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Service cuts as budget slashed

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, Dr Cedric Alependava

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Women, Youths, Children and Family Affairs will have to sacrifice some of their activities due to budget cuts as a result of covid-19.

Under the $4 million budget, the ministry is allocated $9 million under Recurrent Budget and $3 million under Development Budget.

Beside, UNICEF has provided $397 million under Recurrent Budget.

Unlike in the 2020 budget, the ministry was allocated $12 million under the Recurrent Budget.

Permanent Secretary, Dr Cedrick Alependava said with this cut they will sacrifice some of our activities particularly with women, youths and children.

As part of addressing youth’s issues in the country, PS Alependava said the ministry has committed to build youths and children centre at Lata, Temotu province with $3 million.

He said they are anticipating within a period of one year to build one youth and children centre throughout the country

“We have already build partnerships with the redirection policy in collaboration and partnership with other ministries and stakeholders

“With Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, we have already signed with Temotu province. We looking at them to take responsibility with other one centre,” he said.

Dr Alependava said from 721,000 populations, youths made up 70 percent which is 500,000.

However, he said only 20% were absorbed in formal education, while 100,000 left out of work.

Dr Alependava said Youth Art Work was created to capture school drop outs and develop and empower them.

He said SPC and DFAT used to fund the programme six or seven years ago but now diverted their funds to TVET programmes.

Therefore, PS said they put it under National Youth Congress which was established under the Parliamentary White paper and Charitable Act.

He said NYC was only allocated $616,000 which is not good enough to help Youths at Work.

Moreover, PS Alependava said the about $400,000 was allocated to National Council of Women.

He said this is to allow NCW to support Christiane Care Centre in Honiara and Malaita because they don’t have any budget.

Police arrests two suspects in joint operation with Fisheries

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Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) at the Central Police Station in Honiara City assisted officials of the Ministry of Fisheries on March 31, 2021 to arrest two suspects at the Honiara domestic wharf for illegal harvesting of beche-de-mer.

Provincial Police Commander Honiara City Superintendent John Matamaru says, “Fisheries officials called police to be present at the arrival of local vessel MV Fair Glory at the Honiara local domestic wharf early Wednesday, March 31, 2021 as they believed the vessel was carrying some illegally harvested beche-de-mer from Chea village, Marovo Lagoon in the Western Province.

“Upon arrival of the vessel at the Point Cruz wharf, Police and Fisheries officials boarded the vessel, apprehended the suspects and took them to the Central Police station watch House where they were arrested and placed in the cell for further dealings by the Fisheries officials.”

The confiscated items included three cartons of dragon fish, three cartons of sunfish, one basket of sunfish and half a bag of pineapple fish. Fisheries officers took the items as exhibits.

“The Fisheries Department applauded police officers in Honiara City for the assistance to maintain law and order in the City and beyond.

“It was a successful operation and police will continue to work with other government agencies including Fisheries to ensure the country’s laws are observed,” says Matamaru.

–POLICE MEDIA

Choiseul calls on MHMS to assess rural health facilities

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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The broken floors along the corridor inside Taro hospital

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

MEMBER of the Provincial Assembly for Choiseul province, Nerio Ulemiki has urged the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and provincial health authority (PHA) to carry out surveys on health facilities in the province.

“I want to appeal to our Government, we have been a nation for 40 years and one of the issues for us is poor state of rural health facilities.

“Health is an important asset for all of us during this time of covid-19 pandemic,” said Ulemiki.

Ulemeki responding to reports in the media regarding the poor status of Taro hospital, said; “Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) should come and do research and see for themselves the status of poor health facilities in the province.

“They should know how many health facilities we have and what these facilities are lacking.

“They should take stock of these issues and plan with us on how best we can address them.”

Ulemiki said the Ministry of health needs to be proactive and manage whatever resources they have to visit and improve clinics in the rural communities.

“If the grant cannot meet the repair then why not push through in the Provincial development budget for the Health sector to improve the status of the clinic.

“People cannot control the virus if it spreads but we people can control this if we improve our health facilities before it is too late.

“I would make this appeal to the government and the Ministry of health to quickly make plans that would really help us to improve better health facilities both Aid-posts and hospital,” Ulemiki said.

