Persons on Wheelchairs, Shedrack and Francis Farase at Mamana Water settlement, Central Honiara
By EDDIE OSIFELO
TWO Persons living with disability have shared their experiences living in Mamana Water settlement in Central Honiara.
Francis Farase and Noela Olo related their stories when some participants including media of the the four-days workshop on strengthening inclusion of person with disabilities in Solomon Islands through communications and outreach, visited them yesterday.
Farase, 35 years, has developed spinal injury when he fell from a coconut tree in North Malaita.
He was 13 years old when the incident occurred.
After the incident, he has spent about 20 years on wheel chair until today.
Farase said he has experienced climate change because his home is closer to sea and needs relocation.
He said accessing decent water is also a problem and sanitation plus community recognition towards person like him needs to be changed as well.
People Living With Disability making a site visit to Mamana Water in Central Honiara yesterday
Furthermore, Farase said there is no pathway for him to move around in the community and towards the road.
Farase is the first born of four in the family, which includes 3 boys and one girl.
His father, John Filia said he plans to move out with his family to a new land.
“I am still struggling to start a foundation on our new home,” he said.
Noela, 30 years, has also supported the sentiment raised by Farase.
She has also come across the similar problems experienced by Farase in the community.
However, Noela, who won about 8 medals in Para tennis competition in Fiji and different states in Australia, said there was little recognition received from the community and the government towards her achievement.
“I am still living in a small house and struggle on my own to develop tennis sport in the community.
“When I want to develop the sport in the community, there is lack of support from the community to assist with balls, bats and rackets,” she said.
Office Manager designate for People with Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI) Casper Fa’asala said the constitution (Article 56) has clearly stipulated that people with disability have the right to participate fully in society as they are able and that all citizens are entitled to the same right, privileges and benefits.
Mr Fa’asala said though this country’s constitution stipulates about the rights of the people with disability, in practice people with disabilities experience multiple and compound socio-cultural and practical barriers to their participation and exercise of rights.
He said traditional and religious belief systems, negative attitudes and a lack of understanding about impairments are significant barriers to the full participation of people with disabilities and equal access to services.
The policy on disability which is currently being reviewed has been poorly implemented for almost two decades.
The training was organized through the support of the United Nations Development Programs, PWDSI and the Australian Government.
More than 50 participants from People with Disabilities and the media have participated in the workshop.
(Left to right) Stella Waioha, Nelson Lamani and Naomi Tai discuss what's wrong with a covid-19 poster
Persons with disability teach us what the word means
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
You think you’ve had a rough day? Please know that persons with disability live their lives everyday ‘rougher’.
This is mainly because they do not access what abled persons have easily.
Accessibility is a word which is heard and used often but seldom, if not rarely, put into context.
Yesterday, a group of persons with disability along with stakeholders gave a glimpse of just what it means to have access and how it affects life every day.
Day-two of ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ workshop allowed participants with disability to share experiences and thoughts on how they each can access information.
Desmond (right) making a point during group discussions on a covid-19 poster
Something which abled persons usually take for granted such as a simple poster, for example, is a challenge for a person with disability.
Depending on the impairment type, the challenge varies.
In line with the purpose of the workshop, which is exploring ways aimed at ‘strengthening inclusion of persons with disabilities in Solomon Islands through communications and outreach’, several covid-19 awareness posters were discussed on how they have failed to allow persons with disability access the information they are supposed to impart.
Participants broke up into four groups, each with a different covid-19 poster, and each member contributed how he or she is finding difficulty in accessing the message intended by the poster.
Jone Raqauqau, UNDP media specialist and workshop facilitator, helping out with discussions
This simple exercise reflects how a simple poster poses as a challenge when the society fails to be inclusive in its programmes and educational activities.
Some of the challenges identified in the poster-discussions include: long and complicated word usage, animated pictures are generally incomprehensible, colours clash making it difficult to tell different pictures apart, information cramming, font sizes.
And, preferences include: use short simple words or ticks and crosses (do’s and don’ts), use real persons in pictures, arrange colours appropriately to allow easy distinction of pictures, each poster contains only two or three messages, larger font size the better.
