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PM could fail today

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PM Manasseh Sogavare

By Alfred Sasako

 

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare, the nation’s only politician who has held the post three times, could face the inevitable when Parliament resumes this morning.

Reports suggest the DCC government has lost up to 21 MPs including senior government ministers through resignations over the last two days.

The defectors have teamed up with the Opposition, putting the head count in the Opposition camp at 32 MPs, leaving the government’s dwindling number at 18. Last night, they were finalising their plans for this week’s sitting of Parliament, which resumes this morning after a week’s adjournment.

Mr Sogavare’s deputy, Manasseh Maelanga, could take over the leadership in a vote of no confidence, some reports suggest. Insiders say a notice of the no confidence vote was submitted to Parliament on the weekend.

The DCC Government was also meeting in Caucus all day yesterday but no details were immediately available.

It was confirmed as of last night that some 12 Ministers and nine (9) backbench had resigned. The figure included seven Ministers whose resignations were tendered and accepted by Government House on Saturday. More resignations were on the way, according to some reports.

If these figures were correct, it would mean the Opposition now boasts of 32 while the DCC government has 18, largely made up of Kadere Party members.

The 32 MPs on the Opposition side are from the United Democratic Party (UDP), the People’s Alliance Party (PAP) and the Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) which has joined the new Opposition grouping.

Punters say only last minute inducements could save Mr Sogavare as he struggles to keep members of the Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC) Government intact.

Social media reports say two men on the government side were offered $1 million each in cheques, but they refused.

Island Sun can confirm that the two men were former Finance and Treasury Minister, Snyder Rini and former Minister of Development Planning and Aid Coordination, Danny Philip.

Both men told members of the new grouping that Chief of Staff Djokovic gave them $1million in cheques but they refused as they had made up their mind to walk out from the government. According to the two former Ministers, the offer of payment was intended to stop them from deserting government.

Mr Djokovic could not be contacted for comments last night.

Many blame the mass resignations on a number of factors, including the way Chief of Staff, Robson Djokovic, runs the Office of the Prime Minister. They say Mr Djokovic simply wields far too much power.

It is public knowledge that his style of leadership was blamed for driving MPs away from the Sogavare-led administration in 2008.

“It looks like the 2008 syndrome is going to repeat itself. If it has, then it is clear Mr Djokovic has never learned from his mistakes,” insiders said last night.

Meanwhile the new grouping has scoffed at suggestions by Prime Minister Sogavare that Coalition MPs deserted him because they fear he would table the Anti-Corruption Bill.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. The reason we have moved away from the government is because of Mr Sogavare’s indecisiveness on the Anti-Corruption Bill. We want to be free so we can bring the Bill to Parliament,” a spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office last night said the numerical strength of the Democratic Coalition for Change Government (DCCG) remains intact despite the recent resignations of nine (9) government ministers. SEE RESPONSE FROM THE PMO ON PAGE 3

Caritas plans another stage for START

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Senior Programme Coordinator of Caritas, Ms Marion Ferguson.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE Caritas Aotearoa NZ that currently working with the SIAVRTC is planning another stage of the START programme for Rural Training centres in the country.

The programme “Strengthening Technical and Agricultural Rural Training” (START) has been effective over the last three years with support from Caritas and the New Zealand Government on the improvement of RTCs in the country.

Senior Programme Coordinator of Caritas, Ms Marion Ferguson told Island Sun yesterday that more people are showing interest in the programme as it is ending.

“We finish in August 2019 and between now and then we have to prepare data/information because we really want to plan another stage.

“And we think this programme is really successful even though we are halfway. Lot of people has been telling us we need to do this more.

“But would probably do it a little bit different and probably use more Solomon Islands trainers and make more to use local expertise,” she said.

However, Ferguson said the problem is getting enough money from the people in NZ to put alongside NZ government’s money.

She said the NZ government is very positive in its assistance especially to the programme and the result of the programme is what they really want to see.

“But the result is really good as we see huge change and amazing hard work from the people as we work on the programme,” Ferguson said

“So NZ government is waiting to get the final report of the programme and after that we thing of pursuing them for more fund for another stage of the programme.

“Because for this programme NZ government supported 80 percent and the catholic communities in NZ supported 20 percent of the fund.”

The programme is a joint cooperation between Caritas Aotearoa NZ and Solomon Islands Association of Vocational Rural Training Centre (SIAVRTC) that provided trainings, infrastructure and other areas toward improvement of RTCs in the county.

New sets of nursery tools for Vatukola community

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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A POB Staff (right) hands over the Grass-cutter to Chief Agusto and another village elder, during the ceremony yesterday. Photo by POB Media.

