Ordeal of six who went missing at sea for 20 days

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

WITH only a paddle at their disposal, six adults were able to survive 20 days at sea on an outboard motor canoe with little food from the wild and water from the rain.

The survivors, who grabbed headlines when they went missing on 11 July 2020 between Santa Cruz and the Reef Islands in Temotu, miraculously shored on Ulawa, Makira-Ulawa province, last Wednesday.

On August 3rd, they arrived in Honiara for medical checkups and are staying at St Agnes Lodge.

The survivors include two nurse Salome Menubir and David Tereko, a high school student Elsie Lopabe, a mother Janet Nyiaboi, skipper Godrey Wale and crew Brown Meba.

They were returning home after referring a patient at Lata Hospital when a large wave struck their boat and filled it with water midway through their journey.

A nurse and mother of two children, Salome Menubir recalls that when the first big wave struck their boat the first thing come to her mind is, they will not make it but when they bail out the water on the boat, she began to have hope.

She said it was such an experience they will never forget adding their survival is miracle that comes through prayer and faith.

She said for the 20 days they survived being struck by big waves for five times. The first wave hit them at day time while the other four waves hit them at night time.

She said as a mother they have to support the three men onboard by sharing big part of the meal each day during the sea ordeal.

“To keep us going we have to share big portion of our food for our men because they are the one who will paddle the boat.

“This experience will stay on us but the message is we are safe and we are looking forward to reunite with our families,” she said with great relief.

Another survivor who also a nurse David Tereko emotionally relayed his story that it was through prayer that they managed to survive.

“It was only through prayer that we were able to survive the 20 days at sea,” survivor David Teveko, 57, a nurse working at Manuopa clinic, told Island Sun on August 3rd.

“There’s no other way I can explain it,” he added, when asked how they were able to make it.

“We were mid-way on our journey when a large wave struck our boat, capsizing it instantly,” Teveko said.

“We lost everything, except the clothes on our bodies.

“But we were able to hold on to the boat, which was filled with water and was likely to sink due to the weight of the 40-horse power engine.

“Then we were able to get rid of the engine and free the boat; bailed the water out and get back into it.

“This time without the engine, and only one paddle,” Teveko recalled.

Then their 20-day sea ordeal began.

 “During our first four days, we have nothing to eat.

“On the fifth day, some kind of a miracle happened when a turtle came beside the boat and we were able to catch it with ease.

 “We also eat coconuts we collected from the ocean and drink rain water,” he said

Teveko said throughout the 20 days, they don’t have much to eat and drink, but their daily prayers kept them strong and focus.

He added the paddle was not much of use to them, but they used it only when they need to steer the boat.

Teveko said they keep drifting with the flow of the current.

“We also keep praying to God to keep as alive as we have families waiting for us,” he said.

Teveko on his arrival was comforted when her two daughters Bettsey Teveko and Mary Teveko and his grand son reunite with him at St Agnes Lodge.

He was filled with smiles and joy as her two daughters embracing him.

The skipper, Godfrey Wale said when the first wave struck their boat the first thing, they do is releasing the engine from the boat.

When reports of the missing six surfaced, a search including Police and Health officials at Lata as well as a New Zealand Defence Force Orion aircraft and a helicopter from Honiara was undertaken.

But it failed to locate the six.

After 20 days at sea, the six were able to shore at Ngarangara Point near Su’umoli Village on Ulawa Island last Friday.

The survivors are now safely accommodated at St Agnes Lodge with the support of Arch Bishop of the Church of Melanesia and Pele Constituency.

Mrs Menubir on behalf the survivors acknowledge families at Ulawa for assisting them and Arch Bishop Rt Rev. Leonard Dawea and Pele Constituency.

Meanwhile a thanksgiving service is set for 5.30pm tomorrow at Saint Alban Parish.

Donors provide $424.3 million to help Solomon Islands against global pandemic

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands bilateral and multilateral partners have injected about $424.3 million to help the country fight the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

The government has already received a total of SBD$424,276,628.93 direct budget support collectively from:

1. The Asian Development Bank – SBD$ 213,439,376.72
2. The World Bank Group – SBD$ 126,073,545.06
3. DFAT Australia – SBD$ 70,384,407.15
4. MFAT New Zealand – SBD$ 14,379,300

Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma confirmed in Parliament on Tuesday that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board approved and disbursed SBD$233.70 million in June, 2020, in emergency financing to help Solomon Islands address urgent balance of payments needs created by COVID-19.

Mr Kuma said a there are uncertainty surrounds the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in our economy, the Government through his Ministry continue to dialogue with our donors and partners for further additional support towards financing COVID 19 preparedness and response initiatives of the government.

“On behalf of the government I would like to express my sincere appreciation and acknowledged to our development partners who have stand by our side during this time of uncertainty and being a true friend in indeed.

“The government will continue to work with you in partnership and collaboration as we journey into new heights for now and in the future,” he said.

Parliament has adjourned to Wednesday, August 12 to regularise two Supplementary bills.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Finance and Treasury has experienced a revenue collection shortfall from taxes around $450 million due to the impact of the coronavirus.

