By EDDIE OSIFELO

MEMBERS of the Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union (SICTU) will meet tomorrow, to discuss the proposed 10 percent salary increase for MPs this year.

A SICTU executive Tony Kagovai confirmed the meeting following the proposal by the Parliamentary Entitlement Commission (PEC) to give a $13,000 pay rise to each MP this year.

Kagovai said members to attend the meeting include: Workers Union of Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands Public Employees Union, Solomon Islands Teachers Association, Solomon Islands National University, Solomon Islands Medical Association, Solomon Islnads Paramedics and Solomon Islands Nurses Association.

He said the meeting is scheduled for 12 noon at WUSI office.

The PEC proposal will see the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare awarded an extra $30,000, on top of his annual salary.

This will give the PM a new annual salary of $338.000.01 from the $307,919.30.

The current base salary of the Prime Minister is $11,843.05 per fortnight, multiplies by 26 paydays, equals to $307,919.30 for his annual salary.

Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister’s new annual salary will be $304,872.67.

Ministers, Leader of Opposition and Leader of Independent Group will get $266,123.00.

The Deputy Speaker, Chairperson of Parliamentary Caucus, Chairpersons of Parliamentary Standing Committees to get $241,166.24 and the members to get $218,231.60.

Other benefits include:

1. meal allowance that increases from $200 to $500;
2. education allowance increases from $10,000 to $25,000;
3. appointment grant increase from $10,000 to $15,000;
4. Clothing allowance (to be differed from outfit) none, with Members to get USD$3000 (SBD24,000) while PM, DPM, Ministers and Leaders to get USD$7000 (SBD$56,000).

The PEC invites MPs and beneficiaries to attend a consultation meeting on 15th February 2023 at their conference room at AJ City Mall Room 42.

The Commission is currently in the process of reviewing the Members of Parliament Entitlement Regulation.

Already, the proposal has been heavily criticised by members of the public.

Opposition Leader Mathew Wale says it is an ‘unwise and insensitive’ proposal given that the country’s economy is in recession, public servants have not had any pay increases for 3 years, nor have private sector employees.

Wale adds the 2023 budget has the largest deficit in history to be financed by borrowing.

He said with an economy in recession, these proposed increases are unjustified.

“Ordinary Solomon Islanders are struggling with just putting food on the table and such increases to MPs are divorced from the economic realities faced by Solomon Islanders,” he said.

Wale said public servants especially nurses, teachers and our police should be the ones considered for a pay rise.

Senior Opposition figure and East Are’Are MP Peter Kenilorea Jnr, in a Facebook post, described the proposal as “self-serving”.

He accused the Government of delaying the national elections scheduled for this year so that it could reward parliamentarians with tax payers funds.

“You deny the people’s right to vote by delaying their vote,” Kenilorea wrote in his post in reference to the Government.

“These rights are fundamental to our democracy and good governance. And yet you deny these rights of the very same people who put you in power – through a vote.

“This effectively extends your time in parliament.

“After you bulldozed this highly questionable constitutional amendment in parliament to deny the vote, you then collude with relevant authorities to concoct a scheme to enrich yourselves, as parliamentarians, from public funds – funds that many of our people contribute towards through their tax contributions and hard work.

“I am embarrassed to be an MP in the 11th parliament.

“But this is more than embarrassing. It is self-serving to say the least.

“You will argue that this was done under the laws of the land.

“But I say your actions have nefarious (evil or immoral) intentions.”

Kenilorea said the unjustified proposal must be rejected by all MPs.

BY NED GAGAHE

Honiara City Council (HCC) has called on interested firms that they are currently accepting applications from security firms to provide 24 hours security service to its Central and Kukum Market.

City Clerk Justus Denni confirmed this to the Island Sun in an interview on Thursday, January 5, 2023.

Denni said that HCC is looking at outsourcing the security of Central Market and newly upgraded Kukum Market.

“We have already put up a notice about this, the due date is on 20January 2023,” he said.

Denni said hopefully by February 2023 a private security will now take responsibility to man the Central and Kukum Market.

He said the private security firm will be assisted by the Law Enforcement officers of HCC.

Denni said such measures are necessary to maintain security and safety for vendors and city residents using the markets.

According to the statement HCC invites sealed bids from reputable Security Firms to tender for the provision of 24 hours security service to its Central and Kukum Market.

“Terms of References (TOR) can be collected at the HCC Cashier, Monday – Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm with payment of non-refundable tender fee of $250.00.

“Completed bid documents must be submitted in an envelope, sealed and marked “Provision for Security Service Tender 01/2023” and addressed to City Clerk

“All submission must not reach the address not later than 20 January 2023 at 4:00 pm.” The statement said.

Meanwhile, HCC Market Manager Nelson Sakui has revealed this to local Journalists at the opening of Kukum Market on Friday 3 December 2022.

