BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

CITIZENS in Honiara say that the road condition in the city is an area affecting the new bus routes enforced now being blamed for causing delay for public travelling.

Speaking on behalf of locals, Mr Moffat Iro said that complaints from the new bus routes enforced is short sighted as there are other contributing factors to the problem.

He said continuous road works on maintenance along the city main roads is one cause of delay for the timing movement of vehicles as well.

“We cannot say school students and so will be affected to their timing because of delay from public buses because timing of movement is each and everyone’s responsibility to reach their destinations. In fact, maybe normal timing movements should now be changed,” said Iro.

“Honiara City Council (HCC) is acting in a way of bringing about change to push us forward as we cannot always be in the same situation.

“If monitoring on the long run but the enforcement is not contributing to any changes then we might call for changing it but in the meantime, let us monitor the new routes enforced first.

“I would like to call on the National Government and Ministry responsible for maintenance and so along the main city roads to improve them well to assist timing movement of vehicles.”

The new bus routes were enforced by HCC during last month.

Hon Andrew Mua the HCC Mayor during their press conference over the new enforcement said that they are not thinking of making any changes to the system.

“HCC under its Business Ordinance and conditions aim to make sure that operators comply with the compliances on the conditions of the business licence,” said the Mayor.

For the new bus routes, a public bus terminates at the Central Market and follows the same circuit turning back for White River if it starts from there.

A public bus cannot continue travelling from the Central Market to Kukum before heading back westwards to the Central Market.

Buses that start travelling from the Central Market to Naha must follow the same circuit as well.

Another route is starting from the Central Market going all the way to King George VI before terminating and rotating the same circuit.

“Public bus transportation travelling beyond KGVI is ones decision that HCC cannot decide on because beyond Burns Creek is outside of our jurisdiction,” said the Mayor.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

CLOSING submissions on the case against men charged with harbouring unlawful non-citizens will be made on February 7 at the Honiara Magistrate Court.

The hearing of evidence was concluded after the defence called their last witness – one of the accused on the case Sing Loh Jing.

The incident occurred in 2016 at Metuai camp, SKT Wawasan logging company at Shortland Islands.

The three men Sing Loh Jing, John Mamiaong and Charles Takule were charged for harbouring unlawful non-citizens while the company SKT Wawasan was charged for employing non-citizens.

Police alleged that the logging company employed four men from Bougainville as security guards at the camp.

Mr Sing Loh Jing in his evidence denied being involved in harbouring the four men or have known of any arrangement of how they Bougainville men were brought over to the camp.

He also denied authorising company outboard motor engine for bringing the men to Metuai Camp.

He said it is the company which is responsible for employing the security guards and not him.

He said that when he was interviewed by immigration officers he did not fully understand the questions asked and just said what he thought of on that day of interview.

He told the court that there was no interpreter at that time of interview and because of him not understanding pidgin and English well he just responded yes to some other questions asked.

The trial ended yesterday and defence lawyer asked for seven days adjournment on the case for closing submission.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution represents the crown while a lawyer from Rano and Company is representing all the accused in court.

By Alfred Sasako

QUESTIONS are being asked whether the President of Kadere Party, Peter Boyers, was receiving fees or allowances when he was a director of a number of Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF) investment companies.

Mr Boyers told a local newspaper last week that he had “relinquished his memberships in all Solomon Islands National Provident Fund’s (SINPF’s) investment companies”.

He reportedly told the newspaper that these entities include South Pacific Oil Ltd where he was chairman, Board director of Soltuna and Sasape International Slipway Ltd as well as a member of the Investment and Credit Committee.

A former finance minister, Boyers is the chairman of the SINPF Board. He is also on a government paid consultancy post as advisor to the DCC government on traditional governance.

It has now come to light that any fees or salaries paid to him may be illegal under the regulations of the State-Owned Enterprise Act 2007.

Regulation 12(3) states: “Where a person who is a Member of Parliament, public servant or who holds any other constitutional or government position is appointed as director, that person shall not receive remuneration or other benefits from the State Owned Enterprise for services as a director.”

Regulation 12(2) is equally damning. It says:

“No person who is a Member of Parliament, public servant, or who holds any other constitutional or government position may be appointed as a director of a State Owned Enterprise unless the board certifies to the Accountable Ministers that –

(a) the appointment is in the national interest;

and

(b) the person has particular qualifications or business experience which the State Owned Enterprise requires on its board and such qualifications or business experience cannot be found in Solomon Islands.”

Lawyers spoken to yesterday said a political appointment such as the one Peter Boyers has since 2017 as the traditional governance advisor disqualifies him to receive any fees etc as a board member of relevant SOE.

“If Boyers has been receiving such fees etc the State should recover such fees from him, if not voluntarily, then through the coercive powers of the courts. The AG has a legal duty to ensure compliance with the law,” one lawyer told Island Sun yesterday.

If you read Reg 12 (2) you will also notice that PB is disqualified to be a board member unless the relevant ministers certify that his qualifications are needed and no other person is qualified except him. I think PB qualification are ordinary and not above others. Based on reg 12(2) he should not have been appointed in the first place. He does not meet the exemption under reg 12(2) in short.

(2) No person who is a Member of Parliament, public servant, or who holds any other constitutional or government position may be appointed as a director of a State Owned Enterprise unless the board certifies to the Accountable Ministers that –

(a) the appointment is in the national interest;

and

(b) the person has particular qualifications or business experience which the State Owned Enterprise requires on its board and such qualifications or business experience cannot be found in Solomon Islands.

BY Georgina Kekea

THE country’s electrical authority, Solomon Power will this year venture into a new apprenticeship programme.

