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Authority to be set up to deal with traffic and public transport rates

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Road Transport Board is working to set up an Authority to deal with traffic issues and rates of public transports in Honiara.

This came after residents in Honiara have complained of short bus routes and increase of fares set by public transport owners within Honiara city boundary and outside of it.

For example, it costs about $10 from Alligator Creek to Honiara Central market. And also, it takes two to three buses to travel from White River to Naha in East Honiara.

Ministry of Infrastructure Development permanent secretary and Chairman of RTB, Stephen Maesiola said only RTB has the power to arrest or charge traffic offenders.

Maesiola said the Regulation is still with Attorney General Chambers.

He said when RTB receives it, will delegate to Honiara City Council and Police Traffic.

Furthermore, Maesiola said RTB is working to come up with an Authority to settle increase of rates.

He said at the moment, the rates depend entirely on HCC.

RTC was established following the passage of the Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2009.

The amendment of the Traffic Act is purposely of ensuring that the functions and powers under that Act are well coordinated, administered and enforced to ensure safety on our roads.

The amendment allows for proper administration and better enforcement of our traffic laws, which will include on-the-spot fines, appointment of enforcement officer and undertaking of prosecutions in the Magistrates’ Courts by officers of the Board for minor

offences.

The RTB is responsible for carrying out the functions and powers under the Act for the registration and licensing of motor vehicles and licensing of drivers, including formulation of road transport policies for consideration by Government.

The Board will delegate its functions and powers to the Principal Licensing Officer, licensing officers, inspectors and examiners who are currently performing those functions and powers.

The Board itself will consist of a mix of Government representatives, RSIPF and key stakeholders including the Permanent Secretary of MID as the Chairperson, Clerk of the Honiara City Council (HCC), the Commissioner of Police (or the Commissioner’s nominee), the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Provincial Government (or the PS’s nominee), the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce (or the PS’s nominee), the Chief Mechanical Engineer of MID, a representative of the Chamber of Commerce (SICCI) and a representative each from taxi and bus operators.

Gov’t compensates previous Western provincial executive

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA

The national government has compensated members of Western province’s former executive.

The Minister’s Ministry of Provincial Government’s decision to dissolve the previous Western Provincial Assembly last year has cost the government huge money in compensation payments.

This was following a court order which demanded the government to compensate former premier, Mesepitu, and his executive which was prematurely dissolved on 13th June last year.

Former Deputy Premier who is now the speaker of Western Province, Ramrakha Talasasa told Island Sun in an inclusive interview that the outgoing executive of Western Provinces received their payment last week.

He said the payments for the outgoing executive allowance began June 13th, 2022 to January 2023 when the new provincial assembly was formed.

“The funds we received were our normal allowances for the month of June 2022 to January 2023. We are still waiting for the special entitlements that are legally ours in accordance with the Provincial Government Act,” Talasasa said.

He said a bunch of leaders in the last assembly already knew that Seleso’s decision was inaccurate as far as the Provincial Government Act is concerned.

“We know the law so we challenge the decision and the result comes in our favor and now the government is paying a hefty price for its poor decision-making,” Talasasa said.

Island Sun understands that there were arguments going back and forth when the Ministry of Provincial Government decided to dissolve the previous assembly.

The arguments landed the outgoing Western Provincial and the Government in Court.

After deliberation on the matter, the court concluded that the Minister’s decision was null and void contrary to the specific provision provided under the Provincial Government Act.

According to Talasasa, the outgoing Provincial Assembly was supposed to be acting as caretaker until the new executive is formed earlier this year.

“This is where the government lost it. The provincial government Act did states that any assembly must take on a caretaker role until a new executive is formed.

“This did not happen in our case and now the government is paying the price,” he said.

EMERGENCY MODE OPTION

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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National Referral Hospital

National referral hospital on standby as authorities monitor drug shortage

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

The national referral hospital will continue with full services as it monitors the issue of drug shortage.

Drug shortage has become serious it has triggered the ministry of health (MHMS) to consider the option of NRH switching to emergency mode.

Switching to emergency mode would mean halting all elective services.

Special Secretary to Prime Minister Albert Kabui on behalf of MHMS in a press conference on Friday last week said MHMS encountered challenges with the replenishment of medical drugs and consumables after mid-2022, soon after COVID-19 transmission in the country.

“Multiple factors were at play affecting our efforts to replenish and maintain stock levels.

