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PM lauds plan to redevelop Noro Port

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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SIPA CEO Eranda Kotelawala giving a brief on the Noro Ports development plan.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has applauded the MOU signed between SIPA, Tri-Marine and Maersk on a multi-million dollar plan to redevelop Noro seaport into a regional hub for transhipment of thousands of tonnes of frozen tuna to several global destinations.

Sogavare described the MOU as a milestone which will contribute a lot to the economic development of the country.

“Today [yesterday] we are gathered here to mark another milestone in the history of Solomon Islands Ports Authority and also for the Solomon Islands as a whole.

“As we are all aware, majority of trade in Solomon Islands is facilitated through our Ports and Solomon Islands must adapt to the changing international environment if we are to progress in the maritime sector.

“As such, the pursuance of strategic alliances is one avenue that Solomon Islands Ports Authority must embark upon to ensure that the Solomon Islands does not lag behind progress.

“The new alliance is evidenced by the ceremony today is our way of showing to the international community that although small, we are ready and able to contribute to the global market,” he said.

Prime Minister said an alliance with the world’s largest container shipping line MAERSK and globally acclaimed Tuna Supply Company Tri-Marine, not only transforms Noro port but allows Noro to be poised for transformation into a regionally competitive transport hub in the future.

He said this is the beginning of a new chapter in the transformation of SIPA and MAERSK and Tri-Marine for having the faith to venture with SIPA in this remarkable arrangement.

On the same note, Sogavare also made mention of similar kind of historic agreement they made with the port of Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

“Three weeks ago, we marked in history the signing of the first sister port agreement with Port of Kaohsiung, Republic of China (Taiwan) and Port of Honiara,” he said.

National laboratory prepares for world recognition

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE national public health laboratory (NPHL) under the Ministry of Health (MHMS) is working to attain the international standard accreditation – ISO 17025.

Hopefully by the end of 2019, NPHL will be accredited with the accreditation.

Director of NPHL Dickson Manongi said that after a workshop held earlier this year, a steering committee was established to oversee implementation and management of the project as well as provide guidance as needed.

He said currently they working round the clock to prepare the facility.

Manongi said as part of their preparation there is an internal arrangement to allow laboratory preparation and work to flow unhindered.

He said instrument and equipment, expired reagents, culture agars and medium that were expired or out of service were discarded.

“Relocated of officers seating arrangement out of the lab analytical to nontoxic environment.

“Relocate hazard chemical storage to outside Hazchem hut outside the Laboratory, repair of water systems and plumbing systems like toilets.

“Repair air-condition ensuring the internal temperature is sustain and maintain services, internal airflow for the sterile room and SOPs for proper disposal of Hazardous chemicals and biological microorganisms,” Manongi said.

He added, the laboratory was assigned to perform tests on 50- 100 plus sample of food per week including water samples, environmental samples and manufactured drinking water.

Manongi said samples also needed on disease outbreak investigation, food from industries (bakeries, beverages, Ice creams, others), waste discharge (mining, palm oils, workshops, housing estates, institutions) and environment pollution (rivers and coastal seas).

They have also made orders through the National Medical Stores for consumables to carry out lab analysis for biological and chemical testings

Manongi said orders are on agars, cultures, medium and equipment from overseas supplies.

Adding that NPHL is also pursuing the laboratory quality management manual system (LQMMS) as it’s very important as a reference for accreditation.

He said the purpose for LQMMS is to direct the lab in two major aspects of lab management that is required to encompass 15 subsections and the technical requirement that has 10 subsections within NPHL.

Manongi said as part of the preparation NPHL needs four additional staffs who have knowledge in Medical Laboratory Science or Chemistry food or clinical Microbiology.

Woman denies assaulting another woman

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A woman alleged of assaulting another woman on January 18 this year has pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault causing actual bodily harm yesterday.

Rachel Sam was arraigned in the Honiara Magistrate Court before Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea.

She appeared in person as she is yet to secure any legal representation.

She told court that she went to the Public Solicitor’s Office five times for a lawyer to assist her but they told her they were busy.

Police alleged Rachel assaulted another woman in Honiara and the matter was reported and she was charged for the offence.

Magistrate Iomea then adjourned the case to October 30 and also made direction for the woman to secure a lawyer to assist her on the PTC since she entered a not guilty plea.

Police Prosecution Service prosecutes the case in court.

Prosecution to serve disclosures on Fiusale’s case

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

DEFENCE lawyer representing Simon Fiusale has requested disclosures from Public Prosecution for his client, and the case will appear again on November 1.

This is in relation to an incident in Malaita in July last year where five men are alleged to have been in possession of firearm.

Public Prosecutor Bradley Dalipanda told court that three of the five accused were absconding and admits in court that he cannot assist the court on the status of the execution of warrant, because only limited instruction was given in the file.

