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Proposed 7 percent rise in salary & entitlement

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

PARLIAMENTARY Entitlement Commission (PEC) has proposed a seven percent increase in relation to the terms and conditions of members of Parliament and not 10 percent, as leaked in the media recently.

This was revealed by PEC to Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union (SICTU), following their meeting at the Solomon Islands Public Employment Union (SIPEU) office at the National Auditorium, last Friday.

Representatives of the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet also attended the meeting.

PEC told SICTU the award was based on the two pay increases (3.5 percent and 3.5 percent totalled seven percent) awarded to Public Servants in the last two years.

As such, PEC said the same increase of seven percent was awarded to MPs entitlements, which covers the rising costs of living.

Following the public criticisms over the pay increase for the MPs, PEC has submitted a submission to Cabinet to deliberate on.

Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union (SICTU) President David Tuhanuku said they will not take any action at the moment because of the submission pending before Cabinet.

Tuhanuku said they will wait for the outcome of Cabinet’s deliberation over the submission by PEC, before deciding on their formal position on the issue.

It was revealed Caucus or Cabinet approved a $13,000 increase to the fortnight salaries of all 50 Members of Parliament under the Parliamentary Entitlement Commission.

The PEC is expected to meet in March to reject or approve the proposal.

Prior to the meeting, PEC also invites MPs and beneficiaries to attend a consultation meeting on February 15, 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.

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

This will give the PM’s new annual salary of $338.000.01.

Initially, the PM’s annual salary was $307,919.30.

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

The ten percent increase from his annual salary is $30,080.71.

As such, the PM’s annual salary of $307,919.30 plus the $30,080.71, results in his new annual salary of $338.000.01.

Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister new annual salary is $304,872.67.

The Ministers, Leader of Opposition and Leader of Independent Group to 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 while PM, DPM, Ministers and Leaders to get USD$7000.

Choiseul gets first female minister

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Member of Provincial Assembly for Choiseul Province, Florence Vasaro, is the new minister for Lauru Affairs.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE only female Member of Provincial Assembly for Choiseul Province, Florence Vasaro, is the new minister for Lauru Affairs.

Premier Tongoua Tabe has selected Vasaro among his eight-member government to serve the province in the next four years.

Tabe said she is the right person on the wheel to look after the affairs of women, youths and children in the province.

Attempts to talk to Vasaro yesterday were unsuccessful.

The other ministerial arrangements are:

Tongoua Tabe – Premier and Minister responsible for Planning and Administration;

Harrison Ngosu Pitakaka – Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Forestry and Natural Resources;

Lincoln Galo – Minister of Finance and Investment;

Patson Sualalu – Minister of Education and Training;

Jones Galo Sepu – Minister of Health and Medical Services;

Simon Polotovae – Minister of Works, Transport and Communication;

Samson Takubala – Minister of Agriculture and Lands

Deputy Speaker – Stiudy Salekana

MPG unveils revised $25m budget

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MINISTER for Finance and Treasury under MARA government, Nelson Lenty unveiled a revised budget estimate of $24,819,672 to be passed by the end of the current full assembly sitting.

The budget which is under operation will be used until the end of the financial year 2022/2023, which will lapse by the end of March, 2023.

Announcing the budget estimate during his budget speech yesterday, Lenty thanked divisions under the provincial administration in ensuring the budget is prepared.

He said the total revenue budget summary is estimated at $24,819,672 and total expenditure budget summary is estimated at $24,819,672.

Adding that the total recurrent revenue for financial year 2022/2023 is estimated at $19,869,372, an increase of $1,643,818 or  nine percent increase from the 2022/2023 original estimates.

Lenty said of this total recurrent revenue, we have estimated that our local revenue will contribute around SBD7,800,217, SIG through service grant contributes SBD11,636,456, timber right hearing SBD240,873, reserve account of SBD161,826 and MPGIS second appointed day fund of SBD30,000.

He said from the difference of total recurrent revenue less total recurrent expenditure figure, we anticipated a surplus of SBD5,108,700 to cover for the ward funded projects amount to SBD5,008,700 and PCDF co-funding of SBD100,000 in the capital expenditure.

Lenty added that there is a brought forward of SBD1,708,700 for 2021/2022 and SBD3,300,000 for 2022/2023.

He said the total revised recurrent expenditure for financial year 2022/2023 is estimated at SBD14,760,672.

Lenty furthered that the disbursement of these expenditures covers core expenditure levels of the provincial government include; salary and wages, consultancy costs, operational costs, assembly and executive expenditure, debt servicing and repairs and maintenance.

According to the Minister the total revised capital revenue is SBD4,950,300.

He said the new PCDF allocation is SBD1,249,637, commitment carried forward SBD2,260,905, tourism fund SBD500,00, World Bank Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience Programme (IEDCR) SBD312,409 and government for climate change resilience SBD627,349.

Lenty said on the revise capital expenditure, the province plans to spend a total of SBD10,050,000 for this fiscal year.

