OPPOSITION Leader Manasseh Maelanga has called for the immediate sacking of the Minister for Forest and Research, Samuel Manetoali, while investigations are being carried out into his conduct.
The call was made in response to media reports that in March 2018, the Minister granted special exemption to a logging operation in his own Gao-Bugotu constituency in which he is a party to.
The Opposition understands that the exemption was granted on the basis of Manetoali’s own application to the previous Minister in October 2017, prior to his appointment as Minister for Forests in November 2017.
Mr Maelanga said that while the Act confers discretionary powers to the Minister to grant such an exemption, the exercise of that authority must be carried out with utmost diligence to avoid any instance that may constitute abuse of discretionary powers, conflict of interest, bias, improper motives, or undue influence.
The Opposition Leader added that ‘discretionary powers’ is not a ‘licence’ for the Minister to do as he pleases without giving regard to rules, law, public interest, and impact on fundamental rights of other citizens.
Maelanga said he believes Prime Minister Hou is determined to do what is right for the nation and within this context urges him to do the right thing by immediately removing Manetoali as Minister for Forest and Research.
MP for Rennell-Bellona, Dr Tautai An gikimu'a Kaitu'u
By Mike Puia
Gizo
MP for Rennell-Bellona, Dr Tautai An gikimu’a Kaitu’u
MEMBER of Parliament for Rennell-Bellona province, Dr Tautai Agikimu’a Kaitu’u, has defended a letter he had signed allowing his land to be mined, which is attracting public attention.
The letter, dated November 26, 2017, was addressed to Bintan Mining Company and copied to the Director of Mines.
It shows Kaitu’u as one of the individuals who signed the letter consenting Tekakamagoku land in central Rennell to be mined.
The letter was posted in various social media groups and was carried in front pages of newspapers.
The letter prompted unnamed constituents to attack their MP. Some claimed Kaitu’u has been “two-faced” over the issue of mining on Rennell.
Some constituents say Kaituu presents himself to be against mining operations on Rennell Island but in fact signed his land to be mined.
Some constituents question the integrity of Kaitu’u. Some say Kaitu’u is claiming to champion his people’s fight against mining in Rennell but in practice allowed mining to continue.
Other unknown constituents claimed that Kaitu’u has been lying to the people of his province and country and is playing double standards.
Most people who spoke against their MP were not named.
Kaitu’u confirmed to Island Sun Gizo that he did signed a document purposely to stop their land at Tehakaamagoku from being mined by other people.
“The paper I signed was to protect our land from different people. I don’t know why Janus has to be mentioned in a story carried in the front page of Island Sun newspaper?” Kaitu’u said.
He said he sees no reason why signing a paper to protect their land from being mined by different people would become an issue.
“The question is if I decide to mine some of my land, which is not the case, what’s the issue?” Kaitu’u asks.
He said he stands against mining because there are things that are not right.
“I only stand against mining because land registration was not done correctly, there were no good deal companies done with landowners, there is no land rehabilitation on sites mined and obviously, digging happens all over the place. These are things that I don’t support,” Kaitu’u said.
He said the way mining is done on Rennell is “bad mining” and these are things he is mindful of.
SUPERVISING Police Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi says that police investigation into the case of the missing Asian man is continuing and it is too early to rule out that the man was attacked by a crocodile.
Mr Manelusi was speaking during the weekly media conference. He said police investigators are carrying out a full investigation into the incident to determine the truth about the missing man.
He said the missing Asian was employed by Windlex International Solomon Islands Company Limited.
Police say it is not known how the man went missing, but from reports gathered by police the man was last seen on the evening of Sunday May 13 at Lungga River mouth with his two colleagues and went missing after cutting hair at the river mouth.
It was alleged that the incident might involve a crocodile attack but that has to be determined after police investigation.
Manelusi appeals to the public especially around Lungga area or people who may have information to assist police in their investigation.
He said search for the missing man has been conducted when police heard about the incident and acknowledge the workers of the Windlex International Solomon Islands Company and the communities surrounding Lungga for assisting the police in their search.
SUPERVISING police commissioner Gabriel Manelusi has assured that police has not abandoned the Mbike shooting case.
Police are still investigating the case four years on.
Responding to questions asked during a media conference yesterday Mr Manelusi said police investigation depends on information supplied by the people, and without people’s consent police cannot get the information.
Police work is difficult and in regards to the Mbike issue, police are seriously dealing with the case because it is a matter of national interest.
This is in relation to the shooting and arson incident which occurred at Mbike on December 9, 2014.
Some unknown people attacked the motor vessel Sun Express at Mbike Island, Central Province.
