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WORKSHOP CUT SHORT

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Western province MPA induction programme disrupted due to allowance disagreement

BY BEN BILUA

THE workshop organised by the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening for the members of the Western Provincial Assembly has been prematurely ended due to allowance and logistics disagreements.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Provincial Government called off the workshop yesterday though attempts were made by provincial executives and Western Provincial Administration to continue with the workshop.

The workshop came to a standstill on Thursday when MPAs bombarded the Ministry’s officials on the ground with comments surrounding logistics and allowances.

Premier Billy Veo was clear in his statement saying that the training is important for leaders of Western Province to deliver effective services and at the same time maintain clean operations in accordance to the minimum conditions provisions and performance measures provided for under the Provincial Government Institutional Strengthening Program.

“While it is true that there were no guideline given to MPAs for the travel arrangements to attend the meeting and MPAs were not aware of the logistical arrangement where respective MPAs have been allocated certain amount of money for their travel to Gizo for the meeting, the matter should be addressed amicably and let the workshop continue,” he said.

Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) under the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP) Momodou Lamin Sawaneh said the decision has already been made by the Ministry and that officers on the ground cannot do anything but to follow the decision.

He adds that next week’s presentations have also been cancelled. This means that the teams from OAG, Ombudsman’s Office, Leadership Code Commission and other have now been advised to cancel their planned sessions for next week.

“Unfortunately, we (the team facilitating the workshop) do not make decisions, we are implementers, and the decision makers is the Executive management of MPGIS.

“Since we do not bring ourselves here and the resources we are using are public resources, the decision to cut short the training is unfortunate.

“We appreciate the effort of the Premier, the Speaker, and the Provincial Secretary to discuss interventions as to how the training can be continued.

“We also appreciate the patience of the MPAs and Western Province’s Administration officials,” Sawaneh said.

He acknowledged the MPAs and officials for turning up during yesterday’s meeting for the final announcement and closing of the workshop.

In his final remarks, the Speaker of Western Province, Ramrakha Talasasa Jr said the Premier will liaise with the Ministry to see if there is a chance for the workshop to be conducted at another time.

Divit girls training centre receives new furniture from Australia through APTC

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Counsellor Mika Kontiainen of Australian High Commission officially hand over the furniture to Principal of Divit Training Centre Daniela Tovatada.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

DIVIT Training centre is the latest institution to receive support from the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) assistance in development and training towards vocational schools in the country.

Yesterday’s handover of new furniture to the centre will help students of Divit training centre learn in a conducive environment and boost their learning capacity.

Divit Training Centre is a girls training centre manned by Catholic sisters.

Speaking during the handover of the furniture Mika Kontiainen Counsellor – Human Development, Australian High Commission said Australia is pleased to see APTC’s partnership with Divit Rural Training Centre flourishing and it is a clear demonstration of the spirit of partnership and goodwill.

Students of Divit Training Centre posing for a photo with the guests.

He said Australia is a partner of Solomon Islands and one of their shared goals is to foster more jobs contributing to economic growth that will also enable Solomon Islanders to engage fully in economic activities and live productive lives. 

“A healthy, educated and inclusive society is fundamental to achieving this, which is why Australia’s support includes a strong focus on strengthening TVET. TVET provides the skills that form the backbone of any country’s economic growth and development.

“There is also a need to continue building the skills of workers in the Solomon Islands to contribute to economic recovery”, Counsellor Kontiainen said.

He said Australia’s support to Divit Rural Training Centre with new furniture including chairs, tables, whiteboards, shelves and cabinets will help strengthen its training delivery and further boost learning and development for students.

Counsellor Mika signing off the papers with the Divit Principal Sr Daniela Tovatada while APTC Director Ms Chang looks on.

The Australian Government is pleased to support training institutions like Divit RTC, given the importance of TVET and Australia will remain committed to helping improve TVET systems and training delivery in the Solomon Islands.

“We hope today’s contribution will add value to the important work you are already doing to help transform lives through training and skills for employment”, Counsellor Kontiainen adds.

Meanwhile Principal of Divit Girls Training centre Sister, Daniela Tovatada highlighted that APTC is playing a very important role in the development of their school and their support and assistance will certainly boost students in their learning.

She also urged the students to take a good care of the facilities that have been donated to them.

MPG hopes for better result in upcoming PCDF assessment

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MALAITA Provincial Government hopes for a better result on its PCDF status this time-round, as assessment for 2022/2023 expects for this month.

