Traditional Governance

Looking to history to forge a new future
Chiefs and other leaders of Kwara'ae on Malaita will have by today compiled their "Taki" or customary laws.

A two-weeks workshop was organised by the Dalobala, Sirahi and Tafubala Tribal Association which has its centre near the Malaita Provincial capital, Auki. The Kwara'ae region stretches from the east to the west of the central part of Malaita. The population of this language group is estimated to be 39-thousand, the biggest in any language groups on Malaita.

The workshop which ended today will have compiled a set of rules which would govern an ideal Kwara'ae, as a community and people. One of the organisers of the workshop, Hudson Kwalea, spoke of the need for chiefs of Kwara'ae to gather to compile a common set of rules to live by. He says the need to revive the customary law is to ensure there is renewed respect and love by all people within the community and society. Kwalea says this customary law would cover every aspect of the Kwara'ae community.

However, he says the Kwara'ae Taki does not stand alone, but will compliment Solomon Islands Constitution. Kwalea says the Kwara'ae Taki will re-strengthen the role of chiefs and leaders as authorities in society. Kwalea says he hopes the compilation of the Kwara'ae customary laws would lead to other language groups on Malaita compiling their own. He also hopes that in the future a common customary law will be compiled for Malaita.

Kwalea says plans are afloat that in the future the common customary law would be part of the school curriculum in Kwara'ae and Malaita.

You would argue, is there place for traditional law in the modern society? What do you think?

Enjoy every moment of live.

MyBlog

Is God real? PM queries.

Death toll
It was two weeks ago today, when the earthquake and tsunami hit and devastated Western and Choiseul provinces, leaving 52 people dead.

This is the latest figure which the National Disaster Council Management Office, NDMO, confirmed by yesterday, Sunday 15 April. NDMO confirmed that Gizo island accounts for 33 of the deaths. Nusa Baruku on Gizo recorded 10 deaths, seven of whom are children below the age of five years. It says nine deaths on Simbo, two each for Rannoga and Vella La Vella and six deaths from Choiseul. Most of the deaths in the disaster were children.

PM preaches
Last night in Gizo, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare recalled before a crowd his personal pleading with God following news of the disaster caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Western and Choiseul provinces.

He said the devastation had caused him to questioned why God should allow such destruction on a country which 99 percent profess to worship Him. Mr Sogavare said his Cabinet has devoted Christians who pray unceasingly for both the government and the country since the day they took office.

The Prime Minister said although it is very difficult for him to say it, he believes the God that Solomon Islanders worship is alive. He retold the story of Job in the Bible that despite the suffering and pain he experienced, he trust God. Mr Sogavare told the crowd that this is the statement of faith he is sharing with the victims of the tsunami in both Choiseul and Western provinces.

Makira-Ulawa Governance
The Makira Ulawa Provincial Government has gone ahead of other provinces in planning radio programme on good governance on the national broadcaster SIBC.

Premier John Mamafe says the programme is vital for both political and economic development of the people. He says his government is embarking on the programme to educate its people on important aspects of good governance. Premier Mamafe says the programme will focus on the legal system which the province had put in place and governance at the community level. The Premier says his government hopes this would help people become more aware and participate in their own governance and development.

MyBlog comments
Yesterday, Sunday 15th April in Gizo, Prime Minister Sogavare preached while addressing a crowd who have gathered to welcome him as he embarked on a five day tour of disaster stricken areas of both Western and Choiseul Provinces.

To those who professed themselves to be Christian, his preaching was a normal thing and words of comfort and assurance of their faith. Mr Sogavare's pleaded and questioned God, and why He allowed such disaster to hit the people. Despite the calamity, Mr Sogavare's preaching seemed to indicate his strong faith in God. He thanked those in his government who continued to pray for God's guidance.

Some Solomon Islanders would have different views about the Prime Minister's faith in God. Of course, each individual has a freedom of choice, to believe in God or not. Some are adamant that the State and Religion should be separate, while others like Mr Sogavare believes that without God, man is nothing.