   

SolAir and AirVan fly closer together

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Air Vanuatu CEO Joseph Laloyer (left) and Solomon Airlines CEO Gus Kraus. Photo credit - Solomon Airlines PR Team.

Solomon Airlines CEO Mr Gus Kraus met with newly appointed CEO of Air Vanuatu Mr Joseph Laloyer in Port Vila last weekend for two days of discussions to further their Melanesian ties and discuss greater cooperation between the national carriers.

“Joseph is not new to the post of CEO for Air Vanuatu and whilst he has only just returned to that office, we had very useful discussions. It was also a great pleasure to meet in person again, with a dear friend and stalwart in the airline industry,” said Kraus.

“Solomon Airlines and Air Vanuatu are neighbour national carriers, with similar responsibilities, aspirations, fleet size and workforces. It makes sense for us to work together.

“This is our first round of discussions, and we will meet again in the near future to map out our longer-term joint aims and to progress to a planned MOU,” he said.

CEO of Air Vanuatu Joseph Laloyer confirmed that in the interim, and subject to approvals by CAAV, Solomon Airlines would provide support pilots for the airline’s domestic fleet.

“In terms of immediate assistance Solomon Airlines has agreed to help tide us over as we seek to employ pilots to fly our Twin Otter aircraft.

“The shortage of pilots is an urgent priority for us, as it is affecting our domestic services.

“We thank Solomon Airlines and look forward to that assistance which is planned by the end of this month,” he added.

Kraus and Laloyer also fully supported the position of ASPA (Association of South Pacific Airlines) that regional airline co-operation is key to regional economic gain and to meeting industry challenges ahead. The airline leaders also paid tribute to Mr George Faktaufon, Secretary General of ASPA.

“As George prepares for his retirement, we wish him well and thank him sincerely for his

leadership, and significant contribution to aviation development in the Pacific region, for over 30 years.”

–SOLAIR PRESS

SUPPORT FOR CARBON TRADE

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Former Malaita Premier, Daniel Suidani

MARA backs USAID project

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE Suidani-led MARA government is supporting the USAID SCALE project – carbon trading.

Speaking when delivering his budget speech yesterday, Premier Daniel Suidani said the country has been operating under an exploitative and extractive development modality.

“A development mode in which forests are harvested through logging and huge portions of the forests are cleared for monoculture in the form of coconut and coca plantations,” Suidani said.

He added it’s time to move away from these very destructive development modalities and seize opportunities for new emerging markets.

Suidani said USAID SCALE project has given communities the opportunity to participate in carbon trading and payment for ecosystem use of their forest and water resources.

“Many of us surely are yet to fully understand and appreciate the full extent of this new development approaches of the new millennium.

“Where these are international markets for the trading of carbon and the conservation of our forests.

“Where international firms that participate in this trade are able to buy off our carbon while we continue to participate in conserving our forests.

“Similarly, where our rivers and streams can be conserved while our communities get paid for not destroying our water catchment areas.

“Where we can also grow our economy while our resources in the form of forests, rivers, streams and seas are conserved,” he said.

Isabel chiefs call for changes in postings

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

TWO chiefs at Sepi village, Isabel Province, have urged police authorities in Honiara to change the posting of officers in the province.

Richard Teopuhi and Hellen Riogano claimed police in Isabel never visited their community the whole of last year even-though requests were made to attend to law and order issues.

“We are really disappointed with police in Buala for failing to attend to our requests to come and resolves law and order issues in our community.

“We do report the matters to the police because it is beyond our control and we need police officers to step in, but Buala Police never act on our requests.

“We call on Commissioner Mangau to remove the officers in Buala and post them elsewhere.

“They are doing a disservice to the people of Isabel,” the two chiefs told Island Sun.

Furthermore, chief Teopuhi said they even went to Buala to report and discuss with the officers about the issues in their community but not at any time police officers arrive at their shores to follow-up with the matters that were reported to them.

He said they need police to work together with the chiefs if law and order issues are to be resolved according to the law.

Meanwhile, chief Riogano said the police’s lack of response shows they are incapable of serving the people of Isabel.

She said officers in Isabel are not doing their job and what they are mandated to do.

She strongly calls on the police commissioner to quickly take action and post out the officers to other provinces.

Riogano said recently they have reported issues of malicious damage, brewing kwaso, larceny, assaults and wounding incidents but officers in Buala never take note and attended to the reports.

“I even went personally to Buala station to follow-up on our cases, but the officers there were ignorant or simply lazy.

“This is why I want the police commissioner to take action and replace these officers at Buala.”

Comments are being sought from Buala police.

Japan to expand support in fisheries.

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Japans Ambassador to Solomon Islands Yoshiaki Miwa.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

JAPAN says it looks forward to expanding its support in the sector of fisheries in Solomon Islands.

Its ambassador, Miwa Yoshiaki, highlighted this at a fisheries seminar in Honiara last week.

Yoshiaki said during his reign here, his office will be looking at enhancing and integrating development in the areas of Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry.

