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Maka’a happy his Province included in World Bank/Agri Program

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Makira Premier, Julian Maka'a

THE Premier of Makira Ulawa Province, Julian Maka’a says he is happy with the World Bank’s inclusion of his Province with funds to develop its Agriculture development projects.

He made the comment in Kira Kira, the Provincial Capital of Makira Ulawa Province following a meeting March 17 between World Bank, Agriculture and Rural Development Program officials and Executive members of the Provincial Assembly.

Also included in the World Bank’s Agriculture development funding are Guadalcanal and Malaita Provinces.

Mr Maka’a described as a great opportunity the inclusion of Makira Ulawa Province in the program and farmers must make use of it.

But he said the management of the funds is an important part of the process, “so I urge farmers who may get support to be accountable and transparent in the ways they use them.

“Makira Ulawa Province is an Agriculture Province and its inclusion is not a mistake”.

Premier Maka’a however said “our Agriculture Sector is being challenged by the presence of the Great African Snails at Waimapuru National Secondary School area of West Bauro in Central Makira and continues to spread to the surrounding areas.

“And very recently the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle in the Hamariko School area at the Hao/Maria regions of Central Makira which is just next to Waimapuru National Secondary School.

“I therefore call on the Biosecurity Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock as a responsible group to seriously help the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government to eradicate these pests.

“This region hosts very fertile farming soils and the support of the Phase 6 of the Rural Development Program Agriculture Rural Transformation Project will not be beneficial to the farmers there, and in the long term, all farmers in the Province if the pests are not eradicated”.

By George Atkin  Kira Kira Correspondent

World Bank will not support Kava farming

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Solomon gold kava is the best quality kava now in the world

The World Bank which will provide funding and technical assistance towards agriculture and livestock projects in three Provinces of Solomon Islands will not support Kava farming.

This was revealed in a consultative meeting in Kira Kira, the Provincial Capital of Makira Ulawa Province March 17, 2021 which was sponsored by the World Bank under the Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation Project.

The Project will kick off in Guadalcanal, Malaita and Makira Ulawa Provinces towards the end of the year or in early 2022.

The Technical Advisor of the Rural Development Programme which is a program of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Mark Johnston told the participants that the World Bank, the United Nations and the World Health Organizations have all agreed that Kava farming will not receive World Bank funding assistance because Kava is rated as a drug.

He said, the World Bodies have agreed that heavy kava consumption could have undesirable social impacts on communities therefore, people investing on Kava farming would not qualify to receive funding assistance from the World Bank.

But Mr Johnston said piggery, poultry and food crop and vegetable farmers as well as cocoa and coconut farmers could apply for funding and technical assistance from the World Bank through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and its Rural Development Program (RDP).

He added, the World Bank Agriculture Project would also not provide financial and technical assistance to cattle farming because it has negative impacts on the environment and in some cases villagers are facing land shortages.

By George Atkin  Kira Kira Correspondent

Lawyer: why the delay to charge Djokovic?

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Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Robson Djokovic

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

A LEGAL pundit has ticked off the police for taking too long to prosecute the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Robson Djokovic.

“The charge is quite straight forward,” the pundit says.

“There is no need to conduct an investigation to put a police brief,” he added.

“Why are the police taking so long?”

He said that any appeal by Djokovic to the Court of Appeal does not act as a stay to any prosecution by the DPP against his alleged breaches of the Electoral Act 2018.

The legal pundit argued the DPP’s powers to prosecute is independent of any appeal that Djokovic may have.

“In other words, Djokovic can appeal his citizenship case to the CoA and the RSIPF can proceed to have him arrested and charged for breaches of the Electoral Act which then would allow the DPP to prosecute Robson.

“It would then be up to Djokovic to seek a stay from the court to the criminal trial against him pending the outcome of his appeal,” he added.

“My point is that police should now charge and arrest Djokovic,” he said.

He added that some cases didn’t take long for the police to charge and prosecute others in the courts.

The right thing for them to do is for Djokovic to step down and concentrate on his legal cases.

“Djokovic is not an expert on policy or anything.

“His only defence against the Electoral Act offences is citizenship.

“I find it rather interesting that Caucus has to come to the defence of Djokovic.

“Djokovic doesn’t have any legal defence available. The evidence against him are strong and solid.”

Meanwhile, the legal pundit said the result of the High Court judgement is that the RSIPF should now proceed with the electoral case and have the matter prosecuted in court.

 “Caucus is now confused with Djokovic personal issues ( legal matters) with PMO/SIG issues.