“Some within our reach and beyond which the Ministry have from time to time conveyed.

“Such as – delays with international shipment, shortage in global supply (due to lockdowns affecting production), financial constraints that affected payments of drugs and debts to our suppliers overseas, shipping agents and Solomon Ports, delays with reporting of stock outs to the national medical store (NMS) from health facilities, difficulties with domestic flight/shipments to provinces and also the processes involved with payment that needed to be fulfilled, etc.

“All these combined, had truly affected our stock levels including essential drugs and consumables in the provinces and the NRH.

“Stock take conducted at NRH early this year showed out of stock of 22 items of oral drugs, 13 items of injections, 24 items of dressings and miscellaneous and 19 specialist items,” he said.

Kabui said NRH management sees this as very low and had triggered considerations to move into emergency mode, with a halt of all elective services.

“However, NRH maintains full services as usual while the situation is monitored,” Kabui said.

“MHMS says moving into such emergency mode can happen during special beyond-control situations such as disasters, and it does happen to hospitals that face these supplies issues.

“Meeting and discussions held with clinicians showed that it would be very difficult due to back log of surgical cases from COVID-19 and clinicians were not keen to go into this emergency mode so there was never an official memo sent out and the clinicians did provide services case by case and managed patients according to what was available.

“But since then too, the efforts of the Ministry in the past months to clear debts, release containers, make emergency shipments and mobilise support from partners have contributed to improvements with the out of stock items.

“Thanks to Australia, Rotary and all other partners for support. Many of the items under the categories outlined have arrived and distribution underway. As such NRH will continue with normal services,” the health ministry said.

Media dis & misinformation workshop with ASPI

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Group photo after the workshop. ASPI presenters Lucy Albiston (far left) and Blake Johnson (second right, back), BBC Media Action Naomi Goldsmith (second right, front) and local media personnel.

BY NED GAGAHE

Media personnel have participated in a day-long workshop on misinformation, disinformation and media challenges organised by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).

The workshop was held at the Heritage Park Hotel on 15th March.

Presenters included ASPI Analyst International Cyber Policy Center Blake Johnson and Pacific Analyst Defense, Strategy and National Security Lucy Albiston.

The workshop, funded by the US Department of Defence, was focused on understanding and building resilience in the media in Solomon Islands.

Mr Johnson said the workshop was geared towards supporting media resilience by getting to first know what is disinformation and misinformation.

Johnson said recommendations from the workshop will assist the US and Australia better understand the work of media in the Solomon Islands.

Presenters defined disinformation and what makes it more effective, gave case studies, assisted participants in solving problems and countering disinformation.

“We hope to work together to identify priority areas of support.

“Your discussions about the challenges and opportunities facing Pacific Island media institutions including Solomon Islands will greatly help us to collaboratively seek to identify opportunities for targeted support and training,” Johnson said.

Participant Irwin Angiki, editor (acting) for Island Sun Newspaper, commended the ASPI for facilitating the workshop and the US government for funding such a crucial workshop for media professionals in the Solomon Islands.

Angiki added that the workshop provided an opportunity where media colleagues pooled collective ideas on the current media environment of the country.

Also brainstorm on areas the media can improve on, he adds.

ASPI is an independent, non-partisan think tank that produces expert and timely advice for Australian and global leaders ASPI generates new ideas for policy makers, allowing them to make better informed decisions. A similar workshop was held last week in PNG.

Malaita full assembly meeting on March 27

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MALAITA Provincial Assembly will convene another full assembly meeting, to begin on March 27.

The meeting will be to debate and pass the original budget for 2023/2024 financial year, as the financial year begins in April 2023

Speaker to Malaita Provincial Assembly, Ronnie Butala told media in Auki yesterday the executive is looking through the budget report and hopefully will complete it either today or tomorrow.

Butala said next week, the budget report will before the provincial PAC for scrutiny or to look through before it returns to the executive.

He said from PAC the executive will again relook at the budget for maybe recommendations from PAC on the report before tabling it on Monday, March 27.

Whilst the executive is now looking at the budget, Butala said that they hope to complete the budget process ahead of the proposed schedule for the meeting.

He however called on MPAs to be in Auki ahead of the meeting to avoid absenteeism as experienced in the past two or three meetings.

Just last week, the full assembly had passed the 2022/2023 provincial revised budget of SBD25, 292, 482.