“On the fishery scope it is narrowed on the coastline but now I am expanding it to the blue sea and so, the Blue economy is very important,” Yoshiaki said.

“Hence on the view point of our diplomacy blue economy is very important, it also means that we regard marine, maritime resources and marine activities international commodities,” he added.

“So we sincerely hope our cooperation will start and grow in this particular area.”

Director of Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Edward Honiwala said the cooperation between Japan and Solomon Islands in the Fisheries Sector started in 1970s, mainly in Tuna fisheries.

Honiwala said recently Japan through its organisations like Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation of Japan (OFCF), have engage with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources on community-based Fisheries Resources Management, Research and Livelihood support programs.

“Under this program, we work in partnership with communities to sustainably develop and manage their coastal marine resources,” he said.

Honiwala adds that coastal fisheries is vital to the people of the Solomon Islands because about 80 percent of our population rely on marine resources for food security and other social and economic benefits.

“The ministry wants to see this partnership and cooperation, contributes significantly to the development of the Fisheries sector in the country, as well as supporting our communities in food security and their livelihood,” he said.

 

WASTE OF MONEY

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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National and provincial government officials with women of Sepi at the launch of their fisheries project last June.

Gov’t funded project failed two months after its launch

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

This fisheries project (pictured) brought smiles to the women of Sepi in Isabel Province when it was launched June last year.

Government provided $76,372 for the project, which it dubbed “Sepi Women Fisheries Initiative”.

But just two months after its launch, the project collapsed and is no more.

The benefits it promised to bring to the lives of the women of Sepi disappeared with it.

Island Sun was invited to cover the project at its launch last June.

When the paper visited the project site again last week to see how it’s been going, we were told by women of the village the project is no longer in operation.

“It failed just two months after the launching ceremony,” one village woman told the Island Sun.

“We only operate for about two months in July and August. Since then, nothing happens here,” she added.

“The deep freezers that were supposed to store fish are now used for cooling drinking water.

“The many ideas and promises made that the project will benefit the women in the village were nothing but lies.

“The women never worked together to sustain and keep the project going.”

The Sepi Women Fishery Initiative project was ssupported by the National Government, through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI).

It aims to improve the quality and supply of fresh fish and other marine products to Honiara and other market outlets around the country.

The initiative was tailored under the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Programme and geared towards supporting downstream processing and value adding to fish and other marine products.

Deputy Secretary Technical for Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration Eric George said at the launching last year that the newly launched fisheries project will create partnership between the provincial government, the national government and Sepi village and the nearby villages.

“We believe this project will bring rural cash flow and you will be self-reliance meaning you will no longer depend on anyone,” Eric said then.

“We often think women do not have ability and competence to participate income generating but these women have proved us wronged and turned things around.

“We applaud Sepi women for this milestone achievement.”

Sepi village is located in Gao-Bugotu Constituency.

Samuel Manetoali is the MP for the constituency.

Mala direct employees get their covid-19 allowances

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MORE than a hundred direct employees who served in last year’s covid-19 programme in Malaita province received their due covid-19 allowances on Wednesday this week.

They form part of seconded staffs and casual workers in the province who had served in the covid-19 campaign, and continue to receive their allowances.

In a statement from the direct employees, they thank MHMS for facilitating the payment that was delayed for more than half a year.

They said the payment received was part of their first submission which covered their involvement in the campaign from January – March 2022.

They said their second submission which is yet to be paid is from April – June 2022 to complete their allowance payment for the covid-19 programme.

However, they said although they are happy to receive their allowances, there are number of concerns that need clarifications on their payment package.

  • Why staffs performed similar duty and days of work, but paid different amounts of allowances
  • Why not paid with SBD$300 and SBD$350 standard covid-19 allowance rate
  • Why some paid with the standard rate whilst others paid with only SBD$150 rate
  • Some staffs worked only in green zones (not high risk) and received high allowances more than those worked in red zones (high risks)

Director of Malaita provincial health, who also the chairman of Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for covid-19 in Malaita, Dr Rex Maukera explained that payment is mainly done upon number of days staffs had worked.

Saying his office depends on reports from supervisors.

Having said this, he said the ministry of health (MHMS) can offer the workers answers to their questions.

SIG scholarship results to be released before end of Jan

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Deputy Secretary MEHRD James Bosamata

BY NED GAGAHE

Government scholarship results 2023 will be published before the end of this month.

This is according to the acting permanent secretary of the ministry of education and human resources development (MEHRD) James Bosamata.

Bosamata revealed this when asked in a media conference yesterday.

He said he had received an update from Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA), which is responsible for the scholarship programme, confirming that the result will be ready before the end of January.

“Most institution will open in January or early February the scholarship is under SITESA, however, I have received an update this morning (Yesterday) that they are also working very hard to release the scholarship names for the recipients of Solomon Islands Government (SIG) sponsored students this month before the end of the month.”

SIG Scholarship online application opened on October 14, 2022 and closed November 30, 2022.

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