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PM caution citizens to be wary of Delta Variant

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PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the Government is cautious of the imminent threat of the ‘Delta Variant of covid-19’ in neighbouring Fiji.

Speaking during his nationwide address on Monday this week, the Prime Minister said the Delta Variant is highly transmissible and has been described by WHO as the ‘fittest and fastest’ variant of covid-19.

The Prime Minister said the situation in Fiji should be a wakeup call for our people to get vaccinated.

“If the Delta variant gets to our communities before they are vaccinated, our people will suffer. We will see not just an explosion of COVID-19 cases, but sadly, we will also see an explosion in deaths due to COVID-19 infection,” he said.

The current outbreak of the Delta Variant in Fiji started with just two people returning from India in April this year. At that time Fiji only had 67 cases and two deaths since the beginning of the Pandemic. However, from mid-April to yesterday, Fiji registered an additional 6,094 cases 28 deaths in two and a half months.

Prime Minister Sogavare cautioned that if covid-19 breached our borders, our quarantine stations and get into the community, the situation in Solomon Islands would be much worse than what is occurring in Fiji right now.

“This is the reason why we must all get vaccinated to ensure our population is safe even if COVID-19 breached our borders.

“If all adults in Solomon Islands are vaccinated, then we have a chance of protecting our population below 18 years of age that cannot be vaccinated,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said we have now reached the stage where we must roll-out our COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country for all adults that are 18 years of age and over.

He said with the increasing threat from the highly transmissible ‘Delta Variant of COVID-19’, which is now proven to be air-born, the Government has decided to implement a full rollout of vaccination in all provinces for all adults over 18 years of age.

The Prime Minister said we have more than 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines and additional vaccines committed to be supplied by our partners.

“It is our strategy to vaccinate all eligible adults in the country to ensure we minimize the risk of widespread community transmission if COVID-19 re-enters Solomon Islands. It is also our stated strategy that every person travelling to Solomon Islands from high-risk countries or countries with community transmission of COVID-19 must be fully vaccinated before they are allowed to board their flights,” he said.

–OPMC PRESS

PM urges citizens to be jabbed

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A total of 25,628 covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in Solomon Islands.

These includes 5,987 of people that have completed their second doses, meaning that they are now fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare highlighted in his nation-wide address on Monday this week.

The Prime Minister said so far implementation for covid-19 vaccination roll-out programs have covered targeted populations in Honiara, Western province, Choiseul province, Malaita Outer Islands and Guadalcanal province.

“This means 5,987 people are now fully vaccinated and a further 13,654 people have received first doses. However, this also means that only 19,641 people have received vaccinations out of a possible target population of around 450,000 adults, which is only about four percent of the target population in the country,” he said.

Yet, the Prime Minister said the country’s vaccination rate is very slow.

Therefore, he said vaccination is now open for all adults above 18 years of age.

Prime Minister Sogavare said we cannot wait because COVID-19 is not going to wait for us to get vaccinated.

“In Honiara 5,917 people have completed their 2nd doses, this is about 10 percent of Honiara’s target population. Second dose rollouts in Western province, Choiseul province and Malaita outer Islands will commence from this week,” he said.

The Prime Minister also encouraged people in the provinces that have undertaken their first dose to compete their second dose to be fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sogavare said the fight against COVID-19 have now reached the stage where we must roll-out the COVID-19 vaccination throughout the nation for all adults that are 18 years of age and over.

“With the increasing threat from the highly transmissible ‘Delta Variant of COVID-19’, which is now proven to be air-born, the Government has decided to implement a full rollout of vaccination in all provinces for all adults over 18 years of age,” he said.

The Prime Minister said there are more than 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines available and more vaccines to be supplied by our partners.

–OPMC PRESS

PNG honours Solomon Islands’ 43rd anniversary

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY JARED KOLI

THE Papua New Guinea (PNG) High Commission Office in Honiara commemorated in recognition of its neighbour Solomon Islands on attaining its 43 years of nationhood.   

