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Police warns public to ‘Think Safety First’

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PROVINCIAL Police Commander, Western Province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu strongly appeals to the people of Western Province to think ‘safety first’ when travelling on out board motors from island to island and more importantly not to drink when going out to sea.

PPC Lenialu makes the appeal after an incident where a 36-year-old man from Vella la Vella was successfully rescued after he was stranded at sea for about 24 hours (from November 20 until 21 November 21, 2017) outside the island of Kolombangara.

Information received by police at Gizo say the man, who was believed to have been drinking alcohol, before he left Gizo by himself on a motorised canoe, decided to jump into the sea as he felt hot.

His boat drifted from him before he could get back on it.

The victim was travelling to Vonunu on Vella la Vella Island.

“His boat was found by a canoe travelling to Gizo and towed it with them and reported the matter to police in the township. We conducted a search in the surrounding area and the man was found in the afternoon of Tuesday 21 November by the same canoe that had earlier found his boat and engine near Kolombangara island and reported the finding to Gizo police.

“As soon as we received the report of the finding, we went straight to the village where he was kept and took him to Gizo Hospital on Tuesday evening.”

The man has since been discharged from hospital to be with his family.

“I just want to remind the good people of Western Province, if you are travelling by boat, don’t drink alcohol. Also make sure you are travelling with someone and tell others where you are going and what time you will get to your destination.

“Also make sure you have enough drinking water and enough fuel.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Wale tells ministers to do their homework

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

MEMBER of Parliament for Auki/Langalanga, Hon Mathew Wale during Monday’s parliament debate encouraged MPs to do their homework and seek scientific data from their ministries and utilise them in policy making.

Addressing the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock and Member of Parliament for Lau/Mbaelelea, Hon Augustine Auga, he stressed that there are three reports in the ministry which include information about soil structure and soil composition in all our provinces.

Wale explained that these reports also exhibit that the type of crops most favorable and commercially viable to each island.

In this regard, he said that according to that data, it shows that in West Are’are, the soil in Waisisi is not favourable to grow oil palm, “but because we choose to ignore that and under politically convenient circumstances, we still pursue such projects”.

“Go back to the scientific data which is already in the ministries. Don’t be ignorant of these things. Do your homework and find about these things,” Wale said.

He strongly voiced how essential these reports are in policy making and encouraged them to make policies from scientific data.

“Make policy on scientific information so that this country can move forward. So that we are not spending more money in places, soil types that are not suitable,” Wale said.

He said that this should also be carried out in the Mines ministry, in which the date which was compiled by the colonial government is extensive.

Wale expressed that there is extensive geological work there, thus they should look at that data and then formulate policy on it.

“Try and find what is already there and make very good use of it so that the 2018 budget, even given it’s limited resources can be a very good focused strategic budget,” he said.

Local West Papua group lauds PM Hou

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Solomon Islands West Papua Solidarity Group

THE Solomon Islands Solidarity for West Papua Group has welcomed and thanked the new Prime Minister’s affirmative stance on the West Papua issue.

Prime Minister Rick Hou this week openly reaffirmed his new government’s support for West Papua.

The Solomon Islands Solidarity for West Papua Group in a statement applauded Hou and his government for taking the bold and positive stand.

“West Papua issue is a human rights issue therefore any government of the day must render support until the West Papuan people’s plights are achieved and addressed,” the group said.

The group welcomed the reaffirmation from the new government, adding that the support is crucial to ending the human rights issues in West Papua and the fight for self-determination by the Melanesians.

“It takes brave and compassionate leaders to stand up and openly announced their support,” the statement added.

The group then conveyed their congratulations and best wishes to the new Prime Minister and his government.

“We look forward to working closely with the new government regarding the West Papua issue.”

RSIPF beefs up operations for festivities

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE RSIPF is beefing up its security operation as the country heads into the festive season.

Police Commissioner Matthew Varley said yesterday that there will be a couple of operations running concurrently, especially mounting security on some upcoming events planned for this year’s festivities.

He said police are preparing for the arrival of the Commonwealth Game baton relay which will take place from December 5-7.

Varley added that “Carol in the Islands” is another event everyone looks forward to which will be on December 9.

“Those are some important events we are heading toward and we will make sure plenty police visible around the country as we head into the Christmas period,” he said.

