BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

THE Western province assembly has underscored the importance of security in the welfare of the province and its economy.

In last week’s sine die motion, MPA for ward 3 Isaac Tatapu said security must prevail before governance can be effective and efficient.

He highlighted the main concern – the border security issue with PNG.

The border with PNG is a volatile hotspot which has contributed to the insecurity felt throughout the province.

He believes that the national governments of both countries can do more to address the issue.

“The vibrancy of our economic stability is wholely dependent on a secure and accountable environment, to enable the populace, business, and investors to move freely and without fear of being harassed or intimidated.

“Confidence must prevail in all sectors and specters of life.”

THE Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) has lashed out at Malaita province Premier Peter Ramohia following his front-page story over the weekend.

A statement from MPGIS described the premier’s comments on social media which appeared in the Solomon Star paper last Sunday as ‘irresponsible’.

The front-page article in the Sunday Star on April 1, carried Mr Ramohia’s statement in social media complaining about a reduction of $40 million in the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) as a huge unjustified cut.

However, MPGIS clarified that it has already informed all provinces about the budget cut through a circular from the MPGIS Permanent Secretary to the premiers and their respective PSs.

On top of that, MPGIS said Ramohia and other provincial premiers had had an audience with the Prime Minister a fortnight ago and raised with the Prime Minister issues affecting the provincial governments.

The discussions also included the reduction on PCDF funding.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister took the responsibility to clarify on behalf of the Government the reasons for the Budget cuts in all ministries.

The Prime Minister also gave the opportunity to all premiers to share their views.

“It is unfortunate that the Premier has chosen social media to raise an issue which he is fully aware of the reasons for these reductions. He was given the opportunity to raise these issues amicably during an audience with the Prime Minister and the issue was clarified,” the MPGIS statement said.

MPGIS said Premier Ramohia could have written to the ministry instead of taking to social media if he needed further clarification.

“There are procedures and channels of communication in place if the Premier have issues to raise and not on social media or Facebook,” it said.

Meanwhile, the MPGIS statement clarified that the reduction of the PCDF is a budgetary issue and that it must be noted that most ministries have also had their budgets significantly reduced.

“The reduction to $10million in this year’s budget from last years $50million is based on the performance of PCDF in 2017 by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury in which only $20million was paid out. However, it must be noted that the Government is committed to paying the remaining $30million outstanding from 2017 to the Provincial Government this year,” the statement said.

“So for 2018, the provincial governments will be receiving the $10million in this year’s budget plus the outstanding $30m from last year’s PCDF which will total up to $40 Million. Isn’t $40M not enough for implementation of its programmes this year?” it said.

The MPGIS statement further clarified that the Fixed Service Grant in the Development Budget has not been reduced and remains the same as last year.

In addition to the PCDF, the statement said, the MPGIS also provided to the Malaita Provincial Government a “Financial Management Strategy” that provides as a guideline for Malaita to follow.

“This is a way for Malaita to get out of its debt issue. There are quite a number of issues that the Premier should focus on. These include setting up strategies to avoid unnecessary loans from unlicensed lenders, retirement of imprests, report on ward development grants, financial management discipline by executive, outstanding audit issues, and more importantly, to strengthen the revenue collection mechanisms within the province.

“This is a time not to be too dependent on the National Government. The 2018 Budget cuts provides an opportunity for Provinces to find other alternative means to raise money. The Premier and his executive should be realistic and not to treat the PCDF as the only means of survival. The MPGIS and SIG are always supportive in the reform programs that the MPGIS is undertaking, hence the Premier should understand what is going on.”

–GCU

PARASI airfield in South Malaita, which has been closed for the past seven years, is now ready to take scheduled flights.

This was made possible after the government signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between three disputing parties who claimed ownership of the airport land in September 2017.

The Airport Taskforce led by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) worked behind the scene to get the parties to agree to re-open the airport.

MCA engaged a contractor late last year to clear vegetation, clear obstructions, work on drainage and restored the integrity of the pavement, all of which was completed in March 2018.

On Saturday 31st March, the Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI), MCA and Solomon Airlines conducted a test flight with a Twin Otter aircraft and made a successful landing on the airport.

Few trees need to be trimmed on both the approaches and debris needs clearance on the eastern end of the runway to be worked on but on overall the airport is now ready for commercial operations.

MCA is also working on plans to build a Terminal building for the airport shortly.

Chairman of the Aviation Task Force, Mr Moses Virivolomo who is also the Permanent Secretary of the MCA, took part in the test flight and was elated to see Solomon Airlines returning to serve residents of Small Malaita as well as East and West Are’are who have experienced hardships in having to travel by sea when the airport was closed more than seven years ago.

He acknowledged the continuous support from the leaders of the disputing parties and for their understanding in agreeing to re-open the airfield while waiting for the resolution of their land disputes by the responsible authorities.

Virivolomo added that the re-opening of the airfield is a step in the right direction towards facilitating whatever development aspirations there are, not only of Small Malaita, but also the Malaita Province and Solomon Islands generally.