VATUKOLA Community at Kakabona, North West Guadalcanal has received a new set of nursery tools today, thanks to the Pan Oceanic Bank (POB) and its CSR project.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Pan Oceanic Bank Mr Nigel Adrian and his staffs donated the tools to the community as one of the first community that joined them in the project.

The tools were purposely to assist the community in their tree planting activities.

“We gave a grass-cutter, spades and bush knifes for them to keep the area near the trees clean and nice.

“This is donated to the community, so that the plains can grow well and gave beauty to the landscape,” the COO said.

Speaking in appreciation for the kind donation of the useful tools and mahogany trees, Community Chief Agusto has thanked POB for seeing it fit to assist his community, as well as the Ministry of Forestry and Research for the project to plant trees.

“First of all, we thank POB and Forestry for the approach and interest to supply mahogany seedlings to this particular community Vatukola.

“We are so fortunate. We will do our best to keep and nature these plants through the process,” Chief Agusto said.

The chief added that this project will encourage his community to work together and do some good in their mass grass lands, for something that they all can benefit from in the near future.

–POB PRESS

Human resource – NRH lab’s main challenge

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Brenda Laurii and Ann Lin in the dengue lab of the NRH

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

 

HUMAN resource is one of the major challenges the national referral hospital’s lab is facing.

And this problem has been persisting for years, it is revealed.

This has forced Taiwanese deployed doctors to be employed in the lab to fill in the manpower gap.

Recently, Taiwan Health Centre in Honiara through its partnership with Solomon Islands government and Taiwan’s Government, have sent two specialists from Taiwan to join the lab team.

NRH Laboratory Technologist, Mrs Brenda Laurii said the lab’s current staff of 27 is still not enough to meet the demands.

She said to keep the lab functioning each department needs to have good number of working staff but unfortunately the Ministry of Health and Medical Service has freezed recruitments.

Laurii said lab plays an important role for diagnose activities inside NRH and doctors also rely on them although it is regarded as second or third grade among workers.

“Currently we should improve our machines such as PCR and DNA testing to avoid spending lots of money for sending samples overseas.

Taiwanese Lab Technician, Mrs Ann Lin completed her two-week volunteer work as lab technician to work in the NRH’s dengue lab.

She said although they did well during the course of two weeks, they did not keep up with regular tests due to insufficient manpower.

Lin adds to the outcry for more workers, saying that more technical personnel are needed for regular testing and maintenance of the equipment.

She recommends that the lab’s problem be solved immediately.

Lin graduated from Kaohsiung medical university in medical technology.

She worked with Kaohsiung medical university hospital for seventeen years, and expressed her excitement to have a chance in joining the plan for dengue lab.

Election date for Western and Choiseul

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JARED KOLI

THE Choiseul and Western Provincial Assembly Elections will be held on a date to be set by officials from the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).

This is according to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs George Palua when he addressed the media at the launch of the BVR update for the two provinces and communication campaign yesterday.

Mr Palua however, said it is hoped that each respective Provincial Election will be called by the Ministry immediately after their Voters Roll had been completed by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC).

“All the remaining provinces will have their update as part of the nation-wide voter registration update beginning in the second quarter of 2018 in readiness for the National General Election which is highly likely to be in early 2019,” he said.

Mr Palua said he is confident that the Electoral Commission is well prepare for this update and wish them well in the implementation tasks that lie ahead.

SIEC has launched the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) update for Western and Choiseul province yesterday.

The update exercise hopes to commence in 28 November 2017.

The BVR exercise will be conducted in readiness for the two provinces to conduct their provincial Assembly elections early next year.

 

SICCI announces hosts for Business Excellence Awards

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) has announced the return of four-time running host Millicent Barty for this year’s Business Excellence Awards (BEA) along with SICCI’s very own John Kanai Ta’amora.

Ms Barty and Mr Ta’amora will be the official master of ceremonies for the upcoming Business Excellence Awards 2017 set to take place on Saturday November 4 at the Coral Sea Resort & Casino, as preparations for the biggest awards ceremony of the private sector closes down to another exciting episode.

Barty, 27, who is an entrepreneur herself, is a frequent public speaker on entrepreneurship while also a known figure in her support for gender issues and young people in business.

She came to the public spotlight in 2009 after winning the Miss Solomon Islands Beauty Pageant, but has since made her way to become a veteran BEA host and established a reputation for young entrepreneurs.

“I am incredibly privileged and honoured to once more take the stage to host the 2017 BEAs. I have been hosting for the last four years now and every year I get excited and look forward to the awards night as every year, the theme and content of the show gets more and more vibrant and relevant to our socio-economic ecosystem,” says Barty, who is also the artistic brains behind the iconic BEA branding through her business Millicent Designs.

