THE Government’s Covid-19 Oversight Committee has announced the repatriation of Solomon Islands nationals who are stranded in Australia and Fiji as a result of flight closures due to covid-19.
Chair of the Covid-19 Oversight Committee and Secretary to Cabinet, James Remobatu made the announcement in the latest Travel advisory number two issued on May 14, 2020.
The announcement is made in accordance to the statement issued by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on May 1, 2020 on the government’s plans for repatriation.
Remobatu said the government is pleased to announce that Solomon Islands will have the capacity to conduct tests for covid-19 in-country by this week.
The first repatriation flight for stranded nationals in Australia and New Zealand is tentatively scheduled for May 26. The flight will be from Brisbane to Honiara. All nationals boarding the flight must have valid Solomon Airlines tickets.
The government is also looking at repatriating nationals in covid-19 free Vanuatu and Fiji thereafter. Flight information will be issued as soon as it is finalised.
It is government’s standing position to have all returning passengers from overseas to undergo a mandatory 28 days quarantine in one of the state’s identified quarantine facility.
The government of Solomon Islands is committed to take measures to prevent importation of covid-19 in the country and prevent subsequent outbreaks.
“We urge the stranded nationals to take adequate precautions while being in affected countries and seek immediate medical care in case of sickness,” Remobatu said.
The Government of Solomon Islands takes this time to thank the government of the people’s republic of china and the government of Australia for fast tracking the supply of the two covid-19 testing machines.
“We thank the nation for its prayers, our gratitude to all receiving states for hosting our stranded citizens. Our respect to the families of all stranded Wantoks for your patience and solidarity,”
“We urge everyone to remain united in keeping covid-19 out from entering our borders. With the grace of God we will do all we can to ensure we come out of this stronger and united,” Remobatu said.
THE High Court has delivered its judgment on two separate petition cases on Monday 18th May.
This is the judgment on petition cases against Member of Parliament for Central Guadalcanal Peter Shanel Agovaka and Member of Parliament for South Choiseul Robertson Galokale.
With regards to the petition case against MP Agovaka five allegation of bribery was filed against him and first ground of bribery was dismissed during the trial due to the petitioner’s witness fail to turn up in court to testify before the court.
Meanwhile after the trial was conducted presiding Judge Justice Emmanuel Kouhota dismissed the four remaining allegations of bribery due to no evidence to prove the allegations.
In his judgment yesterday Justice Kouhota said the evidence provided is not of high standard of proof required in an election petition cases.
Peter Shanel Agovaka got 3,584 during the National General Election 2019.
Last year in May the High Court received 28 petition cases and under the new Electoral Act the court must hear and rule on petitions within a year of submission.
In relation to the petition case against the South Choiseul MP the court has allowed the petition and the winning candidate Robertson Galokale loses his Parliamentary seat yesterday in a High Court Ruling.
Justice Rex Foukona is the presiding Judge over the petition case of Galokale.
So far three constituencies will go through by-election following their lose of seats by their MPs.
Robertson Galokale is third MP to loss his seat after Moffat Fugui and Jamie Vokia also lost their seats previously.
Vanga Moli Foot Bridge: 25m length and 2m width reinforced with concrete abutment, iron beam and timber decking.
THE communities in Vuruvachu Ward (Ward 5) of North West Choiseul today starts using a 25-metre-long and 2-metre-wide footbridge constructed by the Provincial Government of Choiseul using their Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) of PGSP. The construction work on the SBD1, 500, 000 project started on the 3rd of April 2020 and completed on May 7th, 2020.
PGSP is a programme that is funded by the SIG and being implemented by the MPGIS. The programme has an output called PCDF that provides Capital Development Funds for Nine Provinces on performance basis for infrastructure development.
The Vanga Moli Bridge is designed to serve 13 villages in a catchment area with a total population of about 2,000 people. The newly completed bridge shall serve the villages of: Leva Leva, Six Pen, Vudu Taru, Solongari, Gaza Lata, Muma, Apunga, Bibolo, Koparada, Pimdara, Paregobito and Kaku all-in North-West Constituency.
Full view of Vanga Moli Bri
The project was demanded by the communities to connect them to the surrounding communities to access social services such as schools, clinics and church programmes. The bridge is seen as an economic project as it links the communities in the coastal villages to the marketplace at Moli, facilitates travels to gardens, copra farms and other economic activities along the Vanga plains. Every day villagers have to carry their produce and paddle across the river to reach marketplaces. This bridge may be a big relief for the communities.
