IMPORTANT POLICY DEVELOPMENTS TO AID RURAL POPULATIONS AND BOOST THE NATIONAL ECONOMY

Honiara : 16 June 2015

In an important development announced in the Solomon Islands , today, the DCC Government has taken bold steps to reviving the Investment Corporation of Solomon Islands (ICSI) by advertising for applications for board membership of the State -Owned Enterprise (SOE).

Once a board is appointed, the post of General Manager will be created with a suitable appointee filling the important position.

COMBINED CHARITY AID FOR THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

16 June 2018

CHARITY AID HELPS TO DRESS SOLOMON ISLANDS BABIES

It was especially gratifying for me to learn over the weekend that the Hearts of Hope (HOH) charitable organization, based in Malaita, had given more than 40 tiny babies sets of clothing, including shirts and caps.

The event took place at the Auki clinic last Thursday.

Most of the children who received the shirts and caps came from rural communities around the Auki area.

One of the mothers, whose child received a gift from the Hearts of Hope Organisation, reportedly described the support as an opportunity for her little baby.
She apparently said the surprising gift would enable her to save some money intended for the things received.
The HOH president, Janet Aihari, said during the handover of the clothing that the support was part of the organisation’s ongoing charitable assistance to children, orphans and elderly people in the rural communities.
She reportedly added that HOH wanted to see helpless children and elderly people to be part of life and enjoy the same privileges as everybody in the society.
Mrs. Aihari acknowledged the Helping Hand group from New Zealand for channelling the babies clothing’s through her organization.

It will be recalled that the gifted clothing came as a package of more than 90 boxes of second hand clothing for the HOH that were shipped to Honiara by Take My Hands Charitable Trust  with the cost of the shipment borne by the kind assistance of the Solomons Forest Association (SFA) and with the help of Mr J Sy.

In the same container there were many sets of mobility equipment and furniture for the SIDT.

Take My Hands went the extra mile in collecting the many items that had been requested because the ‘bread and butter’ activities of the NZ Charity lies in collecting and shipping medical equipment and supplies and has arrangements with charitable organizations in Pakistan, Fiji, Nepal and I understand also in Tonga.

I again express my thanks for the consignment to TMH, the SFA, Mr J Sy, and the Chair of the SIPA and to Mr Casper Fa’asala for aiding the clearance of the cargo.

To Mrs Aihari and to her tireless volunteers of HOH keep up your good work on behalf of all the needy and less fortunate in society.

Frank Short

A MEDIA APPEAL TO HELP THE SI RED CROSS SPECIAL DISABILITY CENTRE

AN APPEAL FOR THE SI RED CROSS SPECIAL DISABILITY CENTRE.

 Last week I wrote a letter in the form of an appeal in respect of work that was needed at the Red Cross Special Disability Centre at Riffle Range in the outer suburb of Honiara.

 I explained in my letter that the centre was regularly flooded and the classrooms inundated with water and mud causing classes for the 74 special needs children to be suspended and, often, the children sent home without their important lessons.

 The Secretary-General of the Red Cross Association has given me a quotation of the work needed to build a buffer wall that could put an end to the water intrusion into the centre’s premises.

 The cost is estimated, from a first quotation, to be about S$118.000. (A$20,000)

 That sum of money would be sufficient to acquire the necessary building materials, such as cement, reinforcing steel rods and plastic sheeting.

 The actual construction of the wall would be done by volunteer labour the Red Cross Association would engage.

 It my earnest desire that the sum of S$118,000 be donated by all those concerned about the ongoing situation at the centre and the plight of the young, special needs pupils that are deserving of a right to an education and a fitting premises in which to learn.

 Any donations made to the Red Cross Association would need to be accepted and processed in accordance with the Red Cross Association’s laid down, standard procedures for the acceptance of public donations.

 If you can help, please get in touch with Mr Thomas Bebeu  the Secretary General of the Solomon Islands Red Cross Association on telephone number  +677 25299 or send him an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 PLEASE DO HELP!

 Yours sincerely

 Frank Short

AIDING THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN PNG

According to a news item on Radio New Zealand International this morning, 13 April 2015, reporting alleged corrupt practices by sending text messages has had positive results in PNG.

The reporting of alleged corruption in such a way might be of interest to the local TSI and to the investigators that might be appointed in a future ICAC in the Solomon Islands.

Quoting from the news bulletin it says, "The United Nations Development Programme says a texting scheme to expose corrupt government officials in Papua New Guinea has had a dramatic impact.