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PM Hou praises outgoing Ambassador Kimiya’s leadership

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Milton Ragaruma
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Prime Minister, Hon Rick Hou and Japanese Ambassador to SOlomon Islands His Excellency Mr Kenichi Kimiya

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has applauded the outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands HE Kenichi Kimiya’s leadership style, displayed during his tenure in the office of the Embassy of Japan in Honiara.

PM Hou says Mr Kimiya has contributed much substantive assistance and support towards the development of Solomon Islands.

Hou said Solomon Islands have enjoyed the immense generous support from the government and people of Japan under Kimiya’s leadership.

He attributes the huge developmental progress to Kimiya’s stand to press on for many development schemes which cover many sectors and parts of the country.

These include major infrastructure projects implemented through Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through various economic and infrastructure developments.

Also, improvement of health and medical facilities, strengthening our education system and programs to assist rural communities adapt to the impacts from climate change and to adopt better management skills of the SI environment.

“The ongoing commitment under you leadership is way of strengthening greater cooperation Solomon Islands and Japan.

“I believe the exchanges shared through this avenue will continue to cultivate and enhance mutual understanding, respect and friendship between our two countries and people,” PM Hou said.

Japan’s Ambassador to SI farewelled

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands farewells a friend, who came to represent his country here, and in due time became a familiar face which will be remembered fondly by many, especially in the rurals where Japan has assisted in many developments.

A dinner reception was held in honour of Ambassador extraordinarily and plenipotentiary of Japan to Solomon Islands Mr Kenichi Kimiya and his wife Mitsuki Kimiya, on Wednesday evening in Honiara.

Speaking during the farewell ceremony, Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela said that Mr Kenichi is no stranger to the Pacific Islands – Melanesia to be more specific and has grown accustomed to our way of life.

He thanked outgoing Ambassador Kimiya for his remarkable journey and memorable supervision during his tenure in the office here in Solomon Islands.

“Mr Kimiya you have represented and served your country very well in Solomon Islands. You have demonstrated that Japan, by all intents and purpose is a country (and people) that is truly desirous in sharing its economic achievement and development experience with the rest of the world especially Solomon Islands.

“But as noted already, this would not been possible without fellow Japanese like yourself, who are committed in the discharge of your duties. On behalf of my people I congratulate you for this exceptionally high standard of work and professionalism,” PM Hou said.

He highlighted that it wouldn’t be possible if the person in charge of the office in Honiara does not possess the vision and care for the people of Solomon Islands in terms of development.

“Ambassador Kenichi, I admire that vision and passion displayed during your service here in Solomon Islands,” Hou said.

In his remarks, Kimiya said he had been working as the Ambassador to Solomon Islands for four years and in the course of their (his family) living they have received considerable support and cordial friendship from many country men and women.

“Hence My wife and I would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who have extended to us their valuable support and close relationship.

“Let us all swear out determination for making better world of peace unity and friendship towards the future because nothing is more precious than life love and nothing is more valuable than peace and freedom,” he said.

In delivering his farewelled address, he highlighted developments through projects in terms of the bilateral relationship between Solomon Islands and Japan.

Kimiya began his services to Melanesian in Papua New Guinea and was later posted to the Embassy in Honiara where he spent four years in service for his country and to the people of Solomon Islands.

He and his family will leave for Japan by the end of this month.

2018 Budget likely to weaken ministries

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete

By Gary Hatigeva

The Public Accounts Committee Chairman and Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete

THE Public Accounts Committee Chairman and Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete has shared concerns over the distress signals emanating from all line ministries over the vicious 2018 Budget allocations.

Contributing to debates of the Appropriation Bill 2018, Mr Ete stressed that it is a worry to hear expressions of disappointments and frustrations from all line ministries who are the actual implementers of the budget programmes.

Ete said during the two-week hearing, the committee has noted concerns raised by permanent secretaries and directors of ministries on what they think and feel about the budget when they appear before PAC.

