Views of Honiara

These are some recent photos taken in Honiara. There are not so many changes in the city itself, the roads are still the same, the economy has not really improving, as the prices of goods in the shops is sky rocketing at the moment, for example the price of a 20kg bag of rice which has become a staple food is now $95.00. But we are slowly moving in to become one of the best countries in the Pacific region in the near future.


This is a view of down town Honiara, on the left is the NPF Building that house most of the offices of the National Provident Fund (NPF) and the Westpac Bank at the Bottom. On the right is the JJ Mini Market which is the popular central spot for most people in town.


This is the ANZ Point Cruz Bank ATM machine that is a convenient place for after hours machine withdrawals for customers.


This view is looking towards the Eastern parts of Honiara city which shows the four lane roads and the traffic at the mid afternoon hours of the day.


This photo is taken on the main port of Honiara. This building houses the Solomon Islands Ports Authority Harbour masters office, just on the wharfs.


This is the port of Honiara. In the background on the left is one main wharf that caters for the Regional and International ships berthing port. This is a ship from Singapore. On the right is one of the inter island ships in Honiara, the MV Sa’alia that carries passengers to and fro the Islands, mainly to ports in Malaita at the cost of $75-$90 SBD per passenger. However, there is need to have improvements in the shiiping sector in the Solomon Islands, as this is the only cheapest means of transportation to the islands.


Here is another vessel being loaded, this one is owned by the Temotu provincial government which is used to transport people to the Temotu Province of Solomon Islands, one of the most remote parts of the country.


A view of the Parliament house at the top of the hillside from the ports.


A view looking towards Point Cruz, in Honiara which in the background is the NPF Building, and the National Bank of Solomon Islands right in the heart of the city and the Honiara Hot Bread Kitchen. Notice the street light posts and flower cement tubs are decorated with traditional designs done by artists in Honiara, as very common sight in the middle of the streets in town.


One of the traditional designs on the posts in the city, done under the Honiara Beautification Programmme.

Photo Shoots

These are some photos taken on the way to Honiara...I will keep you update on some shots of the latest developments and pictures of Solomons..cheers..



Some boats made in the Solomon Islands by the Langa langa people of Malaita, the boat industry in this district is one of the skills these coastal people possess.


The latest band contest that will take off in Honiara. Activities as such are now popular in the capital.


Futsal in Solomons receives overseas coaching support.


The spirits and prices available at a liquor shop in town, the KK Liquorland in China Town.

The Aftermath of a Political Unrest

Traveling West of Honiara you would come across White River, one of the busiest spot at the edge of town before entering into rural side of Honiara a place known as Kakabona which have became famous for suffering most of the impact of what people in Honiara termed as the “Ethnic Tension” that led to the June Coup in 2000. White River at the height of the conflict that involve mostly two ethnic groupings in the Solomon Islands, Malaita and Guadalcanal, was the border that separates town from the rural side of Honiara mostly controlled by militant groups of both the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) and Isatabu Freedom Fighters (IFM) respectively. The MEF once have set up a check point that blocks people from the rural Guadalcanal to gain access to have supplies and basic medicines and food needs from town reaching their areas. However, it was during that time that women from Guadalcanal,Malaita and other provinces after some consultations during the height of the crises, managed to break the barriers by meeting together and exchange goods and gifts at the check points, who after some effort managed to convince the MEF camp who gave assurance and guaranteed the Guadalcanal women security and the means to sell their garden produce next to the check point and gain access to shop in town for basic necessities to feed their families.


White River Market and Bus Stand.

Now after five years since the crisis that had led to some hundreds of people dead, and thousands homeless, what used to be the stronghold bunker controlled by the MEF, White River, has turned into a busy market place where people of different ethnic groups meet,mingle together and exchange produce for cash. The women’s initiatives during the tension period came about the setting up of an organization called Women’s for Peace which is responsible for the setting up of the permanent market centre for the people of Western Guadalcanal and those of the White River and neighbouring places in town and in the effort to maintain peace between the warring parties.


The remains of the once "Franks Refueling Station".

Leaving White River market, you would come across the remains of a refueling station that was burnt down during the tension period. This is Kakabona area, the place that suffered the most of the impact of the conflict on Guadalcanal. Almost all of the houses here were permanent houses that were burnt to the ground by Malaitan militia during an payback operation. However, after five years on, the tension left nothing to the people of the area, except for the remains of their burnt down houses with most of their life savings gone in flames. The people have still yet to come to terms with what they have suffered, as this conflict was brought upon them by those whose agendas differ from what these people here might have. Five years on they were still waiting for what the government have promised, although the property claims have been paid to these people according to the “committee” responsible; however, since then, the people here have never received their money for their claims to damages made to their properties and livelihood.


