Bomb that was safely remove to Hells Point for render safe.
The police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team removed a US 650lb bomb under a residence at Titinge village in West Honiara on October 6, 2021.
Officer in-charge of the EOD team, Inspector Clifford Tunuki says, “The EOD team have conducted a two day operation to safely unearth and remove the US 650lb depth bomb to Hells Point.
“The bomb was initially discovered by the owner of the residence whilst digging a hole to replace old floor posts.
“According to the owner of the residence, they built their house in 2015 and not knowing there is a bomb beneath the ground. This was until when they decided to replace the posts and they discovered the bomb.
“This type of bomb is usually dropped from planes and weighs about 300 kg. Our team has been vigilant to ensure safety of the Titinge and surrounding communities is always of paramount importance.
“The resident is now safe as the bomb is currently at our facility for further disposal and I wish to thank the Titinge community for their cooperation and the resident owner for mutual understanding to stay away whilst the team unearthed and relocated the bomb to our facility.”
It is advisable that if you sighted any bomb or UXO; stop whatever earth works you are doing and report it to the Police toll free line on 999 or any nearest Police Stations or you may call directly to our EOD mobile on 7495215.
Stakeholders who attend the event yesterday where they discussed issues of children.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
FOUR stakeholders have highlighted their different roles in dealing with child and children in the country.
Empower Pacific, Family Support Centre, Seif Ples, Plan International and Honiara City Council Youth Division explained their work during the “Building Safe Environments for Children and Young People in Solomon Islands: Local Partners Even” in Honiara yesterday.
Dalcy Viuru of Empower Pacific said they provide mainly counselling and social services in partnership with Seif Ples.
According to its website, the Empower Pacific Branch has been providing Counselling services since 2016.
The branch is located in Honiara National Referral Hospital.
Currently, Empower Pacific Solomon Island counselling programs are being funded by ChildFund and the University of the South Pacific (USP).
The counsellors also provide training and counselling to the staff and in-patients at the Ministry of Health – National Referral Hospital. One to one counselling sessions and trainings are conducted for issues such as Depression, Anxiety, Stress, NCDs (Diabetes, High Blood Pressure), Amputations, Mental Health Care, Grief and Loss.
Furthermore, Lorio Sisiolo of FSC said they provide counselling, free legal information and legal representation in court for clients.
She said currently there is no hotline at FSC and counselling service has stopped at the moment.
Sisiolo said there is a child friendly space at the Centre following the SEED project which started in July this year.
Currently, there are nine FSC committees in the provinces with Western province (Gizo, Noro), Isabel (Buala and Kolotobi), Central Province (Tulagi), Guadalcanal (Marau), Makira (Kirakira) and Temotu (Lata and Neo).
Further to that, Lorah Etega of Seif Ples said it is a multi-sectoral agency that links with Ministry of Police, National Security and Correction Service and Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
She said the Police comes in the legal side with help of Criminal Investigation Department and Sexual Assault Unit and Ministry of Health assists with doctor to help victims.
Etega said between 2014-2021, about 80 percent to 90 percent of children accompanied their mothers to Seif Ples.
She said the adults were only 10 percent to 20 percent.
Further to that, she said 54 percent below 15 years old were victims of rape and 46 percent above 15 years.
Etega said with funding assistance, Seif Ples has created a child friendly environment by providing toys and other stuffs to keep children busy while staying with their mothers.
On the other hand, Plan International Solomon Islands has helped youths in Solomon Islands through the Growing Up Online.
This was a series of workshops and activities around online safety as part of the National Youth Forum on Cyber Safety.
This came about after in October 2020, Plan International Australia, ChildFund Australia and Western Sydney University, funded by the Australian Government, launched Online Safety in the Pacific.
This was a report highlighting the challenges and opportunities children’s technology use presents in the Pacific.
In addition, the Honiara City Council’s Youth Division in partnership with ChildFund New Zealand have launched the Tokspot in April this year.
