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Poor husbandry practices behind death of 21 pigs at Aola: MAL

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The team provides animal health services with castration as depicted in this picture.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) through its Livestock Department has ruled out any African Swine Fever (ASF) incursion in the country but confirmed death of 21 pigs at Aola communities in East Central Guadalcanal was related to poor pig husbandry and management practices by farmers.

This was after a six-member team from the ministry’s Livestock Department and Biosecurity Department attended and investigated reports of pigs and piglets being sick and die-off from some farmers at the region on April 17, 2021.

Deputy Director of Livestock and Veterinary Services of MAL, Hearley Atupule who headed the team said the swift response was taken as part of the ministry’s alertness and preparedness to contain any possible incursion of ASF in the country.

“ASF is not present in Solomon Islands at the moment, but there are reported cases recorded in Papua New Guinea (PNG) which is a great concern to us and we must not take it lightly but always stay cautious and take required measures to ensure the country’s pig industry is protected from the virus-related disease,” Atupule said.

“ASF is not a risk to human health,” he added.

Atupule said his team attended and investigated the reported cases and established that the infections and deaths were caused by animal welfare, through poor husbandry and management associated to poor housing, feeding and water, animal health issues and lack of knowledge by farmers in handling and raising of their animals to support their livelihood.

“The cause of sickness and some death were resulted from high level of both internal and external parasites affecting the animals (pigs).

“These are also associated with poor feeding and the conditions where the animals were confined in.

“The smaller animals were also susceptible to extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, wind and high humidity, thus the piglets were getting pneumonia, slow growth, diarrhoea and other health issues, that may cause their illness and eventually resulted to the deaths.

“We also gathered information that apart from four farmers interviewed, there were also other farmers who experienced the same incidence.

“The signs and symptoms that were reflected by the farmers and evidences that we saw from the animals examined and diagnosed does not support the presence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the region or community.

“Therefore our response team collectively declared and ruled out the incursion of African Swine Fever (ASF) from the cases that were reported,” Atupule explained.

The team also provided general animal health services to the farmers there which include; anthelmintic and antibiotics drugs injections, castration and removal of needle teeth to young piglets.

An awareness talk on the ASF and the importance of Biosecurity including the current ban on importation of pork into the country was also delivered to the community farmers by the team.

MAL through its livestock department is sketching plans to organise a training for farmers in the region in due course.

However, as part of MAL’s commitment to certain ASF not enters the country, the government through the ministry of agriculture banned pork products except for few approved importers importing meat into the country from Australia only with strict importation rules.

According to World Organisation for Animal Health, African swine fever (ASF) is a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs and is responsible for serious production and economic losses.

“This transboundary animal disease (TAD) can be spread by live or dead pigs, domestic or wild, and pork products.

“Furthermore, transmission can also occur via contaminated feed and fomites (non-living objects) such as shoes, clothes, vehicles, knives, equipment etc., due to the high environmental resistance of ASF virus.

“There is no approved vaccine against ASF (unlike classical swine fever (‘Hog Cholera’) which is caused by a different virus)

“Historically, outbreaks have been reported in Africa and parts of Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. More recently (since 2007) the disease has been reported in multiple countries across Africa, Asia and Europe, in both domestic and wild pigs,” the Organisation stated.

–MAL PRESS

Women’s regional meeting attracts more participants

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Ben Bilua
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Honourable Mereseini Vuniwaqa, Fiji's Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation delivers her speech during the opening of the Triennial

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

OVER one thousand participants from the public and private sectors will take part in the 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the 7th Meeting of Pacific Ministers for Women which kicks off today (27th April).

Speaking to journalists last week, Director of Human Rights and Social Development of the South Pacific Community, Miles Young said the Triennial conference will provide an opportunity for officials from the governments, civil society organisations, Councils of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) and academia to throw in ideas that will later presented during the Ministerial meeting for reviewing.

He said an adoption paper which will set a mechanism for women empowerment in the pacific will be endorsed during the Ministerial meeting.