Next will be the original budget or the new budget for 2023/2024 financial year which will be from April 2023-March 2024.

HCC needs more men to tackle Honiara’s stray dog problem

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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HCC legal officer, Paul Inifiri.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

HONIARA City Council needs more manpower to deal with stray dogs in the city.

This after HCC has only engaged one officer dealing with stray dogs roaming the city, causing nuisance, removing rubbishes from beans and spilling them on to the streets and posing health risks to people as well.

HCC legal officer, Paul Inifiri told media last Friday there is an ordinance exist to deal with stray dogs but lack of manpower to enforce it.

He said HCC is looking at amending the ordinance to allow owners to put belts around their dogs and keep only one as their pet.

Inifiri said to keep a dog, you need to pay a license of $50 for one year at HCC.

Furthermore, Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr Jimmy Rodgers said dogs are supposed to live within the compound of areas.

He said it is not only about paying the license but to keep your dog within the area.

According to Sunday Isles, during the past years, HCC through its Environmental Health Division established a ‘Dog Control Services’ a simple baseline program through irregularly trapping and destroying unowned dogs – to manage the stray dog population in Honiara.

However, according to HCC, the baseline program has not been effective and the Council has been looking at other ways, especially regarding population management – to reduce the stray dog population in Honiara.

Currently, there are no animal welfare organizations in the country that focuses on animal welfare and education.

A Honiara (Dogs) By-Law (the Honiara Dogs Ordinance), was created in June 1965 to legalize the possession of keeping a dog no less than six months old within the Honiara City.

The ‘Honiara (Dogs) Ordinance’ which was passed on the 22nd June 1965 and was gazetted under Legal Notice 108 of 1965 (with further amendments done on the 5th February 2010 and 23rd March 2010) stated that the Council shall impound any dog found without a disc or wondering at large in circumstances in which it constitutes a nuisance or danger to the public or any person.’

It was stated in the ‘Honiara (Dogs) Ordinance’ that any person who without lawful authority or lawful excuse releases or injures or attempts to release or injure any dog detained by the Council shall be guilty of an offense and liable to be charged in the Magistrates Court in relations to the offense.

Traffic congestion due to Geotech drilling

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Engineers conducting drilling works for the sewer main line project.Photo supplied.

BY NED GAGAHE

Geotech drilling works for the upcoming sewer mainline along the main Kukum Highway Road was the main cause of the traffic congestion for vehicles heading east bound.

Work on the project began early this week where engineers have to close off one of the east bound lanes starting at Fishing Village, allowing only one lane for vehicles east bound to travel resulting in a long traffic que at Kukum area and right up to Panatina Plaza.

Tongs corporation in a statement posted on their Facebook page yesterday said it is important that engineers carried out the Geotechnical work for the upcoming Sewer works main line.

“Joined the traffic que at the Kukum area and wondering why they are drilling into the road?

“The short answer is… engineers are now conducting It’s important that before any pipes are laid prior to the road upgrade that designs are verified by taking into account what is actually happening under the ground

“By identifying things such as the water level and soil condition, engineers can verify expected bouancy / flotation issues in the soil removing any assumptions on the designs. This is important to ensure sewers are installed correctly and don’t pop out of the ground or break once complete

“Geotechnical surveys are important and cannot be avoided especially as the country embarks on major infrastructure projects.  Unfortunately, in our case it will cause some traffic, but in the long run its worth it.” Tongs said in the statement.

SMOOTH ROAD UP

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
MNPDC Minister giving his statement during the LDC5 in Doha, Qatar last week.

Government committed to find easy way out of LDC

Government has said it will commit to finding a smooth and easy way of leaving behind the least development country (LDC) status.

This will include a well-connected national system to cater for transition and preparation period for the country’s graduation from LDC status.

Minister of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC), Rexon Ramofafia said: “The government view this as a framework of solution.”

The Minister was speaking during a High-Level Thematic Round Table on the theme ‘Supporting sustainable and irreversible graduation from the least developed country category’ during the 5th UN Conference on LDCs which ended in Doha, Qatar last week.

“The development of the smooth transition strategy will be guided by evidence of our current socio-economic context that will create a path for our people to thrive and prosper as we convert potential to prosperity.

“It is our global shared vision to ensure the Least Developed Countries fade as a group supported by more transformative partnerships and enhanced UN presence in the marginalised countries,” Ramofafia said.  

