Finance minister Kuma says ‘glimmer of hope at end of tunnel’

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTER of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma says there is glimmer of hope despite the challenges the country faces in economic, social and health issues due to the impact of covid-19.

Speaking on the sine die motion in Parliament yesterday, Kuma said despite all the abnormalities; the severity of covid 19, the harsh economic environment, challenging fiscal position of the Government and offensive public trial prosecuted by social media, there is hope and glimmer of positive indicators.

He makes reference to the fact they have a healthy foreign reserve level, kept inflation at a manageable level, continue to enjoy a sustainable debt position, agriculture production boosted, and log production although low continues to provide the life blood of government finance.

Furthermore, Kuma said despite an array of regulatory reforms, they must accomplish, their international competiveness and investor profile is stable according to Moddy’s recent release of a B3 Stable annual rating.

He said this is positive news for the government and this simply means that our country is still open for business and investment.

“Let me take this time to commend my Ministry for its stringent adherence to ensuring that the government’s debt burden remains low and upheld by our strict Debt Management Strategy,” he said.

In addition, Kuma said global economy is expected to rebound with a 5.2 percent growth in 2021 at the back of improved economic performance mainly from advanced economies.

He said the economies of Spain and Italy that have suffered terribly during Covid-19 are rebounding.

“These two European countries are our primary importers of fisheries, especially fish loin exports to Italy, and sea food to Spain, accounting for some eight percent of our total merchandise exports.”

Moreover, Kuma said since growth in China is projected to rise from 1.9 percent in 2020 to 8.2 percent in 2021, this is a strong and positive sign for our country given that China is our biggest trading partner and importer of logs.

“Even during declining commodity prices, a surge in China’s growth will have an impact on our economy, especially our round log exports.

“Our log volumes are projected to rise from 2.2 million cubic metres in 2020 and expected to slow down to around 2 million cubic meters in 2021 although this is likely to change with the current developments and demand from China,” he said.

Kuma said China alone accounts for two-thirds (or close to average $3 billion) of all our merchandise exports.

“However, any increased Covid-19 pressures in China will obviously have negative effects on demand for our logs with drastic flow on effects on our fiscal revenue, and growth in other interconnected sectors,” he said.

TWO overseas yachts that entered the country illegally have been seized and detained by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and Customs authorities and they are now anchored outside Customs House in Point Cruz.

In a media statement yesterday, Officer of the Prime Minister said, “At 5pm yesterday, the RSIPF headquarters received reports from their staff at Aola village in East-Central Guadalcanal and members of the community at Aola about two yachts that had anchored at Paralau Island just outside Aola village.

It was reported some individuals approached one of the yachts and asked for fuel so they could patrol the area to keep an eye on the yachts.

The RSIPF dispatched MV Gizo with a team comprising members of the Maritime Police, Customs, Immigration, and Health, to investigate the reported entry of the yachts, and to detain and escort the yachts to Honiara for further investigations.

One of the yachts is called ROCKE HULL, and three crew members were sighted on it – one male and two females. The other yacht is called OCEANIS 473, and one male crew was sighted on it.

The two yachts arrived at Point Cruz at around midday today under Police escort. A boarding party will board both yachts, to deliver to the respective captains their breach and detention notices. Each of the crew members will be swabbed and tested for Covid-19.

Once the covid-19 test results are known, orders will be made to disembark the crew members, who will then undergo mandatory quarantine at government approved quarantine stations at their own cost.

As part of the precautionary measures, Police and health authorities at Aola village have been advised to inform all the individuals that had approached the yachts while they anchored at Paralau island, to maintain social distancing and to not interact with any other members of the Aola Community until the results of the covid-19 tests on the crews are known, and they are advised on further measures to be taken.

Investigations have already commenced to establish the reasons for their illegal entry as well as on any covid-19 related breaches the crew may have committed.

Investigations are also being undertaken at Aola, just to ensure we have full knowledge of everything that transpired between the boats, their crews and the people that went to one of the yachts to ask for fuel because COVID-19 can be transferred through goods touched by infected individuals.