Young explained that the Triennial conference is part of the Pacific Platform for Action on the Advancement of Women and Gender Equality which formed the basis for the region’s participation in the 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing or the Beijing Platform for Action (BPA)

“2020 was a key date globally as it marks the 25th anniversary since the adoption of the BPA.

“This particular Triennial is important because we now hit that milestone and it’s an opportunity for us to look at what we have achieved since then,” he said.

However, Young said the task to achievement gender stability in the region is challenging and that more work needs to be done.

“I think we all agreed that for the region, there’s lots of work that needs to be done. We need to be honest and open about it. That when you look at where we are looking at indicators relative to the rest of the world, I think a lot of work needs to be done and I think we need to go into this particular conference with that knowledge,” he said.

The 14th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and the 7th Meeting of Pacific Ministers for Women will be live-streamed via zoom across 11 national venues due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Officials and participants from French Polynesia will gather at Le Tahiti Hotel, those in Cook Islands will gather at The Rarotongan Beach Resort, in Marshall Islands, participants and official will gather at Marshall Islands Resort, for Samoa, official and participants will gather at Taumeasina Hotel, in Tonga, official and participants will gather at Fa’onelua Convention Centre, in Solomon Islands, participants and officials will gather at the Heritage Park Hotel, officials and participants from Vanuatu will be at The Grand Hotel Vanuatu, the national venue in Kiribati is at Utirerei Motel, in Nauru officials and participants will gather at Meneng Hotel, for Tuvalu, the officials and participants will be at Tuvalu Broadcasting Cooperation and Federated State of Micronesia, officials and participants will zoom in at SPC MRO Conference Room.

Officials from the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (Women’s Development Division) will represent Solomon Islands on the conference.

Pre-employment training for Tina Hydro villagers

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AFTER months of preparation, the first group of 30 participants joined the Community Benefit Sharing team from the Tina River Hydropower Development Project Office and facilitators from Pasifiki HR for a weeklong Pre-Employment Training (PET) programme on Monday.

 The Human Resource initiative is a component of the Community Benefit Sharing Project designed to support the members of communities in the project area in accessing employment opportunities to be created by Tina River Hydropower Development Project.

The inaugural group, made up of 15 men and 15 women, were selected from a database of 700-plus people identified in the Project catchment communities as eligible participants to attend the Pre-employment training (PET) Programme.

  The weeklong training will be conducted by Pasifika HR who have developed the content and a course manual specifically in line with the Tina River Project employment requirements; covering topics such as social & environmental issues, seeking economic opportunities and project works & procedures.

The PET training is one of the pre-requisites required to be completed by people wanting to be considered for employment on the Project in the future. 

A course manual has been developed to guide the participants through various modules identified as essential training for any workers employed on the Project. Facilitators will train on areas such as workplace rules, health & safety, Solomon Island Labour law, grievance handling mechanism, understanding gender, time management and decision making. 

 “This is a great opportunity for people in the Tina River communities to be trained and equipped for potential future employment with the largest renewable energy project in Solomon Islands history,” said Francis Kapini, CBSP Coordinator from the Tina River Hydropower Project Office.

“Our aim is to have a trained local workforce who are able to contribute economically to their communities through gainful employment.” 

Participants will all receive a certificate of completion and training will continue until Friday at the New Hope Academy Kindergarten Hall next to Guadalcanal Province Headquarter at Bahai.

–TINA HYDRO MEDIA

Guale MPs told to assist address provincial issues

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GUADALCANAL Premier Francis Sade calls on the province’s MPs to help the provincial government address issues of concern to the province, rather than trying to destabilise his government.

Premier Sade says Guadalcanal MPs should use their position of privilege and power to help his government with development issues that will positively impact the lives of their people.

“According to the 2012/13 Household Income and Expenditure Survey report, Guadalcanal Province was categorised as the second poorest province in the country,” Sade said.

“ur provincial government is doing all it can to address the issues raised in that report,” he added.

