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Council of Trade Union eyes SINU

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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Solomon Islands National University

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE Solomon Islands National University (SINU) saga has now caught the attention of the Solomon Islands Council of Trade Unions (SICTU).

SICTU says it will hold an urgent extraordinary meeting today to discuss the institution’s problem.

“Demand for the removal of the Vice Chancellor of SINU is going to be the main agenda item for an ‘Urgent Extraordinary Meeting’ of the National Executive of SICTU to be held in Honiara today.”

A Press Statement from SICTU yesterday said all the presidents and national secretaries of the country’s trade unions have been invited to attend the important SICTU meeting.

“Tomorrow’s SICTU Extraordinary meeting will give the two Executives of the Lecturers Association of Solomon Islands National University LASINU, and the Solomon Islands National University General Staff Association, SINUGSA to provide the SICTU National Executive about the current SINU dispute,” issued SICTU.

“LASINU and SINUGSA expressed serious concern about the way the Vice Chancellor is conducting the administrative and financial affairs of the University, describing the Vice Chancellor’s actions and decisions as reflecting outright nepotism, corruption, and coated with clear personal business and commercial interests.

“The two SINU trade unions have already provided the responsible Minister and Chairman of the Council Mr Togamana with written details of actions and decisions that the two SINU trade unions view as outright nepotism to the Chairman of the SINU Council, Dr Culwick Togamana, who is also the Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology.”

Vice Chancellor of SINU is facing allegations including abuse of Recruitment/Conflict of interest, VC influenced payment of consultants with incomplete work and financial mismanagement – abuse of procurement processes amongst others.

Associations representing the lecturers (LASINU) and the general staff (SINUGSA) of the institution have since earlier this year called for the removal of the vice chancellor based on the allegations.

Following an ultimatum by the two associations calling the removal of the vice chancellor within seven days last week, SINU Council Chair Dr Culwick Togamana had responded labelling LASINU and SINUGSA’s behaviour as akin to the ‘law of the jungle’.

Togamana reiterated in his response that the institution has a process to follow in order to remove the vice chancellor, and asked both associations to adhere.

He mentioned that he had already sent an email listing the allegations to the vice chancellor, who is currently in Fiji, asking him to answer to them.

Togamana emphasises that the Council will have to wait for the vice chancellor to respond to the allegations before it can take any further course of action.

Where are the 14 MPs of Malaita: M4D

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

CHAIRMAN of Malaita For Democracy has called on the 14 members of Parliament from Malaita province to explain themselves on the confiscated humanitarian covid-19 health equipment to Malaita province.

Chairman Knoxly Atu said since the health equipment were confiscated, Malaitans are waiting to hear the position of their 14 MPs on the equipment.

“The MPs must understand that they are the voices of the people in the province as they represented them into the parliament.

“And the health equipment is for the health of the people they represented.

“The fact that most of them are in the government is obvious, but what about the health need of their people,” he said.

Mr Atu acknowledges the Malaita MPs from the Opposition Group who have raised their voices questioning the DCGA’s un-humanitarian act against the people of Malaita.

Atu said M4D thanks them for their contribution towards the struggle by the Malaita provincial government (MPG) to reinstate the impounded health equipment for the people of Malaita.

He describes the actions of these Malaita MPs from the Opposition who have spoken out as ‘meeting the expected trust and confidence rested on them to represent the people of Malaita as national leaders’.

Sadly, he says, the same cannot be said for the Malaita MPs in the DCGA.

The equipment was donated on humanitarian grounds by the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the people of Malaita Province to help fight covid-19.

This paper understands that MPG has hired a local lawyer to initiate court proceedings on the ROC covid-19 equipment currently held by the Police.

To date, the MP for Langalanga & Opposition Leader, Matthew Wale, and the MP for East Are’are, Peter Kenilorea Jnr, are the only Malaita MPs to criticise government’s action.

8 months on, RSIPF still without boss

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THERE is silence from the Government as to why there is a delay in appointing a Police Commissioner – eight months on.

Secretary to Cabinet repeated the usual rhetoric to the paper that the appointment is ‘still in the process’.

When asked how long will the process takes, he said that he cannot comment any further on the issue but only that it will go through various authorities to look into before recommendations can be made.

He declined to comment on questions on why the delay was put to him yesterday.

Minister of Police National Security and Correctional Services Solomon Islands Anthony Veke when interviewed in December last year said the process of appointing the new Police Commissioner for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force will complete end of January, 2020.

However, Solomon Island is still without a Police Commissioner and today is July 1, 2020.

