Home Blog Page 1019

Manetiva clarifies ‘questionable payments’

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
-
0
Premier of Central Islands Province, Stanley Manetiva

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE Premier of Central province has clarified accusations of possible conflict of interest under his leadership in regards to payments being made to fuel depots owned by provincial workers.

 The accusations against the premier stemmed from a 2019/20 audit report that highlighted substantial payments of around $400,000 of provincial funds being made to fuel depots owned by two senior employees of the province.

The accusations against the premier and his executive was posted on the ‘Ngella Forum’ facebook page, attracting a heated debate, with many labelling it as conflict of interest.

The 2019/20 report highlighted the following:

“Stonewall enterprise owned by the treasurer was paid $234.565 for fuel from the provincial funds.

“Rocky Enterprise owned by the senior treasurer was being paid $164.175 for fuel from the provincial funds.

But in response, Premier Stanley Manetiva confirmed that they have been taking fuel from the mentioned depots.

He said the Central Provincial Government gets fuel from fuel depots on a credit basis for 2-3 months and has happened on financial years in the past, not just 2019/2020.

 He said fuel depots in Tulagi are all eligible to supply fuel to the Central Provincial Governments as long as they accept that credit be paid after 2- 3 months.

He said the figure shown in the report is in terms of gross, but what the depot earns daily is for the depot owners to calculate as profit earned on their daily sales.

“That is done over 2-3 months. Credits on fuel are not allowed by fuel depots in Tulagi township because they will fail to replace stock and rather do their sales on a cash basis.

“Related parties are not a hidden agenda here,” he added.

“It has been made known to the auditors who supplied the fuel and who owns the said depots,” he said.

“My government is being blamed for corrupting the Central provincial government.”

“For me as premier, I was elected in June 2019, and just to remind the people of Central province that this was also done in the past, with former Provincial Governments, so it has been ongoing.”

The report also made mention that despite high-payouts to the two companies, a payment for fuel to the MPA for Central East Ngella was only $2,500 for fuel from his depot.

Commentators are calling on the Premier to do the right thing and call all those responsible to be held accountable.

Garo rubbishes report over beetle invasion on noni

Written by
Admin
-
0
Chairman of the Northwest Guadalcanal Subsitence Farmers Association-Bernard Garo show off his noni plantation. Photo by Charles Kadamana

BY BEN BILUA

CHAIRMAN of the North West Guadalcanal Subsistence Farmers Association (NWGSFA), Bernard Garo has rubbished reports of Rhinoceros beetle eating noni fruits, describing it to be unfounded and misleading.

He made the statement in response to a report in the Solomon Star which reported that Rhinoceros beetle is attacking the noni industry on Guadalcanal.

In an interview with this paper yesterday, Mr Garo said the report goes beyond common sense so as scientific understanding and that it needs to be scrutinised.

He said as a farmer himself, with over 15,000 Noni plants in his farm, at no stage has he spotted or sighted the Rhinoceros Beetle eating noni fruits, since he went into noni farming, three years ago.

“I have over 15,000 noni plants that are close to my old coconut plantations, which the beetle has already destroyed, but I have not seen any beetle invaded my noni plantation. I have Rhinoceros flying around my farm but as I’ve said, not at one stage have I seen this beetle eating my noni fruits,” Garo said.

“I know and have seen the betel attack coconuts, palm oil and sego palm but not noni,” he adds.

Garo fears that the report is only intended to scam money from the government while at the same time ruin farmers’ efforts to promote the noni industry in the country.

“I’m dumbfounded at this propaganda, as there is no scientific proof that the Rhinoceros beetle can eat noni fruit.

“I want to believe that this is an act that has some intentions. What if the photos were staged or the Rhinoceros beetle was just resting on the fruit?” he said.

Garo went to say that Mr Simon Chottu should have consulted the Ministry of Agriculture for explanation before going into the media as such report can tarnish the image of the country’s noni industry at the international market.

Garo is worried because this news in the Solomon Star is causing confusion to their noni farmers, and have been calling him for confirmation on the so-called report.

Mrs Mary Korina who owns 1,500 noni trees at Bonege, Mrs Regina Levi who owns 500 noni plants at Betikama, Mr Stanley Bogese who owns 1,500 noni plants at Chapuru area and Mr John Brobee Sugar Jnr who owns 2,000 noni plants at NGalidava area, all shared similar sentiments saying that at no stage have they seen the Rhinoceros Beetle eat their noni plants and fruits, since they entered into noni farming three years ago.

