THE case of a man alleged to have involved in corruption activities has adjourned to November 19 for mention.
Public Prosecutor Freliz Fakari told the court yesterday that the matter as set for trial yesterday but since she has other cases as well for trial, prosecution intends to vacate the trial date to next year.
She said that she had consulted the defence lawyer in regards to the issue raised in court.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea then adjourned the case to the next 14 days for setting new trial date.
This is the case against Eddie Paohawe alleged for misusing huge amount of money worth SBD$400,358.
The allegation was in relation to incidents occurred on dates between 2013 and 2014 was employed by Bemobile Company
The prosecution alleged that it was during his employment he has taken for his benefit by transferring P2P credits worth SBD$400,358 from the P2P data system to his work mobile number and sold the credit belonging to the said public company.
Freliz Fakari of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution prosecutes the case in court.
THE Principal Magistrate at Kirakira in the Makira Ulawa province on November 2, 2018 sentenced a 40-year-old man to 16 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of eight charges of incest.
The man was found guilty of having sexual intercourse with his biological daughter on eight separate dates in 2011.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Makira-Ulawa Province, Superintendent Peter Sitai says, “The convicted man from Tawaiabu Village in West Makira was found guilty of eight charges of incest by male.
“He is serving his sentence at the Kirakira Correctional Centre.
“The public must be reminded that the crime of incest is serious one under the Penal Code of Solomon Islands. It carries a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment.
“This Crime has two parts – incest by a male and incest by a female.
“Incest by male is when any male person has sexual intercourse with a female person who is to his knowledge his granddaughter; daughter, sister or mother.
“Police will not tolerate such acts.
“I would like to thank police officers involved in the investigation in getting the man convicted in court despite challenges during the course of investigation.
“I extend the same sentiments to the chiefs and family members of the convicted man for their understanding and supporting the police,” says Sitai.
POLICE in Central province have arrested and charged a Form-Three student of McMahon Community High School at Tulagi for allegedly causing an indecent act to a seven-year-old girl at the same school on November 1, 2018.
Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province, Inspector Hugo Maelasi says, “The victim was having morning break with her friends at the School when the suspect allegedly came and tied both the hands of the victim and her friend with a skipping rope. The victim’s friend managed to escape.
“The suspect then tied the victim’s hands and the rest of her body including her legs with the rope.
“The victim tried to take out the rope from her legs but she could not do so because the suspect was very strong.
“It is further alleged that the male suspect then grabbed the victim and poked his finger into the victim’s private part.
“This is a really sad incident which occurred at a school, a place where parents send their children to get an education.
“But instead the victim experienced something that will affect her for the rest of her live.
“I advise older students to have some respect towards the little children and take extra responsibility in caring for them.
“Teachers are also reminded to keep an eye on the students as the parents entrust their children under their care.
“Police will not tolerate such an indecent act to such a little girl and will investigate and prosecute accordingly.”
The suspect has been formally charged and released on bail to reappear in Court at a later date.
POLICE at Henderson in Guadalcanal province are investigating a fatal accident which occurred close to Suva road in North Guadalcanal on November 2, 2018.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Guadalcanal Province, Chief Superintendent Evelyn Thugea says “At least three people have been confirmed death in relation to the fatal accident last Friday while five other people who sustained injuries are still admitted at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara.
“Two of the dead died instantly at the scene during the accident and the other who was in a critical condition later died at the NRH on November 3, 2018.
“The accident involved a vehicle owned by the Hatanga Company with a load of timber traveling to Honiara.
“It is alleged that the driver of the vehicle tried to avoid a pot hole by traveling into the opposite lane of the road and swung the vehicle to its right lane.
“Due to the heavy load of timber and a Lucas Mill on the back trailer the vehicle overturned and caused the accident.
“It is a sad incident and it should be a reminder to our drivers, vehicle owners and passengers.
“Drivers must be careful and take extra precaution and consider that the lives of the passengers travelling on your vehicle are in your hands. Do not overload your vehicle.
“To vehicle owners, make sure your vehicles are road worthy and that your drivers have a valid driver’s licence.
“Passengers, tell the driver to slow down if they are driving too fast and tell the driver if you think the vehicle is overloaded.
“Our safety while travelling in vehicles is our shared responsibility.
“I would like to sincerely acknowledge the support from our communities and stakeholders who assisted the victims and securing properties during the time of the fatal accident.
“I appeal to members of the public who may have witnessed the incident to come forward with information and assist police with the investigation.
“Our sympathies and condolences to the family members of the deceased who died during the accident.”
PARLIAMENT has on Monday, blessed the expenditure records of the government, giving an ok to the records of the money that were used under the 2017 Supplementary Appropriation.
Presented as the 2017 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2018, it went through all procedures of the House and was thoroughly scrutinised by the Committee of the Whole House on the usage of funds under two Supplementary Appropriation Bills (SAB) that were brought to parliament by the same government, but under two Prime Ministers and two finance heads, only with a few adjustments in policies.
First, Parliament appropriated a supplementary appropriation of $435,409,870 to be applicable for the service of the year ending 2017.