PNG High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Moses Kaul and his staff held a low-key commemoration ceremony on Monday to celebrate the country’s 43rd anniversary.  

Speaking during the event, Mr Kaul said on behalf of the government and people of Papua New Guinea, the High Commission of PNG in Honiara recognises the 43rd independence anniversary of Solomon Islands.

“That is the reason why we organise this small refreshment in the chancery to give that recognition and respect to our neighbours Solomon Islands.

“We PNG attached a lot of significance with our relationship to our neighbour country Solomon Islands. Its more than bilateral relationship because we identify ourselves as friends, with a common identity as Melanesians,” Kaul said.

He said Solomon Islands and PNG also have a common spirit of cooperation, and carry the same values attached to common traditions, common cultural heritage, values and even history.

“For that matter, I should also say that we carry the same lingua franca, we are people with common identity, and so we are proud, and wish all the people of this beautiful country and leaders, especially the Governor General Sir David Vunagi and Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, all the leaders, all the people of this country, the very best wishes and happy joyous Independence Day celebration.

“We believe that our God will continue to protect and guide us, especially when we go through this difficult time when COVID-19 affects a lot of our businesses, affect a lot of affairs, in politics and every other aspect of our society, we believe God will still protect us and continue to take us until we can be able to see what tomorrow offers, and we know that God is still good and will still going to protect us,” Kaul said.

He said Solomon Islands and PNG share a lot of the aspects of cooperation and relationship, and their technical aspect of cooperation is going on very well.

 “As far as training and study programs being offered to SI students studying in PNG – I have seen evidence of that and I am proud to say that this will continue as assured by PNG Prime Minister James Marape when he was in Honiara last year, 2020.”

He said Prime Minister Marape also signed an economic and framework agreement with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare then.

“So, we are looking forward to enhancing that area of cooperation because we believe that it is very vital for the sustenance and long-term cooperation of our two countries,” Kaul said.

Centre condemns rise of rape cases

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THE Family Support Centre says it strongly condemns the rape of women and young girls in the community.

In a statement, the centre said recently there are a lot of rape cases that occurred in the communities, which is very shocking.

“It is sad to read and hear those women and girls are being raped by somebody they trust and disrespectful men and boys in the community,” the statement said.

“An example was the alleged raped of a 7- year-old girl at North West Choiseul in Choiseul Province last month,” it added.

“Raping of women and girls is a grave and systematic Human Rights violation and Gender based violence.

“It has serious consequences for the victim and has grave damage to the victim which will impact their lives as long as they live.

“Rape should not be tolerated, justified and it must be stopped in the community.

“It is a serious crime and the law agencies should not show mercy but punish the perpetrators with the full force of the law and award the strongest penalty to the perpetrators to avoid similar cases occurring in the future.”

“The statement said women and girls are very important in any family circle and the community.

They also contributed towards the development of their community. They should have been respected, valued and protected by men and boys in the community.”

The statement said currently there is an alarming rate of rape in our society which we often read and hear that rape always occurred in the communities.

“In most cases most of the victim of rape are women and girls. This is quite obviously seen as a major problem in our society today.

“There is a need to address rape in the community so that women and girls and men and boys be equally valued in the community and can exercise equal rights.

“Despite our country making significant development to end violence against women and girls through the government policies and the passing of the Family Protection Act, advocacy programs made by International Organizations, Civil societies and the Honiara Referral (SAFENET) to address and protect victims and survivors of gender-based violence, there is still cases of rape appeared in the news almost every week and month which shocks many families, women and girls today.

“Rape is a violation of a human being and a heinous act performed by someone who wishes to exact complete power and control over another person.

“Either gender can be the perpetrator or the victim of rape. In most cases women and girls are the victims.

“Women and girls are raped by men they know as well as men they never met before.

“Most rapists are close family members, those of trust, neighbours, and friends of the victim or someone who lives very close to the victims.

