By Mike Puia

OUTSPOKEN man, Mr Robert Mani, has come out questioning the legality of Reginald Ngati’s presidency of the Solomon Islands National University Students Association (SINUSA).

Mr Ngati has been making headlines leading students on a sit-in protest.

They are demanding the SINU Council to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will address issues they have raised with the university’s management.

SINUSA claimed that the SINU Council has refused to sign the MOU resulting in the protest being dragged to this week.

Mani claims Ngati’s presidency is illegal as he is not a full time student of the institution.

“Ngati is a Distance Flexible Learning (DFL) student therefore he is disqualified to be president,” Mani said.

He claimed Ngati is been used by a politician to shake the institution and it has a bad effect on students.

Mani claimed Ngati is employed by a Member of Parliament and they are advancing a political agenda using the institution.

He appealed to students not to easily “fall into a trap”.

Ngati was not reached last night for comments but those close to him confirmed Ngati is firm that he is qualified to the SINUSA’s presidency position.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

A 25-year-old woman has been arrested over the alleged murder of a young girl at the Auki Travellers Motel, which occurred on December 23, 2017.

The suspect is remanded at the Auki correctional centre.

According to the information obtained by this paper, the suspect is being held for questioning.

The arrest has some historic significance regarding a woman being arrested relating to a murder case in Auki.

The suspect will be remanded for 14 days before she will be brought before the magistrate court in Auki on the 17th of this month.

Her appearance would be to allow court to check with prosecutions on the update of investigations.

It is understood that medical reports on this murder case has already been issued and handed to the police as one of the evidence to this case.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

DEPUTY Police Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi says police recorded a very peaceful Easter celebration this year compared to last year.

He said that no death has been reported, compared to last year there were three deaths and with other types of crimes happening last year.

Mr Manelusi thanks police officers for their hard work and commitment in making sure the citizens of this country were safe during the Easter session.

Though several incidents occurred but that were minor compared to the previous year, Manelusi said.

He also acknowledges the support from the community and police officers for their hard work in achieving two successful arrests made during the Easter weekend.

Therefore he continues to urge the communities to work together with police in combating crime in this country.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

LIQUOR outlet owners in Malaita province are being urged to pay their business licence.

The call follows observations that many beer outlets are popping up in the province with no mention of them in the province’s licence records.

Senior Revenue Officer from the Revenue Department under the provincial Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Mr John Houma said his office keeps an articulate record of businesses operating in the province.

“But if you go out in the province the number of those selling beer without licenses exceed those obtain license for the business.

“This is not legal and it also makes it not easy for those with proper licenses to do their market.

“Another this is the nature of the business involve lot things the society not really welcome.

“These include behaviours of people when under consumption of liquor and other related activity pertaining to it,” Houma said.

Houma reiterates that this call is for the benefit of the businesses – so that they can operate within the boundaries of the law.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

IT is no longer about agriculture now, they no longer run cattle or coconut plantations today.

This is according to Mr Benedict Garimane who is the Paramount Chief of Thimbo tribe in North Guadalcanal.

He expressed curiosity over how Levers reclaimed right over Lunga and Tenaru when its 75-year lease already expired during the 80s.

More to that, Mr Garimane said that during that time, land in those two areas were acquired for the purpose of accommodating agricultural activities like cattle farming and coconut plantations.

He added that when Levers’ lease expired, they should have consulted with original landowners more or return the land.

On the other hand, Garimane stressed that today Levers is not engaged in any agricultural activities in Lunga and Tenaru anymore.

“When they renewed the lease, they have engaged in different activities on the land. It is no longer about agriculture now. They no longer run cattle or coconut plantations, today they are selling land.

“So this is against the original idea of why they acquired the land which was purposely for agriculture.”

Garimane stated that this is something the Guadalcanal provincial office needs to look at.

“Guadalcanal provincial office is the government of the people of Guadalcanal and must provide a solution and explain to the people of North Guadalcanal how original landowners can reclaim the land or how people can equally share the land to avoid disputes and arguments amongst people of Guadalcanal,” he said.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE reminds communities across the country to always listen to the radio for weather updates before travelling at sea.

Deputy Police Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi made the comment following boat incidents which occurred on March 30, where two boats went missing.

“Always listen for updates on the radio and for more detail contact the Marine Communication centre or nearest police station.”

The missing boat incidents occurred in Temotu province; one missing boat has already been rescued with seven people – two women and five men onboard.

Manelusi said one boat is still missing and search is continuing and he calls on the people of Temotu, Makira Ugi and South Malaita to look out for any outboard motor and report to the police if they see any.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

MALAITA Provincial Chief Health Inspection Ms Gloria Siwainao said her office is committed on ensuring food safety in the province.

She made the statement following the recent complaint on expired goods found sold in shops in Auki.

According to Siwainao, the plan calendar for 2018 has set and activity is now rolling.

She said according to the plan, the month of May is set for inspection of food items in shops in Auki.

Siwainao said the plan covers areas under the health environment over which her office is responsible, and she is taking one at a time.

“One thing is in really need in my office is staff. Like currently I only perform all these works, and indeed it’s difficult to all of them.

“I do administrative as I should and right down to field work should have been officers there to do,” she said.

Siwainao said the province is looking at recruiting two new officers under her division to look at waste management and food units in the province.

“So with the inclusion of these two officers it will help address works under these two specific areas in the province.

“Resource to be sure is big obstacle to my office as it’s an issue I cannot just decide on it.

“My appeal now is for people to bear with me as I’m doing the best of what I can to environmental health issues in the province.”