“The best thing our MPs could do is work with my government to address these issues, especially to reduce, if not eradicate, poverty by 2030 as stated in the national government’s policy and reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that Solomon Islands is a signatory to.”

Premier Sade states his government is cognizant of the fact that despite Guadalcanal Province being the largest in terms of land area and an economic powerhouse for the country, it remains one of poorest in terms of services and opportunities available to people.

He raises concern about the minimal funding to provincial government through the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) while much of the development funding is via MPs through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

The Premier also expresses concern about the cuts to the Service Grant and PCDF budgets for the 2021/2022 financial year.

He points out that “service projects such as clinics, area health centres, school buildings, and market houses around the province are funded largely through PCDF, rather than the CDF.”

Premier Sade says he had raised concerns about “national projects” in the province because he wanted to ensure such projects benefit Guadalcanal people.

“I was advocating for the province and therefore do not see how my leadership is a threat to the Guadalcanal Province,” Sade says.

“My government is doing its best, with the limited power and financial and other resources to ensure Guadalcanal Province and addresses our people’s needs.”

The Premier says he is concerned that some Guadalcanal MPs may have become entangled politically and financially in businesses involved in these ‘national projects’ and that has clouded their judgement.

Premier Sade says the Guadalcanal Provincial Government has and will support national projects provided they also benefit Guadalcanal people.

On the Tina Hydro, Premier Sade explains that the Guadalcanal Province had assisted the national government by wavering over $6 million in property rates to fast track the national project.

This was despite the fact that the money could have been used to pay off debts that his government inherited from previous provincial governments, which included three current MPs and Cabinet Ministers.

“We are struggling to pay off those debts while doing a favour to the national government by wavering potential income just to ensure this national project succeeds,” says Premier Sade.

He explains that with regards to the Pacific Game 2023, when the national government requested Guadalcanal Province to allocate a plot of land in the Alligator-Tenaru area in 2019, the provincial government requested the national government first facilitate the payment of more than $10m that Levers Solomon Limited (LSL) owed to the province in land rentals.

The national government ignored that request.

Premier Sade states that while his government values the Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting (JCCM) which facilitates meetings between Guadalcanal MPs and the Provincial Government, past experiences have shown that despite their promises to assist the province, the MPs have either been reluctant or disingenuous.

The premier urges Guadalcanal MPs to work with the Guadalcanal Provincial Government to address development issues in the province and assures Guadalcanal people that neither he nor his executive is a threat to the province.

Disaster, child and gender training in Weather Coast

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Mr. Dickson Ruga (red shirt) -Chairman of Balo Village Disaster Risks Committee receiving a certificate of completion from Hon. Jerry Sabino MPA for Moli ward.

A TEAM comprising of World Vision Solomon Islands staff and partners has conducted a training on disaster ready, climate change, child protection, People with Disability and gender issues at Weather Coast of Guadalcanal.

 The training was conducted last week at Balo village to 51 residents of Moli Ward, Tetekanji and Birao.

 Supported by USAID through the Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs (BHA), the training enabled participants to have knowledge on climate change adaptation, child protection, gender issues like abuses and people with disabilities. 

It involved presentation, group activities, and discussions that allow participants to share their experiences on disasters and other cross cutting issues within their communities like abuses.  

Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Moli Ward Jerry Sabino acknowledged World Vision for providing the training to his people.

“Knowledge about disaster is very important for my people because Weather Coast is prone to disasters. Indeed many people do not know climate change that resulting on unpredictable weather patterns.

“From traditional knowledge people know when they will going to experience dry season and wet season thus they will prepare ahead for, however, now a days the weather is unpredictable thus people are more vulnerable,” he said.

Mr Sabino further highlighted information is very much important for communities to aware of and be prepare for disasters and to help mitigate the impacts.

“Lack of knowledge on disasters and other cross cutting issues means being vulnerable to such issues,” he emphasised.

Sabino also called on his people to accept such training when government agencies and NGO’s conduct them at their Ward.

The participants also received certificates at the end of their training.