“No such thing has happened to our farms to date,” the farmers said.

Seeing that the report had also put Northwest Guadalcanal constituency under the spotlight, Constituency Development Officer, Junior Suga shared that he was also feeling the pressure of this report as people have been calling his office about it.

He said these concerned people are not just noni farmers, but are also constituents of the Northwest Guadalcanal constituency, and it is worrying that Solomon Star has allowed for such a misleading report to be published when it has no scientific data or statistics to prove its claim.

“As CDO, constituent/farmers have called me about the report and have also confirmed that the rhino beetle is true to have destroyed a lot of their palm plantations, which includes beetle nut palm, coconut, sego palm and other palm trees, but are surprised with the report, adding that they too have not seen any invasion of the beetle on their noni plantations.

Suga said their people have expressed these worries over the report because if true, the initiative created by their Member of Parliament with the noni industry might end, causing a huge setback on what many of them have described as a blessing of an opportunity to earn easy money.

When contacted yesterday, an officer within the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock explained that such report needs to be verified before going into the media.

The officer adds that Rhinoceros beetles only feed on palm trees and soft palm for their nectars and not on fruits that have ripened.

“From scientific research, this pest feed on palms like coconut, palm oil, sago palm, betel nuts and other related plants, but no mentions of noni,” the officer said.

Police probe CID Max’s dealings

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0
Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

POLICE are currently investigating the so-called Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer, Max, from Tikopia who approached Orion Limited Chan Chee Min with the idea to reconcile with Solomon Forest Association.

Commissioner Mostyn Mangau told journalists yesterday that police are conducting inquiry into the matter.

However, Mangau did not give further details of the inquiry.

Chan Chee Min claimed he received a call on Tuesday, February 2 at 16.09pm from a person introducing himself as Max, a CID officer from Rove Police Headquarters.

“CID Max insisted meeting me to get details and information for his meeting in the next morning, Wednesday 3rd February on articles published in the Island Sun Newspaper,” he said.

“CID Max claims that it is important that he must meet me immediately,” Min added.

“When CID Max arrived at my office, I believe him as from Tikopia because of his Polynesian by his light skin texture.

“CID Max asks me if I know Dickson Mua which I said the name sounds familiar, which the CID confirmed that he is the current Minister of Forest,” he said.

“CID Max went on and said the Minister of Forest wants to help me to solve my trouble with SFA.

“I immediately tell CID Max that I do not wish to get myself and my business involved in politics and politicians,” Min said.

“CID Max then continued to talk about hatred of Johnny Sy and the government.

“CID Max asked me where do I live/stay?, where do I go to eat your lunch?, how many people are working in the office?, how many of them are foreigners and how many are locals?, who do I stay with?, do you have any security at home?” Chan said.

“I have the conversation recorded by video cameras. Copies are made and are held by several parties, both local and overseas, if anything were to happen to me, the video will be released,” he said.

Furthermore, Min said on Thursday 4th February between 09.48am and 10.28am, he received two calls from two SFA members saying that their superiors requested them to relay messages to him.

“They said SFA wants to reconcile with me and I must go and meet the Minister of Forest.

“I paused the two SFA member and replied that I will meet with SFA if they want to meet me,” Chan said.

“That I will not go and meet the Minister of Forest.

“If there is any reason that the Minister of Forest wants to meet me, I expect it to be done officially, serving me letter or notice,” he said.

“Immediately after that, at 10.52am and 10.54am, I received two calls from ‘unknown number’, at 10.55am.

“I received two calls from CID (Max), I declined to answer any of those calls,” he said.

However, SFA has denied any attempts to reconcile with Orion’s Chan Chee Min.

A spokesman for SFA said SFA has nothing to reconcile over and its decision to terminate Orion Ltd.’s membership is simply to bring order and normality to the logging industry.

SFA de-registered Orion Ltd in 2017 on alleged non-compliance with regulations of the logging industry’s self-regulatory body.

Maki insists Mamae and Sore must step out

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0
City Mayor Wilson Mamae

By EDDIE OSIFELO

HONIARA resident Stephen Maki has provided legal documents yesterday to prove his call for City Mayor Wilson Mamae and Clerk, Rence Sore to resign.