“This project would not only promote economic livelihoods but also contribute significantly to poverty reduction within the area”, said one of the villagers who has lot of interest in petty trading but, for all this time, he has been affected by lack of safe passage across the small river. Travels to Moli Clinic by villagers from Levaleva, Six Pen, Vudutaru, Solongari and Gazalata shall now be facilitated because of the completion of the bridge. In addition to access to the clinic at Moli, the children from the surrounding villages mentioned herein shall safely continue to attend classes at Moli School at a lesser risk.
One end of the new Vanga Moli Bridge
Before this bridge was constructed, students used to miss classes when there is flood caused by heavy rains. Some time students had no choice but to swim across the 10-metre-deep river as they struggle to go to school. This is indeed too dangerous for the parents and students and it had contributed to some parents not sending their children to school. This fear has now become a thing of the past as the Provincial Government strive to connect the communities by focusing on every footpath that tend to hinder socio-economic development.
The hardship being experienced by Villagers will now be eased. Villages who used to paddle dugout canoe to cross the river to access social services and livelihood activities of gardening, marketing, farming and trading will no longer be under such stress and pressure. Life has now been made easy for them, thanks to Choiseul Provincial Government for the speedy completion of the footbridge. This is a big relief for the Ward Member, Hon. Paul Telovae, who had to buy one dugout canoe to assist the communities to paddle across the river, as told by the PGSP Advisor. The Honourable Member cannot imagine how relieved his communities have been since the construction took off last month.
Children, a mother and a Community Elder are already sharing their moments of joy with the Provincial CDA. The days of paddling canoes and swimming and wading across the river are over
Being necessities in life, the Province considers infrastructure such as bridges as means where the population in remote and cut-off areas may access social services. The table below shows the footbridges so far designed and implemented by the Provincial Government of Choiseul.
The following footbridges have so far been completed by Choiseul Provincial Government through its meager PCDF allocation making immense impact on the community’s economic activities and cementing social cohesion:
Item No.
Projects
Constituency
Ward
Year of completion
1
Molevaga/Loimuni Footbridge
NorthwestChoiseul
9
2011
2
Borokuni Seleku Footbridge
Northwest Choiseul
11
2014
3
Dudura footbridge
East Choiseul
16
2015
4
Parana footbridge
East Choiseul
15
2015
5
Vanga Moli footbridge
Northwest Choiseul
9
2020
Commenting on the project, the PGSP Capacity Development Advisor based in Taro, Mr Eric George, describes the completion of the Vanga Moli Bridge as a great achievement for the people living in the 13 villages that would be served by the project. He commended the efforts of the contractor, Dalgro (SI) Ltd, for delivering the project within one month instead of the original target period of four months. The contractor is now moving its equipment to start the construction of another PCDF funded SBD1, 000, 000 bridge at Voruvoru, which is expected to serve a population of about 1000 people.
The Provincial Secretary, Mr. Geofrey Pakipota and his hardworking Engineer and Officers in the Planning and Treasury Divisions with the full support of the Provincial Executive are indeed doing everything to ensure every village in Choiseul is connected by footbridges, wherever possible.
The Acting Chief Education Officer of Choiseul Province views the successful completion of the footbridge as an achievement in the Provincial Government efforts in supporting access to education by children in Choiseul. A good number of students completing their early childhood learning at the kindy in Levaleva will use the footbridge and proceed to attend the primary studies at Moli.
It must be noted that the planning, designing, procurement processes and implementation of the project were all done by the Provincial Government of Choiseul. The only thing the MPGIS did was to transfer the funds into the PCDF designated account of Choiseul Province. The role of the PGSP is to build capacity in planning, procurement, implementation and public expenditure management systems to promote greater accountability. The Provincial Government of Choiseul is thanking the National Government for providing the much-needed resources through the PCDF for the project to eventuate. The Province hails the National Government efforts and looks forward to further resourcing of the Province by the National MPs to enable them to come up with more economic projects on which local economic growth may be anchored.
Even though the official opening of the footbridge has not been done yet, the communities have already started using the bridge creating lot of excitements. The development outcome of the bridge is already being realized. We shall keep you updated on the progress on the construction of the Voruvoru bridge that is about to commence.
RSIPF to enforce full lockdown in emergency zone Poha to Alligator Creek
THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) appeals to all the good citizens living within the Emergency Zone from Poha, west of Honiara to Alligator Creek east of Honiara to observe the full lockdown which is being planned for 6pm on Wednesday, May 20 to 6am Friday, May 22, 2020.
