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Police Reassurance operation in motion

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Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau

By Loretta B Manele

The police Reassurance Operation is in motion as they continue to carry out their work amid the recent alleged kidnapping and abduction scare that caused public panic last month.

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau in a police press conference held yesterday told the media that their “reassurance operation” is currently being undertaken in areas like Honiara, the headquarters and Guadalcanal province.

He expressed that they have put a lot of resources and focus into this operation to reinstall confidence to our people in the capital.

Mangau said from this operation, six cases were under active investigation by their team during the reassurance operation.

He stated that three of these six cases were charged while the others are still being investigated.

Mangau mentioned that of these three cases, only one individual was remanded and the other two were released on bail to appear in court today.

He calls on the public to come forward to the police authorities to make reports if they hear anything that should be reported rather than jumping on social media to post about it which causes anxiety to our community.

“I encourage people to not use media to share information that is not true. Media is a good thing and it must be used the right way and not used to cause problems in our own communities.”

Mangau emphasised that crimes should be reported to the proper channel and that is the police.

He added that as part of the police reassurance operation, they are also engaging with communities to talk about how to deal with the issue that came about from social media.

Mangau stressed that as communities, we should work together and we cannot allow people to do things like spreading false information on social media to spark fear in our people.

“Schools were affected and services in the country were affected. Because of this people were not going to work.

“When we are spreading stories like this that cause fear in the public it slows down progress in our country.”

OLD HABITS DIE HARD

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Opposition leader, Matthew Wale

Wale accuses GNUT of business as usual – secretly granting exemptions despite telling parliament in June it will stop the practice

Opposition has accused government of lying to the people of Solomon Islands – continuing with business as usual in granting exemptions left and right after it said in parliament it would halt the practice in June this year.

Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale questioned why discretionary exemptions continue to be granted despite assurances by the Minister of Finance in Parliament to cancel past exemptions and halt future ones as of June 2024.

Wale in a statement yesterday said the Finance Minister was very animated in making this announcement in Parliament on June 11, 2024 that Cabinet had reviewed and disallowed exemptions as of June this year.

The Finance Minister in his speech in Parliament said “the government will review the discretionary exemptions and disallow granting of exemptions from now on (June 2024), to any individual or company. These are tough actions”.

The Finance Minister in his speech highlighted “the total exemption forgone by the government in the first four months from January to April 2024, for both Inland Revenue and Customs, totalled $83.6million. This included $9.4million Statutory Exemptions”.

However, it has turned out that the GNUT government misled Parliament and the people of Solomon Islands, the statement adds.

Wale said in the matter of discretionary exemptions, it is business as usual.

“The Government must reveal total exemptions forgone since June this year for both Inland Revenue and Customs as well as Statutory Exemptions,” the Opposition Leader said.

Wale made the criticism following documents cited that the Finance Minister signed exemptions on separate occasions August 29, 2024 and September 10, 2024.

The exemptions were granted to Nature Product Limited – Nature Motel, the statement said.

According to the Company Haus, the company is registered under a Mr Wang Bing but the email address is registered under Billy Wong, the statement adds.

 “My office was reliably informed that GNUT through the Ministry of Finance continued to grant exemptions despite their dishonest statement in Parliament,” the Opposition Leader said.

Wale said the Finance Minister told Parliament that the reason to cancel all exemptions is because “we are experiencing serious revenue leakages in areas that we can control and that makes it very serious”.

“Since making that animated announcement on the floor of Parliament in June, we have learnt that an exemption was granted to Lee Kuok Kwen & Anthony Veke for equipment, and now this exemption. We understand there are others done in secrecy even from Cabinet and Caucus. The hypocrisy is blinding,” Wale said.

He said obviously it is not as serious to the Finance Minister contrary to his own statement, and it seems this was just another deceptive ploy by the GNUT regime – so much for transformation.