Later last year, another SA Bill was brought in, which was also approved, seeking an additional $43,906,376 under the now Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (SIDCCG), to the service of the year ending December 31, 2017.
The first 2017 SAB consisted of the 2017 recurrent and development contingency warrants that totalled up to $6,920,000 and recurrent and development advance warrants of up to $20,886,945, with a total variation of $127,345,938.
As for the second SAB, it consisted of the recurrent and development contingency warrants that totalled up to $4,841,838 and recurrent and development advance warrants of up to $39,064,538.
These monies were used in the year ending December 31, 2017.
Under the first SAB, the Bill revealed that for Development Contingency warrants, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development had asked and was issued a total of $200,000,000 while the Ministry of Infrastructure Development was issued a total of $106,000,000, most of which went towards their supplementary expenditures.
Also under the first SAB, a total of six ministries were issued with Contingency Warrants, and two ministries, namely the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration.
Meanwhile, under the second SAB, a total of seven ministries were issued with recurrent Advance Warrants and three Ministries namely, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Meteorology, the National Judiciary and the National Parliament used a total of over $4.8 million for Development advance warrants.
Following the passage of the 2017 Supplementary Appropriation Act 2018, Parliament was adjourned to this morning.
MAKIRA Ulawa province is reported to be in dire need of quality health service for its people.
According to a general health status report for the province, it is facing a lot of serious health challenges, with 10 percent of health facilities closed due to poor conditions, human resources and community issues.
It also says that 85 percent of health facilities and staff houses are in deteriorated states.
Furthermore, 33 percent of rural health centres are operating without a registered nurse and 28 of the available facilities do not have radio communication devices.
The report says 11 of the 15 outboard motor canoes used for health services are no longer working. This is said to be a serious matter since majority of health centres rely on sea transport.
“Health facilities are without functioning water supply and sanitation and also minimum standard equipment. Manpower, nurses, microscopist and nutritionist.
“There is a great need for new staff houses and even repair of existing ones will be at a very high cost,” the report outlines.
Regarding water and sanitation, the report reveals that a staggering 40 percent of communities in Makira Ulawa province do not access safe drinking water, and 89 percent are without proper sanitation.
The report meanwhile says diseases responsible for most deaths in the province as recorded are non-communicable diseases (NCD), malaria, maternal, TB and accidents.
THE Western Provincial Assembly will convene their full assembly sitting next week at the Gizo Women Resource Centre.
Clerk to Assembly Kevin Q Paia confirmed to Island Sun that the 26-member house will convene at Gizo for a two-day assembly.
He said Premier David Gina in consultation with the Speaker have set aside Monday, November 12 as the commencement date for the first full Assembly meeting of the ninth Assembly of the Western province.
“All HODs, your attendance to this meeting is important as one of the matters to be deliberated on is the 2018/2019 Revised Appropriation Budget.
“Therefore, you are expected to be available to assist your Ministers.
“MPAs are advised to travel to Gizo and to arrive by Sunday, November 11, 2018,” said Paia.
NON-Communicable Diseases (NCD) has reportedly caused most deaths at Buala Hospital for the first stanza of this year, 2018.
According to a report obtained from Buala hospital, the data for NCDs was gathered from January to June this year.
In a graph ranking up to 20 – portraying the deaths recorded at the hospital, NCD-deaths is at 11 followed by maternal, cancers and pneumonia at two (2) and other diseases at one.
The report also went on to report on five demarcated zones Isabel province, Buala, Tatamba, Konide, Bolitei and Kia on the status of NCDs from each of them.
This is on the number of NCD cases admitted at the hospital (new and return cases) for this year as well.
The number of NCD cases portrayed in a graph ranking up to 700 and Buala zone with the highest NCD cases with 645 cases.
Followed by Kia zone with 263, Tatamba zone with 238, Bolitei zone with 177 and Konide zone with 125 cases respectively.
According to the data, NCDs has become the major threat for Isabel province’s general health status – something everyone must work together to address.
The disease burden for the hospital recorded
Recorded types of NCDs include, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, malnutrition, pneumonia (age from 5-yrs), cancers, heart disease, maternal deaths and anaemia.
The report did not say much on diseases like malaria, TB and others, which are said to be decreasing in Isabel province.
According to the report, Isabel Health Authority is doing the best they can in tackling the entire health related issues in the province, but resource was the biggest challenges face.
This article can be seen categorised for Isabel province for not balancing NCD status from other provinces, they have their reports, however, this paper only obtained report from Isabel province.
Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and
Immigration William Bradford Marau.
By Gary Hatigeva
Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration William Bradford Marau.
A local beche-de-mer company was responsible for opening up the pathway for what had started the influx of foreign nationals who came as investors, says the Minister for Commerce, Immigration, Labour and Industries.
Minister William Marau revealed this when questioned in Parliament on Monday, over what has been described as the concerning high influx of the increasing number Bangladeshis who are accused of coming into the country in the name of investment, only to venture into the businesses that are reserved for Solomon Islanders.
