BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

Choiseul province nurses working in rural clinics are commended by locals for their continuous efforts to save lives, working tirelessly beyond normal working hours.

Mr Nerio Ulemiki, the media coordinator for Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru reporting on behalf of locals, said nurses in the province have worked tirelessly beyond normal working hours so they need to be commended too.

“This is part of being a motive for encouragement,” said Ulemiki.

“For tireless efforts during extra times beyond normal working hours and for so many times facing difficulties through rough weather conditions and sleepless nights to save lives, we thank them for their great ministry.”

Sirovanga Rural Health Clinic at Choiseul province has also recently re-opened, back to its normal services, after seven months of closure under repair and maintenance, which is a boost of medical service assistance in the province.

Also recently, over 1000 people witnessed the handing over ceremony of Kanata’s new clinic building at Nuatabu community in Kiruqela Ward 16, Northeast Choiseul.

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team will conduct a live demolition of bombs at Hells Point, in the Alligator Creek east of Honiara tomorrow.

Officer In-charge (OIC) of EOD, Inspector Clifford Tunuki says, “The Hells Point Demolition Range in Central Guadalcanal area will be active from 8am to 2pm on May 10.”

“Fishermen, farmers, hunters and the general public in the Henderson area, Alligator Creek and Tenaru School areas are kindly warned to keep out from Hells Point while the Operation is in progress.

“This is a normal EOD task aimed to reduce the amount of UXOs/AXOs stored at the site to a minimum level.

“The Air Traffic Control Tower at Honiara International Airport will coordinate the firing of each serial.

“No serial is to be fired without specific air clearance and permission from Honiara Air Traffic Control Tower.

“An EOD Operator/Technician from the RSIPF EOD Team will be posted at the control tower during this operation from the actual times of the Demolition and completion time.”

–POLICE MEDIA

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of former financial controller of the Ministry of Police Stephen Jude Otto will appear again in court today after it was adjourned yesterday.

This case is on trial and had previously been adjourned for yesterday, however, it was further adjourned yesterday for today for Mr Otto to be arraigned.

Otto is being accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $800,000 of public funds through dishonest tender processes.

He faces counts of official corruption.

The prosecution alleged that Oto was the first public officer to have been arrested by the Taskforce Janus, he was the financial controller within the Ministry of Police and Correctional Services as well as a member of the ministry’s tender board.

The prosecution alleged that on March 26, 2015, Oto was appointed as a member of the Ministry of Police National Security and Correctional Services ministerial tender board.

A requirement of this appointment was that he familiarise himself with the processes set out in the Solomon Islands Financial Instructions.

It was alleged that between December 1, 2015 and August 18, 2016, Jahman Enterprise, a company Oto allegedly set up and owned, answered calls for tenders and has been awarded business contracts for service to the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services on 11 different occasions.

A number of these transactions have required Certificate of Registration of Business name from the Company Haus to be submitted together with the tender.

Police alleged Oto, on a number of occasions, supplied a falsified Certificate of Registration of Business name, removing his own name from this certificate and replacing it with the name Edward Laufooa, to conceal his identity.

“His business Jahman Enterprise was alleged to have subsequently invoiced the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, who have made payments totally up to $817, 256.50 to Jahman Enterprises for these services,” a police brief tendered to the court, said.

“Those payments were also alleged to have been made into an account which Oto is the sole signatory.

“On a number of occasions, Oto certified requisitions as the Accountable Officer and on occasions, would allegedly certified that goods and services have been received.”

The Office of the Director Public Prosecution represents the crown on the matter.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court will decide on the application made by Prosecution to amend the particulars of the charge against former Constituency Development Officer for Gao-Bugotu on June 5.

Prosecution after closing their case made an application to amend the particulars of the second charge against the defendant.

This is in relation to the case against men alleged of stealing sheet of roofing iron from the Gao-Bugotu constituency.

Jimmy Dikamana and Lonsdale Tana were charged in relation to incidents which occurred in 2015.

Prosecution alleged that the two were stole roofing iron from the constituency and sold them to other people.

Bradley Dalipanda of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

VOTERS of the Gizo-Kolombangara by-election have been urged to show principles of honesty and genuiness to their candidates.

