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Malaita schools benefit from reforestation programme

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Students from Arabala school enjoying planting their hybrid Mohagany tree.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

THE forestry department office in Auki has introduced a school reforestation programme for five secondary schools in Malaita.

This is the connection programme from the forestry office in Auki with schools in Malaita in tree planting.

Officer in charge reforestation department in Auki Mr Ronny Aiwewe said the program started in 2016.

Two female students from Gwaidigale secondary school doing the tree planting process.

“We made awareness programmes for eight schools and now we engage the first five schools to undergo tree planting process.

“During our awareness programmes we provide knowledge and skills and teach them how to plant trees.

“Our school students must need to know the work of forestry department in the country regarding reforestation.

The main concept of these programmes with schools is at the moment we have a high demand to our local forest in terms of Logging and gardening.

Students from Arabala school enjoying planting their hybrid Mohagany tree.

“Logging is one of the key factors that destroy our local forest where in the near future we will be having no forest in our lands.

“The office of forestry department and the national government see this issue and try to adopt the tree planting programmes back in our communities and rural areas.

“At the moment we introduced three major spice raised nursery, Teak (Techona grandis), Mahogany / swim ( Switenia Macrophylla) and Eucalyptus Deglupta.

“Those species are rare in our country and we take them into our country from other countries, Mr Aiwewe said.

Students from Gwaigeo preparing the sites for tree planting.

“These species however we see them as medium term trees which are suitable for timbers that have a short period of time for harvesting.

“At the moment some of the schools we have selected for this program are currently doing their tree planting process within their school boundary.

“The forestry department is looking forward to work closely with the schools and the communities to regain our forests that have been spoilt by activities such as logging.”

The five schools undergo this programme are Dala, Gwaigeo, Gwaidingale, Maoro and Arabala secondary schools.

A forestry officer in Auki preparing trees for the school reforestation programme for schools in Malaita
A student from Dala standing beside her newly planted tree.
A student from Maoro planting the trees provided by the forestry office in Auki.

How many others are doing it?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The official website of Solomon Islands Postal Corporation (SIPC) – the nation’s smallest State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) – says it all. It shows its board may have outlived its legal mandate.

One wonders how many other SOEs are in a similar position, given that roles and responsibilities of each SOE’s Board are clearly defined in terms of the prescription in their respective legislation.

In the case of SIPC, its website shows the position each director holds and when it expires. For example:

Director                                  Position          Expiry

Robert Bokelema                  Chairman      10/10/2015

Benjiman Oatasia                Member         16/09/2016

Christian Alan Siale              Member         10/10/2012

Patrick Taloboe                    Member         10/10/2014

George Selwyn Kiriau          Member         16/09/2015

Mr. Gideon Zoleveke          Member         16/09/2016

 

What is not clear is whether these directors have had their terms of office renewed. If not, who is responsible for making sure information on its website remains current at all times.

This certainly is not the case of SIPC in terms of its board of directors. One member for example has had his membership expired in October of 2012 – that’s six years ago.

Is it possible that decisions made by a board whose terms have expired border on illegality? If so, who is responsible? Is it the Chief Executive Officer? Is it the Chairman? Or is it the Minister or Ministers responsible for the SOE?

Perhaps this is a fine line. But someone somewhere should be held to account for ignoring the requirement(s) of the law. Ignoring the law does not mean the law will go away.

No wonder our nation is going through so much chaos today. A couldn’t careless culture seems to be taking hold and spreading. Unless some affirmative action is taken, the worst is yet to come.

As everyone knows, Solomon Islands Postal Corporation (SIPC) is a state-owned enterprise established by an Act of Parliament in 1996. Its mandate is to provide postal services within Solomon Islands and to countries abroad.

As an SOE, it is subject to the State-owned Enterprises Act 2007 and State-owned Enterprises Regulations 2010, according to its website.