“It would be a homecoming to be part of a night that celebrates [as well as recognises] the best of the best businesses/industries that our growing nation has to offer.

“I would like to thank SICCI and Events Manager Melanie Champion to have me host again. I hope myself and my new MC counterpart John can deliver a pleasant and enjoyable night for everyone.”

Barty’s co-host Ta’amora says he is overwhelmed by the opportunity to be master of ceremonies for the most prestigious and highly anticipated event in the private sector that will bring together stakeholders supporting the private sector by celebrating success.

Ta’amora, 27, is the Advocacy Officer for SICCI who takes lead in engagement platforms between SICCI and the national government.

He joined SICCI earlier this year but has overseen significant advocacy progress including the historic MOU signing between SICCI and the government in June.

While this is his first time to emcee for a major event, Ta’amora is confident to take the stage which he sees it more as an opportunity for exposure.

“I was a bit nervous when it was proposed that I co-host the BEA. I have emceed before to several events, but this is huge. It is a challenge I look forward to and I am confident by the honour and opportunity this would be for me,” he says.

“However, I am very fortunate that we have Millicent who has so much experience in the BEA and I look forward to work with her.”

The BEA 2017 is set for an explosive celebration with a night planned to give attendants a memorable occasion and show recognition to successful people and businesses in the private sector with some of the country’s best entertainers.

The BEA is also confirmed to host Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare who will present the top award the Prime Minister’s Business Excellence Award and Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) General Secretary Dame Meg Taylor who will deliver the keynote address.

–SICCI PRESS

POB donates 1,100 mahogany plants to Vatukola community

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Staff of the Pan Oceanic Bank (POB), the Ministry of Forestry and Research (MoFR), with chief and elders of the Vatukola Community cutting the cake to celebrate the successful handover of the plants this morning. Photo from POB Media

THE Pan Oceanic Bank (POB) yesterday donated more than a thousand Mahogany plants to the Vatukola Community in North West Guadalcanal, as its continuous CSR assistance in the Solomon Islands.

Close to a hundred villagers with POB staff gathered at the community this morning, to witness the ceremony at the Kakabona area.

About 1,100 mahogany plants were handed over to the community elders, by the POB’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Adrian Nigel and his team.

Speaking during the occasion, Mr Nigel said the bank is excited to support a community, apart from assisting schools in tree planting exercises over the passing months.

“Today we at POB are delighted because for the first time we are supporting a community to plant 1,100 Mahogany trees under our CSR project, which we started in 2016.

“First of all, on behalf of POB, I wish to thank the Vatukola community chief Mr. Agusto for accepting our invitation to plant 1,100 seedlings of Mahogany Trees in their community land,” the COO said.

He added, the bank is very proud and pleased of its CSR project as it contributes towards Capacity building for a Sustainable Forest Resource Management.

This is the ninth occasion we have donated plants under our CSR project, Nigel said.

“Since year 2016, we have distributed 3940 plants among 8 schools. You may wonder why we decided to distribute plants through our CSR project.

“Forestry Sector is the main area that contributes heavily to the National Economy and these natural resources need to be managed with great care in this country for the benefit of the future generation,” the COO added.

Meanwhile, Chief Agusto and members of his community at Vatukola have received the plants with total gratitude, and also thanked POB for agreeing to select his community to be part of the bank’s CSR project.

–POB PRESS

Miss Samlimsan donates to Christian Care Centre

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Christian Care Centre on Thursday received charity donation from Miss Samlimsan, Ms Mowisha Angiki, a contestant in this year’s Miss Solomon Islands Pageant.jpg

THE Christian Care Centre (CCC) yesterday received donations from the Miss Samlimsan, Ms Mowisha Angiki, who is this year’s Miss Solomon Islands Pageant contestant-1.

Cash of $15,000 plus goods at $700-worth including buckets, washing powders and soaps were handed over to elated staff of the Centre.

The donations are result of a week of fundraising by Miss Samlimsan and her team towards the charitable cause of helping the Centre.

Speaking during the handover, team leader Ms Hellen Raynah said Miss Samlimsan and the team are honoured to be able to help the Centre.

Miss Samlimsan with the hard working staff of the Christian Care Centre

“We are honoured to have this opportunity to be able to give towards the worthy cause of the Christian Care Centre. It is one of the highlights of the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant platform which we admire and here we are partaking in it. It is truly an honour.”

Raynah explains that her committee had been given options to choose from and they chose the Christian Care Centre.

“Basically because we are awed by the proactive work being done here for women, girls and children who are victims of domestic and gender violence.”