“Let me tell you that many of them are distressed over the decrease of the size of government expenditures regarding their ministries and their ministries’ activities for 2018 fiscal year,” he said.

Meanwhile, in their earlier budget speeches, the Minister of Finance, Manasseh Sogavare and the Minister of Development Planning and Aid Coordination, Jeremiah Manele urged for the reprioritisation and scale-down of implementation programmes in all line ministries due to a tight budget.

“But after listening carefully to the speech by the Minister of Finance and Treasury, I think he (Sogavare) created a bit of history, because this is the first budget in the last four years to have alienated major programmes under different sectors of the entire ministries of government,” Ete said.

He then supported that by cutting the budget for this year, all ministries might not participate effectively in any implementations and it will just be business as usual.

He however pointed out that current Finance Minister was Prime Minister for the last three years until November of 2017, who during his term put in one of the largest budget this country ever had.

“Unfortunately,” he said. “Little was felt or seen in the implementation prospects of major programmes in Solomon Islands.”

And this according to Ete continues to see increased negativity in the economic and social aspects of this country.

Based on the 2018 Budget theme, “Ensuring a prudent and stable budget”, Ete suggested that what the finance minister highlighted can only be seen as government’s clear intention to remove all government programmes except for the Tina Hydro and the Undersea Cable project.

He said while that is established, every other establishment of government will be business as usual or no business at all for 2018.

However, the East Honiara MP revealed that based on hearing outcomes, it is clear the bipartition attitude of this government is one that is based on two different ideologies and platforms, which is believed to be one of the factors contributing to the cut, and this really came out clear when PAC met in the last two weeks.

“As chair of PAC in the recent examination of ministerial estimates collated by the range of policies attached to heads and subheads items, PSs and Directors were showing signs of staleness and uneasiness in the implementation of major projects under the establishment because of the fact that policies of the former regime and the new regime came head to head.

“But to a certain degree on some very important projects of the government, where one thought about taking one direction, while the other think something else,” Ete further stressed.

This he added will obviously lead to a marginal slow down or delays in any form of implementation activities and programs, which will not serve the purpose for the establishment of a budget that continued to be regarded as credible and responsible because the 80 percent in the total population will not feel the impacts as boasted.

Meanwhile, he further suggested for any contractionary fiscal policy, fiscal measures must be controlled because in this approach, ministries will stop performing or leap in their performances.

“And the people of this country will continue to feel the burden of high cost of living and high tax adjustments and subsequently stop buying and we could eventually see a fall in consumption, which is a crisis.”

Ete however pointed out that with all the worries and distresses being expressed, the buck stops at the table of the Prime Minister and he must bear the full responsibility for policy directions and research by his cabinet.

He added that the Prime Minister has around 10 months to commit himself to ensure his government implements the major programmes under this budget and at least take on some of the series of recommendations given.

“This is because despite so many recommendations made in the past years, the government is seemingly taking a deaf ear and turning a blind eye on them, putting more pressure on the current situation, which is understood to have forced the major cut in budget.”

The 2018 Budget under an Appropriation Bill 2018 is now before parliament and is currently being debated in its second reading.

Debates continue on Tuesday April 3, 2018.

Top Health official unclear over suspension on St Vincent arrangement

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Permanent Secretary of MHMS, Dr Tenneth Dalipanda

By Alfred Sasako

SOLOMON Islands’ top Health official has confirmed being aware of the suspension of the 10-bed arrangement with Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, but added “not very clear on the reasons” for it.

“I’m aware of the suspension but not very clear on the reasons,” Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Dr Tenneth Dalipada told Island Sun this week.

“All we were informed last year is allocations for (the) 10-bed (arrangement) has been exhausted and we will have to wait until the next financial year,” Mr Dalipada said in an email.

He also dismissed reports that patients on the 10-bed arrangements were paid allowance.

“The ministry never pays for patients’ allowance, we only cover their rent, food, logistic in picking them up at the airport, paying for medications on discharge, paying for consultation if patients are seen at the private clinic. We also pay for test or investigations if done outside the public part of St Vincent’s Hospital.