He said HCC wants to see Kukum market to be the role model market for Honiara City.

Unauthorised contract awarding will be stopped, says city clerk

BY NED GAGAHE

HONIARA City Clerk Justus Denni says effective as of January 4, 2023 Honiara City Council (HCC) is taking a tough stance on procurement and awarding of contracts for small works done for HCC.

In an interview with the Island Sun yesterday, Denni said in the past procurement and issuing of contracts were done without approval or authorisation before work is carried out, goods are delivered or service is provided.

These works include brushings, tree felling and clearance, building repairs, vehicle repairs and maintenance, printing of HCC documents and receipt books, supply of uniforms, supply of office equipment, supply of stationeries, supply of cleaning detergents and toiletries, supply of toners and provision of security service.

Denni said such practice has to be stopped.

He further said that the current administration has seen the importance of accountability and having proper management of how these processes were done.

Denni also confirmed that most of the small contracts providing these services for HCC have already expired at the end of 2022 with only few still have valid contracts to continue this year.

He further added that effective as of January 4, 2023 no procurement and contract for small works will be recognized and honored unless prior approval is obtained from or is duly authorized by the City Clerk.

He said the office of the City Clerk will not authorize payment for any procurement or contract which does not get prior approval or authorization before work is carried out, goods are delivered or service is provided.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday January 4, 2023 HCC also issued a statement. The statement was directed to government ministries, state owned enterprise, private sector entities, organisations and individuals.

“This restriction order applies to and includes procurements and contracts for brushings, tree felling and clearance, building repairs, vehicle repairs and maintenance, printing of HCC documents and receipt books, supply of uniforms, supply of office equipment, supply of stationeries, supply of cleaning detergents and toiletries, supply of toners and provision of security service,” the statement says.

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Copen drug is evolving and becoming more potent, a Borderline resident warns.

Kwaso, the illegal home-made liquor, is reportedly the latest ingredient in the production of Copen.

This poses greater risks for Copen users and their communities.

The East Honiara Borderline resident, who requests anonymity, says kwaso replaces water when making Copen to provide a ‘stronger kick to that high feeling users get when taking Copen’.

The resident also warns that authorities need to act fast because the Copen business is highly lucrative with a huge turnover, and that more and more people are becoming users.

“Copen profit is just too much to resist. You spend say $100 for ingredients and production, and end up earning $600.

“Producers spend $100 and cook Copen, produce 120 packets, sell each for $5. This process can be repeated four to five times per day because of the high demand.

“A normal sales day rakes in thousands of dollars for producers and salesmen and women.

“Users range from children as young as five, to primary and secondary students, unemployed boys, girls, men and women, employed men and women, non-smokers and smokers.

“Marijuana sellers are switching to selling Copen, even marijuana users are switching to Copen.”

People have reportedly become ill from Copen, with stories of Copen being implicated in the death of some people, the resident says.

“In our neighbourhood of the huge Borderline settlement, people have become ill from Copen. Mid last year a group of men and women came and chased the producer who is my neighbour, demanding compensation because their kid had fallen ill after taking Copen purchased from him.

“I hear several stories of some people having died, one who was reported to be drunk and took Copen and it was believed she accidentally swallowed it,” the resident said.

Students are reportedly losing the interest to go to school, or are doing poorly at school in relation to Copen usage, the resident adds.

“Most of the users in my neighbourhood are young girls, teens, followed by young students. More and more of these children are not going to school, preferring to hang out with their peers and get high on scoop [street name of Copen].

“My neighbour is having a hard time with her two young children, having to force them every day to go to school.”

Last year Island Sun reported the extent of Copen in the country with incidence reported from Choiseul and Western province in the west to Temotu province in the east.

It is reportedly prevalent in Honiara, Renbel province and Wagina, Choiseul province.

Copen is still to be recognised and defined by law as a drug or as an illegal one. This remains to be an obstacle to law enforcement against the substance.

Drug and Alcohol unit of Community policing could not be reached yesterday for comments, however, an officer told Island Sun in November last year that because the law does not recognise Copen, police cannot do much against it.

“There is a lot needed to be done on Copen such as research, laboratory studies and investigation, and as for now, we can only do limited awareness on Copen to schools and communities we visit,” the officer said.

Initially, the Copen problem was left to parents and communities to tackle.

But, on December 5 last year, minister for Health Dr Culwick Togamana took a new turn on the campaign against Copen by revealing that it has caught his ministry’s attention.

He said the Health ministry will take Copen head-on with a to-do list which includes: sending samples overseas for testing, upgrading the lab here to enable Copen testing to be carried out locally, working with police against Copen, put together a communication plan against Copen, work with the Education ministry to carry out a survey nationwide to gauge the effects and impacts of Copen.

Copen is made using household items and tobacco leaves. Its ingredients are readily accessible in the country, which is seen as a factor to its huge prevalence.