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Parliament steps in to plug leak in national coffers

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Alfred Sasako

ORDINARY Members of Parliament will no longer be allowed hotel accommodation during sittings of Parliament, it was revealed yesterday.

Instead, the five or six Ordinary MPs will receive a lump sum payment of $15,000 each.

The payment is the equivalent of monthly rentals Government Ministers and Chairmen of Parliamentary Committees receive for staying in their own houses.

The change came about after revelation that Ordinary MPs opted to stay in hotel accommodation during Parliament sittings, although they live in their houses in Honiara.

The change is expected to save Parliament tens of thousands of dollars a year.

“What usually happened was Ordinary MPs moved into hotels when Parliament was in session. Parliament has never encountered any problems with the arrangement until the unnecessary adjournments became a permanent feature of Parliamentary sittings,” an official explained to Island Sun yesterday.

“When that happened, Parliament had to write to each MP, advising that MPs had to vacate their hotels as Parliament had no funds to meet their accommodation costs during adjournments. Legally, these MPs have the right to remain in their hotels for the duration of the sessions including the adjournment periods,” the official said.

The problem is Parliament had no funds for this.

To avoid unnecessary confusion, it has now been decided that Ordinary MPs be paid $15,000 at the start of each Parliament sitting.

The new arrangement comes into force in July when Parliament next sits.

Hotel accommodation for MPs was written into the Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations (PER) to cater for MPs who lived in their Constituencies.

Today nearly all the MPs live in their own houses in Honiara.

Gov’t urged to put more emphasis on tourism and agriculture in creating jobs

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Gary Hatigeva

MAKE agriculture and tourism the priority sectors for infrastructure support and development to create more jobs.

Local and foreign economic experts, stakeholders, the government’s partners for development and other support sectors made this recommendation to the government who vows to boost the country’s economy into one that would be inclusive and felt by all in the form of more jobs and livelihood opportunities.

Earlier, reports had warned that the government would be dealing with a high unemployment rate by 2020, which would be detrimental to the economy, should it fail to put in place measures that would create more jobs this early.

Recommendation on these were also submitted to the government, which outlined tasks of economic development, human development and poverty reduction, justice and peace, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and good governance and anti-corruption.

As for the economic development aspect, they said that the government would be able to create thousands of jobs by 2020 if it adopted reforms that would boost the business environment, including that for agriculture and tourism.

The economic experts also highlighted an urgent need to remove barriers to business entries, especially in the area of interisland shipping to help ease food prices, they recommended.

In strongly battling for more support to agriculture and tourism, the economic experts consider these sectors as major job generators because of their forward and backward linkages.

They also recommended that government revisit critical laws relating to the governance and protection of these two important sectors.

To further boost agriculture and tourism, they suggested that the government increase its spending for infrastructure from the current projected percent to a more accommodating percent of the gross domestic product.

Meanwhile, on the human development and poverty reduction aspect, the economic experts recommended that government expand its programs on health, education and social protection, including the conditional cash transfer program.

They said the focus should be on disadvantaged groups such as out-of-school youths, indigenous people, persons with disabilities and more so, on the fast growing number of dropouts, and the public-private partnerships (PPP) should also be strengthened to address skills mismatch.

They added that even reforms in the justice system should also be undertaken, by introducing amendments to or replacing outdated laws, speeding up resolution of cases to clear backlogs that would decongest jails, and combating inefficiency and corruption in the judiciary.

But on peace efforts, they lauded the government for what was described as significant developments, to keep the RAMSI legacy and should also work hard to preserve the gains of the peace process by making the vulnerable people feel they are indeed part of the system.

On climate change adaptation and mitigation, the economic experts said the current government’s agenda has improved a lot and has been highly matched to international standards.

In the good governance and anti-corruption cluster, they recommended that the government “build and empower constituencies for reform that will demand for and support good governance while at the same time strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanisms particularly on public financial management and performance management systems, and give special attention to governance reform and institution building efforts in the provincial settings”.

Experts however noted that they have recognised the fight against corruption in Solomon Islands, which is being waged with determination by the new government through its policy, but needs to be stamped.

Govt keeps close watch on budget implementation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare

By Gary Hatigeva

FINANCE Minister and Member of Parliament for East Choiseul, Manasseh Sogavare has assured the country that the National Government will deliver on its development programmes and implement all its priority policies.