“It’s not correct that patients (were) paid any allowance, imagine what this will create. (The) National Referral Hospital usually pay for allowances for patients which was stop(ped) in 2008, I think.”

“For budgetary purpose there is an estimate for cost per person but we don’t pay allowances. (The) Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ allocation for last year and 2016 were not exhausted due to the current CEO strict ruling on budgetary allocation and not 10 beds as was the case before.”

Dalipada stopped short of saying whether an interim arrangement is being organised for patients whose illnesses could not be determined locally.

The management of St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney confirmed last week that the 10-bed arrangement is suspended until “outstanding issues” are resolved, confidential documents obtained by the Island Sun newspaper last week showed.

It adds that both the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and Solomon Islands High Commissioner in Canberra were fully aware of these issues.

Risky side of Solomon Islands’ graduation from LDC

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

THE United Nations’ Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has announced that Solomon Islands is one of the four countries that will soon graduate out from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) list.

This is history for the country since Solomon Islands is among five countries, out of 47, that graduated out of this status since the UN established the LDC category in 1971.

While the graduation is seen as a positive indication that there are improvements, senior local diplomats are worried about this.

Minister Counsellor and Chargé d’affaires at our Permanent Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, Barrett Salato, has expressed that while the country’s graduating out from LDC status may be seen as a positive achievement, it would also mean that Solomon Islands will no longer enjoy the special trade rules and development programmes and assistance given to LDCs.

Mr Salato said it is worrying that local companies like Soltuna and Guadalcanal Plain Plantation Oil Limited (GIPPOL) that are exporting their products to the European Union (EU) market stand the risk of going out of business because they will face ‘big trouble’ entering EU market.

Currently, he said local companies like Soltuna and GIPPOL are exporting their products easily into EU market on a duty-free-quota-free basis under the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative.

And, he said these companies are competing in the EU market because they are accorded zero preferential tariffs and no restriction on import quantity under the EBA.

Salato said if the country graduates out of the list then the preferential arrangement will “go out the window”.

“Thailand, which is the largest tuna exporter to EU pays 24 percent tariff with strict import quota system to enter EU tuna market, Soltuna hardly compete with them. If Soltuna pays 24 percent tariff, I don’t think Soltuna will survive the market,” Salato added.

He said if Soltuna or GIPPOL are unable to compete then jobs of hundreds of locals, mostly women, are at risk.

Salato said the country can maintain its tuna export to EU with zero duty once it agrees to the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) or the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP ++). He warned both are bad.

He said Pacific island countries need to make a strong case to the UN to review the criteria for assessing their development status.

“For Pacific islands countries, the vulnerability criteria should supersede economic indicators,

The pacific region is so vulnerable to natural disasters and global economic shocks that even if a country graduate, a single cyclone or earthquake can wipe out 30 years of development in a matter of hours,” Salato said.

He said Solomon Islands will join countries like China, India, Thailand, Philippines, Chile, Mexico to compete for the same market with similar products with the same set of trade rules.

Salato said graduation is a good thing the country should embrace but it comes with its own set of challenges that needs to be fully understood.

Vanuatu and Angola are scheduled for graduation over the next three years.

Police to mount operation for Easter holiday

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE will continue its operation for the Easter holiday break to make sure the general public celebrate Easter peacefully and safely.

Commissioner Mathew Varley said police will not only be doing traffic checks and random breath tests but will also be conducting high visibility patrols.

Mr Varley reminds public that the police’s message is always the same and clear that if you are going to drink don’t drive because your safety is much important.

He said police across the country will involve in the operation to make sure people go about their Easter safely and have a blessed Easter celebration without alcohol related violence.

He said police in Honiara will be providing high visibility patrols around the Honiara city and are urging public to cooperate with police while carrying out their duties.

No arrests yet on Shortland armed robbery incident

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE Commissioner Mathew Varley says that no arrest has been made so far on the incident which occurred at Harapa camp on March 25.

