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Education Bill to be tabled this year: PM

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Solomon Islands National Parliament

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

The Solomon Islands new Education Bill will be tabled in Parliament later this year, according to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

In his first nationwide address yesterday he said the National Education Board has considered and provided advice on the draft of the new Education Bill.

“My Government anticipates, the new Education Bill which was developed since 2013 to be tabled in Parliament later this year.”

He said the new Education Bill is designed to lead the country’s Education System into the future, providing a contemporary Solomon Islands education apparatus.  

“This will be another history created by my government as the current Education Act is more than 40 years old,” Sogavare said.

This paper understands that the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) is anticipating a new Education bill to go before Parliament this year.

This is historic as the current Education Act has been law for over 40 years.

The National Education Board (NEB) has considered and provided advice on matters relating to the draft Education Bill in December 2020.

The new Education Bill is designed to lead our education system into the future to provide a contemporary Solomon Islands framework for our system.

It has been under development since 2013, after a high-level task force was formed to consult widely and prepare an advice paper.

Since that date, significant consultation has been undertaken to ensure views and opinions are considered throughout the country.  

Orion queries decision of Registrar of Companies

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Logging in Solomon Islands. Photo supplied

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ORION Limited Managing Director, Chan Chee Min has questioned the integrity of Registrar of Companies in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration.

This was after the Registrar of Companies decided not to intervene in the dispute between Orion Limited and Linear Perspective Ltd with Solomon Forest Association (SFA).

SFA, a powerful association looking after logging companies in the country, has cancelled the registrations of Orion and Linear Perspective Ltd.

As a result, both companies have stopped operation and losing out in business.

Chan Chee Min said that the primary responsibilities of the Office of the Registrar of Companies is to keep records of registered entities, to monitor activities of registered entities, to ensure compliance to the “Constitutions of Solomon Islands”, the various “Statutes”, Rules and Regulations and the various applicable laws of Solomon Islands, among other responsibilities.

He said that the Deputy Registrar of Companies letter of respond to Orion Limited implies:

(a) That the Deputy Registrar of Companies is exercising and executing the “Constitution” of Solomon Forest Association.

Chan Chee Min said that the “Constitution” of Solomon Forest Association is not above the “Constitutions of Solomon Islands” and cannot be above the laws of Solomon Islands.

(b) That the Office of the Registrar of Companies will be acting in “Ultra Vires” if the Office of the Registrar of Companies were to carry out their “Statutory Obligation” and “Fiduciary Duty” to cancel the registration of Solomon Forest Association.

Chan Chee Min says that in SFA legal counsel, James Apaniai Law Chamber’s letter dated 4th November 2011 to the Registrar of Companies, it was explicitly admitted, quote “you certainly have the statutory powers to cancel the registration of charitable association”.

Chan Chee Min said the Deputy Registrar of Companies must take cognizance that the “Constitution” of Solomon Forest Association cannot override or rise above the “Constitutions of Solomon Islands”

He said the Deputy Registrar of Companies must respect himself and the “integrity” of the Office of the Registrar of Companies.

He said yes, Orion Limited will sue and Orion Limited will be diligent to know who to sue.

Last week, Deputy Registrar of Companies, Tobit Taravu said the executive of SFA has the ultimate right to deal with any internal matter or disagreement that occurred within the association.

Taravu said the cessation of membership, the rightful body to receive, hear and responsible for register or remove of association’s membership is SFA executive, because such organisation or corporate body is one that has and keep records of all association’s members.

Furthermore, Taravu said it is not right a member to request for the cancellation of the association (SFA) when the organisaton still exists.

“Thus, any person or a member cannot deduce it not functioning or inactive, unless the executive confirms by a resolution that the said association is dissolve,” he said.

Taravu said the “Statutory Obligations” and the “Fiduciary Duty” you (Chan) has made mention cannot be applied in both situations mention above as you thought or highlighted.

“Our action would be viewed ultra vires if we step in to solve the dispute, because the issue you have raised is stirred up as a result of an internal or private discrepancy.

“In that regard, we are well aware that the purported removal of both companies membership from the Association register is the prior role of Solomon Forest Association.

“Thus, our office will not invade the powers of Solomon Forest Association Registered Trustees,” he said.

