BY NED GAGAHE

Solomon Islands has chosen to be on the fence with AUKUS’s recent decision to arm Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) Mr Collin Beck says Solomon Islands will continue to uphold the position not to participate in the power politics following the recent AUKUS nuclear arrangement signed between Australia, United Kingdom and United States.

Beck highlighted this during Wednesday’s media conference.

AUKUS is the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, established in September 2021 for the Indo-Pacific region.

“Australia has been sharing information with Solomon Islands on the AUKUS arrangement,” Mr Beck said.

“Now what does that mean for Solomon Islands, it creates security dilemma for us. Security dilemma means when a state tries to strengthen its security situation, modernise its military etc., on certain perceived threats it does have implications for their neighboring countries, it does have implications for the wider region and globally, because it could trigger not only arms race.

“This is because this is a billion-dollar investment, it also takes away attention from major threat that is in front of us which is basically climate change.

“The second one is Solomon Islands to trying strike a balance in light of the changing military posture from our neighbours because we have a security deal with them as well.

“As a small Island country, we continue to hold the position by distancing ourselves and not to associate too closely with them.

“We do not want to participate in any power politics. The last power politics we have seen is during the World War II on our shores, tens of thousands of people have died in the Solomon Islands.”

Beck said Solomon Islands firmly believes in upholding a neutral position going forward.

“Our position is based on the friends to all and enemy to none approach. Solomon Islands remains a nuclear free state. We are a signatory to the Rarotonga treaty. This means that no nuclear vessel is allowed to enter our waters.

“It is because of the nuclear legacy that the Pacific has been facing, we have learnt so much in the past where bigger powers have used Pacific as a testing ground both atmosphere, land and under sea, we’ve been used as a place for tests, dumping and storage for nuclear waste.

“This is where our interpretation of Rarotonga treaty is very clear because of that legacy Secondly, the history of accidents of nuclear military vessels there is a history of that. In the event of an accident for example, that in itself Solomon Islands does not have the capacity to deal with the it.

“Thirdly, is the threat of contamination. Once it happens it has possibility, the perceived threat can wipe out tourism and fisheries. It can also contaminate our sea as well. A classic example is what happen in Japan at the stricken Fukushima Nuclear power plant.

“Even here we also have concerned about proposed plans for Japan to dump nuclear treated water in the Pacific Ocean. This has prompted us to be more sensitive in dealing with these issues. We respect the right of Australia but the implications for us is much more worrying.”

Foreign affairs receives concerning reports of extra-marital affairs by our seasonal workers in NZ and Aus

BY EDDIE OSIFELO

Reports of extra-marital affairs by our seasonal workers are reaching our foreign affairs ministry.

And, while these reports are concerning, the ministry cannot do much except appeal to our seasonal workers for respect and to pray.

The Labour Mobility Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) has received reports of extra-marital affairs practised by Solomon Islands workers in Australia and New Zealand, Permanent Secretary Collin Beck told media on Wednesday

The workers are part of the Australia Labour Mobility Scheme and New Zealand Government’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.

Mr Beck said men over socialising and marital issues like adultery are common.

He said this is something they try to tell everyone to respect each one and another and stick to their goals.

“We want them to show a little discipline and try praying together as a family.

“To ensure some sense of family remain with families, but these things do happen,” he said.

However, Beck said when looking at the number of cases compare to other countries, they are doing very well.

But he said it is a painful thing to receive wives expressing their concerns on the lack of attention from their husbands and fathers coming to say their wives did not receive their calls.

“A lot of human challenges we deal with them.

“But even numbers not look too big, but always painful to see, even a case like that, is a bad case,” he added.

In the past 24 to 36 months 5,332 were mobilised to Australia and some have already completed their contract.

Currently, there are 4,705 workers are in Australia and the total number of workers in New Zealand is around 600.

LMU hope to surpass 1,000 workers for New Zealand this year.

With the new recruitment drive opened recently, LUM has received over 15,000 applicants online from people showing interest to join the programme.

LMU is hoping to send more than 2,000 to 3,000 workers in the next 19 months.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE Commissioner Mostyn Mangau has said Solomon Star journalist Alfred Sasako has been invited for questioning over his article published in the Solomon Star issue 8391 on  March 4, 2023.

Mangau said the content of the article is a threat to National Security and police are currently investigating the matter.

He said the author of the article will also be dealt with, if the investigation finds no truth in the contents of the article.

Mangau said it will take sometime as police will have to do thorough investigation on the matter.

He said currently police are doing general enquiry to find out whether the article is genuine.

The article stated that Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was to be assassinated after the success of the November 2021 riot in Honiara, sources deep within the Malaita For Development (M4D) movement have revealed.

Sasako’s article also claimed that the seven-member assassination squad handpicked for the job was given support by the United State.

The US Embassy has denied and rebutted Sasako’s article labelling it as a ‘fantasy’.

BY NED GAGAHE

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affair and External Trade (MFAET) Mr Collin Beck says due to the massive work of processing well over 15,000 applications, MFAET can only do 800 applicants on monthly basis for the Work Ready Pool.

Beck said based on estimations it will take up to 19 months to process the massive task of processing the applicants who have applied during the recent two-week window opportunity.

Beck revealed this during its media conference yesterday.

He said the four underrepresented provinces will be visited starting in two weeks’ time, the provinces are Makira, Temotu, Isabel and Renbel.

Beck added that for this calendar year they are looking at sending 2000 to 2500 workers under the LMU scheme.

“Nearly 4, 000 applied online portal, bulk of those submission were received on email, 10,964 to be exact.

“Outreached to four underrepresented provinces will soon commence for Makira, Isabel, Temotu and Renbel, funds were already available for the program.

“MFAET is now finalizing arrangements in the next two weeks our teams should be in both Makira and Isabel, Temotu visitation will begins in the first week of April.

“For the provinces access to network is not that good compared in Honiara so we will accept manual submissions of hard copies.

“In light of the capacity to deal with the massive role of processing the 15,000 applicants we acknowledged the support from Australia and the firm Pasifika HR.

“We can only do 800 applicants a month and will be spilled over going into 2024 based on rough estimation it will take up to 19 months

“Current work includes building profiles for workers on the WRP at the same time mobilizing workers out of the country.

“2,478 workers still on work ready pool from the previous recruitment drive

“MFAET is working on trimming the list by delisting applicants for non-responses to phone calls being made to contact them over a period of time.” Beck said.

Meanwhile, Beck said that for the past 24 to 36 months 5332 were mobilized to Australia and some have already completed their contract.

He said presently 4,705 workers are in Australia and the total number of workers in New Zealand is around 600

He said they are hope to surpass 1,000 workers for New Zealand this year.