Home Blog Page 1416

Countries agree to cut shipping emissions, to Pacific delight

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

DEAR EDITOR, quoting Radio New Zealand International – April 15, 2018, “The global shipping industry agreed a plan to cut its greenhouse gas emissions for the first time on Friday in a deal that had been hard pushed by small Pacific countries.

“The agreement came at the end of a week-long meeting of the International Maritime Organisation, a United Nations body, in London, where small countries were pitted against large shipping nations that were against such restrictions.

“Friday’s agreement calls for global shipping emissions to peak as soon as possible, and to reduce the total annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent of 2008 levels by 2050. It also calls for efforts to be pursued to phase out greenhouse gas emissions from shipping entirely.

“The IMO’s Secretary General, Kitack Lim, hailed the agreement as a “successful illustration of a spirit of cooperation,” while Pacific leaders called it historic.

“Today the IMO has made history,” said the Marshall Islands president, Hilde Heine, in a statement. “While it may not be enough to give my country the certainty it wanted, it makes it clear that international shipping will now urgently reduce emissions and play its part in giving my country a pathway to survival.”

“More than 2 percent of global emissions of carbon dioxide come from the shipping industry, which is roughly equivalent to Germany’s emissions. But shipping, like aviation, has been excluded from previous environmental accords, such as the 2015 Paris Agreement, because its focus was based on a system of state-level targets.

“The Pacific countries have long pushed for a reduction in shipping emissions, which have been mostly unregulated until now.

“In 2015, the then-foreign minister of the Marshall Islands, Tony de Brum, called the former IMO secretary general Koji Sekimizu “danger to the planet” after Mr Sekimizu spoke against regulating emissions in the industry. Last year, Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga called for greater accountability for shipping emissions.

“But while the agreement has been hailed by these countries as a victory, it’s just as much a compromise. It falls well short of some of the lofty ambitions Pacific countries and others held going into discussions.

“The European Union and the Marshall Islands, which is the world’s second-biggest ship registry, had sought a goal of cutting emissions by 70 to 100 percent by 2050 going into the meeting. The Marshall Islands, at the conference’s opening, warned failure to achieve deep cuts would threaten the country’s survival as global warming intensifies.

“In a joint statement on Saturday, the EU’s transport commissioner Violeta Bulc and climate commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said that while the union had “sought a higher level of ambition, this is a good starting point that will allow for further review and improvements over time.”

“The Marshall Islands’ environment minister, David Paul, said that “to get to this point has been hard, very hard. And it has involved compromises by all countries. Not least by vulnerable island nations like my own who wanted something far, far more ambitious than this one.”

“If a country like the Marshall Islands, a country that is vulnerable to climate change, and particularly depends on international shipping, can endorse this deal, there is no credible excuse for anybody else to hold back,” he said.

“Clearly, other large shipping nations didn’t agree.

“The United States, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Panama didn’t want any targets for cutting shipping emissions at all and, according to reports, it was their opposition that saw the target dragged down to 50 percent. After the deal was signed with a clear majority, the head of the United States delegation to the talks, Jeffrey Lantz, continued to state his country’s opposition.

“We do not support the establishment of an absolute reduction target at this time,” he said in an interview with the BBC, where he also criticised the IMO’s handling of the talks, describing it as “unacceptable and not befitting this esteemed organisation.”

“A clear majority of the 100-plus nations at the IMO meeting, though, did agree with the need to cut emissions, signing an agreement which also committed to rapid innovation in the industry in terms of fuel efficiency and ship designs.

“But a final plan is not expected until 2023, and even then, the initial strategy would not be legally binding for member states.

“Still, Mr Paul said history had been made: “Our job is far from over. This is a step – an important step – on our journey to a safe and sustainable future,” he said in a statement. “There are many steps to come.” Copyright: RNZI 2018   (All Rights Reserved)

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

A dedicated passion for caring

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

DEAR EDITOR, local journalist, Leslie Sanga, wrote a heart warming story which was published in the Solomon Star today, Monday, 16 April 2016 and entitled ‘Beyond Disability.’