The persons fired a number of shots at the boat and later threw petrol onto the boat and set the petrol on fire.
Present on Mbike at the time of the attack were 17 newly elected members of parliament.
Following the attack the offenders left the scene.
And police are calling for public cooperation to establish the identity of the person or persons responsible for the shooting and arson on December 9, 2014.
The RSIPF believe that there may be others who may have had involvement, who are yet to be identified.
A reward of up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or part thereof will be paid at the discretion of the Commissioner of Police and executive panel, for information leading to the apprehension and prosecution of the person or persons.
POLICE say that the Janus taskforce is progressing very well and criticisms that Janus has been weakened are not true.
Supervising Police Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi said that the Janus taskforce is an independent body and there has been no interference affecting the taskforce and they are doing fine on what they are doing.
Mr Manelusi in answering questions regarding to police investigation and Janus, said that police investigation can only be effective if there are more public support as police alone cannot do it by themselves.
He said any arrest that police will be doing in terms of their investigation, police will always release information in the media.
During a press conference yesterday, Manelusi was asked why police were arresting small fish and not big fish, to which he replied that police depend on information and facts provided to them and also police investigation are not categorising criminals on ‘small or big’.
However what police are doing is to be fair to everybody that nobody is above the law but everybody else is subjected to the law of this country, Manelusi said.
THE Auki murder suspect into the FE Travellers motel death incident of December last year has appeared for the second time before the Auki magistrate court on Monday this week.
The case was adjourned for May 29 to allow for a preliminary inquiry to be carried out by investigators.
The preliminary inquiry will lead to the admission and confession by the two witnesses of the murder case, the court highlighted.
Suspect Prudence Buia will again appear on May 29 at the Auki Magistrate court.
The suspect was arrested towards the end of April by the Auki police and was remanded at the Auki correctional centre in Auki.
Police have applauded both parties to the incident for remaining calm and allowing police to carry out their investigations.
This is what is left of the ABA corporation store in Chinatown after Thursday morning’s fire.
Aba Corporation promises return after devastating fire
BY ALFRED SASAKO
This is what is left of the ABA corporation store in Chinatown after Thursday morning’s fire.
SOLOMON Islands lost a huge part of its commercial history last night, when an early morning fire destroyed the Aba Corporation’s 68-year-old shop and warehouses in Chinatown.
Nothing could be saved as the flames with intense heat quickly spread through the timber structure. Large stocks valued at millions of dollars were destroyed.
Quick action by fire fighters helped stop the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Marks left by the intense heat could still be seen on brick walls of nearby buildings with blackened windows.
Yesterday only the smouldering remains of the building that once housed the Aba Corporation Business Empire remained. The scene resembled that of a huge explosion. Remains of burnt out can food were strewn all over what was once the entrance to the popular shop.
Island Sun yesterday visited the smouldering remains of the three buildings – two warehouses at the back and the popular shop at the front. It was a sorry sight.
It was a devastating experience for the Aba family, but it may not be the knockout blow as the family has vowed to rebuild.
“We will be back,” a distraught member of the Aba family who wished to remain anonymous, told Island Sun yesterday outside the site where the Aba Corporation once stood.
Three generations of the Aba family once lived here – the parents of their parents, their own parents and the children, now all grown up, but still regarded the building as their family home.
Fire inspectors are expected to start shifting through the ruins today in their search to establish the cause of the fire.
Fire fighters suffered their first setback yesterday, when the fire hydrant in Chinatown was allegedly turned off, according to people who evacuated from nearby buildings in the early hours of yesterday morning.
“The fire tank truck had to travel back to Rove to get water for the three fire engines which fought the flames that had engulfed the building,” a member of a family that lived in a nearby building told Island Sun.
“Fire fighters did a fantastic job, but their efforts were hampered by the fact that the water hydrant in Chinatown was turned off. We merely bundled our kids and drove out from our house because the heat was quite intense,” the man said.
An official from the Solomon Islands Water Authority (SIWA) told Island Sun last night that as far as he knew the fire hydrant near Quan Chee Motors in Chinatown was operating.
Insurance people are also expected to start assessing the damage. Police have cordoned off the area.
The fire which reportedly started around 4am had completely destroyed what the Aba family of three generations had built shortly after the Second World War.
The Aba Corporation building was one of just three timber structures, which survived the destruction of the ethnic tension and the 2006 unrest which destroyed many of the shops in Chinatown.
The other two buildings are the QQQ and Dr Kwan’s building, also in Chinatown. Now that Aba Corporation is gone, there are only two timber structures left.