The remains of a house that was burnt down during the raids on Kakabona.

The people tried to rebuild their own lives by themselves, by living in makeshift houses and struggling to earn a living from whatever means they could get their hands on to feed their own families, since their property claims have been diverted to some few greedy individuals who have access to these money and then “coning” the poor people who have lost all their livelihoods and suffered the most during the sad era in the history of Solomon Islands

This then brings the issue of whether we ourselves were to blame for this sad saga that have been bringing us to the brink of economic collapse and nearly become a fail state. Whether we should blame the government of the day for the collapse of law and order in country, or whether we should blame our neighbours for turning a blind eye during the crucial period of our country?


Remains of a house at Kakabona.

All these are some valid questions that have crept up to the minds of the simple rural dweller in Solomon Islands, whose interests’ lies not in the economic or political nature of the country but on the immediate needs of the family and making sure that there is bread on table at the end of the day. These are the very people that have suffered during the height of the conflict and have still not received their claims for the properties lost; they are the ones still struggling for their voice to be heard and their pleas to be taken up the ladder of democracy. The elected individuals have not often been so helpful, most of the times their hands end up in the pockets of the rural dwellers for his or her own gains. Where then could we the grass roots could turn to? The donors’ funds always end up in the wrong hands and diverted to other use by the government and often claimed by reports to donors that the projects have been financially successful. The Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF) have been since independence have not been used for the development of the constituencies but rather for the development of the "consistency of the voters" to elect them in power.

This then are the issues that needs to be addressed by the government and people of the nation of Solomon Islands, it is then time that we people of this nation rebuild our lives upon the ruins of war and do away with corruption, it is time that we come forward and say enough is enough, let peace take its toll, and lets work together side by side and help our RAMSI friends fight corruption, crime and the gun culture that spoils our childrens' future.

SIG Student Accomodation

Bulaia Motel, Chinatown, houses the SIG Student Girls.

Tropicana Motel, accodmodated some of the SIG male students.

This is Bulaia Motel, which houses some 50 Solomon Islands Government sponsored students under scholarship at the University of the South Pacific here at its Honiara Centre. The students are currently undergoing their first year degree courses at the USP (SI) Centre, which is a policy set by the National Training Council that required students to complete a maximum of 8 degree courses before being transferred to the main campus in Suva, Fiji.

The students are accommodated at various motels in town, such as the Tropicana Motel at Tandai Highway, and upper Kola’ale and one Motel in Skyline Ridge. Currently, most of the students have done their exams and are on holiday with those doing 30 weeks courses still attending classes at the centre.



Trpicana Motel, West Honiara, houses about 100 students.

St. Joseph’s Ex-student Reunion

Circular Memo

Date: 2nd June 2005
Venue: Amy’s Snack Food
Subject: St. Joseph’s Ex-student Reunion

An informal meeting held at the Amy’s Snack Food at Point Cruz during lunch to discuss what strategies to develop for the reunion of St. Joseph’s Tenaru ex-student towards the end of the year. The first meeting held this afternoon was to brainstorm how that could be developed, who should be involved, when will we start, where will we get funds and etc..

The following is the extract of this first informal meeting.


1. The idea of reunion has been planned for previous years however no progress has been made. This has been a result of who should organise the reunion whilst no strategies has been developed. The idea has again emerged during contacts between individuals from time to time. From the contacts, Joseph Foukona suggested an interim committee to be established once contacts have been made with individuals in Honiara and USP Centre in Fiji and Vanuatu.

2. James Solomon Akwai arrived in Honiara recently contacted few that he has access during the first few days of his arrival. He quickly organised an informal meeting held this afternoon to further discuss what has been circulated among few individuals for a concrete progress. The meeting held with four people who appreciated the idea of reunion thus called whoever has seen during the meeting. While James will be in Honiara until July, he will assist with establishment of this interim committee to work towards this reunion. The interim committee did not undermine the formal ex-students committee rather to strengthen the existing network that is inactive at the moment.

3. Since the ex-student association was inactive (to our knowledge) at the moment, we tried as much as possible to reach whoever we knew and access to contact him or her workplace to arrange appropriate timing for a meeting. The aim of the proposed meeting was to organise a reunion of ex-students towards the end of the year when (especially students studying overseas) everybody look forward to the holiday seasons.

4. Contacts between individuals previously suggested a sizeable reunion that targets students’ ex-students from 1992 – 1995 students at St. Joseph. During the meeting, the focus is to involve as many students as possible to strengthen the current association before tying to the formal association in the future.

