Malaita Premier Richard Na'amo Irosaea and Japanese Charge 'd Affaires to Solomon Islands, Akira Iwanade, yesterday signed a Grant Contract for the improvement of two schools on Malaita.

Manawai and Laugwata Primary Schools will benefit from the project which amounts to about 79-thousand dollars.

The project consists of one classroom and one staff house for each of the schools.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mr Iwanade said he was happy to sign the contract for the grassroots and human security projects on behalf of Japan.

He said the two schools will offer educational opportunities to many students who will create the future of the country.

In response Malaita Premier, Mr Irosaea said he was privileged and honoured for the generosity shown in funding the two schools.

He said the Japanese Government has contributed much to the development of Malaita Province in various sectors.

Premier Irosaea said Malaita places education as number one on its lists of priorities.

Source: SIBC

The Lowy Institute of Australia has published a new Policy Brief looking at the potentially lethal intersection between climate change and mosquito-borne diseases in the countries to the north of Australia including Solomon Islands, and in northern Australia itself.

The Policy Brief titled "The Sting of Climate Change: Malaria and Dengue Fever in Maritime Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands" is written by Dr Sarah Potter.

According to the report, global climate change will intensify the already significant malaria and dengue problems in maritime Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

As a result, countries with the fewest resources and poor public health infrastructure are likely to feel the impact of increasing disease the most acutely.

The report stated that in order to address the anticipated problem, Australia should strengthen regional efforts in maritime Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands for the better quantification of the effects of climate change on the spread of mosquito-borne diseases between and within susceptible countries.

"Australia’s own risk assessments for malaria and dengue should be updated. Besides, AusAID’s increased budget allocations for climate change and public health should be leveraged to enhance impact-based research, public education and health care training programs in malaria and dengue-prone areas, especially previously unaffected ones.

Prime Minister Derek Sikua has congratulated Barack Obama, the President-Elect of the United States of America for winning the presidential election on November 4.

In a letter to Obama today, Dr Sikua says it is with immense pleasure that the government and people of Solomon Islands join him in conveying the deepest and heartfelt congratulations on his historic election as President-Elect of the USA.

He says Solomon Islands and the US share a long, warm and historic relations spanning over a period of more than 62 years, which saw the 35th President of the US proudly serving his country in Solomon Islands during World War Two.

Prime Minister Sikua says Mr Obama's election comes at an important juncture when the world is facing so many challenges from climate change to financial crisis.

Dr Sikua says towards this end, Solomon Islands looks to Mr Obama's leadership with hope and confidence he will address these challenges and redefine the US relations with the Pacific region and Solomon Islands.

Dr Sikua says Solomon Islands reaffirms its keenness to strengthen and expand cooperation between the two countries on issues of mutual interest for the benefit of the people.He wishes Mr Obama and his family and people of the US every success as he prepares to take on his new leadership role.

SOURCE: SIBC

A VILLAGE youth leader will represent the country at an international youth conference in Dili, Timor Leste from November 11 to 15.

Redley Raramo is executive director of the Uttermost Rural Development Foundation (URDF).
This was an indigenous youth initiated rural base organisation in North Malaita.

Mr Raramo will join 44 youth leaders from around the world at the conference, organised by Timor Leste government and funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Presently Timor-Leste faces substantial challenges in its nation building process. Among these challenges is the lack of an overarching national identity, inadequate women’s participation in the political decision making processes, lack of opportunities for positive self-expressions.

There’s also a feeling of disenfranchisement among its youth population.

Mr Raramo will present a paper on “Youth and access to employment” an issues that Solomon Islands too faces today.

“I will be presenting this paper in the context of rural employment based on a concept called ‘Ruralism’. This was designed and developed by my youth organisation as one of the critical options for youth employment in rural areas,” Mr Raramo said.

He said he will also use the opportunity to learn from other participants and also develop new relationship and network.

Mr Raramo said he will be joined by Susan Talisi from the Church of Melanesia. They leave this Sunday.

SOURCE: SolomonStar

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, William Haomae has returned home yesterday from his visit to Iran.

Mr Haomae was reported to have met the Iranian Government officials while in Tehran where he raised with them the prospects of establishing trade relations between the two countries.

Recent media reports about the possibility of establishing some kind of links with Iran had sparked wide criticism from some prominent leaders in the country who hold conflicting views against the move.

Government has maintained that it was still holding dialogue with Iran about the prospects of developing economic and trade relations between the two nations.

Mr Haomae declined to talk to the media about his discussion with the Iranian Government officials until he had informed Cabinet.

SOURCE: SIBC