SI FRIDAY IN BRIEF

TUNA LOIN FACTORY

Government yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with landowners of Tenaru-Lunga and the Guadalcanal provincial government for the establishment of a Tuna Loin factory at Tenaru, Central Guadalcanal.

Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Nollen Leni whilst speaking at the signing ceremony said the loin factory is part of government's plan to bring development to rural people.

He said government believes the factory will create opportunities for employment to thousands of Solomon Islanders, with a lot of spin off benefits in the area.

Mr Leni says the creation of a tuna loin factory signals a shift in government's fisheries policy to reduce access to foreign fishing companies.

He urges all three parties in the M-O-U to work together to bring the Tenaru Loining factory a reality for the benefit of all.

Minister Leni thanks the people of Ghaobata, Bahomea and Malango for availing their land of a national development to take place.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister doctor Derek Sikua who witnessed the signing of the Tenaru Tuna Loin factory M-O-U says progress towards the next state in the development of the project depends on the commitment of each party.

He warns that failure by one party to comply with the required commitments could delay and even jeopardise the success of the project.

He appeals to all parties to honour their commitments.

Dr Sikua however says yesterday's event marks the beginning of an important process towards the establishment of a Tuna Loin factory on Guadalcanal and said he looks forward to officiate at a ceremony to mark the opening of the factory.
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UNDP REPORTS ON CORRUPTION

A new United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, report says politicians in the Asia-Pacific region are seen as the most corrupt group.

This is followed by the police and judiciary.

The 2007 Asia-Pacific human development report, entitled “Tackling Corruption, Transforming Lives”, says nearly one in five people in the region claimed to have paid a bribe to police during the previous year.

The report says between one third and three quarters of the victims spoken to in various Asia-Pacific countries said they did not report a crime because of a lack of trust in the police.

The UNDP says justice too had a price and according to the report, two thirds of the Asian population considered the courts to be corrupt.

Meanwhile, head of the UNDP regional human development report unit, Anuradha Rajivan, says while hauling the rich and powerful before the courts might grab the headlines, the poor would benefit more from efforts to eliminate corruption that plagued their everyday lives.

Ms Rajivan believed “petty corruption” was a wrong name.

She says although dollar amounts might be relatively small, the demands were incessant.

Ms Rajivan the number of people affected was enormous and the share of poor people’s income was high.

She says combating corruption made more political sense now than ever before, especially in sectors like water, electricity, health and education.

Ms Rajivan quotes the report as saying this not only conferred credibility on the government but also greatly promoted everyday citizen’s satisfaction.

The report was regionally launched last July in Jakarta by the Indonesian president and nationally on Tuesday by PNG Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane in the presence of foreign dignitaries and others.
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YOUTHS HOLD RALLY

A Christian youth rally targeting young people in Honiara begins this evening.

The youth rally has been organised by the Solomon Islands Christian Association, S-I-C-A and the Year of the Bible Working group.

The theme of the rally is 'Strongim youth long word blo God' - empowering youth with the Word of God.

The rally will be held at the Multi-purpose building and starts at 6pm this evening.

Music, games, skits and bible teaching will be a part of today evening's opening program.

Tomorrow morning, the rally opens at 9am.

The youth rally is being sponsored by SICA and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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INVESTMENT IN PETROLEUM

Solomons Cabinet is yet to deliberate on the Pacific Petroleum Project.
While just Nauru, Tuvalu and the Cook Islands are the only countries to sign up to the Pacific Petroleum Project, others, such as Solomon Islands will not be far behind.

The three small countries have committed to a memorandum of understanding which Pacific Island Forum Economic Ministers hope will see the region buying fuel in bulk and paying less for it.

Finance Minister, Snyder Rini, says Solomon Islands fully backs the Project it but cannot commit just yet.
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CHURCH HAS A NEW BISHOP

The South Seas Evangelical Church, SSEC, has elected its new Reverend Bishop, somewhat ending the debate of internal doctrinal differences towards the candidacy of Reverend Michael Maeliau for the post.

The new Reverend Bishop, Mathias Lima was elected last night at the church's leaders conference in Malango, Central Guadalcanal.

He replaces former Reverend Bishop, the late Reverend Festus Suruma who died earlier this year.

Mr Lima won ahead of Reverend Eric Takila who came second, and Reverend Michael Maeliau who came third.

Meanwhile, Stanley Aitorea was elected Vice Reverend Bishop in a separate election.

Mr Lima's election as the new Reverend Bishop of SSEC puts to rest earlier debates of exposed internal doctrinal differences that erupted over the candidacy of Reverend Michael Maeliau.

The differences came to light after a letter which was written to the then Acting Reverend Bishop, Eric Takila by church elder Sir Peter Kenilorea was exposed to local newspaper, Solomon Star.

In the letter, Sir Peter had expressed concern over the candidacy of Reverend Maeliau citing that the Reverend no longer seems to believe in mainstream practices and doctrines of the SSE Church.
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TAIWANESE DOCTORS PROVIDE SERVICE

The doctor and nurse of Taiwan Health Center in Honiara is providing professional service.
The medical services which started two weeks ago is aimed at easing the shortage of medical manpower in the Central Hospital.
The local people from isolated villages, will in the long term benefit Taiwan's assistance.
Dr Chen Hsien-Ching, the chief of Taiwan Health Center said the medical work in Solomon Islands is different and full of challenge.
Dr Chen has been in Honiara to replace Dr Chang, Shiou since 27th September.
Dr. Chen says the relations between National Referral Hospital, NRH, and Taiwan Health Center have been established well during Dr. Chang's one year tenure.
The doctors and nurses from NRH now go to our center very often for consultations.

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CHRISTIAN YOUTH RALLY

A Christian youth rally targeting young people in Honiara begins this evening.
The youth rally has been organised by the Solomon Islands Christian Association, S-I-C-A and the Year of the Bible Working group.
The theme of the rally is 'Strongim youth long word blo God' - empowering youth with the Word of God.
The rally will be held at the Multi-purpose building and starts at 6pm this evening.
Music, games, skits and bible teaching will be a part of today evening's opening program.
Tomorrow morning, the rally opens at 9am.
The youth rally is being sponsored by SICA and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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PACIFIC LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS

Potential Pacific leaders have gathered in Wellington this week to learn what it takes to make a difference.

Radio New Zealand International reports that the symposium called “Growing a New Generation of Pacific Leaders” is organised by the Victoria University of Wellington and consists of workshops and readings.

A co-organiser, Dr Kabini Sanga, said Pacific leadership is different from other forms of leadership because it emphasises custom.

Dr Sanga said it’s about taking responsibility and a can-do attitude whether becoming the manager of a company or the head of a family.

He said the students will share a vision.

Dr Sanga said that vision being to grow one-thousand new generation leaders by 2015.

He said they have already mobilised young leaders in New Zealand and across the Pacific, including in Fiji and Solomon Islands.
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