“This is going to be a 36-hour lockdown. It will NOT be an exercise as an Order will be issued making it law. Officers of the RSIPF will arrest anyone who contravene the Order which is expected to be gazetted this week,” says Acting Commissioner of Police, Mostyn Mangau.
Acting Commissioner Mangau explains: “Any one breaking the Order could be fined a maximum of $10,000 or imprisoned for five years or both.”
“During the 36-hour lockdown, no one will be allowed to leave their residence. All businesses will be closed during that period.
“No vessels including OBMs will be allowed to leave or arrive at the Honiara port after 6pm on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 until after 6am Friday, May 22, 2020.”
Only those people working in the essential and emergency services will be allowed to move around during the 36-hour lockdown. The essential services include:
Health workers;
Police officers;
Officers of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO);
Ambulance officers;
Staff of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation and all FM stations in Honiara;
Officers of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands and other Banks;
Staff of the Utility companies including SIWA, SIEA, Solomon Telekom and B-Mobile
The emergency services include:
Health workers
Police Officers
Officers of NDMO
Red Cross Officers
Officers of the Ministry Infrastructure Development
Officers of the Ministry of Finance; and
Officers of the Maritime Services
Acting Commissioner Mangau adds: “Anyone who is not an officer of the essential or emergency services have to apply for an exemption from the Police Operation Centre (POC) at the Rove Police Headquarters before 6pm on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
“If you do not get a response by that deadline then that means your application for an exemption has not been approved.
“Just because you have applied for an exemption does not mean you are exempted. You have to get an approval in response to your application.
“Any exemption during the last curfew in April is not valid for this lockdown. You have to reapply for a new exemption,” Acting Commissioner Mangau emphasises.
The Police Operation Centre (POC) can be contacted on the following telephones:
Acting Commissioner Mangau explains: “RSIPF will be setting up checkpoints from Poha to Alligator Creek to enforce the lockdown.
“Six compliance teams will also patrolling areas outside of the checkpoints. Anyone with a life threatening emergency is encouraged to approach any police check point closest to you.”
The police check points will be located at Poha River, White River, Rove, Honiara City Council Roundabout; Kukum Roundabout, Ranadi. Lungga and Alligator Creek.
“I call on all the good citizens living within the Emergency Zone from Poha to Alligator Creek to prepare yourselves for the 36-hour lockdown as part of the Solomon Islands Government preparations in case of an outbreak of the coronavirus within Honiara or in the country.
“Let us observe whatever Order that the Government issues as this will help protect our country against this virus. Iumi tugeta againstim COVID-19,” Acting Commissioner Mangau emphasises.
Chairman of NHA and Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers.
BY CHARLES KADAMANA
A real time lockdown situation is set for Wednesday 6pm to Friday 6am to test the capability of the country for possible COVID-19 positive case before opening the national borders.
Solomon Islands is one of the pacific countries free of COVID-19 and the question is what is the logic behind the lockdown.
Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Jimmy Rodgers reiterates that the logic behind the lockdown is the country will soon open its border on May 26 which means there is potential risk of coronavirus coming in.
The other important thing is the country has a testing capability the Ministry of Health and Medical Service is putting in place. These two must be well-checked to ensure they must go hand in hand.
Adding on to these the government wants to do the lockdown when businesses and schools are back to normal operation so that we can see the impact of the lockdown and how people are well coordinated.
“So it is testing the capability of us as a government, Ministry of health as lead ministry to ensure they can identify case, contact stressing, mobilising, isolating and so on.
“We must do these in real time before we have any case. That is the most important thing. If we have any case and prepare how to handle it we have to go into another process where we are untested and tried.
“We ask the people in Honiara within the emergency zone for cooperation to do this together so that in the event where COVID -19 come we are well prepared for it,” he said.
Chairman of the National Disaster Council Dr Melchior Maitaki said the lockdown exercise is very important.
He said it is important for us to get our health authorities really prepared and test their capability should the country reach a stage where coronavirus case is positive.
He said the new normal now is we have to live with the virus.
“We will eventually open back our boarder so we need to test our capability and we need to do it in real time situation to see how and know how to work against reality,” he said
Chief Operation of National Operation Center George Baragamu elaborates more on what people need to take note of during the lockdown.
