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The good Samaritans

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Eugene Gavibatu (right) and Bryan Wale stands infront the building they help erect for an elderly couple who lost their home to severe TC Yasa early this year. Pictures supplied

Local students assist in disaster voluntary recovery work in Fiji

BY JARED KOLI

“LOVE your neighbour as you love yourself,” said young Eugene Gavibatu, “does not refer to the ones close to your home.”

“It actually refers to being compassionate and help people that are in need and in distress,” the final year Land Management student at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji, puts it.

Gavibatu of Choiseul Province and Bryan Wale of Malaita early this month assist on disaster recovery voluntary work by erecting a new home for an elderly couple at Yaqaga island, close to Fiji’s second-largest island of Vanua Levu.

This follows the aftermath of category five Tropical Cyclone Yasa which tore through Vanua Levu early this year, destroying more than a thousand homes and claimed four lives.

The elderly couple also lost their home during the severe storm.

Gavibatu and Wale were joined by two other university students from Fiji, accompanied by their supervisor traveled the 173-kilometer journey from Suva to Yaqaga island on March 2, 2021 and commenced work on March 3rd.

They complete the new dwelling ground floor home on the fifth day. Building materials for the construction of the new home and the trip was made possible through support by Nephrologist Dr Amrish Krishnan of the Kidney Hub in Suva.

Bryan at the foreground with Eugene and two other Fiji university students and their supervisor

Inspired by the popular teaching from the parable of the good Samaritan in the Bible, Gavibatu said he felt that to go out and help rebuild the lives of the elderly couple was a special calling.

“When Jesus spoke of this parable, he taught us to help the needy, people who you never met them before and who had been through a lot in life.

“Those that are faced by disaster, living in fear and depression and those that the society had turn their back towards them,” the softly spoken Choiseul lad, said. 

Bryan Wale, a final-year student at the Fiji National University (FNU) said the pain of losing a home is what motivates him to go out and volunteer. 

“If I put myself in their shoes, it would be surely a bad experience indeed. So since the opportunity was given to volunteer, I decided that I must go and help to rehabilitate the elderly couple.

“It’s beyond one’s imagination to witness someone to have gone through such devastating experience but I felt happy to put a smile on their face again,” said Wale.

The two Solomon Islands students said Fiji has been their home for the past few years and provided for them a lot, and as good citizens and ambassadors of Solomon Islands, it is time to give back to the community.

The complete building the volunteers erect for the elderly couple

Tropical Cyclone Yasa assessment has revealed that 1500 homes were destroyed while 6000 damaged. Four lives were also lost during the cyclone. Radio New Zealand reported it caused around $250 million worth of damage to infrastructure, agriculture and livelihoods.

It was the strongest tropical cyclone in the South Pacific since Winston in 2016, as well as the fourth most intense tropical cyclone on record in the basin.

Dr Amrish Krishnan of the Kidney Hub in Suva who supported the voluntary work with funds is not new to helping people that were in the midst of trouble.

In May 2020 he and his best friend, Dr Ahemd Shakeel of Kidney Hub in Nadi offer free services to those who lost their job as a result of Covid-19.

“Dr Krishnan, had thought that helping people in the midst of his own struggles would help make the world a better place in these trying times,” cited Fiji Sun.

This is also not the first time Solomon Islands students in Fiji assist in disaster voluntary and relief efforts in Fiji. In May 2020 Solomon Islands students studying at Fiji universities donate food, clothing and cash to 18 families who were badly affected by Tropical Cyclone Harold.

In July 2016, a 22-year-old Solomon Islands student Randy Chite walked around the island of Viti Levu, raising more than a thousand dollars for people affected by Cyclone Winston.

24K DOSES,24K PEOPLE

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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–Roll-out plan of AstraZeneca clarified

–Second jab for first group in ‘May and June’

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE 24,000 AstraZeneca vaccine received last week is meant to inoculate 24,000 people.

These people will get a second jab around May and June.

AstraZeneca is administered in two doses. Depending on the country, the second jab is taken four to 12 weeks after the first.

In our neighbour Australia, the second dose is administered after 12 weeks. Other WHO-approved vaccines such as the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are also taken twice.

An Australian study published in February this year, involving 17,000 participants, showed that having the second dose after three months increased the efficacy rate of AstraZeneca. Lesser periods lowers the efficacy rate.

Explaining the roll-out plan for the vaccine in Solomon Islands, Dr Yogesh Choudri, technical advisor to the ministry of health, said the first batch received on Friday last week will be administered to 24,000 people.