“This is the same deceptive tactic by the former DCGA and it is no surprise that GNUT administration is acting in the same way,” Wale said.

The Opposition Leader called on the GNUT government to clarify to the people as to why they are still granting exemptions to individuals and companies, when government does not have cash to buy basic medicines, fix roads, and provide other essential services.

He said government services are at their lowest level ever, many of the line ministries are not implementing their budgets because government does not have the cash.

“Many contractors and suppliers have not been paid for many months, yet revenue is being given away casually by the GNUT. There is no accountability in this matter,” Wale said.

He said the Prime Minister is simply too weak to put a stop to this nonsense.

The Opposition Leader said the economy is in a very precarious situation, government revenues are down, government cash flow is terrible.

“We have a weak Prime Minister who cannot make tough decisions that are in the best national interest of Solomon Islands,” he said.

“This business as usual attitude is only going to get worse, and Solomon Islanders must be very concerned,” Wale adds.

$120m Kilu’ufi project begins

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Premier of Malaita province, Elijah Asilaua.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Construction of the Japanese funded SBD130 million project for the upgrade and improvement of the Kilu’ufi provincial hospital in Auki, Malaita province is set to begin.

This week, Kitano Company began its set-up in Auki as well as mobilisation of machineries to the province as they prepare for construction.

In an interview with Malaita premier Elijah Asilaua this week, he said this is one of the major development projects the province will largely benefit from.

“After the recent ground breaking for the project, I am pleased to see the project has now come to fruition. Since this week, we have witnessed the presence of Kitano Company in Auki. 

“The project had begun and we expect it to go into full swing next year and beyond. My government fully supports the project and we will work closely with Japan and national government to deliver it.

“The completion of the project will help address health issues as well as improve health services for the people of Malaita province,” he said.

Asilaua thanked the people and government of Japan for the fruition of this very important project for Malaita province and assured them of continuous support.

The contract for Kilu’ufi hospital project was signed by Minister for Health and Medical Service, Dr Paul Popora Bosowai with the Japanese government on July 18 this year, in Japan.

The completion of the project will provide Kilu’ufi hospital with central clinic, delivery departments and strengthening other infrastructure of the hospital such as water supply system, electricity and sewerage.

This will help support the daily medical activities at the Kilu’ufi hospital, whilst considering the future expansion of the hospital.

A statement recently made by His Excellency Miwa Yoshiaki on the project say, the project is a symbol of cooperation between Japan and Solomon Islands.

Highlighting its significance to strengthen the function of medical health service in Malaita province.

He emphasized that the project will not only contribute to the infrastructure development in the province, but also medical health centre which is the basis for social activities and development in the province.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele also said that the completion of the project will not only improve health service in Malaita province, but also offer new tertiary health services.

He said it will help a lot in off-loading burden from the NRH.

The construction of the project has begun and expects completion in the first quarter of 2026.

Don’t make prank calls to toll numbers: NDMO

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Director of National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Jonathan Tafiariki

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) Director Jonathan Tafiariki has appealed to public not to make prank calls to toll-free numbers.

Mr Tafiariki also called on public to take safety measures during this tropical cyclone season.

“We have toll-free numbers that people can use to seek information or report incidents. Most time people abuse these numbers and thus, I like to appeal to the public to respect those numbers as they are important for emergency purposes. So don’t make prank calls on these numbers.

“Those are emergency numbers that exist for us in the country. (Police 999, Fire station 988, Marine 977, or 955 to report disaster impact, weather 933, Ambulance 111, public health emergency and surveilling unit is 115.

“Those numbers are to get information or report information during emergencies and I want people to respect them,’’ he said.

He stated that it’s more important for the general public to re-look back at safety measures and measures that are required during this Tropical Cyclone season.

“We have heard and are aware of the country’s TC outlook, it has become elevated. This means that the risk of TC to form our waters becomes high,’’ said the Director.

