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Santa Cruz mining issue

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, let me further reply to this ghost name Jim Khalir in his ill-fated witch-hunt campaign article on Feb 20. First of all Jim Khalir you choose to remain anonymous simply because you want to hide your foolishness and cowardice in the face of public loathe for mining in Santa Cruz.

I will undertake to make reply in paragraphs in response to your article for clarity.

Paragraph two. I must admit to you in no reserving term Mr Khalir, am the leader of this anti-mining. You picked on me by no mistake nor did I not promote myself as you basely claimed. You knew me am the person behind the entire anti-mining movement how dare you disown and question my standing in some portion of your column after initial admissions.

Paragraph three. You have not taught me nor taught anyone in the public media about prospecting and mining. You are alien to the subject of prospecting and mining. You professed to be a watchdog for mining issue in Nende. What a joke. I doubt you being a watchdog. Your use of alias name gratifies well your role as a sock puppet in the media to camouflage and propagate bad as if it is good, under veil. If you are a watchdog for people of Nende as you professed to be and do not pick up these flaws and abnormalities then two things are obvious to describe your finality on this subject and that is either you are sitting on the fence because you do not know anything about this matter as evidenced in your alien name or simply you are a die hard supporter of the company who will do anything foolish to appease your master.

Paragraph four. Yes. In the outset we need development. However not all developments are suitable for all style of geographical make-up of our land masses. Hence that why people ought to be properly informed to make prior-informed decision on what form of development is sustainable and environment friendly for their settings for the good of people today and for future generations.

Paragraph six. I did not mention the SAA subject of debate is for mining. No! The SAA is for prospecting. If there is anyone who is confusing himself and misleading public it must be you Mr Khalir for miserably failing to understand the entire process of mineral exploration and development in Solomon Islands and thereby propagating baseless and distorted views. People of Nende are fully aware of these processes starting from reconnaissance, prospecting, acquisition of SAR, due diligence in the conduct of SAA, and then eventual mining, having attended various awareness conducted at Nende and so it is pointless and irrelevant on your part to conduct your media lecture on something you knew little about.

Further to paragraph six above. The duration of disposition of LOI yes it is not limited and it rather decided on basis of resolution reached by MMB however my general assertion was on the basis of the short period of time your Company was prompt to come up with a SAA. The duration of LOI would be normally expressed in the LOI proper.

Nende land tenure system is quite complex and it is therefore unbelievable that your company can navigate its way through to settle a SAA in such a short period of time. The unfortunate outcome of this is what I have alluded to in my earlier article and that is (1) A lot of LOs their consents were not obtained – these are people whose land are being subjected to PL without their consent (2) Some LOs consents were hijacked – these were LOs whose signatures and names were on the company list but at no time did they sign up their land for such development. Basically someone forged their signatures and names (3) Some LOs their consenters withdraw their consent – these were LOs who have realised that something is not ok with the process and the development itself is bad for the place hence withdraw consent. I have list of this data to proof to you my claim.

Paragraph eight. I maintained the position. Though there were consultations it is not done properly. The 12 days is too short. The mandatory consultations were carelessly done. Some signatures were collected randomly and others were paid SBD200 in return for signatures. The signature were set as appendix to the Report by your company and presented to MMB and were purported to represent an overwhelming support for the project. Unfortunately these were cooked up lies by your company.

Paragraph 9. You are incorrect to say the SAA is standard all throughout. Standard under what circumstance? Certain terms of SAA are negotiated and subject to change depending on outcome of dialogue. Unless applicant can agree and negotiate settlement of SAA and the same submitted to MMB the applicant won’t be granted PL. Your further commentaries on this part were mere opinion and lack consistencies to statutory processes of MMA.

Paragraph 10 on PL 01/16. Again you mislead yourself. Further commentaries you put up on this part were mere opinion and lack insights of the processes. For clarity and in brief Mr Khalir this is the basics of what you are struggling to grapple with ; Stage 1 – Application for mineral prospecting pursuant to s20 (a – k) is submitted by applicant, stage2 – MMB – deliberate on the application s21 (1), stage3 Minister issues LOI s21 (2), stage4 Applicant or Company together with Director dispose with LOI – see s21(4) a – d, stage5 where successful dialogue occur at stage4 parties settle SAA – see s21(8), stage6 The company report back to MMB with the SAA – see s21(9), stage7 On recommendation of MMB – the minister thereafter issued PL.