It came about following a number of research and consultations conducted in Honiara showing that “social and emotional wellbeing of youth was consistently raised”.
The five years project will provide specific needs for youths, counselling, capacity building, training opportunities for up to 70 youth workers and eight counsellors.
All four stakeholders have work in collaboration with ChildFund Australia and ChildFund New Zealand.
THE fog has just cleared as Walter Ara begins his steep climb up the hills behind his village.
After every five minutes he stops to catch his breath in between smoking tobacco from his pipe. He is a late starter, leaving his home around 9am to find that most of his village folks are well buried in their gardens.
Mr Ara’s working days revolve around providing for his family from his garden and tending to his kava plants scattered around the hills behind his village.
For him, Kava is gold.
From six harvests in the past 10 years, Mr Ara has built a small fortune for himself and his family.
“You see the three permanent houses over there, I built them from the money I got from selling my kava products,” Mr Ara proudly exclaimed as he pointed to three neatly placed structures tucked away in the corner of the village.
Mr Ara is from Aitolo village, located in the Highlands of Central Kwara’ae, Malaita province. He started planting kava in 2011 and since then has amassed close to 2000 plants in his garden.
Aitolo village on the highlands of central Kwara’ae. PHOTO BRIAN LEZUTUNI
In the last few years, kava planting has taken a great leap forward in the Solomon Islands. The Highlands region of Malaita was part of the revolution gripping the country.
On Malaita Island alone, local agriculture expert, Ledley Diudi estimates that there could be up to 1 million kava plants.
Mr Diudi is a recently retired public servant, who used to work with the Malaita Agriculture department. When Island Sun spoke with him he was engaged with the Provincial Government on a contractual basis.
Malaita Agriculture Consultant, Ledley Diudi
He has seen the excitement as people on the Island got caught up in the kava hype and the benefits people in rural communities have achieved from their kava sales.
From three communities he has worked with in the past years there were up to 400,000 plants shared between the villages.
But he warned that the excitement can be short-lived if issues relating to market are not addressed in the immediate future.
“A lot of times when these farmers go over to Honiara to sell their products to big kava buyers such as Varivao and Kubonito, there would be no money to buy their products,” Mr Diudi emphasised.
There is fear in the minds of those involved in kava over the years, that the recent big increase in supply to a competitive industry will crash prices or bring the market to a halt.
And no one knows the market best than Varivao holdings. In July it suspended buying kava due to the bottle-neck demand in the international market.
“The kava famers keep coming but I told them to wait a little bit as we face market challenges overseas, we face exporting competition as well from our regional neighbours,” General Manager of the Varivao Holdings Company, Benjamin Hageria told Island Sun.
He welcomed Australia’s recent announcement that its trial commercial importation of kava could start in the latter part of 2021.
The costly journey Malaita kava farmers make to Honiara has seen local entrepreneurs stepping up to address the needs of those back home.
One such company is Solomon Organic Kava.
It was established in January this year and is buying kava for export to Kiribati.
David Mani who works as a grading officer with the company said their clients come from all over Malaita province.
“We buy gold green kava at $150 per kilo and gold yellow at $160 per kilo,” Mr Mani told Island Sun.
Mr Mani admits that despite the enthusiasm around the product, the company is taking small steps one at a time.
Solomon Organic Kava officer David Mani with kava products
So far, the company has exported three shipments, the first one being 80 kilogram, then 180 kilogram and topping it off with 300 kilograms exported in July.
“Everyday people come to sell kava and with our new pounding machine and according to our boss, we are going to expand in the future,” Mr Mani enthusiastically told Island Sun.
People like Silas Su’ufua from Gwounafou village, East Kwara’ae, are thankful that companies such as Solomon Organic Kava are on Malaita, saving costs associated with travelling to Honiara to sell their products.