Mr Varley said investigation is still continuing and police have deployed a team of investigators, Forensics, Police Response Team and other support staff to carry out full investigation about what happened.

He said that the incident occurred at the Manahunu logging camp in Harapa on the early hours of March 25.

Police said the men approached the logging camp manager with the other man armed with weapons and threatened them with those weapons.

It was further alleged the robbers took off with goods including the machineries and chainsaws, mobile phones plus other valuable items. No one was injured during that incident.

Police said after they robbed the camp they fired to the air and left.

“It is a very serious security incident that was occurred and as a result RSIPF has deployed an operation team both from Gizo and Choiseul and also from Honiara,” Varley said.

Varley also thanks the community leaders, chiefs and elders for their support and also the logging company in providing information on what had happened, and police are now following up on information about the suspects of the case.

Women harass farmers for their produce: MWYCFA

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

MEN and women farmers who usually sell their produce at the central market have been harassed by women in Honiara, it is reported.

This was raised by Mrs Pauline Soaki – Director for Women’s Division under the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) at the “Gender in Agriculture in Rural Livelihoods” workshop yesterday, who stressed that the above matter was reported to the ministry.

Mrs Soaki said that according to the reports the main reason behind such action was because women in the capital wanted to buy the farmers’ crops to resell them at a higher price at the market.

She voiced that if this matter can be included in the report then it would pave way for regulations that would ensure that farmers are able to sell their crops in a safe environment without being treated as such.

The workshop was attended by Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) and MWYCFA officials at the Kairos conference room at Hyundai Mall.

The objective of the workshop was to validate information collected from case studies carried out in rural areas of Malaita and Guadalcanal provinces in February.

It is understood that this initiative is a partnership between the two ministries and is supported by SPC, ADB and FAO.

Where were you?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Former Prime Minister Snyder Rini

Rini questions Australia’s intentions over Undersea Cable project

By Gary Hatigeva

FORMER Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Marovo, Snyder Rini has accused Australia over the manner in which she has become a major player in the Fibre Optic Cable Project for Solomon Islands.

Mr Rini came out blasting on the project when contributing to debates on the Appropriation Bill 2018, which is said to have captured more attention in the budget, besides the Tina Hydro project.

He recalled that the new Prime Minister, Rick Houenipwela, when minister of finance in 2013-14, had pushed hard to see the cable project established, which a deal was signed with the Asia Development Bank (ADB) who put in funds to support its initiation.

But Rini revealed that unfortunately, the ADB funding allocation was not enough to meet costing of all the international bidding tenders.

Moreover, the former Finance Minister further revealed that when the former government came into office in 2015, they changed the structure in shareholdings, which initially established a 51 percent share for the National Provident Fund (NPF) and a 49 percent share to Our Telekom.

But Rini stressed that with views the local Telekom being a retailer cannot be part of a wholesaler, the government therefore moved to change the shareholding structure.

“So we came up with the new structure where the government through ICSI got the 51 percent share and gave the 49 percent to NPF,” Rini explained.

The former finance minister further revealed that with these changes in shareholding structures, the ADB decided to pull out its funding, but according to Fairfax Media, the lack of transparency in that deal prompted the Asian Bank to withdraw its support.

However, Rini revealed that because of the new shareholding structure, the government was left to raise its 51 percent contribution knowing that NPF already has its share of contribution ready.

The government’s share was however raised sooner than anticipated, but was only made possible through a bond arrangement between the two parties.

With the needed money raised, the joint initiative went and engaged a Chinese cable company (Huawei) having been the lowest bidder of all the others, which somehow sparked a serious concern for Canberra.

During that time, the former minister of finance further recalled that Australia took measures to block any channelling of the cable through Australia as an initial landing spot for the cable, based on security concerns and threats.

Rini said because of the situation, the partnering group looked into other options, and was able to pick up Jayapura as the new landing site for the cable, which would cost the SI government USD$52 million, $16 million less than the USD$68 million if it was to come through Australia.

