BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Opposition Leader Matthew Wale has blamed the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) Bradley Tovosia for not doing his job during his term as the Minster of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE).

Wale condemned the member of parliament for East Guadalcanal during the asking & answering of question on the issue of Rennel Bauxite Mine in parliament this week.

Wale’s disapproval came in light of the ongoing unaddressed environmental issues from mining and logging operations that is impacting communities across the country.

While thanking the New Minister of MMERE Derick Manuari for his leadership to reform the mining sector, Wale said the former Mines minister had done nothing while holding the post as a minister.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the Minister for Mines. Regrettably, the concerns raised here suggest that little has been accomplished since he is new to the position; however, the individual failing to fulfill his responsibilities is the one absent from this discussion.

“As for the Minister of Fisheries, I am uncertain how many times he has served as Minister of Mines. Honestly, he is quite ineffective. While we may find funniness in this situation, it is not appropriate.

“I refer to the unfortunate Rennellese, who have been impacted by the oil spill, receiving no royalties or payments, and the 33 shipments that have left significant damage to their homes due to the mining company. Mr Speaker, this situation is detrimental to our people,” Wale said.

He pointed out that similar issues can happen anywhere in this country.

“They even shout to deaf ears as well, and to say that this neglect is something we overlook. It is not. we have had years and years of experience with Gold Ridge Mining and the environmental issues there, so really there is no excuse for this neglect.

“So, I am really happy that finally the Minister and Ministry are addressing these issues.

“It is imperative that we consider these issues, and clearly, regarding the oil spill liability, we must include it into our domestic laws to ensure that liability is assigned to the responsible parties and enforced promptly,” Wale said.

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By MORRIS NAFU

Civil servants who banked with BSP yesterday did not receive their salary.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MOFT) confirmed that technical issues with the new banking interface system delayed payroll payments for civil servants, a statement by the government communications unit (GCU) yesterday said.

The transition to the new system resulted in salaries earmarked for BSP accounts being held up, while ANZ and BRED account holders received their payments successfully, the statement said.

The MOFT has assured affected civil servants that the issue is not related to cash flow problems but rather a banking system glitch.

According to the facilitating bank, delayed payments will be processed by today, Friday, October 24, the GCU statement said.

The MOFT apologises for the inconvenience caused and appreciates the understanding of affected civil servants, the statement said.

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BY MORRIS NAFU

A group consisting of government and opposition MPs met secretly on Wednesday night at the Heritage Park Hotel, the agenda – third wave of motion of no-confidence against PM Jeremiah Manele.

PM Manele confirmed to Island Sun being aware of the said meeting but declined to comment further.

With all corridor lights turned off, the meeting was held at the furthest conference room.

A number of government ministers and prominent members of the opposition group attended.

The agenda was to consolidate numbers and plan a motion of no-confidence motion against PM Manele, insiders told the paper on condition of anonymity. Island Sun was also on the ground and witnessed the gathering.

The group however does not have the numbers and are planning to lure other MPs to join them, the insiders said.

Making up the majority of government MPs who attended the meeting were members of one of the major coalition parties of the GNUT. However, the party’s two main leaders were not present.

Three GNUT MPs who attended were approached for comment but declined yesterday.

The issue of a third wave of motion of no-confidence was alive in late September when PM Manele was overseas on official international engagements.

A group of government MPs were rallying to launch a motion of no-confidence against PM Manele on October 13 when parliament resumed.

However, this campaign was halted in its tracks when PM Manele returned and made a major reshuffle.

MP Rexson Ramofafia was made new finance minister on Friday, October 3. He replaced MP Trevor Manemahaga who had only been made finance minister a month earlier, August 30.

This reshuffle was only a band-aid fix. The problems which had caused the group to rally for a motion of no-confidence are still present, leading to Wednesday night’s secret meeting, the insiders told Island Sun.

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

Public servants in Malaita Province were left frustrated yesterday in Auki when their salaries were not paid into their bank accounts.

About 50 nurses, many of whom travelled from the remote parts of Malaita to Auki were affected.

The public servants bank with Bank of the South Pacific (BSP).

In an interview, a concerned nurse who requested to be called George said that this is the first time they have experienced such a delay in their salary payments.

He said they only encountered payment delays during the ethnic crisis.

He said this has caused frustration and added to their burdens, such as borrowing money from fund agents or local businesses, and has brought hunger to their families at home.