“The effects of rape can include both the initial physical trauma as well as deep psychological trauma.

“The most common and lasting effects of rape involves mental health disorders which diminished social confidence.

“Also, the effects can completely disrupt the victim’s life and must go through a healing process to put her life back together.”

In a study about 85% – 90% of raped of adult and children is not reported to police and authorities. 

Only 10% of all rape cases are reported.

Many women and girls don’t or can’t easily report their rape because they often suffer from humiliation and suffering when questioning by responsible authorities, feel ashamed and cannot cope with anyone knowing what has happened to them or they might be threaten by the perpetrator if they attempt to report.

“There are people in the communities who knew about someone who has survived rape and there are individual women and girls who are still survivors of rape, and hardly reported such case to the rightful authorities.

“Therefore, the Family Support Centre would like to encourage every victim of rape to step forward and report to any nearby police stations or any service provider on any sexual abuse case they experience in their lives to help stop this criminal activity (rape).

“Family Support Centre wish to urge the community and the existing groups (churches, youth, women, chiefs etc.) to start to talk about rape in the community, by informing the communities that rape is a heinous crime and once committed and once found guilty perpetrators can be imprisoned.

“Also, to work together with Non-Governmental organizations and civil society that have effective programs to curb Gender Based Violence in the community especially to educate the communities to help to change attitudes, help the victims and work to address and protect victims of rape.  

“Family Support Centre wants to appeal to everyone who need urgent assistance and free confidential Counselling to walk into its office at the Tandai High Way, or call 20619 or 132 (SAFENET free toll line) for face – to – face counselling assistance.”

SINU clarifies controversy

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Islands National University

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands National University has denied any influence by Vice Chancellor Ganesh Chand to advertise 228 positions currently.

This after some people have questioned the decision by SINU to end the contracts of such high number of lecturers during the covid-19 pandemic period.

However, Estee B. Lonamei, Senior Marketing and Promotion Officer, said this is part of the transition from certificate and diploma holders to bachelors and Master programmes.

Lonamei said these groups of positions are those that transition from Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE) to SINU.

He explained on 22nd June 2015, SINU council then, which was led by Sir Nathaniel Waena passed a resolution to have all positions adverted in the market when and before the contracts expired.

“The resolution was made so that the University MQR (Minimum Qualification Requirement) is updated.

“This resolution was never been implemented until the current council met on 29th March 2021 and revisited the resolution and asked the management to implement this decision. (Therefore, it is never a management decision made by VC Ganesh Chand),” he said.

 Further to that, Lonamei said the 2015 resolution was made because they have lecturers who are certificate holders teaching certificate courses, or diploma degree holders teaching diploma courses and same with Bachelor degree holders teaching bachelor courses.

He said it shouldn’t be the case in any University.

“Bachelor holder should only teach diploma or certificate courses.

“Now, SINU have offered Masters courses, and we can’t have Bachelor holders teaching the Masters courses, we have to have PhD holders,” he said.

 Lonamei said the current holders of the positions they advertised now are given the opportunity to re-apply for the positions.

He said they are not kicked out or removed as you claimed.

“The current exercise is to look into the market again, there are a lot of our qualified people coming back from studies and still in the “jobs hunt”.

“This is the opportunity for them to compete with current holders,” he said.

Lonamei said the bottom line is that, the University is working towards providing the best quality education our university can provide.

Moreover, he said concerning exam markings and grading, the University under each Faculty has that managed already.

He said the current advertisement won’t affect it.

No official independence celebration

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE country will not celebrate the 43rd Independence tomorrow like it used to do in previous years.

A well-place source said the decision not to hold an official celebration was based on the Cabinet’s decision made last week.

It’s related to covid-19 and lack of budget by the Ministry of Home Affairs to host the celebration.

As such, there will be no parade perform by police and correctional officers and other performers as traditionally seen in the past years.

However, one citizen said the government should host the Independence Day celebration because it’s an event that normally brings our people together.

