Local airspray artist Jason Benneth’s work on display on the Sportsman’s Pub external walls.
SOLOMON Breweries (SolBrew) recently unveiled a unique air spray art by local artist Jason Benneth on the Sportsman Pub exterior walls at the Bahai area. The artwork featured SolBrew brands SolBrew Lager, Canoe Lager and SB.
Following on from the success of SolBrew’s partnership with artist Brian Feni in late 2020 they commissioned work from Jason Benneth for a more contemporary style.
SolBrew’s Trade Marketing Executive, Sean Hiele explained that Jason’s art caught their eye because it was something different and unique in the Solomon Islands.
Mr Hiele said “This art form is not very well known in the Solomons which why we were very pleased to work with Jason and allowed him the avenue to showcase his unique art, it is also a bonus that it give’s one of our customers, Sportsman Bar a great new look.”
We are very pleased with Jason’s work, like Brian Feni, he has made an eye catching, fun piece of art on the Sportsman’s bar wall for many onlookers.” Mr. Hiele said.
The soft-spoken, shy artist, Jason Benneth is thankful for the opportunity provided by SolBrew to showcase his art and is hopeful for future projects where he can create artworks for public spaces, adding value for the community and at the same time inspire many other young artists.
“I am grateful for this project because it provided the means to meet my financial needs and I know I am skillful in this unique art but being a shy person, it is not easy to really show myself. This opportunity that SolBrew has given me to show my art to the general public has really built my confidence. It has been a great experience to help SolBrew showcase its brands through air spray which helps its customers like Sportsman Pub.” Mr. Benneth expressed.
Jason’s Benneth’s air spray artwork is the second large scale work commissioned by SolBrew to feature on public facing walls, the first being by Brian Feni on SolBrew’s own event venue SolBrew@Sea.
Outgoing SICCI Chairman, Jay Bartlett (left) and President of EASI, Reuben Tovutovu with Strategy Document after the launch. Photos: SICCI Media
THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) in partnership with the Economic Association of Solomon Islands (EASI) officially launched the Private Sector Pathway to COVID-19 Recovery Strategy with members of the businesses community on Wednesday 24th March.
The launching coincided with the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and election of new Board members for the Chamber of Commerce.
The recovery strategy highlights focus areas for the Government to prioritize and create the right settings for future private sector growth to bolster the COVID-19 economic recovery
The strategy document contains the private sector’s perspectives on how the Solomon Islands Government can best support business in the economic recovery in the next three years.
SICCI Chief Executive Officer, Natalina Hong has said “This Strategy will be used to focus SICCI consultations and collaboration with Government on the 2021 national budget that to ensure tangible action on key reforms.
This Pathway to Recovery Strategy has already been submitted to Government during its consultation process.
In his speech from the Throne recently, Governor General, Sir David Vunagi has highlighted that the DCGA have noted the ‘Private Sector Pathway to COVID-19 Recovery Strategy’ submission by SICCI and EASI. It demonstrated that the Government are serious about their inclusion of the private sector as key players redirecting their policy in the recovery of the COVID19 impact economy.
EASI President, Reuben Tovutovu hopes Government will take on board what is recommended in the document to support the private sector.
“EASI is pleased to collaborate with SICCI in the finalization of the document and our Association stand ready to render support to SICCI in the areas that our members have the expertise such as economic analysis, research and other developmental related areas,” he said during the launch.
Mr Tovutovu said as an association representing professionals who rely on and use data every day, EASI wants to see both the private and public sector invest in data collection and storage.
“I know it is expensive, but the returns to having timely, reliable and accurate data cannot be overestimated. We live in the global economy that is now heavily relied on data and information,” he said.
Key thematic areas were detailed in the SICCI Strategy to shape Government’s focus for 2021 and beyond. These areas emphasis that recovery lies in getting the basics right to create certainty for businesses and provide immediate support to alleviate pressure on business. Medium to longer term actions to stimulate economic activity and improve productivity via infrastructure and sector support; and fundamental Reform to create a better business environment for future growth and prosperity.
The Pubic Accounts Committee (PAC) amongst others written submission requested were also presented with copies of this Strategy when representatives of SICCI appeared before the Committee earlier this week on Monday 22 March.
The media excursion to Barana Nature and Heritage Park was an eye-opener for participants including Public Relation officer from TSI, SINU journalism students, Senior Journalists from SIBC, Island Sun, Sunday Isles and Solomon star who successfully completed a three days MASI workshop on Extractive Resources & Endemic species workshop, here Participants pose for a photo at the Davigouri over looking Betikama river and Guadalcanal plains on the background.