“The fact that Caucus approved his appointment or thinks he is doing a very good job is not an excuse not to suspend or ask him to step aside to concentrate on his legal issues.”

TIGHT CONTEST

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RECAP -MOI player charges into HHH defense. Photo ISN File

Man Up 15s Challenge continues today

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

Following heated three rounds of competition, the Solrais & Fletcher Kwaimani Man Up 15s rugby Challenge heads into round 4 with three entertaining fixtures starting 12 PM today at the Town Ground rugby stadium.

Favourites Islanders rugby club move top of the table from last weekend’s hard-fought  19-12 win over MOI Warriors and wont risk dropping points today against a development SOSA side – as the pressure is still mounting should they finish top of the tally.

“It’s not going to be easy but with the team’s progress is a positive outcome,” Islanders head coach Paulo Tikotikoca told SunSPORTS recently.

SOSA who are yet to register a point so far is using the competition to create a pathway for the exposure of its young talents through the gentleman’s game.

 “The Man Up Challenge is so crucial as it holds the future of the game, it’s the base of rugby, and laying its foundation is critical as setting the right tone and direction for the future of rugby,” SOSA technical coach Rodney Kauramo said via Raw Sports.

Hosts Henderson Hammerheads is trailing a point behind the leaders as of round 3 and will take on Diesel today.  With the Sharks current standing, they are undoubtedly anticipating a rematch with Islanders for the deciding top finish.

The maroons after last weekend’s close margin loss to Malaita Crusaders will have to push for a comeback in today’s uphill battle against the Sharks.

For newcomers the Crusaders sitting third on the tally have to maintain their momentum seeing them take on MOI Warriors today who are picking up impressively throughout the competition.

The Man Up challenge heads into for its final round next weekend before the deciding playoffs according to team standings after round 5.

Fixtures (Saturday 27th)

SOSA vs Islanders – 12PM

MOI Warriors vs Malaita Crusaders – 2PM

HHH vs Diesel – 4PM  

TEAM SOLOMON TO BENEFIT FROM OSEP

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NOCSI President, Martin Rara. (1)

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

Team Solomon will receive a major boost when it comes to preparations for the Pacific Games 2023 under the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI).

This was following the signed memorandum of understanding between the Oceania Olympic Committees and the Pacific Community (SPC) this week on Oceania Sport Education Programme (OSEP) that will benefit sports regionally.

NOCSI President Martin Rara in a statement to SunSPORTS expressed that the programme will aid the newly establish Solomon Islands National Institution of Sports (SINIS) capacity to properly prepare athletes.

“This is timely news for NOCSI, especially when it comes at a time when our preparation for 2023 Games has started and ongoing. A great and welcoming news when NOCSI has expressed interest for OSEP to be part of our SINIS programme for 2023.So welcoming news for NOCSI and for Team Solomon Islands,” Rara stated.

The MOU partnership through the programme will strengthen career pathways, technical expertise and administration skills across the region in sports and will be recognized its courses across the Pacific Qualifications Framework (PQF), according to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC). 

OSEP is a regional sports education programme designed to build the capacity of Pacific based coaches, administrators and trainers utilizing a regional approach of collaboration,

It is currently delivered across 15 Pacific island countries and is only community – based education programme of its kind.

ONOC President Dr Robin Mitchell told FBC that the agreement is special because it is critical to the Pacific islands in two ways.

He says, firstly in positioning sport as a key enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Pacific island countries, a fact already recognized by the United Nations and linked to the Olympic Movement and secondly as a core part of global recovery plans from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

SPC’s Director-General Dr Stuart Minchin says the initiative on accreditation of short courses fills an important gap in the enhancement of the quality of education and training.

The MOU runs from 2021 to 2024 and is geared to increase the capacity of Pacific sport coaches, administrators, and managers toward the growth of a Pacific sport industry that develops world class sportspeople that jointly contribute to Pacific economies – FBC reports.

“MAMARA CITY CONSTRUCTION TO PROVIDE LOCAL JOBS”: PS MESEPITU

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Interim secretary of the Council Lonsdale-Lungana at the Mamara estate site

The construction phase of the Mamara New City on Guadalcanal will provide jobs for locals when the project rolls out soon.

Locals that will be engaged will also gain knowledge and experience from their specialized overseas supervises during the construction period.

“This project is unique in the sense that we are not only developing a new city but we will also empower locals to acquire new skills and work ethics,” said Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration (MCILI), Riley Mesepitu.

It is estimated that between 100 to 200 locals will be employed during the construction period and many of them will be absorbed into specialized duties.