What do you think?

MyBlog can only salute the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government in taking the initiative to education its people on good governance. MyBlog hopes that the Ministry of Education can pick up on the initiative and include good governance in its syllabus. An introduction of such subject in secondary schools may help in molding Solomon Islanders into better citizens. Add a dose of biblical value to the subject, and it wouldn't do any harm?

A friend in need is a friend indeed

A blogging lull
It was a week since I last posted to this blog.

The past week has been a very hectic time as the earthquake and tsunami was the focus of the media. It was the talk of every Solomon Islanders. I too was caught up in trying to make sense of the a disaster of such magnitude. So here is MyBlog, back and posting.

Earthquake Death Toll Update
The National Disaster Management Office says the death toll from last Monday’s earthquake and tsunami stands at 39.

The previous number of deaths reported for Simbo of 12 has been confirmed to only 9. Reports coming in from the areas affected by the disaster revealed that a number of missing people have yet to be accounted for. Of the death toll, Gizo Island’s fatalities reached 20. The actual number will not be known until after ground teams put their assessment reports together.

A Mammoth Task
Choiseul Provincial Premier Jackson Kiloe was among other people who have expressed disappointment at the delay in the delivery of emergency assistance to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami which struck the Western and Choiseul Provinces.

Jackson Kiloe says he was disappointed at finding that victims of the worst affected areas in South Choiseul with half the province's population of more than 20-thousand are still struggling to survive without any form of assistance. Premier Kiloe says the magnitude of the disaster is beyond the ability of the provincial government to cope.

UN praises work
United Nations Agencies working with the National Disaster management Office have described as very outstanding the job and coordination jointly carried out by the organisations.

UN Resident Coordinator for Operational Activities in Solomon Islands Richard Victors says the N-D-M-O had done exceptionally well in dealing with all sorts of activities to help affected people under very trying circumstances. He says through the cooperative efforts by UNDAC and the NDMO major amounts of relief supplies are reaching the people affected. Mr Victors says the situation in Solomon Islands is probably the most difficult one he had seen taking into account the scatteredness of the islands and villages, the lack of infrastructure and the trauma the people are going through.

MyBlog comments
The earthquake and resulting tsunami which hit the Western and Provinces has highlighted the unpredictable natural disaster.

It seems nothing invented by man so far can nullify such an event that can cause such destruction, amongst the worst witnessed so far in Solomon Islands. Of cause events far greater than last Monday's calamity had happened many times in the past in other countries. It just showed the powerlessness that man has on nature. With more reports flowing in from remote locations that the tsunami has struck, the number of death toll is likely to increase.

MyBlog can understand why people feel that relief supplies was slow in reaching the victims of the disaster. But considering the economic state Solomon Islands is in, it was impossible for help to get to the people. Following the recent social unrest, the country was just to a large extent relying on help from overseas donors and development partners. Had it not for them including the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, there could have and would be more deaths. Solomon Islanders, especially those in the Western and Choiseul provinces are thankful and indebted for such timely help.

The event also highlights a strength of humanity, the will for people to go out their way to help the needy and those in distress. Help from both local and overseas sources are testimony of that powerful and unifying force for the good and comfort of their fellow brothers and sisters. In Solomon Islands, small groups such churches, provinces, clubs, etc are doing their bit to raise funds or donate what they can towards the relief efforts. MyBlog salutes all who have contributed one way or another to those efforts.

But a word of caution, the country calls for transparency and accountability for those who are tasked to manage and perform such mammoth relief work for the victims of the disaster.
MyBlog sympathises with the people who have lost their property and loved ones in the disaster and wish them quick recovery.

Earthquakes and effects of Tsunami

Earthquake updates
The number of deaths reported from the three islands of the Central region of Western province now stands at 22 with the number increasing.