An early afternoon field trip to the homes of four persons with disability vividly showed the utter hardship faced daily in trying to access transport, clinic or hospital for medical attention, school, water, security, hygiene and sanitation facilities.
Other findings include community indifference which give way to persons with disability facing bullying, ridicule and neglect.
Group-one visited Mavis at Banana Valley. The closest vehicle-road access is a 100-plus metre climb up a slope along a heavily gouged road, with crevasses more than a metre deep and a metre wide; result of heavy erosion. In some segments along the road there is only a feet-wide of walk-space for travellers, next to a deep gouge.
Francis Paul (right) presents discussion results in sign language as Stella Damutalau (sitting, left) interprets
Accessing water is a challenge for Mavis. Rain brings a mixture of relief and despair. Rain water is captured in storage containers, but runs empty fast. The community water source, which is some 200 metres down her home gets muddied and filled with debris when it rains. Furthermore, the steep decline to the borehole is slippery and risky.
Mavis speaks fluent sign language, however, apart from her husband, who also speaks the same, there is hardly anyone around in her community who speaks it. This means lonely days with no one to talk to when her husband goes to work in the morning.
Group-one with Mavis (third from right)
Group-two visited Ellena Kelly’s home above Tuvaruhu. Sharing their experience, group-two leader Naomi Tai said Ms Elena’s home is “faraway” from the nearest bus-stop. Where vehicles stop and the walking begins, Ms Tai shares they had to go up slopes, meeting muddy roads and rocky ones along the way.
This long walk leads to a final 60-metre climb up a steep bush road to the home.
Watching Elena climb up the steep slope on one leg supported by her crutches left other participants and the accompanying journalists lost for words.
“I was just filled with admiration, coupled with sadness and respect, watching Elena struggling up the steep slope,” says Sheryl Aumanu, reporter and presenter at SIBC.
Elena follows this path every day on her way to work kilometres away in Honiara and back.
And, with the long distance, she has to wake up earlier than most people in order to arrive at work on time. And, for her safety, she has to arrive home early, before 8pm, to avoid the risk of meeting any disrespectful persons along the road.
Back at home, access to hygiene and sanitation facilities is a task. When it rains, the pathway gets slippery, and Ellena sometimes falls, breaking their ceramic eating utensils on her way to wash them.
Ellena makes the steep climb to her home. Photo by Sheryl Aumanu
Having had a taste of Ellena’s daily experience, Ms Tai describes her as a “strong person”.
Group-three visited Fred Oge at his home in the Henderson area. Likewise, the road to the nearest public transport is a long and inconducive to persons with disability.
The home itself is not user-friendly for a person living with visual impairment.
Access to school and clinic is made challenging by the long road with its rugged conditions. Safety seems to be out of reach with the distance between his home and the nearest police station.
As for education, it is near meaningless since the nearest school does not offer education for a person who is blind. Water and sanitation are also a challenge.
Group-four visited Francis and Noella at the Mamanawata settlement, near the Mataniko river mouth. [Please see story on page 8]
The workshop continues today with day-three at the Heritage Park Hotel conference room.
It is being run by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs through the Public Solicitor’s Office and People with Disabilities Solomon Islands (PWDSI).
Some of the materials that were offloaded at Gallego Company log pond near Alligator on 27 May. Photo: Supplied
BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
A VESSEL ‘suspiciously’ off-loading cargo at a log-pond at Alligator Creek, east of Honiara, last Thursday was earlier cleared by Customs at Noro International Port.
That’s according to Comptroller of Customs and Excise, Jim Sutton.
Gallego Logging Company owns the log-pond and the vessel. It’s not clear whether the entire cargo belongs to them.
The decision to off-load the cargo at a log-pond was widely criticised, with many saying the action has put the country at greater security risks.
Sutton told Island Sun yesterday the covid-19 shipping committee gave the permission for the vessel to be cleared at Noro.
“They’ve paid all monies that are due to the Government,” the Customs boss explained.