Meanwhile he told the court that disclosures will be served during the adjournment.

The court was also told that the other accused Iki Olomea is still without a lawyer and thus had to secure a lawyer before the next date of appearance.

Principal Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi told the accused to visit the Public Solicitor’s Office every day so that he can be allocated a lawyer.

Simon Fiusale and Iki Olomea were charged together with three other accused who are currently under warrants of arrest.

They were charged for in possession of fire-arm and threatening violence.

Three other accused men currently under warrant are Leonard Ofaka, Bredley Abarai and Jimmy Eno Bana and they are jointly charged with other two of one count of possession of firearm and threatening violence each.

Police said that the men were drunk and threatened the employees of Dalgro Construction Company that won the bid for Bridge Construction at the Tabaa Bridge in North Malaita on July 21, 2016.

It was alleged that one of the men who hold the gun which is a 303 rifle black in colour put in a bullet and then cocked the gun pointing it at the workers.

Police also ceased the alleged weapon believed to be used by the accused.

Prosecution yet to charge co-suspect on Fangs case

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Public Prosecution has sought adjournment for the case against Honiara businessman James Fang to allow them time to lay appropriate charges on the co-suspect.

Court then adjourned the case for October 31 for mention.

Public Prosecutor Bradley Dalipanda told court yesterday that on the previous occasion, court was told that during adjournment prosecution will lay appropriate charges on the co-suspect but that has not been done.

Dalipanda said the prosecutor in carriage is currently away in Nigeria to visit her sick mother and will be away for a month, nothing much has been done since the last adjournment.

He assures court that during this adjournment they will make sure to sort out the issues and on the next appearance prosecution will update court on the status of the case.

Defence lawyer Anderson Kesaka then told court that they will apply for bail variation for the accused and also seek the court’s permission to return the files belonging to the accused, James Fang.

Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea then adjourned the case to Friday this week for bail variation and on October 31 for mention.

James Fang is being accused of having forged and uttered documents earlier this year

He is facing a charge of Forgery and Uttering.

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, authorising 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.

James Fang is the owner of Fangs Shop and other businesses in Honiara.

SI hits $57.5m trade surplus for March

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Government Statistician Douglas Kimi

SOLOMON Islands national statistics office (SINSO) yesterday announced a $57.5million surplus in trades recorded for March this year.

This figure is on the country’s international merchandise trade statistics (IMTS), which puts together all of Solomon Islands’ exports and imports.

IMTS shows the movement of different types of goods between the Solomon Islands and a range of countries regionally and around the world.

Releasing the statistical bulletin, government statistician Douglas Kimi said the surplus is an increase of $109.4m (211 percent) over the deficit of $51.9m recorded in the preceding quarter.

Compared to March 2016’s record, this year’s record is an increase of $21.1million (58 percent) over last year’s $36.4m.

“The movement of goods into and out of the Solomon Islands is an important aspect of our nation’s economic development,” Kimi said.

On Major Exports in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the corresponding quarter of 2016, Kimi said that round log and sawn timber exports declined by $7.4m (1 percent) to $604.7m while total of fresh/frozen and canned fish rose by $33.8m (62 percent) to $88.7m.

“This increase is mainly attributed to $52.1m of fish loin exports to Italy which accounted for 59 percent of total fish exports.”

He added that the total for copra, cocoa, palm oil and other agricultural products has increased by $40.8m (56 percent) to $113.9m affirming this is mainly driven by a surge in palm oil and copra exports during the quarter and gold increased by $3m (63 percent) to $7.8m.

Meanwhile, on Major Imports Kimi said food imports, which is comprise mostly of rice and canned meat, increased by $0.7m (0.6 percent) to $111.9m.

“Mineral fuel and lubricant imports rose by $58.2m (55 percent) to $164.9m. Machinery and transport equipment increased by $33.6m (15 percent) to $260.3m,” he said.

Merchandise trade balance with major trading partners in the March quarter of 2017 compared to the previous corresponding quarter records the following:

  • The trade deficit with Singapore, the main source of fuel imports, increased by $63m (57 percent) to $174.5m.
  • The trade deficit with Australia decreased by $16.8m (11 percent) to $132.2m.
  • The trade deficit with Papua New Guinea was down by $14.3m (58 percent) to $10.4m.
  • The trade surplus with South Korea declined by $9.7m (86 percent) to $1.5m.
  • The trade surplus with China, the main destination of exported logs, rose by $63.1m (15 percent) to $491.6m.
  • The trade surplus with Italy, the main destination of fish-loin exports, increased by $13.2m (35 percent) to $51m.

Data are compiled from the Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division, the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands, Commodity Export Market Authority and additional records provided by major importers/exporters.

