BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

THIS year the Malaita provincial government will host its Second Appointed Day celebrations in Afio in the southern region, Small Malaita.

This is the first time for the occasion to be hosted in Small Malaita.

This was agreed upon by the executive and the local organising committee to host this celebration in one of the sub-stations in Malaita province.

This apparently is not the first time for the province’s big day to be hosted in a sub-station; in 2014 it was marked in Malu’u, north Malaita.

This year’s celebration will be different from other celebrations hosted in Auki because it will take three days starting this weekend.

The programme includes the reopening of the Paresi airport in Small Malaita which was closed for more than 10 years – it will be reopened this Saturday.

The famous Yam festival in Small Malaita will also be included in the programme where it will fall on August 12.

The Second Appointed Day for Malaita falls on August 13.

The delegation including some government dignitaries, private stakeholders and other invited guests will leave Auki this Friday for Afio.

Arrangements and preparations are currently underway.

By Mike Puia

NEWLY installed paramount chief of Maringe District in Isabel province, Mr Clement Rojumana, says his province is in full support of the proposed federal system of government.

Rojumana said they believe the federal system is the solution to power and rules in the country.

The former Member of Parliament made these statements during his enthronement as Maringe District’s paramount chief at Buala last Wednesday.

Rojumana said their preferred governance system will only be achieved through the federal constitution under a new order.

It is understood the federal system of government draft has been completed and will be handed to the Prime Minister soon.

Rojumana said the national government’s decision to abolish the area council system is an attempt by the national government to centralise governance function by an act of parliament.

He said his people wanted Solomon Islands to become a republic.

Rojumana said his people’s wish to adopt federalism were shared to their premier and are repeatedly expressed during consultations held in their province over the last 11 years.

He said some of their members of Parliament reserved their vote in favour of the federal system claiming it is expensive.

Rojumana said the cost of running a government can be counted but the experience of locals to the impact of a government system that does not work well to the people is hard to count.

He said he attended the Buala communique in 2000, after the signing of the Townsville Peace Agreement in Australia, and there was overwhelming support from warring parties for the federal system of governance.

Rojumana said ‘the federal system of governance not only divides executive, legislative and judiciary function but institutes a federal system which preserves huge and sovereign rights to local communities’.

He said federalism will give authority to leaders of all tier of the government structure to rule as expected.

“I hope this will become the blueprint for the future direction of our people and nation,” Rojumana added.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

MEMBER of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Varisi Lavata Ward 12 at Northwest Choiseul is calling on all women of Solomon Islands to report perpetrators to relevant authorities.

Hon Nerio Ulemiki said this is in order to stop unwanted problems women and girls face of being victims to teenage pregnancy and child sexual abuse.

“I as one of the sympathizers to those being victims of teenage pregnancy and child sexual abuse commend the local activist Ms Regina Lepping for her strong campaign against teenage pregnancy and child sex abuse on the sudden death of a fourteen year old mother of twins from Makira after giving birth to her siblings,” said Hon Ulemiki.

“In support of Ms Lepping’s comments of strong awareness on teenage pregnancy and child sexual abuse in the rural communities, I suppose that strong awareness should be strong in rural communities as perpetrators always go free due to the problems being left unnoticed or left unreported.

“This is due to lack of knowledge or information on how to go about reporting the problems and lack of confidence by the victims or the guardians and relatives or teenage pregnancy and child sexual abuse victims to report the matter to relevant authorities.

“Enough for awareness to take place in towns and main centres only. I call on girls and women to put away fear and report perpetrators to relevant authorities in order to stop these unwanted problems.”

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is continuing the search for a boat with nine passengers on board which has gone missing since leaving the Russell Islands in the Central province bound for Honiara last Thursday, August 2, 2018.

Police were contacted on August 3, 2018 when the boat failed to arrive in Honiara.

“The banana boat is 21 feet long with a red round cabin. It was powered by a 40 horse power Yamaha out boat motor engine, with nine passengers on board including a woman and a child as well as two eskies of fish. They failed to arrive in Honiara,” says Director Police Maritime, Chief Superintendent Charles Fox Sau.

“After receiving the report we worked closely with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and a search and rescue map has been set up.

