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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.

Malaita Provincial leader case adjourned to November 18

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BY ROMINAH

The case against Malaita provincial leader Daniel Suidani and his political advisor Celsus Talifilu, related to unlawful assemblies and protests in 2021, was mentioned in Magistrate Court yesterday and has been adjourned to November 18 for a possible plea.

Both men are charged with three counts of unlawful assembly, as outlined in the Penal Code. The prosecutor informed the court that both accused are currently on police bail and present in court. They also stated that the investigation is complete, and disclosures will be prepared and served to the defense counsel by the end of the day.

Defense lawyer George Gray, the Director of the Public Solicitor, will represent Suidani and Talifilu.

The defense requested a one-month adjournment due to Gray’s involvement in another trial at the High Court.

The court agreed to the adjournment, moving the matter to November 18, and instructed that full disclosures be provided to Gray today. The police bail for both accused was also extended.

The Malaita leader and Talifilu were arrested on October 3, 2024, for allegedly masterminding unlawful assemblies and protests in Auki, the provincial capital, organized by the Malaita for Democracy (M4D) group.

Mary-Anne Zurenuoc appeared for the Crown, while George Gray represented both accused.

Solomon Islands, Indonesia poised to enhance bilateral relations

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Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele.

BY NED GAGAHE

Solomon Islands and Indonesia are looking at ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, education and training, maritime and shipping, and transport.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele stated this during a media conference yesterday.

“Indonesia, as you can appreciate, is an increasingly important bilateral partner for the Solomon Islands. They funded and built the Friendship Hall for the 2023 Pacific Games, as well as the Burns Creek Clinic, which is about to be completed. Apart from that, over the years, Indonesia has also provided some scholarships to our students. Of course, we have an embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“We have in place a bilateral visa waiver agreement between our two countries for diplomatic and official passports. There is scope to expand our cooperation with Indonesia in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, cross-education and training, maritime and shipping, and transport.

Manele said two countries are working on developing a five-tier development cooperation framework under which will soon see these sectors falls under.

“In our case, through the Ministry of National Planning and Development Cooperation, is working with the Indonesian authorities. Usually, they come under the general framework cooperation. As and when there is a need for specific modes, those modes can be developed for specific sectors.” Manele said.

The Prime Minister also revealed that both countries are also discussing an air services agreement between Indonesia and the Solomon Islands to expand connectivity between the two nations.

“Draft modes on education cooperation and also on police cooperation are also ready for signing. Most likely, this will be signed early next year.” He said.

Prime Minister Manele said the police minister or the relevant ministers will be travelling to Indonesia to sign on those memorandums of understanding, especially on education cooperation and police cooperation.

“Indonesia is also an observer in the MSG. It is a member of the ASEAN group. Both Indonesia and the Solomon Islands are members of the Asian group at the UN, as well as the group of 77 in China at the UN in New York.

“You can also appreciate that both Indonesia and the Solomon Islands are also members of the Coral Triangle Initiative, which is important for us.

Prime Minister Manele will leave the country today to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency PRABOWO SUBIANTO and the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency GIBRAN RAKABUMING RAKA.

Indonesia has invited all Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders to the Inauguration

Ceremony happening this Sunday 20th October 2024.

Prime Minister Manele confirms through a media conference this afternoon, he has

accepted the invitation. He will return on Wednesday 23rd October.

BUSINESS AS USUAL

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Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau

Mangau expressed that the investigation is ongoing

BY LORETTA B MANELE

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau has assured the public that it is business as usual, but urged citizens, especially parents, to take necessary precautions to ensure safety.

He made the comment during a press conference at OPMC, Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet yesterday afternoon regarding the recent public scare of said kidnappings or abductions on social media.

Mangau said five suspects were arrested on Friday in connection with unrelated incidents.

He mentioned that three of them have been released, while two remain in custody.

Mangau expressed that the investigation is ongoing as their teams work diligently to identify any possible links to organ harvesting or kidnapping activities in Honiara.