Miss Samlimsan adds that although the donation might be small compared to what the Centre may be used to in terms of assistance, the donations are being given with all their hearts.

Receiving the gifts were Sr Phyllis and Volunteer Annie Kekea, both elated – describing the donations as timely.

Kekea says, “This is in line with our needs for at the moment we are running a little short on buckets. Due to much use, wear and tear, we have lost a few of our old washing buckets and were planning to get new ones.”

Sr Phyllis, on behalf of the Centre, thanks Miss Samlimsan and her committee for choosing the Centre.

“It is truly a blessed surprise and we are very grateful that you chose the Centre to help in your charity obligations.”

“These donations will go a long way in helping us in our work. Thank you very much.”

Yesterday’s handover sums up Miss Samlimsan’s week of raising funds for charity.

It is understood that charity is not included in this year’s MSIP criteria, however this has not deterred Ms Angiki and her team from jumping on the chance to fulfil one obligation which they deem an integral part of the platform.

She shares with Island Sun, “We were made aware by organisers that charity is not in this year’s category. Nevertheless, we believe that charity is one of the essence of the Miss Solomon Islands Pageant, which had been recognised and practised in previous pageants.

“So we decided to go ahead and make use of the opportunity while joining the MSIP 2017 to do charity. And here we are. It is such a fulfilling moment. We’re all emotional, excited and honoured to be able to help the sisters and volunteers and the victims at the Centre.”

The MSIP 2017 Speech segment begins at 10am today at the national Museum auditorium, with the float parade to commence at 3pm from the SINU School of Tourism to the Art Gallery.

Voter registration update for Western and Choiseul launched

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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SIEC-officer

BY JARED KOLI

THE Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) has launched the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) update for Western and Choiseul province hopes to commence on November 28, 2017.

The BVR exercise will be conducted in readiness for the two provinces to conduct their provincial Assembly elections early next year.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs George Palua, Acting Chief Electoral Officer Alphonsus Pero and SIEC Operation Manager Freddie Bosoboe update donors, stakeholders and the local media yesterday of the BVR exercise and the SIEC communication yesterday.

This is an update, not a re-registration, and that it is for Choiseul and Western Provinces only, as a start towards the goal for a complete update of the Voters Registrar for all Provinces before the next National General Elections, according to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs George Palua.

Acting Chief Electoral Officer Mr Pero said the national general election process is anticipated early 2019.

“Gearing towards these events, Solomon Islands Electoral Commission is now lifting our work commitments in its electoral pre-election activities. Looking towards Elections, SIEC is embarking on three major initiatives,” he said.

Pero said first there will be an update of the voters register for Choiseul and Western Provincial Assembly Elections which is commencing in November.

Second will be a nation-wide update of the voters register in mid-2018 – this will cover all provinces.

The third major task will be the conduct of the National General Election, most likely in early 2019.

The Acting Chief Electoral Officer said the voters register created in 2014 is now almost three years old and needs to be updated for provincial elections and National General Election as it does not contain people who were too young at the time during BVR exercise in 2014 but are now aged 18 or above.

He said the SIEC will again be collecting biometric information from the public throughout this voter registration process, in the form of thumb prints and photographs.

Pero said the public will then provided with the Provisional Lists showing all those who registered for inspection after the Choiseul and Western provinces BVR exercise, and any complain thereafter, will be submitted during the period of Omissions and Objection.

“These complaints will then be heard in Public hearings where complainers will be given the opportunity to defend their case,” he said.

Pero said the voters lists for Choiseul and Western will be provided by the Office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission to the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).

Preparations underway for Western and Choiseul voter registration

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JARED KOLI

PREPARATIONS are well ahead for the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) for Western and Choiseul province.

Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) Acting Chief Electoral Officer Alphonsus Pero said the recruitment of Registration Managers, Registration Officers, Revising Officers and other casual staff has been completed.

A series of training sessions will get underway in the coming weeks in Gizo and in Honiara, according to Mr Pero.

“We will ensure the public is kept informed of how, when, where and why the update is being conducted, using all forms of media and other cost-effective means.

“We will of course also keep all of you informed about our progress, key dates and developments as we work our way through this update,” he said.

The Chief Electoral Officer (Ag) urged those who wish to register during this update, to do so. This will mean that people can vote in subsequent elections and by-elections, according to Mr Pero.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs George Palua said it is important to note that this is an update, not a re-registration, and that it is for Choiseul and Western Provinces only, as a start towards the goal for a complete update of the Voters Registrar for all Provinces before the next National General Elections.

SIEC has launched the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) update for Western and Choiseul province and Communication campaign yesterday at the SIEC headquarters in Honiara yesterday.

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