A screening committee set up for purpose of s20 (4) and MM-Regulation 3D come into operation if area of tenement is put out on tender.

The mandatory consultation I make reference to which is very important and must be done thoroughly and in my considered view it is done properly by your company is stage 4 and they must do diligently activities set out in s21(4) a-d. Mr Khalir this mandatory process here in s21(4) a-d was not done properly. That is very messy so say the least. You must admit something is wrong hence why am building up momentum with people of Nende to challenge these many flaws.

The minister by strict adherence to this process does not sign PL instrument in the midst of the stages I set out you imply in contrary in your article.

Read this MMA on paclii – http://www.paclii.org if you don’t have access to this material so that you can make good and constructive judgement of where I stand on these many issues. But I must tell you there is no way you can deter and intimidate my stand with the majority of people of Nende to bulldozer your PL down the ditch. It is our constitutional right to seek redress in Court of law over what we see as unlawful and corrupt for which you Mr Khalir and your company are at liberty to challenge our contentions.

Ruddy S Oti

Are we a country of thieves?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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THE first of the arrivals of cruise boats to our shores has taken place yesterday at the Point Cruz International wharf. Namely Caledonia Sky and Ocean Dream, the visit yesterday by these two boats is certainly a boost in the right direction for the tourism industry.

One of the boats, Ocean Dream, a Japan-based International NGO Peace boat is on a mission for peace and to promote grassroots exchange and education about global issues.

As a committed campaigner for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs) Ocean Dream brought mainly visitors from Japan who were hoping to and looking forward to meet warm and hospitable people of Solomon Islands.

Sadly that was not the case for few of the visiting guests. Instead of the warm and hospitable greeting from the people of Solomon Islands, they were sinisterly greeted to the warm welcome of the less fortunate who decided that thieving would be the most appropriate form of welcome for our visiting friends.

In this time and era where Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) is trying its best to market our country overseas for the effective boost of the tourism industry in the country, this sort of selfish attitude must be stopped.

Selfish, cowardice act by a few of our individuals will only tarnish our country’s good name and discredit the good work which our local tourism industry had worked so hard in boosting.

These poor visitors who were robbed yesterday will of course have something to remember about the Solomons. The country of thieves. Is this what we want for our country? To be remembered as a country of thieves?

Government as a signatory to the UN is also obliged to achieve the target goals of the SDGs of which Ocean Dream is a campaigner.

SDG 16 speaks of peace, justice and strong institutions. Levels of criminal activities like yesterday will have a destructive impact on the country’s development.

It is time we all stand together to work with the government, churches and each other to promote peace and love in our communities and society so that our country and ourselves will continue to prosper in harmony.

Hou talks agriculture, tourism & climate change with Belgium

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela shakes hands with Ambassador Designate of Belgium, His Excellency Marc George Mullie at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet after their meeting this week. Photo from PM Press Secretariat
The Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela shakes hands with Ambassador Designate of Belgium, His Excellency Marc George Mullie at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet after their meeting this week. Photo from PM Press Secretariat

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has received a courtesy visit by the Ambassador Designate of Belgium, His Excellency Marc George Mullie at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet this week.

As part of the visit, the Prime Minister Hou and His Excellency Mullie held talks mainly on issues of Agriculture, Tourism and Climate Change.

Hou expressed his interest to see more investments in the agriculture sector; stating specifically the cocoa industry.

The Prime Minister said that while the cocoa industry has been around for quite some time in the country and further acknowledging the number of recognition the local cocoa product has received, he also stressed that its high quality must be maintained and possible increase in its supplies.

Hou also stressed that Climate Change is an important concern to the Solomon Islands therefore getting into energy saving projects and/or environmentally friendly programmes is vital.

“A lot needs to be done in terms of renewable energy in order to tackle Climate Change,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking on the tourism sector, the Prime Minister stated his desire to see the tourism sector expand to all parts of the country and not just few places.

He further acknowledged that more work is needed in terms of improving and developing infrastructure to support tourism in the country.

The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

–OPMC PRESS

Struggle of local pilots continues with 14-day notice

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
DASH-8

THE issue of local pilots in the Solomon Airlines continues with a 14-day notice given to management for recognition of agreement or face a 28-day strike notice.