He said the vessel then obtained permission to discharge its cargo at Bahomia sufferance port (Alligator log-pond).
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, McKinnie Dentana on Sunday told a radio talk-back show his officers, police, immigration and quarantine were on site during off-loading.
Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said when they were alerted to the off-loading, his officers visited the site and saw Customs officers there.
But one important division, Biosecurity, was not there.
Director of Biosecurity Francis Tsatsia told Island Sun they were not informed of the off-loading so none of his officers were there.
It’s understood among the cargoes were machines.
Tsatsia said:
“Sadly, the information where the vessel will be discharging the machine was not relayed to Biosecurity.
“Hence, I believe no Biosecurity officer was there to do the inspection.
“We are now following the reports to find out where the machines are.”
Meanwhile, Sutton said in light of this incident, they will now review their processes.
“Effective immediately all such authorisations will now be assessed and issued in Honiara by a senior shipping officer,” Sutton said.
“At the moment Customs are looking into the whole sufferance wharves operations.
“There are several hundred in the country but some are now inactive.
“Under the Customs Act, Customs is the only authority to approve sufferance wharves.
“We also authorise importation and discharge of cargo and stipulated where that cargo is to be discharged.
“Customs also have full control over all vessels, aircraft and their cargoes arriving from overseas or departing to leave Solomon Islands.”
METROPOLIS Pacific Pte Limited has confirmed the letter requesting $21.9 million for the payment of 30 houses sent to the Government came from them.
The letter, which was leaked on social media, was addressed to the Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, Frederick Kologeto on 17th May 2021.
In the letter the company is seeking Government to prepare a payment of $21.9 million for the first 30 completed houses proposed for the Public Servants Housing Scheme at Mamara, North West Guadalcanal.
The letter was also copied to number for Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and the Premier of Guadalcanal Province.
Members of the public have criticised the company’s credibility when the letter was leaked.
However, General Manager of Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd, William Ling said the letter was to notify the government of the delivery date for the first batch of houses.
Ling said this communication was a typical notification that “we, the developers, shall have delivered on our promised first batch of brand-new urban houses within the stipulated time frame.”
He said the purchase of the homes in bulk by the government is by way of being an intermediary between developer and the civil servants, in order to meet the demand from this part of the population.
“The homes shall immediately be allocated to civil servants who wish to own their own home.
“The funds used to purchase these houses shall ultimately come from the civil servants by way of their own savings, provident funds or housing credit from banks and financial institutions, and not at taxpayers’ expense,” he said.
“Our commitment to a project of this magnitude and complexity demonstrate our dedication and belief in the improvement of the Solomon Islands economy, the expansion of its community, its potential for industry and tourism, further development, and future investment.
“We welcome feedback and kind criticism, and hope for ongoing support as our project takes off,” he said.
Ling said there are many positive outcomes that can only eventuate with continued momentum, willingness from international investors, cooperation from the Solomon Islands government, and patience from the public.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI), Riley Mesepitu clarified that the proposal to buy houses is still to be approved as the Government has set up a Taskforce headed by the Ministry of Public Service to review the Public Service Rental Scheme to compare financing options for the Housing scheme.
Mesepitu said the outcome of the review would be presented to cabinet in June for consideration before any decision can be made.
Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale has also called on the government to explain the claim by Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd for payment in relation to houses built under the Mamara Township Development Project.
METROPOLIS Pacific Pte Ltd claimed it has invested more than $100 million so far on the new Mamara New Capital City on North West Guadalcanal.
General Manager of Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd, William Ling confirmed this to Island Sun yesterday.
Ling said so far, capital investment into the MAMARA project has exceeded SBD$100 million, which has gone towards the:
construction of the project headquarters;
the first 50 units of housing;
the purchase of construction materials and machineries;
2400 square meters of factories and warehouses, and
the foundation materials for 70 rooms in what will be Mamara Spring Hotel’s main building.
He said Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd is a private company registered in Singapore.
“All funds are contributed by the Company’s shareholders from their own assets and funds invested and raised honestly from international capital markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore,” he said.
