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New minister for Malaita province government

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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New minister Fred Wai.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

A new minister has been appointed over the weekend for Malaita province’s ministry of local governance and community development.

He is Fred Wai, member for ward 12 in north Malaita in the Lau Baelelea constituency.

Mr Wai was appointed last weekend after the resignation of former minister Michael Maeliau ward member for ward 10, also in north Malaita.

The resignation of former minister Maeliau was based on lack of funding for the ministry.

Speaking to Island Sun in Auki yesterday, newly appointed minister Wai said, “My appointment for my new port folio is not a mistake but it is a way forward for my people in ward 12 and for the whole of Malaita province.

“It is only a short time to come into power to set up according to the respective port folio or ministry.

“I will try my best to at least to work together with the communities in malaita through arranging activities within this short period of time.

“My main focus for this short time frame is to complete the Manaoba mini hospital in ward 12.”

Wai added that the Manaoba mini hospital will serve the Lau region, which would save them the trouble of having to travel to the Maluu hospital.

“So far my ministry did not function well for the past few years under the leadership of the former minister due to the financial assistance experienced, I will try my best to assist and support in one way or the other regarding to my new Port folio in some areas from the malaita provincial government assistance towards my ministry.

“I believe if my recent appointment for at least one or two years we will try to organize and build good relationship as local governance and organize development activities in our rural areas.

“If I come back to power to represent my people in ward 12 and take up this same port folio I hope changes will happen when my term in office.”

Ministry will no compensate any damage: Minister Marau

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

COMMERCE minister William Braddley Marau says the ministry will not pay compensation for any damage incurred during operations to stop illegal businesses owned by foreigners.

In a press conference yesterday, Minister Marau clarified that, “To illegal operators outside of Honiara boundary; we understand that the Bangladesh Nationals also rent houses belong to indigenous people.

“Just for clarification to public, if we give them stop notice, any cost associate with the legal action its part of the business risk assessment of the operator and landlord.”

He said the ministry is not liable to compensate any damage because in the first place, both the foreigner and the local have broken the law when they ventured into illegal business and pertaining arrangements.

He explained, foreign Investors who are operating outside Honiara boundary have been running business illegally and because of that reason Ministry will not accept any liability.

Director and Registrar of Foreign Investment Division, MCILI Mr Derick Aihari said if ministry stops the Bangladesh nationals from operating, certainly few local people will be affected.

To avoid such, Aihari encourages locals to be careful when doing business.

He adds, it is good they are doing business with foreigners but don’t allow them to operate in residential areas.

Legal action to stop foreign investors outside Honiara boundary from doing business, Aihari said is an opportunity for locals to do business to provide such services to suburb areas around Honiara and outside boundary.

Private sector acknowledge crack down on illegal businesses

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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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 investigate death of 60-year-old foreigner

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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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

Police arrest 14-yr-old over stabbing incident in weathercoast

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

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 investigate death in Central Honiara

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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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

Human trafficking case in court

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

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.

Probing the shadow

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration William Bradford Marau.

Ministry of Commerce hunts down foreign businesses operating illegally

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and
Immigration William Bradford Marau.

FOREIGN investors doing retail business outside the city boundary and in residential areas are facing the axe under the ministry of commerce’s crack down on illegal businesses.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) is going hard against illegal businesses following public outcry over the surge in retail shops owned by Bangladeshi nationals outside the city boundary and in residential areas.

Minister for MCILI William Bradford Marau said the Attorney General’s Chamber has advised the ministry to take action because foreigners are already operating in residential areas and outside the city boundary. These are said to be illegal activities.

The advice from AG Chamber gives the ministry the urge and commitment to carry out their work and to issue stop notices to these operators carrying out illegal activities.

“That does not mean only the Bangladesh nationals,” he said.

He assures that MCILI will be issuing 10-day notices shortly.

Marau said this operation began last year. 10 foreign nationals had responded to the 10-day notices, and this year, 12 had reportedly responded.

He said they will continue to ensure foreign investors comply with the country’s laws.

Marau said ministry of commerce has the right to stop foreign investment operating here, and their action is based on the country’s Act under foreign investment.

“We will continue to take actions and already we get advice from AG Chamber that what happened already is illegal—make references to the Bangladesh national who doing business in residential areas,” he said.

If they continue, they are liable to face consequences, Marau said.

Director and Registrar of Foreign Investment Division, MCILI, Mr Derick Aihari reiterates the Minister’s call and said now they are visiting and checking on places which have been reported to them.

“Operate illegally means they do not comply to our requirements, so it means if they operate outside the city boundary and in residential areas, we will stop them, and we will do that.

“The process is 10-day notice to allow them time for move out and if they still do not comply we will take actions to stop them from doing business.”