Last year, MPG disqualified for the programme and it severely affected implementation of its earmarked projects due to reduction of fund as a result of the disqualification.

Deputy Provincial Secretary, who also the Provincial Secretary acting of Malaita province, Mr David Filia Tuita told SunAuki that the province is looking forward to another round of assessment this year.

He said the assessment is a normal procedure carry out on all provinces to establish their performance measure which referred to as minimum conditions with regards to the fund.

“A team will be in the province soon to carry out the assessment. We are preparing for the assessment and we hope the province passes all minimum conditions,” he said.

Tuita said a solemn issue MPG faces with is its ward development grants that would have severe impact on the assessment, but fortunately SIG assured to address the matter.

Minister of Finance under the Fini led MNGFR, Hon Randol Sifoni has also recently shared his optimism to pass the assessment for 2022/2023 fiscal year.

He said one area that would have negative consequence on the province as experienced is failing to pass the 2022/2023 revised budget that the assembly joined effort to pass it.

“I would share my profound gratitude for passing the 2022/2023 revised budget as this could have hindered compliance issues for our government.

“Without your positive vision it would provide negative repercussions on the future PCDF assessment for MPG.

“In doing so, the province now looks forward to another round of assessment in April 2023 and hopefully MPG passes all the ten minimum conditions,” Sifoni said.

He said this would allow the province to implement the 29 projects proposed for 2023/2024 fiscal year.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly claims AUKUS and nuclear-powered submarine deals is for our future protection

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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United Kingdom Foreign Secretary the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

The United Kingdom has defended the AUKUS deal to arm Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.

Speaking to local media in an invitations-only session yesterday at the SIBC, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP said the AUKUS deal is not aimed at any country but acts as protection to future threat.

In March this year, AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom & United States), a military pact between the countries established in September 2022, announced the pathway towards Australia getting nuclear-powered submarines with cutting edge technology as early as 2030.

This course of action, as well as the creation of AUKUS, is a response by the three countries to China’s heightened presence and engagements in the Pacific.

Cleverly however insists that AUKUS and the plan to arm Australia with SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines is an act of deterrence.

“I think it is really important that people understand that the AUKUS programme is not a nuclear weapons programme so the submarines that we would be building with the United States of America and Australia are conventionally armed.

“So this is about the UK, USA and Australia and our friends are protected against threats that at the moment we still don’t know necessarily that might come in the years to come,” he said.

Cleverly explained the power systems are the proportion systems or nuclear-powered are conventionally armed submarines and every country in the world has the right to create defence structure for its self

“Self-defence structures are not necessarily aimed at any particular country or future program that submarine programmes are many decades long in the planning and execution.

“This is about binding our three very close friends together,” he said.

In September 2021 Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States announced AUKUS – a new security partnership that will promote a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable.

SECOND LIST

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Labour Mobility Unit releases another 277 names for seasonal work screening

BY NED GAGAHE

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade has released a list of another 277 Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) applicants yesterday to attend a two-day screening and face-to-face interview.

The interview sessions will take place on the 27th and 28th April 2023 at the St Barnabas Cathedral from 8pm to 4pm each day.

The lists were released in two separate batches. The first one is 138 and the second list is 139.

The second group will now bring the total of applicants to 580.

Screening will proceed following the order and the day the applications were received. This screening list is part of the candidates who applied on Day 1, Monday 27th Feb 2023.

“People named in the following lists are required to attend a face-to-face interview and fitness assessment.

“The MFAET urges all applicants must arrive on time and dressed neatly and well presented.

“Please bring your passport & vaccine cards to this event. Candidates with a driver’s license should bring their license.

Applicants are urged to bring the following;                

•clothing suitable for fitness assessment.

• Ladies must wear skirts or lava lava in the church compound (Don’t forget to bring your sport wear to do fitness test)

•  Own Lunch and a bottle of water.

“Candidates will be screened strictly according to the order in which their applications were received.

“The MFAET LMU will host more screening and interview events in the coming months.

“Candidates are required to wait until they are notified by telephone contact or through published lists.

“Further lists will contain all details required.

“Interview and fitness assessment does not guarantee that candidates will work in Australia.” MFAET said.

MECDM reviews climate change policy      

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Karl Kuper of MECDM

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

MINISTRY of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management is reviewing a new climate change policy, hoped to be endorsed  at the third quarter of this year.

This was confirmed by Karl Kuper of MECDM during the recent visit of the visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs for New Zealand Carmel Sepuloni.