Furthermore, Ling said Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd, fully invested in the development of the “MAMARA New City” project to promote the local economic development in Solomon Islands, through contributions to the construction industry, tourism industry, hardware and building materials, retail, and catering services.
He said since commencement, the MAMARA project has created local employment opportunities, with more than 120 local employees hired so far, including construction workers, security personnel, logistics workers, landscapers and cleaners.
Ling said the total number of overseas foreign employees employed under the project is currently at 66, who bring in the necessary skills in project management, engineering, technical work and logistics personnel.
He said these foreign employees came from many countries, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesian, mainland China and more.
Moreover, Ling said last year has seen numerous consultations, tasks and assessments done on the Mamara TasivarongoMavo area and the MAMARA project, including talks with local lawyers, surveyors, environmental assessors (including topographical surveys, environment impact reports, contract drafting and reviews) and leaders within the local community.
A local prominent doctor is appealing to the government to set up non-communicable disease (NCD) clinics around the country.
This is in light of the exponential growth of NCD in the country, against very limited resources to deal with this problem.
Dr Jones Ghabu, consultant physician for Non-Communicable Diseases and Diabetic Centre, National Referral Hospital (NRH), said a clear evidence is the increasing rate of NCD admission at the NRH.
“My appeal to my beloved government of the day, please we need NCD clinics for all provinces in Solomon Islands.
“My Soldiers are well trained but we have no battleship or tanker to fight,” he said.
Ghabu said the truth and reality is that NRH is the only hospital with a standalone diabetic clinic in the whole country.
“CIP- Tulagi, Isabel-Buala and Temotu and Guadalcanal Provinces have no NCD clinics.
“I have trained their soldiers, they have no tankers or battle ship nor ammunition to fight.
“For Makira, Gizo Hospital and Helena Goldie Hospital-Munda and Temotu, I thank the REC (Eye Team) for sharing their building with us.
“Choiseul -Taro, Malaita-Kiluúfi and Renbel, all shared tables and desks with other public health programmes- no space to manage NCD programmes in this crisis,” he said.
Ghabu said this war is long overdue to be fought. It needs all hands-on deck.
“Now a days clinicians watch helplessly the sad reality of this deadly disease on daily practice and, we only wish this country come together with a slogan UMITUGEDA AGAINST NCD”, a shift in thinking and approach to prevent and control this deadly pandemic-NCD Crisis,” he said.
COMMISSIONER of Lands, Alan McNeil will be conducting a public meeting in Noro, Western province on Thursday at 2pm, specifically to do with Pari Development land.
PARI Development Company Ltd Managing Director, Donald Bato came out in the Island Sun newspaper last week claiming that the money the company collected from people living on its land is to support the company pay their General Property Rates fees to the Western Provincial Government.
The company in March this year had paid $123,464.20 to the Western provincial government. [Island Sun has sighted documents pertaining this]
Meanwhile, McNeil said he is interested to hear from the public what they have to say about that.
“I’m also keen to understand the extent of Pari Development’s land deals and to reassure members of the public residing on the land I took back from the company that I will not be evicting them, and instead I will work towards putting a report to the Land Board seeking to formally offer them land title, something Pari Development never did,” he said.
Explaining this last week, Bato said although PARI had every right to evict settlers off its lands in Noro, it did not for humanitarian reasons.
“We did not want to repeat what Samlimsan and KHY companies did to settlers on their land, which media had reported the companies of forcefully evicting and chasing out settlers. That is cruel and inhuman,” Bato explains.
He said instead they opted to offer the settlers time to, while continuing living on PARI land, look for where else to go.
But, Bato elaborates, while the settlers continue living on PARI land, it is only fair that they help the company pay the provincial land rent fees.
Hence, he said, PARI discussed with the settlers and all agreed on small amounts of contribution from each.
He reiterates an underlying point in this issue which is, PARI has plans to further develop its lands there, but for the very reasons explained above, it cannot at the moment.
METROPOLIS Pacific Pte Ltd has defended the construction of new houses at the Mamara New City in North West Guadalcanal.