Aihari explained that MCLI have a foreign investment regulation 2006, following that there was an amendment 2005 and an amendment regulation 2016 and such laws has a reserve list for both local and foreign investors.

MCILI, Under Secretary Technical Supervisor and Chairman for Business Monitoring Joint Agency Committee, Mr Morris Rapa’ai said there is a committee established that comprises of relevant stakeholders.

Rapa’ai said the purpose of the Business Monitoring Joint Agency Committee is control the influx of foreigners and immigration in the country.

He said the committee, which consist representative from, MCILI, HCC, Guadalcanal province and other relevant stakeholders, will act as a watch dog for implementers of the country’s law.

Rapa’ai explained the committee was formed in 2017 with the aim to re-look into monitoring and enforcement activities for doing business in Solomon Islands.

Youth@work ready for new intake

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Youth@Work holds information sessions for youth

THE youth@work programme, known to groom youths into human resources of the country, is open for interested persons wishing to enrol.

Youth@Work (Y@W) will host an info session for youth living in Honiara at the National Art Gallery, starting Monday June 18 ending on the 20th.

It is expected that hundreds will turned up including young people themselves, parents and guardians who are keen on having their children join the life changing training and opportunities offered by Y@W internship and entrepreneurship programme.

It is promised to empower 400+ unemployed youth annually especially in the urban centre find decent jobs and starting small scale enterprise.

During the sessions staff will be disclosing information about the internship and young entrepreneurs programmes so that youth can make informed decisions.

Each 3-hour session ends with handing out of registration forms to youth.

The Y@W Deputy Coodinator Roselyn Bibimauri shares her anticipation for the new intake.

”I look forward to and welcome all young people between the age of 17-28 years to come and be part of our team.

“I strongly encourage those who are interested to come by yourself and not seek information from friends and or relatives.

“This practice is experienced as a cause for disappointments by young individuals because of being misinformed.”

Speaking to Y@W comms Esther Fioli a current phase intern says, “I came and sit in during the info session and it was very rewarding later in the time I spent in the programme, I look forward to each upcoming activities.”

Another intern Noel Makau reaffirms by saying, “I learn during the info session that this program promotes the economic prospect of young individuals and I am to see clearly the directions this path will take.”

Youth@Work is facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, in partnership and supported by funding from the Queens Young Leaders Programme (UK), the Australian Government Aid Programme, the Pacific Leadership Programme and Plan International.

Implementation is done in partnership with the Solomon Islands Ministry of National Unity, Peace and Reconciliation, the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs. Youth@Work is an initiative to tackle youth unemployment in Solomon Islands and to help youth of the Solomon’s find pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.

–YOUTH@WORK PRESS

Plan to set up business holding companies yet to start

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
CIP Premier Hon Patrick Vasuni

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

PLAN to setting up business holding companies in order to drive the private sector especially tourism in Central Islands Province (CIP) is yet to start.

From such will create Ngella people having shares in companies according to CIP’s Provincial Secretary (PS), Christian Siale, and Premier Patrick Vasuni.

“There is no competition at this stage but given the development right now, I am sure that in two years time, Tulaghi will regularly be a visited town by visitors to visit tourism sites and relics as the provincial government is quite serious about this.

“We are now investing around $80,000 to upgrade all the World War II and heritage sites and also the access to them,” said the PS in a press conference.

Some of the initiatives CIP’s provincial government is working on currently are such as the established youth and women partnership in upholding the cleanliness of zones in Tulaghi Township.”

Though being very small by the provincial government but it is good for a start as they are also seeking NGO partners and funding to enhance more with partnerships including landscaping and getting the right people to organise appealing presentation, so that the value for the product and activities will come.

“That is at start right now with those sites,” explained the PS.

The PS clarified that the Tourism Division will market the initiative to have other funding coming in from the national Government and probably NGO’s on those areas to enhance further.

“As we understand the Provincial Government is limited with finance to service grants only, we are making the outermost use of the limited funds,” said the PS.

“The rest of the funds will have to come out from the Capital Funds of the main line ministries and that is subject to bidding and presentation bearing planning and budgeting queries with the mainline ministries.”

Currently, the Central provincial government is embarking on a number of policy papers trying to translate to the policy paper of land partnership in order to have access to land with landowners.

This follows what will happen after banning of logging in Ngella goes into place. Second is the diversification of tourism by revitalising on it. This includes other private sector economic activities.

CIP’s Premier Vasuni is urging landowners and communities of the rural areas to go forward to them in order to work together for a better future for the province.

Central provincial government is deciding to set up guest rest houses and other areas amongst rural communities to improve healthy standard model villages too.

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