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3 men face court charged with stealing $100k

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0

BY ROMINAH FAKA

Three men are facing court for stealing money totalling $100,000.

Junior Sifoni, Junior Jackson Bakewa and Fred Luwi are each charged with simple larceny.

Their case was mentioned in court yesterday. However, their lawyers did not turn up.

The men also told court that they would prefer to consult with their lawyers before making a plea.

Court adjourned the matter to October 30 at 9am for arraignment. Bail for all three defendants extended.

Police alleged that Sifoni, Bakewa and Luwi on September 2, 2023 had few beers and stole the complainant’s bag of money in his car containing $100,000.

The men allegedly shared the stolen money among themselves.

The matter was reported to Naha Police on September 4 and the defendants were arrested and charged.

Only $30,000 has been recovered.

Public Prosecution office appears for the Crown and Private Law firm appears for defendant.

Wale calls on Minister Avui to resign

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Opposition Leader Matthew C Wale.

LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale has called on the Minister of Lands & Housing, Ishmael Avui to issue a public apology and resign from his portfolio.

Failing which, Wale said the Prime Minister should immediately remove Minister Avui from Cabinet.

The call comes after a leaked audio recording of the Lands Minister threatening to slap the Commissioner of Lands if he did not comply with the minister’s demand to grant government land and a house to a close political crony of the minister.

The Opposition Leader said the minister who is a long time senior public servant simply knows better.

Wale urged the Prime Minister to sack the minister if he fails to resign from Cabinet.

“The threat of violence made by the minister is a criminal offence and the commissioner of police must investigate,” he said.

Further, Wale called on the Leadership Code Commission to look into the possibility of misconduct in office by Minister Avui.

The Opposition Leader said the Minister has brought the name of the Government into disrepute.

Wale adds that government policy is very clear that there is no sale of government houses.

He said it is extremely disturbing that the minister himself is threatening violence against the commissioner to force him to breach government policy.

The Minister cited humanitarian grounds as the basis for his demand but Wale said this is a mere cover up to reward a political crony.

“If this is valid ground then there are many retired public servants that should be accorded such opportunity,” he said.

–OPPOSITION PRESS

Buala Hospital faces financial strain, posing challenges for patient care and operational sustainability

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Buala hospital

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

FINANCIAL difficulties are becoming increasingly prevalent for patients at Buala Hospital.

Some individuals facing health challenges have reported being asked to cover their own expenses when referred from Buala to Honiara.

According to a relative of a sick patient, the hospital claims to lack the funds necessary to assist patients in further referrals to the National Referral Hospital in Honiara.

The relative said the situation particularly is challenging for some of the sick patients, as not everyone can afford the costs of travelling.

The need for proper management of funds is evident and the current situation raises concerns about the accessibility of healthcare services for all patients, irrespective of their financial means, the concerned relative said.

Meanwhile fuel providers also share similar concerns, pointing out that Buala Hospital has yet to settle their fuel payments for transporting sick patients. Typically, rural clinics, when lacking fuel, can borrow from providers and later be refunded upon reaching Buala.

However, numerous fuel providers are still awaiting payment from Buala Health Authority. This delay in settling accounts with fuel providers further adds to the financial strain on the hospital.

A retired nurse Leslie Boiregia who also run a fuel depo told this paper that from what they heard was that Buala Hospital’s accounts are overdrawn, indicating a lack of sufficient funds.

Despite efforts to contact the Director of Health for Isabel Province, this paper has been unsuccessful in obtaining clarification on the matter.

Nurses at Buala also confirmed the shortage of funds for transporting patients for further medical treatment. Consequently, families and relatives are left with the burden of meeting associated expenses.

This dire financial situation not only affects the patients but also hampers the hospital’s ability to operate smoothly.

Patients themselves have voiced deep concerns regarding Buala Hospital’s insufficient funds to support medical assistance adequately.

The financial strain on both patients and the hospital’s operations poses significant challenges in ensuring that essential healthcare is provided to those in need.

ENDS///

$1.6m PCDF funding for Ote clinic worth it

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MORE than 2,000 rural dwellers within Roone and surrounding communities in ward 22 of Small Malaita are benefiting from the newly built Ote rural health clinic.

The clinic was built by Malaita provincial government with a PCDF funding $1.6 million under the current leadership of MPA for ward 22, Martin Mae.

Speaking to SunAuki, the MPA said the clinic project has completed and with the need for its service, it began services in January this year.

He said prior to Ote clinic, people within Ote area were served by Tawaro and Sa’a rural health clinics which are both far away from Ote.

