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Strong winds strike Bellona

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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A house is halved by fallen trees.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

BELLONA island in Renbel Province experienced strong winds this week that resulted in many homes being damaged including the only Anglican Church amongst the community there.

Locals on the island tell Island Sun that around 4am on Monday morning, a gush of strong winds hit the island, lasting for nearly three hours.

Many barricaded themselves in their homes and some, who have cyclone designed houses, had to dig deep.

Daylight revealed the extent of the damages, with many homes having their roofs blown off, home-made kitchens and huts blown to the ground, roads blocked with fallen trees, and water tanks damaged.

“The strong winds had occurred around 4am Monday morning in which luckily there was no injury,” locals report to the paper.

They are currently calling on the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to assess their situation as they are in need for assistance.

An officer of NDMO spoken to, who wishes not to be named, says his office is currently having talks on sending an officer to the island to assess the damage, but cannot elaborate when this will take place.

A house in central Bellona has its corrugated iron roof and walling
blown off.

 

Heavy rain warning cancelled

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

A heavy rain cancellation notice was issued yesterday morning by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology’s forecasting team.

Solomon Islands Meteorological service’s heavy rain warning initially set for provinces like Guadalcanal, Malaita, Central, Makira, Renbel and Temotu was cancelled at 11am yesterday.

They also stated that the weather situation is that an area of convergence lies over Solomon Islands with a tropical low located South-southwest of Rennell Island in the Cora Sea with low pressure travelling at nine knots, expected to move south-westward.

Also stated in the cancellation issued is that associated heavy rain, showers as well as thunderstorms are slowly decreasing in pace.

To add on, an advice for people to avoid making an attempt to travel across flooding rivers and large streams was also made by the MET service.

Heavy downpour in the capital has caused much stress on the roads, with some feeder roads damaged making it risky for those who use them to travel.

Roads have also experienced more pot holes due to the rainy weather.

SICCI maintains provincial outreach to Gizo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Chris Elphick conducts a training with participants from the business community in Gizo, Western Province.
Chris Elphick conducts a training with participants from the business community in Gizo, Western Province.

THE business community in Gizo concluded two days of successful meetings with the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI), as the private sector body maintains its strive to connect with businesses in the province to help build their capacity.

SICCI representatives Membership Officer Naomi Mara and training provider Chris Elphick of Breadfruit Consulting, made the Chamber’s first visit in 2018. This visit followed on from previous training held in Gizo Western Province capital from July 4-6, 2017.

25 participants, representing both large and small businesses in Gizo as well as provincial government officials, met with SICCI at the PT109 Bar & Restaurant for a Business Planning training that proceeded throughout the two days visit.

The training is a follow-up from last year’s visit where participants who had attended the inaugural raised their interest for a Business Planning training.

Chris Elphick who delivered the training says the training is aimed at helping all businesses be the best they can be.

“This time our focus was on planning and it was great to work with such a lively group and I look forward to running further training in June and October.

“The training events give a good opportunity for networking and for businesses to help and support each other.

“I commend SICCI for developing its work in the provinces and I am very happy to continue to support business development in Gizo.”

Many positive feedbacks were expressed by participants who acknowledge that the trainings are useful for them as businesses owners.

Ms Mara says, “Apart from delivering the training, the trip was also aimed at getting insights on some of the issues businesses based in Gizo are facing.

“This is to help SICCI understand the challenges businesses are facing in Gizo and to explore avenues to help address these.

“I’m very pleased with the turnout and feedback we’ve had in Gizo and hopefully we can make more visits to the Western Province as we work on to close to gap between the private sector in Honiara and in the provinces.”

In 2017, SICCI made visits to both Gizo and the tuna cannery hub in Noro.

SICCI is planning another two visits to Gizo later on in the year with 2018 plans also scheduled for Auki, Malaita and Kira Kira, Makira.

–SICCI PRESS

SICCI attends first Regional International Arbitration Conference

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) joined legal practitioners from across the South Pacific region in the first Regional International Arbitration Conference held in Nadi, Fiji last month.

SICCI Vice Chair Katalaini Ziru and SICCI Advisor Charles Persson attended the two-day conference that was organised by the Asian Development Bank in partnership with the Fiji Government and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific.

The conference surrounded discussions on the development impacts of international arbitration reform in the South Pacific with a targeted audience of Government officials, policy makers, development partners, judges, law practitioners and private sector representatives.

SICCI Advisor Mr Persson felt that the conference was a great success that allowed him to meet and exchange views with participants from other Chambers of Commerce and private sector organisations.

