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No home for football

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Lawson Tama Stadium. Photo supplied.

SIFF handed short term lease

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

THE iconic Lawson Tama Stadium will likely no longer be termed as the Home of Football in the Solomon Islands.

This was after negotiations between the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and the Honiara City Council to renew the federations’ lease on the stadium did not work out in football’s favor.

According to SIFF reports, the Lawson Tama will no longer be called the ‘home of football’ because of the council’s lease termination end of last year.

While the HCC, the Solomon Islands Football Federation’s and TSL board had met twice early this month, the only agreement the parties have reached was for SIFF and the TSL Board to complete matches for Round 2 of the 2020-2021 seasons of the premier league.

Parties involved have already drafted a short term Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), an agreement between HCC and SIFF’s TSL board to regulate football and continue to use the iconic ground to complete the TSL matches, which resumes this weekend.

The short term Lawson Tama proposed deal settlement has left SIFF with limited options but to seek compensation from HCC for the developments done at the stadium over the years.

A SIFF well-informed insider revealed to SunSPORTS that the football governing body will no longer challenge the contract on legal grounds.

However said SIFF will be seeking compensation from the HCC for previous development the federation had done at the stadium.

“HCC termination of the lease agreement is final. SIFF cannot challenge it, legally it has been reached and by a way of compensating the developments that have already been taking place at the stadium is the forthcoming option for SIFF,” he said.

SIFF President Willie Lai when contacted regarding the issue says they are hoping for the national government to intervene since the country’s number one sport will be without a standard stadium within two years – pending on construction of the new football home at the former ROC Taiwan farm at King George by end of the year 2022.

“We have worked towards everything for Lawson Tama stadium to get things done, and unfortunately our negotiations didn’t work out in football’s favor,” Mr. Lai admits.

“Ultimately, we are seeking the government’s assistance.

This setback means, organized national football competitions apart from TSL, SIFF will have to look for alternatives.

 “Lawson Tama has been a global highlight of Honiara City and it has been a commercial site because of football,” Lai adds.

HCC ceased the lease agreement on 31st December 2020 citing there was no record of MOU backdated to 2017 when the lease has lapsed and also accusing SIFF of not living up to their end of the deal of allowing other sports or activities to take place within the stadium. 

The original agreement between SIFF and HCC was on a four years term, and unlikely there are no plans for its renewal for football as HCC wants it to be a multi-sporting venue.

Government to establish new Bill

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Chairperson for NHA and Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr Jimmie Rodgers.


BY BEN BILUA


THE government is in an initial stage of drafting a new legislation that will provide legal provisions in times of Pandemic.Final consultation will be held on the third week of this month and third week of February since the idea was established late last year.


Speaking during the Talk Back Show over the weekend, Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Jimmy Rogders said the government will bring in provincial leaders to be part of the final consultation and at the same time crafting the Bill.


He also said that the government will present the Bill to Parliamentary Opposition group for inputs so that both parties are on the same page in the development of the Bill.


Dr Jimmy said the final draft will be completed by the end of February before submission to the Parliament Bill’s Committee on first week of March 2021.


He said the Bill will replace the powers and discretion currently exercised under the State Of Public Emergency (SOPE) if passed in parliament.


Dr Jimmy said powers and discretion under SOPE will expire on 24th of March as such supporting the Bill is important to maintain efforts against COVID-19.

HIGH FAIL RATE

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Mavis Podokolo
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Only 838 pass to Form 7 out of 4,494 students

EIGHTY-ONE percent of form-six students who sat for the 2020 final-year examinations did not make it to form-seven.

This was despite the examination offered at a ‘moderate’ difficulty level, ministry of education says.

John Liliu, manager for National Education Assessment Division (NEAD) Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) in an interview yesterday said this means the transition rate for form-six to seven is 19 percent of the 4494 ‘this means only 19 percent are qualified to form seven’.

“This year’s result revealed that 81 percent of students which is equivalent to 3657 were not be able to get a placement in form seven.

“My advice is we have other options on other organisations and intuitions like the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and of course the University of South Pacific (USP) centre.

“I want to request our good students in the country this is not the end, there is more opportunities out there and I would like to encourage you continue strive.

“We have a lot of organisations who will provide space for you to excel further in your education,” he said.

Mr Liliu said having less students getting into form seven is a ‘long time issue’, even before covid-19.

He adds that for this year’s results it is also believed that covid-19 is an exacerbating factor to this matter.

“However, speaking of coivd-19 situation in terms of preparedness on examination coverage the level of difficulties on examinations this year is moderate.

“We actually scale the difficulty level, I think it is the most easiest examination students and teachers come across, because we actually mapped out in terms of the preparedness of school.