He thanked the tireless efforts put in by the Aviation Task Force in negotiating the re-opening of the airfield and called upon the stakeholders/landowners and/or disputing parties at Manaoba airfield and Lomlom airfield to follow the examples set by the disputing parties of the Gwaunaruu airfield and, now, the Parasi airfield, to allow the opening of these airfields.

Virivolomo assured the people of Parasi that Solomon Airlines would commence fights as soon as their processes are completed around the middle of this year, 2018.

–GCU

POLICE in Lata in the Temotu province have successfully rescued seven people, two women and five men, from a motorised boat when it ran aground on a reef at Cape Mendana on Santa Cruz Island on Tuesday afternoon this week.

“Luckily when the police at Lata Police Station got to the scene after 5pm, the boat was already on the reef and the seven people were able to be saved,” says Operations Manager, Inspector Lily Dagi.

“Their boat and outboard motor engine were also salvaged during the rescue.”

At the same time, there’s good news for one of the boats that have been reported earlier missing when travelling from the Reef Islands to Lata on Santa Cruz on March 30, 2018 with three women and two men on board.

“We have received a report that the boat with the five people on board have been found safe at Matembo Village on Utupua Island,” says Dagi.

Police at Lata are still searching for a second boat with four men and one child on board which went missing when travelling from Lata to the Reef Islands on March 30, 2018.

“Police want to strongly remind people in Temotu Province to check the weather with the Met Service or listen to the SIBC before making any plans to travel between the different islands especially during the current bad weather.

“We understand travelling by small boats is the only means of transport between the islands in the Province but we must think safety first at all times.

“Boat owners and skippers must also remember to take extra fuel, life jackets, paddles and other safety equipment when travelling in the small boats.”

The Met Service can be contacted on the toll free phone 933.

–POLICE MEDIA

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SEVEN million dollar budget for the upcoming Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival (MACFest) to be hosted in the country this year is only captured in the tourism ministry’s own budget.

$12million bid for the festival, being one of the new bids the ministry has in the recurrent budget, is unsuccessful.

Member of Parliament for Aoke Langalanga Hon Mathew Wale during the recent Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) enquiry to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism questioned the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the ministry if there is the possibility to still successfully host the MACFest.

In response, PS Andrew Nihopara said because of the development budget and other charges cut of only $10 Million by the National Government for the ministry, it gives them no option but to down scale priorities for this year.

“We will be doing scaling down of the money if it has to go down to the mode of just hosting the MACFest,” said Nihopara.

“As the founding member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), that obligation is upon us to deliver on.

“This is why our ministry feels strongly to find some money within our budget through reprioritising our projects despite our bid did not go through.

“We have set up a committee and we are looking at constantly readjusting our planned programmes so that it fits in with the budget we have available.”

Having said that, the PS said they are also seeking assistance from the business community.

“We will be talking to them and also we will take a proposal to our development partners as well to see where they could assist in which we are identifying the key areas for that one,” said Nihopara.

Given the budget that they have now, PS Nihopara however assured that they will not bow down to it to affect their plans.

Calculations of around 150 thousand air visitors this year by the ministry would be putting the revenue generating capacity and capability of the tourism industry up above with other industry sectors.

Something the PS said they want to aspire is to develop the plan to get up there. Though the airlines, Visitors Bureau and the private sector are their key partners, most importantly they need the government drive in this.

“Just by looking at the reduction of the budget that we got in 2017, it is important for the committee (PAC) to note down that significant reductions in some of the Divisional Budget Heads and the relocation of budgeted funds for development to other projects by the ministry is due to the reprioritising exercise we are taking to ensure that we execute some of our priority programmes within the budget given,” said Nihopara.

“That translates into the priorities this year on what we want to do as a Ministry in terms of our work plans, so hosting the sixth Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival is a priority that we have as a Ministry.”

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

A number of best students vying for the Taiwan scholarships have been interviewed last week, it is reported.

This is according to Taiwan Embassy’s Deputy Counselor, Mr Oliver Weng who said the interview brought forth many talented students.

“Most of them told me that they knew the educational environment in Taiwan is very good and can provide them with lots of vision and knowledge. They are eager to go to Taiwan for further studies.”

He stated that while some of them were a bit nervous and shy during the interview they excelled in general speaking.

Weng expressed that during the course of the interview he told the students the benefits, requirements and application procedures of the Taiwan scholarship.

In addition, he emphasised that the purpose of the scholarship is to help Solomon Islands young people further their education.

“We hope the recipients will come back to serve Solomon Islands when they complete study in Taiwan.”

He furthered that this year the Taiwan scholarships have increased from 10 to 15 and noted that recipients will be made known sometime in June or early July this year.

“This year we increase the Scholarship recipients from 10 to 15 because the ROC (Taiwan) President Dr Tsai Ing-wen promised to assist Solomon Islands in higher education during her visit last November.”