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SI LARGEST CORRUPTION SCANDAL

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Wale called on the RSIPF to accelerate the investigations by providing all necessary technical support and resources, making sure that no potential leads are overlooked

BY NED GAGAHE

The Solomon Islands has witnessed one of the most significant corruption scandals in its history says Opposition Leader Matthew Wale.

Wale was referring to Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) report by Office of the Auditor General.

Opposition Leader Wale said the revelation by Auditor General pose significant implication for public trust and governance.

“We cannot allow this matter to be sidelined or forgotten. It is a matter of national integrity, and the people need assurance that those implicated will be held to account,” Wale stressed.

Opposition Leader Wale urged the RSIPF to expedite the investigations with all necessary technical support and resources, ensuring that no potential leads are ignored.

The Opposition Leader reiterated his call for public engagement, emphasizing that the people have a crucial role to play in keeping the issue alive and ensuring accountability.

“Our nation and its people cannot afford to let such a serious misappropriation of public funds slip through the cracks. Justice must be seen to be done, and it must be done in full view of the public.” Hon. Wale stated.

“Corruption must be met with zero tolerance. Complacency has no place in this fight” Wale concluded.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) yesterday confirmed that they have already initiated preliminary discussions on the ESP report following widespread calls for the police to investigate findings on the report.

RSIPF Commissioner, Mostyn Mangau, confirmed that RSIPF is waiting for the OAG to formally refer the report to RSIPF to commence investigation.

Commissioner Mangau said any issue that comes out from the ESP report will follow their normal process of dealing with cases under investigation.

Given the nature of the ESP report, the RSIPF may need time and resources to make a thorough investigation on this particular matter.

“While I appreciate public concern on the ESP audit report, RSIPF is still to receive the formal referral and we will investigate when we receive the report. What I would say at this point is, be patient and allow RSIPF and AOG to do their work,” the RSIPF Commissioner added. 

GNUT commits to sustainable ocean management

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Minister Rexon Ramofafia

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) is focused on the sustainable management of coastal and marine resources.

This commitment was highlighted by Rexson Ramofafia, the Supervising Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Disaster Metrology, during the launch of an ocean expedition this month.

Ramofafia stated that the GNUT has developed several policies for the integrated management and governance of ocean resources.

He emphasized the importance of protecting and conserving the environment, particularly coastal and marine areas.

“We are committed to ocean governance and will take actions to protect our marine ecosystems, support sustainable fisheries, and utilize our maritime resources while ensuring their preservation for future generations,” he said.

The Minister also announced that a draft maritime parcel plan has been finalized, which reflects collaboration among various ministries to enhance ocean protection and governance.

The ocean expedition aims to improve understanding of the marine ecosystem, particularly around Guadalcanal, Makira Central, and Malaita.

It will help identify threats to the ecosystem and develop strategies to protect the ocean, including creating marine protected areas.

This expedition is a collaborative effort involving National Geographic Pristine Seas, the Government of the Solomon Islands, members of Ocean12, and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD).

It will utilize advanced technology to gain insights into the nearshore marine ecosystem and promote ocean conservation.

Court to sentence man for stabbing incident

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

A man who pleaded guilty to stabbing a Bangladeshi national with a kitchen knife is set to receive his sentence today.

Nigel Haibagau has been charged with one count of acts intended to cause grievous harm. The victim was a cashier at Suba Enterprise Limited, a shop located across from the White River Clinic.

On May 26 this year, around 3 PM, the complainant was at the shop counter when Haibagau entered the store holding a kitchen knife. Without saying a word, he approached the counter and punched the victim before stabbing him on the left side of his head with the knife. After the attack, Haibagau fled the shop.

A security guard witnessed the incident and shouted at Haibagau. In response, the accused turned and threatened the security guard with the knife, but the guard managed to avoid being hurt. The security guard then rushed to the White River Police Station for help.

Haibagau escaped to the Tikopia Settlement, where he was arrested by the police shortly after the incident.

The victim sustained a head injury and was taken to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) for treatment, where he was discharged on May 28.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is representing the Crown, while a public solicitor is representing the accused.

Magistrate Court issues warrant

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

The Magistrate Court has issued an arrest warrant for a 45-year-old man who failed to appear in court, despite being informed that his case was scheduled for yesterday.