Some observers said one of the reasons the Aba Corporation stood out amongst the people of Solomon Islands was because while everyone else closed up shops and left during the ethnic tension, Aba Corporation remained open throughout.
“The people of Solomon Islands see Aba Corporation as one of theirs. That is why Aba Store as the company is commonly known throughout Solomon Islands was very popular.
“The destruction of the Chinatown shop is a great loss, not only to the Aba Corporation but also to the businessmen and women and ordinary folks who had come to know the Aba family,” one observer said last night.
MORE than 30 public service officers underwent the Gender Mainstreaming and Sensitisation Workshop for Human Resources Managers and Gender Focal Points yesterday.
The one-day workshop at the Rock Haven was aimed to enhance understanding on gender focal point (GFP) on gender, gender mainstreaming and functions for GFPs in the Public Service.
The workshop also aims to encourage critical conversation on gender inequalities in the public service, in policies and programmes, and equip GFPs with basic gender analysis tools and skills for gender mainstreaming work in their respective ministries.
The aim is to prepare GFPs to support the MPS Gender Adviser to implement activities under the SIG PS Transformation Strategy, Strategic Thrust 6 – Sensitising Gender in Governance.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service Mr Nego Sisiolo said yesterday’s workshop signifies the beginning of the process of formalisation of the gender focal point system within the Public Service.
He adds, such was timely and relevant within the Ministry of Public Service because organising such events comprises of public servants, directly translates real and tangible action in the Solomon Islands Public Service Transformation Strategy 2017 – 2021.
“A fundamental argument for increased representation of women in public service is that when the composition of the public sector reflects the composition of the society it serves, government will be more responsive and effective,” he adds.
Sisiolo said closing gender gaps in public administration is important to ensuring truly inclusive development and democratic governance.
“The issue of gender inequality within our Public Service is very striking and cannot be ignored,” Sisiolo said.
Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs said Women’s Development Division (WDD) within MWYCFA continues to implement activities in the National Gender Equality and Women’s Development Policy 2016 – 2020 (EVAW).
To achieve the gender mainstreaming, WDD with relevant stakeholders set actions to gender sensitise corporate and human resources policies of the Solomon Islands Government.
The workshop is organised by the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs and the Ministry of Public Service.
VILLAGERS from Anorara to Taba’a, ward 15 in East Malaita, will soon experience the benefit from the road being constructed towards their communities.
Provincial member for ward 15, Martin Aniana said the eight kilometre road has only 1km left to reach Taba’a, which is also close and easier to connect with the Okwala road in central Kwara’ae.
It is said that the hardships that used to be faced with transport during marketing and going to the clinic will be solved.
“In the past our villagers have to walk eight kilometers to reach transports and area health centres for medical attention.
“But today transport services have reached our communities in highlands in east Malaita.
“Through our working together with the landowners and our member of parliament Hon Manasseh Maelanga makes things easier for our people.
“I appeal to all members of Parliament to work closely with the provincial ward members in terms of development in our constituencies and meet the cries and heartfelt needs of our people back in our rural areas.
“It’s our long term plan to develop east malaita constituency through infrastructures and other developments in the future and we are almost achieving it.
“Maelanga is the key contributor towards this project for his own people in East Malaita,” Aniana revealed.
TAIWAN Technical Mission (TTM) has propagated more than 100,000 vines to local farmers in the Guadalcanal Plains.
After seven months of hard work with the Tetere Beach Farm and communities across the Guadalcanal Plains, Taiwan’s Embassy through TTM has increased propagation of sweet vines to 100,000.
The vines are estimated to be planted in more than three hectares with the aim to improve sustainability of sweet potato production to GP local farmers and target communities TTM has worked with.
TTM said the success of the Taiwanese method of planting potato came about after farmers witnessed for themselves the high yield attained from the introduced method.
Since then, TTM has worked closely with Mr Samuel Basoi, one of the local farmers who own the Tetere Beach Farm.
After seeing the success of the Taiwanese method, Basoi encouraged the Tetere community to venture more into farming particularly sweet potato.
He appreciated knowledge and skills acquired from the TTM saying such have guided them with useful farming techniques.
“We thank the help from Taiwan to guide us the farming technique. Crop science can raise the quality of food, health and life, Agriculture is just like a new weapon in this era.”
TTM Officer Mr Charles Huang said, “We still have a lot of works to improve the propagation, at least we can ensure the amounts of kumara vine are enough for farmers within 5km radius.”
He urges local farmers around the country to call in at the Tetere farm with their request, including how many vines they need, and arrangements can be done.
