Cargo delivery flights resume
After two days of rest, all four Solomon Airlines aircrafts will be up and flying as of this morning to airlift cargoes to the provinces.
Saturday and Sunday have been rest days for the aircrafts and airlines staff.
Monday morning (21st February) saw a number of scheduled cargo-only flights from Honiara to Gizo, Munda, Seghe, Kagau, Fera, Suavanao, Kirakira, Atoifi, Auki, and Choiseul Bay.
On Tuesday (22nd February) flights on schedule were from Honiara to Bellona, Rennell, Parasi, Gizo, Ballalae, Auki, Manaoba, Santa Ana and Kirakira.
Non-perishable goods could be lodged in advance for the flights.
Honiara residents stranded in those destinations were told they could return turn on those flights.
Solomon Airlines has been busy over the couple of weeks in airlifting cargoes to some of the hard to reach destinations.
Some of these destinations were unable to be serviced by boat.
As such only aircrafts and helicopters were used.
Canadians support SI front liners with masks
A Canadian Company is sending medical grade, Level 3, three-layer masks to Solomon Islands to assist the Island nation with its fight against a Covid-19 outbreak.
Solomon Islands had escaped Covid-19 through community transmission until recently which has spread widely across many parts of the Island nation. Solomon Islands health authorities last week have said that lab testing of samples confirms that the Corona Virus in the country is that of the deadly Delta Variant.
Novoshield, a British Columbia, Canada based company has come to the rescue by donating to the Solomon Islands Consulate General in Canada, 25,200 Level 3 medical grade three layer masks, to be sent to Solomon Islands.
Additionally, 500 N-95 masks are specifically being made available to support officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force [ RSIPF].
The level 3, three-layer medical masks are all produced in Canada and carry a seal of approval from Canada’s Health Ministry, Health Canada.
The masks are tested for splash resistance, synthetic blood resistance and have a rating of over 98 percent.
NovoShield President Mr. Jason Zanatta said that he is pleased to stand with the people of Solomon Islands in these challenging times.
“I and my team here at Novoshield are pleased to extend these supplies of Level 3 medical three-layer masks to help support the people of Solomon Islands in their fight against COVID-19,” Mr. Zanatta said.
“At the minimum we would like to commit to an immediate donation, and we look forward to being of assistance in the very near future,” Mr. Zanatta said.
Accepting the medical supplies, Hon. Consul General Dwivedi thanked Novoshield President Mr. Jason Zanatta for responding to the call for urgent and immediate assistance.
Speaking over the weekend at the event at Novoshield’s operations office, Mr. Dwivedi said that Solomon Islands economy is devastated as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Solomon Islands is at war. War with Covid-19 pandemic. Its first casualty even before community transmission was its tourism sector, which has had its doors shut since COVID-19 first made its first appearance in 2020.
“A nation that was supported by the tourism sector, beaches that would have footprints left behind by tourists are today left unattended, untouched. We are badly impacted through loss of unfortunate lives and revenue due to Covid-19,” Mr. Dwivedi said.
“We can always recover the loss in revenue in the near future. However, the loss of lives, loss of fathers, uncles, aunties, or someone dear in community or family is something we cannot replace.
“It is difficult times like this when friendship counts. And today’s support from Novoshield tells us that although we may be 9,000 miles apart in distance, we remain one family. One strong commonwealth family,” Mr. Dwivedi said.
“The young nation, we call the Pacific paradise which stood on guard in the Second World War to bring peace and prosperity to the international community, today needs all the help it can get from Canadians.
“We are one family. One strong family. Today’s assistance will go a long way. Thank you, tumas Novoshield, Jason, and employees. We are together in this fight against COVID-19” Mr. Dwivedi said.
“Its citizens like Jason and companies like Novoshield who make Canadians proud. And I take the renewed opportunity to thank you on-behalf of the people of Solomon Islands for your kind donation,” Mr. Dwivedi said.
Mr. Dwivedi said that the level 3 medical three-layer masks are a seal of confidence which will assist the first responders and all others in need.
“The made in Canada masks will also provide added confidence to our police force and medical professionals in their fight against Covid-19.