The Minister made this assurance when questioned over worries that cuts on both recurrent and development allocations for around 90 percent of ministries, might affect their implementation programmes.

Sogavare however explained that the government is fully aware of the concerns raised, but reassured that they have already put in place measures to ensure all implementations and development programmes are fulfilled.

He further explained that with these measures, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury will play a vital part, in which all ministerial programmes will be tightly monitored and implemented in close consultations with his ministry.

But with the allocations, according to most ministers interviewed, are enough for their ministries to implement all priority areas under their banner, given the short time that is left for the government to deliver on its budget.

While agreeing to concerns over the cuts, most have suggested that things can only be realistic with their allocations regarding all activities, if proper scale down are done in the areas of focus for implementations.

Most interviewed have also shared similar sentiments, stressing that with the little allocations in hand, all those responsible would have to ensure funds are spent on where they are actually allocated to.

Meanwhile, Sogavare revealed that the government in the course of this year, will come back with a supplementary budget.

“And the revenue prospect of bringing a supplement would be very good and so they’ll work closely with us,” the Finance Minister added.

The cuts and intentions to bring a supplementary budget was somehow welcomed by some, who felt the move to cut allocations was smart from the government to have taken the approach.

It was pointed out that having these cuts will surely put strong control over how funds are used up with close monitoring mechanisms, and any additional funding should depend very much on individual ministry’s implementation reports and evaluations.

Most ministers have however assured that they are ready to work and deliver on the budget, while at the same time, anticipate the collaboration approach revealed for all implementation programmes with the ministry of finance and treasury.

Also commenting on the supplementary, Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela further confirmed that a supplementary is coming and added that the minister of finance will take it (supplementary) up.

“Taking into account the revenue measures that are not in the budget, we will have to appropriate them through a supplementary, and as soon as he (finance minister) ascertain all the amounts then he will bring them,” the Prime Minister added.

$3m for primary health care programme in 2018

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Gary Hatigeva

A total of $3million from the recently passed 2018 National Budget has been allocated for the ongoing Primary Health Care Programme this year, being one out of two policy objectives to have the highest allocation under the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).

This comes under the government’s Development Expenditures, which aims to improve health care services, while at the same time making these services more accessible to the rural areas.

MHMS was only allocated a total of $9million for its development programmes this year, but insiders stressed that with the limited allocation, the ministry has also been forced to set focus on areas they feel need the developments most, and Primary Health Care being one of the most important areas of focus.

With the Primary Health Care Objectives, they included two important phases, one of which is the Role Delineation Policy Implementation Plan, and the Delineation Policy implementation Plan, which was forecasted for this year, 2018, as phase two.

Out of the total $9million provision for government’s health development expenditure, another $3million according to the budget document is allocated for the improvement of health service delivery to all Solomon Islanders, with expectations for them to be in quality standards.

This $3 Million will go towards the refurbishment of the National Referral Hospital (NRH), and the upgrades of essential services, which are revealed to be ongoing government programmes from last year, and have fortunately been inserted as part of the new government’s top priority focus.

As highlighted in the budget’s activity summary, the allocations will also enable the Functional Tertiary Care equipment supplying quality services in place as defined by standards in the Role Delineation Policy.

Under its Medical Supplies and Logistics Development Programme, the Ministry on the other hand, pushed to ensure that all its national distribution and monitoring systems are strengthened as an ongoing programme, with an allocation of $1million for its development.

Meanwhile, another set of $1million each were allocated under the Development expenditures, for the Ministry’s Secondary Care Services Programme and the relocation of the National Referral Hospital (NRH).

The allocations are expected to cover for the relocation program to a much safer and secure location, which the government had already earmarked, at the same time, meet the redevelopment of the Tulagi, Kiluufi, and Kirakira Hospital, including the rebuilding of the Gizo Medical Store.

Having been an ongoing programmed, but unlikely to happen this year, part of the above allocation of $1 Million for the relocation programme, will also go towards site Feasibility Assessment and Confirmation, and so as service Plans, Functional Plans, Accommodation

The figures running between $1million to $3million though seemingly huge in respective views, those inside suggested are too small for even the forecasted development programmes, but said they are being asked to see that both their developments and implementation programs under the both the recurrent and development budgets are executed.

They added that the implementations and establishment of development programmes will continue but have been downscaled to suit their allocations.