“A search has been conducted since Friday August 3 up until now. This includes Police officers from Maritime Unit, Tulagi and Yandina Police Stations as well as civilian boats from Louna. The search covered areas in West Guadalcanal, Isabel, and around RusselI Islands.

“An urgency radio broadcast has been sent out by MRCC to travelling ships in our waters, and the police search team also notified fishermen they came across to help in the look out.

“A formal request has been sent to the Joint Rescue and Coordinating Centre (JRCC), Australia Search and Rescue (AUSAR) and Australia Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) for net water movement and by the MRCC.

“I want to call on fishermen travelling in our waters, and ships to look out for the missing boat and contact the Police Communication Centre on phone 23666 or dial the Police Toll Free Line 999 and assist them if sighted.

“I want to strongly remind our good people travelling on our seas to always think safety first. Service your engines before travelling.

“Ensure you have extra fuel, paddles, water and food. Do not over load your boats. Remember if you are unsure, stay ashore,” says Chief Superintendent Sau.

–POLICE MEDIA

By Alfred Sasako

VOTER registration initially set for August 20 has been changed, the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission announced in a text message sent to tens of thousands of mobile phone users yesterday.

September 3 is now the new date, according to the text message.

“Voter Registration for the 2019 NGE will start Sept 3, 2018 and not August 20. Make sure u register and update your voter details,” the text message said.

There was no official explanation for the two-week delay. An email sent to the Electoral Commission enquiring about the delay and its impact on the overall preparations for the National General Election was not responded to.

It is understood that the delay had something to do with training programs for officers who would be taking part in the election, expected at the end of February next year.

It is not clear whether training is the only issue.

The 12th Parliament will be dissolved on December 17 this year. The next NGE must be held within four months of dissolution of Parliament.

To date the Electoral Commission had completed training for officers who would be supervising voter registrations throughout the nation.

Returning Officers are now undergoing their training to be followed by two other groups, including those who would input the election data.

The Electoral Commission is planning to deploy about 125 teams across the country for next year’s election – an increase of 33 teams over the number deployed at the 2014 National General Election.

It is understood the next Parliament must be in place before April 14 next year or there would be total shut down of the government system, particularly with spending of public funds.

OFFICERS of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) arrested and charged five people during a zero tolerance operation (ops) conducted from August 4-5, 2018 in Honiara.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Honiara City Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga says, “The operation was to execute search warrants, conduct surprise raids at suspicious identified locations within the City boundary and targeting anti-social behaviour. The operation was a success.

“A total of 30 communities from White River in West Honiara to the Ranadi industrial area in the East were visited by police with five people arrested and charged.

“Out of the arrests made, two were for allegedly Consuming Liquor in Public Places; one for allegedly Selling Liquor without a License; one arrested for allegedly producing Liquor (kwaso) illegally; another for the alleged Possession of a Dangerous Drug (marijuana); and one arrested for alleged Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm.”

“A total of nine cartons of various alcohol beverages were confiscated by police and as well as 229 bottles of kwaso approximate valued at $2,290 if sold in the local market.”

“I appeal to community members in Honiara to assist your police with information about the illegal brewing of kwaso, growing and sale of the dangerous drug marijuana.”

Information can be passed anonymously to police on phone numbers 23666 or 999.

The five defendants have been released on bail to appear before the Honiara Central Magistrates Court at a later date.

–POLICE MEDIA

TWO adults, 31 and 36 years old, have been sentenced by the Honiara Magistrates Court for the offence of consuming liquor in a public place contrary to Section 65 of the Liquor Act on Monday this week.

“On Saturday August 4 an officer of the Honiara City Council was on foot beat patrol around the market area, when he was informed by a by stander that a male was consuming alcohol in front of the next shop,” says Provincial Police Commander Honiara City, Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga.

“The officer proceeded to the said shop and found the defendant drinking his beer. He was apprehended and taken to the Market Police post where he was formally arrested.

“On the same date a police officer was walking home after his duties when approaching the Museum Bus stop, he sighted the defendant drinking from a can of beer.

“The officer arrested the defendant and brought him to the Central Police Station where he was arrested and charged.

“Both accused were taken to court on August 6, 2018 where they were found guilty of their charges and ordered to pay a fine of $1,000.00 each before August 13, 2018 or they will be sent to prison for 40 days,” says PPC Uiga.

–POLICE MEDIA