Beware stimulus scam

Written by
Press Release
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Some of the men and women of North East Guadalcanal and East Central Guadalcanal constituency who attend one of the awareness conducted over the weekend at Ruavatu by officials from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Photos from Government Communications Unit

GOVERNMENT warns public of individuals selling paper work for the Economic Stimulus Package

The Economic Stimulus Package Awareness team under Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) warns the public and people in rural areas not to accept any COVID-19 stimulus package paper work support in exchange for money from individuals.

It was reported over the weekend that opportunists are going around Honiara’s periphery with Guadalcanal province selling application forms to farmers and fishermen.

“If you happen to come across any person selling stimulus package application forms, please report their activity to the nearest police post.

“They are con artists who will take advantage of vulnerable people during emergency situation,” a statement from the stimulus package committee said.

The statement clarifies that there is no application form for the funding, only a criteria guideline note has been distributed earlier providing instructions for applicants.

“Applicants are expected to write up a simple project proposal at their own pace and cost.

“Applicants who are illiterate should seek help from their community leaders or a literate person to draft their application,” the statement from the stimulus package awareness team said.

The statement further reminds applicants in the provincial and rural areas to keep their proposals short by 4-5 page maximum.

In the meantime, awareness for the selected areas in the provincial centres continues.

Awareness talks has already been conducted in parts of Guadalcanal, West, Makira-Ulawa and Choiseul province.

Next week, the team which comprises of officers from the Policy Implementation, Evaluation and Monitoring Unit (PIMEU) and caucus will visit identified satellite areas in Malaita, Western, Temotu, Central and Renbel Bellona Province.

Due date for provincial and rural areas applicants has been extended to July 24.

–GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT

NPF Covid-19 exemption ends today

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Members queueing infront of Solomon Islands National Provident office at first floor of Anthony Saru Building to withdraw their funds under the covid 19 exmption on Tuesday 2nd June 2020.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) three months COVID-19 exemption orders to allow members to withdraw their money ends at 4.30pm today.

Thousands of people have withdrawn their allocations since SINPF opened its doors on April 1.

SINPF Managing Director, Michael Wate said he will provide the details or the total money given out to members when the deadline ends today.

As of June 5, 2020, 16,135 members were paid with a total of $77.8M.

However, the number of the members and money expended is likely to increase at the deadline.

Under the criteria:

1.            A sum of $5,000 will be made available to members under the age of 50 years, who are temporarily laid off, or stand down due to the effect of COVID-19, or employed as of 31st December 2019, and are residing within the ‘emergency zone’. Members whose balances are below five thousand dollars are to be paid 50 percent of their balances.

2.            Laid-off members due to COVID-19 be waivered three months waiting period and be paid 1/3 of their contributions or in full if their balances are less than $10,000. Their remaining Balance will be paid according to SINPF schedule.

3.            Members aged 50 years and above to withdraw up to 20 percent of their contributions should they wish to or else, they can elect to withdraw in full.

Wate earlier said it’s a learning experience as a first of its kind to happen to SINPF Board since its existence in 1976.

Wate said even during the social unrest in 1998-2003 the Minister of Finance or the government then did not provide exemption orders for members to access part of their NPF contribution.

He said such payout to members will go down in SINPF Board 44 years’ history.

“SINPF will learn from this experience and in the future Fund will have a precedence to lean on when such crisis arises,” he added.

While focusing on covid-19, normal health services will still be delivered: McNeil

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Pauline McNeil.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

WHILST the Ministry of Health is focusing its work on coronavirus-19 Preparedness and Response Plans, normal health services will still be discharged.

“While we are working hard on our preparations and response plans on covid-19 our other core business of health has to continue,” said Pauline McNeil Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health.

McNeil said the ministry’s normal health services or other core programmes will still run. Like NCD is still a major issue in the country but their team is also ensuring that it is attend as according to their Annual Operation Plan (AOP) activities for this year

“So, we have the AOP 2020 but at the same time we have the Preparedness and Response plan (PRP) to also implement so actually we have two plans to implement back to back for this year.

“So, in terms of NCD its programme is ongoing in terms of trainings at the provinces, our other key programs on RWASH is still running, so, as the rural water supplies and sanitation is running in provinces and immunisation programs is still continuing.

“So we don’t lose sight on those core programmes of the ministry of health, it is constant like I said we have two plans to work on back to back and that’s our normal AOP and on top of that  we have to also ensure the activities of PRP delivered at the same time,” she said.

Jimmy Rodgers, Permanent Secretary to Prime Minister, adds that the Ministry Health had briefed caucus on covid-19.

“I would like to point out is this covid-19 outbreak had drawn one silver lining and the silver lining is that it has given health resources now to develop every provincial health services.