The team comprises of World Vision Staff, People with Disability Solomon Islands Rep, Provincial Disaster Officer of Guadalcanal, Guadalcanal Province Women’s Desk Rep and Guadalcanal Child Protection Focal Person and MPA for Moli Ward.

–WORLD VISION

VIEWPOINT- Tailings dam pollution issue: TSI

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Gold ridge tailings Dam

TRANSPARENCY Solomon Islands (TSI) commends the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology (MECCDMM) for recognizing and admitting to the Chairman of Kolobisi Tailings Dam Association [KTDA] that Gold Ridge Mining Limited has acted illegally and irresponsibly in discharging untreated water from the Tailings Storage Facility [TSF] into the Tinahulu River.

Tinahulu River system, a river and environment that is used extensively for everything by the Metapona Downstream population was alleged contaminated with cyanide discharged from the tailing dam.  

Thus, TSI called on other authorities to help MECCDMM to deal with the matter in the criminal court of law.

In the Ministry’s correspondence to the Chairman of KTDA, the Ministry assured them that it has initiated criminal proceedings against the officer and Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) for discharging untreated water from the TSF without any license to do so from the Director of Environment and Conservation. 

This is a very welcome action from the responsible ministry and one that should be recognized, and more importantly one that the operators of the mine should take serious note of. On the 14th of April 2021, an engineer of the GRML released untreated TSF water into the Tinahulu River and the surround environment. 

The treatment of the TSF water before discharging has always been the demand of Metapona Down Stream Association [MDA] and KTDA and their people of previous companies operating the mine and it should not be any different for the current company. People’s lives, livelihoods and environment must be protected at all times.

The action of this one engineer discharging untreated TSF water into the environment around the TSF and the river system is irresponsible and criminal and he should be fired for his conduct.

In the TSF were water from the processing plant which contained both Cyanide and arsenic both very toxic to many living organisms at low concentrations.

Aquatic Organisms: Fish and aquatic invertebrates are particularly sensitive to cyanide exposure.

Exposure to Cyanide poisoning can cause the following symptoms in people according to literature on this; early symptoms include headache, dizziness, fast heart rate, shortness of breath, and vomiting.

This phase may then be followed by seizures, slow heart rate, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and cardiac arrest. Onset of symptoms usually occurs within a few minutes.

Some survivors have long-term neurological problems. These are effects that the KTDA and the MDA communities should be protected against. 

The Mining Company has been there for more than a year and for them to mine, the first thing they must attend to is the treatment of the TSF water before it is discharged. 

This is a priority so one questions why they have not attended to this urgently. Do they know what they are doing?

The threat of the Tailing Storage Facility to both human and the environment is very serious and must not be taken lightly by the government. 

The impact of any irresponsible actions by the current owners of the mine not only threatens the health of the downstream communities but their livelihoods and their life and environment.

The downstream communities through awareness carried out by the Ministry of Environment and both companies that operate the mine previously have placed these communities in a more knowledgeable level about the consequences of anything going wrong with the TSF.

Their worries are real, and this irresponsible action does not speak well for the new company.  In the past there were reports of threats of the Tailing Storage Facility likely overflow due to continuous heavy rain.

The Ministry of Mines given the fear both real and perceived must impress upon the company to build the treatment plant as they did with the previous company and leave no stone unturned protecting people and environment from any such irresponsible and illegal action by officers of GRML.

Metapona river in North Guadalcanal, which many communities at the Guadalcanal plains rely on for washing and bathing must remain safe for them to do use.

 An independent research carried out by local scientist some years back, Dickson Boboria uncovered interesting findings of the presence of cyanide in the river and coastal area of Guadalcanal plains.

This needs further investigation to locate the source and those responsible or actions that resulted in these findings.

And given the report that workers of the GRML were discharging the Tailing Storage Facility into the environment is a serious concern that demands responsible authorities including police to further investigate and arrest those responsible and hold them accountable.

