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.
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.
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.
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.
The only fefale who elected this year provincial election Mrs Oelyn
Muala(MPA) for South Ranonga Island, Ward 6 and wife of current MPHon.
Elijah Doro Muala, MP for South Choiseul and Minister for the Ministry of Justice.
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO
The only fefale who elected this year provincial election Mrs Oelyn Muala(MPA) for South Ranonga Island, Ward 6 and wife of current MP Hon. Elijah Doro Muala, MP for South Choiseul and Minister for the Ministry of Justice.
WHILE the result is still unofficial, the Western provincial assembly has one female MPA.
She is Oelyn Muala a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) for South Ranonga Island, Ward 6.
Mrs Muala is the wife of Elijah Doro Muala, MP for South Choiseul and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs.
Mrs Muala ousted Mr Richard Beck a former non executive member in the Maepioh-led government.
In an interview with Mrs Muala yesterday, she said that it is always a disadvantage for women contesting such election since “we have to work extra hard to convince the ideas, comments and minds a voting population that still hold the view that such of leadership are only for men.
“I am preparing for this year election for almost two years to represent my people in ward 6.
“They encourage me to contest on issues that are important to represent my ward 6 to address issues affecting young people, women and venders,” she added.
“Women can make a difference; women can hear the cry and have the heat to those who seek for help. Thus I would like to thank those who have trust on me to lead my people in ward 6 for the next four years.”
Mrs Muala encourages women to contest and work hard to build their base, network and speak issues that affect young girls and women living in rural areas.
Five women contested the 2018 Western provincial elections.
Meanwhile, all the elected MPAs of Western province will take their oath sometime this week.
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.
LAST week’s provincial election in Western and Choiseul provinces will see the two provinces with new leaders in the two top positions in the Provincial government level.
Former premier of Western Province, Wayne Maepioh was ousted in the election process while Choiseul’s former premier, Jackson Kiloe decided that it is time for him to move on after almost 19 years being a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA).
Kiloe has made his retirement from the Provincial government known, well before the provincial elections took place.
In November 2017, Kiloe announced his retirement and had said the retirement will give him the break he needs.
Kiloe became a member of the Babatana ward in 1999 and since then had been MPA till his retirement from the Provincial government recently.
Maepioh on the other hand was quite upset with how the campaign in last week’s provincial election went.
He had said that he will open a petition against his opponent, a comment he made even a day before the counting of votes.
This was from an alleged vote rigging. Maepioh claimed two members of Parliament had been involved.
“Both men have showered voters with gifts of sewing machines, solar panels and even Out Board Motors. One even threatened voters that if they do not vote for the MP’s candidate, they would not get any assistance from the MP in Honiara,” Mr Maepioh said.
Newly elected and re-elected MPAs of the two provinces are:
Choiseul province
Wagina Movete Kabiri
2. Katupika Harrison Benjanin
3. Vasiduki Gregory Pita
4. Viviru Philip Bavare
5. Babatana John Matapaza
6. Tepazaka Ralpbell Vina
7. Vuruvachu Paul Telovae
8. Choiseul Bay Josiah Vana
9. Taba Watson Qoloni
11. Tavula Clement Kengava
12. Varisi Suka George Vanakana
13. Varisi Lavata Nerio Ulemiki
14. Katario Ezra Kukuti
15. Senga Michael Ngarakana
16. Kerepangara Kevin Vaekesa
17. Kiruqela Derald Galotaba
INCREASING settlements and development of land along the Tenaru strip of area has raised concern among Guadalcanal people alike.
For quite some time, there has been discussions in social media on this particular stretch of land and whether the people settling and building houses there have acquired these lands through proper processes and channels.
Through these discussions in social media it was made known that the Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG) has had a number of discussions with Levers Solomons and from the discussions it was agreed that land beyond Alligator is to be given and prioritized for Guadalcanal people only.
However this is not the case. Development and felling of cocoa trees on Lever’s land along the Tenaru stretch of road is progressing at a very fast rate.
Now most of the cocoa trees along the stretch of road to the Tenaru Bridge have been felled with buildings being built instead.
The settlers developing these lands are unknown and how they acquire the lands are not known either.
GP has denied selling these blocks of land to the settlers as they say, ‘only Levers Solomons have the right to sell these lands’.
Notice being erected on the stretch of land
“The cocoa plantation there was where we used to earn an income ever since it was left idle by Levers,” a woman from North Guadalcanal said.
The recent protest on the new development of these lands was a stop notice erected to ward people of these lands.
A notice deemed ineffective as almost 80 percent of the cocoa plantation had been removed and development now taking shape.
Island Sun understands that most developments happening in the said areas are not approved by the Guadalcanal Provincial Town Country Planning Board.
It is also understood that Guadalcanal province lacks the enforcement mechanism.
TWO Cabinet ministers and opposition figures from Taiwan ally the Solomon Islands are visiting China, reports said Saturday, inciting concern that Taipei might lose another of its 18 remaining allies.
Over the past months, the Dominican Republic and Burkina Faso switched recognition from Taiwan to China amid rising pressure from the communist country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saturday it was closely monitoring the situation, adding that the government of the Solomon Islands had told the Taiwanese mission that the relationship was stable.
Ruling Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Wang Ding-yu earlier reported on his Facebook page that the ministers of transportation and mining as well as one opposition lawmaker from the Solomon Islands were visiting Beijing, but that the trip had not been authorised by the Cabinet and was of a private nature.
However, Wang warned that the fact that the journey was taking place at all should be seen as “a negative signal.”
He added that as the Solomon Islands were preparing for general elections next year, some politicians might start having “illusions” about the possibility of Chinese investment and financial aid, the Central News Agency reported.
TULAGHI roads are amongst confirmed for maintenance to continue under the National Transport Fund (NTF) Board’s recent meeting.
The NTF Board successfully approved funding requested by the Central Project Implementation Unit (CPIU) under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development for ongoing and new projects after having a second quarter meeting.
NTF Board earlier had approved the 2018 NTF work priorities and 2018 Annual Work Plan at its meeting on January 31 in which Central Islands Province (CIP) had not benefited again being understood to be the only province that has no new infrastructure development for the last forty years raising grave concern.
However, after the NTF Board had a second quarter meeting on June 7, 2018, funding includes maintenance works for Tulaghi roads as well.
“Funding include maintenance works for Hibiscus Avenue road, Guadalcanal East road (Alligator Bridge to Metapona Bridge), Guadalcanal West road (White River to Doma), Malaita North road (Silolo – Fouia), Malaita South road, Malaita East road, Tulaghi roads, and Buala roads,” said Jimmy Nuake the Head of NTF Secretariat/US Technical under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development in a Press Statement.
From an awareness programme held at Tulaghi by the NTF group in 2017, CIP’s Premier Patrick Vasuni told Island Sun early this year that it is very disappointing to find out that the province has not benefitted.
“Even a small province as Renbel has benefitted,” said the Premier.
“We are really disappointed that the government has done nothing to develop infrastructures on Central province as we also handed in our submissions.”
He added that no such development is a slap on the face of his people.
NTF is a special fund for developing, maintaining and managing transport infrastructure and services in Solomon Islands.
The current contributors to the Fund are the Solomon Islands Government, the Government of Australia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
