Mission & Justice

Joanna Sireheti; 23/6/08

Many things have changed in the Solomon Islands since the abrupt introduction of the western culture to the country few decades ago, but a practice which has withstood the test of time is the tendency of many to walk around in bare feet. In schools, in offices, around town and even amidst a wild crowd of party goers it is not uncommon to see people walking and dancing around with nothing on their feet. And the catching practice has not only been restricted to local Solomon Islanders with an increasing number of the country’s expatriate community joining in the trend. But why is such a simple act so popular? To find out Solomon Times interviewed a number of people whose reasons ranged from financial difficulties to an act of cultural defiance.

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Gina Maka’a, 23/6/08

Some say it’s not right, others say get used to it. What’s all the commotion about? A handful of ladies, nuns to be exact, playing the panpipe. Playing the Panpipes in most parts of the Solomon Islands was often reserved to men as it was believed that the spirits guarding the pan-pipers would not protect women. This however is not the case for the Sisters of the Church of Melanesia who on Saturday surprised a lot of people by playing the pan-pipes. “Its good to see them play the pan-pipe…quite different to what I am used to, but I guess things are changing,” said one onlooker. “They are protected by God, that’s why they are confident to play,” said another. Others were less enthusiastic, “we should not let this happen…it is just that it will bring them bad luck.”

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23/6/08

PNG’s claim for an extended continental shelf between the Solomon Islands and Federated States of Micronesia will be submitted on time to the United Nations, Attorney General and Justice Minister Dr Allan Marat said last week. Dr Marat in a statement expressed confidence of PNG meeting the United Nations deadline following a meeting on June 16 with key State agencies involved in the Maritime Boundaries Delimitation Project coordinated by the Justice and Attorney General’s Department. May 2009 is the deadline set by the United Nations for countries to submit their claim for extended continental shelf for deliberations. Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) all coastal States have legal continental shelf up to 200 nautical miles.

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19/6/08

Two early morning raids by the Police resulted in the arrest of eight people and the seizure of over 750 liters of Kwaso. The Police also confiscated manufacturing equipment in one of the largest illegal alcohol busts in recent years. The seized kwaso could have made over 1500 individual bottles and has an estimated street value of SBD$26,000. Provincial Police Commander for Honiara City, Superintendent Philip Kaukui, said that the successful operations have stopped a large amount of dangerous alcohol being available on the street.

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Joanna Sirheti; 16/6/08

Drinking Kwaso is fast becoming a problem affecting young people in the Solomon Islands and, according to community workers, it is getting worse. Kwaso, a home made brew, is cheap for those who are unemployed and is usually sold through the Black markets in various locations in Honiara. What makes Kwaso appealing is its affordability and high alcohol content. Solomon Times was told that its percentage is much higher than spirits. “Not knowing the alcohol content makes it dangerous…it is not a proper drink, it is quite dangerous,” said a young man, Mr. Joel Mani. Mr. Mani said that he used to drink Kwaso but he stopped after he was admitted to hospital “it was a scary experience, I just remember drinking Kwaso…and then I felt a burning sensation in my stomach…next thing I knew I was in hospital.”

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Nina Tuhaika 4/6/08

 Solomon Islands has the second fastest population growth rate in the Pacific region with two-point-seven percent. This was revealed in a Secretariat by the Pacific Community, SPC, in its 2008 Pacific Island population estimates which has just been released. The fastest-growing populations are those of Guam with two-point-eight percent, due to the influx of military personnel and their dependants, as well as migration from other countries. The third fastest growing population is Vanuatu with two-point-six percent.

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2/6/08

The people of Guadalcanal are not prepared for the Government’s planned national reconciliation because of failures by successive governments to address the Guadalcanal bona fide demands. The statement, largely directed at the government, was made by the Leader of the National Parliamentary Official Independent Group and Central Guadalcanal MP, Peter Shanel. In a recent interview Shanel said that he does not see how a national reconciliation would be achieved when key issues on both sides of the conflict are still to be addressed by successive governments. “The Guadalcanal people are not ready for the national reconciliation because they are still waiting on the Government to address their demands which have been ignored by previous governments and the current government,” he said.

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Francis Gabriel; 2/6/08

Imagine if plants and trees take a year to grow a centimetre or a millimetre, obviously, there would not be enough oxygen for everyone to survive on. Well, for marine life, whose survival depends very much on coral reefs, may not be around for long to supplement our diet or meet our social and economical needs as that is how long it takes for corals to grow back when damaged. Fast growing corals, however, take six to nine months to grow, according to one of Fiji’s marine scientific officer Iliapi Tuwai. Coral reefs in Papua New Guinea and throughout the Pacific islands are becoming over fished and degraded as communities turn to destructive methods of fishing such as fishing with poison ropes, dynamite and unsustainable practices such as coral harvesting to raise cash for their daily needs, especially in the making and selling of lime (kambang). Marine resource depletion has negatively affected the health and the prosperity of island communities.

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29/5/08

Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) commends the Government and Minister of Forests, Sir Allan Kemakeza, for standing firm in their decision to increase the determined value for logs - a new government policy announced recently. In a press statement the TSI said that despite strong pressure and threats from the logging association the Government is making the right decision in increasing the determined log value from US$78 to US$85 per cubic meter as of the 1st of June 2008. TSI went on to say that no one should be “misled by the loggers’ campaign of misinformation.” TSI stated that the increase in the determined value of logs would benefit both the land owners and the Government. It ensures that the land owners get a better share of the exploited forests.

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Genesis Kofana; 21/508

There is fear of a mass redundancy exercise, and stockpile of logs, by logging companies currently operating in the country, in protest of the increase in determined price for logs carried out by the government. Sources within the government have stated that certain logging companies have warned the government of likely actions if the government refuses to listen to their demand. Logging companies are petitioning the government on the likely actions they will take should the government increase the determined price from US$71 to the proposed new rate of US$78. The logging companies have stated that the increase of determined price, along with the increase in the minimum wage, have made operations in the country very expensive.

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