St Luke Gizo parish celebrates Easter

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St Luke Parishioners end the worship outside of the chapel

BY BEN BILUA

Gizo

PARISHIONERS of Saint Luke Anglican Church in Gizo yesterday came together in worship to commemorate Easter – the church’s tradition to remember the resurrection of Christ.

Church-goers from nearby communities also joined the worship which was held at St Luke Chapel.

Yesterday’s event was extra special as parishioners bid goodbye to one of the church’s long serving committee member Timothy Amalo who had served the church for more than 40 years.

St Luke Sunday school performed their action chorus for the guest and visitors

In his sermon Parish Priest Eric Kolae said Easter is a glorious day in the church calendar as believers celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

He told those present that the day marks a new life for all Christians.

St Luke Parish Priest Father Eric Kolae delivers his speech
Chairlady of St Luke Parish Ileen Ziudanga delivers her speech

“Today we mark the day called Easter in our Church Calendar and I call on us to reflect this event not as a history but also believe and follow the teaching of repent and forgiveness,” Kolae said.

“We must find strength in God to be a new person clean from sins and also affirm our faith in Christ,” he added.

Kolae calls on parishioners to continue serving God with the different expertise that they have been gifted with.

In his speech to farewell Amalo, he said Amalo is one of the founding fathers of St Luke Church and the Church acknowledges his service.

Kolae described Amalo as the surviving pioneers of the church through thick and thin days.

Interim Committee Member Jeddy and Ileen standing behind outgoing Committee member Mr Amalo (sitting)

“On behalf of the Church, I acknowledged your service that you rendered towards the church over the past years,” he said.

He calls on parishioner to work together in church programmes both in and out of the church.

The event ends with feasting.

Window to the world opens at Naha school

Written by
Charles Kadamana
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Naha CHS principal Hubert Baselo and his staff inside the information lab

BY CHARLES KADAMANA

Form seven students of Naha Community High School will now be able to conduct research and upload their assignments at their school.

This follows the dedication and opening of its information lab on Saturday.

School principal Hubert Baselo said inside the information lab there are 10 ‘I-5’ computers available for student to use.

He said the priority is for their form 7 arts students to do their research and upload their assignments.

He said with the wealth of information now at their fingertips the students should utilise the information lab for education purposes.

Guests and staff witnessed the dedication of the Naha CHS information lab

He said with the impact of covid-19 there are new modes of learning like Zoom introduced so the opening of the new information lab is timely for the school and the students.

“Our students can learn from others using Zoom due to Covid-19,” he said.

He advises his students to treat the information lab as their heart for training and improve their behaviour.

He said the information lab will also support staff to do their research and prepare their lesson.

He said currently 60 students are doing their form 7 Art study at Naha CHS so they will have to monitor how they can have equal access to the information lab.

Coordinator for forms 6 and 7 Martha Toilia expressed that the new information lab will allow the students to upload their assignments on their own.

Naha CHS forms 6 and 7 coordinator Martha Tolia trying out the new computer

She said previously the school teachers have to upload the assignments on behalf of their students which consume a lot of time for them.

“As coordinator for forms 6 and 7, I am very happy and thank the school principal for his great version for the school,” she said.

Baselo said the school procured the computers from South Pacific Supplier in Brisbane through their local agent in Honiara and funded under school’s funding.

Fr John Roroi dedicating the Naha CHS information lab

Border Intrusion?

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Police officers patrolling the Western border with Bougainville. PHOTO ABC

Fears in Choiseul after boat sighted, increased Covid 19 cases next door

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

PEOPLE living on the Choiseul end of the border with Papua New Guinea are raising alarms after the sighting of a boat crossing into the country from Bougainville over the weekend.

The alarm was raised by Member of the Provincial Assembly for Ward 12 on Choiseul, Nerio Ulemiki with repeated calls for relevant agencies including the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to properly guard the western border to ensure no trespassing and illegal entry by foreigners.

Mr Ulemiki said they have spotted the boat from Bougainville on Northwest Choiseul and they are concerned as the cases of Covid-19 across the border has increased to 26 over the weekend.

“Some of these Bougainvilleans have continued to illegally enter the Solomon Islands-border.

“Our RSIPF needs to seriously monitor illegal entry at the border between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

“We expect our police officers to pay serious attention to the border and ensure they are monitoring those boats coming in and out,” Ulemiki said.

Ulemiki said the lack of tight and wider controls along the lborder of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Western region are a major Covid-19 pandemic concern.