Leslie’s story recounted how Ali Barnaba, now 38 and the new president of the Solomon Islands Deaf Association had a growing passion to look after young Solomon Islanders with hearing disabilities.

Leslie tells Barnaba’s tale with compassion and it is very moving.

I will let readers turn to the story themselves but I would like to take the opportunity of praising Barnaba for his care for others and also express my appreciation to all those institutions, associations and welfare organisations that have helped Barnaba and the people with deafness, young and old in the Solomon Islands, including the Solomon Islands Red Cross Association, the San Isidro Centre and the Solomon Islands Planned Parenting Association (SIPPA).

Thank you, too. Leslie for sharing your story with us.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Prosecution to sort facts on Roko case

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case against an accused, Rachel Roko, will come back in court on Friday this week.

This is after the prosecution amended the charge of assault causing actual bodily harm to the charge of common assault.

Police Prosecutor Elson Konle told court that the amended charge has been filed and only the agreed facts are yet to be sorted out.

Ms Roko was initially charged with two other co-accuseds on another matter, and whilst on bail Ms Roko re-offended and was again charged.

Prosecution said that defence negotiated for a change of plea if the charge is amended to a lesser charge.

Principal Magistrate Tearo Beneteti then adjourned the case to this Friday for plea and sentencing directions.

She also made direction that the other case against the defendant is also adjourned to Friday.

The other case she also alleged to have involved in was the matter occurred in May 2015.

On the previous occasion the prosecution has told the court, that the matter was a part-heard case and yet to be completed.

This is in relation to the case of Lionel Aenasi, Rachel Roko and other accused that was under warrant of arrest since he was released on bail.

The three accused were charged in relation to an incident occurred on May 26 of last year where the woman wife of the victim was angry because of her husband did not return home after work.

The two pleaded not guilty to the charge against them and a trial date was set.

The victim is a bus driver; on May 25 he did not return home but went out drinking with his friends, and it was when the husband came the next day that the wife was angry and both argued over the issue.

Police said that from that argument the wife Rachael left their house and returned with five of her relatives in a car.

Police alleged that the men armed with bush knives and one of them with a kitchen knife. The victim was asleep but awakens by his wife calling for him to open the door.

He then opened the door and the wife went into the house grabbed one of their children.

It was during that time when the woman gets out of the house her brothers went inside and attacked the victim and stabbed the victim’s right eye.

Asian & baby boom in Rennell, gov’t unaware

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Bauxite mining at the Rennell Island.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

RENNELL island is reported to be experiencing a flash flood of Asians, who are employed there for the Bauxite operations.

This rapid and huge influx is not sitting well with the women advocators of Rennell island.

They are calling on the national and provincial authorities to ‘screen’ these aliens, furthering their queries to the legality of the Asians’ presence – if they have work permits or not.

A woman advocator representative, who requests anonymity, says the increasing number of Asians on the island poses a lot of social problems.

She says people in Rennell wonder whether authorities of the country know of the presence of these Asians.

She says that rife in Rennell island are incidence of unwanted pregnancy, fatherless children, human trafficking and alcohol and other substance abuse by women, youths and children.

The advocator says all these are happening under watch of the national and provincial government, and these two authorities are doing nothing to quell them.

They call on the national government and responsible authorities to look at this issue seriously when considering Bauxite mining to continue operating there.

Meanwhile, speaking to Island Sun, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) said they are not aware of Asians populating Rennell – neither their entry or work permit.

MCILI said such issue is difficult to address because there are varieties of government authorities to deal with the issue.

The Ministry also explained they are not really sure as to whether the Asians come under visitors permit or work permit.

MCILI explained that there are process in place which the immigration and labour division was established for.

