CHINESE telecom Huawei has hit back at assertion by the Australian government that the company poses a national security risk, labelling it as “ill-informed” after being superseded by Australia in an infrastructure project in the Solomon Islands.

The letter written by three Huawei Australia board members, described comments surrounding the potential security risks of employing the company in infrastructure projects as “ill-informed and not based on facts”.

The letter comes after the Australian government undercut Huawei’s bid to build the Solomon Island’s underwater internet infrastructure, citing national security concerns.

Last week, Australia won the contract build the Solomon Island’s 4,000 km underwater internet network, underbid Huawei’s winning bid by 50 percent.

Huawei was awarded the contract last year, but security concerns from both Australia and the Solomon Islands led the island nation to renege on the deal.

The letter is also likely to precede a bid by Huawei to be part of the roll-out of the 5G mobile network in Australia, reported AFR.

Huawei has been marred in security concerns for years.

In March 2018, Taiwan banned the use of Huawei, as well as all Chinese phones throughout their entire military.

In February 2018, the heads of the FBI, CIA and NSA said that U.S. citizens should not use products made by Huawei, citing cyber-security risks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.

In March 2012, Huawei was banned from bidding to build Australia’s new internet network on the basis of national security concerns.

–TAIWAN NEWS

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

TWENTY women from Malaita province will have a one-day dialogue with 14 members of Parliament based on women and gender concerns and Interest

It will be held on Wednesday 20th June at the Paul Tovua Complex in Honiara

The purpose of the dialogue is to highlight issues facing Malaita women with regards to women’s empowerment and development policy and to provide recommendation on key provincial women’s priorities that affect their development and peace.

Women in Malaita have become great leaders in seeking support to address problems in community development – they have played an essential role in transforming their communities.

Moderators of the dialogue will be Dr Cendrick Alependava, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) and Allan Daonga Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD).

And it will be facilitated by the United Nations Women in collaboration with the MWYCFA and the MRD through the UN peace building Fund (UNPBF) project.

FIFTY enthusiastic women across the eight provinces mostly met as strangers but now leave the capital more enthused and empowered to participate as candidates in any general election following the fourth Practice Parliament for Women.

The exercise was primarily targeted at women who were considering standing for the national elections or local elections, women community leaders who wished to develop their leadership, advocacy and policy skills as well as women who have committed to supporting gender equality.

“My participation this week has been quite significant and a lifetime achievement,” said Leader of the Independent MPs for the 2018 Practice Parliament for Women, Senoveva Mauli.

“The discussions during the training, and the level of substance brought out during the Parliamentary debate has been enriching. I am now seriously considering standing for the 2019 national elections after my experience this week.”

The Head of Vois Blo Mere Solomon, Josephine Teakeni, a partner for the Practice Parliament this week was impressed with the calibre of the participants.

“The 50 women participants were so committed throughout the week, and I am just overwhelmed with their preparation and performance at the Practice Parliament session today. I feel that women with the calibre showcased at the Practice Parliament today can and will get voted into Parliament,” said Teakeni.

The five-day event was carried out in two phases with the training and awareness raising carried out in the first four days, and the final day where participants use their newly acquired skills as they play the role of national members of their Parliament.

The Speaker of the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands, Mr Ajilon Nasiu, acknowledged the enthusiasm of the participants and highlighted the importance of gender equality.

“Your participation further cements the commitment of the current government ensuring both Parliament and oversight institutions of this country recognize the importance of gender equality in all sectors of the country,” said Nasiu.

“I want to specifically thank the Solomon Islands Government for support towards this workshop. The current SIDCCG Government is a staunch supporter of gender to address problems & challenges relating to gender & human rights in this country and the pacific region.”

Adding her sentiments, the UNDP Solomon Islands Country Manager, Azusa Kubota, echoed the need for more women to participate in the democratic process and highlighted the innate ability of women to think more about the collective as a mark of quality leadership.

“In 15 of the Pacific countries where the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works, there are only 42 women MPs out of 559 MPs altogether. This represents 7.5 percent representation. When women represent 50% of the society, this does not sound right.

“Women are often care takers in the family and communities. Women always put others interests before theirs. Women always think about collective good rather than individual gain.

“Women therefore naturally have the quality to serve the people and represent the people in the Parliament.”

In selecting the participants, special efforts were made to target women leaders from outside of Honiara municipality/province, as well as targeting special groups.

The Practice Parliament for Women in the Solomon Islands was made possible through the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji funding through two Pacific regional projects under the Effective Governance programme, namely the Strengthening Legislatures in the Pacific Island Countries Project (SLIP) Project funded by the Government of Japan, and the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative (PPEI), funded by the Government of New Zealand.

National partners for the event were the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs, the National Council of Women, Vois Blo Mere, Women’s Rights Action Movement, UNWomen and the Young Women’s Parliamentary Group.

The Practice Parliament for Women was held from June 11 – 15.

–UNDP PRESS

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

NEWLY elected Member of Provincial Government (MPA) for Ward 12 at Varisi Lavata Northwest Choiseul Nerio Ulemiki thanks his people for their trust in him.

He explains knowing the road ahead is not easy and the tasks ahead are not simple but it depends entirely on them working together to accomplish their development goals.