In a notice issued to the public, Solomon Power revealed that the apprenticeship programme will work within the scope of the National Apprenticeship and Traineeship Policy.

The notice said this is to make sure the apprentices are developed into competent tradespersons and technicians in the field of electrical, mechanical and possibly civil and telecommunications engineering.

This programme is said to be the first of its kind by Solomon Power. Expected to cost half a million per year for the State Owned Enterprise (SOE), this apprenticeship programme aims to groom future employees of the company in the engineering department.

Faced with attitude and behavioural problems towards work by employees, this initiative is well thought to be a solution to this ongoing problem.

Speaking to Island Sun, Solomon Power’s Training and Development Officer, Salome Tahisihaka says under this apprenticeship programme, trainees will be expected to be in contractual agreement with Solomon Power and fulfill their terms and conditions under the apprenticeship programme.

“Their performance must be in line with the company’s expectation.”

Ms Tahisihaka says if trained and groomed by the company in their initial employment, chances for Solomon Power to have qualified and well-disciplined staff will be high.

“Currently we are faced with lack of qualified engineers, especially local engineers,” she said.

The programme will comprise a fixed term of four years for the trade and technical levels and will consist an off-the-job component for a theoretical course of instruction at a recognised tertiary institution.

Also a part of this apprenticeship programme is on-the-job for trainees to work within the engineering departments of Solomon Power. The programme will be supplemented by relevant and mandatory in-house training provided by Solomon Power for its workforce.

Considering the high number of youth unemployment rate in Solomon Islands, the move by Solomon Power wouldn’t have come at a better time.

Reports on unemployment rates in Solomon Islands cited that almost 80 out of a 100 youths in the country are said to be without formal jobs. With an ever increasing number of unplaced students every year, the country is faced with a dilemma to find solutions to this problem.

The apprenticeship programme at Solomon Power, though will not be able to solve the problem, at least will assist about 10 young Solomon Islanders who are serious about pursuing a career in the engineering department of Solomon Power.

This apprenticeship programme seeks applications from both boys and girls. Form 6 is the minimum qualification. Application will close Monday, February 12, 2018.

By Alfred Sasako

NEW Ocean (SI) Ltd – the company accused of allegedly causing environmental damage to drinking water in the Kakabona area, west of Honiara – has hit back, announcing plans to build a water supply and housing scheme for the landowners.

“We have not caused any damage to anything including the river system,” Tabilo Timber Sawmilling Licencee and former politician, Siriako Usa told Island Sun this week.

Mr Usa said accusations levelled at New Ocean (SI) Ltd are all “far-fetched, fabricated and untrue.”

“The people making these accusations never took into account the many good things the company has and continues to do to help my people. For example, New Ocean (SI) Ltd is finalising plans to build a water supply as well as a housing scheme for the landowners, similar to what it has done to landowners in a concession in the Tangarare area of West Guadalcanal.

“No other companies have ever done this sort of community support anywhere that I am aware of. New Ocean (SI) Ltd is starting the two projects next month,” Usa said.

The former Lands minister also levelled some criticisms at the Ministry of Forest and Research as well as the Ministry of Environment and Conservation.

“The bottom line is this. As landowners working closely with New Ocean (SI) Ltd, we feel we have satisfied all the requirements in both Acts,” he said, referring to the Forest Resource and Timber Utilisation (Felling Licences) Regulations 2005 and the Environmental Act.

“We have now responded to their 7-day notice,” he said.

“What my people want is to be allowed to move on. The Ministries should not be listening to individuals that are not connected whatsoever with our concession. We don’t know who these people are,” Usa said.

Usa said if Ministry officials are so strict about protecting the environment, “why aren’t they doing anything about the gravel lease at the Poha River, where gravel from there is dug up almost every day?”

“This is causing problem for people living downstream. But we do not cause problem for anyone. In fact, the company and landowners are working together to improve the livelihood of my people,” Usa said.

“If there’s anything that we are not doing right, please come and talk to us. Guide us to do the right thing instead of making us look as if we were not law abiding people. We are,” Usa said.

Meanwhile, Usa has called on the Leader of the Independent Group, Hon Dr Derek Sikua to ensure “his facts are correct before going to the media.”

Mr Sikua earlier called for the suspension of the Commissioner of Forest and the Director of Environment, claiming both individuals were not doing their work.

A New Ocean (SI) Ltd spokesman said the company is funding a water supply as well as a housing scheme for the landowners.

“These two projects will be starting next month,” the spokesman said, adding the landowners “are very happy” about the company’s operations.

“We enjoy a very good relation with the people and their leader, Siriako Usa,” the spokesman said.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

HONIARA City Council (HCC) declares they are ready in ground work preparations for the standard ISO certification.

Honiara City Council Chief Health Inspector Mr George Titiulu said they are done with their preparation concerning collection of food and water samples for the implementation of the project, which was launched last year in pursuant of the ISO certification.

He said HCC has conducted a major activity that was required in the project, which involved carrying out food inspections with enough food and water samples.

Titiulu said his staff are aware of the implementation of the project and are willing and proactive when out in the field to conduct such activity because it is a major component required under the project.

“However the number of samples collected depends entirely on the working relationship we have with the NPHL, capacity and resource.

“Despite challenges we are doing this to prepare us (HCC) for the implantation of the project this month (February),” Titiulu said.

He said the project is important because things need to be done in terms of developing new changes within Solomon Islands concerning business undertaking.

“Hence HCC has to carry out this responsibility because the changes can’t take place without findings and analysis.”

HCC has liaised with the NPHL as the spearhead towards the ISO certification implementation.