“For instance, some schools have classes only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays so in terms of coverage it will not really in depth.

“Because of those factors we came up with a paper that its difficulty level is just moderate. It is risk to lower it because students would not be able to critical in their thinking,” said Liliu.

He said the ministry has a responsible division who will work to consider the drop-out students as this is an issue the government needs to address for the citizens to avoid causing of social issues in the society.

“As responsible body we make sure to provide the avenue for them for senior secondary expansion the government has its plan,” said Liliu.

Gov’t remain committed to prevent spread of covid-19

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Mavis Podokolo
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THE Solomon Islands Government has stressed that it remains committed in implementing strict measures to prevent further potential importation and spread of covid-19.

According to the National Disaster Council report it stressed that the government remains loyal to implement strict measures to stop covid-19 spreading.

“Priority is to ensure a zero covid-19 community transmission. The country is currently being successful in containing the disease in the quarantine stations,” the report said.

The statement adds Solomon Islands has so far recorded 17 Covid-19 cases.15 have recovered (returned negative test results). Total number of active cases to date stands at 2 and all positive cases are monitored on a daily basis at the Central field hospital.

“Formerly positive cases who have been released after meeting health requirement are being traced by the MHMS, however, two have been noted to have gone off the reach of the contact tracing team from the MHMS,” the report said.

Forms 4 and 6 placements to be released today

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Barnabas Manebona
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Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Education, James Bosamata

FROMS ‘Four and Six’ national examination placements will be declared today and released to the public.

Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) Mr James Bosamata updated this during yesterday’s first 2021 Coronavirus (Covid-19) ‘Talk-Back’ Show.

Form ‘Six’ results or in other words Form ‘Seven’ placements for 2021 according to Mr Bosamata will be released on Wednesday January 20.

“On exam results, as we already know, Year Seven or Form One placement, we already released them on Thursday and Friday last week. That one is already done,” said Bosamata.

“Forms Three and Five results or in other words Forms Four and Six placements, we will release or declare them tomorrow [today Monday], and it should be released to the public.

“Form Six results or in other words Form Seven placements for 2021, we will release them on Wednesday January 20. That is for examination results.”

MEHRD’s update comes as good news for parents anticipating national examination results of 2020 for 2021.

Logger turns on other loggers

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Eddie Osifelo
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ORION Limited Managing Manager, Chan Chee Min has questioned the “tactics” and “ploys” employed by some logging companies operating in the country to export logs overseas.

Chan gave examples of companies like FR Resources, ES Suba Enterprise Limited, Bulacan International Limited and Price Word Product (PWP) Limited, who are members of Solomon Forest Association (SFA).

He said FR Resources allegedly operated illegally under ES Suba Enterprises Limited felling licence Number A101639 on Lot 32 on Kubongava customary land in South West Choiseul.

Chan said FR Resources fell and exported 7,000 cubic meters of logs through Bulacan International Limited on November 2018.

This despite an existing High Court Injunction Orders under HCCC 246 of 2018 over the land was in place.

He said Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries in conjunction with ES Suba Enterprises Limited have allegedly fraudulently obtained felling licence number A101639 covering Lot 32 as well.

Chan alleged the proceeds from the shipment of the 7,000 cubic meters was released by Consent Order, but landowners Billy Tudubatu said he did not sign any consent Order.

He said it was understood that the Consent Order was allegedly signed by the Attorney General Chambers.

“This matter needs to be investigated into as it involves the Attorney General Chambers,” he said.

Island Sun understand former Attorney General James Apaniai had left the office in October 2018.

He was replaced by current Attorney General John Muria Junior.

The paper contacted Apaniai for verification but he could not answer his phone.

Furthermore, Chan said FR Resources made a deal to acquire a SFA member company, PWP.

He said it is public knowledge within the logging industry that PWP was acquired at a price tag of SBD $2 million.

PWP was owned by a Malaysian logging company that had a short logging operation in the Solomon Islands.
Records shows that PWP was alleged to be involved in certain unprecedented practices.

The owner of PWP sold the entire entity, properties, sawmill at Noro, Western Province and licence in a “lot stock and barrel” to Samlimsan (SI) Ltd.

Samlimsan (SI) Ltd then sold PWP to two Malaysian logging owners.

PWP is currently operating on Subavalu customary land in South West Choiseul under felling licence A101851 without going through the Timber Rights acquisition procedures.

Chan said the same felling license A101851 was issued to Subavalu Community Investment Limited.

“This is the second time because Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (Company) Limited acquired the first felling licence number A10820,” he said.

“All the connections are being established.

“This can easily prove that SFA is working a conspiracy of a scam under the pretext of Legal Notice 114 of 2007 or at least it has a characteristic of a cartel,” he alleged.

