BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE Ministry of Infrastructure Development and landowners within Poha area will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the integration of Poha Bridge in West Guadalcanal.

The MOU was rescheduled to January 5, 2018 after it failed in December last year due to minor alterations landowners wanted to include in the MOU.

Director Acting for CPIU under MID, Mr Jabin Laedola said yesterday that currently both parties waiting one of the signatory, former MP Mr Siriako Usa, who is overseas, to arrive before both parties sign the MOU.

However, last year Laedola said the project will be on the protection of the eastern bank of the bridge.

He said there will be cardiant basket constructed 100 metres both up and down the river from the bridge to shield the river-bank.

Laedola said the purpose is to protect the river bank from any possible risk the river might incur on the bridge.

He said the duration of the project is three month and it will be constructed by Capital Construction Company.

Laedola said the total cost of the project is about $SBD2.6 million and the fund has been sourced (funded) under the National Transport Fund.

In the same occasion last year a rep from the construction company who was also presented assured that as long as the MOU sign they should started with the work.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SOLOMON Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) makes it clear for concern that they are broadcasting messages on Short Wave frequency which covers the whole country.

SIBC Radio Operations Manager Ronnie Buaoka said this to assure the Solomon Islands Maritime and Safety Administration (SIMSA) over querying if they are still broadcasting weather messages.

SIMSA Acting Director Captain Tim Harris concern for this matter is nobody is receiving weather forecasts or strong wind warnings.

He shared that one common thread between all nations is educating boat users especially small boat operators of the dangers of going to sea without proper preparation and when bad weather is forecast.

“Cost of educating boat users compared to the cost of mounting a search with boats, planes and helicopters is miniscule,” said Captain Harris.

However according to SIBC’s Radio Operations Manager, the shutting down of their Medium Wave off-air is what might be causing a bit of confusion.

He said the Medium Wave frequency only reaches within and around the Central Solomon of Guadalcanal and Malaita Provinces and the tips of Isabel and Makira Provinces which is why the decision for its closure was made as SIBC is currently facing a non-payment issue.

“We are still broadcasting but on Short Wave frequency and not on Medium Wave frequency. Honiara residents can still listen to SIBC but on Wantok FM,” said Mr Buaoka.

“If talking about safety messages for the people during such bad weather season, it is the Short Wave that reaches everyone and not the Medium Wave.”

SIBC’s Radio Operations Manager briefed that because of facing a situation of non-payment from the government heavily burdening their operation, the other alternative is to cut some of their services so that the operation can be maintained until such time the National Government will honour its non-payment bills.

“The government is aware of our situation and is helping in the best way they can, but everything depends from the availability of finance.”

“Though we are also aware that our decision will be affecting a lot of people especially during bad weather seasons, we had actually made the decision with a heavy heart.”

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

A man from West Makira constituency in Makira-Ulawa province has urged their MP to reconsider his plan if he is deciding to purchase a ship for the constituency.

Mr John Saeniasi said from the constituency’s perspective, they see agriculture sector is more important than having a shipping to be owned by the constituency.

He stressed that agriculture sector in the constituency is growing and it need fund to help develop the sector in the constituency.

Saeniasi added that more people in the constituency involved in agriculture activity and helping their activity will be a boost for them and the country’s economy.

He however said the constituency has a history with shipping in the past and it never turned out as what people expected for the constituency.

“History has shown that West Makira constituency not capable to run shipping service.

“Look at MV Haurosi for instance, is she still servicing our constituency and our province?

“MV Haurosi was brought by our former MP and was bankrupted some years back without knowing the beneficiaries as no financial report made after the shipping exited.

“So I personally suggested that the shipping grant should be directed to the RCDF to fund all the agriculture projects in our constituency,” Mr Saeniasi said.

He also urged their MP to fully funded and complete other projects he gave for the constituency.

“Individual and community projects were half-given and also half-finish. Church buildings were standing with skeletons or core structures.”

Saeniasi said their MP must let the people in the constituency on the future of those projects as well.

He kindly urged their MP, Hon Dereck Manuarii to work closely with his people to identify their areas of need and address them accordingly.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

Honiara City Council (HCC) will register only 30 buses to service the capital.

This is the Honiara City Mayor Hon Andrew Mua’s response to the massive turn out of bus owners, drivers and conductors in protest yesterday at the Honiara City Council compound.

But, responding to the Mayor’s decision, a concerned bus owner said HCC must make sure the 30 available spaces must be given to local bus owners.

He said some of the buses in Honiara are owned by Chinese businessmen and that HCC must make good decisions in favour of local bus owners.

The concerned bus owner said, “the Chinese have already engaged in other business ventures such as shops and restaurants as such it is will be totally unfair if these people are also dominating the bus service in Honiara.”