He is calling on the good people of Choiseul and Bougainville to respect the border restriction measures and those who continue to travel illegally must comply with the Law of Solomon Islands and not to illegally trespass at the border.

He said that people of Northwest Choiseul are worried over the covid-19 virus spreading into their communities if the border is not properly monitored.

Ulemiki meanwhile thanked front liners at the border for continuing to do their duty and encouraged them to continue monitoring.

He appeals to the National government and responsible authorities to re-equip and put more resources, logistics and capacity at the border to control illegal entrance.

Renbel and U.S establish partnership

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Renbel is among provinces keen to sign up to US Scale programme. Here is a photo of Renbel Executive meeting with US Official last month.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

UNITED States has reached out its assistance to Rennell/Bellona Province following the successful launching of development programmes on Malaita Province.

US Deputy Chief of Mission US Embassy Port Moresby, Bernand Link met with the Rennell Bellona provincial assembly on 29th March and discussed plans and projects expected to roll out in support of the country including provinces.

Both parties shared development challenges and potential development plans that would enhance Renbel province.

In an interview with this paper Premier Willy Tuhagenga said three funding opportunities have been discussed.

“We discussed a U.S25m project under the SCALE Project, Funding from Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and Peace Corp Programme.

“Expected projects that will fall under these fundings includes; Agriculture and Infrastructure development.

“We have identified Honey Project, Tilapia Project as well as vegetable and root crop farming under the Agriculture project. These projects are focused on food security,” he said.

Tuhagenga said his executive will finalise areas that will be funded under the infrastructure development projects.

He said his executive fully supports the initiative and is looking forward to helping U.S officials when the projects roll.

“This is a new opportunity never been made in the history or the first of its kind for my province as such my executive is ready to provide the necessary support needed to facilitate and implement the proposed projects,” Tuhagenga said.

He acknowledged the people and government of United States of American and at the same time calls on both side of Renbel Provincial Government and the people of Renbel to support the programme for the betterment of the province and the country. This paper understands that Link will visit Rennell Bellona province soon

200 more towers for country

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Government is progressing in its effort to establish 200 telecommunication towers in the country.

Ministry of Communication and Aviation permanent secretary, Moses Virivolomo told the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament this week that the 200 towers are in the design stage.

Virivolomo said discussion on the actual locations will take place this week.

He said they are also experiencing some delays.

Further to that, Virivolomo said the ministry submitted proposals to some donor partners and they have responded and requested some information.

He said funding request go together with the proposal as well

Minister, Peter Shanel Agovaka told Parliament last December that these are 200 new broadband 3/4G towers expected to be ready before the Pacific Games in 2023.

He told Parliament that the government has passed a Cabinet Paper to construct 200 new broadband towers in all the 5o constituencies and parts of the country.

He said the towers will be constructed in areas as far as Anuta, Ontong Java, Shortlands, and Renbel.

He said the Australian Government is also supporting the Ministry of Police to construct a number of towers in Shortlands and Ontong Java.

Constructing of mobile towers around the country has been an expensive exercise for the telecommunication provider such as Our Telekom and Bemobile.

Recently Member of Parliament (MP) for East Guadalcanal Bradley Tovosia has stepped in to fund the construction of two new 3G towers in his constituency to ensure communities there have access to telecommunication.

Environment, Politics connect: Mataki

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) Dr Melchior Mataki

BY ALFREED PAGEPITU

The fate of the Solomon Islands environment is intricately connected with political decisions and economic choices, says Dr Melchior Mataki.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Dr Melchior Mataki said that since independence, there have not been any serious discussions and policy directives to rationalize environmental and economic objectives.

He said the decisions and economic interaction with governance institutions and the society is solely dependent on natural resource extraction to drive its economy.

Mataki said that despite a lot of environmental issues, this contributed significantly to the demise of the environment in the country.

“It is incumbent on all of us, and especially the government to reconcile economic and environmental objectives through appropriate laws and policies, programmes and how it plans and organizes our economy and society.

“This transition can be credited to individuals and environmental NGOs,” he said.

Mataki said the Government and its partners have scaled up this approach through national projects such as the Tina River Hydropower Project and Pacific Ecosystem based Adaptation to Climate Change Project.