These vaccinated people will get their second dose when more vaccines are brought in later, he said.

“We are going to use all these doses to 24,000 people and when we receive the second batch of vaccine in May and June, we will call these people again to get their second dose.

“We decide to vaccinate 24,000 people because we are confident that we have more vaccines that will be coming into the country. 

“After receiving the first dose the second one would be after between eight to 12 weeks, they should get their second dose,” he said.

Choudhri said out of the 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca received, 7,000 doses will be used in Honiara for the front liners, and the rest will be sent to the western border to protect communities along the western border from the virus.

“The vaccine will be rolled out on Wednesday at the Central Field hospital which was the identified location for roll out of the vaccine in Honiara.

“Currently a total of 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Solomon Islands and they are being kept right now at the National Medical stores in proper storage conditions that the vaccine requires.”

20k doses of China vaccine early April

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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SINOPHARM VACCINE

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

TWENTY thousand Sinopharm covid-19 vaccine is set to arrive in the country early April once approved by World Health Organisation.

This was confirmed by Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana.

Mr Togamana said this vaccine will be shipped from the People’s Republic of China.

“We are also anticipating another 20,000 does of Sinopharm covid-19 vaccine early next month from the People’s Republic of China. Once approved by World Health Organisation, we will also roll out the Sinopharm vaccine. So, thank you China,” he said.

Togamana said they are also anticipating a significant amount of financial support from the Australia and New Zealand governments for the procurement of more covid-19 vaccines, with discussions on this underway.

“Thus, I extend sincere thank you to Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

Togamana adds, the Solomon Islands Government is also taking proactive actions in its efforts to secure more vaccines for the population.

“Last week we have also finalised our request to the government of India for 600 thousand more AstraZeneca vaccines for our people.

“This is important to fulfil the government’s desire to get all of its eligible population vaccinated,” he said.

China has two covid-19 vaccines; the Coronavac and Sinopharm. The Coronavac is produced by the Beijing-based Sinovac company. It has an efficacy rate of 60 percent. The second vaccine is called BBIBP-CorV, which was trialled by the state-owned company, Sinopharm. BBIBP-CorV is commonly referred to simply as Sinopharm. The Sinopharm has an efficacy rate of 79 percent.

Taro airport needs repair

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Taro Island

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

The Choiseul provincial government is querying the delay in works on the Taro airport.

The terminal and runway are reportedly in run-down state.

And, the province’s government is seeking answers from the national government.

An upgrade project was proposed to start last year but never got the chance to get off ground due to covid-19, it is reported.

Speaking to the paper from Taro, Choiseul, Deputy premier Nerio Ulemiki says, “Government of New Zealand promised to upgrade the Taro airfield in Choiseul Province, but nothing has been heard so far since 2020.

“Every day, this small airport is always busy with travellers of different classes.

“Most are general public, government workers, NGOs, and tourists from provinces.

“We understand that Taro was one of the airport to be upgraded and Seghe respectively,” he said.

Ulemiki said the New Zealand Government had allocated NZD20 million and the Solomon Islands Government NZD7million for the upgrade.

However, he said due to unknown reasons, the upgrade has been delayed.

He said the design of the Taro airfield has already been completed and the appointment of the Community Advisory Committee made. The project implementation timeframe is for one and half year.

A concerned traveller Mr John Pitamama said the people of Choiseul deserve a better airport and infrastructures that meet required standards in order to provide better and quality services.

He called on the New Zealand government to quickly respond and update the provincial government regarding the delay in the Taro airfield upgrade project.

Astra – 7000 for Honiara,17k for Western border

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

SEVEN thousand doses of AstraZeneca vaccine will be used in Honiara while 17,000 doses will be sent to the Western border.

This is the roll-out plan for the 24,000 vaccines received on Friday last week.

Dr Yogesh Choudhri technical advisor to Health Ministry, confirming this last week, said:

“The vaccine will be rolled out on Wednesday at the Central Field hospital which was the identified location for roll out of the vaccine in Honiara.

“Currently a total of 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Solomon Islands and they are being kept right now at the National Medical stores in proper storage conditions that the vaccine requires.

“The priority population are the front liners because there is a likelyhood they will be exposed to covid-19 patients so that includes our health workers, the police, the securities, the customs, immigration officers and the people who working on the ports.

“The Western province will roll out the vaccine to all those people who are 18 years and above because of the risk of importing covid-19 cases directly into the community,” he said.