SIPC is governed by a board of directors that is responsible to the Accountable Ministers – the Minister of Finance and Treasury as well as the Minister for Communications and Aviation.

Its Vision is to be “a trusted leading provider of world-class postal services and other related innovative services and to be recognized as the best model of SOE in the South Pacific,”

Its Mission is to “provide high quality and modern postal services within Solomon Islands and other countries, carry on any business or activity relating to postal services to bridge customers, provide telecommunications, value added services including electronic mail, electronic data interchange, internet services, electronic funds transfer services, financial services, e-commerce services and any other appropriate or related services for customers’ better life”, according to its website.

SIPC’s case raises more questions than it answers.

For example, how many of its existing directors have had their positions renewed. All of them? Just some, how many?

Is it possible decisions made in the course of their being directors had fallen short of the legal requirement? If so, how is this going to be addressed?

There are far too many questions.

One can only hope that SIPC’s situation provides a timely wake-up call to clean up other SOEs. In doing so, it is not a tall order that a new breed of directors be appointed to assume the reins instead of using worn out records to play the games over and over again.

They are not the only people who have the brains to change this country. Many have failed this country more than they are prepared to admit.

It’s time they are shown the door. It’s time for change.

Mitigating the use of costly imported fossil fuels

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, the Solomon Islands is heavily dependent on costly fossil fuel imports, so I was pleased to read last month that the PM had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Solomon Power and Hitachi Ltd.

The MOU was aimed at resolving energy issues in the Solomon Islands and facilitating Hitachi Ltd and Solomon Power venturing into collaborative construction to design a solar power plant with, other stakeholders, in the country.

At the time of signing the MOU, Prime Minister Hou said Solomon Power would be assisted to lower the cost of energy generation thereby reducing the electricity tariff and to improve energy security for the country.

While I see the signing of the MOU as a very welcome step there remains a gap between the renewable energy aspirations of the government and the ability of public funds to invest both stronger and more resilient networks and renewable energy generation.

Improving access to climate finance could provide additional means to support renewable energy and mitigate climate change.

I do not have recent figures on percentage renewable electricity energy in the Solomon Islands but in the period 2013-2016 renewable electricity generation grew from less than 1 to 5 percent.

While the 4 percent growth was notable comparison figures for other small island states for the same period were much higher.

Tuvalu’s renewable electricity generation rose from 4 percent to 43 percent.

In the Cook Islands renewable electricity generation rose from 4 percent to 15 percent.

Clearly, more needs to be done to develop long term electricity system development plans that identify least-cost renewable generation sources and reduce carbon emissions but this will not an easy task given the Solomon Islands long-term dependency on fossil fuel imports for electricity generation and transportation use and a particularly weak economy.

Nevertheless, the signing of the MOU with Hitachi and Solomon Power was a step in the right direction, as indeed is the ongoing project for the Tina River Hydro Power scheme continuing to be funded substantially by Australia.

 

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Events that matter

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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TUESDAY 5th June marks World Environment Day and everywhere around the world, people were also celebrating this important event.

In Honiara a gathering was held at a community outside of the city, the first of its kind.

Another event to commemorate the World Environment Day will also be held in Isabel province where awareness will be carried out to the people in Buala during the Kodili festival.

But why are we so concerned in holding such events to mark such days?

In 2011 it was found that 2000 tonnes of waste has ended up on our shores in the city.

Each year more than eight million tonnes of plastics ends up in the ocean.

That’s similar to emptying a garbage truck of plastic into an ocean every minute.

60 to 90 percent of rubbish in the sea are plastics.

Almost everyone uses plastic and not many knows that these plastic bags causes air, water and land pollution.

Every day we drink soft drinks or coconut with a straw, bottle water, carry our goods with a plastic bag, ate snacks or biscuits wrapped or packaged in plastic.

Do we ever take the time to think where our plastic will go once we dispose of it?