“If they come as visitors then they should obtain permits from the Immigration Division, and if for work permit then the Division responsible is Labour.”

Risky digging at Lunga to be issued with stop notice

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
RISKY DIGGING Gravel digging near Lunga bridge illegal, endangers lives BY BARNABAS MANEBONA THE company currently digging gravel at the eastern side of the Lunga Bridge is said to be carrying out an illegal activity. It is reported that the company does not have a permit to carry out this operation plus it is posing a great threat for the people living downstream because of the changes done to the river bed which will affect the flow and route of the river. Upon consultation with the Mines and Mineral division, it is found that such digging operation for gravel is under the category of mining process in which one needs a permit under the Mines and Mineral Act to extract gravel from any river. “Whether they are using any permit for building or construction services, they must have a Building Material Permit (BMP),” said the mines and mineral division. Island Sun understands that to obtain a BMP, approval must come from the Mines and Mineral Board. Only five companies in Honiara have a BMP and this BMP is valid for only one year, but renewable. Apart from acquiring a BMP, the mines and minerals division said an applicant must also have a development consent from the Ministry of Environment before they can be awarded with a permit from the mines and mineral board. The development consent from the Environment division is mainly on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). EIA is the process of examining the anticipated environmental effects of a proposed project - from consideration of environmental aspects at design stage, through consultation and preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). The Mines and Mineral division revealed they have not seen any EIAR on the activity at Lunga Bridge and also questions the legitimacy of such activity. “Such operation should be a kilometre away from the river in which that is not the case. They are only digging for gravel just beside the river. “So it is not allowed for such operation to take place. The company does not have a work permit and there has not been any EIA process. “They are breaking the law and operating illegally.” The mines and mineral division added that operating beside the river currently is destabilising the normal flow of the river in which it will have an impact. Island Sun has not been able to get comments from the Ministry of Environment on the EIA. The Mines and Mineral Division said they understood the company is called AJ and they have already contacted them - but they (AJ) does not want to discuss with them (Mines and mineral division). “They only said that they already have a permit from the landowners having spent money on the operation already also and they do not need any more permits,” said the Mines and Mineral Division. AJ Company is said to have received the go-ahead for their operations by a former Minister in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID). Caption: The site at Lungga River that AJ Company is currently digging gravel at.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

AJ Company that is currently digging gravel at the eastern side of the Lunga Bridge will be issued with a stop work notice from the Environment Division.

Island Sun understands that officials from the Environment Division of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management and Meteorology (MECDM) yesterday met with officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) over issues surrounding the operations of AJ Company.

From the meeting yesterday it was revealed that AJ Company had never applied for a development consent from the Environment division.

The development consent is very crucial and must be obtained first before development can take place.

However for the case of AJ Company, they have never applied for a development consent and the location of their operation is deemed risky for the general public.

The Environment division says they understand the project at hand for AJ is the construction of a building.

However, the construction is taking place in an area called ‘alluvial soil deposit’.

“Therefore it is very important that this Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is done first so that we can gather what the associated risks are with this kind of development. If the project is big, we will ask the developer to do a full scale assessment in which they will have to meet all the expenses.”

Information from the Environment division says, in all building projects, EIAs must be carried out first and development consent be granted before construction can take place.

Not only does consent has to come from the Environment division but also Town and country planning Board must also give approval to building plans and other nitty gritty that are very crucial for any development.

“Under law, there are approved consultants that will carry out the EIA. And for big structures, it will need at least baseline information as this might be risky for the public and those living downstream. So a yes or no for construction to proceed will be made once an EIA is carried out.

“But at this time, AJ Company will be issued with a stop notice. And then they are required to submit their application from which we will gather what their intentions are.

“They must include the necessary details of their application like digging of gravel, constructing a building and if they had considered the risk of flood and the impact it will have on their building.

“And for this assessment, EIA practitioners will assess the project site and report to the environment division the findings of the assessment.”