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
ABOUT 10 local Journalists including five journalism students undertaking media studies at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) have attended a three days training workshop for journalists reporting on the Extractive Industries and Endemic species in the Solomon Islands.
And to sum up the training an excursion was made to the Barana Nature and Heritage Park, on the outskirts of Honiara on Friday to observe the park as part of the training Worksop.
The field trip was to expose Senior Journalists and media students to the field work and give them an opportunity to visit the park and officers of the Barana Nature and Heritage Park.
The training was organised by the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) and Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) to improve the knowledge and skills of Solomon Islands Journalists in reporting on environmental issues, especially the governance and impacts of the extractive industries, the endemic species export and the environmental implications of Covid-19.
Three SINU Journalism students who also participated at the workshop and day 3 field trip
David Hui, a media student said the field trip provided an opportunity for them to apply the knowledge and understanding of the subjects learned in class by observing the actual event, especially the training workshop and field trip to report on environment issues.
“It’s good to see and know other media personnel who attended the workshop as well.
“Such visit is very good for us student to learn more on how Organizations, Government Ministries and media work together”.
Another media student, Thompson Pada said such trip exposed the students to the real work done by journalists in the country and to learn and build relationship with the organization and the media.
Barana Nature and Heritage Park staff briefed Journalists on the background and history of the Barana Nature and Heritage Park.
The Barana Nature and Heritage Park is for community-based conservation in Solomon Islands.
Journalists briefed at the Barana Nature and Heritage Park office
Owned by the Barana Community, the park spans approximately 5,000 hectares of forest area in the upper catchment of the Mataniko river, one of the largest river catchments draining Honiara city.
Management objectives include the conservation and rehabilitation of vulnerable ecosystems to safeguard their role in building social and economic resilience to climate change.
The park includes an Environment and Resilience Resource Centre built using traditional designs.
The area also includes a number of World War II viewpoints and battle sites which makes it an important part of the heritage of the greater Honiara.
Development of the park will include activities such as reforestation to reduce flood risks, replanting of stream or watershed areas to reduce soil erosion, sustainable land-use management activities, land-use mapping, development of eco-tourism activities and nature-based income generation activities.
The development of the park formed part of SPREP’s assistance to Solomon Islands under its Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC) project. The project was selected following a comprehensive and participatory ‘ecosystem and socio-economic resilience analysis and mapping’ (ESRAM) study carried out for Honiara.
Local journalists were eager to ask questions and have learned allot about the Nature and Heritage park history and challenges.
One organizer of the training, Priestly Habru encouraged the participants to continue in their career in the media to report on environment issues affecting the country.
Habru thanked the Journalists for their participation and observations during the field trip to the Barana community.
“The Journalist are very enthusiastic and asked lots of questions,” said Habru.
“I would like to thank the Barana Nature and Heritage Park for arranging such a visit for our participants,” he added
St John Ambulance Team showing V sign indicating that they have taken their first
THE first three days of COVID-19, vaccination roll out in Honiara saw national leaders coming forward to receive their first jab of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
On day one, Honourable Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare opened the vaccination roll out by receiving his first COVID-19 jab, followed by Minister of Health and some of the Ministers of the crown, the Attorney-General, permanent secretaries and Miss Solomon.
Day 2 of vaccination started off with the vaccination of His Excellency Governor General Sir David Vunagi and the Speaker of the National Parliament Patterson Oti. Day 3 the leader of the opposition group, Honourable Mathew Wale with some of the opposition members receiving their first round of vaccines.
Honourable Prime Minister receiving his first vaccine shot
These leaders were amongst over 600 people that included COVID-19 operation frontline workers, persons 55 years and above and with underlying health conditions who have come forward to receive their initial COVID-19 vaccine jabs in the first three days.
“I also thank all our frontline workers both health and non-health including those 55 years and above and with underlying health conditions for also coming out and receiving their first COVID-19 jabs. This is important to assist health efforts to swiftly protect our most vulnerable people first before moving to vaccinate our remaining population”, said Mrs McNeil.
Vaccination in the first three days did not record any serious side effects, no anaphylaxis, severe allergic reaction to the vaccine.
The Ministry received reports of pain at injection site, headache, fever, join pains which are all expected adverse events following immunization and all subsided within one or two days.
Vaccination in Honiara will continue in the coming weeks until all 7000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines allocated for Honiara in the initial batch received is administered. Vaccination will continue again on Monday next week.