“This is the first time we have ever encountered a delay in our payments. During the ethnic tension, we experienced delays with our payments on payday, but after that, we did not face such delays,” he said.

A statement from the government communications unit (GCU) yesterday explained that “technical issues with the new banking interface system delayed payroll payments for civil servants”.

GCU added that only customers of BSP were affected and not of the other banks, ANZ and BRED.

The salaries will be available in the BSP system today, the statement said.

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Honiara City Council to crackdown on taxis with private number plates

BY MORRIS NAFU

The Honiara City Council (HCC) has called for taxis operating with private licence number plates to stop, warning of a crackdown on the illegal practice.

More and more taxis in Honiara are using private licence number plates, a crafty method of avoiding the costly public transport licence fees – which are paid four times a year.

A vehicle’s private licence fee is paid once a year, and considered less costly.

Another reason behind this illegal practice is public transports are not allowed to tint their windows, while privately licensed ones can.

In a statement yesterday, HCC’s law enforcement division raised the concern calling the practice a breach of HCC Business Licence Ordinance “by running taxi businesses without proper registration and licensing”.

Director of law enforcement, Robert Madeo, labelled the practice as illegal and will not be tolerated.

He warned that any taxi owner or driver found violating the law will face legal action in court.

“Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse,” Mr Madeo said, stressing that the law will be enforced strictly to maintain order and fairness in the transport sector.

Madeo adds that the Law Enforcement Division will conduct a surprise operation to identify and crack down on illegal taxi services throughout Honiara.

He urged all taxi owners to ensure they are fully compliant with HCC regulations to avoid penalties or vehicle impoundment.

He also issued a stern warning to those who think personal connections will protect them from the law.

“Even if you are a relative or wantok, we will not help you if your driver or vehicle gets arrested by the HCC Law Enforcement team,” he said.

Private number plates are coloured in yellow, while the public vehicle’s number plates are coloured in white.

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By RODRICK DESURI 

AUKI 

The Member of Parliament for Central Kwara’ae Constituency in Malaita Province, Ricky Fu’oo, has acquired heavy machinery to support infrastructure development in his constituency. 

This is a milestone of achievement for the people of Central Kwara’ae as it will resolve the state of deteriorated feeder roads. 

A statement from the constituency office yesterday said the fleet includes a grader, excavator, roller machine, and two dump trucks. 

The machinery as stated will be utilized for maintenance and improvement works of feeder roads in the constituency. 

“These machines will be utilised for the maintenance and improvement of feeder roads, improving access and connectivity across the constituency,” the statement said.

In the meantime, the Constituency Development Committee (CDC) urges constituents to stay tuned for updates from the constituency office regarding arrival of the heavy machinery and when road work will commence.

“All residents are urged to stay tuned for updates regarding the arrival of the machinery in Auki and the commencement of road works,” the statement said.

The CDC appreciates the support and cooperation of the residents’ efforts in enhancing development within the Central Kwara’ae Constituency.

Island Sun Auki understands that feeder roads in Central Kwara’ae Constituency are in need of urgent maintenance and improvement to provide good road access for farmers and students in the constituency.

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By RODRICK DESURI 

AUKI 

A team from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) is currently in Auki, Malaita Province, to meet and speak with recipient farmers of the Agri-Business Producer Organisation (ABPO).

The visit will focus on the first round of project recipients, starting with the JED cocoa enterprise yesterday at Namonakwa in West Kwaio. 

In an interview with Island Sun Auki, one of the young professionals from SIART for Malaita, Ruth Mae said the team’s visit focuses on the first round of project recipients.

She said the team is visiting JED Cocoa Enterprise in West Kwaio today, where they will have a good opportunity to hear and communicate directly with the farmers. 

“The team’s visit or talk story is mainly to communicate directly with farmers and hear their voices on the negatives and positives, as well as the challenges faced during the implementation of their projects.

“The first round of project recipients includes JED, Alisuri, Taki, Aibilaka, and others,” she said. 

Mae added that the team will visit the farmers of the JED Cocoa Enterprise at Namonakwa in West Kwaio.

ABPO is a component of the Solomon Islands Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SIART) project, which is funded by the World Bank. 

The overall goal of the project is to assist 66 ABPO projects by 2026 and strengthen the operations of these organisations. 

The programme focuses on areas such as cocoa, coconut, and small livestock production to increase efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. 

This World Bank-funded initiative aims to boost the agricultural sector in the Solomon Islands by providing cash grants, equipment, and training to ABPOs in provinces like Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Makira.

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