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Malaita police searching for stabbing suspect

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Police in Malaita are on the hunt for a man who reportedly stabbed another over an election related argument over the weekend.

The suspect is said to be in hiding somewhere on Malaita.

Malaita police commander Leslie Kili said the incident occurred at Urufoki, West Fataleka, following an argument which stemmed from election results released last week.

The victim is receiving treatment at Kilu’ufi Hospital.

Mr Kili said that the police are actively pursuing the suspects involved in the incident.

Further details will be revealed as our investigation progresses.

By William Ekotani ,Stringer, Malaita

Political camps

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Manasseh Sogavare Ownership, Unity and Responsibility (OUR) Party Parliamentary Wing Leader.

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

THE current lobbying period is building up possible camps of what is known to our country’s political norm to happen now.

Solomon Islands is well known for its unpredictable political nature when it comes to the current lobbying and camping period leading up to the formation of the government of the day.

Over the past, the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility (OUR) Party led by its Parliamentary Wing Leader Manasseh Damukana Sogavare has embedded a streamline of constantly setting up its political camp at Cowboy’s Grill within the Pacific Crown Hotel vicinity.

At present, former Prime Minister and sole current Member of Parliament (MP) elect for Central Honiara Gordon Darcy Lilo, who is the Wing Leader of Solomon Islands Party of Rural Advancement (SIPRA) has set up camp at Honiara Hotel within Chinatown.

The ‘CARE’ coalition which is a make-up of other parties that usually opts for Heritage Park Hotel as its gathering spot in Honiara’s Central Business District (CBD) and the Solomon Islands United Party (SIUP) are also a grouping that may have the possibility to have vision alignments in this convincing period.

Lobbying and camping stages are almost unpredictable as MPs are not legitimately bound to not move freely between camps.

Grievous harm case moved for tomorrow

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

THE case into the grievous bodily harm charge against accused Zane Taisia Gegeu has moved for tomorrow, April 26, for the setting of a new trial date.

Magistrate Pauline Smith Taroimae who presided yesterday told court, Chief Magistrate Emma Garo’s instructions was for the matter to be adjourned for Friday for mention.

Bail for Brendon Kakai was extended and remand for Taisia was extended.

Meanwhile the accused is also facing an ongoing murder and driving without licence charge which he plead not guilty to the charges and the case was committed to the High Court for the accused to stand trial on the later date.

However, for this grievous charge the Prosecution alleged that Mr. Gegeu on the early morning January 1 this year, Gegeu together with his co-accused Brendon Kakai without a lawful excuse assault the complainant at Pacific Crown Hotel who at the time arguing with the accused Gegeu sister.

It was further alleged that Gegeu took a bottle of Solbrew and hit the complainant head which caused blood and injury to the complainant forehead.

The complainant later went and report the matter to the police the next day.

John Wesley Zoze from Public Prosecution Office act for the Crown and Lazurus Waroka of PSO act for Zane Taisia Gegeu.

ELECTION RECOUNT?

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Chief Electoral Officer Solomon Islands Electoral Commission Jasper Anisi

SIEC advises aggrieved candidates to lodge petition with High Court

BY NED GAGAHE

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) has clarified that the appropriate avenue to request re-count is with the court through petition not the SIEC.

SIEC Chief Electoral Officer Jasper Anisi made the clarification during a press conference yesterday in light of speculations that certain aggrieved candidates were disappointed with counting process and want a re-count.

According to Anisi the Returning Officers, after making the declarations of the winning candidates under section 106 of the Electoral Act, and notifying the Commission of the full results, the Returning Officers could not review their own decisions. The Returning Officers were in legal terms considered “functus officio”.

Anisi said that the only authority able to review the decisions of the Returning Officers is the High Court of Solomon Islands.

“Any request for vote recount has to be lodged through the High Court.

“The appropriate place to request recount is with the court through petition not the SIEC.

“Commission can’t do anything because the RO’s have already discharged their duties.”

He further explained that the Electoral Act provides for the types of petitions.

“Everyone has the right to invoke those process, it is there in the Electoral Act, the types of petitions that you can do to petition results, what we are saying here is that, because the courts will decide whether those complains or allegations have substance or not, if not they (the court) can dismiss it on frivolous claims (claims which lacks any arguable basis).

“So, with electoral provisions, as soon as Returning Officer (RO) discharge their duties, they cannot go back and corrected anything. So, technically in law no one is there to do your recount.”

CBSI urges incoming government to support increase export volume

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CBSI Governor, Dr Luke Forau.

