BY SAMIE WAIKORI

PREMIER of Makira-Ulawa province has called on his people to work together and open their land for development.

In a recent interview with this paper, Hon Stanley Siapu said they have a lot of registered land in the province.

He said some of the lands are still with the commissioner of lands whilst some have been returned to the customary landowners.

Siapu said the registered lands are in place, and if funds are available and support rendered from the national government, development will begin.

He said his government is currently working together with landowners or people responsible for the registered lands to be free for development.

Siapu also said they hope to work closely with customary landowners so that they can open up their land for development.

“In our quest to province building, we’ll work together towards Public Private Partnership (PPP), so that people will benefit directly from their lands and resources.

“And we are so happy that the current ruling DCC government advocated for PPP in their policy.

“We will try to work closely with them so that we can realise the target or focus the national government is undertaking for the country,” he said.

Siapu said his government and people welcome development on their lands and will work closely with the national government on areas of need for the province.

By Alfred Sasako

TWO senior staffers in the Prime Minister’s Office appear to have escaped savage cost-cutting measures taken by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare earlier this year.

Many Political Appointees lost their jobs as a result of the premature termination of their contracts.

Now it has emerged that Chief of Staff Robson Djokovich and Special Secretary to Prime Minister (SSPM), John Muria Jnr are reportedly seeking improved conditions to their lucrative contracts.

Under their initial contracts, they were collecting monthly transport allowance as high as $12,000 each.

Government sources warned this might have changed since the two senior officers were seeking improved working conditions.

Both officers, while in receipt of an exorbitant monthly transport allowance, are reportedly using Government-issued vehicles contrary to their contracts.

Their actions could be tantamount to double dipping, something both men had accused former SSPM, Andrew Muaki of.

Sources pointed out that in Mr Muaki’s case, the G-vehicle he was using while in office was issued to his office and not to him as an individual.

Government sources said contracts are quite clear on who gets transport allowance and or vehicle and who does not.

“For SS4 Political Appointees the government either provides vehicle or hire one for them. If none of the above then they get transportation allowance of $12,000 per month. This only applies to SSPM, COS, and Policy Secretaries. All other Political Appointees are only entitled to transportation allowance.

“They can’t garage or use for personal purpose government vehicle or government hired vehicle,” one told Island Sun yesterday.

The sources said it is known that both the Chief of Staff and the SSPM have been renegotiating improvements in their contracts.

“In the case of the Chief of Staff he wants two things to be incorporated in his contract – business class travel when on duty travel overseas as well as his basic salary to be increased to $7, 000 a fortnight.

“The SSPM on the other hand wants an increase in his housing allowance,” the sources said.

Island Sun was unable to confirm whether the changes being sought by both officers had been approved.

Political Appointees whose contracts were terminated as a result of the cost-cutting measures are certain to be angry about this development.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

GIZO authorities and public are calling on ship owners to make sure pot plants are quarantine checked before transported to the provinces.

This call follows several findings of the giant African snail in pot plants shipped to the province via passenger boats.

The latest was impounded from three eskies which were brought over by the MV Fair Glory.

A concerned Mr Stanly Basi says, “It is important to raise awareness programmes for both the Western Province areas and the Westerners living in Honiara to prevent this particular pest which is already spreading in town as well as the nearby local villages of Guadalcanal.”

Giant African snail is categorised as a highly invasive and destructive species which the Western province is fighting hard to eradicate after being found in parts of the province.

Gizo bio-security warns public, business houses and logging camps within the province to quickly report any findings of the mollusc.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE Solomon Islands Maritme Safety Administration (SIMSA) is in dire need of qualified personnel, it is reported.

SIMSA, which is proposed to be upgraded into the wider-scoped Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA), needs a boost in its manpower – both in number and qualification.

Director of SIMSA, Tim Harris made the statement, saying according to ADB specialists the Phase 1 of SIMA should have a staff of 71 (compared to the current 28 technical personnel at SIMSA).

Adding that increasing the number will also increase the annual recurrent expenditure budget that is double the current level.

He explains SIMA will need more qualified personnel with better understanding of the maritime (shipping and port) industry.