Since the beginning of this year, local pilots have waged a campaign against what they term as privations within the airlines, many complaining that their careers as aviators are being stifled.

Island Sun has been following this issue and earlier reported that the local pilots had recently established an association through which they can channel their issues of concern. And, on January 25 this year management was slapped with a 28-day sit-in notice to address pilots’ grievances.

However, due to certain technical procedural matters, the pilots with legal advice have on Monday this week (Feb 19) submitted a 14-day request that management accepts a recognition of agreement to the pilots’ newly formed association.

From there, hopefully negotiations could proceed between the two parties. But, insiders say if management refuses to recognise the pilots’ association or fail to reply by March 2, then the pilots will issue a 28-day strike notice.

Late last month, local pilots issued management with a 28-day sit-in notice in which they asked management to resolve what the pilots deem as mistreatment and unfairness. The pilots’ action is a culmination of many years of enduring privations in the airlines.

In their initial 28-day sit-in notice, the following were outlined pending address by management.

Housing

According to the pilots, the elephant in the room is the issue of housing for the hard working local pilots, especially the first officers (FO). Solomon Airlines has a housing compound in Tandai, west Honiara, which was built purposely to house pilots.

However, recently the compound has been occupied by expats and one of the houses is being occupied by Tyson, the HR manager – who is not a pilot to begin with, and another is being occupied by a non-pilot female employee of SolAir. There are two houses in the compound which are currently vacant.

Meanwhile, local pilots both FO and few captains are bunking in with relatives along with their families.

Furthermore, sources say that a few SolAir houses around town are also vacant at the moment.

The pilots say, “It is discouraging for the indigenous pilots when nearly a dozen are neglected by company especially to provide them with houses when the expats receive immediate and maximum attention even to their slightest of problems.

“Solomon Islander FO pilots are given a mere $300 per fortnight housing allowance and expected to have a stable mind when they come to office every morning to fly a plane. This is totally irresponsible of management.”

Island Sun understands that the housing issue also affects indigenous Solomon Islanders working as engineers, some of whom are literally living in the hangars at the airport.

Sources say, “A few local engineers sleep and basically live in the hangars at the airport because the company does not provide them with houses and they do not have close relatives living in town with whom they can live.”

Company assistances

Other pilot grievances include other benefits such as education assistance, utility assistance, and rental assistance which they say are no way near what management and other ‘seniors’ are enjoying.

“Solomon Airlines rakes in millions of dollars and 90 percent of that comes from the domestic service which revolves on the hard work of the indigenous pilots, and we get meagre entitlements while the international service and management enjoy lucrative benefits,” the pilots say.

Capacity enhancement training

Local pilots are requesting that SolAir provides capacity enhancement ATPL training. The Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) is the highest level of aircraft pilot certificate, which allows pilots to advance through ranks and fly bigger planes.

According to the pilots, SolAir has not provided such capacity enhancement training for some time and has used the excuse of pilots not being with ATPL to disallow them to progress through to fly bigger planes or upgrade to the international service.

Pilots facilities at the domestic terminal

“Facilities for the pilots and the entire domestic team are appalling. No better air-conditioning, no fridge, no proper rest rooms, not proper furniture.

“A timely action in addressing these little things at the domestic terminal will one way or the other give everybody a sound peace of mind while carrying out their assigned tasks,” say the pilots.

Internal recruitment

Local pilots are asking that management starts practising internal recruitment so as to promote local pilots further up the ladder and give way for recruitment of local pilots, many of whom are roaming the streets of Honiara looking for employment.

“We demand that there’s no further recruitment of expats to the A320 first officers because there are a few qualified local pilots available, and that their upgrade will pave way for the recruitment of local first officers from the dozens of Nadi-trained Solomon Islander student pilots who are roaming the streets of Honiara unemployed.

“We do not buy what CEO Gebers said in the media that the local students who had been trained in Nadi under SIG scholarship are not up to standard. That is just pure demeaning words from the CEO.”