The contractor- Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd had already received 6,000 tonnes worth of building materials, two weeks ago which were unloaded and stored at the Mamara wharf.

The construction plan also allocates two hectares of land to accommodate a permanent Police Station on site once completed. This component is currently in the negotiation stage between the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services and the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration.

Water supply for the City will be sourced from the fresh Mamara spring, which will be processed through a purification system of Australian standards.

Further details of the City will be made available at the groundbreaking ceremony in April. The ceremony will take place after the ninth meeting of the Mamara- Tasivarongo- Mavo Council meeting.

The Mamara- Tasivarongo- Mavo Development Project is regulated under an Act of parliament called Mamara- Tasivarongo- Mavo Development Agreement Act 1995. The Act sets out the blueprint for the development of the Mamara- Tasivarongo- Mavo lands.

The project is expected to be completed in 2023.

—Government Communication Unit

INCREASE IN 2021 DEVELOPMENT BUDGET

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THE 2021 National Budget builds on the overall commitment of the Government’s policy redirection objectives to protect citizens and communities while making our economy more resilient and sustainable.

Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC) Susan Sulu highlighted this during the PAC hearing recently.

The 2021 National Budget Theme is “Towards A Path To Economic Recovery: Advancing Growth and Service Delivery Through Better Partnerships”.

Ms Sulu said the 2021 budget theme calls for strategic collaboration across all sectors to be able to deliver capital investment projects and essential services effectively and efficiently.

She said the 2021 Development Budget will target sectors that aims to drive economic activity, address food security, support the provision of basic essential services, and support job retention and employment.

“This is to ensure there is maximum result and quick economic recovery in preparedness and response to the impacts of covid19 in the short to medium term and long term economic growth,” she said.

Ms Sulu informed the PAC that total Development Budget Estimates for 2021 is $938, 049,000, including $90,000,000 from Peoples Republic of China. This is an increase of 33% ($310,894,294) from the 2020 Development budget.

The Permanent Secretary said investment programmes and projects are to be streamlined with the DCGA redirection policy priorities that are urgent and critical for implementation in 2021.

“Other considerations are given to on-going investment programmes and projects that have commenced in 2020 and are progressing well. Contractual obligations are also prioritised in the 2021 development budget to ensure accumulation of outstanding arrears to contractors and suppliers are minimised, and on-going projects implementation progressed,” she said.

Ms Sulu further highlighted that another important consideration, which the 2021 development budget takes into account, is the need to address current socio-economic vulnerabilities that the Covid 19 pandemic compounds or further exacerbates.

She said the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination adopted a joint consultative approach together with Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT), Ministry of Public Service and Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) during the 2021 budget preparation process with all line ministries and government agencies. 

“Development budget bids and proposals received were thoroughly appraised by technical officers at MNPDC, to ensure that only programmes and projects that are properly scoped and designed with credible business case justifications, detailed procurement plans, and realistic budget costing’s goes into final budget compilation.”

The Permanent Secretary said the compiled budget version had gone through a thorough process and was presented at the Budget Standards Committee (BSC), Budget Coordination Committee (BCC), Budget Strategic Committee (BSC) and, Caucus and Cabinet for endorsement.

“New capital investment programmes prioritised in the DCGA redirection policy and targeted for implementation in 2021 are also factored in the 2021 development budget,” Ms Sulu said.

The Permanent Secretary said they have also advised ministries to do proper designing, scoping and costing of these new inclusion and review the scope and financing of the on-going programmes and projects to better align with the redirection policy.

“The 2021 Development Budget will continue to support new and on-going SIG-Donor co-funded capital investment projects,” she said.

-PMO

White River crime watch group receives equipment

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Eddie Osifelo
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West Honiara Constituency Develoment Officer, Brian Taupiri, second right, displays the new equipment with White River Neighbour Hood team

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE White River Community Neighbourhood Watch group in West Honiara was boosted with new equipment yesterday.

Thanks to Member of Parliament for West Honiara, Namson Tran, who provided $8000 to allow the group to purchase new set of torches, solar panel Street light, tent, boots, radio, vests, cones and uniforms to implement their work.

The Group had been doing the job on voluntarily basis in the last three months to tackle crimes rate in the community.

Constituency Development Officer, Brian Taupiri said the support is important to assist the group control crime rates at White River.

Taupiri said the group is working alongside the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to tackle nuisance, swearing, shouting and alcohol consumption by youths in the community.

“The Police endorsed the Group’s letter when they applied for the assistance.

“We see this request as very important in order to boost the group’s work to maintain peace in the community,” Taupiri said.