Police training dubbed ‘corrupt’

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

THE way police training has been conducted is corrupt, according to an individual who like many others had applied to be part of the local police force earlier this year.

Mr Jay Tarakaimana from Guadalcanal province expressed the above to the paper last week.

Speaking on behalf of others who share the same sentiment, he stressed that what they experienced during their training right up to the examination stage was more than enough to indicate that the process they had went through was not fair and lacked transparency.

He said they were told beforehand that if they failed to attend any phase of the training they would either be excluded from training or penalised.

However, he spoke of how this was not the case when he and others noticed that rules and regulations of the panel were not followed.

Tarakaimana adds, they were told that they had to run on a Saturday and those who did not attend would be cut off which would lead to the downsizing of the number of applicants.

He said this marveled him at how those from the SDA church were not even considered to run on a different day which left some of them with no choice but to run alongside others on their Sabbath.

Tarakaimana added that when time came for them to take the exam, applicants who had other people run for them during the running phase of the training and those who ran but did not clock the required timing still had their names listed to take the exam.

“This does not follow the rules and regulations of the panel when we applied,” he said.

In relation, Tarakaimana voiced that it was surprising to see that some of them were shortlisted.

He stressed that this is very corrupt and a sad thing for a sector of the country that holds such a high status of people who we expect to be honest and law abiding citizens.

Henceforth, Tarakaimana suggests that ID cards be used so that there is a record of those who have really completed all stages of the training.

He calls on the police commissioner to look into the matter and if possible consider the thought of a re-examination of the training.

Attempt to get comments from police has not been fruitful since last week.

Tenants leave Auki plaza

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

TENANTS of the Auki Plaza have vacated the premises yesterday, ending three years of arguments and challenges with the Malaita provincial government.

The tenants left after a court order which was issued them expired on March 29.

The Malaita provincial secretary Jackson Gege and security personnel of the province carried out the orders.

The tenants left the building after the recent Easter celebration where all gates were locked barring public from entering the area, giving time for any development plans to be carried out in the site.

Premier of Malaita Province Peter Ramohia said, “I thank the tenants for their understanding and corporation with the Malaita Provincial Government.

“Let us work together hand in hand to give well and facelift development for Auki and allow the National Provident Fund (NPF) to take part in the development of Malaita.”

The NPF board was supposed to meet yesterday and any outcome of the meeting will be passed on to the Malaita provincial government this week.

MJLA budget eyes provincial development

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Hon Derrick Manuari.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

Hon Derrick Manuari.

THE one-million budget allocated for the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs was for provincial development, it is confirmed.

This was according to the responsible minister Derrick Manuari, who is also the Member of Parliament for West Makira.

He said the amount of money allocated for the MJLA, total of $1million, will be able to accomplish infrastructure works across two provinces, Temotu and Makira.

“The sum of $800,000 SBD out of the $1million SBD will be used for surveying of land, transferring of title to the government to clear site and to erect fence at Lata which was already acquired by the ministry to construct an office building for the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Public Solicitors office,” said Mr Manuari.

He add that the amount of $200,000 will then be used for acquisition processes on the land at Kirakira in Makira province that will soon be identified.

In an interview with this paper, he revealed that work will start as soon as the budget commences its implementation.

“And that is towards the end of this month or early next month,” the explained.

He however added that commencement of work will also depend very much on the ministry’s submission to the Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination (MDPAC).

“And how soon they are going to avail our funds through that process in liaison with Finance,” Manuari added.

On the same note the Member of Parliament for Auki Langalanga Mathew wale congratulated Manu’ari for what he described as a positive initiative to be rolled out this year in terms of provincial development under the ministry’s development programmes.

Two police vehicles for Western province

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Two new vehicles for Western Provincial Police while at Rove before taken for shipment. Photo from Police Media

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

ROYAL Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Department of Logistics and Stores made arrangement for two new Land Cruiser Trooper vehicles to be shipped to Western province this week Tuesday.

Deputy Director of RSIPF’s Department of Logistics and Stores Inspector Tony Pitamama said the two vehicles were allocated to the Western provincial Police by the RSIPF Fleet Committee.

“The vehicles are allocated for Ringgi and Gizo Police Stations as the Western Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Office has already been notified of the shipment,” said the Deputy Director.

He said the reason why the vehicles are allocated for these two stations is because most of their operational vehicles are now in bad condition after the last allocation in year 2012.