On the day we caught up with him at the Solomon Organic Kava shed, Mr Su’ufua was all smiles as he was $1440 richer from the 9 kilogram of kava he has just sold.
“I started in 2015 and now I’m enjoying the rewards of my sacrifice, my whole village are into kava, even the little children,” he added.
Silas Su’ufua with kava samples sold at the Solomon Organic Kava in Auki
For Mr Ara and his villagers at Aitolo and similar communities around Malaita, Kava is a commodity that has helped improved standards of living.
Mr Ara had already completed two homes and was working on completing his third when Island Sun visited the village in August.
“I built the houses for myself, my sons and their families,” he stated confidently.
Walter Ara infront of one of his three houses built from kava money.
One of his sons, Wilfred Ara, used to work in Honiara as a mechanic before returning in 2019 after seeing the success of his father.
Now he has around 400 kava plants in his garden and is looking to expand and build a future for his family.
Malaita Agriculture expert, Mr Diudi said communities who have planted more than 100,000 kava plants are seeing the benefits.
He said nearly all the villages have permanent houses, a sign of wealth in the rural setting.
“Kava is good news for the province, people are into it but the market issue needs to be addressed,” he added.
Kava plants on Aitolo village
Island Sun understands that the USA-funded Strengthening Competitiveness, Agribusiness, Livelihoods and Environment (SCALE) program will provide assistance to local farmers and that farmers on Malaita will be a priority.
Winrock International, a not-for-profit development organization, is one of the five partners in the program.
It will be looking at how best to support kava growers in Malaita to produce not only quantity but also quality as well as to access the international market.
From left AG John Muria Jnr, Minister of Education Lanelle Tanangada and Prime Minister attending the School's 75th Anniversary celebration
PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has paid tribute to St Joseph’s Catholic National Secondary School as a learning institution that has played a pivotal role in educating Solomon Islanders.
Speaking during the school’s 75th Anniversary celebrations today, the Prime Minister said as we reflect on the past, we note with great admiration the resilience, growth and success of St. Joseph’s Tenaru over the last 75 years.
“Many Solomon Islanders both men and women from all walks life has risen through the ranks and are now holding prominent responsibilities both in the public and private sectors,” he said.
Fromer scholars Ezekiel Alebua, Joseph Huta and Paul Kukuteé celebrating the 75th Aniversary
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to some of the country’s great leaders who were former students of the school.
“Some of these great leaders have since left us and they are former Governor General Sir George Lepping, former Speaker of the National Parliament, Sir Paul Tovua and former Prime Minister, Bartholomeu Ulufa’alu,” he said.
Prime Minister Sogavare also acknowledged some of the pioneer leaders that are still around such as former Prime Minister, Hon Ezekiel Alebua and first local Chief Justice, Sir John Muria.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare greets former scholars of St Joseph’s and former Prime Minister Ezekiel Alebua and Victor Ngele
“This great school has also given this country great men and women who have served this country across various professions in both the public and private sector. Even today, we have many former scholars holding senior positions in Government, private and the community,” he said.
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to also acknowledge and recognize the contributions and roles played by the religious missionaries that helped in the education of Solomon Islanders.
“This country owes you a debt of gratitude. Thank you for your service to our country,” he said.
Prime Minister Sogavare also made special mention of the Marist Brothers and Marist Fathers, plus other religious congregations that helped founded the school and other schools around the country.
Paramount Chief Walter Naezon presenting a chupu for the school
“These Leaders and the early Missionaries through their hard work, sacrifice, commitment and professionalism have laid the foundation and planted the seed which our country now enjoys,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Sogavare said the challenge now is to nurture this close collaboration between the Government and Churches to advance and progress our country for a joyful, peaceful and prosperous Solomon Islands.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has also paid tribute to the traditional landowners of Malango and the people of Guadalcanal for hosting the school for the past 75 years.