With campaign activities underway, former police officer Pr Joshua Loko suggested that it is not pleasing to see Christians with good standing in their families and communities jumping from one candidate to another.

“A number of voters doing daily campaign as an opportunity to get money for their families.

“Getting money through this dishonest attitude shows our dishonesty to our own families and friends as we claim ourselves as Christian in this branded ‘Christian’ country of Solomon Islands.”

Loko said there are also campaigning agents going around with lists, containing names of voters without their consent and choice, as another opportunity to lure candidate’s approval to dish out money for their (agents) personal benefits.

He stressed that these kinds of practices and attitudes must be stopped.

He laments the past when candidates did not need money to campaign, but rather their wits and power of speech to convince voters with their plans for the constituency.

Five candidates are contending the Gizo/Kolombangara constituency seat in a by-election set for May 23.

Two of them are independent; Ronald Philips Dive and Mrs Lanelle Tanangada. Lanelle is the only female candidate.

The other contestants are former prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo (Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement, SIPRA), Peter Sogoilo (Democratic Alliance Party, DAP) and Kenneth Bulehite (United Democratic Party, UDP).

BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

COMMONWEALTH Heads acknowledged that as globally agreed under Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda, promoting peace, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive national institutions, at all levels, are essential for development to flourish.

Heads welcomed the recent establishment of the Commonwealth Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform (OCCJR) and its role in providing support to member countries in the creation of effective national laws.

Heads further agreed to adopt the Report of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). They commended CMAG for its constructive role in advancing the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values, and its complementarity to the preventative nature of the Secretary General’s Good Offices.

Heads agreed the importance of strengthening the Secretary-General’s Good Offices and its capacity to support national requests for peace building to enable sustainable peace and security, through the establishment and strengthening of national peace and dialogue processes.

Recognising the valuable role of Commonwealth Elections Observation in supporting member countries to improve democratic processes and institutions, as highlighted in recommendations by Commonwealth Observer Groups, Heads agreed a refreshed approach to election observation, by adopting the Revised Commonwealth Guidelines on Election Observation in Member Countries.

Heads encouraged the strengthening of National Human Rights Institutions in line with the Paris Principles.

They reiterated the continued importance of sharing human rights best practice and expertise across the Commonwealth.

They agreed to support National Human Rights Institutions and the Universal Periodic Review process, as well as to strengthen the Commonwealth Small States Offices.

Heads reaffirmed their commitment to the Commonwealth Principles on the Accountability of and Relationship between the Three Branches of Government (2003) as an integral part of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values.

Heads requested the Commonwealth Secretariat work in partnership with other Commonwealth organisations in promoting dialogue between the three branches of government, including through the full application of the Latimer House Principles Toolkit, which provides a practical guide to enhancing the separation of powers.

Heads noted that 2018 marks the centenary of the birth of the former President of the Republic of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, and affirmed that the Commonwealth shares and is inspired by the values and objectives he espoused.

They called on the international community to use this centenary year to address the global challenges of poverty, inequality, discrimination and underdevelopment and to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts globally.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

CHIEF Abraham Sirodana of Pupuku Village in Ward 12 at Northwest Choiseul has raised concerns against their MPA regarding community assistance with any development project.

According to Mr Sirodana, they are still waiting for any assistance from Ward 12’s Member of Provincial Government (MPA) Gideon Panisaga since he was elected to power.

“Apart from usual receiving of Christmas token’s for parties, we are still hoping for any further developments to take place at our area,” said Sirodana.

Attempts to contact Mr Panisaga were futile yesterday.

Choiseul province is currently looking forward for its provincial government election to take place soon.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

THE Western provincial assembly will convene their last full assembly sitting from May 22 – 29 in Gizo.

Premier Wayne Maepioh confirmed to Island Sun Gizo yesterday the 26-member assembly house will convene their last sitting before the Western province election on June 13, 2018.

Maepioh said that the final assembly sitting under his capacity will discuss the Division reports and the Audit report for the last financial in year 2016-2017of the provincial government office.

“It’s a wind down full assembly sitting of the 10th assembly under my capacity of the provincial government.”

“This would be the last assembly meeting of the 11 executive under my premiership over the four years,” said Maepioh

Maepioh said that the venue for the full assembly sitting will be known after a final programme is drawn.