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Dodo Creek land up for tender by MHLS

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Land Board in the Ministry of Lands, Housing & Survey has tendered the land that hosts the defunct agriculture research station at Dodo Creek, Central Guadalcanal.

The 15.58 hectares of land is registered as Parcel 192-019-005/      Lot 31 of LR.83/ R at Dodo creek.

According to MLHS advertisement on Island Sun, the Perpetual Estate is owned by the Commissioner of Lands with no encumbrances.

MLHS said the land has been disused for more than 20 years and the government has no plan to redevelop the site.

The Ministry said squatters have reoccupied the former government quarters and built their own houses in the area, and there is at least one grave site in the area.

“Tenders are hereby invited for a 75-year Fixed Term Estate over this land.

“The successful bidder is expected to accept the land as it is, and will be fully responsible for any persons already occupying the land,” MLHS said.

The Ministry said no alternative sites will be offered in lieu of this property, regardless of any difficulties encountered.

“Preferences will be given to tenders for tourism and/ or agriculture development of the land, and for partnerships for example with original customary landowners.

“There is no set or minimum Premium price for the land and annual land rent will be set as 1 percent of the unimproved capital value of the land, which is yet to be determined,” MLHS said.

Commissioner of Land, Alan McNeil said all government ministries were asked if they wished to develop the land, and none came forward.

McNeil said the successful tenderer will be responsible for the squatters, and they will have to convince the Land Board that they have the right and appropriate approach.

“The decision on the successful bidder will depend on the Land Board, so I cannot predict whether it will be a ‘big investor’ as you put it,” he added.

The research station at Dodo creek winded up its business following the ethnic conflict from 1998-2003 on Guadalcanal.

Gov’t housing entitlement sliced

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Public Service has sliced the housing rental entitlements for its employees.

This cost-cutting measure is set to take effect next year.

The new arrangement sees a level 1 public servant eligible for $1,500 monthly rental.

While the highest post holder in the government, SS3, is eligible for $4,500.

Permanent Secretary, Nego Sisiolo said their salaries will be untouched.

Sisiolo said the SIG will pay its employees with Public Service Housing Assistance (PSHA) specifically to support them rent a house.

He said Honiara-based officers who have and lived in their own accommodations will now be able to use the PSHA to improve their existing properties.

“Officers who rented houses at higher rate are expected to negotiate rental rates with their landlords to have  the rates fall within their respective PSHA allocated rate,” he added.

Sisiolo said this policy change sensitises fairness on housing assistance to all officers and is leaning towards efficiency in public service as there will no longer be cumbersome paper works on tenancy administration as we currently experience.

However, some public servants have complained that the rental is too small which could land most of them in low-cost housing on the outskirts of the city.

Malaita to complete kava training soon

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Kava plants in the highlands of Central Kwara’ae.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA provincial agriculture office will soon complete its kava pre-processing training for the province.

Provincial supervising chief agriculture officer, Mr Dennis Tafea told this paper six out of eight proposed trainings have already completed for the province.

He said the purpose of the training is to ensure farmers understand the pre-processing stages of the kava product, which can determine quality products for market.

Tafea said most kava farmers only understand the early stages of kava production; nursery, planting and caring for the kava plants.

He said the stage from harvesting that is the pre-processing stage is where the weakness of most farmers lie and this is where the training targets.

Tafea said so far they completed three trainings for southern region, one for eastern, one for northern and another one for central regions.

He said the remaining two kava pre-processing trainings will be for northern and central regions.

Tafea said a total of 240 participants have attended the six training so far and they expect them to share the knowledge learnt with their colleague kava farmers in the province.

He said the kava pre-processing training is funded by the national government through the ministry of agriculture (MAL) towards kava development in the province.

DCGA pledges more investment in agriculture

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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PM Sogavare and his delegation visiting the noni stall

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Government has promised to commit to increasing its investment in the Agriculture sector.

This was revealed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare during the launching event of the 10-year Agriculture Sector Growth Strategy and Investment Plan earlier this week.

“Be rest assured that this government is fully committed to progressively increase our investment in the Agriculture sector now that we have a plan to guide us on how and where will we put our income to,” Sogavare said.

He said this strategy recommends reforming and restructuring the Ministry of Agricultures and Livestock so it can effectively deliver especially the extension services infrastructure like fuel experimental stations.