Islanders students providing entertainments
“I thank you for being an understanding and respectful host to this great institute of education, a nurturing ground of leaders past, present and of course for the future,” Prime Minister Sogavare said when recognizing the Malango House of Chiefs in his speech.
The theme for the celebrations is “Recalling our Past, Forming Our Today, and Shaping Our Future’’.
St Joseph Tenaru School principal Abraham Hihiru calls on former and current students to become educators of the 21st century that would communicate meaning and transforms society.
He made the call during the school’s opening of its three-day 75th Anniversary yesterday.
Hihiru said today, the responsibilities to educate and build the nation falls on the shoulders of former scholars and current students.
“St Joseph’s is calling on all of you today to become educators of the 21st century,” Hihiru said.
North Malaita cultural group performing their item
“The invitation for you to become an educator does not require you to step into the classroom,” he added.
“No, by the vesture of your vocation, you are called to become educators in your own field of expertise.”
Hihiru said some were called to become lawyers, doctors, accountants, politicians, engineers, bankers, priests, pastors, managers, scholars or parents but the question is how do each one lives up to as educators of the 21st century.
He said the answer to this question lies very much on how well each one leads their vacation in discharging their duties and responsibilities in ways that would communicate meaning and transforms society.
“To me this is what it means to be an educator in the 21st century.
“Hence, I would like to argue that in every context we find ourselves in, we are either building a nation or destroying a country,” he said.
Hihiru said as St Joseph’s celebrates its 75th Anniversary, the school has provided equal opportunities for Solomon Islanders to access quality education.
He said St Joseph is the only Catholic National Secondary school in the country that provides 64 percent Catholic and 34 non-Catholic students while for teachers they have 50 percent Catholic and 50 Percent non-Catholics.
He said these statistics revealed that St Joseph’s is very much inter-denominational and ecumenical.
Part of the crowd attending the celebration
In terms of academic, he said the school has continued to produce very good results reaching the 70-90 percent pass rate but that should not measure the greatness of the school.
He said the greatness of the school should be measured by positive changes taking place in society due to the work of former students.
“As former scholars of the schools, how much do we contribute in improving the living standards of the ordinary people in our community?”
He said in view of that he believes the school has achieved its objectives to continue educate and form leaders who are willing to offer their service in advancing the interest of the country.
He acknowledges the founders and pioneers of the school for building a strong foundation of the school for the last past 75 years.
He said without their visions those who attained their education at St Joseph’s would not be who there are today.
Hihiru also extends his acknowledgement to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare for gracing their school’s 75th Anniversary and the government for continuous support to the school.
A huge reception is being planned to welcome premier Daniel Suidani when he arrives in provincial capital Auki.
Suidani is expected to leave the GBR Quarantine facility tomorrow.
The Auki reception is organised by Malaita For Democracy (M4D) and members of the public to receive the provincial leader after his successful medical trip overseas.
Suidani and delegation arrived on September 17 and underwent 21 days mandatory quarantine in Honiara.
According to a plan schedule, Suidani and delegation will be met by members of his executive led by traditional dancers and pan-pipers upon his arrival at Auki wharf on Monday, October 11.
The procession will continue from the wharf into Auki town where the official programme will be held, including speeches from acting premier Lenty, premier Suidani and his advisor.
The ceremony will end with a few remarks from president of M4D and entertainment from traditional dancing groups.
In Honiara, it’s understood Malaitans are planning to meet Suidani outside the GRB Quarantine facility when he comes out.
Since last month, the Suidani-led MARA government has been faced with political upheaval after the sacking of his former deputy premier and the resignation of six of his executive members.
The upheaval still remains as tug of war continue to exert between his government and the non-executive side of the assembly and even the national government.
The public of Auki hope that his arrival back home will have an impact on resolving the current situation.
An overwhelmng turn-out for the vaccination launch in Auki.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Wale is urging communities in Malaita to take up vaccination due to the slow roll out there.
This is in light of the overall slow roll out in the whole country.