Mr Harris said currently promotion in SIMSA is dependent on seafaring knowledge and level of qualifications of Certificates of Competency (CoCs).

“With funding from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, sponsors arranged through the International Maritime Organisation, the Asian Development Bank and the Australian Government, since 2014 the Solomon Islands now has two graduates from the World Maritime University, one from IMLI and one from the AMC.

“Once SIMA is established, a Training Needs Assessment will be made for each member of staff (both former SIMSA and new recruits) and a training program developed for each person.”

This has been brought to the attention of Government and a Bill will soon be going to Parliament that will set SIMSA up as the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA).

BY BEN BILUA

MANDELA Primary School management says the Chief Education Officer of Guadalcanal province has lied in the media.

This follows CEO Maesac Suia’s statement on SIBC last Friday that Mandela school is not registered under the province’s education authority.

He told SIBC that they had supplied teachers to Mandela only to meet the needs of students there, despite the school’s non-registered status.

A second allegation Suia relayed to SIBC was there was a disagreement between the founder of the school, Mrs Linda Ago’oka, and the teaching staff.

However, Mrs Ago’oka has slammed Suia’s media claims, saying not one of them is true.

She maintains that Mandela primary school is registered under the Guadalcanal education authority (GEA), adding that the impasse in Mandela school is due to a dispute between her and the school’s head teacher – not the whole teaching staff.

Island Sun, meanwhile, has a copy of a letter from Suia to Mandela school which states the school as registered under the GEA.

In his letter dated February 16, 2017, Suia confirmed that Mandela extension Primary School is registered under Lungga Primary School effective beginning this year.

The letter elaborates that Lungga Primary School is the mother of Mandela Extension Primary School whereby the Deputy Head Teacher of Lungga will take charge of Mandela school.

Suia also stated in his letter that the founder and community of Mandela Extension School ensures the head teacher in charge of Mandela performs a transparent role in managing Mandela Primary School.

Ago’oka is shocked that Suia is singing a different tune in the media: “Look at this letter dated 16th February this year, it had his signatories on it and I’m just surprise to see him go to SIBC and said a different story.

“We have the copy of this letter to prove if we are honest and not deceitful,” Ago’oka said.

She reiterates that the ones suffering from the issue are the students, adding that she is prepared to head to the table for a solution with the GEA, donors and the ministry of education.

Attempts for comments from Guadalcanal province education office were futile yesterday.

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was being hypocritical on what it usually speaks of, ‘leaving no one behind’.

Sogavare made the bold statement during The Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan double ten celebrations at the Mendana Hotel on Tuesday this week celebrating their national day.

“As a special and dear friend to us, when you look just beyond our near abroad, you would realise Solomon Islands has always been consistent with the principles of self-determination, whether in Melanesia or Polynesia.

“That is why in the recent UNGA in New York I spoke passionately to advocate for Taiwan, just like previous leaders have done.

“Our future leaders will still do the same unashamedly,” Prime Minister Sogavare strongly stated.

Sogavare then added that this is one principle where the two countries (SI and ROC Taiwan) interests are anchored in consistent unison, when big boys and big interests have turned a blind eye to an issue that has never been able to decouple the two countries for well over three decades.

“We have consistently done so with UN organs such as the World Health Organization, where we have pushed for Taiwan’s full membership and participation.

“When I spoke at the UNGA I said the assembly usually speaks of ‘leaving no one behind’, yet the General Assembly was hypocritical in doing the opposite for Taiwan, which was willing to contribute to a wide range of substantive UN programmes for the welfare of humanity,” the PM said.

Sogavare then said that he had just returned from Taiwan, where he witnessed the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) and Kaohsiung Ports Authorities.

This, Sogavare added, is a milestone achievement given that Kaohsiung is among the five busiest sea ports in the world.

It is also a milestone for the DCC’s Public-Private Partnership policy.

“I met President Tsai Ing-Wen in Taipei to reaffirm our special relationship, and discussed new and current areas of Taiwan’s development cooperation to Solomon Islands,” Prime Minister Sogavare added.