Chan was trained in the public accountant, auditing, tax evasion investigation and corporate management environment.

He has worked in the Solomon Islands logging industry since 1988 and is very familiar to the system.

ONE BUT ‘LANGI’

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Technical advisor to Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Dr Yogesh Choudri

Government to apply for covid-19 vaccine today for only 0.25 percent of country’s population

BY BEN BILUA

THE hype over covid-19 vaccine dies as reality sinks in with the possibility that Solomon Islands may only get enough vaccines for 0.25 percent of the population.

Government is reportedly submitting an application to COVAX today for this.

This may mean that only the front-liners and those immediately exposed to covid-19 while performing their jobs as well as patients with covid-19 will be the first to be immunised.

This is for the first batch of vaccines, and the rest of the population will have to wait longer for the next batches, which no one knows when we will receive them.

Previous reports said the country was expecting enough vaccines to cater for 20 percent of the population, but this changed last week.

Speaking during the talkback show at the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) yesterday, Dr Yogesh Choudri, advisor to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) said the government through MHMS will submit an application to COVAX today for the vaccines.

The application is for vaccine enough to immunise 0.25 percent of the country’s population.

“We made the application to COVAX last month………last week under the first roll out of COVAX, they (COVAX) will give us enough vaccine to immunise 0.25 percent of the total population.

“We will submit the application to COVAX tomorrow (today),” he said.

Mr Choudri explained that the process to get the vaccines takes time and whatever feedback depends entirely on COVAX.

“So, we have to make the application……we may get the vaccine or we may not get the vaccine is not confirmed yet, but we are making all the plans so that when we receive the vaccine, we will able to immunise the people,” he said.

Choudri said that there is another issue that needs to be addressed before the vaccine reached the country.

He said the vaccine has to be stored at minus 70 degree Celsius.

“We don’t have minus 70-degree facility right now in Solomon Islands, so it will pose us operational challenges but we are getting ready for the actual advancement once we receive the vaccine,” Choudri said.

He said Solomon Islands government is one of the recipients under the COVAX mechanism of World Health Organisation (WHO).

Choudri explained that COVAX is a mechanism that has been set up by WHO, UNICEF, GAVI to supply vaccines to countries on an equitable basis.

He said the vaccine consideration is Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine which has been used all over the world.

In the meantime, Choudri said his team is having discussions with bilateral donors to supply extra vaccine.

He adds that his team is also monitoring the side effect of the vaccine to identify potential mitigation mechanism before immunisation rolls out.

ESP funding exhausted is ‘false’: Dentana

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Dentana
Permanent Secretary for Finance McKinnie Dentana.

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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

MINISTRY of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) Permanent Secretary (PS) McKinnie Dentana said information that the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) funding being exhausted is not ‘true’.

The PS said that information is basically false and produced by irresponsible reporting, explaining that the ESP is funding they ring-fenced.

Since the establishment of the ESP, Mr Dentana said they have secured funding through bilateral partners as well as raising local financing.

“Clarification regarding wrong information on ESP, the most recent information is the funding that is exhausted. That information is basically false, and produced by an irresponsible reporter. I want to make it clear that as we have previously always said, funding of ESP is funding that we ring-fenced,” said Dentana.

“Since the establishment of the ESP, we have secured funding through bilateral partners as well as raising local financing.
“And one correction I want to make as well is some reporters say the funding comes through taxes and duties from Inland Revenue. That is totally wrong information as well. No ESP funding comes from government revenue through domestic raised tax or duties. Funding for ESP is mainly from bilateral partner donor support plus resources the government raise domestically.

“That is information I want to make clear that confuses people.”

Ministry clarifies cessation of salaries of 484 teachers

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UP to 484 teachers have had their salaries affected or ceased in December last year because they have been paid against incorrect pay-points and wrong position numbers.

That’s according to the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development.

These were discovered during a verification exercise the ministry conducted in close cooperation with education authorities during a workshop in Honiara last month.

“According to the Teaching Service Division who led the verification exercise, 484 teachers were identified to have been paid against incorrect pay-points and wrong position numbers in 2020,” the ministry said in a statement yesterday.

“These were teachers who may have moved during the 2019 and 2020 period, from the Education Authority they were initially serving under, to another Education Authority, without being released or having a contract (appointments) signed with their new Education Authority, but continued to draw their salaries under their previous Education Authorities’ teaching positions,” the statement said.

“Transfer of teachers from a school under an Education Authority and who wish to teach to another school the following year, under the receiving Education Authority must be formalised in terms of their contracts, grade level and position numbers, which are requirements stipulated in the Teaching Service Handbook.

“An example would be John Blogg Gili (a pseudo name) – a teacher who taught at a school under an Education Authority in 2020.