The two documents are:

1.         Special Investigation Audit Report on the accounts and records of Honiara City Council by Auditor General Office; and

2.         Honiara City Council fraud, misconduct and misappropriation allegation produced by former Chairman in Finance, Billy Abae.

Maki said these are the two legal documents the Mayor asked him to produce to validate his allegation.

He accused Mamae of questioning the integrity of Auditor General Office and very defensive about his inability to run the City Council.

“What the current Council is doing is the continuing with the policy and programmes of last Council executive,” Maki said.

Maki said the auditor report highlighted fraudulent actions, abuse of power in office, illegal proceeding outside the legal process of the Financial Instruction, unauthorised payments without receipts and falsified documents to justify payments.

He said coupled with the report produced by Councillor Abae before he was sacked shows payments in the Council was done without the proper process.

For example, Maki alleged that $30,000 to $60,000 of the Council’s petty cash was paid out in a week.

Maki said this is the reason why he called on the Mayor and Clerk to resign to allow investigation to continue in order to restore integrity back into the Council.

Otherwise, he said the only solution is for the Minister of Home Affairs to dissolve the council.

However, Mayor Mamae lashed out at comments calling for the Clerk and him to resign for the sake of their integrity.

“I understand that the City Mayor can only be ousted by a Motion of No Confidence.

“City Clerk can only be removed by the Full Council,” he said.

However, Mamae was tight-lipped over the issues raised against the council.

These include the controversial fire extinguisher deal, the illegal $1.8 million borrowings, and other issues raised against his leadership.

Meanwhile, the Mayor has insisted that those who politicise the HCC saga and the desperate Stephen Maki to go to the Leadership Codes Commissioner with all their allegations.

He insisted that they have nothing to do with the issues raised.

Allocation of 108,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine confirmed

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
-
0
AstraZeneca vaccine. Photo by NDTV.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

DESPITE missing out on the Pfizer Vaccines for 0.25 percent of the country’s population, the COVAX Facility has confirmed allocation of an indicative number of 108,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his nationwide address this week updating on Covid-19 Vaccine update said the country hope to receive 40 percent of the doses during the 1st quarter of 2021, and the remaining 60 percent during the second quarter of 2021.

Preparations are well underway for the roll-out of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Solomon Islands according to the Prime Minister.

“Fellow citizens, the Oversight Committee together with the COVAX Coordinating Committee and the Technical Working Group on Vaccines hope to present our National COVID-19 Vaccination Policy and Implementation Plan to the Caucus and Cabinet next week for our consideration.

“Despite missing out on the Pfizer Vaccines for 0.25% of our population, I am pleased to inform you all that the COVAX Facility has confirmed the allocation of an indicative number of 108,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Solomon Islands.

“We hope to receive 40% of the doses during the 1st quarter of 2021, and the remaining 60% during the second quarter of 2021.

“I am pleased to inform you all that preparations are well underway for the roll-out of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Solomon Islands.

“The Ministry of Health has activated technical teams comprising of our very own health experts supported by our partners to coordinate and contribute to different aspects of the COVID-19 vaccination planning and delivery process.

“The government is also liaising with partners to secure additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines,” said Sogavare.

Solomon Islands to date has registered 18 positive Covid-19 cases.

‘Food security is easy to say than done’

Written by
Admin
-
0
Kastom Garden supervisor and trainer Esther Lodu (right) demonstrating how to cut the top of a yam for planting to guests during the launching of the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) and Kastom Garden Association partnership that aims to enhance food production and improve nutrition availability in the country. Photo by Charles Kadamana.

BY BEN BILUA

THE Minister of Agriculture for Guadalcanal Province, Daniel Besa’o says food security is an ongoing issue and efforts to address the issue has been lagging behind time.

He made the statement during the launching of partnership to improve food production and nutrition between Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Program (PHAMA) Plus and Kastom Garden Association (KGA) on Wednesday.

Hon Besa’o said food security has been one of the top agenda in national and provincial discussions but little has been done to address the issue.

“We can come in with a lot of money and ask people to do it or ask donor to do it but the issue keep popping up is lack of consistency.

“It’s easy to map out plans but getting to ground and do work is another story,” he said.

