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.”
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.
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charged with three counts of defilement, but after prosecution looked through the charges the other two counts were withdrawn.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.
chemicals that discovered— Photo courtesy Bobby Siarani
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
Chemicals that discovered— Photo courtesy Bobby Siarani
THE Ministry of Environment (MECDM) has strongly condemned the reckless dumping of chemicals near the Tuvaruhu community high school.
MECDM explains that such irresponsible and illegal dumping of chemicals is not only detrimental to the environment but also to human beings.
Chief Environment Officer of MECDM’s environment and conservation division, Debra Kereseka-Potakana said responsible authorities including police are now taking measures to bring those responsible to justice.
Mrs Kereseka said MECDM and the police fire and rescue department have secured the site and have taken an inventory of the dumped chemicals.
She said the number of the different types of chemicals identified so far by the team from the chemicals disposed at the river bank is not yet confirmed.
“Work is still ongoing to retrieve chemicals buried at four reported sites along the same area,” she said.
She said all contained chemicals will be stored safely for safe disposal.
MECDM calls on the public especially Tuvaruhu community to keep away from the site and chemicals for safety, health and wellbeing reasons.
It adds
The ministry also warns that most of the chemicals identified are dangerous to human health and are very toxic along with others which can cause severe skin burns and eye damage and even fatal if swallowed.
Besides, MECDM calls on all importers of chemicals to also put in place appropriate measures for the safe disposal of expired, unused and by-products of used chemicals.
“You import them in the first place; consequently it is your responsibility to safely dispose them,” Kereseka said.
“Stop endangering people’s lives, and degrading the integrity of the environment by such reckless action as seen at Tuvaruhu.”
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela’s government appears to be defying a High Court Order that it pays Lever Solomons Ltd $50 million in compensation for the Hell’s Point land in east Honiara.
Judge Rex Faukona made the initial Order on November 2 last year after Lever Solomons Ltd successfully sought the High Court Order.
In it, Justice Faukona ordered that “all persons occupying the lands subject of these proceedings be removed permanently”.
The High Court also ordered that the Defendant (government) pay LSL “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
“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,” it says.
The High Court has also ordered that the government pays the claimant’s costs in the proceedings.
Justice Faukona has since issued an enforcement order as well as a Certificate of Orders after delays by the government in making the payment.
Sources told Island Sun in the Chinese capital, Beijing, on the weekend that LSL has again successfully sought a High Court for the payment after the government reneged on its commitment to make the payment by April this year.
The new Order issued on May 23 this year gave the government 12 months to pay up.
To date, the government has only paid LSL $10 million for the Bloody Ridge land nearby.
When contacted, businessman Patrick Wong who is handling the matter, declined to comment except to say he is talking to the government about it.
A background piece on the Hell’s Point saga is on page 6 today.
THE Provincial Police Commander Western Province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu appeals to the people in Gizo to celebrate the 40th anniversary of independence responsibly.
Celebrations began yesterday and will continue until tomorrow.
Police in Gizo are mounting an operation to ensure the celebration goes on peacefully.
“I want to appeal to the people residing in Gizo and also to those visiting from our islands to celebrate this anniversary responsibly,” says PPC Lenialu.
“Let us celebrate peacefully with pride and make these celebrations free of crime.
“Police from Gizo, Noro and Munda will also be mounting a parade on July 6 at the JFK Stadium in Gizo and it is open to the public to come along and join in our Nation’s 40th anniversary of independence.”
POLICE at Auki in the Malaita province have arrested three suspects for allegedly stealing money during a boat trip from Honiara to Auki on June 30, 2018.
Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) for Malaita province Superintendent Timothy Apaesi says, “The victim was travelling from Honiara to Auki on one of the local inter-island boats with more than $17,000 cash in her bag. During the trip she put her bag as her pillow and went to sleep.
“It was when she was asleep that the alleged suspect came and unzipped the bag and removed all the money without her realising it.
“On Monday June 2, 2018, the matter was reported to the police and following investigations police apprehended the suspect.
“He was arrested after which he revealed that there were two others with him when he alleged stole the money. Police was able to recover some of the stolen money.
“The three suspects, all about 25 years old, have been placed in police custody awaiting a remand application within the next 14 days. Investigations are continuing into the matter and still yet to recover rest of the money,” says PPC Apaesi.
Students performing at the opening ceremony of the 6th MACFest on Sunday 1st July at Lawson Tama.
By Gary Hatigeva
STUDENTS who took part in the opening ceremony of the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival (MACFest) on Sunday, have questioned the nature in which payments for their performances were made.
The students expressed their disappointment over the fact that payments for their participation in the event, were paid to schools and not them.
With so much anticipation to get small incentives in the form of allowances for their participation, students were only told on Monday that the funds were paid to their respective schools.
The displeased students told Island Sun that they were disappointed as they were not told about the payment arrangement.
