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Enquiry into Traditional Governance Bill extended

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By Gary Hatigeva

REQUEST for an extension of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC’s) enquiry into the Traditional Governance and Custom Facilitation Bill 2018 has been approved, but the challenge remains to be with getting people to be part of it.

Last week, the BLC started its hearing into the bill and received very little responses from members of the Civil Society groups, a few Non-Government Organisations that were scheduled to appear before the committee to share their views on what these groups described as, a controversial and complicated piece of legislation.

The extension according to the Acting Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare when revealing the approval, explained that it will allow and give an opportunity for the committee to involve more people to share their views on the TG Bill, particularly, Chiefs and Women throughout the country.

While there is the challenge of getting people within Honiara to be part of the enquiry, the Committee is also faced with the difficulty in getting people from the islands to make it to the hearing, and Chairman had also called for the government allocate additional funding to see this program fulfil before the house resumes in October.

The Committee has argued that the consultation process into the bill was not inclusive enough as the report showed that not many women were part of it and the views captured do not reflect the hundreds of chiefs in various settings and jurisdiction throughout the country.

The responsible ministry had agreed to the argument and proposed to take the bill back to the provinces, with intention to get the specific people highlighted, but the BLC suggested for those supposedly missed out to be included in the BLC hearing to cut the cost and save time

No confirmation has yet been made by the government on the request to allocated funds to help the committee fulfil its extension of the enquiry program.

Earlier, Heads of certain Civil Society Organisations disputed the consultation programmes held, which they thought were not wide enough to capture the views of men and women throughout the country.

They suggested that the consultations were done in convenience based on the government’s terms and expectations.

Meanwhile, top officials from the Ministry of Peace and Reconciliation when presenting the bill before the BLC last week, admitted to the shortfalls, but stressed that the issue of getting people to participate was a clash of timing and venues, which was something outside of their control.

According to officials, the ministry had to depend on each provincial government’s schedules, who the ministry had engaged to spearhead, which they said had turned out good.

But the BLC thought the programme had failed to identify the actual people (Chiefs) that will be implementing the legislation if it becomes an act, and suggested that they be part of the priority people, included if the request for extension was approved.

No confirmation have yet been given on the requests for additional funding to assist in getting people from the provinces to be brought over to the capital for the inquiry, but insiders say the government will want to make sure this bill is brought back to the floor for its final deliberations, and will therefore ensure that the needed funds are made available.

World cup death case adjourns

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE man alleged of killing another man in an incident on June 17 this year, during the FIFA World Cup, will appear again for mention on October 8.

The case was called yesterday but the accused was yet to confirm in court his legal representation.

This is the case where police alleged that the accused, Malcolm Folia, allegedly stabbed another man to death over a joke made in relation to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Allegations said on June 17 this year the accused, the deceased, and their friends were drinking alcohol at Koloale area in Honiara.

While they were drinking beer, they were all talking about the World Cup and were making jokes about the teams they supported.

They allegedly would argue over the teams but did not take the argument seriously.

During that time, the deceased was hungry and told the boys that he will go to his house to eat and will return to them.

It was further alleged that after the deceased left, the accused and the boys continued on to joke about the World Cup teams as the deceased and the accused were supporters of Brazil.

All of a sudden, the accused allegedly punched one of the boys and then attempted to punch another who tried to calm him.

The accused then allegedly told the boys to wait for him while he went to his house to take a knife to stab anyone of them.

Having heard that, the boys allegedly moved to another location by a Mango tree after the accused left.

The boys were still sitting under the Mango tree when the accused return with a knife.

The accused was allegedly seen attempting to stab himself when one of the boys tried to take the knife away from him.

Prosecution alleged that it was at that time that the deceased arrived and tried to help one of the boys to calm the accused.

It was at that time that accused stabbed the deceased with the knife on his right chest.

The deceased left the group and walked back to his house.

He was taken to the National Referral Hospital but died that same night.