Speaking at the special adjournment in Parliament yesterday, Wale said there is a need to double, may be even triple the resources allocated to this all important aspect of our preparedness.
“I call on communities that have misgivings about the vaccines to at least be open to an honest facts based conversation about them.
“I especially call on Malaita communities that I hear are resisting vaccination to accept a process of dialogue about their fears to ensure that the safety of the country is not jeopardized by the irrational fears of some,” he said.
“I am aware that in Malaita some have been spreading alarm about the vaccines based on fearmongering that is probably driven by political paranoia.
“I call on all such people to embrace the facts and science about vaccines, and allow all eligible Malaitans to receive the vaccines,” he said.
Furthermore, Wale said the government must urgently also roll-out vaccines for 12 to 17 year olds.
He said this is such a sizeable chunk of our demographics, so that they are able to realistically aim for 90% of our population.
In addition, Wale said the healthcare system is at breaking point, even without having to cope with community transmission of covid-19.
He said the Health committee’s report on the implementation of the 2009 recommendations show there are serious structural weaknesses in our healthcare system, particularly at the NRH.
“These matters have been postponed for so many years.
“How many more years should government postpone action on these matters for?” he asked.
“Who should be held accountable for this neglect?
“Nobody in government seems to take responsibility for this very important matter. No amount of drip feeding of resources will address these issues,” he said.
Wale said the current healthcare system was crafted in the 1970s for a national population of around 200,000.
He said there is need for serious significant investment in the healthcare sector which must include radical structural reforms to give the country any realistic chance of having a better quality healthcare system.
A recent mining exploration on Isabel Province. Photo by Axiom Mining Solomon Islands.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
OPPOSITION Leader, Mathew Wale calls on the Government to place an indefinite moratorium on mining licenses.
He said the moratorium must cover both prospecting and mining leases until a new legislation has been passed in parliament or at the very least that the weaknesses in the current law are rectified.
Speaking at the Special Adjournment motion in Parliament yesterday, Wale said the first-come-first-served rule in the current law is outdated and is a great risk to the proper management of our minerals sector.
He said it is being exploited by companies with dubious capacity owned by shareholders with dubious character.
“The government’s policy to fast track three mining licenses is a bad decision,” Wale said.
“Our minerals are a non-renewable resource and must be protected,” he added.
Wale said the companies that are being considered for these fast-tracked licenses have a clear and direct association with individuals we know from the logging industry to have participated in transfer pricing and other illegal and unethical conduct.
He said the government must not allow the practices in the logging industry to be migrated over to the mining industry.
“If no changes are made to current legislation before those licenses are issued, it will be clear that government is intent on ensuring that those bad practices are repeated in mining.
“And this country and its people will again be the biggest losers,” he said.
Wale said it is a terrible excuse to say these licenses need to be fast-tracked to increase government revenues.
“We would rather be poor than continue to be raped and looted by these dubious foreigners,” he added.
Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services is still to construct or refurbish the run-down Maka police station in Southern region of Malaita province, though there is an existing plan to inspect and refurbish the station.
Minister Anthony Veke explained this when asked by MP for Small Malaita, Rick Hou in Parliament on Tuesday.
Hou said the Maka Police Station, in the southern region of Malaita Province, was a component of the
institutional strengthening programme under the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
He said it is now more than 5 years since the departure of RAMSI from Solomon Islands.
Hou asked:
What is the progress on the work on Maka Police station?
What is the Government’s plan for Maka Police Station, and other police stations in Malaita?
Veke said the slow progress is due to the following reasons:
The Fixed Term Estate of Maka land is expired; and
Land dispute.
Veke said in relation to the Fixed Term Estate, the Commissioner of Land resumed the land and therefore the land belongs to the government.
“Therefore, the Fixed Term issue is resolved, however we still have an issue with land dispute.
“The Ministry of Police has received a letter early this year asking Ministry of Police to evacuate the land,” he said.