Saying that resulted in health challenges encounter on areas such as transportation, weather, finances and others that put health a gasping service for them.

Mae said with the recent operation of Ote clinic, the challenges have gone while health service is served within their proximity.

He said his people are grateful for the national government through Ministry of Provincial Government (MPGIS) and MPG for the project and the health benefit it has on them.

“The $1.6 million clinic project has worth it with both its implementation and importantly the service it will provide to my people and generations to come,” Mae said. 

Meanwhile, the MPA said that since the completion of the project, it is yet to hand over to the communities and they behind it.

He said his communities are planning the handing over of the clinic project soon to which they will officially receive it from the national government.

The MPA thanked the national government through MPGIS, the PCDF programme and MPG for the project as its service to his people.

Free workshop on data analysis in Excel with AI Tool

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0

BY NED GAGAHE

Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is offering a two days free workshop on Data Analysis in Microsoft (MS) Excel with AI Tool from Thursday 26 – Friday 27 October at the Panatina Campus.

The workshop will be facilitated by trainer, Mr. Pappu Kapgate, Head of India-Solomon Island NextGen Center for Excellence in Information Technology (IS-CEIT), SINU announced this on its Facebook Page yesterday.

The training will be held at IS-CEIT Building, SINU Panatina Campus.

“This is to inform you that there is an upcoming FREE workshop entitled “Data Analysis in MS Excel with AI Tool.”  This workshop is open to SINU staff, students, government officials, and anyone who is interested in enhancing their data analysis skills in MS Excel.

“Briefly, the India-Solomon Island NextGen Center for Excellence in Information Technology (IS-CEIT), situated at SINU Panatina Campus, is pleased to host this complimentary workshop as part of our efforts to showcase and promote the center.

“Our primary goal is to raise awareness about the state-of-the-art facility centre within SINU, which specializes in delivering comprehensive ICT domain training. This initiative is designed to reach a broader audience and underscore the resources and expertise available within the centre.” SINU said.

Workshop Objective are;

• To learn the basic and advanced functionalities of Excel and

• To learn data manipulation and analysis to solve business problems using case studies.

• To understand common tricks in Data Analysis (e.g., Bucketing & Segmenting)

• Create visualisations to analyse and present data/important insights

• Understand the common errors while working with MS Excel

Meanwhile, for registration SINU urged those interested to visit their Facebook page for more details on how to register.

HCC to enforce act soon

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0

BY INDY MAEALASIA

HONIARA City Council (HCC) is planning on enforcing its Honiara City (Amendment)(No.2) Act 2023 by next week.

HCC Acting City Clerk, Jefferson Patovaki announced this to the public during the SOL2023 talk back show held at SIBC on Sunday.

Patovaki said they have proposed on enforcing the act on the 23rd or 24th of this month.

“The task force that is jointly organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Honiara City Council have proposed 23rd or 24th to commencement the Amendment act (No.2)” he said.

He explained that commencing the act is important as it gives certain actual powers to HCC law enforcement officers.

“The significant commencement of the act gives our law enforcers more powers that is similar to the power RSIPF currently have,” he said.

“It means our law enforcers can now once the act commenced, they can search you, they can arrest you and detain you if they are suspicious of those selling betelnut and all these.”

So far HCC’s first cohort of 30 law enforcements officers are undergoing three weeks of training with the RSIPF in preparation to enforce the act.

HCC legal officer, Paul Inifiri explained that the delay of enforcing the act was due to the need for law enforcement officers to undergo professionally training.

In regards to the betelnut ordinance, litter ordinance, Market ordinance and Dog Ordinance, Inifiri said they are still with the legal draft team of the Attorney General’s chambers and will be gazetted before the end of the month.

Opposition isn’t a rival but a partner: Kenilorea

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Peter Kenilorea Jnr.

BY INDY MAEALASIA

Member of Parliament for East Are’ Are, Peter Kenilorea Jnr has uttered that the parliamentary opposition group is not a ‘rival’ but rather a partner in progress.

He mentioned this in his keynote address at a Solomon Islands transparency youth democracy workshop earlier this week at Honiara Hotel.

Kenilorea said in a democratic country like the Solomon Islands, the opposition group does a lot for the nation.

“It brings different perspectives to the table, scrutinizes government actions, and offers alternatives that can lead to better policies. It is through this constructive critique and open debate that the best solutions emerge, allowing our nation to evolve and grow,” Kenilorea said.

He added that as a diverse country, the opposition group symbolize unity by representing the strength that emerges from respecting and embracing our differences and making the nation unique.

Kenilorea further explained that the opposition’s key function is to hold the government accountable for its actions.