“MECDM is currently carrying out review of a new climate change policy and we hope to have it endorsed by Cabinet by the third quarter of 2023,” Kuper said.

He said there is a strong focus on adaptation as well as on mitigation based on it being supportive in improving the adaptive capacity of people and businesses.

“Our top adaptation priority is to relocate our people who have lost their islands and homes, and on low-lying atolls and artificial islands.

“Our Nationally Determined Contribution sets our targets in terms of mitigation but I wish to state that our efforts to mitigate climate change are already ambitious because our emissions are surpassed by more than 30 times by removals through our forests,” Kuper said.

In addition, he said Solomon Islands emissions are less than 0.1percent of global emissions.

“Nevertheless, we are also developing a Low emission development strategy with the aim of further decarbonizing our economy through renewable energy development and displacement of fossil fuel in key sectors such transportation. These efforts need financial resources and technology transfer and these are captured as well in our draft climate change policy,” Kuper said.

Cross constituency registration to get tougher: PM Sogavare

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare is saying that a Bill to amend the Electoral Act is expected to be tabled in Parliament in about June/July this year.

He said a Taskforce on Electoral Reform, which was established by the Electoral Commission to assist the Commission in implementing its Electoral Reform Strategy Framework, has completed its provincial consultations and is now working on consolidating its report and recommendations for change to certain aspects of our electoral laws.

Sogavare highlighted on the floor of Parliament in speech that big ticket items such as simultaneous elections and out of constituency/out of country voting would be discussed at this proposed workshop with Members of this House.

“It is also important to note that during the forthcoming voter registration exercise, the Commission will introduce a new requirement where eligible voters registering for the first time as well as those applying to change constituencies will need to provide some evidence enabling them to register in the Constituency applied for. This will hopefully minimize so-called cross-border registrants. More information on this will be released shortly so that eligible voters are well informed of the process”, Sogavare said.

He said voter registration is expected to commence in July this year and I understand that the Commission intends to also pre-register 17-year-olds as provided for in Division 5 of the Electoral Act 2018. This is being done for the first time. When the person turns 18, the person’s name will be transferred to the final list of electors for the relevant constituency.

Sogavare also said one of the major changes is the proposed holding of simultaneous elections in 2024. What this means is that when Parliamentary elections is held in 2024, the general elections for 7 provincial assemblies and Honiara City Council will be held on the same day.

The two provinces which will not participate in simultaneous elections in 2024 will be Choiseul and Western provinces because they recently had their Provincial elections in 2022. They will however be part of the simultaneous election program in 2028.

Therefore Sogavare said to facilitate the holding of simultaneous elections and in order to defer the general election dates of Honiara City Council and the remaining 7 provincial assemblies to 2024, Parliament will soon deliberate on a Bill to amend the Honiara City Act and another to amend the Provincial Government Act.

Work on proposed single use plastic ban in progress: MECDM

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) Dr Melchior Mataki

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Dr Melchior Mataki says a regulation to ban single use plastics in the country has already been approved by cabinet and “not awaiting cabinet endorsement” as carried by the national broadcaster SIBC yesterday.

PS Mataki says in his remarks he was elaborating on the process the Ministry took to get endorsement for the regulation, which included seeking cabinet endorsement.

 “Under the Environment Act the minister has the power to make regulations but because banning is a very strong measure as there are also trade and financial implications, the ban will mean setting aside some materials which cannot be imported, manufactured, and used in the country. This is the reason why we sought cabinet’s endorsement,” Mr Mataki said. 

He added the Regulation for the proposed plastic ban is currently on its drafting stage. 

A joint Technical Working Committee (TWC) led by the Ministry of MECDM is working together with the Attorney Generals Chamber on the drafting instruction for the regulation.

Meanwhile the TWC held its fourth meeting yesterday.

In its deliberations, the TWC mapped out its awareness strategies that is expected to be rolled out very soon.

The campaign will include the use of the mainstream media, social media, Public Bill Boards, radio and TV spots, Flyers and Public talks.

The campaign will also include provinces.

The TWC also noted that consultation with sectors such as Importers, Manufacturers and Distributors is very important for the success of this undertaking, therefore the TWC has already sent out notices for consultations through the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SICCI) with its members.

For those who import, manufacture and use single use plastics on a daily basis, this will be tough and so to allow for a smooth transition into a total ban of single use plastics for both businesses and individuals in the country, the implementation will be done in phases to allow for plastic stock already purchased to be dispensed with and minimise losses to the affected businesses in the transition to banning.