“So, there are people who claim ownership of the land so because of that the Ministry hold back abit and try to do consultation on different parties that claim ownership of Maka land where the police facility is,” he added.
Furthermore, Veke said in terms of Government’s plan to refurbish Maka and other police stations in Malaita, the Ministry has infrastructure strategic plan that include construction of new police buildings and upkeep and maintenance of deteriorating buildings inclusive of police infrastructures in Malaita province as well.
“Hence like other provinces, the Ministry tries to work within the limited resources that is available and prioritized infrastructure of police within Malaita that are critical to the services in Malaita province
“The Ministry will continue to make assessments to identify the critical infrastructure need for Malaita province for immediate resolve within the tight resources where it is available now,” he said.
However, Hou said he has raised the issue since 2012 and received the same answers.
He said there is an alternative location at Afio which belongs to the Government through the province and has no dispute.
Veke said the Ministry is aware of the proposed site where he believes the MP himself is proposing.
He said there was a visit done in 2019 on the proposed site to replace if they hard to solve Maka.
“Unfortunate there few things that need to meet the criteria of Royal Solomon Islands Police Force on that particular site.
“There is a hold back on the particular site,” he said.
Veke said the Ministry wants to solve Maka because it is existing to refurbish or construct a new site.
However, Hou said the Minister is giving a lame excuse because the land at Afio is over 100 hectares of land and belongs to the government.
“In 2009, I brought the then Commissioner of Police and then Permanent Secretary to visit Maka.
“They promised us to do something about it. We wait but nothing done about it. Iam disappointing this is left unattend for people in Southern Region,” he said.
Veke assured Hou that next year’s programme of RSIPF for construction of new police post in Malaita, Maka, Atori and Atoifi included, funded by partners in RSIPF as well as Auki Police headquarters.
27 lives were lost on the MV Taimareho in April 2020 when the ship sailed through rough weather.
BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
THE directors, General Manager, captains and the West Are’are Constituency shipping company have entered not guilty pleas to charges regarding the April 2020 incident that cost 27 lives at sea.
The plead this to 102 counts under the Shipping Act.
Their case has been adjourned to November 4, 2021 for a pre-trial conference before High Court Judge Justice Maelyn Bird.
The 12 defendants are charged in relation to the sea tragedy incident involving the ship MV Taimareho that caused the death of 27 people at sea in April 3, 2020.
The 12 defendants are charged under the shipping Act 1998, which include sending an unsafe vessel to sea, Vessel going to sea without a valid certificate, taking an unsafe vessel to sea, disciplinary offence, failing to keep an official log book, failing to notify the principal surveyor of change in condition of a vessel and not complying with the convention international on standards of training certification and watch keeping for seafarers.
The defendants on this case are charged under the 1998 Shipping Act.
They are Michael Roy Galo (ship master) Joe Malepa and Stephen Waina’a (captains) Shipping Directors are Esther Hoasihere, John Bosco Houanihunu, Lawrence Hunumeme, Stephen Maahanua, Aaron Oritaimae, William Parairato and Aloysius Poiohia and the General Manager Cypriano Taamora.
This is the case relating to the incident occurred on April 3, 2020 and 27 innocent lives were lost at sea in Malaita when MV Taimareho
The tragedy struck as the ship was carrying people from West Are’are back to their home villages during the national repatriation exercise ordered by the prime minister last year as the threat of covid-19 began in the South Pacific, drawing nearer to the Solomon Islands.
Only six bodies were recovered during the search.
Samuel Tovosia appeared on behalf of the Director Public Prosecution while the Public Solicitor George Gray represents Michael Roy Galo and a Private lawyer James Apaniai represents Joe Malepa, Stephen Waina’ai, WAC SHIPPING COMMUNITY COMPANY LIMITED and the Directors of WAC SHIPPING COMMUNITY COMPANY LIMITED