Due to the victim’s vulnerable status, the man’s name cannot be disclosed. He is facing charges of committing an indecent act against a 13-year-old girl.

The court session was intended for the accused to enter his plea; however, he did not attend. Consequently, the case has been postponed to November 4 for a warrant review.

Prosecution has charged the 45-year-old man with an indecent act involving the 13-year-old victim.

It is alleged on 6 June victim went to the water pump where they used to fetch water for shower and washing.

A few minutes later victim went to the river to relieve herself and on her return the accused grabbed her using his both hands and proceed further by holding the victim private parts which she felt great pain and feeling uncomfortable.

It was further alleged during the cause of that time, both accused and the victim were standing and the accused told the victim for them to have sexual intercourse.

At that time the victim was full of fear and not able to shout or scream.

Victim allegedly lied to the accused saying that her sister is waiting for her at the water pump and so, the accused then let her go.

After accused let the victim go, he also told the victim he will give her $ 100.00 later.

The victim did not tell anyone after the incident until Friday evening, she reveals the story to her mother.

On 10 June this year, the mother took her daughter to Tetere police station and reported the matter to the police.

On 21 June the accused was caution dealt with for the offence of indecent act on a child under 15 and was released on bail.

Georgina Oroi appears for crown and Jennifer Happliyn appears for defence.

12 awards set for 8th Business Excellence Awards

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SICCI's CEO, James Dolarii

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) has revealed that there will be 12 awards presented during the 2024 Business Excellence Awards night, scheduled for November 16th. The 8th Business Excellence Awards event will take place at the Aquatic Center located within the new stadium at KG Sixth in East Honiara.

SICCI’s CEO, James Dolarii, made this announcement during an information session held at the Lime Lunch on Monday of this week. Mr. Dolarii outlined the categories for the 12 awards as follows:

  1. New Business of the Year Award: Open to any business that has been operating for three years, regardless of sector or service type.
  2. Large Business of the Year Award: Aimed at businesses with 50 or more employees.
  3. Medium Business of the Year Award: Designated for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
  4. Small Business of the Year Award: For businesses employing fewer than 10 individuals, specifically those with between 1 and 9 employees.
  5. Innovation and Technology of the Year Award: Recognizes businesses that effectively incorporate technology into their operations or services.
  6. Agri-Business of the Year Award: Intended for agricultural enterprises based in Honiara or the provinces that qualify for this category.
  7. Tourism Business of the Year Award.
  8. Exporter of the Year Award: Open to businesses of all sizes that export goods from the Solomon Islands.
  9. Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Applicable to business owners of small, medium, or large enterprises.
  10. Building and Construction Award of the Year: A new category.
  11. Community Business of the Year Award: Recognizes businesses that contribute to their communities in the Solomon Islands based on the services they provide.
  12. Prime Minister’s Award of the Year: Overseen by SICCI, the Prime Minister, and a judging panel.

“I want to acknowledge the supporters of SICCI and DFAT in terms of operations and the partnership with the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) to deliver this year’s Business Excellence Awards event,” said CEO Dolarii.

NEW DATE FOR TINT REMOVAL

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Eddie Siapu.

Vehicle owners to expected to adhere to this instruction without delay: Siapu

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Operations to remove dark tints from public vehicles in Honiara are set to commence on Thursday, October 24, 2024, as confirmed by Honiara City Council Mayor Eddie Siapu.

In an exclusive interview with Island Sun on Tuesday, October 22, the mayor explained the timeline for the operation.

“We have just completed the order necessary to comply with the ordinance to initiate the operation today (Tuesday, October 22) and will submit it to the Attorney General for any required changes. Therefore, it is not possible to begin today; the likely start date is Thursday, October 24,” Siapu clarified.

He emphasized that the operation cannot proceed without an established ordinance. The mayor also distinguished between public and private vehicles, noting that the focus is solely on public vehicles.

“Private vehicles fall under the Mechanical Works Services Department within the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, which oversees vehicle fleet management and conducts inspections to ensure compliance with licensing and insurance requirements,” Siapu stated. “To conduct business in Honiara, they must obtain a business license from the City Council, which grants me the authority to make decisions regarding them.”