All these happenings according to international media reports suggested that Australia was fine with the idea until suddenly, it wasn’t.

The problem according to these reports was when Solomon Islands started looking to China’s Huawei, a smartphone and telecommunications equipment maker based in Shenzhen, to lay the cable.

“Australia has been leery of Huawei before, and so has the US,” a Steve Mollman, Quartz online Asia Correspondent reported.

In 2012, cybersecurity fears led Australia to ban the company from tendering for contracts in the $38 billion National Broadband Network, on advice from the Australian Security Intelligence Organization.

In 2012, US lawmakers blocked deals and mergers involving Huawei and its crosstown rival ZTE, with worries that potential Chinese state influence on the companies could pose a security threat, and the Solomon Islands issue is no exception.

Meanwhile, Rini added that when Australia heard about all these moves to go that direction, it quickly offered to fund two thirds of the expense internationally, and the Solomon Islands government to meet the remaining one-third.

The deal stipulated that when the project reaches its domestic status, the Solomon Islands government is to meet two thirds of the remaining costs while Australia focusses on the one-third.

“But the question is why didn’t Australia come in that time when we were stranded with the project and needed the assistance, why? Where were you when we struggled to get the project started?” the Marovo MP questioned.

The former finance minister however suggested and claimed that all these new developments with Canberra’s involvement is an indicator that Australia has a vested interest in the project, and that needs to be looked into.

“And questions also needed to be asked about their intention,” Rini added.

He then questioned why a special company (Vocus) was engaged into owning the cable and why the company will look after the cable for its maintenance and other related areas.

He also questioned the total costing of the two-third specified for the Solomon Islands government to meet when the project starts running in the domestic waters, which figures have not been revealed.

Currently, Solomon Islands relies on satellite-based services that are slow, unstable, and expensive.

Noni revolution targets up to $40 million a month by 2021 for North West Guadalcanal Constituency farmers

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Women washing Noni fruits

BY ALFRED SASAKO

IF you were told that you could be earning up to $40 million a month, would you buy the story?

One former government minister didn’t.

He even ridiculed the story. “Pikpik lelebet,” the Minister allegedly shot back when asked to inspect what the MP for North West Guadalcanal, Bodo Dettke had started at his farm just outside King George VIth School in east Honiara.

Many would have said the same thing as the Minister did and understandably so.

How could you believe that one could rake in so much money in a month especially in a cash-strapped economy such as ours?

Workshop participants.

For those who did, Hon Dettke’s revolutionary message about Noni farming is taking his Constituency by storm. His parliamentary colleagues have been calling, urging him to teach them the trick.

This week, the former Forest Minister had just produced 40 tons of Noni juice for the international market.

Half the consignment (20 tons) is awaiting shipment to Brisbane later this week.

According to Francis Orodani who chaired the North West Guadalcanal Subsistence Farmers’ Association, the Noni farming revolution followed three successful workshops which were held at the Ginger Beach Retreat Centre in 2017.

Hon Bodo Dettke and Hon Bernard Garo owner of the Ginger beach

A former Member of Parliament, Mr Orodani led an executive of 12 members.

He told Island Sun yesterday the three workshops attracted some 2, 500 participants from the Constituency.

“It is interesting to note that 70 per cent of the attendants were young women,” he said.

A core working group was formed thereafter and a constitution was endorsed.

“Visits to the Constituency in recent months have shown that people are very keen with the Noni crops. You could see nurseries all over the Constituency.

“Our target is 800 hectares to be planted in two years beginning this year.

Noni fruits ready for transportation

Eight hundred hectares means 800 families and households to be earning from Noni crops soon,” Mr Orodani said.

“Our financial target is that by year 2021 these farmers and families should be generating $30 million to $40 million a month when the trees have reached bearing stage,” Mr Orodani said.

Hon Dettke said Noni farming has opened a whole new economic opportunity for rural farmers. “It is the gold mine for now and the future,” the businessman-turned-politician, said yesterday.

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