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HCC activates bus route regulations

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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HCC Lord Mayor Andrew Mua

BY BEN BILUA

HONIARA City Council has activated the regulations of Honiara City Bus Route law and have established check points within Honiara City.

In an interview with this paper, Honiara City Mayor Hon Andrew Mua said HCC law enforcers have been dispatched to short bus route hot spots to monitor bus routes as the enforcement of regulations began yesterday

“Our Law Enforcers currently stationed at Kukum SDA bus stop and also other bus stops within Honiara.

“Our officers will take tough measure on buses without sign board and also buses caught running short routes,” he explained.

Mua said HCC understands that some of the buses are yet to collect their sign boards at the producer (Access Plus) and that law enforcers will distinguish the buses with new licence while on patrol.

He said buses who run illegally will be arrested on the spot and referred to HCC main office for interrogation with penalties if found guilty of breaching the newly established Honiara City Bus Route Law.

Chairperson of the Honiara City Bus Route enforcement Committee Hon Eddie Ngava said HCC was very busy yesterday as bus owners que up to pay their business license.

He said enforcement of the Bus Route Ordinance has now been activated and that HCC will apply all the penalties required to buses who intend to break the law.

Investigation on Auki motel death ongoing

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SUPERVISING Police Commissioner says that investigation on the Auki motel death is still ongoing.

Ms Juanita Matanga said recently that police are still investigating the case and few people were taken for questioning in relation to that death incident.

This is in relation to the death of a female, about 20-years-old, who was found dead at Travellers Motel in Auki in December last year.

The cause of death is still unknown and police are still continuing with the investigation.

Police urge relatives of the deceased to refrain from taking the law in to their own hands whilst investigation is ongoing.

2018 scholarship list this week

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Director of NTU, Mr Clement Tito

BY JARED KOLI

LIST of successful students applying for the Solomon Islands Government scholarship for 2018 will be known by the end of this week or early next week.

Staff of the National Training Unit (NTU) during a consultation with students’ yesterday afternoon at their Panatina office said, screening of the 2018 scholarship applicants is into its final stages.

NTU’s Principal Administration Officer, Emilia Rabaua told students that the list will contain those that applied to study both in-country and overseas.

Island Sun was informed during yesterday’s consultation talks that the 2018 scholarship screening committee consist of the Director of NTU, Clement Tito, Chief Administration Officer and heads of department within the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development.

The NTU office yesterday afternoon was crowded with prospecting new students and continuing students queuing up to ask questions and briefed of the 2018 academic year.

Tito could not be reached for comments as this paper was told that he was with the screening committee busy with the selection of students.

His phone was switched off when this paper called later.

This paper understands that the government has offered 500 scholarships for 2018 to undertake full time certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate studies in selected priority areas.

Three categories of Scholarship Awards have been made available for 2018.

A total of 200 Scholarship Awards will be made available under the National High Achievers category, total of 200 Scholarship Awards made available under the constituency scholarship category and 100 under the Cost Sharing Scholarships.

The full and partially scholarship awards funded by the Solomon Islands Government aim to train its citizens with relevant skills to support economic and social growth and prosperity in the country.

8 charter flights for Fiji students

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JARED KOLI

THE National Training Unit (NTU) has confirmed that all new and continuing students will be travelling on eight arranged chatter flights.

First charter flight has been arranged for Saturday January 27, followed by second on Sunday January 28, third on Tuesday January 30, fourth on Saturday February 3 and fifth on Sunday February 4, 2018.

Sixth charter flight is scheduled for Tuesday February 6, seventh on Saturday February 10 and eighth flight will be on Sunday February 11.

Student Attaché to Fiji, Samantha Teitei stated that Trimester continuing students are all booked to travel on January 19.

Students were told during a consultation with the NTU yesterday that the eight flights are final and students bound for Fiji must not miss the flights.

Speaking to the students yesterday, a NTU senior staff said students that missed any of these flights is responsible to pay for his or her own airfare.

Meanwhile, NTU has recommended only four medical practitioners for students to do medical clearances.

These are Island Medical at Panatina Plaza, Honiara International Medical opposite the next to the World Fish office, Family Natal at Bahai and Family Health Centre at China Town.

Warrant of arrest against man charged for conversion

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man who was charged for one count of conversion failed to appear in court yesterday when his matter was called in court.

The accused, Joe Douglas, was alleged of converting a sum of $1,200 belonging to another on August 4 last year in Honiara.

Prosecution after the non-appearance of the accused yesterday applied for an arrest warrant and that warrant will be reviewed on February 15.

The victim of the case reported the matter to the police and he was arrested for the alleged offence.

The case is adjourned to February 15.

 

Fang’s case today

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a Honiara business man alleged of involving in corrupt activities will be mentioned in court today.

The accused on the matter, James Fang, is the owner of Fangs Shop and other businesses in Honiara.

Fang is facing a charge of Forgery and Uttering in relation to incidents which occurred last year.

The charges stem from an extensive enquiry into the legitimacy of a document emailed to the Inland Revenue Division.

The document was a letter purporting to have been authored by a Government Minister, authorizing the waiving of $14,000,000 in tax payable to the Government of Solomon Islands, through the Inland Revenue Division of the Ministry of Finance & Treasury.

Investigations revealed that signature on the letter were not that of the Minister.

MOU on Ugi wharf this week

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Premier of MakiraUlawa province, Hon Stanley Siapu.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

A MOU will be signed this week paving way for construction of the wharf on the island of Ugi in Makira-Ulawa province.

