THE Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) has consecrated and installed Reverend Arthur Stanley Abui as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Hanuato’o (DOH) at Saint Peters Cathedral, Kirakira on Sunday.
The Most Reverend Leonard Dawea, Archbishop of the ACOM assisted by the Senior Bishop and Bishop of the Diocese of Malaita the Rt Rev Sam Sahu, the Assistant Bishop of Malaita the Rt Rev Rickson Maumauru, Bishop of the Diocese of Ysabel the Rt Rev Ellison Quity, Bishop of the Diocese of Temotu the Rt Rev. Willie Tungale, Bishop of the Diocese of Guadalcanal the Rt Rev Benedict Loe and Retired Bishop the Rt Rev Alfred Karibongi officiated the ceremony.
Immediately after he was consecrated; the Vicar General of the DOH Rev. Clayton Maha installed the Rt Rev Arthur Abui in the episcopal chair of the Diocesan Cathedral as a sign of his role and responsibility as chief shepherd of the diocese.
(From left) Retired Bishop Alfred Karibongi, Bp Sahu, Bp Quity, Bp Abui’s Chaplain (in white), Newly Consecrated Bp Arthur Abui, Archbishop Dawea, Bp Loe, Bp Rickson and Bp Tungale after
‘I have no great intention to come on board with new ideas and developments. I would rather continue on with the vision and mission statement of the diocese passed by the 10th diocesan synod December 2020” the newly consecrated Bishop said in his inaugural address in the church.
“Our vision statement puts emphasis on “to hear, live and joyfully proclaim the gospel of Christ to our people. Our mission statement focuses on our baptismal ministries to build up the body of Christ which is the church. This is trying to achieve our vision statement. Importantly to recognize and serve those who are in need in our society”, he added.
Taken from the Diocesan Vision and Mission statements, the Rt Rev. Arthur Abui said his theme for this year 2021 is “HANUA TO HANUA FOR CHRIST”, meaning the gospel of Christ should begin at home.
Vicar General of the Diocese of Hanuato’o installing the new Bishop on the diocesan chair
“The theme should germinate at home; grow at home, matured at home before it goes out to other people, communities and society. Acts of the Apostle 1.8 states, “Be my witnesses beginning in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the end of the World,” Bishop Abui added.
‘I personally believe and agreed with some writers that the founding stage of human development begins at home in the infant period before other frame work takes their toll. As stated earlier, with the vision, mission statements and the mission theme 2021, they are our bearing for mission and ministry in the diocese.
“ I lovingly and joyfully call on all clergy, parish councils, religious, church ministry groups and parishioners to fully utilise our potential to fully realise our vision, mission statements and our mission theme 2021 aligning with the ACOM Mission Statement” the newly consecrated and installed Bishop of the diocese of Hanuato’o highlighted.
Bishop Sam Sahu (left) prepare to put on the mytre to a new Bishop
“I am confident the diocese will continue to progress through your capable leadership with the support of your clergies.” The Most Rev. Leonard Dawea told Bishop Abui in his speech during the feasting.
‘There is no school for the bishopric; but by working with and listening to the people; you will learn most how to be a bishop’, the Archbishop added.
Before the actual ceremony took place, his immediate successor, Rt Rev Alfred Karibongi in his sermon reminded the Rev. Abui of the words of Saint Paul in Ephesians 4:1-3 – to ‘live a life that measures up to the standard God set when he called you. Be always humble, gentle and patient. Show your love by being tolerant, open-minded, understanding, with one another and do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together”.
Hon. Nestor Giro, Hon. Willie Marau and Hon. Derick Manu’ari together with the Premier of Makira Ulawa Provincial Government Hon. Julian Maka’a all pledged their continual support to the new bishop.
Mr. Silas Hulanga, Diocesan Secretary, speaking on behalf of the Diocesan Administration to the newly Consecrated and Installed Bishop and the Local Organizing Committee, conveyed great appreciation and acknowledgment to all who have rendered their time, finance and resources towards the successful hosting of this Consecration and Installation ceremony.
ACOM Vice Chancellor Gabriel Suri reading the document of election at the Consecration service.
Archbishop Dawea encourages all the clergy and people of the diocese to work closely with the new bishop.
“Bp. Arthur is just one person; he can be able to do greater things for the diocese through your support” he added.
The Archbishop also calls on all members of the church to continue to pray for the Rt Rev Arthur Stanley Abui and his family as he begins this very important role in the Diocese of Hanuato’o and in the Anglican Church of Melanesia.
Members of H.E Link's delegation and MPG team led by Premier Suidani after an information sharing session held at Serah's Hideaway lodge in the Langa Langa lagoon on Monday
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI
THE people of Malaita Province this week welcomed the US Deputy Chief of Mission under the US embassy in Port Moresby, His Excellency, Bernard Link to Auki.
Mr. Link was in Auki as preparation for the US Scale programme assistance as well as well as other potential support for the country.