Choudhri said vaccination is an important public health measure to prevent further community transmission incase the virus finds its way in the community.

“So, we are the second country in the Pacific to have received the vaccine through COVAX facility.

“As we receive more vaccine and we are likely to receive 84,000 doses of the vaccine from the COVAX by the end of June we will be rolling out the vaccine to other priority groups,” he said.

MID kicked out of Mall

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THE Engineering department of Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) was forced to leave its office at Hyundai Mall last week due to rental arrears since last year.

The Ministry has already secured Melanesian Haus close to Iron Bottom Sound to accommodate these government offices.

Island Sun tried to contract MID permanent secretary Stephen Maesiola but his mobile was switched off last night.

However, a senior officer in MID said the ministry was behind payments of rental because the budget is still to be passed.

MID is allocated fifty four million, eight hundred and sixty four million, five hundred and fifteen thousand ($54,864,515) under the Recurrent Budget of the 2021 Appropriation Bill 2021 to meet its expenses.

While one hundred million ($100,000,000) in the Development Budget estimate.

Attempts to talk with owner of Hyundai Mall was unsuccessful.

Orion to sue SFA for $400m

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By Eddie Osifelo

ORION Limited is reportedly set to sue the Solomon Forest Association (SFA) over loss of business.

It is understood the lawsuit will be for $403,011,350.20 (USD50,674,441.50).

Report reaching this paper says Orion has satisfied its legal team with all the facts and can commence compliance procedures and preparation for the legal battle against SFA.

SFA de-registered Orion Ltd in March 2017 due to alleged non-active status and also no machinery as required by the act.

As a result, Orion Ltd stopped carrying out logging operation and exporting in compliance with Legal Notice 114.

Under Legal Notice 114 of 2007, only members of SFA are allowed to hold felling licences and to export round logs out of Solomon Islands.

This is to combat illegal logging practices and to ensure the monitoring of active logging companies in Solomon Islands.

Managing Director of Orion Ltd, Chan Chee Min said they shall see and hear all the truth in the days to come.

In the meantime, SFA held an Extraordinary General Meeting on Friday, March 19.

Sources told the paper that SFA members discussed the issue raised by Orion Ltd in the media against them.

Catholic teachers sodality’s opening mass

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Press Release
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Rector of Don Bosco, New Principal of Bishop Epalle, Principal of St. Mary Tanagai, a retired Teacher and Education Sec cutting of cake.

The Catholic Teachers Sodality for this year was held with powerful words of advice given by the church to the educators.

The event was held at the Holy Cross Cathedral on Sunday, along with a thanksgiving Mass.

Catholic Teachers Sodality is a structure under the Catholic Education Office that was established to animate teachers’ calling as educators.

The Mass was led by His Grace Bishop of Gizo Diocese Bishop Luciano Capeli FMA, co-celebrated with Rev Archbishop Christopher Cardone OP with a dynamic Liturgy led by the St Joseph National Catholic Secondary School Form-3 and teachers.

Bishop Capeli shared three bible readings. The first reading taken from the book of 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23, while the second reading taken from Eph 2:4-10 and the Gospel Reading from John 3:14-21

During the Homily, Capeli reflected upon the Gospel and the two readings.

He mentioned that the second reading spoke about grace, that there is no other way anyone can go back to God except through the grace of God.

He questioned the teachers and the families gathered during that Holy mass.

“What is the problem today?

“And told them that a lot of youths today are still confused when being asked what is their purpose in life.

“Every single person in this life has to have mission and vision.”

The word education is an English word that come from a Latin word “Educere”.

“Meaning to lead out,” he stressed.

“Therefore a teacher is not a teacher of subject but rather educate students with also values and morals.

“And as parents and teachers all have missions to educate a child with values and virtues so that they can become the person they were meant to be.”

He then encouraged the teachers to continue seeking God even though it seemed like every year is the same.

The Holy mass ended with commissioning of teachers sodality, where they stood in front of alter and the two bishops blessed them for another year of teaching and educating the children.

St Joseph Tenaru form 3 student and teacher led the liturgy

Apart from the thanksgiving Mass the teachers sodality also gathered at the Holy cross Cathedral Hall for a short Catholic teachers sodality meeting, new members registrations, welcome remarks from the Catholic Education Secretary followed by entertainments and a welcome feasting.

Catholic Education Secretary Ms Modesta Hasiau in her welcome remarks, acknowledged the two bishops for their graceful sermon and presence with all the teachers.