They claimed that based on what they were told by the organisers, their performance allowances will be paid to schools represented.
However, with dismay, one of the students who asked not to be named expressed that their schools should never be given the allowances because the MACFest is done during the holiday period, and that they are the ones doing all the hardwork, not the schools.
“Even during our practice sessions prior to the opening, our schools never cared to help out in terms of transportation and food or drinks.
“Knowing that they will be paid the allowances, which we deserved, they should at least showed the courtesy to help us out, in that way, it would have been common sense to realise that we also owe it to our schools, but that was never the case,” the student alleged.
Students performing at the opening ceremony of the 6th MACFest on Sunday 1st July at Lawson Tama.
Other students also agreed and added that in their case, they were only transported three times by their school vehicle, but the rest of the sessions, the costs of traveling to and fro, water and other necessary items, were met at their own expense.
But when questioned on the claims, Festival Director, Denis Marita explained that regarding the students’ issue, the respinsible sub-committe dealt directly with the school administrations on things.
“Any form of ‘token of appreciation’ to the students will go directly to the school administrations and they will sort out this with their students.”
The event’s director, who is also the Director for Culture under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, further explained that any decision whether to give individuals cash or host a picnic for the students, is up to school administrations to decide on.
“Note that the National Organising Committee does not have the necessary funds to pay huge lump sums to individual performer/ student, as such, we deal directly with school administrations on this matter and negotiate on just a package for the school on behalf of their students,” the MACFest Director added.
However, on a more positive note, Marita revealed that schools whose students took part in the ceremony, were also given the opportunity to put up stalls at the festival venues, “for their contributions in this regard”.
Over 300 students from three schools in Honiara took part in the performances that were done during the colourful opening programme over the weekend.
Solomon Islands without national security policy, gov’t scrambles for one
BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
DESPITE being 40 years old, Solomon Islands still does not have a national security policy (NSP), says Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Mr Derrick Manuari.
National security policy is the overall strategy a government takes to advance national security and the course of action it pursues to accomplish the strategy. It is one of the elements which enables a government to ‘ensure domestic tranquillity’ and ‘promote the general welfare’.
Opening a national security consultation workshop on Wednesday, Manuari says the lack of such policy has rendered Solomon Islands’ government handicapped to address its security challenges ‘in a coherent, consistent and coordinated manner’.
Manuari says therefore the government of the day has made it one of its priorities to ensure Solomon Islands has one such policy.
“Government in valuing and recognising the importance of NSP and sovereignty of Solomon Islands, affirm its commitment to establish a long term vision for a safe, peaceful and prosperous Solomon Islands.
“In doing so the Government has placed priority in its policy framework to establish a NSP that encompasses the whole of SIG approach of all stakeholders to cooperate in addressing security threats of country.
“The absence of an effective NSP and strategy in place gives rise to all sorts of security challenges confronting us internally and externally, and the ineffectiveness for Solomon Islands as a country to effectively address these challenges.
“The Government’s primary responsibility is the safety and well-being of its people. To achieve this, it is important to have a strategic framework that provides security to Solomon Islands and our people.”
He says in a world of uncertainties where threats are real, it is imperative that government reviews its security apparatus and establish a cohesive system which would enable it to respond to any security challenges.
“This proposed policy represents a major milestone, it fulfils the government’s commitment to provide enhanced security for its entire people.”
And, while addressing the country’s security challenges, government believes that everyone needs to work together ‘to ensure a secured, safe environment and ultimately prosperity in Solomon Islands’.
“Therefore important that we must all collectively work together to develop a NSP that is home grown and is relevant to our needs and aspirations for a safe, secured, peaceful and prosperous Solomon Islands.
“I believe that our new National Security Policy that is currently being developed will identify the security challenges facing Solomon Islands and will also identify the strategies in dealing with the threats.”
Some of the archers who will leave for New Caledonia on Thursday
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Some of the archers who will leave for New Caledonia on Thursday
SIX archers destined for New Caledonia will leave the country on Thursday.
The archers will travel to participate in the Oceania Archery Championship due to place in Noumea from July 9 to 13.
Archers selected to participate in the Oceania event includes three male and three female namely Andrew Lano, Piper Soper, Kelly Baedonga, Janet Siru, Nancy Pize and Doris Laula.
The six archers were selected from last month’s national archery championship sponsored by C & I Distributors.
The national championship was held at the Town Ground Rugby Stadium and attracted up to 20 competitors.
The Oceania Archery Championship is expected to bring together archers from 12 Oceania countries namely Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Following the completion of the championship, the Oceania Archery Congress will also be convened for top officials as well as a Level Two Olympic Solidarity Coaching Course from July 16 to 24 to be conducted by Pascal Colmaire of World Archery.
Solomon Islands will be represented in the coaching course by Lano and Laula while Archery Federation President Nihal Seneviratne will represent the country in the Oceania Congress.
