THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) has acknowledged the move by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) to put a stop to foreigners who are illegally operating businesses which are on the reserved list for local Solomon Islanders.

There have been serious concerns raised recently by members of the small business sector and the general public regarding the alarming take-over of business opportunities reserved for locals such as small trade stores, canteen, fish and chips and other micro and small businesses in the country.

SICCI with 70 percent of its members representing small businesses is concerned that business opportunities reserved for local businesses, as prescribed by the Foreign Investment Act 2005 through the Reserved List has not been adhered to.

SICCI CEO Dennis Meone acknowledged the effort undertaken by the Ministry as timely and a step in the right direction.

“SICCI is a represented body and voice for the private sector and whilst we encourage and strongly support investment into the country through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), it is also imperative that investors do the right by adhering to the laws and policies of Solomon Islands.

“We welcome genuine investors who have the capacity to invest in our local economy and those that will abide with local laws,” added the CEO.

The Solomon Islands Women in Business Association (SIWIBA) has also reached out and informed SICCI that their members were also affected by the influx of non-Solomon Islanders operating the kind of businesses reserved for locals.

“We acknowledged the initiative taken by the government and the leadership shown by the Ministry,” says the CEO.

SICCI also welcomes and supports the creation of the newly Business Monitoring Joint Agency Committee which would comprises of relevant Government agencies and stakeholders.

“The committee will certainly bring more transparency and accountability to the process with a platform for an inclusive stakeholder engagement,” added the CEO.

MCILI’s role has become more diverse and plays a fundamental role in being the link to businesses and investment, and whilst we acknowledge the initiative that has been undertaken it is also important that more support and resourcing is rendered to the ministry.

“Building internal capacity will go a long way in ensuring internal regulatory systems are robust, credible and implemented,” says Meone.

–SICCI PRESS

POLICE in Honiara are currently investigating the death of a 60-year-old foreign national, male, at the Mendana Hotel.

“The deceased was found dead in his hotel room this morning June 18, 2018,” says Assistance Commissioner Crime and Intelligence, Ian Vaevaso.

“Investigations into the matter are ongoing and I want to call on anybody with information to contact your nearest Police station.”

Honiara City Police can be contacted on phone 23304/ 24421 or contact the Police National Communication Centre on phone 23666 or dial the police toll free line 999.

–POLICE MEDIA

OFFICERS at the Henderson police station, Guadalcanal province have arrested a suspect following a stabbing incident at the Guluvoa main road, Marasa, in the weather coast of Guadalcanal on June 2, 2018.

“The 14-year-old juvenile suspect was arrested by police on June 16, 2018 at his home village and is in Police custody to appear before the Magistrate’s court,” says Provincial Police Commander, Guadalcanal province, Superintendent Nixon Manetoga.

“The suspect is charged with one count of attempted murder and will appear before the court for a remand application.”

It is alleged that the victim and the suspect were on their way to the beach when the victim made some jokes.

The suspect then struggled with the victim and then he allegedly stabbed his stomach with a small kitchen knife.

The victim sustained an injury to his stomach.

The victim has been discharged from the hospital awaiting reviews from a doctor.

“I call on relatives of both the victim and the suspect not to take the law into your own hands but to allow police investigations into the matter to continue. Anyone with information on the alleged incident should contact police in Guadalcanal Province,” says Manetoga.

Henderson Police Station can be contacted on phone 36200 or call the Police National Communications Centre on phone 23666 or the police toll free line 999.

–POLICE MEDIA

POLICE in Honiara have arrested a suspect in relation to the death of a 31-year-old male person after being found with a wound to his body outside his rented house in the Koloale area of Central Honiara on June 17, 2018.

The Serious Crime Team within the National Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) has taken over the investigation into the incident.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) Crime and Intelligence, Ian Vaevaso says, “The alleged incident happened in the early morning of Sunday June 17, 2018.”

“The deceased was seen lying outside his rented house with a wound to his right neck above the collar bone.

“He later died at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara.

“Currently my officers are conducting investigation into the death and arrangements are being made for a post-mortem to be carried out on the body.”

“Police have arrested a suspect in relation to the death but we ask the general public who may have any information on the incident to come forward and report it to police.

“Police extend its sympathy and condolences to the family and relatives of the deceased after your great loss.

“I appeal to relatives of the deceased and suspect not to take the law into your own hands but allow police to investigate the incident,” says Vaevaso.

–POLICE MEDIA

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a 55-year-old man from Malaysia alleged of human trafficking will appear for mention in court.

The accused, Thien Seng Wong, is an employee of Malaysian logging giant Earthmovers and is facing count of human trafficking under the section 77 of the Immigration Act 2012.

He was accused of carrying out internal human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation between November 30, 2015 and January 2016.

Prosecution alleged that Seng had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl in 2015 up until 2016.

The alleged incident occurred at a logging camp in Isabel province where the accused was working as a manager at the logging camp at the time of the alleged incident.

Prosecution said the father of the girl was also working at that logging camp.

The camp belongs to Jubilant Development Logging, an offshoot of Earth Movers logging company.

That logging company has a camp in Isabel as well as in Vella La Vella.

It was alleged the accused started living with the girl at the Isabel logging camp.

He also took the girl with him when he was transferred to the camp at Vella La Vella.

The accused was arrested after a joint operation made up of police and immigration officers investigated the matter following a media article.

The office of the Director Public Prosecution appears on behalf of the crown on the case.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

ACCORDING to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) recently launched Business Plan (2018-2023), offshore fisheries is one of the main revenue providers for the national government.

The ministry stated the sector which covers commercial tuna harvesting by domestic and foreign purse seine, long line, and pole and line vessels collects revenue through various licenses, permits and processing and observation fees.

Under this sub-sector of the fisheries sector, MFMR expressed that it also oversees the implementation of the PNA Vessel Day Scheme where the country sells fishing days to offshore fishing vessels.

MFMR added that this management tool provides an important revenue collection mechanism for the ministry.

Other sub-sectors under the fisheries sector are; coastal and inland fisheries, onshore tuna processing, aquaculture and recreational fishery.

Speaking of services provided by these sectors, coastal and inland fisheries provide a vital source of income, food security, employment and well-being for Solomon Islanders while in the onshore tuna processing sector, the country has one commercial onshore processing facility that adds value to offloaded tuna, generates increased return and jobs and stimulates spin off opportunities that benefit operators in related commercial sectors.

Meanwhile, in aquaculture, MFMR noted that seaweed is currently the main commercial aquaculture product the country exports.

In addition, this sector is said to be an alternative to wild stock harvesting of coastal fisheries and has been identified as a viable option for supply of animal source protein, food security and rural livelihoods.

Recreational fishery on the other hand is yet to fully emerge to a sector in the country as there is no revenue collected from it to date.

However, the ministry mentioned that it is an attraction for some tourists and have accommodated a number of important events in the sense of recreational and sport fishing such as the annual lagoon festival in Munda, Western Province.