BY NED GAGAHE

Governor of Central Bank of Solomon Islands Dr Luke Forau has urged the incoming government to support and facilitate the export sector.

He said Solomon Islands seriously needs to focus on increasing the export volume.

Speaking at the launching of the bank’s 2023 annual report on Monday Governor Forau said often times we hear exporters complaining about them not meeting the demand of their buyers.

He said the government must support the exporting companies by providing appropriate incentives in order for them to increase their volume.

He adds that this support should include the whole supply chain starting from the farmer (if it’s an agricultural commodity) right up to the exporter. Moreover, the government needs to listen to the exporters, they know best.

“Important to note that the agriculture sector hasn’t reach its potential output yet. Therefore, large investments are needed in the agricultural sector.

“At the same time, it’s about time that we start focusing on adding value to our exports by down streaming our primary commodities. Again, this requires reasonable incentives from the government.

“The country hasn’t had any large investment in the secondary production since the establishments of Soltuna cannery and Palm Oil.

“We must seriously focus on investing in this sector to help boost our GDP. When the export sector booms, our foreign exchange earnings also increase – good for the country! High exports can also cause the local currency to strengthen.” CBSI Governor Dr Luke Forau.

MPG serious about transforming Malaita province

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MALAITA province is serious about transforming Malaita province and to ensure its development aspirations are achieve for the benefits of its people.

This was echoed by the Human Resources Manager for Malaita province, Richard Misi during a PCDF handing over ceremony to Ofabau cattle farm in Central Kwara’ae.

The outgoing Fini government had been working very hard with donors to see Malaita province is transformed.

This is by connecting Malaitans with their resources and ideas to transform Malaita economy, environment and social prosperity.

Also, part of Fini’s led government’s aim came the tar-seal project for Auki which MOU for the project had signed. The project will fund by PRC.

The HRM said this is what MPG is all about by opening its arms and embrace everyone to work together for mutual benefits especially Malaita province.

Mr Misi said it is least to say to China is no enemy to Malaita province, as it is known that no man is an island.

“Thus, we must work together and stop behaving like we can do everything by ourselves,” he said.

The HR Misi said in order for Malaita province to move forward in its development, it needs resource owners and provincial government to work together with donors.

Vave aims to prioritise constituents

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Isikeli Junior Vave. Photo supplied..

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

NEWCOMER Member of Parliament (MP) elect for Shortland Islands Isikeli Junior Vave has vowed to prioritise the needs of his constituents.

When queried by Island Sun yesterday, he made clear that as a newcomer MP elect, he aims to prioritise the need to upskill and equip the education, tourism and livelihood sector of his constituency.

“I aim to focus mainly on education and the livelihood of my people by creating a small economical system within our islands to ensure that my people can be self-reliant and self-sustainable in their daily lives.

“I also aim to boost the tourism industry within our beautiful islands and create a tourist destination hot spot to highlight the beauty of Shortland Islands,” Vave said.

Vave added that investing in human resources and providing the avenue to tourism opportunities is tangible development that should be prioritised.

CBSI projects SI economy to grow 2.9 percent in 2024

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CBSI Governor, Dr Luke Forau

BY NED GAGAHE

The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) is projecting that the Solomon Islands post-Pacific Games economy to grow by 2.9 percent in 2024 and 2.5 percent in 2025.

Governor Dr Luke Forau made the projection when he launched the Central Bank’s 2023 Annual Report on Monday 22nd April at the Heritage Park Hotel.

“Turning to the outlook for the year, 2024, the Central Bank projects the post-Pacific Games Solomon Islands’ economy to grow by 2.9 percent in 2024 and 2.5% in 2025.

Governor Forau said this growth projection is anticipated to come from a rebound in fishing and palm oil production, further expansion in the mining sector – with an expected increase in nickel exports – and continued infrastructure support by development partners.

He said the modest growth is also expected across all other sectors.

He adds that in the medium term, growth is projected to average around 2.5 percent.

“This is expected to be triggered by the staggered implementation of planned development projects and the continued prospects for global growth, as logging is forecasted to decline.

“In spite of this positive growth outlook, the state of our economy remains fragile and susceptible to shocks. The key underlying fundamentals of the economy remain unaddressed; this include but not limited to narrow economic base, high unemployment, narrow tax base, continuous fiscal deficit, low production, low demand, shallow market, shallow financial system, and weak monetary policy transmission mechanism.

In addition, the CBSI Governor said domestic challenges still remain, such as rising costs of doing business, inefficient process of accessing to land for investment, and an inefficient domestic infrastructure including inadequate transportation system, coupled with limited access to finance, and limited fiscal space which are further threatened by climate change risk.

