BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

MEMBER of Parliament for Aoke/Langa Langa Mr Matthew Wale says there is a mismatch and disconnection between Wala’s tradition and modern society.

Wale was speaking during the launching of the ‘Birana I Wale’ book yesterday which documents the traditional beliefs of the Wala tribe of Langa Langa in Malaita province.

“Our education system is almost entirely focus on training our young people to live within the 21 century and very little emphasis on our cultures, and I think we are suffering the consequences of that disconnect that is neglect since we gained independence.

“Publication of the Birana I wala book goes a long way towards redeeming some of that lost ground, and I hope that my very good people of Wala will be using it for bed time stories to kids because its codified by custom and traditional value.”

Wale said documenting stories helps people to understand their identity and land title ownership.

“Having that knowledge will enable us to be liberated and see a way to hold together both the need to hold on together for good value and practices,” he said.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

A concerned man from Malaita is asking the province’s government when the audit report on the province’s finances will be released.

The man made the query yesterday saying the public of Malaita are waiting for the report, adding that the Malaita provincial government has an obligation to release it to the people.

“We want to see the report so that we can know what areas of development in the province money has been spent on.

“Because there’s nothing much we know the province has so far did with money from the central government, but every time the province exhausted with money,” the man said.

He said people are tired of hearing that projects are on the pipeline, and that they would rather hear that the projects are being implemented.

“So with delays and all other things affecting the projects, we know it was because of money.

“But where the money usually goes is our question, and only this audit report can answer our question.”

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A tentative trial date has been set for the case against men alleged of being in possession of firearms and threatening violence in Malaita in July last year.

Principal Magistrate Tearo Beneteti set the tentative date to February 11-15 of 2019 as she has been booked for other trial matters this year and will be unable to hear the trial on this case.

This is the case against Simon Fiusale and Iki Olomea.

She told the counsels that the tentative is set and will be confirmed later during the interim mentions.

Ms Beneteti also excused the accused appearance during the interim mentions and ordered that the two accused will appear back in court on February 6, 2019.

The two were charged together with three other accused who are currently under warrants of arrest.

They were charged for being in possession of fire-arm and threatening violence.

The three other accused men currently under warrant are Leonard Ofaka, Bredley Abarai and Jimmy Eno Bana, and they are jointly charged with other two of one count of possession of firearm and threatening violence each.

Police said that the men were drunk and threatened the employees of Dalgro Construction Company that had won the bid for bridge construction at the Tabaa Bridge in North Malaita on July 21, 2016.

It was alleged that one of the men who held the gun, which is a 303 rifle, black in colour, put in a bullet and then cocked the gun pointing it at the workers.

Police have seized the alleged weapon believed to be used by the accused.

By Alfred Sasako

(In Shanghai)

UNTIL well after Lever Solomons Ltd (LSL) has acquired it, no one seemed to bother, let alone saw the potential value of Hell’s Point 76 years on. Located east of Henderson International Airport, Hell’s Point for many is merely a patch of dirt, which easily fits the description of a graveyard for unexploded bombs from World War II.

It is fair to suggest that more unexploded bombs or ordnance were buried here than elsewhere in Solomon Islands. For it is here and the nearby Bloody Ridge that the Allied Forces used to inflict heavy casualties on the Japanese during the War.

Today, apart from it being the site of the Government’s new regional bomb disposal training school, there is a different war being fought here.

And it is not soldiers that are firing the rounds in the latest battle over Hell’s Point. Rather, it is the lawyers who are threading blows in the courtroom. The issue is a $50 million compensation awarded LSL by the High Court of Solomon Islands in November last year.

Lever Solomon Ltd has so far won a $10 million payout for Bloody Ridge nearby. It is edging closer to collecting the remaining $50 million it is claiming for Hell’s Point over which it holds the Fixed Term Estate (FTE).

It took at least three valuations to arrive at the $50 million compo figure.

The initial valuation of Hell’s Point and nearby Bloody Ridge put the combined price tag for both sites at $186 million. A second valuation revised the price tag downward to $89 million. Negotiations led by former finance minister and Chairman of the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF), Peter Boyers, brought down the price to $50 million, which High Court Judge, Justice Rex Foukana, has since validated.

Today, the government remains defiant over the initial Court Order issued by Justice Faukona on 2^nd November 2017. No one knows how long before the government buckles.

Justice Faukona made four points in his Order.

Order 1, states that “Judgement be entered for the Claimant (LSL);

Order 2 that the Defendant (Government) “procure that all persons occupying the lands subject of these proceedings be removed permanently;

Order 3 that “The Defendant is to pay to the Plaintiff a sum of $50, 000, 000 (Fifty Million Solomon Islands Dollars) together with any sum not already paid to the Claimant by or on behalf of the Defendant in respect of the parcels of land known as Bloody Ridge and more specifically mentioned in the Schedule attached hereto; and

Order 4 that “Upon payment in full of the sums referred to in the foregoing order, the Claimant is to transfer the said lands to the Defendants forthwith.”

The High Court has also ordered that the government pays the claimant’s costs in the proceedings.

LSL has since obtained an Enforcement Order in pursuit of recovering the outstanding amount. Issued on May 23, 2018 the enforcement Order remains in force for 12 months.