–SINSO PRESS

Second chance education for drop-outs in the pipeline

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Group photo of the Writer workshop organised by the Distance Flexible Learning Centre of SINU

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

 

SOLOMON Islands National University (SINU) will roll out its ‘second chance’ education programme through its distance flexible learning centre (DFL).

This move poses a significant opportunity for school drop outs to have another go at education.

SINU initiated the idea to assist the Ministry of Education (MERHD) combat growing concerns of the bottleneck system which has and continues to impact many student drop-outs.

According to SINU, being a national tertiary education provider, through DFL they will provide what has been coined by the MEHRD as ‘second-chance education’.

SINU said the second-chance concept will create a pathway for students to pursue qualifications in whatever fields individuals wish to attain.

SINU said the main objective is to leave no one out, and create a pathway that will ensure students continue their training until completed with qualifications of choice.

In implementing the notion, Mr Martin Otto and his devoted staff took a week-long writers workshop for aspiring writers in the country.

This workshop is hosted by the DFL centre and is the second time such programme is organised.

The workshop pools together ideas from the writers in producing units of study to provide an avenue through which the students can upgrade their previous marks, grades and knowledge and skills in the units provided.

The DFL will continue to work with these writers until March next year when all units will be ready for production, which will be piloted in September 2018 for possible recruitment in 2019.

Meanwhile, it is well known that a lot of potential human resources have over the years had their education cut off at grade six, form three and form five, including a few in form six and form seven.

This has contributed to an increase in unemployment, unskilled workers, low standard of living, and rise in criminal activities involving juveniles between ages 13 and 19 years.

MEHRD’s statistics show 90 percent of those who started grade one discontinued their education somewhere along the line due to low exam results, no space in schools and other factors of school administration.

National lab reveals huge challenges

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Director of National Public Health Laboratory, Mr Dickson Manongi.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE national public health laboratory’s (NPHL) pursuit to attain the world-recognised ISO 17025 accreditation is being hampered by a mountain of challenges, it is revealed.

Director of NPHL Mr Dickson Manongi lists budgetary support as one major challenge they face in trying to buy reagents, agars, consumables, equipment and instrument for the laboratory.

Budgetary support is also vital for preparations for audit inspection.

He adds the NPHL building is also old with many defects, such as white ants infestation, faulty plumbing and air-conditioning systems and inadequate space for staff.

Manongi said another challenge faced is lack of divisional support for food inspection, sampling and testing by units within the Environmental Health Division to bring samples for lab scientific analysis.

This he says has resulted in most food products, local and imported, not being tested for human consumption safety.

Manongi stresses that this is a huge problem for the country.

He exemplifies the local bottled water industry, which needs to undergo stringent lab testing since many companies have their water sources at the Ranadi industrial area.

Manongi also calls on the Environment Health Divisions under the ministry of health (MHMS) and HCC to be proactive on the matter.

He said they are the leading organisations and they should protect lives by having the products tested at the NPHL.

Meanwhile, Manongi says manpower is another of their problems, being in need of more workers to meet demands.

Isabel nickel project hits brick wall

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Premier of Isabel Province James Habu

BY BEN BILUA

PREMIER of Isabel province has called on the government to reconsider its hasty plans with the Isabel Nickel project.

Speaking during review consultations on the national mining policy this week, Premier Habu said the government needs to step back and study the whole component of the project before pushing to fast track mining operations in Isabel.

He stressed there are existing gaps within the legislations and that reassessment is needed by an independent body.

“The data available on Nickel are now outdated and therefore unreliable and while the price of Nickel is low, it would not serve anybody any good to rush into mining of Nickel,” Premier Habu said.

He describes the government’s rash plan to fast track mining development in Isabel province demonstrates the government’s desperation to raise money.

Sharing his views, Bishop of Isabel Diocese, Right Reverend Elision Quity warns that rushing into such development without considering the issues affecting the people is not wise.

“We must seek for what is beneficial for our people rather than rushing into this at the expense of Peace, Justice and unity,” he said.

Quity strongly encouraged the Tripod not become the subject of anger and curses in the future for the wrong decisions made.

Citizenship Bill to cater for SI labour migrants

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

THE new Citizenship Bill 2017 will make efforts by Solomon Islanders who were forced out of the country during the black birding days as laborers easier to apply for Solomon Islands citizenship.

Hon Dr Culwick Togamana, a member of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) queried the sponsoring ministry of the Bill, the Ministry of Home Affairs, on what the proposed Bill could do for Solomon Islander labourers from the black birding days.

He queried how these Solomon Islanders would be able to return or acquire dual citizenship if the new Bill were to come into force as an Act.

The Bill allows Solomon Islanders by birth who have lost their citizenship and reconnect with their country of origin.

It specifically states to facilitate the reintegration and return of Solomon Islanders by ancestry and their children who have lost their citizenship through marriage, naturalisation or displacement due to forced labour.

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