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Statisticians ready for visitor arrivals

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Chief Statistician Anterlyn Tuzakana and Statisticians Steward Sopamana and Grace Perakana during the practical session of the course

STATISTICIANS from the National Statistics Office (NSO) are fully prepared to start collecting data of Visitor Arrivals in the Solomon Islands after a refresher course conducted at the office on Friday 12th March 2021.

Florence Walekwate, Grace Perakana and new staff Steward Sopamana are responsible for recording incoming residents, visitors and tourists from overseas at the country’s Henderson International Airport.

They participated in the one day course, facilitated by Chief Statistician Anterlyn Tuzakana.

“It’s an orientation course for our new officer Steward, and a refresher for the others”, Tuzakana said. “The information collected is confidential.”

“It is also an introduction for him to the process of the data collection from entry to analysis, and to familiarize himself with the entry system we use, CSPro,” she added.

A refresher course is held every beginning of the year to remind the officers of their duties and the significance their specific input contributes to the process of collecting the data.    

“We are currently affected by the COVID-19, so we only collected data in the first quarter of last year.

“But when the borders re-open, we hope to start working because we are now ready to go.”

Tuzakana highlighted that they will also depend on the Immigration, Quarantine, Customs officers’ cooperation to carry out their duties effectively.

“The quality and accuracy of our data depends on us working cooperatively with each other. The information we collect for our data comes through these other three groups first before reaching us. ”

Meanwhile, Steward, who majored in Economics and Statistics at the University of the South Pacific has high expectations and looking forward to learning more. It is only his second week at the NSO and he is still getting used to the new environment.

 “I completed my studies in 2019 and the whole of last year I did nothing. Then the vacancy for a statistician came out. I applied and I got in.

“The refresher was great. To familiarize myself with the software CSPro is important. It’s the software everyone else in the office uses.

“The most interesting part of the work for me will be meeting the people from different countries at the International airport. We are going to interact with them, so we must be friendly.”

The National Statistics Office releases the Visitor Arrivals bulletin quarterly every year. -SINSO Press

PC Tepai: why I love my job

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PC David T Tepai

POLICE Constable David Tipasua Tepai, 42, from Lavagu Village on Rennell Island in the Rennell and Bellona province has faced numerous challenges during his 14 years as a police officer but the challenges have given him the courage and confidence to continue serving the people of Solomon Islands through the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).

PC Tepai is currently working as a coordinator on acting basis at the Tigoa Police Station in West Rennell, Rennell Bellona province.

As a Form five leaver of Bishop Epalle Catholic School in Honiara and former teacher, PC Tepai decided to switch careers after an absence of police officers in his community of Lavagu on West Rennell.

“I was employed by the Rennell and Bellona Provincial Education Authority as a primary school teacher on Fixed Term Appointment basis in 2004. In 2007 I decided to join the RSIPF as there was no police officer in my community while there were many primary and secondary teachers.”

“My aim of joining the RSIPF was to serve my people, my community and my country. I wanted to contribute to a safe, secure and a peaceful environment for my people,” says PC Tepai.

He was recruited into the RSIPF in 2007 and after his two-year probation, he attended a prosecutors training and was posted to the Police Prosecution Directorate (PPD) in Honiara and worked as a police prosecutor for eight years.

PC Tepai was transferred to general duties in Honiara City’s Central Police Station to allow him to experience other areas of policing. He served there for two years.

“During my time so far in the RSIPF I encountered many challenges, some were organizational, operational, community-related and personal. The challenges sometimes threatened my health, well-being and family, but these challenges gave me the courage and confidence to continue to deliver my duties as a police officer.”

He adds, “As a police prosecutor I encountered challenges including working long hours to meet the expectations of the court, qualified defence lawyers, victims of crime and my superiors.”

“In general duties and provincial policing, I have encountered people with different cultures, characters, attitudes and behaviours. Sometime I faced life-threatening situations, but with some courage and my previous experiences, I overcame the challenging situations. I have heard people criticising police and read it on social media, but I look at these criticisms as challenges when carrying out my duties.”

To his colleague officers, PC Tepai has this to say, “We are working in a disciplined organisation, and we are here to serve our people in a professional manner. The public expects a lot from us. They want us to be fair and honest. The public wants to trust us.”

According to PC Tepai, law enforcers are the most hated public servants in the world.

