SDA Churches Donate Fresh Food to Livelihood Committee
The Livelihood Sector Committee (LSC) of the National Disaster Operation Committees (N-DOC) received with profound gratitude garden-fresh food donations from three Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) churches in Northeast Guadalcanal yesterday.
These churches include New Tenabuti SDA Community, Gheghede SDA Community, and Geza SDA Community.
Livelihood Committee will use the donation to help feed those (people) that are still on home isolation, ships on lockdown, and other quarantine sites in need.
LSC carries out the distribution based on instructions and information provided by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) to ensure there is no further Covid-19 transmission into our communities and that those instructed by the Ministry of Health go on isolation will normally take up to 14-days isolation period.
Chairman of the LSC Mr. Michael Ho’ota thanked the churches for their generous contribution adding the food support will help Livelihood Committee feed those that are in home isolation or in quarantine sites.
He said such support in challenging times like this is heart thrilling and encouraging because it is for a good course to sustain our people’s livelihood.
There are two response plans that the LSC is undertaking. First is relief response to ships on lockdown, to isolated communities and households (Isolation households) that on isolation after a member or members of their families are tested positive for Covid-19, and the second is relief response to the general public which is delivered to households through Wards/Community committees.
So far, over 27,000 households within the Honiara Emergency Zone have been assisted with relief food support in response to last month’s 4-days lockdown and the current Covid-19 restrictions.
The government delivered the relief support with the commitment to ensure people have enough food to feed their families.
Food distribution is ongoing.
The Livelihood Committee, therefore, acknowledged the assistance provided by donor partners, business houses in Honiara, Market Vendor Association, churches, and individuals who have stepped in with food assistance and logistic support during these challenging times as the country continued its fight against Covid-19.
The LSC is co-led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Ministry of Fisheries, and Honiara City Council together with other stakeholders and partners. The Committee is working closely with Honiara City Council on the food delivery mechanism.
Source: MAL Media
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Ministry of Police, National Security Correctional Services (MPNSCS), and the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) at Rove Police Headquarters today 24 February 2022.
Today marks another significant day for the twenty-one (21) year friendship with the signing of a new MoU between the AFP, the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS), and RSIPF in relation to the implementation of the RAPPP 2021-2025.
In August 2021, Solomon Islands Government Cabinet endorsed the Australian Federal Police (AFP) AUD $106m Program design for the “Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) Policing Partnership Program 2021-2025” (RAPP).
Since 2003, the AFP and the RSIPF have worked in partnership to bring peace and security to the people of the Solomon Islands and the region.
In a COVID safe setting the AFP Commander Osborne (currently Acting RSIPF Deputy Commissioner), Minister Veke for the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, and RSIPF Commissioner Manga attended the signing of the MOU for the RAPPP 2021-2025.
Commissioner Manga says, “As RSIPF prepares for the major operations in 2023 this MoU will see a new and exciting period of cooperation between the AFP and RSIPF as we strengthen our operational partnership building upon past years of investment.”
RAPP Commander Paul Osborne highlighted that RAPPP is an investment of AUD$106m from the AFP over the next four (4) years including technical assistance and capability developments across RSIPF.
Projects will support Investigations, Foundational Enabling Services, Expansion of the National Response Department, Frontline, General Duties, Forensics, Health and Wellbeing, and Leadership Development.
The RAPPP will assist the RSIPF prepare for the 2023 Operations Pacific Games and National General Elections in conjunction to building a stronger operational partnership between the AFP and RSIPF to combat crime in the region.
Minister for MPNSCS Hon. Anthony K Veke noted, “The AFP is our number one partner of choice for security and thanked AFP for its long friendship with the RSIPF and the people of Solomon Islands.”
Source: RSIPF Media
Police Receive Riot Gear from PRC
The Royal Solomon Island Police (RSIPF) has received riot equipment worth SBD$12 million-plus dollars from the People’s Republic of China during a handing over ceremony at Rove Police Headquarters today 24 February 2021.
During the Ceremony, RSIPF Commissioner Mr. Mostyn says, “That the riot equipment that was handed over this morning, and any future projects and assistance from your government would be used to its intended purposes.”
Commissioner Manga says, “I hope that we will be moving towards the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement in the near future. The RSIPF will continue to pursue a formal relationship with the Police to strengthen cooperation. RSIPF is looking forward to working with the Police Liaison team in delivering training programs in the days to come.”
Liaison Team Leader Commissioner Zhang Guanhbao says, “China police will also actively promote three assisting projects, namely the Digital Mobile Radio Communication System for Honiara, the Forensic Autopsy Laboratory and the “I-24/7” Interpol Communication System. The three projects will effectively promote the police in communications security, criminal investigation, and investigation cooperation."
Commissioner Zhang Guangbao says, “Besides providing police assistance, China Police Liaison Team will also conduct training for RSIPF, including the use of equipment, police techniques and tactics, public order management and riot control, close personnel protection, etc.”