“Facilities in provincial hospitals and Area Health Centres (AHC) have been supported by ministry of health with the money coming in to support our covid response.

“Every health facilities at the provincial level both government as well as run by churches for the first time will be slowly improved so the country will have much better facility.

“We cannot thank covid for that but there is a silver lining that all disaster had a little benefit and so covid19 gave a little opportunity to improve health services int the country,” he said.

The above-mentioned statements were made at the latest radio talk back show in Honiara.

Law of the jungle

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana

-Togamana hits back at lecturers and staff of SINU that process must be followed to remove Vice Chancellor Chand

-Lectures and Staff of SINU demand removal of VC

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands National University (SINU) Council cannot meet to decide the future of Vice Chancellor Dr Ganeshwar Chand until he responds to allegations levelled against him, Council Chair Culwick Togamana says.

The Lecturers Association of the Solomon Islands National University (LASINU) is demanding the termination of Mr Chand. Their demand is stipulated in a seven-day letter which lapses today.

The letter was signed by LASINU and supported by SINU General Staff Association (SINUGSA), and was submitted last Wednesday, June 24, 2020 with a bulk of evidence, claims and allegations against VC Chand.

Allegations against him include abuse of Recruitment/Conflict of interest, VC influenced payment of consultants with incomplete work and financial mismanagement – abuse of procurement processes amongst others.

Chair Togamana however has spoken out against the two associations (LASINU and SINUGSA) saying they do not have the mandate to remove the vice chancellor.

Mr Togamana said only the Council has the mandate to remove the VC provided he responds to the allegations levelled against him.

“I have already sent the allegations to him through an email as he is currently in Fiji.

“We have to follow the process first to allow the VC to response before the Council can meet and decide,” he said.

Togamana said there is a process to follow and not the law of the jungle which the two Unions seem to be behaving.

As per Chair-SINU Council request for their investigation into the allegation, members of the two associations met on June 23 at 4.40 pm at the Kukum Campus Lecturer Theatre and made the following recommendations;

  1. That with the strong evidence presented herein, we demand the termination of the Vice Chancellor (VC) to be made no later than seven (7) working days from the date of submission of these evidences.
  2. That failure to adhere to point (1), members of our two associations will withdraw labour forthwith”.

Spokesperson for LASINU had told the Solomon Star over the weekend that this is the second letter they submitted to the Council Chair on very much the same issues.

“The second letter was in response to the request from the Chair of the Council demanding both associations to provide evidence to support our claims against the VC,” the spokesperson said.

LASINU and SINUGSA have requested in their letter dated February 28, 2020 that Togamana must set up an independent committee to investigate the allegations.

They however learnt with much disappointment that Togamana was reluctant to initiate an independent committee to conduct an investigation and instead requested that they provided evidence to prove their allegations.

The two associations were also told by the chair they should follow the right process that can warrant the VC’s termination.

“This is uncalled for and perhaps shows Chair- SINU Council’s lack of interest in good governance, transparency and accountability across the university whilst continues to be protective of VC’s unbecoming actions,” the spokesperson said.

It is more likely the students’ association will join forces in support of the submissions as well, the spokesperson added.

Preparation to quarantine next batch of incoming passengers on schedule

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Solomon Airlines airbus

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

PREPARATION work at the Institutional Quarantine Facilities prior to the arrival of 200-plus Solomon nationals is ongoing and on schedule.

Chairman of IQF Karl Kuper assured the nation this during a radio talkback show on 28th June.

“Preparation on schedule to accommodate nationals who are going to be repatriated as well as additional nationals who are still on their way.

“Numbers increase on this next repatriate exercise so we have secured additional facilities and my officers are working very hard in trying to putting up things as comfortable as possible,” he said.

Kuper reminded those who will be repatriated and are coming into these facilities to comply with the rules and regulations on these facilities “because these sites are first line of defense on covid in our country”.

“We want everyone to maintain order inside these facilities and adhere to the regulations that govern it,” he said.

Kuper adds,  “for Gizo facility the work was completed and they now are waiting for it to be included in the orders or gazette so that it will be formerly recognized as quarantine station. And for the Noro it is near completion.”

Genexpert to the provinces

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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GeneXpert Machine

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) is working hard to make sure the provinces have GeneXpert machines.

The GeneXpert machine is the device used to test for covid-19.

Speaking in a radio talkback show on 28th June, permanent secretary for Health and Medical ministry, Mrs Pauline McNeil implied that the border provinces will be the first to be introduced to the machine, followed by Malaita and Makira-Ulawa provinces.

It is not clear what MHMS’s plans are for the remaining provinces.

“We are trying to reach out to the provinces in terms of GeneXpert machines,” McNeil said in the SIBC talkback show.