The Environment division says owners of the company will be inclined to pay a hefty fine or subjected to imprisonment if they rebuff the ‘stop notice’.

Police urge public to assist for safer roads in Honiara

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

THE Kukum Police Traffic Centre in Honiara has recorded an increase of 13 cases from April 6 -12, 2018 compared to March 30 – April 5 for Honiara City alone.

Acting Director of Police Traffic Department, Inspector Brian Surimalefo says, “For the period April 6 -12, Kukum Traffic Centre recorded a total of 22 cases while for the period March 30 – April 5, the Centre recorded a total of 9 cases.

“Cases of careless driving was the highest with 5 cases recorded during the most recent period compared to 4 cases during the previous period.

“The good news is that no cases of presence of alcohol in the blood was recorded by officers and this shows that vehicles in Honiara are heeding the message, do not drink and drive.

“However drivers are still creating the extra third lane on our roads ignoring the continuous messaging to try and discourage this inconsiderate behaviour.

“I call on drivers who continue to ignore messages from the Traffic Centre because one day you will be caught.

“I call on honest drivers and the general public in Honiara to report any vehicles seen to be creating the third or any breach of the Traffic laws to the Kukum Traffic Centre so we can promote safer roads for our travelling public in our capital city.”

The Kukum Police Traffic Centre can be contacted on phone 22336 or call the Police Communication Centre on 23666 or free toll line 999.

–POLICE MEDIA

Father gets 2 years for incest

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court has sentenced a man to two years and eight months for having sexual intercourse with his own daughter.

This is in relation to incidents in 2004 at Temotu province where the accused was alleged to have sexual intercourse with his daughter on unknown dates between July and November.

Prosecution said that the accused on five occasions had committed the offence to his own daughter.

Principal Magistrate Tearo Beneteti in sentencing the accused said after considering all the aggravating and mitigating features, a custodial sentence is proper as always said by the courts.

“I agree and it is binding on me to consider the same,” Ms Beneteti said.

She said such offending must be condemned as fathers blessed with having children should be responsible in carrying out their fatherly role with love, care and protection.

“They are the head of the family and to fall short in such manner as seen in this case is nothing more than being inhumane and selfish.

“To lash out on daughters the way the defendant had done using force and having a knife with him for the three counts and doing it continuously is just outrageous such fathers must be taken out from the society so they can spend time think in custody over all that they have done to come to understand the detriment effects on the victim of their crime,” Beneteti said.

“He has gravely breached the trust that the victim has on him as the father and that is not taken lightly by this court.

“This offence in my view calls for strong deterrence message and I must therefore have this on my mind as I deliberate over them. It also calls for retribution to a certain extent.”

She said this is a serious type of offending.

“They were pre-planned as well as the defendant takes the lead in taking the victim to the locations of where the offending took place.

“This is horrendous,” Beneteti added.

Therefore she imposed a following sentence for count one, two, three and four two years and six months for each count while count five two years and eight months. All sentences will be served concurrently to count five.

SIG students at Emalus face returning home over cut in allowances

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Emalus USP Campus in Vanuatu

By Alfred Sasako

MORE than 100 Solomon Islands students studying at Emalus Campus in Vanuatu face the prospect of returning home unless the government sorts out the proposed cut in their allowances.

They are appealing to the government to assess their cost of living in Port Vila before cutting their allowances.

The students say in a letter to the Island Sun newspaper yesterday that the proposed cut is “unrealistic and unwelcomed”, adding a proper assessment of their cost of living would result in the increase of their allowances, rather than reduce it.

They said a National Training Unit (NTU) officer who visited them in recent weeks had failed to clarify the intended cut despite questions from the students.

“The students of Emalus Campus are shocked to hear from the visiting officer of the NTU that the SIG is proposing to make a sudden cut of the students’ allowances.

“However, the … officer did not clarify to the students what the percentage is to be cut. Up until now the students are still uncertain what the policy of the government is as the students have based their allowances on the scholarship award signed with the government,” one student wrote.

