Solomon Water has swiftly launched an immediate investigation into the cause of current brackish water affecting Noro residents, Western Province.
In a statement yesterday, Solomon Water warned customers against using the affected water for drinking, food preparation, cooking and consumption whilst swift action is taken to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Brackish water or brack water is when salt water is mixed with fresh water. It is saltier than fresh water, but not as salty as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water.
Solomon Water has also issued an apology to its customers for the inconvenience and assured them that they working to resolve the problem.
“Solomon Water would like to extend our sincerest apologies to our valued customers in Noro, for the recent issues with brackish water.
“We regret the inconvenience and concern this has caused and want to assure you we are taking immediate action to respond to the problem.
“We are working to identify the cause of the brackish water and to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
“In the meantime, we advise customers to take all necessary precautions and avoid using the affected water for drinking, food preparation, cooking and consumption.
“We understand the importance of clean and safe drinking water and Solomon Water is committed to providing our customers with the highest level of service.
“We will continue to work diligently to restore the water supply to its normal quality.
“We appreciate your patience as we work to resolve the issue.
“For updates and further information, please contact our customer care service in Noro or in Honiara.” Solomon Water statement said.
Malaita Provincial Minister for Finance and Treasury, Nelson Lenty .
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
MALAITA provincial government is looking forward to a disappointing audit report for 2022/2023 financial year.
Provincial Minister for Finance and Treasury, Nelson Lenty confirmed this in his revised budget speech last week.
“Sadly for 2022/23 financial year, we will expect increase in audit issues due to uncontrollable spending without appropriated budget,” he said.
Lenty said compared to past financial years, there has been a progress in the province’s audit issues, although some reports are yet to be received.
“I understand that the audit report for 2019/20 financial service is yet to receive by the executive. For 2018/19 audit report, we have managed to top reduce audit queries from 29 issues to 19,” he said.
Lenty said for 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, MPG is still waiting to receive its audit reports for the respective financial years.
On that note, he urged the PS(Ag) and team to follow-up with the Office of the Auditor General to speed up the auditing process and fast track the reports as soon as possible.
OUTSPOKEN leader of Western Province, Jeffrey Wickham has called on the central Government to stop bullying provincial governments.
He said all the regulations and requirements placed to provincial government not only hinder provinces to progress but also affect the core function of provinces to serve their people.
“I’m quite dumbfounded with all these requirements. For example, the regulation on financial compliance requirements.
“Provinces have done their best year in and year out to fulfill this requirement. Failure to do so means provincial governments will be penalized.
“Provinces will not be entitled to some of the funds under the Ministry of Provincial Government.
“This requirement or regulation is a clear example of action taken by the central government to derive provinces from their ambitions,” Wickham said.
He said such regulations or compliance should also be enforced to all government ministries.
“While provinces are subjected to this regulation, I see no reason as to why government ministries are pardoned to do the same.
“What I’m trying to say is that, Government Ministries and other State Own Enterprises must also produce their audit report every year.
“I’m certain that Government Ministries and SOE are worse than province when comes to misuse of funds,” Wickham said.
Jeffrey Wickham Member for ward 16 in Western Province.
BY BEN BILUA
Member for ward 16 in Western Province has cautioned the new provincial government not to allocate projects to failed contractors.
Speaking in Assembly last week, Jeffrey Wickham said there are lots of failed provincial projects because contractors were either fake or incapable of implementing projects.
He said the issue behind the fail project is not due to shortage of funding but contractors lack of transparency and accountability.
“I made this comment because I know. When I was the provincial secretary I came across lots of incomplete provincial projects.
“Reports I received were similar. Similar in the sense that most of the contractors were not doing a good job.
“This must be changed. Again, this must be changed because if we continue to exercise such practice, we are wasting the province’s financial resources,” Wickham said.
He said there are good contractors with good reputations where the provincial government can utilize.
Wickham said it is time to critically look into which contractor can deliver best outcome for Western Province.
GIZO Town Council (GTC) is still waiting for forming letter from the provincial government that would enable the municipal authority to manage MSG building.
Clerk of Gizo Town, Charles Kelly said there have been verbal conversations but GTC has limited its arm to avoid conflict between the province and GTC.
He said however GTC is willing to manage and improve the MSG Building to become a property that would generate revenue for the provincial government.
“MSG building is an important property that would generate revenue for the province and GTC is more than happy to take lead in marketing the property.
“GTC is capable of managing the building,” Kelly said.
He said is just a division within the provincial government setting as such his office has limited power and financial resource to fulfill its plan.