–MECDM PRESS

MPG to step up its internal revenue collection

Written by
Samie Waikori
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MALAITA provincial government says it will step up its revenue mobilisation strategy in the current fiscal year 2023/2024 as it begins March 2023 – April 2024.

Deputy Provincial Secretary, who is the acting PS of Malaita province, Mr David Filia Tuita said yesterday as responsible division within MPG is projecting plans for revenue collection this new fiscal year.

He said this is one of the areas MPG needs to strengthen in order to improve delivery of services in the province.

Chief Planning Officer, Mr Peter Herehura recently said that internal revenue makes-up more than three-quarters of ward grants, which distribute by MPAs through mini projects in their wards across the province.

He said the province faces lot of hindrances in its revenue collection in the past years like; covid-19 and challenges on its revenue mobilization strategy that need stepping-up.

Minister for Finance and Treasury under the Fini led MNGFR, Hon Randol Sifoni also uttered need for MPG to strengthen its revenue collection.

He said over the past years MPG forgone substantial amount of tax under its internal revenue due to weakness on its revenue mobilization strategy.

Sifoni said data has proven that MPG’s past internal revenue collection had not exceeded an average of SBD6 million, although the province is capable to collect more than that.

He said there is still weakness in the treasury division to manage the revenue collection.

Sifoni said the weakness include lack of financial leadership and human resources including a senior revenue officer, logistic and general implementation of the province’s revenue mobilization strategies.

He said there is huge potential to increase provincial tax base through effective team networking between local business owners, WDCs, the administration and assembly.

Sifoni said his ministry is committed to step-up the strategy with the support from all stakeholders during this fiscal year.

BIG ONES BLAMED

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare

PM Sogavare hits out at huge global emitting countries, bringing climate change to Parliament

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has blamed the “big countries” for the causes and effects of climate change on small countries like Solomon Islands.

In his speech on the floor of Parliament yesterday he highlighted that the climate change situation in the country has “worsened and cause damages to existing infrastructures”.

Sogavare did not specify which countries, but local climate change pundits believe it to be huge global emitters like the United States, China, Russia, European Union, India, etc.

The prime minister said rising sea levels in most cases have cut off wharves from the land.

“Roads have been inundated by sea. For example, there are some parts of the northern road in Malaita that the sea has already washed away.

“These are effects of climate change on our infrastructures. Climate change that is not caused by us but by countries who are big emitters, and we bear the consequences of their actions.

“I would like to see these countries take more responsibility by helping us adapt through building of more climate resilient infrastructures.

“In some of our communities’ villages must be relocated but our challenge is the funds to relocate these villages.

“What is being done now in terms of support by those who cause this is not enough.

“To add insult to injury, access to Climate Change Funds is very difficult.

“This needs to change,” PM Sogavare said.

Sogavare also thanked the multilateral and bilateral partners who have assisted, and are assisting, in maintaining the existing infrastructures and building new ones.

Meanwhile Member of Aoke Langalanga and as the Leader of Opposition called on the government to prioritise the relocation programme that was planned to have happened in 2020.

He said the Minister responsible and the government must provide an update on the progress of those activities.

Meanwhile, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the body which advises the UN on rising global temperature, released its synthetic report on March 20 this year, warning what many say could be earth’s final window of hope to turn things around.

The report, which sums up research work of thousands of scientists over a span of eight years, called for emission cuts by around 50 percent and for countries to bring their net-zero targets forward by 10 years.

IPCC chair Hoesung Lee describes huge emitting countries’ weak commitments in his sobering phrase to launch the report – “We are walking when we should be sprinting”.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres describes the situation as “The climate time-bomb is ticking.”

Mankind’s goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius looks to be out of reach. Already we have reached 1.1 degrees C.

And, in the 2030s, just seven years away, with the current rate of emission, we could hit 1.5 degrees C.

The World Economic Forum predicts that 1.5 degrees C will dramatically increase the risk of extreme weather events, more frequent wildfires with higher intensity, sea level rise, and changes in flood and drought patterns with implications for food systems collapse, among other adverse impacts.

Solomon Islands will continue to see extreme weather activities such as what transpired in February this year when two cyclones formed on our shores just a week apart.

NASA predicts that six percent of the insects, eight percent of the plants and four percent of the vertebrates will see their climatically determined geographic range reduced by more than half.

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