“We are very concerned that should the proposed cut in allowance proceed, we cannot sustain the cost of living in Port Vila,” they said. They said that in recent months the Vanuatu government had increased Value Added Tax (VAT) on goods of 15 percent.

“The government before imposing any cut should make proper assessment on the cost of living in Vanuatu, particularly in Port Vila,” adding the proposed action by the SIG is unrealistic and unwelcomed.

The students say they are rather concerned that while students at Laucala Campus had been given assurance by the director of NTU that their allowances would not be cut such assurance could not be extended to students in other regional campuses including Emalus.

”If that is so then that is unfair and unrealistic as proper assessment have to be made before any such cut is to be made. For us Emalus Students if proper assessment is made the student allowance should be increased in order to cope with the cost of living.

More than 100 students at Emalus Campus received half of their allowances four weeks ago.

“These students have to share their allowances with other students who did not receive anything at all.

“A week ago more than 50 students received half of their allowances and have to pay back the monies borrowed from other students. So far more than 20 students are yet to receive any allowance,” the student said.

“By now the student allowances have been exhausted and if the other half is not forthcoming then the students will not be able to sustain the cost of living and have to return home,” he said.

The students say when they contacted the Ministry of Education, Human Resources Development for an explanation, the acting Permanent Secretary of Education told them “the cut was due to the pressure (on the) scholarship budget”.

Others said it would appear there was misinterpretation of what the reduction in the scholarship budget.

“The reduction of scholarship budget does not mean the student allowance is cut,” one MP told the students.

“The students of Emalus Campus are calling on the proper authority to address the issue of student allowances without delay. This is so that the students can decide whether to return home or not … rather than incurring costs that we cannot meet,” the students said.

Chief on malicious damage charge

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Provincial Police Commander, Choiseul Province, Superintendent Cedar Nevol.
Provincial Police Commander, Choiseul Province,
Superintendent Cedar Nevol.

POLICE in Choiseul province are awaiting the appearance of a tribal chief in the Gizo Magistrates Court on charges of alleged malicious damage and resisting police arrest after the chief was arrested on March 20, 2018.

The suspect has since been remanded at the Gizo Correctional Centre in Western province to appear in Court to face the two charges against him.

Provincial Police Commander, Choiseul Province, Superintendent Cedar Nevol explains: “It is alleged that on March 3, 2018, the tribal chief damaged a 40 HP engine of the Taro Police Station when the police spent the night at Mondomondo in North West Choiseul after attending reports of unwanted behaviour in the area.

“When police went to arrest the suspect on 4 March 4 for the alleged offence, he resisted arrest.

“Police continued its investigation into the matter until the chief was arrested on March 20, 2018 after members of the community reported to police in Taro that the suspect was allegedly causing disturbance at the Mondomondo log pond.

“He was arrested and charged with alleged malicious damage and resisting police arrest. He was transported to Gizo and remanded at the Correctional Centre there awaiting his day in Court.

“I want to thank the members of the community at Mondomondo Village for working together with police which led to the successful arrest of the suspect.

“For a person with such a status in the community his actions of not respecting police property and resisting arrest must be condemned.”

–POLICE MEDIA

By-election nomination closes April 25

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
-
0
Outgoing Governor General Sir Frank Kabui.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

GIZO Kolobangara nominations for the by-election will close on April 25.

Governor General Sir Frank Kabui said the by-election has been set for May 23, and the nominations, which has been opened on April 11, will close on April 25.

Notice of the by-election has been pinned up in each ward within the constituency in accordance with section 25 of the electoral act.

With this the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission advises people from Gizo Kolombangara constituency to be prepared to choose their representative and to listen to SIBC and Radio Happy Lagoon, as well as other media outlets for updates regarding important activities in the lead up to the by-Election.

1...1,4151,4161,417...1,661Page 1,416 of 1,661