He said lockdown is an emergency protocol where requires every citizen within the declared emergency zone to remain at home.
The emergency zone for the lockdown is from Alligator Creek to Poha River.
He said during the course of the lockdown people should be at their homes before 6pm on Wednesday and remain at their homes for the 36 hour lockdown.
He also advise those living outside the emergency zone that they are not allowed to come in as well those living within the emergency zone not to go out.
Under the State of Public Emergency regulation anyone found breaking the lockdown will fine SDB$10,000 or prison up to five years or serve both penalties.
He said all citizen in Honiara should plan ahead to ensure food are at stock, have enough money, top up, cash power top up and have enough basic needs.
He said during the lockdown only four agencies will remain operational which includes Police Operation Center, Health Operation Center, National Emergency Center and Red Cross.
Apart of that the essential services that will remain operational are Health and Medical Services, SIBC and FM stations, St John Ambulance, Central Bank and other commercial bank, Ministry of Finance, Marine and Search Rescue, Ministry of Infrastructure and other utilities like electricity and Water.
Rodgers added that public servants should stop work by midday on Wednesday.
He said all businesses including shops should also close down before 6pm on Wednesday.
Solomon Islands Football Federation CEO Leonard Paia.
Domestic leagues returns July
By Taromane Martin
DOMESTIC football competitions in the Solomon Islands is likely to resume in July as the Solomon Islands Football Federation looks to resume its football programs.
SIFF like the other national sporting federations had been forced to suspend all their activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has brought all sports activities around the world to a standstill.
The federation on Friday had announced that they are looking at kicking off the women’s premier football league sometime in July depending on the current COVID-19 state of emergency that will also end the same month.
In preparation for the resumptions of their programs, SIFF Chief Executive Officer Mr Leonard Paia said the SIFF Executive have approved that staff who have been working from home will return to work as of this week.
Mr Paia also highlighted that SIFF is fortunate to have FIFA and OFC backing during this tiring period.
“The SIFF Executive has approved that staff will work a minimum of two days a week to prepare for the return of competitions and other football activities when the government lifts the State of Emergency in Honiara
“I am pleased to say that we still have money from FIFA funding to keep us going during this challenging time,” the CEO said.
With these new plans now in place, SIFF said they will continue to take all necessary precautions and steps as recommended by the government to help ensure the safety of the wider football community.
“The wellbeing of players is our highest priority and we are following all guidelines and recommendations from responsible ministries of the government as well as health authorities,” the federation said.
Meanwhile SIFF Technical Director Moses Toata confirmed that all football course and workshops will start next month while the new season of the Telekom Soccer League will likely kick off in August.
The Youth Leagues will resume when schools re-opens while training for the men’s national team is still postponed due to the COVID-19 situation.
“We will continue to deliver our education courses in the provinces as of next month, June and onwards,” SIFF Technical Director Moses Toata said.
“Referees courses should start in June and the centre of implemented once all clubs start to organizes themselves after the competition, all our competition will be aligned to the OFC competitions calendar changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I know the SOE will end in July so the TSL is proposed to start in August. Youth Leagues are still deferred until all students returned to schools.
“Women’s football leagues will start in July while futsal league is still deferred to a later date unless the government lifts the restrictions of the SOE in Honiara,” Toata explained.
SOLOMON Islands new head coach for the senior men’s national team will arrive in the country once the current international travel restrictions is lifted by the government, the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) said.
While SIFF is yet to announce the name of the new head coach for the men’s national football team, the federation has confirmed that the coach is a foreigner and will arrive once the international flight restrictions caused the COVID-19 pandemic are opened.
Out of 45 applicants for the vacant position, the federation revealed a new coach has been acquired through help and partnership from the Spanish football federation, La Liga.
Through this partnership, which started in June 2016, SIFF has already welcomed two Spanish coaches, Pedro Leivas Mateo who coached and made history with the national U-20 team in 2016 and Felipe Vega-Arango who was head coach for the national men’s in 2017, played a huge role with the historic U-17 FIFA World Cup squad and, was also SIFF Technical Director during his stay in the country.
Spaniard Pedro Leivas Mateo who was head coach for the national U-20 team in 2016.
According to SIFF Technical Director Moses Toata hiring a professional coach is an expensive practise but the move to acquire a long term coach for the national team will be made possible with the help of partners like La Liga.
“The selection criteria is based on qualification, experience in working in the region including Solomon Islands.