Hon Besa’o said the geographical setting of the country presents a huge challenge in the implementation of food security programs and that proper planning must be made taking into account the logistics to move around the provinces with needed activities.

He acknowledges KGA for its ongoing effort on seed saving and distributions to farmers as part of improving food security in the country.

Hon Besa’o said Seed Saving is the way forward to safe guide crops and vegetables from invasive pest and diseases so as help farmers to access better seedlings for better production.

“Having seed gene banks established in the provinces will boost food productions and also kept domestic crops and vegetables in a safer place during droughts or other disasters,” he said.

Hon Besa’o told those present that Guadalcanal provincial government is looking forward to work with KGA and PHAMA Plus to roll out the project.

Police’s burden

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0

1000-plus cases, RSIPF find difficulty in disposing high profile cases

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE two investigation departments with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) are finding it difficult to dispose high profile cases quickly.

This is because there are more than 1,000 cases before the National Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and 300-plus at the National Professional Standard Unit.

Commissioner of Police Mostyn Mangau said to investigate even one case is not easy because the officers have to get evidence to support the allegations.

Mangau said some of the evidences are also in the provinces so officers need to go out and collect them.

“For example, one officer has to deal with 64 cases,” Mangau told reporters yesterday.

“When the officer completes half of the cases, some more adds up on the pile of cases,” he added.

Further to that, Mangau said in terms of logging cases, police focus mainly on the criminal part of it.

He said there are other relevant laws that deal with logging like Forestry law and others.

“When we receive logging complaints, we need to analyse before getting approval from Director of Prosecution to proceed with the case,” he added.

Orion Limited General Manager, Chan Chee Min said he had submitted complaints against Solomon Forest Association (SFA) President Jonny Sy for a number of allegations in the logging industry to police last year, but still no outcome from their investigation.

Chan Chee Min accused the police of acting very slow in dealing with “big fish” like SFA leaders.

However, Mangau said police are very concerned about public confidence and trust in police when dealing with officers who break the law.

He said police have 1,500 officers and majority have done a good job to maintain the ethics of the force while only few have spoilt the reputation of the organisation.

Mid-week batter

Written by
Admin
-
0
Kossa FC player Dunstan Quanafia receives the ball and Malaita Kingz defender Joel Fakaia eying for the ball. PHOTO. CHARLES KADAMANA

KOSSA moves in 8th

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

KOSSA FC earned valuable points in a commanding fashion to hand Malaita Kings FC yet another nightmare in a 7-1 thrashing yesterday in the TSL mid-week fixture at Lawson Tama.

Both sides kicked off their campaign in the league for the first time this year – a test back competing after a long break.

With high pressing play at both ends from kickoff, it was KOSSA that capitalized on their opening chances with two early goals in the first 10’ minutes of play.

KOSSA’s speedster Harrison Mala scored a hat-trick before Robin Baewane pulling a goal back for Kings heading for the breather, 4-1 margin.

“It’s a good start for the year, the team is yet to back in full fitness but somehow managed to win,” says KOSSA FC head coach Fred Osifelo

“Today’s (yesterday) game is more like a training game because past weeks we did not have our regular training.

However, Osifelo banked on the experience of his attacking front which was obvious. Himson Teleda got on the score sheet before Dunstan Quanafia got his brace and a goal from left-back Alfie Chacha to step over Real Kakamora onto the 8th spot.

For Kings Head Coach Rence Talo there’s a lot to blame since his side had yet to register a point in the premier league since the start of the season.

“Our preparation for this game the bad weather is the main factor especially on our training venue and lack of attendance from the players throughout the past weeks,” Tala admitted.

Talo also blamed the inexperience of his players.

KOSSA FC this weekend takes on Real Kakamora to avoid the bottom standings, while Malaita Kings will have a week to settle before coming back against Kakamora on match week 19.

YWCA Girls Rise Up! changes Clera’s life

    Written by
    Admin
    -
    0
    Clera Tegu is now a confident young girl after joining the Girls Rise Up! program.

    CLERA Tegu is a 17 year-old girl from Makira Ulawa Province who says the Girls Rise Up! project “has changed my life.”

    Clera is one of over 200 young girls involved in the Girls Rise Up! project.

    Girls Rise Up! is led by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in partnership with CARE International and supported by Australia through the Pacific Girl program, managed by Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development (Pacific Women).