“Mr Gili left his old school at the end of 2019 and was teaching in 2020 (through his own arrangement) at another school operated by another Education Authority.

“The receiving Education Authority did not arrange a contract for Mr Gili, nor was the Teaching Service Division informed of the transfer that had taken place and so Mr Gili was teaching at the school in 2020 operated by the receiving Education Authority.

“His salary was paid under the arrangements under his previous contract.

“The majority of teachers who had their salaries ceased during the month of December 2020 were of the same nature as Mr Gili.

“The teachers had their salaries ceased so that the problems identified could be rectified and properly formalised.”

The statement said as of Tuesday 12 January 2021, the Teaching Service Division has received names of 133 teachers from the Education Authorities, whom Education Authorities have identified to have been teaching under their Authority but with wrong position numbers.

“These teachers have had their salaries reinstated with their correct positions under their correct schools and should be receiving their salaries this fortnight.

“The rest of the teachers whose salaries were ceased are yet to be identified by their respective Education Authorities and it is assumed that a few of them could be ghost teachers.

“The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development is pleased with the outcome of the verification exercise because it has yielded positive outcomes.

“Firstly, names of the teachers (whose salaried were ceased) were identified and corrected their right/correct Education Authority and schools they were teaching at in 2020.

“These teachers have been teaching illegally under those Education Authorities they were serving under in 2019 and 2020 – meaning without contracts/and formal appointment.

“Secondly, the Ministry has reduced the cost of teacher payroll, by acting on the discrepancies identified during the teacher verification exercise.

“And potential ghost teachers could have been found and removed – this will be confirmed by the Teaching Service Division in due course.

“Finally, the Teaching Service Division will continue to monitor teacher deployment and to rectify any discrepancies that may arise this year, in terms of the contracts and registration details especially for those teachers that are expected to move from one school/Education Authority to another school/Receiving Education Authority.

“The Ministry appeals to all Education Authorities to supply to the Teaching Service Division correct information of their teachers, especially for the 2021 teacher postings, not later than the end of February 2021 so that a thorough check could be made and to confirm their movement.

“Also current work is concentrating mainly on the payroll of teachers with the aim to consolidate data and once postings are received will clean up the data to ensure that no ghost teachers exist in the teaching workforce.

“The verification exercise is conducted on a yearly basis to ascertain the teaching workforce and to remove ghost teachers.”

–MEHRD PRESS

Reactivated covid case tests negative

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Mavis Podokolo
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Cubicles inside the field hospital. Photo by Mavis Nishimura Podokolo

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Solomon student in the Philippines who had covid, then recovered, and got re-infected with covid-19 has tested negative.

The student had covid-19 while in the Philippines. He later recovered and passed tests with negative results before being repatriated back to the Solomons.

However, he tested positive for covid upon arrival here and was isolated. He now enjoys a covid-free status having tested negative after isolation.

This was confirmed in the Situation Report No 26 issued by the National Health Emergency Operation Center (NHEOC) 

“One of the students that arrived from the Philippines and was positive from COVID-19 while in the Philippines and turned negative for almost two months before his repatriation, reactivated after arrival to be transiently positive and has now turned negative again.

The person was previously positive for COVID-19 in the Philippines in September 2020 so cannot so cannot be considered as a new case. His subsequent tests results have turned negative,” the report said.

The report mentioned that Under international protocol, this case had been recorded against the Philippines, and therefore it does not increase the number of recorded positive COVID-19 cases in the country.

“This is the reason our domestic cases remain at 17 cases registered against Solomon Islands. To date out of the 17 registered positive cases, only 2 remain active. All others have returned to negative,” the report said.

Further to that the situation report said as of 3rd of January 2021, the COVID-19 Central Field Hospital received its first group of occupants.

“Central Field Hospital formerly known as the Multi-Purpose Hall on the 3rd of January. 1 from the NRH isolation and two from the Acer quarantine station. One of them has now tested negative thus leaving only two of the three in the Central Field Hospital still positive.

All remain asymptomatic. Following the transfer of positive cases to the Central Field Hospital, the NRH Isolation wards 1 and 2 are now empty and will undergo routine maintenance and urgent upgrades to ensure workflow meets IPC requirements. It will also ensure that work on the previous TB ward can start to make an isolation unit in the hospital,” the report said.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare when delivering his national address on Monday also reiterated that this student had arrived from the Philippines and who was tested positive for COVID-19 while in the Philippines detected negative for two months before his repatriation has reactivated after arrival and has now turned negative.

Sogavare said that this case does not increase the country’s count as it was recorded against the Philippines under international protocols.

He adds a very small proportion of infected people that had become negative, can reactivate.

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