More so, taken into account the distances and long term need to guarantee the operational capability of RSIPF to respond to incidents, more effectively seeing Western is the border province to neighbouring Bougainville Island of Papua New Guinea.

According to Mr Pitamama, a proposed audit tour for other provincial police is being scheduled and this is to determine the RSIPF assets including vehicles for them before submission for vehicle allocation is made.

“The vehicles are part of seven vehicles purchased by the RSIPF last year in 2017 through the Solomon Islands Government current budget and strengthening programme funding for police,” said the Deputy Director.

Teachers punished

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Leader of the Independent Group, John Dean Kuku

Education ministry cuts salaries for 380 teachers on in-service training

By Alfred Sasako

EDUCATION Authorities have reportedly begun penalising teachers who are undertaking in-service training to upgrade their qualifications, it was revealed yesterday.

And the Minister of Education and Human Resources Development, reportedly told teachers taking the in-service training to upgrade their qualifications that they must be prepared to accept having their salaries cut as punishment for taking up SINU courses.

Up to 380 teachers around the country have had their salaries discontinued, according to information obtained by Island Sun.

These teachers have self-sponsored their in-service training at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) this year as their bids for government scholarships have been denied due to financial difficulties being faced by the government.

They have written to the Director of the Teaching Service Division of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development appealing for help as their families face “the prospects of going through unnecessary hardships”.

“There are 380 of us who are the subject of this letter,” the letter dated April 9, 2018, said.

“We have missed out on the government funded teacher training scholarships for 2018 and, based on what we have observed throughout our career, we believe that it is in our interests as teachers, and in the interests of the clear and obvious growing need for quality education throughout the country, particularly the various provinces in which we have been serving including Honiara, we need to upgrade our knowledge and skills.

“Therefore we took the initiative to undertake the teacher in-service training course offered at SINU this year through self-sponsored arrangements,” the letter said.

“It is therefore a serious concern to us that with all the noble and well-intended intentions, we and our families are definitely facing the prospects of going through unnecessary hardships due to the fact that our salaries are being cut by the Ministry.”

The in-service teachers have also put out a number of options for the government to consider, including a written offer of a full SIG scholarship in 2019.

The teachers met with the Minister for Education, but said he was “of little help to us”.

“What he said to us was, you have disobeyed by taking up the SINU course so you must be prepared to accept the punishment for doing the wrong thing. That punishment is that your salaries would be ceased,” a teacher familiar with the case told Island Sun yesterday.

Hockey School League to commence next month

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY ROMULUS HUTA

THE 2018 Samlimsan High School Hockey League will get underway during the first week of May.

Nihal Seneviratne, the president of the Solomon Islands Hockey Federation (SIHF) confirmed yesterday.

Seneviratne said they are targeting the league to commence on the first week of May.

More than 20 schools are earmarked for this year’s league.

“The league is part of the stepping stone since the revival of the sport in 2015 where the national team made a successful debut at the PNG 2015 Pacific Games, World League Round 1 in Fiji 2016 and the 2017 Intercontinental Cup held in Sydney, Australia.”

Seneviratne added that revitalisation of hockey in Solomon Islands had taken huge strides and one of its successful outcomes was selection of the youth teams from last year’s league who will represent the country in the upcoming youth qualifiers.

The qualifiers will take place in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG) from April 25 to 29. Solomon Islands will be represented by both the men and the women’s team and they will depart Honiara on May 23.

The Youth Olympic Games qualifiers for Oceania have two men and three women qualification spots respectively.

This mean the two winners for the men’s and top three winners in the women’s category will qualify to take part in the Youth Olympic Games due to take place in Argentina later this year.

Meanwhile, in related development, the PNG Hockey Federation is determined to host the first-ever Under 18 Qualifiers in Port Moresby, according to reports gathered from the Post Courier.

And with only a week to go, Local Host Organising Committee and the Port Moresby Hockey Association are working around the clock to ensure all venues are ready before the event.

“We are two weeks away and we are doing everything we can with the very little support we have in terms of funding,” LHOC chairman Thomas Kahai said.

He said the preparation on the venues is going good and they are grateful to have the POM Hockey Association, the clubs and member who have provided the workforce voluntarily week in week out to see the event delivered successfully.

“We would like to encourage and see more support to the event and for the future of the code as this is the Youth(U18) Olympic Qualifier,” Kahai added.

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