Thus, Transparency fully supports the move by MECCDMM quote “the ministry has initiated criminal proceedings against the officer and GRML for discharging water from Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) without appropriate license from the Director of Environment and Conservation.

The Attorney General’s Office has been informed and already communicated on behalf of the Ministry a formal complaint to Director of Public Prosecution and the matter has now been referred to Police for investigation. 

Be assured that the Ministry does not condone such reckless behaviour and is committed to see this matter taken through the justice system.”

Reports reaching TSI had it that some workers of the company were digging a runaway for the tailing dam to find its way out into the river.

If this report is true then those responsible must be arrested, jailed, and pay compensation to the communities affected.

Transparency Solomon Islands applauds the action taken by the responsible ministry and urge the community to be on the watch out and to look after yourselves and your environment.

It is hoped that this will not be repeated. It is the duty and responsibility of the government, the Mines Division to monitor but obviously they have not done so. 

The worry here is where there is road, and close vicinity of Honiara where their office is located, they are unable to monitor what is going on. 

How much more for mines that they are working on approving when these are located in Choiseul or Isabel etc.

People want to help in these provinces, but they do not want loggers turned miners. 

They want government to find reputable mining companies to extract the mineral from their land not loggers turned miners.

Engaging reputable mining companies will go a long way into keeping people and environment safe than those who seem to think they can do just as they please.

RSIPF witness by-law Launch in Yandina

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DC Juanita Matanga sign the by-law during the launching

THE Police has joined force with the Savo-Russel Constituency to launch a by-law for the Yandina Community in the Russel Islands, Central Province.

Deputy Commissioner Operations of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Juanita Matanga along with Member of Parliament for Savo and Russel Islands Constituency, Dickson Mua witnessed the launching on Sunday.

Speaking at the launching ceremony DC Matanga said on behalf of the RSIPF Commissioner and the officers of the RSIPF, they are happy to witness the launching of the community by-law.”

“It is a good initiative that Yandina community have decided to establish a by-law for the good and betterment of your own people and your generations to come. This is one of the activities that RSIPF have worked hard for it in the Crime Prevention Strategy,” She added.

A group photo after the launching of the by-law in Yandina

She said the only way towards addressing social issues in our communities is working together and this is what I have witness during this launching today.

“I am happy that chiefs, elders, Church leaders, Mothers Union, Youth groups involved in the Crime Prevention Committee (CPC) have work together to build a good community through this by-law.”

Madam Matanga add that to lead a community is not an easy task.

“It can be tough at times but need respect to one another. Working together will make our community a safer place for our children. And they will learn from us and maintain from where we left them so we can live in a crime free society.”

She said with the COVID-19 situation, the government is trying its best to avoid it from entering our communities.

OCS Yandina right and members of the Crime Prevention Committee welcome the arrival of DC Juanita Matanga

“In order to make it happen we have to work together to fight against this sickness. Therefore, with the setup of the by-law for your community it will help your community continue practice working together. When it comes to any emergency situation such as ‘lockdown’ your community already familiar with what to do.”

Ms Matanga thanked the outgoing Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Yandina Police Station, Inspector Hugo Maelasi for working together with Yandina community to initiate this community by-law.

“ I would like to acknowledge the community and looking forward to work together in preventing crime in our communities. And I would like to thank the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Coordinator, Provincial Government to witness the launching event.”

—RSIPF

Correctional Officers receive FTO Certificate

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Correctional officer Monach Monamua from Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi

STAFF of the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands have completed a Field Officer Training programme at the CSSI headquarter last Friday.

The two weeks training conducted at the Correctional Service Training Centre culminated in a certification ceremony conducted by the Commissioner of the Correctional Centr, Gabriel Manelusi.

Speaking during the closing ceremony, Commissioner Manelusi said a Field Training officer (FTO) is an experienced or senior staff of an organization responsible for the training of a right group of people or to facilitate training that are appropriate for certain target group.


FTO officers pose for a photo shot with Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi and Executive staff
 

 He said they are also responsible to prepare the appropriate lesson and planning for the delivery of the lesson.