He said the country is held together until after she gained her independence from Great Britain.

This is the second national celebration that was not marked this year.

On Friday 11 June, the Queen’s Birthday was celebrated on low key as a result of the current covid-19 State of Public Emergency.

It was a public holiday however, the customary official Parade at Lawson Tama and the Governor General’s formal reception were cancelled.

The Queen’s Birthday address was broadcasted on the National Broadcaster, SIBC and Televised on TTV including other online platforms.

The Governor General also  performed the presentation of previous Honours and Awards to recipients at a short ceremony at Government House.

Solomon Islands is a ‘constitutional monarchy’, meaning that The Queen is Head of State, though she acts entirely on the advice of Government ministers in the country.

The Governor-General represents her Majesty in the Solomon Islands on a day-to-day basis.

80% before borders open

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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AstraZeneca vaccine. Photo by NDTV.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands will be able to open its borders if its vaccination coverage reaches more than 80 percent.

This was echoed by Health permanent secretary Pauline McNeil during a recent radio talkback on the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation.

“In order for us to open our border again we need to overcome a ceiling of more than 80 percent to be able to fully open our border so that we have that immunity to fight against the virus in the country.

“I ask the 25 thousand who have already get your first dose and five thousand plus who are fully vaccinated, can you also advocate for us. Advocate for your families, relatives or your colleagues to go forward and be vaccinated.

“I am reaching out to all of us again our community leaders, church leaders, tribal leaders and those who are fully vaccinated to please advocate for the vaccine so we can increase the vaccine coverage at the moment is only one percent. Honiara alone is 10 percent. We are not there yet,” McNeil said.

Seasonal workers urged to get vax before flight

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Seasonal workers in Australia

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Individuals who wish to go overseases as seasonal workers are being urged to vaccinate before leaving Solomon Islands for Australia and New Zealand.

Dr Yogesh Choudhri, Advisor to Ministry of Health and Medical Services echoed the above sentiment in a recent radio talkback on covid-19 updates on SIBC.

Choudhri said the Ministry of Health is advocating for everyone travelling out to be vaccinated before departure.

“We are strongly encouraging people who are going overseas, the seasonal workers especially to come and get their vaccination done at the Central Field Hospital,” he said.

Choudhri said they have vaccinated a few people who are going overseas as seasonal workers to Australia and New Zealand due to the company they will work under requires people to be vaccinated before they go to New Zealand and Australia.

“But rest of the companies do not make it mandatory. We are encouraging you if you are going out please get your vaccination done and you go out,” he said.

Health Permanent Secretary Pauline McNeil said apart from the vaccination some countries also require pre-departure testing so the ministry of health does pre-departure testing for people who are traveling out.

“I am sure the seasonal workers would have done that as well for the pre-departure testing as well as fully vaccinated before they travel,” McNeil said.

She stressed this comes under collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because it’s a mobility programme.

McNeil said in terms of the vaccine time frames (before the next dose), Sinopharm is four weeks and AstraZeneca is 10-12 weeks, hence the planning and scheduling process is quite crucial.

Fake death case moved to July 12

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a man alleged of obtaining money by faking his death has been adjourned for July 12 for mention.

Peter Fakaia is accused of faking his own death and obtaining $76,000 from a local pharmacist in Honiara in 2019.

Fakaia’s case was mentioned in court yesterday and the court was informed that prosecution intended to make an application to vacate the trial date.

Presiding Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison adjourned the case to July 12 so that prosecution can make a proper submission to vacate trial date.

Prosecution said the accused sought medication at the People’s Pharmacy at the Kwaimani building at Kukum, after taking his medication he then left; however, the next day he returned to the pharmacy complaining that he had allergies with the medication.

He was then given another medication and advised to see a doctor.

On September 23 at about 8am, the complainant received a call through his office phone by a person who purported himself as the accused’s brother-in-law.