“In the past the cost of hiring overseas coach for a short term is 10,000 Euros per month plus accommodation, internal transport and flights to the country and return.
“If the government can support football by sharing the costs of hiring a professional coach, we can do that.
“At the moment SIFF is also looking at a partnership with La Liga to help meet the cost of hiring the coach for a longer-term,” Toata had said.
Mr Arango who left the country in 2018 had insisted he is more than happy to come back and again lead the national team as head coach.
With a strong bond already sown with the current SIFF Executive and spectacular results with the men’s national team and the FIFA U-17 World Cup team, it seems all the boxes are already ticked for the former Technical Director to return to the country as Head Coach for the senior men’s national soccer team.
However, with Pedro Mateo also having a strong connection and football experience both in the region and country it is also possible he could also return to be head coach for the national.
RSIPF Officer check a vehicle at Lunnga checkpoint during the curfew on Saturday 11th April.
BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
A 36-hour lockdown is proposed for next week for Honiara emergency zone from Poha Rive to Alligator Creek. This is part of government measure and preparedness for possible COVID-19 positive test. Prime Manasseh Sogavare in his nationwide address yesterday said the proposed lockdown is a standard procedure to test the country capability in preparations for any possible COVID-19 positive case. He said experts around the world have also been calling on countries affected by COVID-19 to continue to be vigilant and to be prepared for a second wave of infections. He said the lockdown is also the government strategy to maintain alertness with regards to the global warnings of perceived second of infection. “I would like to reiterate my call to Honiara citizens to take heed of the intentions of the government for a lock down and follow protocols of the lockdown”, The Prime Minister said. He said the lockdown is to test the capability of frontlines on how they can manage if any situation arise in terms of the covid-19. The curfew or lock-down will restrict movement of people in the Emergency Zone in Honiara which is from Alligator Creek east of Honiara to Poha River west of Honiara. On previous curfew on April 10 and 11 the curfew order does not cover the provinces and in Honiara only people working in essential services including health workers, correctional services and the police were allowed to move during the curfew. Police on the last occasion also clarified that sick people can have access to the hospital during the curfew hours, they can call the ambulance or can explain to the officers at allocated check-points.
Solomon Warriors FC players celebrate one of their goals against KOSSA.
By Taromane Martin
THE new Telekom Soccer League (TSL) season is likely to start in August once the current State Of Emergency caused by COVID-19 pandemic in the country is lifted. Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Technical Director Moses Toata revealed during a SIFF executive meeting yesterday at the Allen Boso Complex at Panatina. Toata said with the SOE set to be lifted in July the proposed month for the TSL kick off will be in August while other football competitions will kick off once the COVID-19 situation calms down. Toata adds all education programs for provinces will resume next month after they were also disrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. “I know the SoE will end in July so the TSL is proposed to start in August. Youth Leagues are still deferred until all students returned to schools. “Women’s football leagues will start in July while futsal league is still deferred to a later date unless the government lifts the restrictions of the SoE in Honiara. “As for the national teams’ training is postponed. The technical department encourages players to do individual training,” Toata said. “We will continue to deliver our education courses in the provinces as of next month June and onwards. “Referees courses should start in June and the centre of implemented once all clubs start to organizes themselves after the competition, all our competition will be aligned to the OFV competitions calendar changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he adds. Meanwhile, SIFF said the wellbeing of players is their highest priority and they are following all guidelines and recommendations from responsible ministries of the government as well as health authorities. “We are taking all necessary precautions and steps as recommended by the government to help ensure the safety of the wider football community,” the federation said in a statement on Friday 15th May.
Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) Mr James Bosamata .
BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
MINISTRY Of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) has finalised its updated overall national plan for Coronavairus-19 (COVID-19) preparedness, response and recovery plan.
This was confirmed by James Bosamata from the MEHRD at the recent talkback show at the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) in Honiara.
“So as of today (Tuesday, May 12, 2020), as we speak, we have finalised our most updated preparedness, Reponses and recovery plan and this is an overall national plan for the ministry of education.
“In this plan we have three different scenarios, the first one is if schools reopen, what do we do. The second one is if schools close again what do we do and the third scenario is if schools close for a long period of time what do we do.
“So, we have in our updated plan our responses in case anything happens we have in one document.
“But for schools we have different contexts they have their own as well but this is an overall national plan for the ministry of education,” said Bosamata.
He said for now the current situation is changing not like in the month of March so by having this plan prepared it will and can help schools to prepare for any future outbreak of the virus.
