BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

CENTRAL Islands Province (CIP) has missed out again on the National Transport Fund (NTF) that is supposed to build infrastructure across the country.

It is understood that CIP is the only province that has no new infrastructure development for the last 40 years.

There is no road apart from the one around Tulaghi Island and there is only one wharf at Niumara (Small Ngella), which was built in 2015.

Citizens of CIP are now requesting Premier Hon Patrick Vasuni to do a press release questioning why CIP missed out again in 2018 after not benefiting from this fund since its inception.

From an awareness programme held at Tulaghi by the NTF group last year, Mr Vasuni said it is very disappointing to find out that the province has not benefitted.

“Even a small province as Renbel has benefitted,” said the Premier.

“We are really disappointed that the government has done nothing to develop infrastructures on Central Province as we also handed in our submissions.

“No such development is a slap on the face of my people.”

The NTF Board has approved the 2018 NTF work priorities and 2018 Annual Work Plan at its meeting during January 31.

According to the Head of NTF Secretariat/US Technical Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) Mr Jimmy Nuake, one of the NTF work priorities for 2018 is road rehabilitation and maintenance activities.

“The works are focused on Honiara roads (sealed and unsealed), Malaita Main roads (North, East and South including Auki Town roads and Mbobokimbo to Aola road.

“Other Provincial roads in Gizo, Buala, Lata and Noro will also receive rehabilitation.

“Wharf priorities include the Kirakira ramp in Makira as well as wharves and bridge rehabilitation throughout the country. Major Bridgework includes the construction of Mongga Bridge on Guadalcanal.

“The emergency road works in Honiara approved by NTF last year have started. Emergency work is to address potholes in critical sections on the West and East Honiara High Way.

“Selected sealed and unsealed Honiara feeder roads like at Vura and Jackson Ridge to Tanakake are part of the emergency road works as well.”

NTF is a special fund for developing, maintaining and managing transport infrastructure and services in Solomon Islands.

The current contributors to the Fund are the Solomon Islands Government, the Government of Australia and the Asian Development Bank.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

THE Rapid Employment Project (REP) under ADB has benefitted many communities in Solomon Islands in terms of pre-employment opportunities.

The project since its inception have worked with communities in Honiara through trainings, pre-employment opportunities and construction which involved women, men and youths.

According to an REP report, as of December last year, the project’s Rapid Employment Scheme (RES) has generated 768,439 paid labour days with 407,903 for women and provided short-term employment to 13,027 people including 6,900 women in Honiara.

The Pre-Employment Training (PET) has trained about 12,000 participants, and provided one on one coaching services to about 1,700 persons, the REP reports.

The project has rehabilitated 116 km of non-rural roads and completed 47 community access sub-projects, with 29 of these infrastructure units receiving maintenance work.

REP infrastructure has generated a range of positive impacts on beneficiaries and the community, more broadly.

According to a recent survey, most beneficiaries account to 74 percent and community members account to 90 percent which reported used the REP infrastructure daily.

REP also said 94 percent of beneficiaries’ access to their work improved while 92 percent agreed the infrastructure improves access to services, and the same percentage reported that access to markets was improved.

Among community members surveyed, 96 percent reported improved access to work while 98 percent reported improved access to markets.

12 percent of community members attributed improved access to the roads, 55 percent Jacobs Ladders 55 percent, and or 33 percent accounts to both percent.

In addition to improving access, Jacobs Ladders had a significant impact on safety, the REP said.

Following the injuries cases prior to construction, REP said 48 percent of communities experienced injuries in the six months prior to construction compared with 6 percent reporting injuries in the six-months post construction.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court will today hear the bail application on behalf of the 19-year-old man alleged of raping a girl on January 12 of this year at a village in Ngella.

Defence lawyer Samuel Balea filed the application yesterday and since the prosecution needed time to look through the application the court granted an adjournment to today for the hearing.

Defence has notified court and prosecution on the intended bail application last week and the court ordered for the defence lawyer to file a proper application to the court and their reasons for the application before close of business on Friday.

Meanwhile defence lawyer Mr Balea told court yesterday that he was unable to file the application before close of business on Friday last week as he was busy with his other cases in the Court.

Thus, from his late submission, he sought an adjournment on the case to allow prosecution to read through and prepare their respond to the bail application.

The prosecution said the alleged incident occurred at Hagalu village in the Central Islands Province.

John Wesley Zoze appeared for the office of the Director Public Prosecution yesterday.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE are yet to complete the investigation on the alleged murder case in Bauro, Makira province.

Prosecution confirmed in court yesterday that investigation into the alleged murder incident, which occurred in 2016, is yet to be complete as there is no fund to allow police investigators to travel to Makira province to complete the investigation.

This is in relation to the case against an accused, Jimmy Baukuhu, who is faced with one count of murder.

Prosecution alleged that Mr Baukuhu and his associates killed the deceased from Bauro on May 24, 2016.

Prosecution said the deceased was dead at a seaside near Kirakira with a rope tied to his neck.

The presiding Magistrate adjourns the case to March 5 to allow further update on the status of the investigation from the prosecution.

Andrew Kelesi of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears on behalf of the crown.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man charged with one count of domestic violence issue will likely enter plea on the next date of appearance.

Police Prosecution told court yesterday that an investigation into the case has been completed and disclosures will be served to the defence lawyer.

Since the disclosures will be served to the defence lawyer during the adjournment, Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea made directions for the defence lawyer to take instruction from the accused; and on the next appearance the accused will enter his plea.

This is the case against an accused, Noel Wasi, whom police charged with domestic violence under the Family Protection Act 4(1)(a) domestic violence.

Magistrate Iomea adjourn the case to March 5 for the accused to enter his plea.

The Police Prosecution Service is prosecuting the case in court.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

TRIAL date into the case against a man charged with corruption activities is set for June 11 to 22 of this year.

This is the case against Eddie Paohawe alleged for misusing huge amounts of money, worth SBD$400,358.

His case was mentioned before Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea at the Honiara Magistrate Court yesterday.

The case was then adjourned for March 12 for an interim mention.

The allegation was in relation to incidents which occurred on dates between 2013 and 2014 when he was employed by Bemobile Company

The prosecution alleged that it was during his employment he has taken for his benefit by transferring P2P credits worth SBD$400,358 from the P2P data system to his work mobile number and sold the credit belonging to the said public company.

Freliz Fakari of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution prosecutes the case in court.