BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

NO public transport bus and taxis are to operate tomorrow as a march to the Inland Revenue Division (IRD) is planned out today by the public transport associations.

Local public transport business owners and members of the public transport associations want explanation from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury as to why the recent enforcement of tax returns late last month is too costly, being unfair compared to their daily business takings and expenses financially not forgetting to mention the day-to-day cost of living in Solomon Islands.

According to the Bus and Taxi Association members, part of the tax returns being implemented is for public transport vehicles operating since 2015 to pay yearly taxes starting from 2015 to this present 2018 which will be $7,000 yearly per taxi and $10,000 yearly per bus.

Within the timeframe since 2015 to this present 2018 means that each taxis operating since then to this present will have to pay $21,000 each, while for each public bus will be $30,000.

What is the purpose for such new tax implementation is what the public transport Associations are really curious about stating that the enforcement is not fair.

Public transport businesses in Honiara were reminded through the media last week that they will now pay tax to the government after IRD issued a notice in October for all to comply.

Despite call attempts were not possible yesterday to IRD, from their documents, it was revealed that any form of business that charges goods and services with the intention to make profit must file annual return. Therefore bus and taxi vehicles operating transport services are categorised as business operators obliged to file income tax returns, pay income tax and keep business records. All annual income for one year would be taxed 30 percent.

On the goods service tax, taxi drivers are questioning too on which goods are referred to stating that they only provide transport service for human passengers.

“If the government stand on their stand then on what basis do they stand on? If the government wants a tax return then they should do it in a way that is reasonable on expenses and the struggles faced every day in the country financially. Such move will only lead to problems in the future for our people through our service,” stated taxi drivers.

The public transport Associations that were joined by heavy load public transport owners during the public transport Associations meeting yesterday in front of the Multi-purpose Hall formed a Committee that will lead a march accompanied by public transport owners and workers to demonstrate their disapproval over the new tax enforcement on them.

All the public transport Association members meeting yesterday are advised to meet today (Wednesday) 12pm in front of the Multi-purpose Hall to receive the memo that will be distributed to them for their plan.

Spokesman for the public transport Association Mr Leonard Ofa along with the Interim Chairman of their public transport Associations Committee expressed over the new tax enforcement that there has not been any proper consultation done to make the people and public as a whole to be aware.

“It is not only us who owns public transport vehicles who will be affected but it is all of us consumers in the Capital who will be affected.

“So we have to ensure our rights for our leaders and implementers so that they respect our rights too rather than depriving them and imposing such taxes as these that are really unfair. As Solomon Islanders we have our rights to demonstrate our disagreements.

“This service is not only too for vehicle expenses, people have been doing this service with the means for survival of their families, school fees and such over which increasing tax this way will cause problems for families to not be able to meet daily needed expenses.”

The public transport Associations meeting yesterday ensured that their plan and proposal must be taken into action by the responsible authority.

Another local public taxi owner sharing his disappointment to Island Sun reminds that registering to operate public business transports in Honiara can be seen as the only current business many locals are engaged in as many other business services in the country have already been dominated or observed as taken over by Asian foreigners especially.

“Seeing with vision that this is one of the only main businesses locals turn to engage to is why we have to push for our right to ensure that we also want to enjoy a suitable environment to operate our businesses in,” said the local taxi owner.

It is understood from the public transport associations Committee that they will be informing Police Traffic and the Honiara City Council (HCC) to be aware of their plans for tomorrow, assuring to be in a peaceful way.

If the government only wishes to remain on their stand then many from the public raise fear over the suggestion to then increase public transport charges as well.

Meanwhile, fuel price has also increased overnight Thursday last week adding worry for public transport owners looking on the other side of expenses. The fuel price increase is the Means of Platts Singapore (MOPS) prices for this month being confirmed when queried.

CANADIAN International Training and Education Corp Chairman Ashwant Dwivedi says that Solomon Islanders can help ease Canada’s demand for workers as Canada’s businesses are struggling to find workers to fill jobs in the Hospitality & Tourism sectors.

“We can further expand our opportunity into other skilled trades which would include but is not limited to plumbers, joiners, carpenters and others who can contribute and help ease the pain of labour shortages in Canada,” Dwivedi announced.

Dwivedi said that discussion is already taking place between Canadian regulatory authorities to come up with a right tool to access skill trades youths in the Solomon Islands and bring those trade holders to Canadian equivalency.

“There is also active ongoing discussion on the establishment of a Regional Centre in the Solomon Islands which can be a one stop shop for both the Canadian employer and Solomon Islands workers which can connect both. This is an arrangement we look forward to concluding very soon,” Dwivedi said.