“But remember no matter how much people hate police, they need police more than how they hate them. We should be a shining example of professionalism in our country.”

To those who want to pursue policing as a career PC Tepai says, “Continue to pursue your dream because members of your family and friends will be proud of you and respect you.”

RSIPF MEDIA

MP Bodo defends ‘stop noni farming’ comments

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North West Guadalcanal MP, Hon.Bodo Dettke

MEMBER of Parliament for North West Guadalcanal, Bodo Dettke has defended his call for all local noni farmers in the provinces to discontinue work on noni farming due to in availability of processing facilities in the provinces.

This is after former MP for Lau Baelelea in Malaita province, Walter Folotalu described the call as mere political rhetoric rather than looking for a way forward for this potential industry in the country and more particularly the rural areas where more than 80% of our rural dwellers find ends to meet.

However, Dettke said Folotalu has missed his point on the basis of the call.

He said after three years of research and study, he has perfected noni handling to achieve high quality products that will compete in the international market and put SI on the map.

“My experience over the three years and common sense, I am not questioning anybody’s political endeavours and powers.

“I for one know and proud to say Malaitan people are very hard working people, and they are not scared of taking on any challenge if it will benefit them,” he said.

“But I would be very sad to see if Malaitans are spending the next six months planting noni plantations without any income for the duration of time.

“And the duration of six months with no income generated, only to find out after 7 months to see noni farms flourishing with noni fruits but there is no buyer and factory to process them,” he said.

Dettke explained that farmers have to bring their noni products to a commercial factory within eight hours for processing, otherwise it would fail to meet the processing quality.

He said in some countries, there are factories situated within the farms to process the products rather than transporting them to another location.

However, Dettke said if Folotalu will overcome this problem by taking an initiative to put in place a factory to buy these people’s noni fruits, “I salute you and I am very proud that somebody from Malaita will take up the initiative.”

“I am only telling your people to stop, think and look to be cautious because they could be sorry if there is no factory,” he added.

Dettke gave an example of the 10,000 palm oil nurseries at Waisisi and Warokai in West Are Are that were abandoned projects. The palms that were in the nursery are now bearing fruits, but “still no factory”.

He said the project was fully funded by the Solomon Islands government but turned out a failure at the end.

He said this is similar to the oil palm project at Vangunu in Western Province, carried out by Sullvinia Product in the 80s that also failed despite millions of ‘taxpayers’ money ploughed in by the government.

“I’m sure, my good friend, Mr Folotalu, should be well aware of this failed projects, which took place when he was a member of parliament”.

But if Mr. Folotalu has the time, I would be happy to take him for a tour in my factory to see firsthand the pros and cons of this industry.

As such, Dettke said it is important to establish noni factory in each provinces, before farmers in the provinces can start cultivating their noni farms. All I’m saying is for farmers out there in the provinces to be cautious, before taking the big step into the noni industry.

“We will never be able to expand into the provinces, where this new noni industry is much needed, because we have not overcome problems we have with the ministry of finance that cannot see this as being an important commodity and cash crop to befit out rural people.

“It is sad that the ministry responsible chose not to support our application for tax incentives for the importation of machineries and equipment to expand the industry.

“Because of the lack of government support for the proposal to expand, the Noni factory had no choice but to stay focus on buying noni fruits for farmers within my constituency. So who is being rhetoric here?” Dettke questioned.

Gov’t intends to vaccinate over 18 by end of year

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WHILE COVID-19 vaccination is not mandatory, the Government intends to vaccinate every citizen over 18 years and older by the end of 2021.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said on Monday that since vaccine supplies are arriving in small quantities, the Government must be strategic and selective in identifying those that needs to be included in the first round of vaccination.

The Health Authorities and the Oversight Committee have advised that people most at risk from possible exposure to COVID-19 will be among the first to be vaccinated.

Those in the number one category are the front-liners and members of the frontline ministries, border agencies, SOEs and private sector entities whose work expose them to COVID-19 risks.

The focus in this category will initially be on those employees whose daily work exposes them to COVID-19 and others in the frontline ministries, agencies, SOEs and the private sector.

Those in the second category are people in communities along the western border in Choiseul, Western and Malaita Outer Island provinces.

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in PNG and in particular in Bougainville, makes vaccination along the western border a top priority.