Upon the delegation’s arrival in Auki, they took a site visit to the forestry programmes on communities in the Highlands of Central Kwara’ae and a discussion session was held at the Serah’s Hideaway in the Langa Langa lagoon.
H.E Bernard Link receives a shell neglace from Premier Suidani as a token of appreciation from people and government of Malaita province for receiving H.E Link to the province.
Speaking during a brief welcome ceremony held at Gwariagalu community in Central Kwara’ae, His Excellency Link expressed happiness in interacting with communities and seeing the activities that people are engaged with on the ground.
He said when looking at the future of Malaita province and the Solomon Islands there are wonderful and bountiful resources that are around.
Link said the trees, water, soil and the environment around needs to be preserved and taken care of.
“This is the reason why the United States is here and wanted to support your communities to preserve your resources.
He said in preparation for the support including the SCALE programme, “we are here to hear your ideas and how to work with communities in Malaita and elsewhere in the Solomon Islands.”
Information sharing session at Serah’s Hideaway Lagoon Lodge in the Langa Langa lagoon.
Link said this is to help address the opportunities for the people and communities as the Scale programme was intended with open doors for partnership and support towards communities.
He also identified in his visit to communities on Central Kwara’ae, that it’s important not just to think about the environment or economic opportunity, but also about the cultural norms and value of the people.
“I look forward for ideas from your leaders that will be put forward to us as I’m here with open ears. I am listening and hope to learn and absorb more through the interaction and experience with people in the province.
“Thank you very much for opening doors to us and I certainly look forward to working together with the national government, Malaita provincial government and other stakeholders on how best we can take possession of our plans of actions to move forward,” Link said.
This paper understands that US representative and a provincial team led by premier Suidani had a visit to communities in Langa Langa lagoon while a meeting was also held with the MPG executive yesterday ahead of his return to Honiara the latter part of the day.
Western Province Assembly meeting currently taking place at the Imagination Island outside of provincial capital, Gizo
BY BEN BILUA In Gizo
DAY two of Western Provincial Government resumes at 9:30 this morning.
A total of eight agendas have been prepared and appeared on today’s meeting Order Paper.
First on the agenda will be an opening prayer followed by Messages and Announcement.
Third agenda is an interesting one as the Province’s Appropriation Ordinance will go into third reading where members will debate and further scrutinize the Ordinance.
Fourth agenda and fifth agenda will see members introduced and listen to Western Province Investment Corporation Audit Report (WPIC). WPIC is a business arm owned by the province and that most members are keen to hear the report.
A Private Members Motion came in agenda five (5) where special question and answer session will be held for question raised which is factored in agenda six (6) of the Order paper.
Agenda seven is Motion of Sine Die followed by Motion of Adjournment in agenda eight.
Provincial Members and head of departments are looking forward for yet another constructive discussions to map out the province’s expected business this year till the next financial year.
Western Province Assembly meeting currently taking place at the Imagination Island outside of provincial capital, Gizo
BY BEN BILUA Gizo
WESTERN Provincial Assembly has kicked off its 2021 Assembly Meeting today morning at Imagination Island, outside of Gizo town.
The meeting begins with an opening prayer followed by a minutes of silence to honor and respect the service of former Clerk of Western Province, late Kevin Quageto Paia, former national leader late Honoruable Elijah Doromuala and Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
More than nine agendas were on the Order paper some which are already deliberated this morning while other agendas will be tabled in the afternoon.
In his opening speech, Premier of Western Province Honourable David Gina reminds members throw in constructive ideas that would help the province in its operation and service deliveries in the next financial year.
“I would like to remind members of our legislative mandates and the need to constructively deliberate on matters with a view of providing alternative solutions rather than just critiquing for the sake of wanting to be heard.
“We need to contextualize our discussions based on prevailing situations and events so as not to mislead our people on matters with the intention of depicting a negative perception on Western Provincial government’s political and administrative leadership,” he said.
Provincial assembly meeting at Imagination Island, Gizo
BY BEN BILUA Gizo
THE Western Provincial Government (WPG) has passed its 2020 minutes of Full Assembly meeting held at Oravae Cottage in October last year during the first part of its 2021 Assembly meeting this morning.
The review of the minutes was fifth of the Order Paper and was gone through discussions with very few amendments before it was passed.
The Provincial Executive was also briefed with the Public Accounts Committee report – part 8 of the Order Paper by Chair of PAC, Provincial Member for Ward 16, Dunde Nusa Roviana Honourble Ramrakha Talasasa.
The meeting has been suspended for lunch and resumes 2pm for the 1st reading of the draft 2021-2022 Appropriation Ordinance and Three years Development plan 2020 – 2022 of Western Province.
Wale calls on Finance PS to resign from DBSI Board
By EDDIE OSIFELO
OPPOSITION Leader, Matthew Wale has called on Ministry of Finance and Treasury permanent secretary, Dentana McKinnie to resign from the Development Bank of Solomon Islands (DBSI) Board.
This call is made in view of the conflicts of interest posed in Mr Dentana’s membership in two of the country’s finance entities, DBSI board and CBSI board, while being the PS of the finance ministry.