He said the FTO course is used extensively in basic course Designing and Course Delivery.

“A new trainee is usually only allowed to work with an FTO for a predetermined amount of time, or until the field training staff determines that they are ready to work on their own.

Commissioner Manelusi said field training for Correctional officers typically lasts two weeks, in some instances the trainee may work for a short amount of time prior to attending a formal training – Certificate program.

He said during this time the FTO may complete part or majority of the FTO programme and then all this will go on for three months upon completion of the Certificate of the Certificate process” Manelusi said.


Correctional officer Ronald Devele receive his Certificate from Commissioner Manelusi 
 

Commissioner Manelusi said, the duties of an FTO involve being a role model, clearly communicating the expectations of Evidence of teaching time log and lesson plan must be provided to assessors for assessment, design at least one new training package using the simple basic Training Needs Analysis steps begin taught in the FTO manual, correctly applying concepts learned in the classroom to field training operations, and evaluating the trainee on his or her progress in the programme.

He said ultimately, an FTO is responsible for making sure shift duties are performed properly and completely.

He said, the FTO helps with officer files, physical training and testing, drill, enforcing department and academy rules and numerous other logistical tasks.

CSSI Press

COVID CASES AT 20

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Chengs Quarantine Station

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands official number of covid-19 cases stands at 20.

This is based on the National Situational Report released by National Disaster Council yesterday.

The report states that 19 cases have recovered while one is still active and remains in isolation.

The new COVID case detected onboard a cargo vessel MV Chefoo over the weekend was not recorded.

The case was detected on a crewmember of the cargo vessel and has now come under strict quarantine.

“While the new case was diagnosed in the country’s Molecular Laboratory, it will not be registered as a Solomon Islands case.

“This case is referred to as the country’s ‘Conveyance Case 1’,” report states.

The vessel left Lae, in Papua to Honiara on the 15th of April and arrived in Honiara on April 17.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced in his National Address last week that the case was detected following a comprehensive risk assessment undertaken by the ‘Vessels’ Exemption Committee’ over the weekend.

“This individual was one of five new crew members that joined the vessel at Lae Port in PNG on 15th April 2021.

“It is notable that all five new crew members that joined the vessel at Lae, tested negative for COVID-19 at Lae on 12th April 2021, three days before boarding the vessel,” he said.

Seven martyred brothers remembered

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Part of the crowd enjoying the feast.

Thousands of companions, friends and supporters of Melanesian Brotherhood commemorated the seven martyred brothers and Saint Mark’s day at Tabalia on April 24 and 25.

The two-day celebration was marked with eucharist feasting and fellowship with companions, supporters and friends throughout the three regions of the Melanesian Brotherhood – Solomon Islands, PNG and Vanuatu.

On April 24 the brothers remember the death of the seven brothers who were killed for the purpose of peace in 2003 on the weather coast of Guadalcanal.

It was history to remember as it marks one of the darkest events but also the day of victory for the nation, Solomon Islands.

Their death was not a defeat but an event which brought resurrection and light to regain peace for the people of Solomon Islands.

“Happy are those who work for peace for theirs is the kingdom of God.”

On April 25 was the festivity of St Mark a day in which all the Chapel of MBH are dedicated as their patron saints.

This year 2021 the seven sections within the region admitted eight novices each which gives a total of 56 first-year novices within Solomon Islands region.

At Tabalia the central headquarters of the Melanesian, thousands of companions, relatives, friends and supporters of the brotherhood came to have fellowship with the brothers for the weekend. Some even there for a whole week.

At Fox section headquarter Poronahe, in the Hanuatoo section the activity on Sunday went on till late in the evening. People travelled from all over the province. It was a day of celebration and fellowship, commented one of the teachers at Waimapuru NSS.

The brotherhood acknowledges the companions, the Anglican Church of Melanesia, the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea, IFI in Philippines, the churches in Australia and New Zealand, the MMUK and companions in UK, friends, supporters and all who support the MBH in kindness.

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