“We will exchange with RSIPF in different fields and various levels, learn from each other, and support each other. We will fully help RSIPF to improve operational capability, to keep peace and security, to protect citizens of different countries including Chinese citizens in the Solomon Islands. We also are planning to extend communication and cooperation with RSIPF, to establish long-term and stable bilateral law enforcement cooperation serving the people of both countries,” says Commissioner Guangbao.
Minister of Police, National Security, and Correctional Service (MPNSCS) Honourable Anthony Veke says, “I wish to take this opportunity to openly convey our heartfelt thank you and appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for your continuous support.
Honorable Veke says, “We are here again to witness the continuous support by the Government of the People's Republic of China to the Solomon Islands. And for the RSIPF this support is deeply appreciated and is received wholeheartedly."
Minister Veke says, “Despite the onslaught of COVID-19 and its rapid community transmission, the mandate to maintain law and order remains a priority for the RSIPF. Moreover, the RSIPF, though limited in capacity, will continue to deliver on those duties. Therefore, any support to help is accepted with deep gratitude.”
COVID-19 Update: 306 New Cases Reported
The Solomon Islands has recorded a further 306 positive COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths have also been recorded in Honiara at the National Referral Hospital.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Culwick Togamana, gave the update during his daily COVID-19 situation update on the national broadcaster, SIBC.
The cumulative total positive COVID-19 cases for the country now stands at 6,654.
Of the 306 cases, 179 are new cases reported over a 24-hour reporting period, while 127 are old cases reported outside of the reporting period.
Of the 179 new cases, 20 are in Honiara, 14 in Choiseul, 24 in Malaita, 4 in Guadalcanal, 31 in West, 2 in Isabel, 51 in Malaita, and 33 in Central.
Of the 127 old cases, 117 are in Central, 8 in Guadalcanal, and 2 in Western.
The Health Minister says that the situation at the National Referral Hospital has improved significantly, with only 163 beds occupied out of a total bed capacity of 302.
Of the 163 patients admitted, 46 are COVID-19 patients, with 5 said to be critical and 27 classified as severe.
He encourages those that need medical attention or has outstanding treatments for other illnesses to go to the hospital.
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Covid-19 update: 12,011 new community cases in New Zealand today, five deaths
There are 12,011 new community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand today, with five further deaths.
Today's number is almost double the 6137 reported yesterday.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said 8223 of the positive results came from Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs), while 3807 were PCR tests.
The Ministry said the further increase in cases today was not unexpected given the ongoing spread of Omicron and wider testing achieved from the combined use of RATs and PCR.
Auckland has most of the new cases, with 1565 positive PCR tests and 6403 positive RAT results.
Source – Solomon Times Online.
But the rest of the cases remain spread around the country, with the areas that returned a positive PCR result including Northland (46), Waikato (388), Bay of Plenty (279), Lakes (23), Hawke's Bay (54), MidCentral (112), Whanganui (13), Taranaki (37), Tair?whiti (34), Wairarapa (10), Capital and Coast (182), Hutt Valley (85), Nelson Marlborough (79), Canterbury (355), South Canterbury (13), Southern (524) and West Coast (6).
The locations of the new community cases detected through RATs were: Northland (87), Waikato (544), Bay of Plenty (338), Lakes (140), Hawke's Bay (40), MidCentral (41), Whanganui (5), Taranaki (11), Tair?whiti (18), Wairarapa (4), Capital and Coast (77), Hutt Valley (20), Nelson Marlborough (23), Canterbury (114), South Canterbury (5), Southern (343) and West Coast (3).
The Ministry said the case numbers and number of people in the hospital were another reminders that vaccination is the best defense against the virus. There were 25,461 booster doses given yesterday, as well as 523 first doses, 1101 second doses, 179 third primary doses, 1657 pediatric first doses, and 178 pediatric second doses.
The five deaths reported today are the most ever recorded in a single day in New Zealand. There were four deaths at one point in the outbreak in April 2020.
There have now been 61 deaths of people with Covid-19 in New Zealand.
The deaths of the five patients with Covid-19 include two who were cared for in North Shore Hospital, two in Waikato, and one in Tauranga.
There are currently 237 people in hospital with the coronavirus, including three in intensive care. There are 83 patients at Middlemore with Covid-19 and 85 in Auckland Hospital, with the rest in Northland, North Shore, Tauranga, Hawke's Bay, Capital and Coast, Hutt Valley, Canterbury and Southern hospitals.
On Thursday, the daily number of community cases soared past the 6000 mark, with a record 6137 new cases. It was first-time rapid antigen test results were included in the daily numbers.
There were also 19 cases at the border reported today.
There have now been 39,413 cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand since the pandemic began.
Source – Radio New Zealand.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