    It aims to develop the confidence, skills and knowledge of at-risk girls while helping them establish supportive peer networks and the opportunity to safely advocate for issues that affect them.

    Clera, who lives with her elder brother in Honiara, is a person who is deaf and now has a voice through sign language to advocate for other girls with disabilities, as a result of Girls Rise Up!.

    Her focus is on her abilities, especially since she attended a workshop for people with disabilities in 2018 where she met Stella Wai’oha,

    Girls Rise Up! mentor and Project Officer for People With Disabilities Solomon Islands (PWDSI). PWDSI is a Girls Rise Up! Partnership Stakeholder. 

    “There are many programs with Girls Rise Up! but I chose life skills. I attended Girls Rise Up! program in 2019 to 2020,” said Clera, relaying her story through an interpreter on how she was introduced to the program that has made such a significant and positive impact on her life.

    “I heard [about] the program from my mentor, Stella. Stella asked me to join Girls Rise Up! training and life skills workshops.”

    Clera was also supported by Diana Ma’ahoro, her training interpreter, who is a Project Assistant Officer with YWCA.

    She learned a lot through the life skills program such as how to make paper beads, dye lavalava plus make jewellery including the earrings, necklace and bangles she wears each day.

    “Marketing my products, I earned money that helped me to buy food, church offering and clothes,” Clera said.

    In sign language, Clera said she is very patient and humble. “My family communicates with me using verbal and I can read their lips,” she said through her interpreter.

    “I don’t learn any skills until I joined the Girls Rise Up! program and, as a deaf person, life skills has helped me. Attending trainings, I know that my actions speak louder.”

    “I know that standing here as a deaf person to show you that having many skills has changed my life and I can contribute to my family’s income.

    “My deaf motto: my hands are my mouth, my eyes are my ears.”

    Clera has been empowered with self-confidence and life skills by attending Girls Rise Up! and has also been recommended by her mentors to attend the Red Cross Special Disability Center in Honiara.

    Renbel premier ready for motion

    Written by
    Admin
    -
    0
    Premier of Rennell and Bellona Willie Tuhagenga

    BY BEN BILUA

    THE Premier of Rennell and Bellona province has welcomed the motion of no confident filed against him.

    “Bring it on,” Willie Tuhagenga said in an interview with Island Sun yesterday ahead of the motion, which will be tabled during their Assembly meeting today.

    “I have the number and I’m confident to get over this motion,” he said.

    Premier Tuhagenga said six members are currently in his camp and that demonstrates the strength he has ahead of the motion.

    He said the Speaker of the province has been consulted and formalities for the Assembly meeting have been approved.

    Premier Tuhagenga said the Assembly will be held here in Honiara – a decision made based on convenience and financial reasons.

    He explained that the decision to hold the meeting in Honiara is because all the non-executive reside here.

    “It’s cheaper to hold an Assembly meeting in Honiara as most provincial members are currently here in town arranging their kids back to school,” Premier Tuhagenga said.

    He stressed that there has been a motion but it was delayed due to lack of funds.

    “There has been a lot of talking in the media, now we are ready to table the motion and I kindly call on MPAs to attend the meeting,” Premier Tuhagenga said.

    He said the province’s revised budget will also be tabled after the motion.

    Premier Tuhagenga said he is optimistic that the motion will be over so that his government can focus on the affairs of the province.

    He said there are programs and activities pending so as funding from the government are on halt due to the motion.

    “We should roll out our programs and development plans last year but this motion continues to be a barrier to our development aspirations,” Premier Tuhagenga said.

    When ask what will happen after the motion, he said both sides of the house need to work together to develop the province through sharing ideas and possible development plans that would help the people.

    “We have been stagnant for the past years due to lack of cooperation within the parties,” Premier Tuhagenga said.

    Speaker Lester H Sa’omasi received the notice of the motion from the mover MPA for Ward 10, on Tuesday 1st December 2020.

    In the letter, the non-executive members raised a few points against Premier Willie Tuhagenga.

    This includes lack of political leadership and transparency over the provincial executive and over the development of direction for Rennell Bellona province, lack of control over the duties and performance of the provincial administration.

    “All these issues raised will be discussed during the motion,” Premier Tuhagenga said.

    1...1,0181,0191,020...1,685Page 1,019 of 1,685