COVID-19 vaccination along the border zone aims to cover everybody from 18 years and above. However, if vaccine supply is inadequate to cover everyone during this phase, the older age groups will be prioritized.

Those in the third category are people above 50 years of age who have some existing diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, chronic respiratory diseases including those with or had recovered from Tuberculosis and Asthma.

This category of people can be more seriously affected if they catch COVID-19 infection and must be given added protection.

In addition, national Leaders are included in the first rollout of the vaccines. This is to demonstrate to the public the level of confidence by leaders on COVID-19 vaccines. It also ensures additional protection is provided to leaders.

People under these categories will be advised of which vaccination stations they can go to for vaccinations when the vaccination programme rolls out begins.

At this stage, family members of front-liners are not included in the first round of COVID-19 vaccination due to the limited availability of vaccines available. They will all be covered in later shipment of vaccines.

The Ministry of Health is now developing a detailed vaccination rollout plan for the 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine. They will also develop similar implementation plans for the Sinopharm vaccine.

Training is conducted this week for vaccine administrators to administer the vaccine by early next week if it arrives this Friday.

Major infrastructure boost for Auki township

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Samie Waikori
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The newly completed fencing project around Auki Central Market in Auki. The project was funded by Australian government through UN Women Market for Change Project

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA’S provincial capital, Auki has received major infrastructure developments through assistance by the International Development Association under the World Bank’s CAUSE project.

Since the establishment of the Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement (CAUSE) project under the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) Auki, a number of infrastructure and facelift have been made to schools, and communities in and around the Auki township.

CAUSE project has been working under two components since its coming to Auki and both continues to contribute towards cleanliness and infrastructure facelift of Auki town.

The recently completed Auki Magistrate footpath.

Under component (I) of the project, residents in Auki were trained and employed to clean the streets of Auki town and along the main roads leading to suburbs within the township.

For component (I), fair distribution of recruitment was made to residents in Auki where people have a chance to get monthly employment under the project.

A footpath at Town End SDA Primary school

Under the first component of the project, there is support to the Auki Town Council (ATC) on rubbish collection as well as providing employment to people.

The component two of CAUSE project under Auki (PIU) is on infrastructure and a lot of infrastructure projects had been implemented on surrounding communities of Auki, schools, clinic and in the township itself.

The project started with a bridge at Kwaibala and a Jacob’s ladder more than 100 metres in length at Fulikaomae village on the outskirts of the township.

Kwaibala bridge
Fulikaomae Jacob’s ladder

A concrete pavement was made at the Auki Rural Clinic that contributed much to the upgrade of the health centre and a number of infrastructure projects for Kilu’ufi hospital made under the covid-19 programme are yet to be done.

A bridge and a footpath were also built at Town End SDA primary school as well as a footpath at Alota’a CHS near Auki town.

There is also a footpath constructed near the premier’s residence, leading to the assembly chamber, and the most recently completed project was the Auki Magistrate footpath leading to the provincial offices.

In a recent interview with Resident and Works Supervisor of CAUSE for Auki PIU, Joe Uiamanu Ruriti said there are a number of infrastructure projects proposed and implementation will be expected soon.

Construction of Auki Magistrate footpath: PICTURES SAMMIE WAIKORI

He said the CAUSE project under its two components will continue to work with MPG, schools, clinics and communities as long as the project is in Auki.

Apart from CAUSE, there was number of stakeholders who also continue to invest in infrastructure development of Auki.

On Thursday last week, the public of Auki witnessed the handing over of improvement projects to the Auki Central Market which was funded by the Australian government through the UN Women Market For Change project.

There are also a number of buildings currently under construction that will soon be completed.

The current boost of infrastructure in Auki town will not only contribute towards the town’s facelift, but also the social-economic development of the province.

DD HOLIDAY INN MAKES COMEBACK

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Eddie Osifelo
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DD Holiday Inn owner John Deve

By EDDIE OSIFELO

LOCAL tourism operators in the country were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic when Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare declared a State of Public Emergency in March 2020.

Their businesses which heavily relied on visitors came to a halt following the closure of international borders and working-class people in Honiara got laid off and returned to their villages.

One local operator who felt the pinch of the pandemic on his tourism business is the owner of DD Holiday Inn, John Deve.

The Inn is locating at Mbuburu, Lengakiki, West Honiara.

Deve is a former Police officer and comes from Malaita and Marau on East Guadalcanal.