The ordinance includes a range of penalties for individuals who do not comply. In a press statement, Mayor Siapu urged public vehicle owners in Honiara to promptly remove tinted windows, stating,

 “The grace period will conclude on Thursday, October 24, 2024. This directive applies to taxis, buses, and pickup trucks registered under the Honiara City Council Business Licenses.”

Siapu explained that tinted windows hinder visibility, complicating the identification of drivers and passengers, which poses risks, especially during emergencies.

He stressed that the directive would be strictly enforced, with penalties for non-compliance.

“We expect vehicle owners to adhere to this instruction without delay. Non-compliance will lead to penalties as outlined in the forthcoming legal provisions. The maximum fine for first-time offenders is $5,000.00, which entails prosecution and charges,” Siapu added.

The Honiara City Council encourages public cooperation, emphasizing that the directive serves the city’s safety interests.

The decision to prohibit dark window tints follows reports of attempted child abductions in the past week.

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau announced during a press conference on Monday that police would collaborate with HCC Law Enforcement Officers for this initiative.

He reiterated that public vehicle owners who do not comply would face fines.

“The operation aims to address reported abductions throughout the city and will continue until December 2024,” Mangau stated.

Lavukal enthrones eight Chiefs

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Lavukal House of Chiefs recently celebrated the enthronement of eight new chiefs during the Chiefs Day event at Louna, Russell Islands, on Saturday, October 19th.

The theme for the 2024 Lavukal Chiefs Day was “Empowering and Enhancing Our Lavukal People.” This occasion served as a formal ceremony for the enthronement and dethronement of chiefs within the Lavukal House of Chiefs.

During the official event, the newly enthroned chiefs took their Oath of Allegiance in the presence of Susan Kabau from the A.S. Willy Law Office. Before the oath-taking, a Mass was conducted to bless the newly appointed chiefs.

The newly enthroned chiefs represent the four primary tribes of the Russell Islands and include Mark Apa, Chief of the Olukita clan; Gregory Riahi, Chief of the Salitavea clan; Ismael Larry, Village Chief of Loside; Robert Vuka, Chief of the Mohu clan; John Waika, also Chief of the Mohu clan; Riccy Apa, Chief of the Ovulita clan; and Venasio Sakotoga, Chief of Avio.

This transition aims to empower younger individuals to take on leadership roles within their respective tribes and clans.

The Lavukal Chiefs Day 2024 celebrations concluded successfully with feasting and entertainment on Saturday, October 19th, in Louna village, Russell Islands.

Lavukal celebrates Chiefs’ Day

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Lavukal House of Chiefs Day 2024 was celebrated successfully at Louna in the Russell Islands over the weekend, with the theme “Empowering and Enhancing Our Lavukal People.”

Held annually on October 19th, the event aims to bring together the four tribes of the Russell Islands along with their paramount, clan, and community chiefs.

This year’s celebration featured the enthronement of newly appointed chiefs and the presentation of progress reports from various Lavukal entities.

Event Chair Clement Fagi welcomed attendees, saying, “On behalf of my community at Louna, I extend a warm welcome as we gather to witness and celebrate the enthronement of the Lavukal chief.”

 He expressed gratitude to Oliver Salopuka, MP for Savo/Russell, for his generous support.

“Today, you have gifted us a special collection of musical instruments and various consumer goods for the event. Your support has made this celebration truly joyous. Thank you to everyone involved,” Fagi concluded.

The event received support from the Honiara Lavukal team, led by Oliver Salopuka, who played a key role in organizing the event at Louna, Russell Islands. The Lavukal community is comprised of the Solovui, Keruval, Sevev, and Kaiseleng tribes.

The celebration kicked off with a lively welcome ceremony on Friday, October 18th, at 4 PM, and continued with the main program on Saturday, October 19th, at Louna.

Attendees included the Paramount Chiefs of the Russell Islands, representatives from all tribes within the House of Chiefs, the Member of Parliament for the Lavukal ward, directors from Levers Solomon’s Limited (LSL) and Russell Islands Plantation Limited (RIPEL), lawyer Ms. Susan, directors of the Lavukal Investment Company, and members of surrounding communities.