Varley appealed for public cooperation with police so that the festivities are enjoyable for everyone.

How much is this man costing taxpayers?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Fe’iloakitau Kaho Tevi.

BY ALFRED SASAKO

IT has emerged that former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare hired an overseas consultant to push the controversial West Papua issue with Solomon Islands’ taxpayers footing the consultant’s bill.

Fe’iloakitau Kaho Tevi is a Tongan national who lives in Port Vila, Vanuatu, where his wife, Eleni Levin-Tevi (Renzu) works as a Capacity Development Adviser at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) headquarters.

Mr Tevi is part of a three-man team Mr Sogavare had hired in his capacity as Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

The others are former diplomat Rex Horoi and former Special Secretary to Prime Minister (SSPM) Rence Sore, the man who was credited with allegedly introducing Skyline to the Prime Minister.

Mr Sore’s official designation is Secretary to the Chairman of MSG.

While the appointments of Mr Horoi and Mr Sore were public knowledge in Honiara, nothing was disclosed about Mr Tevi’s engagement, how much he was getting and who was paying his bill.

Tevi holds the position of “Strategic Advisor on West Papua, Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, SIG,” according to his facebook page.

The FB page also shows Tevi is self-employed.

He uses the alias, FUJI.

Those who are familiar with the appointment said Tevi has held the position since 2015.

Attempts to establish what the offshore appointment costs Solomon Islands’ taxpayers annually were unsuccessful.

It is also unclear whether Tevi is still on the payroll.

Tevi’s appointment may have put Prime Minister Ricky Hou on the spot given his intention to trim down the number of Political Appointees to just 30.

It could also be a contentious issue between the Prime Minister and his deputy who is passionate about West Papua.

Beche-de-mer export licensing rationale explained

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MP for West Areare Constituency, John Maneniaru

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

BECH de mer export licences were issued based on investment successions.

This was according to the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Hon John Maneniaru when queried by the Member of Parliament for Aoke-Langalanga, Hon Mathew Wale yesterday on the floor of Parliament over the rationale of the four issued Beche-de-mer licenses granted by the Ministry.

The Minister responded stating that the export licences were issued based on Cabinet’s decision through stringent criteria.

All four Beche-de-mer licences were granted to Asian businessmen.

The Minister told Parliament that the criteria are not lenient to foreign investors.

Maneniaru then told Parliament yesterday that in the past, the Ministry approved and issued 12 Beche-de-mer export licences and of the 12, only 10 were able to export.

“Two only exported 5 tonnes whilst the others exports containers of low quality Beche-de-mer,” the Minister said.

He then added that the Ministry and through Cabinet decisions, decided it is better to have quality over quantity given their past experiences in issued export licenses.

Maneniaru confidently told Parliament yesterday that the four investors that had their export licences approved through the given criteria were all consistently issued licences in the last 10 years.

“They have also contributed to the development of the fisheries sector,” the Minister said.

The Leader of the Official Opposition Group, Hon Manasseh Maelanga then commented on the Minister’s statement that the criteria he disclosed on the floor of Parliament is clear and wanted to know if news about three more export licences to be issued is correct and what kind of criteria the Ministry used for the additional three.

The Minister then responded that the Leader of the Official Opposition Group’s question would be a new question apart from what was in yesterday order paper.

Maelanga then responded stating that his question is still in line with that of the order paper and then let the Deputy Speaker of Parliament make the judgement himself.

The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources then told the House that with regards to the Leader of the Official Opposition Group’s question, he would consult his Ministry officials to furnish all Members of Parliament and the nation with the information requested by Maelanga as soon it is put in as a question in the order paper.

Police Chief condemns gruesome murder

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Commissioner of Royal-Solomon Island Police Force Matthew Varley

ROYAL Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Commissioner, Matthew Varley strongly condemns the gruesome murder of a school girl last week in the Avuavu area of the Weathercoast of Guadalcanal and appeal to the people living in the area to assist police with its investigation into the matter.

Speaking at his weekly media conference in Honiara yesterday, Commissioner Varley says, “I want to condemn in the strongest terms this kind of violence against women and young girls in this country and it is about time the people and communities of Solomon Islands say enough is enough to all forms of violence against women and girls.”

