River bank settlements pollute streams
THE Chief Elder of WAIBA Association of West Wainoni in Central Makira, Pastor Gabriel Surare said many rivers and streams in the area which people have used for drinking and cooking for years, are now polluted as settlements have been established along their banks.
He made the claim at a handover ceremony of 37 boreholes September 4, 2021 for communities in the area of West Wainoni in Makira Ulawa Province which have been drilled by the Clean Water for Life Ministry.
Pastor Surare said people no longer use the rivers and streams for hygienic reasons.
But he described the Borehole Project as the best development for “our communities as people have access once again to good clean water, adding the benefits will be enjoyed for life”.
Pastor Surare said many leaders focus on big projects that stimulate economic developments, but if there is no water where the developments take place, life can be miserable and un-enjoyable.
He said some commentators have rated Makira Ulawa Province as under the Poverty Line of the World’s Poverty, but “our people are still alive and healthy, adding economically, the claim may be true, but when it comes to water, we are blessed with running rivers, streams, creeks and daily rain-falls”.
Pastor Surare said water is a commodity often ignored, but for West Wainoni Ward 12 communities, the Clean Water for Life Ministry, led by its Director, Pastor Rick Rupp and his team must be thanked for drilling the 37 boreholes which will provide clean water.
Kahia: Borehole water sources safe, clean
BOREHOLE water sources are safe and clean for drinking and cooking for people in villages in Makira Island in the Makira Ulawa Province than surface water sources.
The Treasurer of the West Wainoni Council of Women, Evalyn Kahia made the claim at a handover ceremony of 37 boreholes drilled by the Clean Water for Life Ministry, a Christian Mission to village representatives at the Wainoni Catholic Mission Station in Central Makira September 4, 2021.
She said with the logging of Makira forests, there is high chance of the people’s drinking and cooking water from surface water sources being polluted, adding the situation could get worse when nickel mining prospecting is carried out in parts of Makira anytime soon.
Ms Kahia said in terms of safe and clean drinking water, “our future is at stake, therefore Non-Government-Organizations such as Clean Water for Life Ministry, and the National and Provincial Governments must address the rural communities’ clean water needs”.
She said to guarantee water from boreholes are 100-percent safe and clean, Clean Water for Life Ministry sells Sawyer Water Filters to interested people.
Ms Kahia said the filter removes all harmful water borne diseases that carry bacteria and micro- organisms.
She said the availability of safe and clean drinking water is a prerequisite to healthy rural community settings, proper sanitation and better food production opportunities, therefore “we must take the advice of applying 250ml of Bleach into the boreholes every month to ensure the continuous supply of safe and clean drinking water.
“And people must look after their boreholes”.
Ms Kahia emphasized water is life, but where there is insufficient of it, life can be extremely challenging or difficult, especially as when personal hygiene and ascertaining clean kitchen utensils, clothes, homes, environment and sanitation, are compromised.
She said although there are plenty of surface water sources, most of them are unsafe and unclean for drinking and other general purposes.
Ms Kahia sited the most severely affected communities in terms of accessibility to safe and clean water in the West Wainoni area are Beina, Maniworasi, Naroro, Nahepe and Nagatogamatanga while the less affected are Nareke, Rahitoga and Weroke.
She commended the Clean Water for Life Ministry led by Pastor Rick Rupp whose vision and determination to help the needy especially women and children, had now ensured they have access to safe and clean water for drinking and cooking.
LO avails land for new Kira Kira ablution
PROVINCIAL capital of Makira-Ulawa province, Kira Kira will soon have a new ablution block erected within the vicinity of the township.
Premier of Makira Ulawa Province, Julian Maka’a says landowner Edna Sitai who owns a piece of land adjacent to the Kira Kira Market has agreed an ablution block for Kira Kira Township can be built there.
He says in Kira Kira, the Provincial Capital of Makira Ulawa Province that Mrs Sitai has sincerely apologized to him for stopping her piece of land from the Provincial Government to build the ablution block.
Premier Maka’a says after apologizing, Mrs Sitai pledged her strong support for all the Provincial Government’s development projects including the construction of the ablution block.
“Yes, she agreed to my Government’s desire to build the ablution block for Kira Kira Township”, he says.
Meanwhile, the Province’s Provincial Capacity Development Advisor, Commins Ikioa says the ablution block will contain separate shower and toilet rooms for men and women as well as hand washing basins.
But while full details are yet to be made available, Kira Kira residents, Kira Kira Market vendors, operators of kaikai places at the Rain-Tree Area, shop-keepers and visitors from other parts of the Province and Honiara will no doubt welcome the good news.
These people have expressed their views in the Honiara-based newspapers and the SIBC.