These two yachts have broken several laws in our country by entering without approval during our ‘State of Public Emergency’.

Members of the public and communities are advised not to engage with any foreign vessel that may come to your area or their crew because they could be a huge risk to your communities if the crew are infected by COVID-19 or any other disease.

We will update you on developments on this case as it progresses.”

–OPMC PRESS

It will come into effect soon: Shanel

BY CHARLES KADAMANA

GOVERNMENT has maintained its decision to temporarily suspend access to Facebook while exploring ways to regulate it.

This was officially confirmed by Minister of Communication and Aviation Peter Shanel Agovaka in a press conference at Paul Tovua complex yesterday.

He said the timeline as to when it will come into effect will base on recommendation from Cybersecurity and Information Security Working group.

“Once we receive the advice, we will come on air to announce it,” he said.

The working group comprises of Attorney General’s chamber, Government ICT team, Ministry of Communication and Aviation and the Prime Minister’s office.

Shanel highlighted that the government has always held the position that the unregulated use of Facebook in the country is a potential threat to the public security, public safety, and public morality.

Some of the reasons Minister Agovaka used to justify the temporary suspension of Facebook are;

1. Facebook is a platform for misinformation

2. Facebook incites violence and hatred towards leaders

3. Facebook being used for Racial abuse and bullying

4. Facebook being used for Discrimination

5. Facebook minority users have negatively affected the majority

6. Facebook advance unlawful activities.

He said having seriously considered these the government decided to temporarily suspend Facebook in the country.

He said this will allow policy and law makers to explore ways to regulate its use so that individuals can be held accountable for what they say in the social media platform.

He said this will ensure that those administer pages are also accountable for the comments and postings of others on their forums or chat groups.

He said the temporary suspension will be lifted after the passage and implementation of legislation requiring the compulsory registration of all sim cards.

He said his ministry is now nearing the completion of a draft bill to amend the Telecommunication Act requiring the compulsory registration of all sim card.

“This is a step towards ensuring that persons using telecommunication services can be held accountable for their actions.

“Sim registration is vital component of telecommunication in the digital era.

“The re-opening of Facebook will be considered after the passage and implementation of this legislation or if circumstances change,” he said.

In a case where Facebook users bypass the restriction during the temporary suspension period the government will seek legal advice from the Attorney General.

He also explains that Facebook throughout the world ride on the spectrum of telecommunication operators.

“For us in Solomon Islands Facebook and other social media platform ride on the spectrum of Telekom so in a sense they don’t have frequency license.

He said the other thing is Facebook don’t have business licence, it is operating out of legality business of our country.

He added that the government also find it difficult to tax Facebook because they use our airspace and these are some of the technical issues the public need to know.

In terms of how the suspension will affects the fundamental rights and freedoms he said the fundamental rights and freedoms are not absolute.

He said the constitution while recognizing that freedom of expression also provides that this freedom must not be used among others, defame others and incites hatred.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

TWO key ministries are tasked to develop a resettlement policy for residents of low lying atolls and artificial islands highly vulnerable to climate change.

They are the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology and Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey.

Environment Minister, Dickson Mua revealed this during his sine die motion speech in Parliament yesterday.

He said work on it is supported by the International Organisation for Migration and had started.

Mua said this year it met some setbacks with covid 19 but it will be progressed further in 2021 and this should guide the resettlement work that will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands.

“We are fighting climate change thus trying to convince the High Emitting states or powers worldwide.

“As the Opposition Leader alluded to ‘to many international meetings’ with no action. Sir, we are pursuing the big emitters during those international meetings,” he said.

Mua said as small island states it’s a real threat being experienced.

He said since the first Conference of Parties (COP) meeting multilateral processes are not welcoming.

“So much so that we lost confidence in the processes,” he added.

 “This morning sir through virtual meeting again we utter our concern on such.”

Minister Mua said as a country it’s about time we promote renewable energy.

He said nature plays a very important role thus preserving of our forests is important.

“Let’s also preserve our mangroves which is the breeding place for our seafood and helps reduce or stops coastal erosion,” he said.