5. As one of our school/classmate will be ordained during the Christmas holiday season, we suggested the reunion have been scheduled sometimes before he could go home to be ordained to become a priest. He is Mr. Alban Raukeniana.

6. A meeting has been scheduled for Thursday 9th June at Town Ground to establish the working committee to work towards the event. While others will not be available during working hours, it is proposed to be held during lunch hour. As soon as the interim committee taken up the responsibility to organise whatever activities to raise funds towards this reunion, we encouraged individuals to bring their friends to assist with our fundraising events.

N.B.

We appreciate your contribution towards this informal reunion, as it will further strengthen our network into the future. We have been isolated in our working environment for so long without knowing who is where and what.

Welcome your bright ideas;

• How can we start
• Who can fund our activities
• What is the target amount
• Where or who will keep the money
• Etc


Come prepared so we may progress with discussion, as the hour for lunch is very slim. If you have queries that need clarification from time to time, please do not hesitate to forward your query to the following;

John Edward – ANZ Bank
Jerome Rivoquani – Telekom
Rex Tara – Oxfam Australia
James Solo Akwai – USP, Honiara Centre

Thank you for your time

Rex Tara

New Cafe In Honiara

This is a new cafe that has opened just early this year in Honiara. The Cafe serves a mixed range of Western dishes, and has attracted a lot of guest mainly expats. It is situated just at the border between White River and going towards Kakabona just next to the famous spot for "Sisi Dance", West Honiara.

Eriksson hails 'brilliant' Owen

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson hailed Michael Owen as "one of the best finishers in the world" after his hat-trick against Colombia.
The Real Madrid striker, who now has 32 goals in 70 games, moved to fourth in England's all-time list of scorers.

Eriksson said: "He scored three fantastic goals but that is nothing new. He has been doing it for years. He is a brilliant finisher.

"I would imagine it would be hard to find a better finisher in the world."

A delighted Owen, who is now only 17 goals behind Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 49, insisted the mini-tour of America was a success after the 3-2 victory against Colombia.

I have got 32 goals now but the Bobby Charlton record is still a long way off

Michael Owen
"We've made friends and won two games, so it's job done for us.

"You can't compare this hat-trick to the one I got in Germany because that was a World Cup qualifier and a special night for the whole country.

"But you never turn your nose up at any goals for England and I'm delighted.

"I have got 32 goals now but the Bobby Charlton record is still a long way off. If I fail to make it, it won't be for want of trying."

The 25-year-old added: "We've had two good performances, but now the World Cup qualifiers are the main things for us."

Eriksson was also delighted with the outcome of a tour which was much criticised after many first-choice players pulled out.

He said: "It has been a fantastic exercise for us. People have come in and taken their chance, like Kieran Richardson and Michael Carrick.

"And tonight I thought the two centre-backs Zat Knight and Glen Johnson both did very well against good opposition.

This is great for Michael - he has proved what a superb goal-scorer he is

David Beckham
"Colombia are dangerous. They keep the ball for long periods and if you don't have a good shape they will take advantage of you but I thought we coped quite well."

England skipper David Beckham was also full of praise for his Real Madrid team-mate.

"This is great for Michael. It has been a tough season for him," said Beckham. "He has not played every game for Real Madrid but he has kept going.

"Almost every time Michael has come on the pitch as a substitute he has scored and again today he has proved what a superb goal-scorer he is. It can't get much better for him than today."

Owen later insisted that he wants to stay in Spain, despite renewed speculation linking him with a return to the Premiership.

He said: "I have said many times I'm happy in Spain. I've wormed my way into the Real Madrid side, as I said I would do, and I don't think there are many players at the Bernabeu who have played as many games as I have.

"England's my home, and maybe I will come back one day, but I have got a contract for three more years and unless I get told otherwise I will be reporting for training with Real on 8 July."

USP Students sit for exam

MORE than 18,000 students of the University of the South Pacific are this week sitting first semester examinations. The examinations began yesterday.

USP media and public relations manager Bernadette Hussain said about 18,286 were sitting for 39,254 exams over the next 10 days.

"All students enrolled in semester 1 2005 in all modes which include print, face to face, internet and video broadcast are sitting their exams," Ms Hussain said.

Ms Hussain said the exams were being held in all the three USP campuses - Laucala, Alafua in Samoa and Emalus in Vanuatu and at 12 centres in USP member countries.

There are numerous exam sites throughout the region and overseas where most students study through Distance and Flexible Learning (DFL). Ms Hussain said the number of students sitting examinations was pretty the same as in the first semester last year. Students due to graduate this semester will find out whether they will after June 6 when applications for completion close.