Earlier, on 15 May this year, LSL, also obtained a Certificate of Orders, which Judge Faukona also signed. Only this time it included the Accountant General.

“The Accountant General shall, subject to hereinafter provided, pay to the Claimant the amount appearing by the Certificate to be due to the Claimant,” the order said.

Argument and counter-argument over the $50 million compensation claim also spilled over into the political arena. Just before it was thrown out of office, the then Sogavare government knocked on a few doors to borrow $50 million in order to meet the November 2017 deadline set by the High Court.

Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) was among statutory bodies approached for the money. Perhaps as a sweetener, government negotiators told the SIPA Board that six (6) per cent or $3 million of the proceeds would be paid to government. SIPA denied the request, on the basis it was not a lending institution.

The government did not stop there.

Following his fall from grace, Manasseh Sogavare reportedly struck a deal with in-coming Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela, who had by then made up his mind against paying the compensation.

The issue divided both men as Sogavare felt Hon Houenipwela reneged on his undertaking to address the debt. Despite official denials, the two men – Prime Minister and his Deputy – never spoke to each other even on text messages for months.

Today both men had become a lot closer than ever before, strengthening rumors that the $50 million payout which almost tore apart the new government was now acting as a bridge to bring the two men together.

Ministry of Finance and Treasury however confirmed that there was nothing in this year’s budget to pay the compensation.

“The only possible way out for the government is to include the payment in a supplementary budget. In this way, the government can vire money from less important projects to pay off the debt,” one official said.

“It’s gonna be tough but it is the only way out,” the official said.

Island Sun understands the SIDCCG is bringing down a supplementary budget this year, possibly at the Parliament’s session planned for next month.

There’s no doubt the LSL people may have started whispering in ears that matter. The election fever is certain to raise the premium for such a help.

When Island Sun contacted him, Patrick Wong declined discussing the issue except to say that “LSL continues to deal with SIG” in attempts to resolve the matter.

A lawyer spoken to told Island Sun that the issue for the government is whether it would continue to ignore a High Court Order.

“Will SIG just ignore a High Court Order? In other words, does SIG wish to be in contempt?”

The Houenipwela Government has until May 23, 2019 to answer that question. For now, all LSL can do is wait and see.

Police at the White River Police Station in West Honiara have arrested a 21-year-old male suspect for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl at White River on June 30, 2018.

It is alleged that the victim in this case was raped by a male person at White River area in the early afternoon on June 30.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Honiara City Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga says, “The alleged suspect was later arrested by investigators and taken to the Central Police Station Watch House for further dealings.

“Members of the RSIPF Sexual Assault Squad (SAS) are investigating the alleged rape incident and I appeal to both parties to refrain from taking the law in to their own hands and allow police to investigate the matter.

“The suspect has been remanded at the Rove Correctional Centre and is expected to appear in the Honiara Magistrates Court on July 17, 2018.”

–POLICE MEDIA

OFFICERS of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) have rescued two victims related to a fallen tree which killed one woman on Mono Island in the Shortlands, Western province on July 1, 2018.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Western province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu says, “One of the victims, who was in a critical condition, was airlifted from Mono to Gizo by a diverted Solomon Airlines flight from Mbalalae.

“The other two victims with minor injuries were picked up from Mono by the RSIPV Patrol Boat LATA on the afternoon of Monday July 2 and arrived at Gizo in the late evening.

“The victims are now being treated at the Gizo Hospital and their condition is reported stable.

“Our condolences to the family and relatives of the deceased and wish a speedy recovery for those who were injured during the tragic accident caused by a fallen tree during heavy winds in the area.”

–POLICE MEDIA

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela on Wednesday congratulated the newly elected premiers of Western and Choiseul provinces.

The two premiers are David Gina of Western province and Watson Qoloni of Choiseul province.

In a statement yesterday, Prime Minister Houenipwela conveyed best wishes to both premiers on their election, on behalf of the SIDCC Government.

The Prime Minister said attaining a higher calling in the leadership hierarchy is no easy feat; as it requires confidence, maturity and the ability to show leadership through smooth and rough times.

“Your election victory is a reflection of the trust and confidence bestowed to you by your colleague provincial members and the people of Western and Choiseul provinces as a whole. For that, I sincerely congratulate you,” he said.

The Prime Minister said his Government is looking forward to working with both premiers and their new executives.

“I encourage both leaders to continue the honourable service of serving our people with humility and dignity,” he said.

–OPMC PRESS

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man facing one count of defilement will appear again in court today for prosecution to confirm the allocation of prosecutor.

Prosecutor looking after the case told court yesterday that the file will be re-allocated as he will be posted out to the provinces.

This is the case of a man alleged to have had sex with an underage girl on December 25, 2008.

He was earlier charged with three counts of defilement, but after prosecution looked through the charges the other two counts were withdrawn.

Police alleged that the accused forced the victim into having sex. The victim at first refused but then later agreed as the accused insisted.

Police said since December 25, 2008 the victim and accused both continued with their sexual activity until the victim got pregnant on the month of March 2009.

Police said the accused during the sexual acts did not ask for the victim’s age but enjoyed himself; the case was then reported to the police in which he was arrested and charged to appear before the court.