Minister Harry Kuma disclosed this during his debate on the motion to extend the State of Public Emergency to another four months in Parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Kuma said the revised revenue shortfall is expected to be around $450m in 2020 while other international organisations, such as the IMF and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have much higher estimates of the shortfall one as high as $850m.

He said the growth is forecasted to remain subdued over the medium term, with projections to average around 3-4 percent per annum in line with the declining rate of log export receipts.

“If logging declines faster than expected, then there will be a more profound impact on revenue, directly via decreased export receipts and also indirectly via decreased activity in the economy leading to lower revenue collections across many revenue sources,” he said.

Kuma said the impact on Government revenue and slow rebound next year, will constrain our ability to finance development activity from recurrent sources.

“The disruption of activity, together with loss in revenue from exports, has also resulted in a sharp decline in foreign exchange reserves and an immediate external financing gap increasing current account deficit from – 7.9 percent of GDP to -17.8 percent of GDP for 2020, which we will manage with the support of recent disbursements from donors,” he said.

Kuma said the containment measures that many responsible governments around the world have implemented to support the stringent fiscal initiatives have also been put in place in the Solomon Islands government.

“These measures include trial lockdowns, restrictions on bars opening, the closure of casinos and strict social distancing protocols.

“Very strict controls have also been in place, and remain rigidly enforced, for incoming arrivals into the Solomon Islands,” he said.

The Finance Minister said the very recent outbreak of COVID-19 cases in our near neighbour Papua New Guinea and the explosion of new cases in many other parts of the world highlight the reality that this battle is far from over, in fact it appears to be getting worse.

Kuma said this reality reinforces the government’s determination to continue the state of emergency to protect its citizens until such time as these ongoing risks are minimised.

“The government is currently facing an unprecedented fiscal situation and the implementation of the 2020 budget will be complex and challenging, more likely to disrupt most government key policy priorities and planned activities of all ministries.

“This year my ministry issued two financial circulars or instructions to ministries. The first circular was sent to ministries on 11th of February 2020, providing ministries with budget guidelines and rules to effectively implement 2020 budget,” he said.

The second circular was issued on April 1, 2020, providing ministries expenditure control measures in response to COVID 19 pandemic, instructing ministries to prioritize emergency needs that covers, health, national security, disaster planning and COVID 19 related expenditures.

To support ministries in this endeavour, the central ministries through the Budget Coordinating Committee (BCC) led by Ministry of Finance and Treasury conducted a week long follow up consultations with ministries in early June, providing update on the impact of COVID 19 on 2020 budget and aiding ministries to support the government in its effort to maintain fiscal stability and discipline by conducting a midyear ministry budget review and ensure ministries collectively identify and prioritize urgent, essential and mandatory expenditures for the remainder of the year.

Furthermore, in accordance with Emergency Powers (COVID 19) Regulations 2020, section 16 (1), under the Prime Minister’s power to release of funds for public safety measures. The government conducted a whole of government reprioritization exercise and secured a total sum of $156 million savings to fund and implement the SIG COVID 19 Preparedness and Response Plan. The approved savings were derived from 50 percent reduction from all discretionary and non-essential line items in recurrent budget and 15 percent reduction to all ministries’ development projects except for economic and productive sectors.

“During this unprecedented times, we have to response in unprecedented ways because so much is required to happen within short time.

“With the budget measures taken, the government is aware that most of its key policy priorities for 2020 including ministries planned activities will be disrupted for a while, but we have to do this for our health and to protect the well-being of our people,” he said.

Despite the current unprecedented fiscal situation, the government remains committed to maintain fiscal stability and discipline and to ensure ministries revised work plans and activities are affordable.

Kuma said ministries are strongly reminded not to commit the government into contractual commitments without securing funding and ensure we avoid rolling over arrears into 2021.

Therefore, to facilitate smooth operation of all ministries, ministries are urged to provide revised cost work plans and procurement plans in order to collectively support

Treasury to manage the execution of budget in the coming months.

The Parliament meeting concluded yesterday and adjourns to Wednesday, August 12 to consider two Supplementary Bills.

PARLIAMENT to approve another State of Public Emergency, third meeting resumes today

The third meeting of the 11th Parliament resumes today to consider the motion to approve another State of Public Emergency for another four months.

The previous State of Public Emergency approved by Parliament expired on July 24, 2020, thus, His Excellency the Governor General declared on July 24, 2020 a new State of Public Emergency in Solomon Islands, pursuant to Section 16 subsection 3 of the Constitution.

Debate on the motion is expected to take place tomorrow and Wednesday this week and if this motion is approved by Parliament, the State of Public Emergency shall continue in force until the expiration of four months, or unless revoked by a resolution of Parliament.

The State of Public Emergency will allow government to make orders for the fight against the global COVID 19 pandemic.

Solomon Islands is still among 12 countries in the world that are yet to record any cases of COVID-19.

After dealing with the motion on the State of Public Emergency, Parliament will go on a special adjournment to allow the Public Accounts Committee to review two Supplementary Appropriation Bills before resuming on Wednesday, August 12, 2020.

–PARLIAMENT MEDIA