Leader of the Official Opposition Group and MP for East Malaita, Manasseh Maelanga had questioned why there was a sudden influx of Bangladesh nationals into Solomon Islands and how they are able to be given permission to operate businesses that are meant for locals only.
In his response, Mr Marau explained that it all started with these Bangladesh groups coming through a local company that is heavily involved in the Beche-de-mer business here.
After working a little while, they decided to start their own businesses, which the Minister clarified that no law actually stops them from doing so, but revealed that they themselves have taken matters into their own hands by expanding the scale of influx and business activities.
The Minister further explained that after starting up their own businesses, they started recruiting from their people, most of which were directly from Bangladesh, to work for their newly established businesses or companies.
Marau also clarified that the allowance of Bangladesh people was on the basis that were according to the Act, and that was for them to operate within a 200 square metre, which according to the minister, was straight forward.
But they went ahead to breach the provisions within the act that guides the said matter with the activities they are involved in and the type of operations they have as businesses.
He said the approved licences were according to the laws, with clear criteria and strict guides, and that is for them to operate with the Honiara City Business District (CBD), and again, within no less than 200 square metre of land or property, but added that the foreigners themselves have taken the initiative to operate outside of the said boundaries and different forms of businesses.
Marau agreed that the issue raised is of serious concern to the ministry and as result, the ministry together with the Honiara City Council and the Guadalcanal province have teamed up through the formation of committee that has since been looking into this issue thoroughly.
He said a good number of follow-ups from the committee was held in June and again last month, and this he said, had led to businesses owned and operated by these nationals being closed.
He then explained that the combined team is currently running a monitoring programme on all foreign national owned businesses throughout Honiara as part of the same exercise, to ensure that they are not doing what the other business that were closed, have been doing.
The matter has got many to speak out on an issue said to be within the scope of governments for years now, yet very little or no actions, have been done to deal with it.
Others interviewed after the Question and Answer Session shared that while it is a concern for parliament, the people of this country must also be warned and reminded, as these foreigners are taking advantage of our vulnerabilities and ignorance to strike deals with no balance.
Others say while it is good to have foreigners coming into the country with their creativities and innovations, the authorities should stop giving out the shop businesses status to them and start looking into getting investors for the production and industrial sectors.
“We need such investors to help boost our economy at the same time, create opportunities for employments, because currently, the way things are done, these foreigners would start of after coming in under a different company, and then start bringing in their own employees, who’d be extending the cycle.”
There was also the suggestion for the country through any future government, to look into putting entry requirements for investors or interested businesses, based on figures in terms of money, and this would attract only the genuine investors.
But in his summary statement before ending the Question and Answer Session on this issue, Maelanga stressed that the country needs to look properly into the types of businesses that are there for foreign nationals and which for the locals, with strict measures to protect these avenues.
He said the country also needs to get this issue sorted, whether in this house or the new one, in order to get the right investors into the country, with a thorough assessment on those intending to invest in the country is highly needed.
“Despite whatever the circumstances that our people are faced with, we still need to protect these fronts for them and our future Solomon Islands generations, and therefore, let us stop giving out the retail commercial status to any foreign investor,” the Opposition Leader shared.
Alwin Hou of Kooline tries to past the Marist player.
SIPA Futsal Challenge takes off with a bang
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Alwin Hou of Kooline tries to past the Marist player.
THE SIPA Futsal Challenge gets off with a bang yesterday at the Multipurpose Hall with the first round of matches.
Six matches were played across Groups A and B, beginning at 10am.
The opener yesterday got underway between Koloale and Vania from Pool A. Koloale were lucky to escape with a narrow 3-2 victory.
In the other Pool A matches, national league champions Marist received a massive 7-2 upset from Kooline while Mataks also defeated KOSSA with the same margin.
In Pool B, Indo-Solo thrashes Henderson Eels with a 9-1 margin and followed by Solympics registering a 7-5 victory over Gantimak while Real Kakamora came away with a 6-3 win against G-Camp.
As the table stands after day one, Kooline, Mataks and Koloale are currently leading Pool A with three points each from wins earned yesterday, respectively.
Indo-Solo, Real Kakamora and Solympics find themselves at the top of Pool B with three points each following their wins.
The futsal challenge is the second part of the 2018 SIPA national league which concluded in June and won by Marist.
Meanwhile, after the pool matches next week, the two top teams from each group will qualify into the semi-finals scheduled for next Thursday.
Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Futsal Development Officer Jerry Sam was pleased with the good turnout of the first round of matches yesterday.
“Semi finals will be held on Thursday next week. Pool Matches will be this week and final ones will be on Monday next week.
After all pool matches next Monday, teams will have two rest days on Tuesday and Wednesday before the semifinals on Thursday.
“The losers final will be on Friday and the grandfinal on Saturday. After the grandfinal on Saturday is the awards presentation for both the SIPA League and the futsal challenge,” he said.
Jerry, who is also the national head coach for senior futsal side Kurukuru said he is also using the futsal challenge to select potential players for his training squad.
“This is one of the ideas behind this challenge. And that is to look for more potential players for our training squad.”
The futsal challenge will continue today with another six matches at Multipurpose Hall.