The straw that we threw on the road thinking that it is too small and will not cause any harm or the coconut that we threw out of the vehicle wrapped in plastic bag, or the empty plastic of the gold nuggets that we dropped from our hand on to the ground, they all contribute to the amount of plastic waste that we produce.

2000 tonnes waste of plastic a year is huge.

We complain of our drains overflowing with water during rainy season and of our sea front being full of garbage without realizing that we are the garbage.

So as the world marks environment day, let us not wait for June 5 only to mark environment day. Environment day is every day and not just on Saturday’s only too.

Environment day starts from the day we wake up in the morning till night when we go to sleep.

Let us try to be responsible for our garbage and also educate our young ones the good habit of correct disposal.

Only by changing our attitude will we be able to look after our environment properly.

3 projects in West carried forward

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MPA for ward 8 Bilua South Vella la Vella Island Carlos Kesiana presenting the report to the final full assembly sitting on Thursday.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO

MPA for ward 8 Bilua South Vella la Vella Island Carlos Kesiana presenting the report to the final full assembly sitting on Thursday.

MOST of the projects in Western province approved in 2016/2017 financial year have been carried forward.

Provincial Minister for Planning & Project Coordination and MPA for ward 8, Carlos Kesiana during the sine die on Thursday last week said that three projects have been carried forward few times in the province.

Kesiana said that these projects are Varese Community High School (VCHS) Classroom, Bunikalo Fishery center and Ughele Clinic Rehabilitation.

He said the two contractors I & R Structural Engineering and Zome Enterprises who were awarded the contract for Ughele Clinic and Bunikalo Fishery Centre are based in Honiara.

“They do not have a permanent office in the province and this made communication between the employer and employee difficult.

“On the other hand the contractor who won the contract for Varese CHS Classroom Sea Breeze Building Construction is base in the province however, daily communication is still tough,” said Kesiana.

He said five projects could not go through the procurement process by March 31, 2019 because technical information such as designs, BOQs, Scope of woks and speculation and assessment repots from works were not available.

Kesiana added that these projects are Beulah PSS girl’s dormitory rehabilitation, Boro cocoa shed, Gizo Fishery center, Noro fish market and sanitation and Seghe staff house rehabilitation phase 2.

He said that most projects specifically 19 of them went through the procurement process towards the end of the financial year as a result contracts were signed between the contractor and provincial government in January, February and March 2016 respectively.

Kesiana said the projects which could not be implemented in 2015/2016 were carried forward to the 2016/2017 fiscal year.

Man facing attempted murder charge to know fate

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court will deliver its ruling on the case against a man charged with one count of attempted murder.

This is the case against John Kebol who was charged in relation to an incident occurred in Sukiki village, Weather-coast of Guadalcanal.

Prosecution said the accused on June 13, 2015 had an argument with his nephew regarding a bicycle; their argument heated up in which the accused intended to stab the victim with a kitchen knife.

The allegation said when the knife missed the victim all others who were present during the argument reacted and stoned the accused in which he fell onto the ground and sustained injuries.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution prosecutes the matter in court while Rodgers Tovosia is representing the accused.

Vasuni encourages Ngella Forum members to advance on issues

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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CIP Premier Hon Patrick Vasuni and CIP’s Provincial Secretary, Christian Siale, recently meeting with few members of the Ngella Forum (NGF) Team at Tulaghi. PHOTO BY MANEBONA BARNABAS

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

CIP Premier Hon Patrick Vasuni and CIP’s Provincial Secretary, Christian Siale, recently meeting with few members of the Ngella Forum (NGF) Team at Tulaghi. PHOTO BY MANEBONA BARNABAS

CENTRAL Islands Province (CIP) Premier Patrick Vasuni encourages social media’s famous Ngella Forum (NGF) and its members to advance on issues concerning the province.