CITREC open to Malaita

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Former Premier of Malaita Province, Hon Peter Channel Ramohia.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

Premier of Malaita Province, Hon Peter Channel Ramohia.

YOUNG men and women in Malaita stand to benefit from the CITREC programme from Canada as application forms are now available for interested applicants to try out employment opportunities in Canada.

Malaita’s Premier, Mr Peter Ramohia, recently made the announcement, inviting and encouraging young men and women of the province to apply.

The trainings and education application form under the CITREC – Malaita provincial government partnership programme, Ramohia said.

“Young Malaitan young men and women between 18-35 years are encouraged to apply.

“To apply, download the form and fill it out with relevant required informations and return it to the CITREC selection panel which has been established under the office of the Malaita provincial secretary.”

All completed application forms must reach the CITREC selection panel by Monday, October 8, 2018.

An extension of this deadline maybe possible should there be a real need for this, Premier Ramohia said.

Application scanned forms are also be downloaded in the other Malaitan based Facebook pages including Auki town forum, small Malaita constituency forum, west and East Are’are forums, and others including FSII including Iumi Tok Tok page .

Also application forms can also be obtained from the Malaita education Authority and the members from the malaita provincial assembly.

All application received before or the dead line date on October 8 will be screened and short listed by the CITREC selection panel (a five member team from the Malaita provincial administration office, executive, Malaita education authority and the youth division and women organisation.

The list of shortlisted applicants produced by the CITREC selection panel will be forwarded to CITREC in Canada for finalising of the list and award of placement for the successful applicants.

Upon of completion of the final list and awards made by CITREC in Canada, CITREC Malaita Province Training Programme will be officially launched and commence.

Record transfer in voter registration calls for longer objection period: Wale

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Aoke/Langalanga MP, Matthew Wale

By Gary Hatigeva

The Aoke/Langalanga MP and BLC Chair, Matthew Wale.

MEMBER of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga and Chair of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC), Matthew Wale has suggested for a longer Objectiona period and called for the government to work through the Electoral Commission on it.

This comes following a recorded high in the number of transfers from different constituencies to others, the Chair of the BLC Chair thought that the period allocated for the objection period is not long enough for the legal process to take its full course on those who are involved in what was widely described as, illegal and uncalled for.

The Aoke/Langalanga MP made this comment when contributing to the Motion of Special Adjournment moved by the Acting Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, following parliament’s resumption on Monday.

He said the matter on cross border that continued to see negative reports coming out from, is clearly illegal but is worst than ever before.

He added that the matter of people transferring between constituencies is undermining the character of the country’s representative democracy and distorts the will of the electorates.

The Aoke/Langalanga MP is concerned that the illegal practice is driven by what he described as, selfish motives on the part of some people that is a blatant disregard for the spirit of the constitution and the electoral act, while at the same time, a blatant disrespect to the electorates.

“In some instance, anecdotal information suggests that it is perused by candidates who fear their electorates, so want to dilute the electorates’ votes by others coming in from elsewhere, where are not familiar with issues in that particular constituency,” Wale stressed.

He further stressed that it is so unfortunate, these activities happen straight after parliament passed the Electoral Act 2018 and this according to Wale shows the inadequacies in the provisions of the new law.

“In that some candidates who are pushing such, there should be punitive measures against any candidates where from behind, are directing others to engage in cross borders to dilute their own constituency electorates,” he said.

Wale then reminded and warned that the government must take the call into serious consideration and take action, because highlighted issue will result in diversion of constituency resources, which was what many electors expressed as one of their main concern.

He further warned that the issues highlighted may also result in social conflict, “and it cannot be good for our country, as it cannot be good for our people”.

He said the only hope to clean up that electoral role is the ‘objection process’, but pointed out that this process is too short as we are now talking about transfers and cross borders of thousands of voters from all around the country.

So I ask that the government liaises with the commission to make sure that the objections process is given more time so that the role is cleaned up.

The integrity of the role is core to the legitimacy of the will of constituencies and we have seen in this matter, that the out of constituency registration may have contributed to this and we therefore need a confirmation procedure.