Police increase presence in Gizo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Police loading members of the 29 Bougainvilleans arrested for illegal entry into Solomon Waters before their mass escape. Photo by SIBC Online

By Gary Hatigeva

Police loading members of the 29 Bougainvilleans arrested for illegal entry into Solomon Waters before their mass escape. Photo by SIBC Online

THE escape of 29 bougainvillean men from immigration custody in the early hours of Wednesday morning has sparked fear among residents in Gizo, Western Province.

This has forced police in the Headquarters here in Honiara to send reinforcements to support the operation to locate the escapees and ensure the safety of the people in that region.

Police Commissioner Mathew Varley said further police resources were sent to Gizo on Wednesday afternoon and added additional patrols and additional resources from Gizo to support the operation.

Mr Varley revealed that RSIPF now has a taskforce of around 100 police officers in Gizo, who he said are dedicated to the operation to ensure public safety and to locate the men.

He said while the main focus is on the mission to return the 29 escapees into immigration custody, it is the force’s concern as well to provide reassurance to the community of Gizo and reduce their fears through a high visibility police presence.

“We had a large scale police operation overnight to make sure that the community was safe,” Varley explained.

He then assured the people in Gizo and the surrounding communities that police will continue to conduct their high visibility patrols around the area and will continue to be present in the community in significant numbers until the situation is resolved.

Two patrol boats are currently in the western waters continuing with civilian and a RSIPF assistant commissioner is also in Gizo whom Varley says has command over the overall operations on the ground.

Meanwhile, officials from Gizo confirmed last night that at this point, the situation is calm and there have been no outbreaks of violence that police or the local authorities are aware of, and no reports of injuries, risks of safety to any person or police officers have been reported since the last 12 hours.

Minister Tozaka acknowledges Island Sun newspaper

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Hand-over between Minister Rimbink Pato and Minister Milner Tozaka

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Hand-over between Minister Rimbink Pato and Minister Milner Tozaka

MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs and Trade have acknowledged the Island Sun newspaper for the paper’s wide coverage of the recent MSG meeting in Papua New Guinea.

Minister Milner Tozaka in an exclusive talk with Island Sun recently, acknowledged the management of the Island Sun newspaper for informing countrymen and women on the MSG meeting.

Mr Tozaka said the coverage Island Sun did is a wide coverage which is good.

“Tell your bosses, thank you very much for doing wide coverage on recent MSG meet at PNG, I am excited and salute your company’s work,” Tozaka said.

Tozaka had followed Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela’s delegation to PNG for the MSG meeting.

During the meeting, PM Hou assured Solomon Islands’ support in the Melanesian Spearhead Group especially for the new Chair – PNG.

PM said SIG is confident and supports the Chair of the MSG office and will continue to offer its unwavering support to the Chair and Secretariat.

Bail application for man alleged of human trafficking refused

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a 55-year-old male from Malaysia will appear in court today for a pre-trial conference. He is being alleged of human trafficking.

Thien Seng, an employee of Malaysian logging giant Earthmovers, is facing one count of human trafficking under the section 77 of the Immigration Act 2012.

He was accused of carrying out internal human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation between November 30, 2015 and January 2016.

The prosecution alleged that Mr Seng had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl in 2015 up until 2016.

The alleged incident occurred at a logging camp in Isabel province where the accused was working as a manager at the logging camp at the time of the alleged incident.

The father of the girl was also working at that logging camp.

The camp belongs to Jubilant Development Logging, an offshoot of Earth Movers logging company.

That logging company has a camp in Isabel as well as in Vella la Vella.

It was alleged the accused started living with the girl at the Isabel logging camp.

He also took the girl with him when he was transferred to the camp at Vella la Vella.

The accused was arrested after a joint operation made up of police and immigration officers investigated the matter following a media article on the matter.

The office of the Director Public Prosecution appears on behalf of the crown on the case.

Police investigate Gizo escape incident

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Gary Hatigeva

TWO officers from the Professional Standards and Internal Investigating team of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) are currently in Gizo to investigate how the remanded Bougainvilleans managed to escape custody.

The officers were part of the last load of personnel who flew down to Gizo yesterday evening and are now on the ground making inquiries and reporting back to Headquarters about what occurred.

“Part of our inquiry and part of our investigation at the moment is and will be, how the escape occurred.”

Meanwhile, questions were raised on the circumstances surrounding the escape of the 29 men who were arrested on Tuesday for what could be a number of alleged offences under Solomon Islands laws.