Dwivedi said that with Western Canada attracting one of the largest Liquefied Natural Gas [LNG] projects, Solomon Islanders who have proven experience as welders and others can be considered for the opportunity.

Speaking during a conference in Canada, Dwivedi also said that by hiring a “Solomon Islander” Canadian businesses are directly helping build a community, a village and a town and nation that is a direct victim of climate change with a high rate of unemployment among its youth.

“The money that Solomon Islands workers earn when remitted back to the Solomon Islands is put towards family and community development. I am told this morning that a dairy farm worker out of Chilliwack has sent SBD$18,000 to his mother, one of the many contributions he has made since coming into Canada,” Dwivedi said.

“A daughter of Solomon Islanders out of Saskatchewan has been sending thousands of dollars each month to support her family in Guadalcanal. She has been able to support her family’s dreams come true with the money she is remitting. There cannot be any better moment that seeing smile and joy on faces of people of the Solomon Islands and together as Canadians we can slowly but surely bring this joy across Solomon Islands,” Dwivedi said.

“When I met the father of this worker, he said to me that amount of money his daughter has sent to him in the past two months is what he earns in a year through local salary. He told me that it is not just money that brings joy to the family, but it is the fact that his daughter has a job. A permanent job and a bright future. For a father there is nothing more that can bring joy,” Dwivedi said.

Dwivedi said that Canadian businesses are playing a leading role in Solomon Islands labour mobility sector an achievement he is proud to talk about and boast about.

“Canada’s hunger for more labour can be easily met by Solomon Islands youths who once trained can be job ready for the Canadian market. I urge all of your businesses to consider hiring Solomon Islands. We are just a phone call away and our people in Solomon Islands are job ready,” Dwivedi said.

“One of the biggest challenges that is faced by Solomon Islands is the highest number of unemployed youths that the economy has to deal with on a daily basis. There is no doubt that we in Canada have a booming economy and that in our tourism and hospitality sector we face a growing shortage of workers. Let us all look at Solomon Islands for our labour needs,” Dwivedi said.

Dwivedi also talked about the recent single largest achievement of bringing nine people from Solomon Islands into Canada under various immigration programs which includes 4 people who entered Canada under the Permanent Resident programme.

Of the nine people travelling four were travelling to Canada under the Permanent Residence stream whilst five were admitted into Canada as Temporary Foreign Workers under Canada’s Agriculture Management arrangement where they were issued with 24-month work permits. The new arrival of nine people from Solomon Islands provinces has set a new record in Canada’s Labour Mobility partnership with the Solomon Islands.

Dwivedi announced that the nine people who travelled were the largest number that were processed for Canadian visa in one day.

“We had four people travelling under Permanent Residence Stream through provincial nomination, Permanent Residence Stream, while five others from province of Makira-Ulawa, Guadalcanal combined will be entering Canada as seasonal workers. We are all excited about this opportunity and the benefit it will have on the persons, their families and Solomon Islands,” Dwivedi said.

“It was the first ever opportunity when Makira-Ulawa province had sent three workers to support Canada’s labour needs under the labour mobility arrangement with CITREC. We look forward to more opportunities in the coming weeks of recruitment,” Dwivedi said.

Canada’s Permanent Residence Stream has recently become an attractive feature to Solomon Islanders the first to be made available to Solomon Islands under the Labour mobility arrangement.

–CITREC PRESS

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

PEOPLE with Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI) are calling for support from the Taiwan Government to recognise disabled people in Solomon Islands.

PWDSI understands that Solomon Islands has a longstanding diplomatic ties with Taiwan, and lots of resulting development have been seen in the country.

Throughout the years of friendship, people with special needs realised not every opportunity is accessible for people with disabilities in Solomon Islands.

Seeing this gap, the PWDSI vice chair Mr Casper Fa’asala is calling for support from the Taiwan Government to create sister relationship of people-to-people diplomacy.

He made the call during the Taiwan Acrobatic Troupe performance yesterday.

Fa’asala said now Taiwan and Solomon Islands have been good friends for more than 30 years, it is time that both countries look at initiating inclusive development facilities which specifically for people with special needs.

He said Taiwan government should also look at opening scholarship opportunities for people with special needs to learn creative art and performances.

Especially at the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, he adds.

Meanwhile, Solomon Islands did not rectify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) yet which means rights of the people with disability still not recognized, he said.

Fa’asala said in the Article 30 of the CRPD it stated the participation of people with special needs in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sports.

From the article, Fa’asala said they are expecting the country to establish facilities for disable people access to creative arts such as performances or services like theater.

Yesterday, Taiwan Embassy Solomon Islands has organized a charity performance by the Taiwan Acrobatic Troupe for people with special needs.

They have enjoyed the performances and also took part in the show.