With so much at stake plus the many confusion over the muddle up of the old act against the new electoral act, Lawyers spoken to suggested for the government to also come up with a bill to make clear the application of provisions in the new law to the activities at question, as most of the matters related to the cross border and transfer activities, were done prior to the act’s gazette.

In his response to this, Acting Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare assured that the government following the consistent reports on the highlighted issue, has held meetings with the responsible authorities including the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission and is working to look into the relevant provisions.

Sogavare revealed that so far, the number of newly registered has so far reached up to 15,000 which he thought is reasonable, but agreed that the number of transfers or cross border registration is concerning as it now hits over 4,000, which according to observers, the number is still expected to increase in the remaining days of registration.

He however stressed that those involved in getting people to register in different constituencies will have to be prepared to meet the many complications that will come with such illegal practices and are further warned to rethink their position in these transfer and cross border activities, so to avoid any embarrassments and legal consequences.

Sentencing submission on woman’s case

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SENTENCING submission into the case against a hotel employee will be made today at the Honiara Magistrate Court.

This is in relation to the case against Natalie Keni who is facing a charge of uttering on which police alleged she uttered some documents involving more than $100,000 from the Heritage Park hotel.

The accused after the trial guilty of the charges and was convicted by the court.

On previous occasion the court was told that the defence will be making an application for stay on sentencing while awaiting the appeal filed in the High Court.

Sirepu Ramosaea and Freliz Fakari of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appear for the state while Serah Karani of the Public Solicitor’s Office represents the accused.

PTC on former MP

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Pre-trial Conference on the case against the former Member of Parliament Hypolite Taremae will be conducted today.

On the previous appearance the court heard that huge number of witnesses will be called during the trial and the court suggested trimming the witnesses list.

This is the case against the former MP who has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and a PTC has been set he was arrested for allegation of misappropriation of fund in 2011 and 2013.

The allegation said Mr Taremae has misappropriated more than $200,000 for reafforestation project for Central Makira Constituency.

He was arrested and charged with conversion late in May this year.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for crown while Anderson Kesaka is representing the accused.

‘Stop card selling and buying’

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Polling Assistants at Gizo Polling 'A' assisting voters during the voting.

‘THE Office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) strongly warns intending candidates and voters to refrain from buying and selling voter ID cards.

In a statement yesterday, Chief Electoral Officer Moses Saitala said there are reports of intending candidates or their agents, collecting voter registration cards and providing money and other benefits in exchange.

“Likewise, voters are literally ‘selling’ their voter ID cards as a promise to vote for an intending candidate in return for a benefit, money or in kind.

“SIEC has noticed an influx of people seeking card replacements at the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission office,” Mr Saitala said.

SIEC had already publicly explained that voters can still vote without their voter ID cards, but some voters insisted some candidates wanted the cards.

“Buying or selling of a voter’s ID card can be classified as a bribery offence and carries heavy penalties under the new Electoral Act.

“According to the new Electoral Act Section 126, it is an offence to buy or sell votes. It carries a maximum penalty of $150,000 or 15 years imprisonment or both,” he said.

The Chief Electoral Officer further explained that the new Electoral Act can also penalise voters.

“The new Electoral Act also states that voters soliciting the sale of their votes for any kind of benefit from a candidate can also face a maximum penalty of $150,000 or 15 years imprisonment or both,” Saitala said.

“Both the person who offers a benefit and the one who accepts it incur an electoral offence.”

The Chief Electoral Officer said the Electoral Act 2018 has already come into force.

“My office continues to urge intending candidates and registrants to be mindful of their actions; and do things within the bounds of the law.”

Meanwhile, SIEC reminded people who were influenced and duly registered in a wrong constituency to visit registration teams in their correct constituencies and transfer their voter registration details before this Thursday, September 27, 2018.

The CEO reiterated that it is an offence to provide misleading information to Electoral Officials therefore, eligible voters must register in the constituency they ordinarily reside in.