In his weekly meeting with the local media, Police Commissioner Mathew Varley accepted the humiliation on behalf of what had happened and taking full responsibility.

“We understand that the community is also still very concerned about this issue and about the legitimate questions around how the escape occurred.

“We understand, that in time, there are serious questions for the RSIPF to answer and I don’t shy away from that and we accept responsibility for what occurred and we are working very hard to make sure that the situation is returned to normal, safely and peacefully,” Mr Varley said.

He further explained that at this stage the inquiries are in an early stage and it’s too early for his office to make any decisions or judgments on exactly what and how the escape incident happened.

He however stressed that while the investigation is on, the force’s number one priority at the moment is on the search of the men and the safety of the community.

Varley reiterated his calls to anyone in Gizo town who may have information to see police there or call 999 and help solve the matter.

He said that people with knowledge of where these men are, or maybe in communication with them, should come forward and provide the information to the police in confidence.

“I want to assure the community that those men are no risk or no danger to the community at this time, we have no intelligence to suggest that they pause an immediate threat but of course they are deemed as foreign nationals without immigration approval.

“We do believe that there are people in the Gizo community who know where these men are and we would like people to take responsibility and come forward and provide those information to police,” the police commissioner added.

Noro death accident: Police

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Gary Hatigeva

POLICE have ruled out claims of foulplay into the death of a man from Shortland Islands and Bougainville in Noro, Western Province early this month.

Police Commissioner Mathew Varley revealed this during his weekly press conference with the Media in Honiara yesterday.

Over the past days, police have been dealing with what they describe as a very significant case involving a large group of Bougainvillean men who went to Maleae village in Shortland Islands, responding to concerns that the death was suspicious and a result of foulplay.

“We have worked very hard with our local police in the Shortlands and with local chiefs and elders who are part of that community to engage in extensive negations to explain the police investigation into the man’s death.”

Some of that group of men from Bougainville were relatives and family members of the deceased and many of them expressed that they were unhappy with police investigation and there was a continued believe that there was a foulplay into the course of his death.

However, Mr Varley clarified to local journalists that police in Noro have been investigating that death since the incident occurred.

He said the investigation team were pushed to do a very thorough job because of the allegation of the suspicious death.

The investigations into that case has also been supported and since reviewed through officers from the National Criminal Investigation Division (NCSID) serious crime squad and that is because of a lot of rumours and community concerns circulating that the man’s death was a result of foulplay.

The Police Commissioner however stressed that at this point all of the investigations into the death case at the moment, from start up to now have always indicated that this was a tragic accident.

“We have obtained numerous statements including from three eyewitnesses who were there at that time, who saw that the deceased man accidently fell over and struck his head on a rock.”

He said following the accident, according to consistent statements, the body of the deceased man was cared for and was taken to a medical clinic where he was pronounced dead by a nurse.

“Soon afterwards the relatives of the deceased claimed his body and took him for traditional burial before any post mortem examination could be done.

“But that said, the police conducted a very thorough investigation and on all the evidences to date the best determination of our serious crimes squad investigators and our police officers in Noro is that there’s no foul play in this death and that indeed, it was a tragic accident,” Varley explained.

Opposition refutes media claims, urges Gov’t on

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Deputy Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga.

THE Parliamentary Opposition has refuted the Island Sun headline on Tuesday this week alleging that it is colluding with Deputy Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare to overthrow Prime Minister Rick Hou.

Opposition Leader Hon Manasseh Maelanga said the reports come as a surprise to the Opposition Group as they have no intention to support any move to remove the Prime Minister, who was only elected three months ago.

Mr Maelanga said he had already clearly articulated the position of the Opposition Group after one of the local newspapers made similar allegations earlier on. The group will not meddle in any internal politics of the government.

He said that Opposition aims to allow Prime Minister Hou to complete his term in office whilst the Opposition Group will continue to support the Prime Minister and his Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (SIDCCG) through the responsible and effective discharge of its watchdog role.

The Opposition Leader meanwhile called on the SIDCCG to quickly resolve its internal rifts and factions within the SIDCCG which is trying to tarnish the integrity of the Opposition Group with fabricated allegations.

He further said the political groupings within the SIDCCG must stop their rivalry and political games and focus more on implementing its key priorities.

–OPPOSITION PRESS

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