SIBC's Leni Dalavera quotes the Red Cross Field Officer in Gizo Rove Sipuru as saying that nine people died from Nusabaruku island, an island near Gizo main island, another nine from Simbo, two from Gizo and two from Ranongga. This report was received about 10 am this morning.

Mr Dalavera also quotes a villager of Titiana as saying that two children have been found under rabbles and some may have been buried yesterday. This however was not officially confirmed by authorities. He says the entire village was swept away by high seas and people moved to a hill behind the village and are now too traumatised to return to their village.

Meanwhile, Red Cross in Gizo had distributed basic necessities such as tents, cooking pots, and other food assistance to people who have been evacuated to Gizo from nearby villages. A thorough assessment will be carried by Red Cross Field officers today on islands which were covered in their initial assessment yesterday.

Overseas assistance are reported to be pouring in from overseas.

Earthquakes
A staggering number of earthquakes have hit the Western part of Solomon Islands.

The first major tremor with magtitude of 8 on the Richter Scale struck after half past seven yesterday morning. Thirty(30) others followed, with the latest recorded at 1128 local time today. The details of the earthquakes can be viewed at the site below.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Maps/region/Australia_eqs.php

Catch up with you in the next posting.

Tsunami strikes the West

A Sad Day for the Western Province and Solomon Islands
This morning at 740am a powerful earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter Scale struck Solomon Islands.

The earthquake was located at 25 miles South-south-east of the Provincial capital, Gizo. The US Geological Survey recorded that the earthquake started 10 kilometres under the sea. Following the earthquake, tsunami waves struck some parts of the many islands in the Western Province causing extensive damage and some deaths.

By seven o'clock in the evening, reports reaching the national broadcaster, SIBC, confirmed 10 deaths. This consists of six deaths on Simbo Islands, two in provincial capital, Gizo and two at Sasamuga on Choiseul. The Premier of the Western Province, Alex Lokopio, has however told overseas media including BBC that the number has gone beyond 15. The number of deaths is expected to increase, as reports are gathered from other islands especially Rendova, Ranonga and Vella Lavella and the Shortland Islands.

PM sends condolence Message
Prime minister Manaseh Sogavare had sent his government's condolence to the premiers and the people of Western and Choiseul provinces following this morning's tsunami.

He said the government through National Disaster Council and other agencies is fully committed to make it their priority to assist the affected people. Mr Sogavare said a team comprising the police, health officials, infrastructure development officers and officers from the prime ministers office have been dispatched to Munda to set up a base there to help with coordinating of logistics and assistance. He says the government had already arranged for the dispatch of tents, food and drinking water to the people.

Meanwhile, a report from Australia says that Canberra is giving an initial offer of up to two million Australian dollars in emergency and reconstruction assistance to the Solomon Islands government.

Series of Earthquakes
Could this be amongst the unique happenings to have occurred in the history of earthquakes? May be not.

One of the most striking features(at least to me) is the number of earthquakes that happened after the tremor that struck at 740am Solomon Islands time Monday, 02 April 2007. The US Geological Survey which monitors earthquakes recorded 17 earth tremors up to 615pm the same day. That's 17 earthquakes in 10 hours 30 minutes. The tremors ranged from 4.8 to 8 on the Richter Scale and most of them happening around the same area.

MyBlog comments
It was four days since MyBlog's last posting, but it was worth waiting. It is a sad happening, but a big news event.

Last week, there have been reports from Munda, Western Province of a series of small earthquakes. It could have been the signs of things to come. MyBlog was predicting a possible eruption of either the dormant Simbo Islands volcano or the marine volcano of Chavachi also in the Western Province.

The disaster will certainly bring about the cooperative spirit of Solomon Islanders to rise up to the occasion and help the victims of the tsunami. The death toll is expected to rise beyond the confirmed 10 and estimated 20 or so. But MyBlog hopes the increase does not get that worse.

MyBlog and many Solomon Islander must have thought tsunami only happened in other countries. But the truth is that it can happen in other parts of the world.


Say a prayer for the victims of the disaster.

....and Shalom.