Salopuka expresses confidence in newly appointed Chief’s leadership

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Member of Parliament (MP) for Savo/Russell constituency, Oliver Salopuka, voiced his optimism about the future leadership of the newly appointed chief, expressing confidence that the chief will bring unity to the community moving forward.

In an exclusive interview with local media at the Lavukal Chief Day celebrations held in Louna Village on Saturday, October 19th, Salopuka emphasized the importance of this annual event, which is a long-standing tradition for the Lavukal House of Chiefs.

“The Lavukal Chief Day is a ceremonial event for the enthronement and retirement of chiefs, especially when a chief reaches old age and decides to step down,” he explained.

Salopuka acknowledged the challenges of uniting the four tribes of the Russell Islands, describing the task as complex. He highlighted the achievements made, including the recent enthronement of new leaders in Louna Village, where several chiefs have taken over from their retiring predecessors.

“This transition empowers younger generations to manage their tribes and clans. The Lavukal House of Chiefs focuses on resource management and aims to promote cooperation among tribes to effectively utilize shared resources,” the MP stated.

Despite these efforts, he noted that there are ongoing difficulties in bringing tribal leaders together to make collective decisions for resource development.

“I hope that the newly enthroned leaders will work collaboratively with all chiefs to uphold our constitution and pursue our shared objectives,” he said.

Salopuka clarified that the Lavukal House of Chiefs is a legally recognized body consisting of four paramount chiefs, each representing the four tribes of the Russell Islands.

In his role as Chair of the Lavukal House of Chiefs and the Lavukal Indigenous Trust Board, Salopuka oversees the business operations of the Lavukal Investment Company, which operates under the authority of the Lavukal House of Chiefs. He reiterated that the House of Chiefs holds decision-making power over resource management within the Russell Islands.

The Lavukal Chief Day celebrations for 2024 concluded successfully on Saturday, October 19th, at Louna Village in the Russell Islands.

SI first in pacific to be awarded system transformation grant

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

Solomon Islands is the first country in the Pacific region to be awarded the System Transformation Grant (STG) under Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

Minister for Education, Tozen Leokana revealed this during the government’s launching of “Education System Capacity and Transformation Programs” supported by Global Partnership for Education (GPE), UNICEF and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) at the Heritage Park Hotel yesterday.

Leokana said the programs supported by GPE will help us to make better use of data across our education system and provide training to teachers to help them to teach more effectively than in the past years.

He added that this will also strengthen further access to curriculum materials including online resources that the ministry is aiming to make readily accessible to teachers and students.

Leokana expressed that it is pleasing to hear about developments in education and the shared commitments our development partners rendered to the country so that we can reform our education system for the betterment of our children’s learning.

He said the GNUT (Government for National Unity and Transformation) government is focusing on development of key areas and is committed, especially to invest in human capital development through quality education and skills improvement strategies.

“As a government, we believe that by equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills, they are better prepared to contribute to the economy and society as a whole”

Leokana said this is a period of significant and exciting reform and development across all the education sectors in the country.

“The passing of the Education Act late last year and the start of its implementation this year, brings a new framework for how education is led, managed, coordinated and supported across all provinces”

“Developments are occurring across many parts of the education sector including the new initiatives being developed for Early Childhood Education (ECE), curriculum development, school infrastructure and a new project to support the improvement of Senior Secondary Education”

Leokana said the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) is also undertaking a mid-term review of the National Education Action Plan 2022-2026 after having implemented it for more than two and a half years.

“This review is intended to help inform our decisions and actions for implementation of the rest of the reform activities, projects and programs until the plan is concluded at the end of 2026”.

Speaking of the newly launched “Education System Capacity and Transformation Programs”, the minister for education took the opportunity to thank those who worked hard for this iniative.

“I would like to thank all those who worked hard to enable the proposal to be approved and acknowledge the abled leadership of PS Rodie in this process. This highlights the importance we all place on education for our children and the nation’s future”

“Today we acknowledge a key part of education development that focuses on what happens at the classroom level, with the support from GPE”

Leokana said he looks forward to receiving reports in the years ahead from his permanent secretary, Franco Rodie and his team from the MEHRD about the progress made as these programs get underway from 2025 as well as about the outcomes of improved learning that should follow.

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