However Kelly said, GTC will continue to deliver services while at the same time looking for opportunities to develop a better system to run GTC business and operations.
Children took part is an activity to know more about effects of climate change.
BY BEN BILUA
BABANGA Primary School in Western Province is less than five meters from the shoreline and during extreme weather waves reached the walk way which is less than 2 meters from the classrooms.
On Tuesday this week, Network for the Indigenous People Solomon (NIPS) met with children, parents and teachers of Babanga Primary School and deliberate on climate change and its effects on children.
The program is part of Climate Parent Fellowship, a new global movement which aimed at supporting vulnerable children to know climate change risk and at the same time champions of climate change advocacy in their respective countries and communities.
Children took part is an activity to know more about effects of climate change.
Children aged four to seven were introduced to common risk and challenges caused by climate change to children’s welfare and also taking part in role play to understand risk associated with climate change.
Coordinator and Vice President of NIPS Aydah Akao said the session was aimed at educating children about the effects of climate change at an early age to lessen stress and trauma on children when they experience extreme situation caused by climate change.
She said children are at the receiving end of climate change and that they must be informed about climate change and its effects to communities.
Akao said the program was interesting and at the same time emotional as children who are innocent to global failure expressed what they love living on an Island that is at risk of climate change.
“I’m very pleased with the short session and the interest shown by students and parents towards session.
“It was heartwarming to see the children expressed what they love about their home which is now at risk of sea level rise through their drawings.
“I can see their interest and love for their home.
“Most of the children draw their parent and village life such as paddling a canoe, playing soccer with their friends and swimming in the sea.
“A little girl draw a flower and a girl playing next to a school.
“These drawing shows somehow depicts how vulnerable our children are amidst effects of climate change.
“They love their homes and schools but climate change will soon robe these children from what they love,” Akao said.
She said children’s voices must be heard as the impact of climate change to children is three times more than adults.
Mrs Akao talking to the children and parent during the program.
Chairperson of Babanga Primary School, Riakai Waituti Euta expressed his gratitude towards the program saying that Babanga School and community as a whole do feel the effect of climate change.
He said the program opened the eyes of his community about the risks related event that caused by climate change.
“This island is getting smaller as the ocean continues to gulp the coastline. Sea level is also getting closer to our homes.
“I see it fitting for NIPS to come down not only to educate our children but also adults who called this place their homes.
“On behalf of Babanga Primary School, I acknowledge NIPS for choosing our school to be part of their program.
“I’m looking forward to working with NIPS in any future programs,” Euta said.
A teacher at Babanga Primary School, Partina Pitakaka shared similar sentiment saying that the program was very helpful and important not only for the children but also parents, teachers and children.
“Babanga community suffers the effect of climate change but there is no proper information or access to information to help the school and community make informed decision has been lacking.
“I like to say, our community is not exposed to proper information. I understand that there are lots of NGOs that deals with climate change in Solomon Islands but only few came to educate us on the risks associated with climate change.
Pitakaka spent two years teaching at Babanga School and she said sea level rise an ongoing issue that continues to threaten the school and also Babanga community.
She also acknowledge NIPS for the effort put together to bring the information to Babanga Primary School.
NIPS Coordinator met one of the teachers upon arrival at Babanga Primary School
Network for the Indigenous People Solomons, NIPS for short is a local CSO established in 2007 with a passion to work with people in local communities in areas like climate change, biodiversity, conservation, women empowerment and climate resilience focusing on food security.
The organization holds one primary goal and that is to give voices to local people in Solomon Islands.
Since its establishment NIPS has projects across Solomon Islands including Isabel Province, Malaita Province and Temotu Province. One of NIPS premium project is the protection of special tree species known locally as tubi tree which can be found in Isabel
Member of Parliament for South Guadalcanal and Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Rollen Seleso
Minister Seleso to refer province over to Auditor General
By EDDIE OSIFELO
MINISTER of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Rollen Seleso, is expected to ask the Auditor General Office to investigate the accounts of Malaita Province.
This is after he received the reports of the defeated $27 million revised budget and Public Accounts Committee from Speaker of Malaita Province’s Ronnie Butala, last Friday.
Seleso said the reports reflect some elements of ‘misappropriation’ on the revised budget.
He said there is likelihood to call on the Auditor General to investigate the province before any decision can be made on their future.
In terms of politics relating to the defeated revised budget, Seleso said he will leave that to Members of the Provincial Assembly in Malaita to deal with it.
He said in politics, it depends on the number game to change any government.
Seleso said the process to do that is recognised under the Standing Orders.