General Manager William Ling said the housing construction techniques adopted for the MAMARA houses are modern techniques originating from Australia and New Zealand, with capacities to withstand earthquakes of magnitude 12 and typhoons.
Ling said the materials were selected for their high-quality environmental protection, fire resistance, heat insulation, and termite prevention.
“In only two months, a new town complex with 50 fully-functional novel villas will be built on what was previously completely barren land.
“The speed of construction would be impossible to achieve without the hundreds of local employees who are working hard to bring a new standard of housing to Solomon Islands,” he said.
Ling said the houses currently underway are intended for civil servants and ordinary citizens.
“It has always been our intention to ease the housing shortage that has plagued Honiara for a long time.
“For civil servants who wish to purchase these houses, they need only put a down payment of 20%-30% of the house price, and after obtaining a mortgage loan from the bank or finance company, shall only spend half or two-thirds of their current rental outlay to serve the monthly mortgage repayment amount,” he said.
Ling said it is their own choice as to whether to continue to pay rental or to put a portion of their earnings into purchasing their own home
Furthermore, Ling said the current development plan comes after many years of planning, discussions, setbacks and adjustments, finally receiving approval at the 8th and 9th sessions of the annual Mamara Council Meeting.
“We have persevered through many obstacles, including the Covid pandemic in order to finally kickstart the Mamara project.
“It is only possible through the cooperation and support of the central government of Solomon Islands, the provincial government of Guadalcanal, and their people,” he added.
The Mamara project and the development of Mamara-Tasivarongo-Mavo land is based on Solomon Islands Law No. 145.
“While Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd is the company that is party to an Agreement made under this law, Metropolis Mamara Development Limited is our wholly-owned subsidiary that has been incorporated and registered in Solomon Islands for the specific implementation of the Mamara project in terms of development and construction,” Ling said.
The original shareholders of Metropolis Pacific Pte Ltd (and thus, Metropolis Mamara Development Limited) occupy two seats as Council Members on the Mamara Council, out of the three Council seats assigned for the developers.
A man accused of lying and demanding money from a retired doctor will have his case heard in court again today.
This is the case of 45-year-old Sam Ngedea who was accused of obtaining more than $40,000 from a retired doctor in 2018 and 2019.
His case was listed to appear before Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison.
Prosecution charged the accused with 25 counts of false pretence and 21 counts of demanding with menace.
This is regarding the allegations between December 3, 2018 and July 20, 2019 where he lied to an elderly doctor and obtained more than $40,000.
Prosecution said the accused collected the monies from the victim on various occasions as compensation, accusing the victim trying to have sex with a woman he claimed was his mother.
Prosecution also alleged Ngedea during those times would appear using names such as George Ben, John Lake and Peter.
It was also alleged that the incident was made-up by the accused making prior arrangement with the woman to meet the victim on the case.
Steward Tonowane is appearing for the Crown while Lazarus Waroka from the Public Solicitor’s office is representing the accused.
COMMUNITIES in Choiseul Province are said to be slowly adapting to covid-19 regulations.
Deputy Provincial Secretary of Choiseul Province, Nelson Tanito said Choiseul Provincial Disaster Operation Committee (PDOC) is working closely with the national team to ensure the safety of communities.
He said community leaders have been briefed with the country’s covid-19 regulations and taken onboard responsibilities to support the national government.
Administration officer of Choiseul, Abel Kutukana said community leaders are cautioned of any new comers to their villages, especially those crossing from Shortland Islands to Choiseul.
“People in the communities now absorbed how fatal covid-19 is. People are afraid of the virus and now takes active measures to make sure their communities are safe,” he said.
A police officer spoken to said similar understanding now invading communities and household living close to the boarder.
“It was very difficult for us to control border crossing at the beginning of our operation as some people from Shortland Islands have close connection with people from Bougainville.
“These people have been enjoying close relationships, exchange of foods and normally came face to face with each other, so it was really difficult to put a stop this practice which has existed over the past years,” the officer said.