He calls on households on White River to provide any assistance they can afford to the group like coffee, smoke and other needs to motivate the group to provide night watch.

Taupiri said this is important to make sure White River is a safest community in Honiara where people can enjoy peace and harmony.

Further to that, he said one of the constituency’s aims is to see the work of this group regulated to carry out their work.

Taupiri said he will find out if this group can be regulated under any laws of the country.

One of the group leaders, Junior Teikamata thanked Taupiri and their Member of Parliament for the assistance to boost their work.

Teikamata also thanked the Police for helping them with the endorsement letter to secure the assistance.

He said White River is known for crimes like stealing, shouting and drinking disorderly, as such his group decided to turn the picture around to give a good name to the community.

COVID-19 vaccination now for frontliners and 55 + years old people

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The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has reiterated to the public that apart from promotional vaccinations, which involves key public figures, the current vaccination at the Central Field Hospital (Multi-Purpose-Hall), is only for COVID-19 operation frontline ministries and agencies, and persons above 55 years, more especially those with underlying health conditions.

With those coming from frontline ministries and agencies, their names are to be provided according to their role in fight against COVID-19.

This is in line with the current COVID-19 national deployment and roll out plan and also from the fact that we are and will be receiving limited supply in batches, with the first  only containing 24,000 thousand doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.

Therefore from the 24,000 doses, only 7000 doses will be administered in Honiara for frontline workers and those 55 years and above with underlying health conditions. In addition to this, those 55 years and above must present their medical cards when coming for their vaccinations.

The remaining 17,000 doses is for western borderline communities in the Western, Choiseul and Malaita provinces and is for all persons 18 years and above due to concerning increases of COVID-19 cases with our western neighbour, Bougainville.

Therefore, we urge the public to ensure you only come to the Central Field Hospital to receive the vaccine if you fall into either of the categories stated above to avoid any upset of being turned back.

The Ministry of Health will continue to provide update and inform the public once we have completed vaccinations for these categories and move to the conduct vaccinations for all remaining persons above 18 years of age in Honiara and across the country.

–MHMS

COVID 19 Project Continues Soap distribution to Schools

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World Vision Solomon Islands COVID 19 project team continues its soap distribution programme to schools in and around Honiara this week.

Yesterday, the team and its partners distributed fifteen cartons of soap to King George Sixth School.

The partners present include US Consulate Keithie Saunders representing US Government, Bob Pollard and his team from the Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands.

Speaking during the event World Vision Solomon Islands National Director Jimmy Nadapdap emphasized the importance of proper hygiene towards COVID 19 preventions.

“Today indeed demonstrates our contribution and work in the country especially to tackle the negative impacts of COVID 19. As we all know hygiene practices like hand washing with soap and water has played an important part in COVID-19 prevention.

 However, difficulty to accessing basic hygiene items like soap and hand sanitizer, as well as a proper WASH station facility with clean water could lead to ineffective hand wash practices and an increase in disease.”

“Because of its paramount importance to ensure schools are resilient and students understand good hygiene practices, World Vision Solomon Islands is currently rolling out a COVID-19 program to assist a total of 106 Schools in Honiara and surrounding areas, East Guadalcanal and Makira- Ulawa Province.

King George Sixth School is also included in the support bucket list. The project includes providing cartons of soaps to schools and construction of WASH station facilities, starting with schools that lacks such facilities.” Mr Nadapdap said.

While urging KGVI school students to prioritise hygiene practices, Mr Nadapdap further said World Vision will not let its guard down on supporting the national government to preventing COVID 19 by continue distributing soaps to schools and building hand WASH stations.

KGVI School Principal Dr Lionel Kakai thanked World Vision and its partners for donating the soap to his school.

“I thanked World Vision and USAID for the support, I believe this donation will help improve hygiene to my students,” Mr Kakai said.

Mr Bob Pollard also thanked USAID and World Vision for choosing Kokonut Pacific as the main supplier of soap for this project.

“The soap that we supplied for this project are made from local oil, the oil palm from GPPOL and local coconut kernel,” Mr Pollard explained.

Meanwhile, US Consulate Keithie Saunders said US is happy to continue supporting World Vision’s work in the country.

The project is being supported by USAID through the Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs and Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands is the main supplier of soap.

Up to yesterday, WVSI BHA COVID 19 project team manage to distribute to a total of 46 Schools.

Apart from BHA COVID 19 project, World Vision is also currently implementing an Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) COVID 19 project that focuses on livelihood in Guadalcanal, Malaita and Temotu Provinces.

By WVSI Grant and Communication Department

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