SI to benefit from ‘COVAX Facility’

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SOLOMON Islands is among the countries that will benefit from a new Coronavirus (Covid-19) Vaccination initiative called the ‘COVAX Facility’.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his first 2021 ‘National Address’ yesterday updating on ‘Vaccines’ said his government submitted the country’s request to GAVI – the Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunisation, which is the global health agency that co-leads the COVAX Facility on December 7, 2020.

Through the ‘COVAX facility’, participating eligible countries such as Solomon Islands will receive an initial Covid-19 vaccine to cover 20 percent of its population free. Countries are then able to co-finance the remaining doses with GAVI.

Mr Sogavare said his government has agreed to increase the vaccine coverage through the COVAX Facility to ‘50 percent’ of the population through a co-financing arrangement.

“We will secure the balance of the other 50% of the population through bilateral and other multi-lateral arrangements with our development partners,” said Sogavare.

“Fellow citizens, in-order to qualify under the COVAX Facility, the government has established a high-level National Coordinating Committee required for the COVAX Facility. It is jointly chaired by the Permanent Secretaries of Health and Finance to drive the development and deployment of a COVID-19 vaccination plan in Solomon Islands.

“The National Coordinating Committee is supported by a Technical Working Group for COVAX which also co-chaired by the Ministries of Health and Finance with membership including our development partners – namely Australia, New Zealand, Peoples Republic of China, WHO, UNICEF, and the World Bank.

“Fellow citizens, I am happy to inform you that the Technical Working Group has developed the ‘Draft National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines’ which will be further deliberated by the national coordinating committee and the oversight committee before presentation to my Cabinet for approval. We anticipate receiving this plan by the end of January 2021.

“The Technical working group is currently reviewing available scientific information on the leading vaccines that have been certified by WHO, or used by countries under Emergency Use Authorisation, or are currently in Phase-3 development, including those that are likely to come through the COVAX Facility.

“Based on their assessment the working group will recommend which vaccines Solomon Islands might consider for its implementation. We also anticipate receiving this recommendation by the end of January 2021.

“Fellow citizens, we have also received advice that the COVAX Facility is planning to deploy enough doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines to cover 0.25% of the population of its eligible countries in the first quarter of 2021. For Solomon Islands this equates to approximately 1,700 people.

“The government will be submitting its proposal to secure this allocation by the closing date of 18 January [next week Monday] 2021.

“We anticipate a decision on the approval of vaccines to be conveyed to us by end of January with a likely deployment date for the first batch of vaccines in February or March 2021.

“The technical working group and national coordinating committee are finalising the specific execution plan for the first 1,700 vaccines to be included in our proposal to be submitted on 18th January 2021.”

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare assure that work to benefit fully from Covid-19 vaccines is on track as the country look forward to receiving the first doses of vaccines to cover 0.25% of its population in the next couple of months.

“While we await the advice from our technical working group and the national coordinating committee on the mass roll out of COVID-19 vaccines in the country, it is my hope that we will be able to vaccinate the whole of our population by the end of 2021,” said Sogavare.

On ‘health update’, the number of Covid-19 cases registered in Solomon Islands remains at 17.

Guangzhou flight delayed

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE flight for Guangzhou scheduled for January 24 will be delayed as Solomon Airlines still has not received approval from relevant authorities for the flight.

This was confirmed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare yesterday in his nationwide address.

“The flight scheduled for Guangzhou on 24th January will also be delayed as Solomon Airlines still had not received approval from the relevant authorities for the flight.

“We are also watching the COVID-19 situation in China closely. Our health team will advise on the best possible time to reschedule based on quarantine spaces available and their assessment of COVID-19 risk to the country,” said Sogavare.

He said repatriation flight scheduled for February 7 from Auckland is still on track

“We anticipate a total of 600-700 people entering the country on these flights in the January – February period,” said Sogavare.

He said the third phase of Solomon Islands Governments repatriation plan has commenced with the 3rd and final flight to Fiji having arrived on Sunday night. This flight also brought in nine citizens from Kiribati.

“We have another repatriation flight arriving from Auckland on January 17, 2021.

“The 3rd and final repatriation flight from the Philippines had been delayed to 21st January because the final paperwork for about 30 of the students were not ready for the original date of January 11, 2020,” said Sogavare.

Two covid-19 cases remain positive

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

‘TWO’ Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases of the 17 registered in Solomon Islands remain positive.

The two remaining positive cases are soccer players returning from England on October 2020, confirmed Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his first 2021 Covid-19 ‘Nationwide Address’ yesterday.