The Cabinet has endorsed a three-year extension to the country’s planned LDC graduation in December 2024.

Ramofafia said Solomon Islands is seeking to delay the graduation, and extend the preparatory timeframe to allow the country to properly prepare for a sustainable and irreversible graduation.

“Preparing for smooth transition and sustainable graduation would require supporting the diversification of our productive capacities. This means improving critical enablers such as infrastructure and connectivity, telecommunications, energy, trade arrangements, development financing technological transfer and put in conditions to trigger a digital revolution,” Ramofafia said.

A UN Joint technical mission assessment conducted in January 2023 concluded that Solomon Islands remains above the graduation thresholds even with the negative macroeconomic, socio-economic, socio-political and environmental impacts of the multiple crises directly related to the LDC Graduation criteria indicators.

The country is not ready for graduation in 2024, as it has lost three critical years that were intended for wide and inclusive consultations on graduation and preparing a national Smooth Transition Strategy as well as to embark on initiatives that will enable a sustainable graduation.

These were due to the Covid-19 global Pandemic, the November 2021 civil unrest and by multiple crises and two earthquakes between the years, 2020 -2022. The SIG has taken initial steps to prepare a smooth transition strategy in 2019 with support from UNDP but work were disrupted by the aforementioned unforeseeable crises, as well as climate change which remains the single greatest threat to development and security for Solomon Islands.

Therefore, the Cabinet has recommended that it is necessary for Solomon Islands to recalibrate a smooth transition strategy that will be fit for purpose, responds to a changing development context and addresses vulnerabilities and threats that arise from domestic and external shocks.

—MNPDC PRESS

Prosecution likely to withdraw charge

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PROSECUTION is intending to withdraw charges against three men alleged of robbing a Chinese national on January 20, 2023 due to insufficient evidence.

Yesterday court was informed that the case prosecutor will write to the Director of Public Prosecution for withdrawal of the case as there is insufficient evidence to proceed with the matter in court.

Prosecution said since the file was forwarded to their office for prosecution, there was no update on the investigation regarding the matter and also police investigators failed to provide sufficient evidence to allow prosecution to progress the matter in court.

The matter is adjourned to March 27 to allow prosecution time to seek opinion from the Director Public Prosecution about the intention to withdraw the matter.

This is the case of Sio Wale, Dickson Fitoo and Hudson Susuamae – the trio are currently charged with one count each of armed robbery.

It was alleged that the three suspects entered the building armed with bush knives.

One of the suspects wounded the victim who is a foreign national (Chinese) and they took a huge amount of money and escaped.

Police said some monies alleged to have been recovered, including 300-dollar Chinese currency was recovered with a hand bag whilst a huge amount of money is yet to be recovered.

Govt to re-visit St Vincent hospital 10-bed agreement

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Government is re-visiting the 10-bed arrangement with St Vincent hospital in Australia.

It aims to first pay off any outstanding bill with the hospital.

Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers said this at a recent press conference.

“With St Vincent hospital at the moment we are not aware of any outstanding debts since 2019 through the new process, if there are outstanding ones Health is now trying to find out so that we can help clean our debts.

“So what we need to do is to establish if there are unmet arrears, found out about them and we of course committed to clear them because if not the arrears will block the transfer of patients going in,” Rodgers said.

He explained this 10-bed agreement was signed between the New South Wales Minister and Minister for Health and Medical Services in Solomon Islands.

“They signed that agreement on a 10-bed agreement meaning St Vincent Hospital will accept and treat for free up to 10 patients referred from the National Referral Hospital.

“Everyone went to St Vincent were referred to an agreed process between the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and St Vincent Hospital.

“Those 10 were not free. Then over the years the 10 expanded to 30 but because St Vincent hospital is operated by the Sisters Of Charity they have big charitable heart so they accepted the number,” Rodgers said

He said over the years the St Vincent hospital changed system.

“The State government started to take control and from thereon we started to pay for referrals.

“On 2019 a team went over to negotiate with St Vincent Hospital and at that negotiation it was made very clear that the charitable heart no longer exists. But the assistance of the 10 beds still remains but how they work is still not completed, they haven’t come back and is yet to be confirmed,” Rodgers said.

He adds, “Ministry of Health has also signed an agreement with Solomon Foundation which is an entity health registered in Australia .

“So all referrals of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services will go to Solomon Foundation.”

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