However, he said that more of this type of developments needs to be done. The thinking that the environment is limitless and resilient to all forms of human perturbations forms the basis of development and natural resource management globally.

Premier Maka’a remind MPAs of roles in governance

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Makira Premier, Julian Maka'a

By George Atkin

Kira Kira Correspondent

The Premier of Makira Ulawa Province, Julian Maka’a has reminded members of the Makira Ulawa Provincial Assembly that they have equal significant roles to play in the governance of the affairs of the people.

He made the reminder March 23, 2021 while delivering his opening address of the 2021-2022 Provincial Budget in Kira Kira, the Provincial Capital of Makira Ulawa Province.

Mr Maka’a said it does not matter what wing members of the Provincial Assembly sit while meeting at the Chambers, be it RIGHT, LEFT OR CENTRE, “we should all unite amicably towards attaining the prime and ultimate goal of providing sound and quality services to our good people and enhancing their livelihoods.

“We simply have to work together jointly, as we should render support to none other but very Provincial Executive, in pursuing clear policy outputs and achieving outcomes.

“I remind the back benchers of the very vital role you play in the House, one for providing the pivotal mechanism that ensures checks and balances in governance as good governance provides established mechanisms such as the Provincial Public Accounts Committee and others for Transparency and Accountability reasons that allow you to play very critical roles that ensure vigilance, accountability, credibility and transparency for the Provincial Government of Unity, Reform and Advancement (GURA)”.

He said his Government welcomes people’s criticisms and advice as long as they are constructive, but if they are not, then they can be unhealthy, disuniting and without product.

But Mr Maka’a said despite the cautions, he was sincerely proud with the Non-Executive members because they had done extremely fine with their continued support for and of the government, as “our togetherness will work wonders for our people”.

And on people’s trust and confidence for Participation and Partnership, he highlighted to all Members of the Makira Ulawa Provincial Assembly, voters and people in general that as elected leaders, they are entrusted to provide sound guidance and clear vision for people’s wellbeings.

And to reciprocate to that trust, “we must all take serious heed of our people’s trust and anticipations, so much so, on behalf of the full Assembly I pledge the government’s gratitude to them.

“The government which rightly belongs to them will continue to do its best to honour its part”.

Premier Maka’a said in confidence of “our Partners and Stakeholders, I would echo the same sentiments stated in previous occasions in the Assembly, as they are hard truths and they resonate my humble but just convictions”.

He said Sub-level governments the world over struggle to ensure delivery of their responsibilities, while lower tier governments normally are overwhelmed with responsibilities that they cannot address meaningfully as they are ill resourced.

And he said whilst the Provincial Governments are subdued with a tremendously wide arrays of responsibilities under schedules of the Provincial Government Act, there are very limited resources available for them to take on these obligations as the bulk of these resources are held by the higher level of governance in the country, the National Government.

In the case of Makira Ulawa Province, the Provincial Government alone cannot shoulder the weight of its responsibilities, he said.

Mr Maka’a said the point in contention is that confronted with the adverse responsibility verses the resource situation, whether “we like it or not, the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government is at the mercy of partnership and participation.

“We are very dependent on our Partners, Stakeholders, Non-Governmental-Organizations, Donor Partners and Semi-Government Institutions which universally prop up Provincial, Local Governments and lower level sub-national governments to address the responsibilities.

“Very importantly, without them, our Provincial Governments become lame, wobbly, and are disabled to address their obligations satisfactorily”.

He said globally, lower level governments are confronted with the scenario so they knot and embrace partnerships, foster linkages with institutions and together, “we work to elevate citizens’ livelihoods”.

Premier Maka’a said at this juncture, he deemed it appropriate to sound the caution that he had in store for all Makira Ulawa Provincial Assembly Members.

And that is the scarecrow in the partnership arrangement is disunity in government which is a cancer in the Partnerships and Participation that “we seek and yearn for.

“But we must portray Stability in our government as it is rooted in an atmosphere of Trust, in which our partners will willingly operate to help us.

“Honestly, we frighten these institutions and organizations, we turn them and their resources away the moment we embark on governance upheaval practices and expose instability in our government.

“But will you join me in acknowledging the wonderful partnership and cooperation that continue to connect us with our good partners.

“The ruling GURA Government will continue to treasure, advocate and maintain the outstanding and wonderful relationships that exist with our partners and stakeholders because they are here to stay with the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government”.

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