–SIEC PRESS

SIEC gives registrants a chance to revert registration

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE Office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission has noticed that there has been a very high number of voters transferring themselves to new constituencies.

The Electoral Commission has also noticed that voters who have registered themselves by way of transfer may not necessarily be eligible to vote in the constituencies they are registering to, because a large number of them came by way of truck or ship transportation and return immediately to wherever they came from after registration.

In a statement, SIEC encourages registrants who have been influenced to register in a constituency they are not living in, to take appropriate steps to correct their registration details.

Remember it is an offence for giving false/misleading information to register in any constituency that you are not actually eligible to vote at.

The Electoral Commission is sympathetic to voters have been wrongly incited to register elsewhere from the places they are eligible to vote at.

The Commission would like to advise all voters who have transferred themselves knowingly they are not eligible to vote in the new constituency, to please go back to a Voter Registration Centre in the constituency you are eligible to vote at where you are eligible and fill another Form B and transfer back your details to the constituency you are eligible to vote at.

This category of voters must correct their details by September 27, 2018.

The decision was made to ensure registrants correct their details within the BVR period.

“If you think, your registration was influenced resulting in you registering in a different constituency, there is limited time left to go and revert your registration to the constituency you are residing in and eligible to register and vote in.”

The opportunity to revert registrations is only allowed during the registration period which ends on September 27.

SIEC said the opportunity is vital to avoid the risk of names being removed during the Omission and Objection phase if one registers in a constituency they are not eligible to vote at.

SIEC encourages people to register where they reside and eligible to vote.

The Commission reminded people who are yet to register to do so before September 27, when the BVR exercise was scheduled to end.

–SIEC PRESS

Dawn of a new era for Solomons

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
National Under 16 of Solomon Islands

BY ROMULUS HUTA

THE hosting of the 2018 OFC Under-16 Championship in Honiara over the past two weeks has brought a lot of unity among Solomon Islanders and the entire Oceania footballing community as a whole.

The tournament, which began on September 9 and ended with the grandfinal last Saturday saw a lot of goals scored across the total of 16 matches hosted at Lawson Tama Stadium.

Spectators were treated to a wealth of spectacular goals and enthralling actions since day one.

The host nation was the most outstanding team throughout the entire tournament having scored a total of 15 goals in the pool stage and another three goals in their run up to the final, conceding only one goal in the process.

The outstanding performance by the young Solomon Islands side earned the country a maiden qualification into the 2019 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru, alongside seven-time champions New Zealand.

This is the first time for the soccer-mad nation to qualify into any world cup in the conventional (11-aside) code, apart from the other successes in beach soccer and futsal.

National Under 16 of Solomon Islands and the team officials after the final on Saturday.

The first time entry into the world cup had brought together the whole country in what can be best described as a dawn of a new era for Solomon Islands football.

New talents too have emerged during this tournament. They include the likes of latest poster boy Raphael Le’ai and team mates namely Charles Mani, Chris Satu, Stewart Qwanafia, Leon Kofana and Maxwell Keana to name a few.

These players along with the other respected unmentioned ones have stood the test of time to bring pride to the face of soccer lovers in the country despite losing out to New Zealand in the grandfinal where the winner had to be decided through a penalty kick.

Solomon Islands won 3-1 against Fiji in the semis to qualify into the final while New Zealand thrashed 4-1 to book a rematch against the hosts.

The grandfinal match last Saturday between Solomon Islands and New Zealand was the most entertaining match.

New Zealand, who were thrashed 5-0 by Solomon Islands in pool play had to make a big step in the grandfinal where they held on for a nil-all draw and the match headed directly to a penalty shootout.

Solomon Islands was first up and both teams nailed their first two kicks. However NZ goalkeeper Alex Paulsen continued his heroics by halting the third kick from defender Derick Taebo, and with New Zealand slotting their remaining kicks, they were crowned winners of their seventh straight OFC U-16 Championship title.