The revised budget was defeated through a voice vote, after the debate of the Finance Minister’s speech.
The Premier Daniel Suidan led government did not have the numbers during the voice vote after some of his ministers attended to personal commitments.
As such, there was strong voice from the non-executive side who said ‘No’ during voice voting, which convinced Speaker Butala to rule in their favour.
Butala said under the Standing Order 47 in the Provincial Government Act 1997, he has no power to do anything about it.
He had sought advice from the Attorney General Office in Honiara and the counsel advised him that the Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening has the power to make any decision on the issue
Apart from that, the actual budget session is scheduled to take place in March.
The four years term of the Malaita Provincial Assembly (MPA) members die a natural death in June.
However, it is still not sure if the term is going to be extended after the National Government has extended their term in office until January 2024.
Stab wounds the boy received on his back. Photo supplied.
Beliga attacks innocent boy; steals his phone
BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO
A parent is calling on authorities to address the issue of ‘beliga’ or daylight robbers in Honiara following his son’s near-fatal ordeal with one.
He also cautions members of public to be aware of beligas riding in buses and attacking victims.
The father, who asked not to be named, said his 19-year-old son was travelling on a bus servicing the Skyline/Mbokonavera road when he was stabbed with a scissors and had his mobile taken by a beliga (robber) on Thursday evening.
The incident has been reported to police. Police Media could not comment yesterday (January 20) when queried over the matter.
This incident unfolded before the eyes of the bus driver, his conductor and other passengers. No one stepped forward to help the boy.
The father claims that the bus driver and conductor could be aiding the beliga.
“The bus driver urged my son to give the beliga his phone when the robber demanded my son’s phone,” the father said.
According to witnesses the boy boarded the bus from Honiara City Council Skyline bus stop to go back to his house after purchasing cabbage from the Honiara Central Market.
Stab wounds on the boy’s left arm.Photo supplied.
The witness said it was when the victim was inside the bus the incident took place.
The suspect (beliga) sat next to the boy. The suspect then asked the victim for his phone but he refused.
The suspect then got angry and took out a scissors and stabbed the victim multiple times.
The victim’s father said his son suffered 10 injuries in total, on his back and his hands.
The witness said the beliga then instructed the bus drive to tell the victim to hand over his phone.
“The bus driver followed what the beliga requested and asked the victim to hand over his phone.
“The beliga took the phone and left,” the father said.
The victim was later transported to the National Referral Hospital for medical attention and is now on clinical treatment, the father said.
Speaking to the paper yesterday, a doctor at the national referral hospital emergency ward said the boy is lucky the wounds were superficial although they are situated in dangerous places, such as the back behind the lungs and heart, and the arms and near the neck, where major arteries are located.
Premier Daniel Suidani’s MARA government is still intact and commands the majority in the Malaita provincial assembly.
Deputy premier Glenn Waneta says this amid public rumours that some members of the executive have defected to the non-executive.
“The MARA government is still with the majority of 17 MPAs with no single deserter as reported, while the non-executive with 16 MPAs and the matter with regards to the vote is worth clarification.”
Deputy Premier Waneta made the statement yesterday to clear confusion and importantly to distinguish between the “$24m revised budget” and “budget speech”.
He explained that the budget which was voted for as referred to, was the budget speech read by the finance minister and not the $24 million revised budget.
Waneta, who is serving his fourth term in politics, added that after the Minister read the budget speech, it will go through the first, second reading, committee stage and the final reading.
He furthered during the final reading as provided under the ordinance, if the budget is rejected by vote, then it will not be passed as referred to.
“For this case, after the minister presented the budget speech on Monday, it put for debate in which we debated it on Wednesday and then the minister wind-up the debate.
“After then, the speaker called to vote for the speech in which we did as only practice.
“For clarity, there is nowhere under the standing order has provided for voting for speeches, whether the premier or finance minister speeches.
“It only used as practice, but it’s illegal since it has no provision for under the standing order.
“The reason for that is these speeches are not ordinance. So, whether you like the speeches or not, they are just speeches and should not be voted,” Waneta said.
He said with regards to the budget, they are yet to go through it and it’s too early to make “yes or no” decision on the budget.
“In short, the voting happened was only for the finance minister’s speech and not the $24 million revised budget,” Waneta explained.
He said should there be voting for the $24 million revised budget, the executive government has the number and they will definitely pass the budget.
Waneta said reason the executive was not in number during the budget speech vote was due to some of their MPAs were on compassionate leave, but again whether defeat or not, the vote will not affect the budget.