“In particular it was instructive to see the research and analysis that indicates the unambiguous link between the rule of law in a nation and growth in foreign direct investment.

“Our thanks to the Government of Fiji, Asia Development Bank and the United Nations Commission on Trade Law for co-hosting the conference.”

Topics discussed at the conference include; Promotion of cross-border trade and foreign direct investment through international arbitration reform;

Why an effective dispute resolution system is important to your country’s investment climate and economic development;

Disputes in the South Pacific region, with a focus on energy (including renewable energy), construction and climate finance and how best to resolve a dispute when contracting with a foreign party;

Overview of international arbitration, including the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York, 1958) (New York Convention), UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration and its implementation in the South Pacific region;

Contract drafting in supply-chain contracts for MSMEs in accordance with the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG); and

Role of UNCITRAL texts on e-commerce for the implementation of free-trade agreements and trade facilitation measures

–SICCI PRESS

Solomon Islands Parliament benefits from Pacific initiative

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Solomon Islands National Parliament

By Gary Hatigeva

A group of researchers are currently in Honiara under a Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative (PPEI) to help strengthen the country’s parliamentary system of operations and governance.

Funded by the New Zealand Government through the United Nations Development Programme for Pacific Island countries, the initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of the parliament secretariats to provide support to Members of Parliament.

These includes the enhancement in the capacity of parliaments in all participating countries to debate budgets and provide for effective public accounts committee operations at the same time mainstream development issues in the work of parliament and support the running of practice parliaments for women.

The initiative also looks to promote the selection of an increased number of women candidates by political parties and improve information exchange on the south-south cooperation between Pacific parliaments.

Meanwhile, parliament officials revealed that the group will join the budget team during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearings where they will also, under the initiative, be providing support on the overall reviewing of the national budget.

The Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative (PPEI) is a three-year programme designed to provide support to Parliaments in the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

The project’s overall outcome is to meet citizens’ expectations for voice, development and the rule of law and accountability and through support to the partner parliaments to strengthen systems of democratic governance.

PAC hearings into Appropriation Bill 2018 start today

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
DPM Douglas Ete

By Gary Hatigeva

THE National Parliament has yesterday confirmed that hearings with all government ministries and institutes into the 2018 Appropriation Bill will start today.

The hearings will begin with presentations and witnesses from the Commercial and Banking institutions, which includes the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, the Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

National Parliament’s Media Unit in a statement further confirmed that the much awaited Bill was tabled in Parliament on Monday, March 12, 2018.

The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Douglas Ete with relief commended the government for fulfilling its responsibility however, cautioned them on the time required for the Committee to diligently scrutinize the budget.

In its statement, the Media Unit said the PAC Chairman pointed out that the budget is quite a significant one, as it is the last budget before the House dissolves.

“Given that the budget documents were brought in parts through last week and over the weekend, the Chairman emphasizes that his members ought to be briefed properly before seeing all the line ministries and their subsidiaries,” the statement adds.

The PAC Chairman then reiterated that this is a necessary part of the oversight process, as the Committee is obliged to table and inform Parliament on its findings and recommendations.

He therefore suggested that his Committee be accorded ample time of at least two weeks to fulfil their Constitutional and Legislative duty.

The Committee has written to the Prime Minister to further adjourn Parliament, when it resumes on March 19.

Meanwhile, when contacted yesterday, the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) confirmed receiving the notice, which seeks an additional adjournment to parliament sitting, but says the Prime Minister has yet to put any official respond to the request.

Today’s hearing is scheduled to start at 2pm this afternoon while 2 ministries are lined up for tomorrow’s session, which starts at 9am with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, followed by the Ministry of Provincial Government & Institutional Strengthening.

Later in the afternoon, the hearing is expected to receive presentations from local Provincial Assemblies, which will include Western, Malaita, Central and Guadalcanal Provinces.

The PAC during the hearings will receive assistances from seven international representatives and officials within various parliaments in Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji, who will also provide support on the overall reviewing of the national budget.

Police in Munda investigate alleged sexual grooming

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

POLICE at the Munda Police Station have thanked several women who had the courage and responsibility to report an alleged sexual grooming matter on March 11, 2018 which they are now investigating.

“We have received a report and I want to thank these women who were concerned and took the initiative to come forward to police when they saw that things didn’t look right,” says Sergeant Rachel Lilo, Officer-in-Command of the Munda Police Station.

“As citizens of this country, we should take bold actions to eradicate this kind of behaviour involving our young women and girls.