The complainant was informed by the accused’s brother-law that the accused he diagnosed had died at the National Referral Hospital and was at the morgue.

The accused’s brother-in-law then allegedly demanded a compensation of $10,000 for the cause of the death.

The complainant in total allegedly gave $76,000 to the so-called relatives of the accused.

On September 26 police were alerted about the incident and police arrested a person who came to collect the last portion of money requested for the accused’s death.

Using the accused’s alleged associates; police finally arrested the accused after halting him in his vehicle at the Ranadi roundabout.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown on the case.

Makira producers earning dollar from their cocoa

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George Hanua, WV Community Development Facilitator visiting a Solar Dryer at a project sites in Makira.

MARKET Linkage Phase 11 Project of World Vision Solomon Islands in Makira Area Program has recorded a total of 13.9 tons of Cocoa value at $145,846.78 produced by its Producer Groups for the first half of this year.

The figure was recorded from the shipments of cocoa by the producer groups from January up to June to Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands.

Makira Area Program Manager James Wamae revealed this while updating WVSI Staff during the 2021 Staff Meeting last week at Ginger Retreat Beach.

Wamae said MLPII project in Makira has indeed seeing impacts of the project as producer Groups are very active in engaging with the project.

“From January to June this year MLPII has so far shipped a total of 13.9 tons of Cocoa produced by the Producer Groups to Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands which at a value of 145,846.78 received by PSGs,” Wamae stated.

World Vision’s Community Development Facilitator (CDF) Dorcus Moliki and Mathew a member of producer group checking the cocoa beans inside a Solar Dryer at Tawapuna Village, West Bauro Makira Ulawa Province. 

“In Makira, weather is a big challenge especially because the project has introduced solar drier for the producer groups to dry their cocoa beans, but the figure now has shown a great achievement,” he added.

Wamae also highlighted that the Project has helped eight Producer Groups (PGs) to secure provincial licenses and registered at the Company Haus.

Market Linkage Phase II (MLPII) Project is under the livelihood sector of World Vision Solomon Islands and is aimed to address the root cause of vulnerability by ensuring households and communities are better equipped to provide for children’s health, education and growth and invest in community assets to reduce vulnerability.

The project utilises three main project models: Savings For Transformation (S4T); Resilient and Inclusive Social Enterprises (RISE) and Community Channels of Hope (CCOH).

The goal of the RISE model is to increase the profitability and sustainability of social enterprises so that they are independently planning and taking action to improve their social enterprise, generating more sales and profit and being resilient to shocks and inclusive of vulnerable community members groups.

The RISE approach has been designed specifically to tackle the market and social challenges that face many communities in Melanesia.

Bags of Cocoa beans at Kokana awaiting shipment to Honiara. 

The RISE model builds on more than a decade of community based economic development programming in Solomon Islands and is the appropriate next step to graduate savings and producer group members towards establishing small businesses.

The CCOH model is working towards addressing gender issues by working with church faith groups.

In Makira the MLPII project conducted training for them about saving especially the S4T model which encouraging producer groups and families to save money and be able to do share out or for them to access small loan from that saving.

They were also trained on gender topics to ensure inclusion on their activities especially women and people with disability (PWD).

Farmers were also trained on farm management knowledges and introduced solar drier for them.

The project even secured a reliable buyer for the producer groups especially Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands (KPSI).

Interestingly, the part of their sales always going towards their saving groups.

KPSI also assisted the project on technical advices and trainings for producer groups especially on the required quality of cocoa produce for exports.

The partnership has been so far cherished as the producer groups are now equipped with knowledge on cocoa production.

The 13.9 tons of Cocoa currently sold to KPSI is a testimony of the partnership.

Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), MLPII is the biggest project currently implemented by World Vision Solomon Islands especially in Makira, Weather Coast of Guadalcanal, Small Malaita and Temotu.

The project focus on cocoa, coconut and fishery.

The Project will soon be handing over the fishery centers constructed to people of Marau in Guadalcanal Province.

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