With recent assistances by the NGF team towards the province such as helping out in the recent maintenance of the new Tulaghi Market Building and also the huge influence leading to the recent petition signed to ban logging and mining on Ngella has built confidence in the Premier and his Executive of the their advances towards serious issues concerning the province.

“There are many issues which Ngella Forum and its members can advance in various social and economic fronts so as to engage in the development of the province,” said Hon Vasuni.

“Your representation is strategic in a sense that it provides oversight to provincial programs and activities.

“NGF’s representation on behalf of the rural populace is a welcoming gesture much appreciated by the provincial government of Central Province.

“This is an independent representation that the province welcomes especially to advance their voices.”

From observation, it is understood that apart from many social media forums, NGF is one that is actively walking the talk for their people being the main aim for a better change to Central Province.

Szetu signs thirst quenching deal with MACFest NOC

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MACFEST NOC Chair Andrew Nihopara and a Szetu Enterprise representative display the copy of the Agreement witnessed by Szetu Enterprise Staff and MACFest Committee Member Dennis Marita.
MACFEST NOC Chair Andrew Nihopara and a Szetu Enterprise representative display the copy of the Agreement witnessed by Szetu Enterprise Staff and MACFest Committee Member Dennis Marita.

SZETU Enterprises Ltd is the first Honiara Company to sign a sponsorship deal with the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival (MACFEST) National Organising Committee to supply water products during the festival in July.

Company representatives and the Chairman of the MACFest NOC, Andrew Nihopara signed the Agreement at the company headquarter at Ranadi Industrial area yesterday.

The Agreement allows the company to provide bottled water products for the MACFEST pre-festival and the festival main events in exchange for a designated stall at all MACFEST programme venues including the main festival village at Panatina Grounds and the SMI Grounds at Town Ground.

Under the Agreement, the Szetu Enterprises Ltd will have the right to sell their products (except for beverages) at the festival village at Panatina and the SMI Grounds including all rehearsal venues prior to the festival opening ceremony.

The sponsor will also be the sole provider of water and soft drinks for all MACFEST Events including ceremonies and special functions and will be given the right to use the MACFEST Logo on its products starting on the date of the Agreement up to July 13.

The sponsor will also be invited to all MACFest ceremonial events including the opening and closing ceremonies and official functions represented by two officials and will be publicly acknowledged on all MACFest performance stages and venues.

Other benefits of the deal include the sponsors logo in a full colour souvenir festival programme booklet as well as a full page feature article in the Festival Programme and the MACFest Website.

MACFest NOC Chair, Andrew Nihopara said his committee is very pleased with the positive response by Szetu Enterprises Ltd.

“I would like to congratulate Szetu Enterprises Ltd for being the first ever company to come forward with their support towards MACFest,” Nihopara said.

The Festival is less than 24 days to go.

–SIG, MSG & NOC JOINT PRESS

Mystery over Taiwan’s NT$900 million support for 2023 PG solved

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Aid for the Solomon Islands

By Alfred Sasako

 

HAVE you wondered how Taiwan’s reported NT$900 million support for the 2023 South Pacific Games come about?

Wonder no more.

Island Sun can now reveal the source for the figure. Insiders familiar with the internal arrangement on the Solomon Islands’ government side told Island Sun on Tuesday the figure was actually contained in a funding proposal prepared during the former administration of Hon Manasseh Sogavare.

“It’s been with the Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan for quite some time,” the insiders said.

At the time the proposal was submitted, the NTS$900 million was equivalent to USD30 million, one insider said.

“As a matter of fact the proposal was updated and taken to Taiwan during Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela’s recent visit there. It was re-submitted to Taiwan’s President during an audience with her in Taipei. The Cabinet’s Sub-Committee on the Games submitted the proposal on the strength of her support, which she expressed during the meeting,” the insiders said.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee is now working around the clock, particularly in preparing the paperwork for the two Taiwanese companies which would bid for the construction of the Games’ facilities.