“As the largest employer, the largest consumer, the largest contributor to national savings/investments, government action has a larger impact on the economy. It is one of the two pillars of the economy, the other one being the private sector.

“As such, it is crucial that management of fiscal operations is done to spur economic growth and improve the livelihoods of our people. 6 That said, the fiscal outlook for 2024 entails a deficit of 4% of GDP, with a total budget of $4.2 billion.

“I want to stressed that fiscal discipline and effective management of the budget is crucial for the delivery of the budget.

“Until now, we are uncertain of the incoming government’s plans, but any further fiscal expansion would severely strain the fiscal space and put the government in a very tight and strenuous debt situation. With limited financial resources, policy priorities have to be realistic and targeted.” CBSI Governor Dr Luke Forau said.

Suidani eyes premier seat

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Former Malaita Premier, Daniel Suidani

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

FORMER premier of Malaita province and leader of the MARA regime, Daniel Suidani is eyeing the premier post for the province.

Mr Suidani, who was denied by the Sogavare led DCGA government to complete his term as MPA in the outgoing Malaita provincial assembly, is back and ready to retain his political status.

In an interview yesterday, Suidani said he is ready and confident with the support from his colleague MPAs to form the next government of Malaita province.

“We began our journey during the MARA government to navigate Malaita province to where it should and achieve its development aspirations.

“We were then denied from the journey. Now, we are back and I want to assure that we will continue with the journey.

“We will continue to work together with people in the province, development partners and even look at establishing relationships with new partners.

“Also, we will be promoting the principles and values once promoted by MARA government. Principles and values that are for the good of Malaita.

“Now, the ball is in our court and we are committed to work together with all Malaitans to realize our common dreams for the province,” he said.

Suidani said during the recent joint elections, some MPAs they’d together under MARA government were unseated, while others returned their seats

He said since this week they camped at AM motel in Auki and secured a good number at the camp. Some of their MPAs are on their way to Auki and will be at the camp this weekend.

“By now, I am confident to say that we have more than 20 out of 33 MPAs under our camp. This consisted of both former and new MPAs.

“And toward this weekend, we will publish the names of MPAs under our AM camp,” Suidani said.

The other camp is expecting to form by Randol Sifoni and Elijah Asilaua, the two potential candidates for premiership from the outgoing Fini led government.

Some of their colleagues who have potential for the premiership post are Mr Martin Fini, Joe Hero’au who were unseated during the election.

Election for the provincial speaker and premier expect soon.

CBSI records $199.4 million net profit in 2023

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Dr. Luke Forau, CBSI Governor

BY NED GAGAHE

THE Cental Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) has recorded a net operating profit of $199.4 million, reversing the $12.8 million loss incurred in 2022.

Governor Dr Luke Forau revealed this during the launching of CBSI’s annual report for 2023 at Heritage Park Hotel on Monday.

He said of the total profit, $129 million is in the form of unrealized revaluation gains and $70 million is operational profit.

“Overall, CBSI’s net equity position improved significantly, rising by 64% to $531 million. Total assets stood at $6.60 billion at the end of 2023, the majority (90%) are foreign reserves, which we aim to maintain at a comfortable level to support the country’s international trading and transaction requirements.

“In terms of governance, the Bank was able to leverage the oversight and expertise of its full nine-member Board of Directors.

Governor Forau said last year, the Board endorsed the Bank’s Strategic Plan 2024-2027, which charts CBSI’s direction for the next four years.

“In it, 11 we aligned our shared vision of CBSI as “A Modern Central Bank Empowering Development of Solomon Islands” with the key mandates stipulated in the CBSI Act.

“The Bank currently has a dedicated workforce of 165 staff, up from 148 in 2022. We strive to be an equal-opportunities employer, with females comprising 41 percent of the workforce.

“We also continued to actively encourage capacity-development and wellbeing programmes for our staff, with the goal of enhancing skills, enriching knowledge, and promoting overall staff health throughout the year.

He added that the Bank has also made good progress reviewing the laws that govern its roles and contribution to the development of the country.

“In October, the National Parliament approved an amendment of the CBSI Act 2012, following extensive consultations in Honiara and the Provinces.

“We also made progress towards the implementation of the National Payment System, with the establishment of a dedicated Department to spearhead its implementation.

“The Bank further progressed policy papers to review the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act, the Financial Institutions (Amendment) Act, the Insurance Act, and the Exchange Control Act.

“These documents have now been rendered to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury for Cabinet approval.” CBSI Governor Dr Luke Forau said.

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