Hasiau welcomed both old and new members of the Catholic Teachers Sodality including Sunday school and Education teachers.

[Center R-L]His Grace Archbishop Christopher Cardone OP and Bishop of Gizo Diocese Bishop Luciano Capeli FMA with alter servers

“We were call to serve, inspire and to educate the young God given citizens with a holistic approach to produce quality and productive leaders for our country.

“This is third year of leity and the call to holiness, therefore, this theme requires us to evangelize in our classrooms.”

She further spoke of the theme for this year’s sodality, which is “Thy will be done”.

“The theme reflects the word of the Blessed Virgin Mary the mother of Jesus,” she said.

She told everyone to always reflect upon this theme daily before starting off their work.

Teachers Sodality commissioning from the two Bishops infront of the alter

Moreover, she acknowledged the school teachers and principals for all their help and support throughout the past years and encouraged them to continue living the Christian faith in their classrooms.

She concluded by thanking Archbishop Cardone for his full support in the education mission inside the archdiocese.

The gathering ended with feasting and entertainment from Bishop Epalle School, St Joseph Tenaru, St Vincent Burnscreek School and San Isidro Care Centre.

–CATHOLIC MEDIA

NO GRANT FOR YOU

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Gov’t asks Malaita to forgo $ 6.5 million funding

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE National government has asked the Malaita Provincial Government to forgo portion of the service grant and Provincial Capacity Development Fund totaling up to $SBD6.5 million due to lack of finance at the national treasury.

 The funds were to be received by the Provincial government for the 2020/2021 financial year.

Premier Daniel Suidani said this is a setback for his government as there was no assurance made, they were only asked to forgo the remainder of the funding for the 2020/2021 financial year which will lapse at the end of this month.

He said although the national government had explained their side on the issue, it has really affected service delivery in the province.

Suidani said the matter is in relation to the slow release of service grants by the national government to Malaita province.

He said during the final quarter of 2020 (October, November and December) his government had to operate with funds collected from local revenue. This is due to the slow release of the service grant.

“On top of that, the remaining $SBD2.8 million, that is part of the service for 2020/2021 financial year was yet to be paid to Malaita province by the national government.

“Later on, we were advised to forgone the remaining grants, as there is lack of finance available at the national treasury.

“In addition, and in terms of the capital budget, my government was also advised last month to forget about the remaining capital funds of $SBD3.7 million yet to be paid by national government to Malaita province.

“These are serious issues that continue to affect my government,” Suidani said.

He said it’s obvious that the national government’s support for the new budget has been reduced. Reason was due to low revenue collection from the national government sources.

Suidani said that shows that Solomon Islands will continue to depend on donor funding until such time the country is able to recover from the negative impacts of covid-19.

“Therefore, it is important that we think strategically and make good use of the little funding support that we have access to in serving our people.

“With that the way forward for Malaita province and the MARA government is to expand the scope of its engagement with private sector actors aligned with the province’s development.

“As a government, our key direction should be on creating an environment that can encourage more private sector participation. This calls for more private sector confidence building,” he said.

Meanwhile, Suidani said as the theme of last year’s 2nd appointed day celebration states, “Malaita Province Resilience in the face of Adversity” MPG must live and show for the theme.

He said it was on this basis that MARA government has to continue to perform amidst those challenges.

Suidani said it is obvious that there is a huge reduction of government support that will impinge on the new financial year’s budget, and no doubt it will affect the policy objectives and directions of MARA government.

He said it’s important to take appropriate actions and measures to deal with the matter by using alternative development approaches to ensure MARA government’s policy is not greatly affected.

Sunshine mineral has no licence: Isabel PS

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Isabel Provincial Government has denied granting any business licence to the Sunshine Mineral Company limited.

Provincial Secretary of Isabel Province John Lokumana told Island Sun that the company entered Isabel without any business licence and they are illegally setting up things at the Katova District.

The province also said that they will not grant any business licence to Sunshine Mineral company as a result of their illegal behaviour, by entering Isabel without acquiring proper licence to operate in the province.

PS Lokumana said he will not further comment on the matter but confirmed that Sunshine mineral company limited has no business licence to operate on Isabel.

Meanwhile, communities on Katova are still in dispute over the proposed prospecting areas and are also calling on the company to stop doing any operation.

One of the community leaders said that they have advised the directors of the company that they should not land in Nuha – Isabel until the land issues are sorted out since the Jejevo tenement is currently under dispute but that advice has fallen on deaf ears.

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