strong Christians we normally gather together in our church for prayer daily, but this unusual tide has stopped us from going to church.
“Our church leaders encouraged us to pray in our household and that is what we do at the moment,” Edau said.
Island Sun understands that the Fishing Village is vulnerable to sea level rise.
The village is sitting on coral stones filled with ground in a muddy mangrove area.
Residents of the village have been filling ground in an effort to raise the ground few metres above sea level.
Neighbouring villages have also been reported to be affected by the king tide.
Report reaching this paper says the tide has also flooded few houses during high tides at Nusabaruku village.
The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) is undertaking fundamental reforms to keep up with change amidst increasing demands for better service delivery to all Solomon Islanders.
These reforms include;
Development of the MRD new information/database management system to track, capture and store information on the progress of projects under Constituency Development Fund (CDF) program in order to promote accountability and transparency.
Constituency Planning Strengthening Project (CPSP) which aimed at improving the CDF accountability for sustainable development results.
MRD functional review which is currently proceeding to assess practical efficiencies and effectiveness of the ministry in fulfilling its mandate.
“Government through the ministry is determined to improve the effectiveness of the CDF and to deliver sustainable development results through these reform initiatives,” Permanent Secretary Allan Daonga said in a statement.
MRD is one of the government’s line ministries mandated for the management and administration of CDF and supporting socio-economic rural development within the 50 constituencies throughout Solomon Islands.
“The CDF programme constitute nearly a quarter of the government overall development budget allocations annually. However, there is no proper tracking mechanism to be able to track the progress of the projects under this program in order to promote accountability and transparency.
“Also, there is no reporting mechanism to guide government policies regarding the program. Therefore, MRD through its management has listed the development of this Information Management System that would help address the aforementioned shortfalls in its capabilities,” Daonga emphasised.
On the reforms of Constituency Planning Strengthening Project (CPSP) the Permanent Secretary said that MRD is taking a leading role in reforming the constituency planning process to ensure its priorities are consistent with the National Development Strategy (NDS) Objectives and other related international and regional strategies including the Sustainable Development Goals that Solomon Islands has subscribed to by 2030.
“Strengthening the planning and institutional arrangements are fundamental to address the current situation and must be championed at both the constituency and national levels.
“Provisioned under the Legal Notice 164 and the CDF Act 2013, MRD is responsible for the coordination of the RCDF in close collaboration with 50 constituencies towards delivering tangible development results in the rural areas.
“The CDF Act Section 6, emphasize the need to have Constituency Development Plans developed to guide the distribution of the CDF.
“However, the enforcement of the CDF Act is limited as regulations accompanying the CDF Act is yet to be gazetted. Despite of the level of funding provided, there is very little information on how RCDF funds are used and in what manner it is allocated for development purposes at the constituency level.
“So, CPSP once implemented sequentially would realise the overall goal of the program which is, “to improve the CDF accountability for sustainable development results.”
The third fundamental reform which currently undertaken by MRD is the functional review.
A fulfilment of the reforms is the establishment of the Communication and Public Relations Unit of the ministry.
“The Functional Review will assess functional efficiencies and effectiveness of MRD in fulfilling its mandate, specifically how the different Units within Rural Development Division function to deliver the overall mandate of the Ministry,” Daonga said.
The review also asses the other departments within the ministry on the same.
The Permanent Secretary is adamant that the revised structure will position the Ministry to best deliver its key mandates, the Corporate Plan performance indicators, NDS implementation and DCGA Reprioritisation Policy priorities that will enhance delivery of services to the people of Solomon Islands.
MRD vision is to ensure all rural Solomon Islanders become meaningfully participated in development activities to improve their social and economic livelihood.