Prime Minister Sogavare expressed that the latest Covid-19 update in the country ‘is nothing short of a miracle’ given that in the month of December 2020 alone, 821 people were brought into the country.

“Good people of Solomon Islands, I am very happy to inform you all that the number of COVID-19 cases registered in Solomon Islands remain at 17,” said Sogavare.

“This is nothing short of a miracle, given that in the month of December alone, we brought 821 people into the country. More than 90 percent [%] of these people are our citizens we repatriated from Vanuatu, Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Fiji.

“One of the students that arrived from the Philippines and who was positive from COVID-19 while in the Philippines and turned negative for almost two months before his repatriation, reactivated after arrival to be transiently positive and has now turned negative again.

“Under international protocol, this case had been recorded against the Philippines, and therefore it does not increase our count. This is the reason our domestic cases remain at 17 cases registered against Solomon Islands.

“Fellow citizens, before we went for the Christmas break, I informed you all that we had 5 positive cases of COVID-19.

“I am extremely happy to inform you all, that as of this morning [yesterday], we now only have 2 positive cases of COVID-19.

“Of the 17 recorded cases 15 have turned negative. Of these, 11 have been released after completing 3 consecutive negative tests after their last positive tests. 10 were released over the past two months, and 1 last week.

“The two remaining positive cases are soccer players that returned from England on 25th October 2020. This is a concern for us. These two have been positive now for 79 days.

“In-fact, the other 8 positive cases that returned from the United Kingdom, and the one case that returned from Indonesia, were all positive for well over a month each.

“These prolonged positive cases are telling us that the COVID-19 virus does not just disappear from infected individuals at 10 or 14 days after their symptoms subside – especially from those that do not have any symptoms.

“Without repeated testing it is more than likely that many COVID-19 positive people could be still positive and infective when they are released back into communities.

“This is why in Solomon Islands we only release previously positive people after 3 consecutive negative tests to ensure we are 100 percent sure they are negative before they are released into the communities.”

Police queried over suspected log export

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Logging in Solomon Islands. Photo supplied

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ORION Limited Managing Director, Chan Chee Min is questioning the integrity of police after no answers and actions were taken since Bulacan International Limited exported 7,000 cubic metres of logs in South Choiseul onboard MV Ocean Star in 2018.

Bulacan is own by President of Solomons Forest Association, Jonny Sy, who is currently overseas.

Chan asks these following questions:

1.         Where are the proceeds from the shipment per MV Ocean Star held in virtues of High Court Injunctive Orders on HCCC 496 of 2016 and HCCC 246 of 2018?

2.         It was understood that the proceeds held in virtues of HCCC 496 of 2016 and HCCC 246 of 2018 was released by “Consent Order”.

3.         Kubobangara Customary Land Trustees Board, Kubongava Customary Land Trustees Board and Billy Qaqara Tudubatu is the Applicant/Claimant, is not aware and not a signatory to the said “Consent Order”.

He raised these questions in order to expose the corruption allegedly practised by Commissioner of Forest and Bulacan, a member of SFA.

Chan said on November 14, 2011, Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited held Timber Rights Acquisition over Subavalu Customary Land.

He said there was objections to the Choiseul Province Executives determinations.

“The Western Customary Land Appeal Court sat and Judgment was delivered on Western CLAC No. 03, 04 and o5 of 2012.

“In the Judgment, one of the orders, quote “The determination made by the Choiseul Provincial Executives on 14 November 2011 is set aside,” he said.

Chan asked if Ministry of Forestry and Research can shed light on how and why Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited was issued with Felling Licence A10820 when the Western Customary Land Appeal Court has set aside the determination of the Choiseul Province Executives.

As a result, Chan said Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited and its contractor Metro Team landed logging equipment and entered Kubobangara Customary Land and Kubongava Customary Land with an illegal Felling License A10820, fraudulently obtained.

This was in defiance of Billy Qaqara Tudubatu, Secretary to the Kububangara Customary Land Trustees Board, who has obtained from the High Court of Solomon Islands an Injunctive Orders in HCCC 496 or 2016.

Furthermore, Chan alleged that Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited in conjunction with ES Suba Enterprises Limited, acquired a Grant of Profit over lot 32 (adjoining to Subavalu Customary Land) fraudulently and felling license Number A101639 was issued.

However, he said relations between ES Suba Enterprises Limited and Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited turned sour.

Chan said ES Suba Enterprises Limited terminated their arrangement with Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited and entered into a new arrangement with FR Resources and its financial backers (Glengrow (SI) Limited).