“Our goal is to grow our subsistence small holder farmers to become to become commercial farmers. Our strategy as well is designed to facilitate nation-wide implementation involved both the public and private sector including farmers, their organisations and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO’s) supporting the farmers,” Sogavare said.

He said it also involves other crucial implementation partners, our international development partners, CSO and religious group.

“On this note allow me to thank all our development partners in our Agriculture sector development journey all these years,” Sogavare said.

Minister condemns alleged killing of seven-year-old girl.

Written by
Press Release
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Minister for Women Youth Children and Family Affairs Freda Rotutafi Rangirei.

THE Minister for Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs Freda Tuki Rotutafi condemns in the strongest term the brutal killing of a young girl at Kolombangara Island, Western Province. 

Police media report stated the seven-year-old girl went missing on her way home from school on 14th October and was discovered dead on 18 October.  

 “I share my heartfelt condolences and deepest sorrow to the immediate family and relatives of this young child and those perpetrators must receive the toughest punishment under the Law of Solomon Islands,” Minister Rotutafi said in a statement issued yesterday.  

The Minister said the horrific act of taking away the life of an innocent child and any forms of violence is a serious crime and is not accepted and must not be tolerated.   

 “Every child including girls should be able to grow up safe and secure wherever they are – at home, at school and in their communities and deserve respect as any other individual.”  

She calls for more collective effort to stop any forms of violence against children whether it be physical or sexual abuse and others. 

Minister Rotutafi urges all actors including Government agencies, Non-government organizations, Churches, Schools, Community leaders and parents to act and help create safer environment for all children. 

“National and Provincial leaders, church leaders, community leaders, teachers, parents including men and boys must come out and speak against violence against children including sexual abuse. 

“Whilst the Government is committed to ensure that all children are protected from any form of violence and abuse at home, school, community and our society, we acknowledged the need to strengthen thegood traditional values and practices that help to provide for the care and protection of children and respect for women and girls.”

WPG Education authority condemns killing of girl, 7

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WESTERN Province Education Authority has condemned the gruesome killing of the seven-year-old girl in Kolombangara last week.

The victim was a student of Vaosau Sepe Primary School.

In a statement to Island Sun Gizo, Principal Education Officer of Western Education Authority, Freedom Tozaka described the action as “beyond normal human being’s reasoning”.

He said the sad incident reinforces the need for the government to improve access to education by bringing schools closer to homes.

Tozaka adds that the proposed Child Protection Act should be fast tracked, similarly more awareness should be made on the Family Protection Act.

“The Western Province Education Authority strongly condemns the brutal act of murder that has happened to one of our little girls aged 7 of Vaosau Sepe Primary school on Thursday, Oct 14, 2021.

Principal Education Officer, Freedom Tozaka

“This innocent child was struggling for her future to be one of our human resources.

“As Western Province seems to be expressing very high rape cases and child abuses we do strongly call to the public to stop touching our little children and do show respect of caring and loving.

“We also call to Solomon Islands Government to provide more resources on the Child Protection Act and Family Protection Act so that awareness from the shores of Solomon Islands and to jungles must be known to these important tools.

“We call on all key partners to work together and make awareness especially, Ministry of Women, Children Affairs, MEHRD, Police, Unicef, Save the Children and others partners.

“On behalf of the Western Province Education Authority and all children of Western Province we deeply share our deepest sympathy to one of beloved future human resources to the Parents and family members whom they lost their very love one,” he said.

Island Sun understands that two suspects are being questioned.

CAUSE builds new Jacob’s ladder for Jericho residents.

Written by
Press Release
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Jericho ladder

A NEW 270-meter long Jacob’s ladder (concrete stairway) is currently being constructed at Jericho community of Central Honiara.

It starts from the main road at the top and stretches right down to the community along the valley.

The project commenced construction in August and expected to be completed by the end of this month.

The construction is being undertaken by members of the Jericho community who trained under CAUSE Project’s 7-day Life-Skills Training.

A statement from CAUSE said of the 22 workers, 12 are female members while 10 are male. The project is valued at 120 thousand dollars. 

“The technical design has incorporated the provision of safety rails along steep sections to ensure safety of community members traversing this stairway every day,” the statement said.

“Jericho is a growing community and have faced difficulties in accessing essential services at the town centre because of the poor and hazardous state of the common foot trail servicing the whole community specially when it is soaked by rain,” it added.

The statement said CAUSE access infrastructures are designed to bring access convenience to daily users.

“During hazard events it essentially supports evacuation, facilitate emergency relief operations during disaster events and help accelerate post-disaster recovery efforts.”