Police in Guadalcanal Province are currently investigating the incident and already one suspect has been arrested and charged with murder and the search is on for two more possible suspects.

“Police immediately deployed a team comprising investigators and forensics officers down and worked over last the weekend with the community at the crime scene and more importantly with the family of the deceased,” says Police Commissioner Varley

“We will continue to do our job and work very hard with the community but we need the community to come together and say that this is not acceptable. No longer will we tolerate violence against women and girls in this country.”

It was alleged that the young girl was travelling home from school on Tuesday November 14, 2017 when she was attacked by three suspects and was gruesomely murdered and was later found three days later on November 17, 2017.

“Our thoughts and our prayers go out to the family and relatives of the deceased and also to the community in general who have been tragically affected by the death,” says Commissioner Matthew Varley.

–POLICE MEDIA

RSIPF apologises to Airline over media condemnation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

POLICE Commissioner Matthew Varley yesterday apologised to the national carrier Solomon Airlines following media condemnation by a disgruntled police officer.

Earlier this week, a police officer made media condemnation of the airline following the refusal of a flight attendant to release a flight list to police, insisting that police follow procedure and write an official letter of request before the list be released.

The officer had alleged that a suspect had evaded police arrest because of this.

However, Commissioner Varley yesterday rebuked the action of his officer, saying that the airline employee had been right in insisting on police following procedure.

He explained that Airline was right not to provide the passenger list to police in the absence of a proper and official report from the police force.

“The point I want to make is as a professional organisation the RSIPF is not in any business of publicly condemning business or communities groups out of frustrations.

“We work very hard with the community, business and other organizations such as Solomon Airlines to have very good cooperation and partnership and indeed we have good relationship with Solomon Airlines.

“I instructed my PPC at Guadalcanal to enquire into the matter further and on behalf of the RSIPF I want to apologize to Solomon Airlines for any offense might have been taken as a result of the media report,” he said.

Police Commissioner said the allegations made by the officer were uncorroborated and unhelpful.

Women council calls for immediate implementation of FPA

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY BEN BILUA

SOLOMON Islands National Council of Women (NCW) has called on responsible ministries to implement the Family Protection Act immediately.

The National Women Body made call following the report of another brutal killing of a young female last week.

President of NCW Ms Ella Kauhue said the growing discrimination and violent against women and girls require immediate enforcement of the Family Protection Act.

She said domestic violence is not a women issue but a national issue and that the national government through responsible ministries must take active action is mitigating the increasing violence against women and girls.

“From our point of view, violence against women and girls is now a national issues. We have lost many women and girls in the hands of men in recent years and this indicates strong and active measure must take place immediately.

“We believe that implementation of the Family Protection Act is one way forward to address this issue and responsible ministries must start implementing the Act now.

“We must not wait as lots of lives have been taken away by barbaric acts of men,” Ms Kauhue said.

She explained that NCW has limited mandatory power and the only action the organisation can do is to voice women’s issues.

Kauhue said the increasing report of violence against have reached beyond what NCW can do and that requires government ministries to rise up and step on the issues head-on.

She also calls on non-government organisation groups and civil society group who have the resources to rally support together and facilitate initiatives that would address the issue.

Kauhue continues to say that it is time for church leaders, chiefs, church groups, youth groups and women groups to rise up against domestic violence and violence against women and girls.

“Human life is very valuable and together we can address this issue,” she said.

MEHRD to pay for SIG student allowances in Honiara

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

SOLOMON Island Government (SIG) sponsored students who have completed their courses of the University of the South Pacific (USP) who have yet to receive the remaining of their allowances will receive theirs in Honiara.

This was a statement by the Minister of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD), Hon John Dean Kuku, on the floor of Parliament yesterday when queried without notice by the Leader of the Independent Group Hon Dr Derek Sikua on the issue of delayed allowances.

According to the Minister, the Solomon Islands Student Association in Fiji informed the Ministry that they wanted allowances paid into students accounts in Fiji.

“This is because most students have outstanding rent that is still yet to be cleared.

“This includes continuing students and final year students,” the Minister said.

Hon Kuku then told Parliament that students who have completed their courses this year who are still yet to receive the remaining of their delayed allowances will receive them in Honiara and should consult the Ministry.

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