He said they continued their logging operations in defiant of the High Court Injunctive Orders on HCCC 496 of 2016.

Chan said Tudubatu, Secretary to the Kubongava Customary Land Trustees Board again has obtained another Injunctive Orders from the High Court of Solomon Islands in HCCC 246 of 2018.

Meanwhile, FR Resources entered into deals to acquire PWP Limited, a SFA membership company.

FR resources acquired PWP Limited, to continue their logging operations and exporting logs in defiance of High Court Injunctive Orders on HCCC, 496 of 2016 and HCCC 246 of 2018.

He said on November 30, 2018, the Commissioner of Forest issued a Seizure Order on ES Suba Enterprises Limited and a Sale Order to Bulacan International Limited.

He said a shipment of 7,000 cubic metres was exported under FD#1047/2018 dated 07 December 2018 per MV Ocean Star.

Moreover, Subavalu Community Investment Limited was issued a Felling Licence Number A101851 covering Subavalu Customary Land.

This is the same Subavalu Customary Land under felling Licence Number A10820, held by Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited) without going through the Timbers Rights Acquisition procedures.

Chan said PWP Limited is currently operating and exporting round logs under the Felling License of Subavalu Community Investment Limited, Felling License Number A101851

He said Solomon Forest Association, its president, executive and member continued with their unorthodox practices.

Chan said that Orion Limited, Kubobangara Customary Land Trustees Board, and Kubongava Customary Land Trustees Board has reported these matters to the Royal Solomon Islands Police, Fraud Squad and even JANUS as they believe that Forestry Officer/s and certain Choiseul Provincial Executives are responsible.

“Sadly, to date, we did not hear any action taken.

“Can it be true that the SFA tentacles has a hold on Solomon Islands governance?” he asked.

Police Media said when outcomes are not available show the investigation is pending.

“It is not easy to investigate cases dealing with transaction and high profile cases.

“Investigators will need time to collect all information before proceeding with it,” Police Media said.

That house

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Work on new PM residence starts

By EDDIE OSIFELO

WORK on the new official residence of the Prime Minister is on track adjacent to the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) headquarters overlooking Honiara city.

This was after the Central Tender Board awarded the contract to a builder to start work on the site.

Ministry of Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary, Stephen Maesiola is currently on leave so has been unable to provide an update.

In 2018, Under Secretary Jimmy Nuake said the Government through MID had approved the plan to build a new official residence for the Prime Minister.

Nuake said the move was based on Government’s policy initiated in 2016.

Prior to that, the Prime Minister is normally accommodated at the Red House at Vavaya Ridge.

MID had already demolished the Red House and late last year fire engulfed the Guard House.

An officer at Architectural Design at MID said currently there is still no plan to rebuild the run-down Red House.

Island Sun understands work at new PM’s residence at FFA started after the completion of design, geotechnical work and boundary survey.

Previously, former Prime Minister Danny Philip decided not to reside at Red House due to deteriorating condition of the building after Dr Derek Sikua left.

However, incoming PM, Gordon Darcy Lilo decided to move in the Red House after small renovation was carried out on it.

After that, Rick Hou and Manasseh Sogavare decided to reside at their private residences at Lunga, East Honiara, rather than moving into Red House.

Their decision attracted public criticisms because they decided to reside at their own residence rather than in a government residence.

Going ahead

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Malaita ready to roll out PCDF projects for 2021

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

MALAITA Provincial Tender Board will sit this week to award its first four PCDF projects for implementation in 2021.

In a statement from the Provincial Planning Division, the projects were put on tender last month for interested certified contractors to be part of the bid.

The projects include Waneagu CHS, Sinasu CHS assembly hall, Ote Rural Health Centre and Sikaiana crushing mill.

It said applications from contractors were received and screening will be carried out on the bids to award the projects to the winning candidates.

Official statement on wining candidates will be published soon and contractors have been asked to listen out.

Also, a re-tender was made for Maka primary school project which was a failed project and will be re-implemented this year.

In last year’s financial year 2020/2021, MARA government implemented a total of 29 PCDF projects in the province.

From the 29 projects, four project work will begin on this year are Waneagu CHS, Sinasu CHS assembly hall, Ote Rural Health Centre and Sikaiana crushing mill.

Completed projects total up to 24 and almost all of them have already been handed over to recipients. Only Sulufoloa market building is yet to be handed over.