Wale made the call during the Public Accounts Committee hearing in Parliament yesterday when the Ministry of Finance and Treasury appeared to defend the $3.9 billion 2021 Appropriation Bill 2021.
He said it doesn’t look right for the PS to be holding three positions at the same time. Being the Chairman of the DBSI Board, member of CBSI Board and at the same time the PS of Finance.
As such, he said the best option is for the PS to resign from the DBSI Board.
Wale also said that Attorney General John Muria Junior and Chief of Staff and two political appointees Trevor Manemahaga and Andre Manepora’a should also resign from the Board.
The only qualified banker in the Board is former CBSI Deputy Governor Gane Alva Simbe.
Wale first made the call in July 2020 when he questioned the appointment of controversial Chief of Staff, Robson Djokovic in the DBSI Board.
While welcoming the government’s seriousness in reviving DBSI as an important financial institution for our people, the Opposition Leader stressed that DBSI is a bank and so will be heavily regulated by banking laws.
“In this respect therefore, it is important that people who are appointed to the Board must pass the ‘fit and proper test’ and have the technical capacity in the area of banking to be in the Board
“For all we know, Mr. Djokovic is the nephew of the Prime Minister and he has been implicated in a lot of controversial issues raised in the past, which also link the Prime Minister.
“More so, he has not demonstrated qualifications in banking or any related areas for that matter,” the Opposition Leader adds.
Transparency Solomon Islands also joined the call in questioning the composition of DBSI Board which it claimed was politicised.
PS Dentana decided not to response to Wale but said he will leave it to DBSI to explain the composition of the board when its members appear before the PAC on Tuesday, March 30.
Last year, Dentana was caught out as misleading the people of this nation when he said that under the DBSI Act, 2018, section 49, the term of the interim board is only for six months.
However, from information gathered, the DBSI Board members’ appointments were gazetted for two years.
Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana
BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has admitted the country still lacks the capacity when it comes to sports medicine, as preparations for the hosting of the Pacific Games 2023 continues.
Minister Culwick Togamana told this paper that despite the Solomon Islands National Sports Institution (SINIS) providing the sporting services, there are still no plans forthcoming for preparing the manpower with less than two years left on the calendar.
SINIS under the Sol2023 National Hosting Authority (NHA) will operate a sport medicine clinic in liaison with the health department and SINU staff to provide work experience and opportunities to grow the capacity of local physios, nutritionists, psychologists and community rehab
“SINU don’t have the capacity otherwise there’s request from NHA to provide these trainings. For the meantime we just have those in the nursing school, they are not experts to deal with such specific area,” Minister Togamana said.
“We are awaiting request on NHA before we can roll out plans in this regard. It’s the responsibility of NHA to begin preparation also on these important issues when it comes to major sporting events but so far there are no plans we received.
Outspoken medical practitioner, Dr Claude Posala when asked for his professional opinion admits there is a need for due to the lack of human resource on the area of sports.
“We currently don’t have any doctors or nurses trained and qualified in formal sports medicine,” Dr. Posala says.
“Our physiotherapists usually cover on these gap areas. Some doctors and nurses learn on the ground so to speak about sports medicine but no one ever went for a formal training and is equipped with qualifications as a sports medicine specialist.
“Sports medicine is a separate training program separate from medicine for doctors and training for nurses.
“The need of sports medicine is a question that is debatable in the setting of Solomon Islands where there are other health areas which still are priority areas and still lack manpower.
“It would be great to have sports medicine specialists locally, however this is debatable as I have mentioned,” Posala adds.
The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has started rolling out its youth development programmes with the proposed Under 16 School Challenge for both boys and girls.
SIFF confirmed in a press statement yesterday saying the U16 school challenge is planned to become an annual event.
The statement said SIFF is opening an invitation to interested schools in Honiara to be part of a proposed U-16 School Challenge for both boys and girls competitions.
The Honiara Football Association (HFA) will partner with SIFF to deliver the U-16 School Challenge on a date yet to be confirmed by the competitions department, the federation stated.
SIFF meanwhile is calling an important meeting for invited schools to meet today, Wednesday 24th March 2021 at the SIFF office at Art Gallery at 5pm.
PREMIER of Malaita province, Daniel Suidani says his government is engaging in efforts to re-establish cattle farms in the province.
He adds, this is one of the sectors his government is pushing in to support the livelihood of people in communities across the province.
Suidani said his government had decided to be optimistic about agriculture despite recent drawbacks experienced with this sector.
He said these drawbacks is due to the slow response they continue to receive from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL).
He said they have started work on the Atori Cattle Farm in East Malaita constituency.
He said so far bush cleaning and tree cutting have been done, with five communities in Atori engaged to plant pastures (grass).
Suidani said next target will be on fencing of the five cattle blocks, followed by maintenance work before the blocks are ready to hold new cattle by the end of 2021.
Suidani MARA government is also providing ongoing support towards Dala and Adaliua cattle farms in West and Central Kwara’ae.