BY ALICE NANTARA

HELENA Goldie Hospital (HGH) has taken a bold step in the hope of securing its future.

This was confirmed through posters pinned up in shop fronts and the hospital’s notice board declaring newly implemented fee charges vital for the survival and running of the church-owned health-care service.

Since 2014, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and Support Programme (HSSP) has been cut by 33 percent and its annual grant remains the same till present.

The Hospital no longer receives direct support for its annual budget from traditional donor partners except towards its capital expenditure (CAPEX) budget for Human Resources development and for infrastructure and medical requirements thus forcing the private establishment to look at other measures that will help in meeting and minimising major drawbacks caused by the budget cut done by SIG and traditional donors.

It costs the hospital $85 to care for one patient overnight and currently the hospital cannot really do that right now without experiencing major deficit in its already growing small purse.

According to HGH management team, despite not having empty beds and no patients, the establishment will still require money to meet financial costs such as wages, electricity, telephone bills, repairs and maintenance, etc. Such is the state of affairs HGH is now faced with that they have come up with a solution – imposing fees on the all services provided.

With the exemption of the out-patient department (OPD) whereby children, the unemployed and disabled are not charged, every other service have fees imposed.

The OPD charges employed citizens $10 for consultation while expats are required to pay an amount of $100 for the exact service.

To be admitted in any of the wards, fees are imposed according to your current status and multiplied by how many days you spent in a hospital bed.

Ward admission fee for children and students is $10 plus an extra $2 is charged thereafter per night while unemployed adults’ admission fee is $20 thereafter a daily down payment of $5.

The employed admission fee is $50 and thereafter an expected amount of $10 should be paid for each overnight stay while expats are going to be charged $50 per night.

Other medical services that require fees are the: medical examination (locals $100, expats $200), Scanning and X-ray ($50), Laboratory tests ($50), Birth and Death certificates ($50), Oxygen ($200), Sick leave report ,Medical record book or Mother’s Book ($20), Baby book ($25), Rental is $250 per night and market fees are also imposed on market vendors.

Fees imposed for services provided by HGH are in effect as of the 1st day of 2018 and subject to change as when determined by market fluctuations, and it’s the prerogative of the hospital management.

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) strongly warns bus owners and drivers in Honiara to abide by the law following an illegal protest through the city yesterday at the recent changes instituted by the Honiara City Council to the bus routes.

At a meeting with the protesting bus owners and drivers at the Rove Police Headquarters in Honiara, Supervising Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Ms Gwen Ratu told them, “It was illegal for you to involve in such a protest as you did not get the necessary permit to stage such an activity.

“This is unlawful and I warn you bus owners and drivers to go back to providing your services to the public of Honiara according to the recent changes approved by the Honiara City Council.

“The changes apply to all buses operating within the city. Allow the recently formed Bus Association to deal with whatever issues arising out of the new bus routes with the necessary authorities.

“Police will not tolerate such illegal activities such as today’s protest and is prepared to take stern action against anyone who does not listen to this warning.”

The RSIPF would like to thank the bus owners and drivers for their understanding, respect and behavior during yesterday’s meeting at the Rove Police Headquarter.

–POLICE MEDIA

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

RENBEL provincial police commander (PPC) Inspector Aloysius Manegaua was given permission to leave Tingoa Police Station before the New Year (2018) to visit his sick mother who has since passed away.

This was clarified by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Assistant Commissioner Provincial (ACP), Joseph Manelugu.

Mr Manelugu explains that he had authorised the PPC for Rennell-Bellona to come over to Honiara to visit his mother who was in a critical condition at that time and that he handed over the duties of PPC to another senior officer.

“PPC Manegaua never ‘abandoned’ his post as reported in the media.

“The issue of the Officers posted at Tingoa Police Station leaving their post and the other issues with policing in Renbel Province is being addressed by the RSIPF Executive.”

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, PPC Manegaua also confirmed that he was tending to his sick mother who had passed away on the 6th of this month, January.

“I did not flee from Tingoa Station as stated in the media today [yesterday], I travelled to Honiara because of my mother’s welfare,” said the PPC.

“The other Officers travelling to Honiara is to do with the internal matter of the police.

“Just because we were travelling together is maybe why the report of us fleeing together from threat is being related this way.”

The Renbel PPC is currently on compassionate leave and will be returning for official duties in two weeks’ time.

Meanwhile, reasons for the other six officers who accompanied Manegaua on January 1 back to Honiara are still unclear.

It was reported that RSIPF officers posted at the Tingoa police station had evacuated on the 1st of January because of some verbal abuse and threats from some members of the public.

Sources had also said the officers had been recalled by the Assistant Commissioner Provincial (ACP) following widespread complaints over their low performance leading up to and during the Christmas festivities.