He said that many festive activities will happen in November and December, and the public needs to be aware of the high chance of Tropical Cyclone formation this season.

“Not only that we also want to ensure our people check weather updates or information daily from the local news outlets, such as radio, newspapers or the SI Met website or official FB page. As we know TC is associated with heavy rains, which will also threaten the general public.

He also calls the public service, NGOs, to reach out to NDMO to update their contacts.

“Some of the contacts are not functioning or used -so it is vital to revisit NMD to update the contacts,’’ said Tafiariki.

He said that the NDM will continue to reach out to the organization to update but it is also important for those that already subscribe to reconfirm those contacts with NDMO.

Short-form PI ruling for Dragon Pub murder case tomorrow

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

The short-form preliminary inquiry (PI) ruling on the case of two men accused of killing an off-duty police officer at the Dragon Pub in Kukum area in May of this year will be delivered tomorrow.

Yesterday the matter was mentioned in court.

Prosecution told court the two accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder.

The case of one of the accused, Paul Daoburi, has been referred to the High Court. The lawyer for the other, James Solomon Kai, has opted for a short form preliminary inquiry at the magistrates court.

Prosecution tendered to court Mr Solomon Kai’s short-form PI committal deposition.

Court adjourned the matter for November 8 for ruling on the short form PI for Solomon Kai.

Daoburi, 35, and his co-accused Solomon Kai, 21, are jointly charged with murder.

Allegations said the deceased and his colleague, along with the colleague’s wife, went to the Dragon Pub on the night of May 16 for drinks.

Some times between 12am and 1am an argument broke out between the deceased and a group of men, following an assault on his colleague’s wife in which a bottle was allegedly smashed against her head causing her to fall to the ground unconscious.

It was alleged that during the course of the argument the deceased took out and applied a pepper spray on the group of men he was arguing with at that time.

The deceased was later dragged out of the Pub by an off-duty security accused Daoburi, where the deceased was attacked by a group of more than 10 men outside of the Pub.

The allegation further stated Daoburi joined in the attack, using a snooker cue stick with which he used to beat the deceased’s head multiple times.

The second accused Kai with nick name Solo allegedly attacked the deceased using a bottle.

A policeman who arrived at the scene intervened and took the deceased laying bleeding on the floor into a taxi to National Referral Hospital (NRH) where he pronounced dead.

Office of Public Prosecution act for the crown and PSO for Daoburi and HOF Law Chambers for Kai.

Man gets 1 year prison time for break-in and theft

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

The Magistrate court has sentenced a man to one year imprisonment for house break-in and theft.

The sentence was delivered on October 30 by Principal Magistrate Dalcy B Oligari.

Junior Jack Haikeu pleaded guilty on August 26 this year.

In delivering sentence, court highlighted the aggravating factors – the value of the goods stolen was about $65,800, resulting in financial loss to the victim.

Secondly the prevalence of this kind of offending. Court have seen an increase in this kind of offending which requires serious attention and action.

Thirdly – repeated offending. The accused was recently convicted of a similar charge against the same complainant, some days after the offending on April 22, 2024. Shows accused had no respect for other people’s property.

Fourthly, the general ransacking of the complainant’s house and finally, the pre-planning prior to the offending.

Court also considered the mitigating factors – early guilty plea which demonstrated acceptance for his wrongs, Haikeu’s remorse for what he did, the early guilty plea saved court’s time and other resources to proceed with a trial, his cooperation with police during investigation and his personal circumstances.

On April 22, 2024 at around 8am, the complainant arrived at his residence at Tasahe B area and noticed that his gate was slightly opened. He went inside his house and found it to be in a mess.

Later, he found out that his properties, five laptops, two external drives, an electrical drill, a blender machine, and a telescope were missing. These properties were worth $65,800.

The complainant checked around his house to find access into the house, and at the main door, he found scratches from a sharp object at the door frame that damaged the lock. He then informed his neighbour to look after his house in his absence.