Honourable Prime Minister receiving his first vaccine shot
Guadalcanal MPA, Rose Tala was instrumental in warding off a motion of no confidence tabled against Premier, Francis Sade last week
Female member hailed a ‘true leader’
BY CHARLES KADAMANA
GUADALCANAL’S only female provincial member has been hailed the “rock” of the Francis Sade-led Government.
Rose Tala, who is also Minister for Women, Youth and Sports, stood toe-to-toe with Premier Sade to ward off a motion of no-confidence the non-executive tabled against him, Thursday.
“You are the rock of this government,” Sade told Tala after the mover Cecil Manakako of Wanderer Bay ward, withdrew the motion.
“You have been offered a vehicle and a large amount of money to move to the other side, but you turned down the offer,” the premier continued.
“You believe in stability and a better future for the people of Guadalcanal when you rejected this attempted bribe.
“You have demonstrated what true leadership is.
“I know you will be targeted by the lobbyists and my fear is you’ll easily fall for whatever is offered to you to cross the floor.
“But now I know you are a leader who cannot be drag by the nose.
“You stood your ground because you love your people and province.
“In fact it was through your steadfastness during these difficulties and challenges over the past days and weeks that kept our government together.
“You are the rock of this government,” Sade said.
Sade, a first-time premier and provincial member, was challenged for the leadership position after he took legal action against Sino Capital, a Malaysian logging company that has been operating in the province in the last 10 years.
He stated the logging company failed to pay his province business licence fees worth around $1.5 million.
His government had suspended Sino’s operations and asking the High Court to stop the logging company’s operations on Guadalcanal.
The case is before the High Court.
Sade believes the motion to oust him was sponsored by loggers.
Rose Tala has confirmed she was offered a vehicle and around $70,000 if she switch sides.
She claimed the spouse of a serving national MP from Guadalcanal sent her the offer via text message.
Tala said she disregarded the offer because she does not believe in bribery.
“Guadalcanal needs leaders who stand for the interest of their people; not those who fall for bribes,” she said.
Sade said he believes Tala is a potential future premier of Guadalcanal.
“I will not be surprised if you set history and become the first female premier for Guadalcanal,” he said.
THE Police Media unit says the Professional Standard Internal Investigation is yet to finalize their report and findings into the mission one-link exhibit money.
Police said the internal investigation is currently ongoing and is progressing well.
The media unit said PSII investigators will finalize the full report of evidence and will send it to the DPP’s office for advice on the appropriate charges to be laid on the officer”, Police said.
This is in relation to the missing $300,000 cash money recovered from the Director of One-link Pacifica during police investigations early last year that had gone missing while under the safe custody of the police.
The missing exhibit money had sparked public outcry with the police saying they are taking the matter seriously and condemning the actions by the particular officer involved.
However, months after launch of investigations, it is yet to be finalized.
Some members of the public speaking to Island Sun this week said the delay does not speak well of the organization as most cases involving police officers, have not been heard or been dealt with properly.
The concerned people said when the incident occurred, police said they will prioritize the case, but now it has been months.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said the police will prioritize the investigation and he himself will wait on the PSII to quickly investigate the matter, as it is of public interest.
“I am really upset of the action undertaken by one of our officers, as such the behavior and attitude will tarnish the integrity and trust of the organization to our communities.
“The exhibit money was transferred from the Honiara exhibit storage to the Police Headquarter exhibit facility for safe keeping and just in October last year, we have discovered that whole of the money was missing”, Mangau said.
He said it will be a thorough investigation looking at all avenues on how the money is missing or stolen from the exhibit facility and will also be looking at the possible recovery of the missing money.
THE Defence Counsel representing Jimmy Junior Lusibaea will make an application for bail to the court on behalf of his client.
George Gray notified the court yesterday and confirmed filling of affidavits supporting the bail applications.
High Court Judge Justice Maelyn Bird then adjourned the matter to April for the bail application and that all documents for bail must be filed by March 31.
Jimmy Junior Lusibaea is faced with one count of murder in relation to an incident that occurred at the Henderson area on December 6 2020.
It was alleged that a fast-moving vehicle hit the deceased in front of the Island Night Club in the Henderson area during an argument and rock throwing incident between two parties.
Prosecution said the accused drove a double cabin Hilux at high speed to and fro in front of the Club area when he allegedly hit the deceased.
It was also alleged that other properties including the Island Night Club building and a vehicle was also damaged
The deceased after being hit was transported to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara by his relatives but died shortly afterwards.
Prosecution said following the incident, a reconciliation was made between the two parties, and compensation paid to the deceased’s family.
Public Prosecution appears for the crown while Public Solicitor George Gray represents the accused in court.
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”.
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.
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.”