“As a newly elected MPA of Varisi Lavata, Ward 12, I wish to thank my good people especially my supporters for their trust and confidence in me to put me back to power as their political leader after four years of rest from politics,” said Ulemiki.

The MPA for Ward 12 wishes to convey his words of thanks to his only rival candidate the former and outgoing MPA for Ward 12 Mr Gideon Panisaga, for his rule to their people during the last four years.

“I look forward to working together positively with him in this coming term,” said Ulemiki.

It is understood that there are already discussions over the forming of the new provincial government for Choiseul province.

Amongst the newly elected MPAs for the province is also former premier, Clement P Kengava.

Nerio Ulemiki formerly was the Media Coordinator for Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru, Northwest Choiseul, contributing in highlighting a lot of programmes and issues of the province.

He used to hold the seat he has returned to.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE former employee of the Bemobile company is set to appear in court today.

His case had been set for trial this month but was later vacated due to counsels engaged on this case not being available for the trial.

The accused Mr Eddie Paohawe faces a charge of conversion in relation to incidents which occurred on dates between 2013 and 2014 when he was employed by Bemobile Company.

Prosecution alleged that it was during his employment that he took 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.

The company however found him out and reported the case to the police in which he was arrested and charged for the offences.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution prosecutes the case in court while George Gray of the Public Solicitor’s Office represents the accused.

JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case against accused, Luke Kemakeha, will appear for mention today in the Honiara Magistrate Court.

In previous appearances, the court was told that there are documents needed to be sorted be out as one of the incidents occurred some years back.

Kemakeha is charged with one count of unlawfully attempt to strike with knife, one count of causing grievous harm and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.

This is in relation to incidents which occurred in Ngella, Central Islands province.

By Alfred Sasako

IN what is deemed to be a historic milestone, Russell Islands’ Sevev Land Trust Board has “legally forfeited” the Lever Solomon Ltd’s Fixed Term Estates (FTE) titles in Russell Islands, it was announced this week.

But the Chairman of Russell Islands Plantation Estates Ltd (RIPEL), Patrick Wong described the ownership claim as “a dream”, saying these FTE titles remain in the name of Lever Solomons Limited.

Sevev Tribal Chief and Chairman of the Sevev Land Trust Board, Leslie Norris, yesterday confirmed the takeover to Island Sun.

Mr Norris said the Sevev Land Trust Board has resorted to the action because LSL has failed to pay up its rentals for the entire Russell Islands Plantation Estates Ltd (RIPEL).

“The people of Russell Islands and indeed Solomon Islands should be relieved that after 100 years of foreign ownership of the plantations on Russell, the Sevev Tribe has resolved the ownership issue.

“We are finally in control,” Norris said.

The ownership claim is certain to open the Pandora’s Box as rival tribes as well as LSL react to the news of the takeover.

In a statement yesterday, the Sevev Land Trust Board said, “Previously, in 2013, the Sevev Land Trust Board had successfully applied and obtained the Perpetual Estates (PE) Titles of the said properties.

“After a long and hard fought legal engagement, the Registrar of Titles had finally registered the forefeiture process according to law,” the statement said.

“This means that Lever Solomon Ltd no longer has any legal claims to the Russell Islands Estates. Any attempts by LSL to enter Russell Islands without the consent or permission of the Sevev Land Trust Board would be considered illegal and amount to trespass.

“By the legal process as undertaken by the Sevev Land Trust Board, Russell Islands is now under the full ownership and control of the indigenous Russell Islanders, thanks to the said Sevev Land Trust Board’s efforts.

“Sevev Land Trust Board, on behalf of the Sevev Tribe, (is) now the legal custodians of the whole of Russell Islands, by law and custom. Any future development considerations in respect of the archipelago will be the onus of the Sevev Land Trust Board,” the statement.

But RIPEL Chairman, Patrick Wong denied that FTEs in the Russell Islands were surrendered in 2011.

“…these FTE titles remain in the name of Lever Solomons Limited,” he said in an email yesterday.

“The documents you have located, looks like the surrender document, formed as an attachment to the Sale Agreement, which the Company had with SIG in 2011.

“This Sale Agreement was executed by the then Prime Minister, the Honourable Danny Philip, and this was witnessed by about 50 people in the Cabinet room plus this signing ceremony was also witnessed by 50 people and recorded on One TV.

“If you look closer at page one, the words written and signed by a Notary Public, was signed by Dennis McGuire of Sol-Law,” Wong said.

“Why are the FTE still with LSL? – simple … because SIG never paid the Purchase Price. The Originals would still be with Sol-Law and were never ever released to SIG; to be filed with the Commissioner of Lands – Registrar of Titles.

“Therefore, any call or notation that LSL has already surrendered the FTE back in 2011 is only a dream,” Mr Wong said.

Commissioner of Lands, Nelson Noapu, was asked whether he was aware of and given consent to the transfer of the RIPEL FTE titles to the Sevev Land Trust Board.

“I am aware that Alex Bartlett got PE over a parcel of Land in Russell Islands, and that this has been challenged in court,” was all he could offer by way of an answer to the question.

It is understood that the Registrar of Titles has written to LSL, advising it of the takeover of the FTE titles by the Sevev Land Trust Board.