The complainant then informed a police officer who also resided in the same area at Tasahe B, and there the case was filed against Haikeu at White River Police Station.

He was later arrested by Police on 7th of

Haikeu was arrested on May 7, 2024, and formally charged.

That same day Haikeu participated in a record of interview under caution with police, and he admitted to breaking into the complainant’s house.

There was no recovery of the missing items from Haikeu.

Herrick Lautalo acted for the Prosecution and Lazarus Waroka for Haikeu.

DATA IS KEY

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CBSI Governor, Dr Luke Forau

Central Bank governor stresses research will boost policies to shield economy from shock as it recovers from pandemic

BY NED GAGAHE

Our economic policies must be responsive, adaptive, and based on the best available data. In this regard, the importance of fostering a strong research culture within the Central Bank cannot be overstated.

Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) Governor Dr Luke Forau echoed these sentiments at the joint inaugural research conference co-hosted by CBSI, Asia-Pacific Applied Economic Association (APAEA) and Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) yesterday.

“High-quality research is the foundation upon which sound policy decisions are made. It enables us to better understand the dynamics of our economy, identify potential risks, and design policies that are not only effective but also sustainable.”

The Governor stated that through the collaboration with APAEA and ADBI, he is optimistic that the Central Bank will be able to engage in joint research projects that will have a tangible impact on our economic policymaking in the country.

He said one of the most critical aspects of this international collaboration is the opportunity to partake in evidence-based policymaking.

Forau said Solomon Islands is at a juncture where high-quality research and data-driven analysis are essential for addressing both immediate and long-term economic challenges that we face.

He stated that the insights learned from joint research initiatives will allow us to design more effective monetary and fiscal policies, ensuring that our economy remains resilient in the face of external shocks, especially as we recover from the pandemic.

The Governor stated that monetary policy plays a pivotal role in maintaining macroeconomic stability, and its importance to Solomon Islands cannot be overstated.

“However, the effectiveness of monetary policy is intrinsically linked to the effectiveness of fiscal policy. These two elements of economic governance must work in tandem to ensure that our nation’s economic stability is preserved and that the benefits of growth are shared equally across all sectors of our society.

“One of the key outcomes I hope to see from this collaboration is a more nuanced understanding of how monetary and fiscal policies interact, and how we can optimize these interactions to benefit the people of the Southern Islands.

“Through data analysis and high-quality research, we will be better positioned to design policies that not only promote macroeconomic stability, but also drive sustainable, inclusive economic growth.

“In today’s rapidly changing global economy, the need for such research and collaboration is more pressing than ever. The world is facing unprecedented economic challenges, from the lingering effects of COVID-19 to the rising threat of climate change,” Forau said.

Burglary case moved for Nov 6

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

CORRECTED VERSION

The case of three men accused of burglary has been moved for November 6 for pre-trial conference (PTC).

Joe Malau, Matthew Malau and Frank Firimolea were in court on Wednesday (Oct 30, 2024).

The hearing was for PTC however Matthew’s lawyer informed court there were issues with the charges and particulars.

Prosecution sought an adjournment to finalise the issues raised by defence.

Court made directions for counsels to settle the outstanding issues raised in court and for the parties to settle the PTC before the next mention date.

Prosecution charged Joe, Matthew and Firimolea with Burglary contrary to section 299 of the Penal Code.

It was alleged on June 10 this year at around 7pm in the evening, the complainant was still at his JX enterprises shop when the defendants drove into the eastern gate of the Fangs area at Tandai in a white carldina car.

The complainant is Mr Wei June We, a Chinese male.

The defendants stopped the car at the eastern side of the building and Matthew and Firimolea walked up to the complainant’s room while Joe walked to the security guard at the gate area to ask for a car jumper to start their car, allegations said.

The guard then reportedly asked him to drive out since he was going to close the gate.