“We are now aware of the report and currently investigating it. I want to call on the general public not to remain silent on this kind of incident, but to come forward to police and report what you know and may have seen so that proper investigations can be carried out.

“I call on relatives and friends of those young women or girls as well as members of the public to come forward with information that may assist the police investigation into the matter.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Gold Ridge Mine begins recommissioning

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Joining pipes to reconnect the water supply to the site accommodation units.

THE first phase of the Gold Ridge Mine office and accommodation reconstruction recently completed with the second phase starting this week.

Phase one marked the first construction work on site aimed at returning the mine to production in early 2019.

This work follows months of planning and site review to decide the extent and cost of the refurbishment to look at opportunities to improve the efficiency and profitability of the mine.

This first phase of construction involved the installation of new walls, window frames, ceilings, and the re-establishment of the electricity supply to the mine office as well as the first stage of the accommodation redevelopment. 17 local workers were involved in the reconstruction works for phase one.

March sees the commencement of phase two with experts in operations, mining and machinery arriving to undertake detailed design work as well as to start site infrastructure works including road repairs and bridge design works.

About 40 local personnel are forecast to be employed for a three-month period beginning in late March. During the month, materials to refurbish site office buildings and laboratories will arrive in Honiara.

Gold Ridge community landowners and chiefs said that it was good to see local people involved in the reconstruction and using and improving their skills.

Community awareness in the Gold Ridge Community Landowner Association, Kolobosi Tailings Dam and Matepono Downstream Association areas also starts this week. “Our community relations team has spent the last six weeks engaging with Chiefs and landowners to develop an awareness programme for communities,” Walton Naezon, Director of GRML, said.

“We thank landowners for volunteering their time to guide our community activities to meet the needs of our communities.”

Allen Wang, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for GRML, reinforced the importance of the relationship with landowners, “Our community awareness approach recognises that landowners are vital partners in the recommissioning and delivery of Gold Ridge Mine with landowners and company representatives jointly delivering the awareness,” said Mr Wang.

–GRML PRESS

Contractors told to explain why they need to be paid

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Alfred Sasako

CONTRACTORS engaged by the Government to undertake maintenance and other works on government properties have been told to write “a strong letter” to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development explaining why they should be paid.

One of the contractors, Johnny Nelson, told Island Sun yesterday this was the response from the Ministry when some 150 contractors followed up their payments, which have been outstanding since last year.

“The Permanent Secretary simply told us to write a strong letter explaining why we should be paid and what we are going to spend the money on.

“The fact of the matter is we were engaged under contract to do a job and we have done it. Why in the world should be writing a strong letter requesting payment and explaining what the payment would be spent on?,” Mr Nelson said yesterday.

He said it would seem things have turned back to front.

“We have outstanding school fees to settle. We have families to feed and so on. So why do we need to explain to the government where we are going to spend the money, which as far as I am concerned is something we have already earned,” Mr Nelson said.

The Permanent Secretary [acting] of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development could not be contacted for comments last night.

Murray did not get permission to run business: LCC

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Chairman of the Leadership Code Commission Solomon Kalu told court yesterday that the former Permanent Secretary Henry Murray had not sought permission to run businesses.

In his evidence in chief Mr Kalu said in 2016 he sent out emails attaching documents to all permanent secretaries and leaders of all government ministries to complete if they own a business.

“It is a requirement stated well in the Act and regulation of the Leadership Code Commission that leaders must comply,” Kalu told the court.

“However in the case of the accused he never sought permission to run business and also never seeks permission to get a contract from the government involving his private business.”

During the cross examination, defence showed the witness a copy of the LCC declaration document as to whether or not he received the document.

However witness Kalu said he did not receive the copy of the declaration as the document did not contain the received stamp on it.

Yesterday the Chairman of the Leadership Code Commission and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission were the witnesses who testified in court.

The two witnesses were explaining the procedures and processes in place guiding Government leaders and what is expected of them.

The Murrays were charged in relation to an allegation relate to a series of offences alleged between 2014 to 2017 in relation to multiple payments of motor vehicle hire charges to a company that police alleged was registered to the PS and his wife.

The value of those payments is estimated to the excess of 1.1 million dollars and as a result of that they both face a range of serious charges.

Prosecution alleged that those payments were allegedly made through cheques and electronic funds transfers, were deposited into their ANZ account in the name of Krash Transport and Marketing.

Leslie Kwaiga from L & L law firm represents the couple while Florence Joel from the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown.

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