New Zealand coach Jose Figueira could not have been a happier man at the final whistle as a tournament that took him on a rollercoaster ride finally came to a happy conclusion.

“There is plenty to say about the match and I probably can’t find the words right now,” the elated Englishman said.

“I said to the guys on the side before that final penalty, we’ve probably experienced everything there is to experience in what is an absolutely incredible place for football in this region.

“It was important to get the win and I think we have got to thank our goalkeeper right at the end there for coming up big.”

For Solomon Islands coach Stanley Waita it wasn’t the result he wanted, but he could do nothing but congratulate his charges for giving the game, and the tournament, their all.

“I’m very proud of my boys, they did well. They were a bit sleepy in the first half and the second half we came up strong and should have finished it in the 91st minute, but unfortunately we didn’t take our chance.

“This young side, they have a bright future and we expect a lot from them, they’ll keep improving.”

Despite losing 5-4 in the grandfinal, Solomon Islands didn’t go home empty handed with the side doing well in the individual awards, as well as picking up the team award for Fairplay.

Raphael Le’ai’s eight goals earned him the Golden Boot, while he also went home with the Golden Ball for the most outstanding player of the tournament.

New Zealand goalkeeper Alex Paulsen collected the Golden Gloves award, largely based on his impressive performance in the final.

Democracy or dictatorship? People should be questioned: Public

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

CERTAIN members of the general public request for a survey to question why people are doing cross-border registration as currently highly debated in Solomon Islands.

Widespread debate continues over this concern raising disappointment, anger and confusion as on the other hand, it seems according to locals that responsible authorities are ignoring this task to ask for reasons having from their point of view that is not fair too when people doing such practise are quickly condemned.

“If one does not want to vote in a Constituency because he or she dislike the type of political leadership there but then the law comes and arrest them for not following what is legal to their given process then is this not dictatorship over democracy? Where is the individual democratic right to make our own choices? People should not be influenced from such too by the system. It is similar to like ordering the people to get back into a fire,” raised concerned locals to Island Sun over the weekend.

“Many people in the rural areas have been silent victims for years by the ignorance of MPs so what more could they do from usual unheard requests, we believe many moving to other Constituencies do have their own valid reasons as to why they chose to re-register or so in another Constituency. Can their reasons be asked for, heard, investigated and considered too by the authorities?

“It seems that unfairness over us only continues at its best from current advises also seen as threats that people will only be disqualified during the objection period. Many have their own reasons that people should not be too quick to bark on but find time to reason with them. If not then where will we go from here with continuous ignorance from the fact we are in.”

Recently, the Member of Parliament for North East Guadalcanal Hon Dr. Derek Sikua over reports of the cross border registration for voting also explained from his believe that it is a direct result of the amendment recently passed having broadening the definition of ‘ordinary residence’.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) strongly warns both intending candidates and registrants too to refrain from adversely influencing the registration process.

SIEC in a Press Release says there have been reports of intending candidates or their agents facilitating the movement of people between constituencies to register (transfer) to a constituency in which they are not eligible to register in.

“It is one of the serious offences under the Electoral Act to influence a voter.

“It can also be seen as engaging in campaign activity outside the campaign period.

“A person who engages in a campaign activity outside the campaign period for the election commits an offence that comes with a penalty of $20,000 or 2 years imprisonment, or both.”

SIEC strongly warns intending candidates to refrain from activities that may amount to campaigning.

The Commission also extends strong warning to registrants that transferring registration details to a constituency one is not eligible to register and vote in is also a serious offense under the Electoral Act.

“You could be making a false declaration. It is also providing misleading information to registration officials. Giving misleading information document to an election official comes with a penalty of $50,000 or 5 years imprisonment or both.”

The Commission has issued this warning before the commencement of the BVR update exercise early this month and continues to urge people and intending candidates to do the right thing.

It is understood that the Electoral Act 2018 has already come into force, however, a number of sections will come into force at a later date.

SIEC reminds people who are yet to register to do so before September 27th when the BVR update should end.

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