It was alleged Matthew and Firimolea opened the door by damaging the lock and went inside the room and removed 1x ctn red bro cost $ 5850, 1x ctn white bro $ 6950, 1x ctn green pall mall $ 7650, 1x ctn blue pall mall $ 7650 , 1 x ctn solbako $10250, 2 x Huawei mobile phone $3850  and cash of $334000 and then escaped via the same white caldina.

The defendants had already left when the wife of the guard and another Chinese female discovered the break-in.

They alerted police, who apprehended Joe and Mathew while Firimolea escaped with a huge amount of money.

During interview Joe allegedly confessed his involvement with Firimolea.

Police then searched for Firimolea but were unsuccessful until August 26 this year when he was sighted at Foxwood area and apprehended by the Central response team.

Bobby Harunari represents Joe, Ron Dickey Pulekera represents Matthew and Rochella Pama represents Firimolea whilst Monica Rehamora of Public Prosecution Office appears for the crown.

Possible plea for 3 men in burglary case

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

CORRECTED VERSION

The case of three men accused of burglary has been further adjourned for October 16 for possible plea.

Joe Malau, Matthew Malau and Frank Firimolea are facing charges of burglary.

Yesterday’s (October 3, 2024) hearing was for the three accused to take their plea however defence informed court of an ethical conflict with Firimolea, suggesting he be represented by a different lawyer.

Defence sought a 14-day adjournment to allow the public solicitor’s office (PSO) to allocate a lawyer for Firimolea before the three defendants can take their plea.

It was alleged on June 10 this year at around 7pm in the evening, the complainant was still at his JX enterprises shop when the three accused drove into the eastern gate of the Fangs area at Tandai in a white caldina car.

The complainant is Mr Wei June We, a Chinese male.

Allegations add that the defendants stopped the car at the eastern side of the building and Mathew and Frank walked up to the victim’s room while Joe walked to the security guard at the gate area to ask for a car jumper to start their car.

The security guard then asked him to drive out since he was going to close the gate.

It was further alleged that Mathew and Frank went upstairs of the building, opened the door by damaging the lock, went inside and removed 1x ctn red bro cost $ 5850 SBD, 1x ctn white bro $ 6950 SBD, 1x ctn green pall mall $ 7650 SBD, 1x ctn blue pall mall $ 7650 SBD, 1 x ctn solbako $10250 SBD, 2 x Huawei mobile phone $3850 SBD and cash of $334000 SBD and then escaped via the same white caldina.

The defendants had already left the scene before the wife of the security officer and another Chinese female discovered the break-in, allegations said.

They quickly alerted police. Police apprehended Joe and Mathew while Firimolea escaped.

During Joe’s interview he allegedly confessed his involvement with Firimolea.

Police searched for Firimolea but were unsuccessful until August 26 at 7pm when he was sighted at the Foxwood area and apprehended by the Central response team.

Bobby Harunari represents Joe and Ron Dickey Pulekera represents Mathew while Monica Rehamora of Public Prosecution Office appears for the crown.

Gov’t to look into Tax Bill next year

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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

By Loretta B Manele

The Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) will have to look into the tax bill next year.

Manasseh Sogavare, Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for East Choiseul constituency stated this in parliament yesterday.

He said bills are coming up and they will have to look into the tax bill next year, noting that it is a big bill and a very important one at that.

Sogavare added that from this bill, the government is looking at reforming the country’s tax system.

In regards to the bill, he said they should be taking the country forward by addressing major structural issues like the costs of government and utilities.

Meanwhile, he also shed light on the delay of constituency funds.

Sogavare explained to members of parliament that they were supposed to release some constituency funds last Friday however had to prioritize our students who were also in trouble in at USP, Fiji.

“We are here at home so we are okay, but our students are living in foreign land so they don’t have options so we needed to quickly assist them”

Sogavare assured the house that he has spoken to the finance permanent secretary and they should release some payments this week.

“I also assure that every constituency funds should not go past December”

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