“The opposition group serves as the guardian of accountability, the sentinel of transparency, and the voice of the people.

“It is not merely an opposing force; it is a force for good, challenging the government, offering alternatives, and advocating for the rights and well-being of our citizens.

“Its role is, fundamentally, to hold the government accountable, to question policies, and to ensure that the highest standards of governance are upheld,” he said.

He added that it is important to acknowledge the role the opposition group play.

“Whether in government or opposition, it is important that we recognise the critical role of the opposition. It is a role of great responsibility, one that should be carried out with the utmost dedication to the well-being of our nation and its people” he added.

Court moves case of woman with 17 charges

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0

BY ROMINAH FAKA

Court has moved the case of a woman facing 17 counts of false pretence to a later date.

This was to allow prosecution time to sort out the charges before the defendant can take her plea.

Loana Sisifiu is alleged to have racked up these charges between January and April this year in Honiara, where she allegedly lied to two different women and obtained over $20,000 from them.

Prosecution alleged she obtained the money from the two women whom she collected in various amounts on different dates for airfares to travel to Australia, visa and for train fares in Australia.

One of the complainants also claimed the accused gave her a fake plane ticket as well.

The two complainants lodged their complaints to the police after the defendant promised to help them to obtain their airfares and visas but did not.

DPP appears for the Crown and PSO appears for the Defendant.

‘PAY US’

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0

Former police and correctional service members demand settlement of long-standing claims

BY EDDIE OSIFELO

Members of the former Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and Correctional Service Solomon Islands (CSSI) Association are urging the government to address their protracted outstanding claims, which stem from their active service during the ethnic conflict from 1998 to 2000.

With over 2,000 members in the RSIPF/CSSI Association, some of whom have unfortunately passed away, the demand for resolution has reached a critical juncture.

Frank Elli Siliako, a spokesperson for the members, expressed the frustration of members who have been awaiting their rightful claims for more than two decades.

“It is frustrating to see the Government prioritize contracts and the preparation of the Pacific Games while our issues remain unaddressed,” Siliako stated.

He called upon the association’s Executive Committee to hold a meeting at the Police Club this Saturday to update members on the progress of their demand.

Siliako emphasised that further delays in resolving the matter could force members to explore alternative courses of action.

“We are still formulating a plan for our next steps. While we consider various options, we are not contemplating threats at this time,” he noted.

The initial claim of the former disciplined force stands at $300,000 per officer, according to Siliako.

However, Alick Bonuga, Chairman of the RSIPF/CSSI Association, revealed that this figure is open to negotiation.

Bonuga explained that the association’s committee has already engaged with the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace, and Ecclesiastical Affairs, excluding the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC).

Despite an appointment made with OPMC a month ago, they are yet to receive a response.

“We await OPMC’s response, and once we have met with them, we will convene another meeting with our members to update them on the progress,” Bonuga assured.

The committee, headed by Bonuga, remains willing and available to meet with their members this Saturday to discuss the ongoing efforts to settle their outstanding claims.

ANOTHER PROBLEM

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Managing Director of Liberty Security Services Mr Fred Yakasa.

Security firms urges GOC to release upfront payment for mobilisation

BY NED GAGAHE

Several security firms contracted to provide their services at the Pacific Games are calling on the Games Organising Committee (GOC) and the National Hosting Authority to release their first batch of payment.

The security firms were supposed to have been paid 50 percent of their dues as mobilisation funds immediately after they signed their contracts last month. The remaining half to be paid at the end of the event.

To date, nothing has been paid, and the security services say GOC officials dealing with them are playing delay tactics, which will only serve to ruin this important service for the Games.

Many of these security firms are yet to mobilise their personnel to their assigned venues because of this delay by GOC.

With only 31 days before the Pacific Games is scheduled to kick off from November 19 to December 2 in Honiara, it is crucial that the security firms are well prepared and ready.

Island Sun understands 12 private firms have been approved and have signed their contract to deliver security services during the games.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, Managing Director of Liberty Security Services said they are still waiting.

Fred Yakasa said under the terms of contract they should be receiving the 50 percent to assist them in their mobilisation effort.

He said the delay has negatively affected their preparations.

Similar sentiments were echoed by one of the co-directors of Guadalcanal Plains Security Firm, Henry Saea.

Mr Saea said after the company signed the contract in late September, they are yet to mobilise their security officers to their designated sites because they have not yet received any funds from GOC.

“This has really affected our preparations, it is a costly exercise to mobilize our workers, logistical aspect. The authorities are aware of this, they should act accordingly because it is in the contract.” Mr. Saea said.

GOC has been contacted for comments.

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