Meanwhile it has been revealed that Taiwanese politicians or legislators who accused Solomon Islands of using Taiwan as its ATM are from the Kuomintang (KMT) Party.

In July 2014, the KMT, now in the Opposition, reported total assets of NT$26.8 billion (US$892.4 million) and interest earnings of NT$981.52 million for the year 2013, making it one of the richest political parties in the world.

SOE procedures breached in SolAir?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Solomon Airlines corporate manager Mr Bill Tyson.

By Gary Hatigeva

THE management of Solomon Airlines has come under heavy criticism for what is described as continuous mismanagement of the State Owned Enterprise’s (SOE) operation and breach of procedures.

This was raised following the rehiring of former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Peter Sogoilo who resigned from his post with the airlines to contest the recent By-Election of the Gizo-Kolombangara constituency, which was held late last month.

But his reappointment as OFC has been questioned, and based on our research, was done outside of SOE procedures and regulations.

This issue was not at all a centre of focus, but based on our research, the rehired CFO has a strong connection with the current CEO Acting of the Airlines; they used to work together under the British American Tobacco company, where based on records, Mr Sogoilo was FC while the current Airline CEO Ag was his boss.

From the duo’s history, the rehiring of Sogoilo as CFO according to insiders, seemingly gets a lot of favours and privileges, which in some cases, has gone outside of procedures and are legally questionable.

Our research also goes to indicate that there is ambiguity with Soqoilo’s legal position with the airline and questions were raised as to what provisions were applied to make him the first SOE employee in Solomon Islands history to be allowed to contest an election and was taken back straight after.

Questions were also centred on Sogoilo’s status with the airline, as whether he had actually resigned before his participation in the election, which insiders alleged he was paid an upfront payment of two months of his rental allowance and other related benefits despite his resignation.

Island Sun understands that Soqoilo enjoyed all privileges during his campaign period and election, and he was also sighted driving the company (Airlines) hi-lux on return from Gizo during the campaign time.

Following the highlighted issues, management was questioned and in his response, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Acting (Ag) Bill Tyson said that in respect of the CFO, he had officially resigned a few months prior in accordance with Government and Company policy in order to stand for the Gizo/ Kolobangara by-election.

“Mr Soqoilo kindly agreed to assist the appointed auditors who were conducting the Company’s annual financial audit and were at a crucial stage in the audit.

“In respect of pay and allowances, Mr Soqoilo was treated in accordance with the Company Policy. The CEO agreed to Mr Soqoilo using the Company vehicle as he agreed to assist the auditors when he was in Honiara,” the CEO Acting explained through email.

However, the CEO Acting clarified that regarding the vacated position, a temporary CFO was appointed to manage this role in the Company for a few months pending the outcome of the election.

“As was done in the past for Mr Sigimanu, we offered Mr Soqoilo a new contract as the Chief Financial Officer for Solomon Airlines when he advised that he had not been successful in the election.

“Both of these gentlemen have delivered outstanding service to Solomon Airlines and they have extensive knowledge of the Company’s policies and procedures.

“The Company has made a significant investment in their training and development and not to re-engage them following the loss in a by-election would be an unsound commercial decision,” the CEO Acting added.

But, Sogoilo’s re-engagement was further put to question as the position he vacated was never re-advertised for filling since his resignation.

And this is something the regulations and laws clearly stipulate, that when an officer within the SOE resigns, all privileges were to be seized.

Research however reveals that in the case of Mr Sigimanu, following his participation in an election back then, he was never re-employed or given his old post, as he was hired on consultancy basis.

It further reveals that Mr Sigimanu also contested an election and was required to resign three months prior with all privileges terminated.

The biggest questions remain and need immediate answers, as the airlines is now seemingly setting a new standard, where staff can contest elections whilst keeping their job, but not according to laws guiding the country’s state owned enterprises.

However, questions have also been asked, as to what else are being tempered with in these institutes, especially with the local airliner that needs thorough attention?

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