“Our technical working group left on Friday and the work is to use GeneXpert machines in our provinces.

“This is because the machine is low tech, it’s not resource-intensive and already the capacity is there for sustainability

“So, we are looking at Gizo, Taro and Helena Goldie hospital because of the border and then we will reach out to Kilufi and Kirakira for GeneXpert roll out.

“So, as we speak my team from the ministry is gearing up today to go to Gizo to look at the set up at the Gizo Hospital and then during the week on Wednesday another team will leave for Kilufi to assess the set up in Kilufi,” said McNeil.

She also adds that while MHMS is working hard in response to the coronavirus-19 threat, they have not lost sight of their essential services to the nation.

“We are working to ensure we maintain our essential services so that we maintain our status on some of our health indicators,” said McNeil.

The GeneXpert machine is a device which was originally used to detect tuberculosis and drug-resistant bacterial strains. Due to its fast-results, easy-to-handle and accuracy attributes, it has been readjusted to test for covid-19 approved by world health authorities.

New Zealand, Australia and the World Health Organisation (WHO) joined hands to make the highly sought after GeneXpert PCR testing cartridges available for Solomon Islands in early May this year.

The cartridges have been specifically re-designed for covid-19 testing.

It is understood Solomon Islands has 10 GeneXpert machines, including in some provinces, which are normally used to detect tuberculosis.

Malaita engages legal rep on confiscated covid-19 equipment from Taiwan

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA provincial government has engaged legal representation to deal with government’s hold-up of covid-19 medical equipment donated to the province by Taiwan.

Lasting week police seized the medical equipment bound for Malaita province. Government was quick to sanction this move, citing geopolitical rhetoric that the Republic of China (Taiwan) was poaching in a country which recognised the People’s Republic of China.

In a government statement early this week, it described the seized consignment as having ‘suspicious nature surrounding the importation of the cargoes’.

Malaita provincial government has come out clarifying that the equipment had been the second batch to humanitarian assistance by Taiwan under its global counter-covid19 programme which was offered to any country including those which do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Malaita had received the first batch and were looking forward to receiving the second when it was seized by police on Thursday last week.

Thus, with the Chinese-backed government and police against it, Malaita has sought to get justice with the help of legal representation.

Mr Richard Olita, a Malaitan man whose postal address the consignment had been sent through, confirmed Malaita provincial government’s course of action yesterday.

He said the purpose for engaging a legal representative to deal with the matter is to understand reasons on which national government had confiscated the equipment.

Olita confirmed that the first consignment also came under his address and has already been received, and that the impounded equipment was the second batch. 

A statement from the Malaita provincial government (MPG) said while police is continuing its investigations into the matter, MPG and Mr Richard Olita are engaging a legal representative to act on behalf of the parties regarding the confiscated ROC humanitarian support covid-19 equipment.

“It is regrettable that we have to come this far on this issue. However, MPG would like to make further clarifications on some of the issues raised by the police and then we will leave the matter in the hands of our legal representative to deal with.

“Firstly, the equipment is part of the overall humanitarian support given by Taiwan to Malaita province under its global covid-19 response programme.

“The programme also includes support to countries that do not have diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. After all it is humanitarian support.

“It is through the programme that Malaita province seeks humanitarian assistance from and gladly received the kind support from Taiwan.

“The grounds for the support were based on the big population of Malaita province and the high influx of people that have gone to their villages under the government’s repatriation advice.”

Thus, the statement said based on that there is need to have extra covid-19 equipment and support to the province.

“Secondly the use of Richard Olita’s address was for logistical convenience and that the understanding would be the equipment will eventually be given to MPG.

“There is nothing for anyone to be suspicious about. After all these are the same equipment or similar ones donated to Solomon Islands by other donors including PRC as has been reported in the media.

“In any case there is already 5000 surgical masks of the Taiwanese support received in Malaita province.

“Thirdly the issue of diplomatic pouch as raised by the police and MFAET must be understood its correct context.

“Since it’s a humanitarian support from the government of Taiwan, it has to come from the ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Taiwan used the diplomatic pouch for its purpose to inform DHL that the consignment is from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign. 

“They have not hid anything regarding the support and they have not asked for any special immunity from SIG knowing there are no longer diplomatic ties between SI and ROC.

“There was no special treatment and immunity given to the consignment as the police and MFEAT would like to think.

“In fact MPG have gladly paid for the import duties already and have not bother to apply for any duty exceptions as may be suspected by the police.

“We urge the police to handle issues like this with some level of sensitivity and to reach out to Richard Olita and the provincial Government so that we all can help with the investigation as stated,” it said.

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