His wife is from Malaita province as well.

His business offered catering, conference and accommodation services which consists of 11 rooms inventory.

Guests and people who attended conferences at the Inn always spoke highly of their catering services which include local diets.

However, for nearly a year, guests and people who normally participate in conferences at the Inn have missed the local diets provided by Deve’s family due to COVID-19.

“There were no enquiries made by guest for catering, conferences and accommodation.

“My workers have left to their villages and never came back,” he said.

Deve said the COVID-19 has really impacted his tourism business which resulted in his family temporarily closing the business and venturing into selling of betel nuts and backyard ‘sup sup’ garden.

He said vendors normally come to his home to buy betel-nuts that were pulled down around his backyard.

“Sometimes a woman vendor bought a 10-kilogram bag of betel nuts for $1000.

“This money keeps my family going during the covid-19,” he said.

Deve said he has not received any assistance from the Government under the Economic Stimulus Package.

“I plea to the government to support local tourism operators during this COVID-19 because they are heavily affected financially due to no guests,” he said.

Aftermath of COVID-19

However, things started to change last month for DD Holiday Inn as inquiries for conferences and caterings came in.

Deve said last month, three organisations have held conferences at the Inn.

He said the demand for catering was picking up with organisations that organised workshops engaging his family.

“We promote healthy diet in our catering, mainly local food.

“I got feedbacks from expatriates and locals that admired the local diets,” he said.

Consequently, Deve has to drop the prizes for catering from $250 per day to $75.

Further to that, Deve said there are still no guests for the 11 rooms in the Inn despite the prizes being dropped to nearly half.

He said the prize set by Tourism Department was $880 per day for self-content room and $770 for single room.

Deve said due to the COVID-19, the prize for self-content room is $550 per day and $450 per day for single room.

He is hoping that guests will start enquiring for any room bookings in the coming months.

Launch of website

DD Holiday Inn was on the right track in its operation when it launched its website last year before the pandemic became an issue in the country.

People can access the website address on:  www.ddholidayinn.wordpress.com

A private Information Technology (IT) company, Arietech was engaged as the web designer.

Deve said the launching of the website was the culmination of many years of struggle as a indigenous businessman.

He said it was a long journey in life which he sees as blessing.

“I have been to few businesses, but when I come to the tourism industry, I think this is the best business to continue for my children into their future,” he said.

Deve said the website is important to market products like catering, conferences and rooms in the accommodation.

He first started a petrol business at his village in Marau after leaving high school in 1990.

He started his business with $100 because a 44-gallon petrol drum costs $97.

Deve said his petrol businesses ended during the ethnic tension from 1998-2002 after militants destroyed his depot

As such, he turned to taxi, selling fish, running a trade shop at Kukum highway and second-hand clothing but things did not work out for him.

Deve turned to accommodation in 2010 and decided to venture into tourism with advice from Francis Deve.

Despite the impact of COVID-19 that brought his business to a standstill for nearly a year, Deve is optimistic of better days ahead.

He concludes that the tourism business is good for locals because it is not destructive to nature and environment.

PCYC TAKES SAILING LEAD

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SISA junior sailors hoist their certificates during the presentation on Saturday night at the PCYC.

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

Honiara based Point Cruz Yacht Club (PCYC) junior sailing program has taken the lead in the sport for its revival following the launch and certificate award of its yearly program over the weekend.

A total of 27 junior sailors with their instructors were recognized and awarded with certificates.

The kids are certified for basic level, intermediate level and advance level of optimist class boat training – and will continue this year every Saturdays at the PCYC beachfront.

PCYC junior sailing coach Geoffrey Baragamu says that the training has been improved for the kids and also sailing instructors.

“These training have taken to new heights to reach the regional standard compared to past years,” Baragamu said.

PCYC sailing instructors also completed their safety boat handling training last year with two more courses this year – safety boat operation and first aid training.

The PCYC junior sailing initiative is supported by Bauro & Associates, National Fisheries Development (NFD), MP Construction and PCYC.

The national government through the National Sport Council (NSC), Sol2023 National Hosting Authority (NHA) and National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) has pledge support for the water sport towards the Pacific Games 2023.

EDITORIAL- WE ARE HERE GIZO

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We are back in Gizo!

THE Island Sun wishes to let the public of Western Province know that we’ve reopened our Gizo Bureau as of this week.