Premier of Makira-Ulawa, Hon Standley Siapu told this paper in an interview the MOU will be signed between MID (on behalf of national government), landowners in Ugi and the provincial government of Makira-Ulawa.

He said as long as the MOU is signed, work on the wharf will commence as preparation for the project is well underway on the project site.

Siapu said MID has issued out tender for the project and anytime soon the tender will be awarded to the contractor.

He said the wharf poses to be a great achievement for the people on the island and the province as it will contribute one way or the other to the development of the province.

The provincial leader however urged the people in Ugi or those who will benefit from the project to take great care of the facility after it is completed.

He also appealed to those on the island to work hand-in-hand with both national and provincial governments in any future development for the island.

Siapu said his government is in full support of any form of development in the province, and they will continue to work with people to ensure there is tangible development in the province.

He urged the people in the province to open up their resources saying it’s the only way for development in the province.

Siapu reiterated that partnership in development is very important and they must work together to achieve development

MID couple case in court today

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case against the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and his wife will be mentioned in court today for interim mention.

The trial date into their case was already set last year for February 21 to March 21 this year.

Henry Aife Murray is facing 19 counts of official corruption contrary to section 91 (a) of the Penal Code and Rose Murray is facing 19 counts of false pretence contrary to section 308 (a) of the Penal Code.

They 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.

The couple appeared at the Honiara Magistrate Court and apart from the cash bail other strict conditions also applied on both the accused.

That they must surrender all passports (official and personal), Surrender any or all keys, access cards, identification cards to the offices of Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) including telecommunication devices, cellular phones laptop computers, motor vehicles, passwords and pass codes and uniform items provided to him by virtue of his contract of employment as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development; Not to approach or enter Office buildings belonging to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development or Ministry of Finance & Treasury; To reside at their current residential address situated at East Kola Ridge, Honiara; Not to interfere with Police witnesses; Not to contact any person directly or indirectly employed by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development or the Ministry of Finance & Treasury; Not to leave or travel out of Honiara or Guadalcanal Province without the consent of the court and to report to Naha Police Station every Mondays and Fridays between 8am – 4pm.

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.

Condition of SolAir’s airbus may put passengers at risk

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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SolAir’s CEO Brett Gebers

BY BEN BILUA

THE Solomon Airlines’ A320 airbus has been operating without maintenance and proper inspection, it is revealed; SolAir’s CEO Brett Gebers has denied this.

A well-placed source says the airbus has never undergone proper maintenance and checks as required by the international aviation laws.

There is a procedure for an airbus to undergo checks in certain periods, and the checks are called A, B and C.

“Aviation Law requires that an Airbuses must undergo check (A) after 400-600 flight hours or 200–300 cycles, Check (B) every 6-8 months and Check (C) 20–24 months.

“I don’t think the Airbus A320 has lived up to these checks.

“If you remember they had both the Dash 8 and the Airbus on a C-check last year and the company went broke to try to get both aircrafts back,” the source says.

The source adds that the failure of Solomon Airlines A320 to undergo these important processes is a concern.

It is understood that commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) is an essential requirement to ensure that aircraft are maintained in pre-determined conditions of airworthiness to safely transport passengers and cargo.

And, according to insiders, the incidents in Brisbane (last week) and Tarawa last month is an indication that the airbus has been overused without proper maintenance and checks.

“I know what was going on during our Brisbane – Honiara Flight in December.

“Officials told us that the tyre of the plane were at fault, but according to my investigation, the real issue was the plane’s emergency lights.

“Aviation officials from Australia want the plane grounded due to the issues but it was said the top officials within Solomon Airlines want the plane to take the flight to Honiara.

“This is risky as I’m concerned,” the source says.

Island Sun is told the carrier has been operating without emergency lights as the plane’s power supply is unable to charge the batteries to foot the emergency lights.

And, the issue painted a bad image for Solomon Airlines and that some international visitors are aware of the report and no longer trust SolAir.

Chief Executive Officer of Solomon Airlines Mr Brett Gebers has rubbished the reports saying that queries sent to him were ‘full of vague incorrect terminology’.

He said the aircraft underwent a “C” check from March to May 2016 and has since had daily, weekly, and 6 “A” Checks.

Gebers said the airbus is due to have another “C” check at the end of February this year.

“All checks are set out in the Airbus and our manuals of procedure.

“We would not be so stupid as to operate without having carried out the required checks and without repairing the defects as we would be contravening the legislation and possibly invalidating our insurance,” Gebers retorts.

PAs could be halved

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Office of the Prime Minister

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

THE Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is undergoing a restructure of the Prime Minister’s Private Office and reviewing all positions in line with the new structure.

The Prime Minister Hon Rick Hou previously told Island Sun in an exclusive interview prior to the election of the Prime Minister that should he take up office and become the new Prime Minister he would do a major cutting of Political Appointees (PAs).

The paper since then has been doing a follow up to this statement querying what has been done so far and how many PAs there are to date.

The Prime Minister Hon Rick Hou’s Press Secretary, Mr Douglas Marau told the paper yesterday that the Prime Minister has already taken the initial and necessary action to instruct for terminations of all previous contracts.

“He has issued further instructions to restructure the whole organisation of the PM’s private office, and then to review all positions in line with the new structure,” Marau said.

It is estimated that this exercise would cut previous positions by 50 percent from nearly 60 positions.

Island Sun was told that this matter is now before Government Caucus to be dealt with accordingly.

Caucus will then issue an official statement on this matter as soon as it has been concluded.

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