This is a timely response to my call for assistance and I thank NovoShield for the kind donation,” Mr. Dwivedi said.
Based on Government of Canada information, the donated medical masks are similar to those widely used by Canadian and international medical professionals and carry the highest ratings as it has three-layer protection instead of one layer or two layers. It has a viral efficiency rate of 99 percent, as certified by Canada’s Ministry of Health.
The donated Level 3 mask is highest rated for medical and surgical face masks. This mask features an adjustable metal nose piece and non-latex ear loops for easy wearing and added comfort.
Sepi women collaborates with Snap Fish
SNAP Fish Solomons, a locally owned fishing venture is pleased to collaborate with the women and girls from Sepi Village under the Sepi Women’s Fisheries Initiative Programme.
This programme was established in 2019 and it includes women and girls from Sepi village to involve in the fisheries sector.
Snap Fish Solomons was in consultation with the Sepi Womens in 2019 and an agreement was reached that resulted in a submission made to the Ministry of Commerce and Fisheries to support this village initiative.
Hence, the National Government had supported this submission and endorsed this in 2021. This week the equipment was received by Snap Fish Solomons on behalf of the programme.
This programme should enhance livelihood for fisher folks and their families at this time of pandemic.
However, Snap Fish Solomons is yet to get its exemption to ship fish into the city. It has developed its high standard ICP Action Cards to ensure no cross over and safe shipment of fish from outside Honiara.
In terms of the support the spokeswoman for the programme is excited and indicated that, “Women and girls from Sepi will no longer gut fish for pig food only; but will also involve meaningfully in the fisheries business.
For the last decade only men participated in fisheries and usually sold their fish at the Honiara Markets. Women were only involved in the gutting of fish, because they used the fish guts to feed their pig.”
Today, under the Sepi Womens Fisheries Initiative, they will operate a business venture to fish or buy fish from fisher folks – and will complete the whole cycle, in handling, gutting and storage of the fish.
The statement from the Sepi Women’s Fisheries Initiative programme added, “they will make formal arrangements with Buala as soon as travel restrictions are lifted.”
The Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Fisheries, Ms Rosalie Masu is pleased to have supported this venture and hope to develop a cordial relationship with the Sepi Women’s Fisheries Initiative.
On the same note, the Permanent Secretary for Commerce Mr. Riley Mesepitu is glad that they have responded positively to this submission and we are glad to support a village women’s fisheries initiative.
The CEO for Snap Fish Solomons, Mr. Geoffery Goroa confirmed, A Solar Deep Freezer and 15 Horsepower OBM and eskies were loaded over the weekend onboard MV Vaka Solomone enroute for Sepi.
Plans to Repatriate Students in Fiji in March
The government is making plans to repatriate Solomon Islands tertiary students studying in Fiji as early as March 2022.
The Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. Jimmie Rodgers confirmed the plans during the Covid-19 oversight committee’s talkback show over the weekend on the national broadcaster, SIBC.
Dr. Rodgers says that at least 200 students who have completed their studies are still stuck in Fiji, and two charter flights are being arranged to bring them home.
He said that another privately arranged charter flight is scheduled to arrive in Honiara on the 26th of February, bringing home some 30 students from PNG. He mentioned the government is also looking at bringing home several students in the Philippines on the same flight.
He assures other tertiary students abroad that arrangements are also being made to bring them home. This includes students studying in Cuba, the US, Korea, and the UK.
With international flights opening up in Australia it is now possible to bring students back home via Brisbane, the most economical route for most living and studying abroad...
No jab, No scholarship
ONCE government opens up any scholarship awards for next year to study overseas, only fully vaccinated students will be eligible to apply.
This was highlighted by the Secretary to Prime Minister (SPM) and Chairman of the National Oversight Committee (NOC) Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Sunday.
He was responding to a request asked by a member of the public during the talk-back show.
He said, if the border reopens next year and government comes up with a policy to offer scholarship to study at regional institutions, it might mean, students need to be fully vaccinated.
He said, no jab means, no scholarship under government’s policy.
Dr Rodgers said the Ministry of Education will be working on a policy to address this.
Sources – Solomon Star NEWS and Solomon Times Online.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