This project is implemented by the CAUSE Project under Honiara City Council and funded by World Bank. 

WPG COVID-19 team heading to Rendova

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WESTERN Province’s COVID-19 vaccination team is heading to Rendova to carry out vaccination this week.

In an interview with Island Sun Gizo, Director of Western Province, Health and Medication Authority Dickson Boara said sites have been identified for people to get their vaccination.

He adds that those eligible for the vaccine will get the jab.

Boara said vaccination programme in other parts of Western Province are still ongoing.

He said Western Province’s vaccination teams have dispatched to Marovo, Noro, Vona Vona Lagoon and now at Rendova.

Boara also said, vaccination centre at Gizo is still open for public to get their jab.

He said vaccination rollout programme in Western Province has been successful with few challenges.

Boara reiterates his call on the public to get their jab as soon as possible.

“We are racing behind time and it is important that we must get the vaccine. Note, that the government is likely to open the border when we reach the expected percentage people getting the vaccine and this is why it is important for you to get vaccinated to protect yourself and your families,” he said.

Cyclone simulation exercise drill for Mala communities

Written by
Samie Waikori
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The simulation exercise at Baunani in west Kwaio.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

COMMUNITIES of Baunani and Bira in ward 26 of west Kwaio recently carried out a cyclone simulation exercise as part of preparing them to respond to disaster.

The simulation exercises were to test the communities’ response plan for cyclone after trainings and workshops on Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) the communities had undergone.

Assistance Provincial Disaster Officer (PDO) through Oxfam/NDMO AHP Disaster Ready Project in Auki, Mr Tony Wale said the programme was supported by Oxfam in partnership with NDMO through Malaita Provincial Disaster Office under the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) Disaster Ready project for the country.

Wale said the aim of the programme is for the communities to establish disaster risk committees that will look after the development of disaster risk reduction and disaster response plans for their communities.

He said the committees are tasked with important roles in organising their communities under the disaster response plan when it comes to disaster.

A mock first aid care applied to a boy during the simulation disaster evacuation exercise at Bira.

He adds, the simulation exercises were the actual demonstration of the disaster response plans the committees had developed for their communities. 

Wale said Solomon Islands is prone to natural disaster all year-round and now the country is approaching its cyclone session.

He said with that communities must training on basic cyclone response knowledge that are helpful for them when face with cyclone or any other hazards.

Wale said Oxfam through Malaita PDMO have also implemented similar program in other four communities in the province include; Anololo, Daedaesaru and Oibola.

MARA gov’t sworn-in five new ministers

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Five newly sworn-in ministers with Premier Daniel Suidani and some of his executive members during the swearing-in ceremony yesterday.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

DESPITE the political instability that is rocking the MARA government, they still remain strong and expect an increase in their numerical strength before the October 27 no-confidence vote.

And in strengthening the MARA government, yesterday five newly appointed MPAs were sworn-in to take their ministerial portfolios.

The swearing-in was facilitated by a Commissioner of Oath through a provision under the Standing Orders.

That provision allows a commissioner of oath to facilitate oath taking in the absence of the Speaker or his deputy.

The newly five sworn ministers are:

  1. David Osuria, MPA for ward 6 as the new minister for forestry
  2. Meshack Maukera, MPA for ward 19 as the new minister for tourism and commerce
  3. Eric Daoni, MPA for ward 9 as the minister for women, youth and sport
  4. Benjamin Baetalua, MPA for ward 2 as the minister for MOI regional affairs
  5.  Glen Waneta, MPA for ward 8 as deputy premier and minister for fisheries and education

Speaking during the swearing in at the provincial chamber, Premier Daniel Suidani thanked his colleague MPAs for witnessing the swearing-in of their new ministers.

“Before we can work together as executive members, we must swear-in before the presence of the commissioner of oath or speaker for that matter,” he said.

However, Suidani said they were unable due to issues that were intentionally not to support the MARA government.

“But even then we are so thankful that there is an avenue under the law that provides for the swearing of the new ministers knowing during this situation we cannot control those that hold responsible officers like the speaker.”

He called on the newly appointed ministers to work together to carry MARA government and Malaita province forward for the betterment of the people

Suidani said the MARA government is looking forward to have two more MPAs soon as the lobbying continues ahead of the no-confidence vote.

He also thanked the commissioner of oath, Simon Suku and the office of the clerk to the provincial assembly for facilitating the ceremony.

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