He said the five suspects have been charged for other offenses unrelated to kidnapping, vehicles have been impounded as part of the investigation and they are awaiting the outcome of these inquiries.

Mangau stated that the police are currently investigating only two attempted kidnapping cases, but no actual kidnapping reports or missing person cases have been filed in the country so far.

He stressed that unfortunately, false information and rumors spreading on social media are causing unnecessary fear and anxiety within our communities.

Mangau said we must continue our daily routines and operate as usual.

“We have a responsibility to protect our children dropping them off and picking them up from school is part of our daily duty. Drop them off at school and pick them up is our day-to-day business”

He said crime is present in every society around the world, and when it occurs, it is the authorities’ job to respond.

Mangau stated that there have been no reports of abductions or kidnappings and due to a lot of misinformation being spread in social media, there has been fear and anxiety in the capital.

He said the police can provide security and assure safety of all citizens of Solomon Islands if we work together and support our police to provide information.

Mangau encourages the public to come forward if they know their relatives are involved in this.

“If you know your uncle, brother is connected and involved in this please come forward and report it. But if we protect those invoked in this kind of activities, we will create on problem for our community”

The police commissioner calls on everyone to work together, have faith in our authorities, continue with our usual activities and let responsible authorities to continue with their duty.

McFadden Aoraunisaka, Chief of Staff to OPMC spoke on behalf of the GNUT (Government for National Unity and Transformation) government.

He said on behalf of the government, just to give confidence to the general public, the government is on top of this and is serious about what is happening because it is a mass public scare.

Aoraunisaka stressed that the whole government machineries are intact is functioning and what happened is more like shaking our national unity.

“But we will solve it. It is the “Unity” within the Government of National Unity and Transformation that is shaking at the moment, which is not good if we are not united. But to assure the people the whole government machinery is functioning”

He said of course, we can go on with our normal lives but with responsibilities and whether abductions happen or not it is our duty to look after ourselves for our own safety.

“Just go on with your normal life and business and look after your children well as well”

Aoraunisaka said we have socio paths in our communities who are probably just trolling because they watch too many movies or computer games and might want to act them out. However, we must be complacent, we must take responsibility in our movements and actions.

MASI congratulates Kekea on her Selection to Commonwealth Elections Observer Mission

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Gina Kekea. Photo supplied.

The Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) has congratulated its former president, Georgina Kekea, on her selection to be part of the Commonwealth Expert Team (CET) to observe the October 30 elections in the African nation of Botswana.

Kekea, who was MASI president since 2019 until September this year, flew out of the country on Sunday to join the mission.

New MASI president Ofani Eremae says the association is proud of Kekea’s selection to be part of the Commonwealth election observer group.

“Georgina has led MASI during one of the most challenging times in the history of our country,” Eremae said.

“She steered MASI at a very difficult period and ensured the local media association came out stronger,” he added.

“I believe her selection to be part of the Commonwealth elections observer mission was based on the exemplary leadership she demonstrated during those years.

“The MASI family couldn’t be prouder seeing one of its own selected to undertake a significant role with the Commonwealth.”

Botswana, a member of the Commonwealth family, will go to the polls on October 30.

The Commonwealth expert team is being led by Gideon Moi, a Kenyan Senator.

Others are:

  • Ms Pamela Ogiste, Assistant Chief Election Officer, Elections and Boundaries Commission, Trinidad and Tobago
  • Judge Peter Herbert OBE, Human Rights Barrister & Judge (ret.) United Kingdom
  • Ms Chipokota Mwanawasa, Policy Adviser to President of Zambia
  • Mr Idzuafi Hadi Kamilan, Executive Director, Institute for Political Reform and Democracy, Malaysia

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, KC, said the “Commonwealth’s presence in Botswana to observe these elections reaffirms our unwavering commitment to democracy and human rights. 

“Building resilient societies demands free, fair, and inclusive electoral processes. 

“We stand in solidarity with the people of Botswana in upholding democracy and development values as enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter.”

The Secretary-General expressed her gratitude to each expert team member for participating in the assignment, which she said is important to support Botswana’s democratic journey.

MASI PRESS

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