This was after we’ve briefly closed down the office early last year due to logistical and staffing issues.

But we are pleased to announce that we’ve sorted things out and one of our senior reporters, Ben Bilua, has taken up residence in Gizo as of this week.

Ben will be responsible for covering Gizo and the rest of Western Province.

He can be reached on: 60982, 7464413 or [email protected]

Gizo, and Western Province for that matter, has always been a strategic location for any organization to operate from.

This is why we are excited to return to beautiful Gizo. It’s a location that has so much to officer this nation in terms of news and commerce.

In fact Gizo is a growing provincial capital with vibrant economic activities.

And with the commercial hub of Noro – widely referred to as Tuna Town – just across the lagoon, there’ll be always news coming from that region.

To the Government of Western Province, we wish to say this:

  • We’ll be in Gizo to work with you, not against you.
  • We will pay whatever taxes are required of us as a business entity.
  • We will remain independent in our reporting and ensure our news coverage is balanced and trustworthy.
  • We will give a voice – not only to the provincial government, but also to the ordinary people of Western Province.
  • We will provide a medium of exchange to the different voices and views of the people of Western Province.

Allow us to also say this.

Journalism, as has been always said, is a two-way street. It is between you and us.

In other words, our Gizo-based reporter cannot do it alone. He will always rely on the public there to report on the news.

So if you have a story to tell, call in at our office there or simply dial the numbers provided above and share your views.

For our Gizo-based advertisers, feel free to come in anytime of the day to discuss your advertising needs.

We thank the Government and people of Western Province for welcoming us back.

We look forward to working closely with everyone in Western Province.

FIBA MELANESIAN CUP POSTPONED

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National basketball point guard Augustine Basia in action against Fiji in the FIBA Melanesian Cup in 2017 hosted in PNG. Photo FIBA

SIBF to meet with NSC

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

Solomon Islands Basketball Federation (SIBF) will have time to refocus on the national basketball team’s participation at the FIBA Melanesian Cup 2021 since its postponement to April 2022.

The postponement was confirmed by hosts Basketball Fiji and FIBA.

According to reports received SIBF are meeting with the National Sports Council (NSC) for its registration formalities and funding support before charting out its plans of activities this year – which include competitions.

“After further deliberation and discussion with Basketball Fiji, we have decided to postpone the FIBA Melanesia Cup to 2022, with health and safety being the top priority for the decision,” said David Crocker, FIBA Oceania’s Executive Director. “The postponement will also give involved countries ample time to prepare for the competition.”

“The number one priority remains the health and safety of all players, coaches, and officials, and FIBA has agreed with Basketball Fiji to postpone the competition to April 2022,” FIBA reports.

SIBF now will have ample time to prepare since the formation of a new executive in 2020, and a formal statement will be released after the NSC meet in regards.

The quadrennial event among Melanesian nations inaugurated in 2017 was originally due to tip-off at the newly renovated Vodafone Arena in Suva this May.

The FIBA Melanesia Cup is a sub-regional qualification phase for the Pacific Games, which serves as the official qualifier to the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers. The countries grouped in the region are Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

Solomon Islands have competed in the FIBA Melanesian Cup in 2017 finishing fourth.

STILL TO REGISTER

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NSC Chairman Joe Sika speaking during the PCYC launch and presentation on Saturday

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

The National Sports Council (NSC) is still to get any response from six National sports federations on their registration with the government’s entity.

NSC Chairman Joe Sika revealed to SunSPORTS yesterday in a statement that they are calling on NFs to promptly come forward.

“We still have not received any response from the NFs and we are calling on their local bodies to come forward and register with NSC,” Sika stated.

The Chairman also revealed that the council had yet to finalize all the NFs registration documents submitted – a total of 28 federations.

“We’re currently meeting NFs on one on one basis regarding their submission to us.

Federations register and affiliate with the council is significant to qualify for funding support from the government in preparation for the 2023 Pacific Games.

NSC recently stated that they will work with National Federations who do not meet certain criteria to ensure they overcome those and get registered.

NSC is also partnering with the Sol2023 National Hosting Authority (NHA) and the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) to identify NFs capacities, what are their shortcomings, gaps in equipment, technicalities vital information to prepare a road map of activities and plans.

The following NFs are;

 Boxing,

Judo

Rugby League

Netball

Table Tennis

Va’a

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