The 29 projects covered sectors include administration, works and transport, education, water supply and sanitation, health, agriculture, women, youths and sport and investment service.

Education and Health sectors scooped the highest number of projects under the 29 implemented PCDF projects.

Most of these projects are carried-over projects from the previous MART government led by former premier, Peter Ramohia.

PNG nationals quarantined on Pelau

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Pelau police post on the atoll island of Pelau in the Malaita Outer Islands.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

FOUR Papua New Guinean nationals are at the moment kept under quarantine at Pelau police post in Malaita Outer Islands.

The four were reported to have illegally trans-border the SI-PNG border from Tasman Island (under PNG) and arrived on Saturday morning, December 26 at Pelau.

Supervising PPC Malaita, Mr Michael Ramosaea told this paper on the incident in an interview yesterday.

He said based on report received from Pelau police post on the incident, four men from Tasman Islands trans-border to Pelau Island in Solomon Islands on an out-boat motor engine.

Ramosaea said the men arrived at Pelau after their voyage and upon finding out on the situation, officers at Pelau police post alerted the headquarter on the matter.

He said in respond to the situation, a team consisted of RSIPF, medical, disaster and St John Ambulance deployed to Pelau via patrol boat 05 Gizo on December 27, 2020 to deal with the situation.

Ramosaea said the team arrived in Pelau and report received from them was the men were arrested and put under custody at the police post.

He said reason for their illegal entry is yet to be known at the moment and they now under police investigation.

Ramosaea stressed that the fear on the issue that is now being dealing with the potential spread of covid-19 in Pelau and neighboring Luaniua.

“I said so because upon report received, two men from the group had been reported to be on a direct route from PNG mainland through Tasman and then to Pelau.

“And since we don’t know of their health status it’s a fear because they had direct conduct with 10 locals in Pelau included a police officer who dealt with them upon their arrival.

“Our hope is for positive outcome from our four colleagues PNG nationals and 11 locals for covid-19 free status as testing is carry out on them,” he said.

Ramosaea said in dealing with the situation, the four PNG nationals were put under custody and at the same time quarantine at Pelau police post.

He added that the locals include the police officer were put under quarantine at Bellama Island just outside of Pelau Island.

Bellama Island was an uninhabited island and it believed locals serving the quarantine on the island were given temporary shelter and food as they serve their time on the island.  

Ramosaea reiterated that the PNG nationals are put under custody and also quarantined and will soon face charges under this State of Public Emergency.

Overcrowding affects teaching and learning environment

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Governor General Sir David Vunagi

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

OVERCROWDING is seriously affecting the teaching and learning environment in schools in Honiara which has led to poor hygiene and poor living conditions.

This was uttered by Governor General Sir Rt Reverend David Vunagi when delivering his New Year message to the nation.

“Overcrowding greatly affected teaching and learning environment in the schools in Honiara, overcrowding also affected the hygiene and living condition in many homes in Honiara.

These are facts that we cannot continue accept as normal, if we are to be true to the nation, we must address the unjust living conditions that are very obvious even to mention,” said Vunagi.

He adds on the same that the whole national population data has not been released but one group he believed has often made up the biggest percentage is that of the young people,

He said this group needs to been given special consideration because when its moves it creates the biggest fall and momentum and it not controlled it could lead to undesirable consequences.

“There is unsubstantiated claim that young people have nothing to do and have nothing to offer the nation. The way forward is to empower them, they have the number, strength, skills and talents which are often untapped, the test to test their viability and character we need to give them responsibility and I am sure we will be surprised to see the unimaginable gifts and talents to do even the things many of us cannot do,” he said.

He said the census has also shown and even population distribution throughout the country that there is a dynamic population drift towards Guadalcanal making Honiara the melting pot of the country where social, cultural and racial issues are exhibited.

“We must reduce the pressure in Honiara by distributing the population evenly throughout the nine provinces, maybe we can do this in future when we have the capacity,  capability and resources to developed Lata, Kirakira, Auki, Buala, Tigoa, Gizo, Munda, Noro and Taro, the standard and level of infrastructures and services in the provincial headquarters must be compatible to Honiara.

People should come all the way to Honiara to access reliable banking and communication services, hospital, schools, sports, sport stadium, legal advice and market for Agriculture and marine products.

“If these services are accessible in the provinces, we can create job opportunities right in the places where the people are.

“It is a fallacy to say that every basic thing that people need can only be obtained in Honiara,” he said.

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