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IT’S A COURT DECISION

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Illegally felled Tubi logs at Korona log pond.

Ruling in favour of logger, not landowners: Moveni

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Court of Appeal has granted a Malaysian logging company, Sunrise Investments Limited, rights to export more than 10,000 cubic metres of Xanthostemon logs (tubi) from Korona, San Jorge, Isabel province.

Commissioner of Forest Reeves Moveni confirmed this when asked by Chairman of Public Accounts Committee through a virtual meeting yesterday.

The PAC was enquiring into the 2023 Appropriation Bill 2022 budget.

Moveni said his office facilitated the export by Sunrise company, based on advice from Attorney General, Comptroller of Customs, Jim Sutton and Director of Environment, Joe Horokou.

Ete also asked what the Government’s policy was on the ban of tubi.

Moveni said under the regulation (Forest Resources and Timber Utilization (protected species) Regulations 2012), there was an amendment made where tubi can only be harvested on mining tenement areas only.

He said any place outside of mining tenement is prohibited.

Moveni said this goes in line with approved permits from Director of Environment before his Office can allow.

“If no approval comes from the Director, there won’t be any harvesting,” he added.

However, the landowners of Korona are challenging the government on this case and it is still pending for Judicial Review in the High Court.

The landowners of Korona have described the export as ‘fraud’ and ‘broad daylight corruption’, allegedly backed by Attorney General Office, Solicitor General Savenaca Banuve, Director of Environment Joe Horokou, Commissioner of Forest Reeves Moveni, to allow Sunrise to export the logs on 6th November 2022.

The landowners were convinced after they cited the Bill of lading that shows Sunrise Investments Ltd exported 5,000 cubic meters of tubi trees to the buyer, Karridale PTD, Ltd in China.

Sunrise Investments Ltd got around $4.9 million, the Free on Board (FOB) value of the logs, through a Letter of Credit from Pan Oceanic Bank, on the export.

The Bill of lading document also shows the shipping vessel, MV Victoria Voy loaded the tubi logs at Lelegia.

Lelegia is another log pond, about six kilometers across the pristine Thousand Ships Bay on the mainland of Isabel.

It has also kept huge stockpile of Tubi trees.

Mas Solo Investment Ltd, another Malaysian logger, holds the lease over the area.

The Korona landowners said the tubi issue is still pending for Judicial Review, while the Solicitor General, allegedly unlawfully ordered Director of Environment to issue export permit to Sunrise Investments Ltd.

They claimed Sunrise Investments Ltd owner, Richard Song Sing Ngea did plead guilty last December to a criminal case the Solomon Islands Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) filed on instructions from the Ministry of Environment, accusing the company of illegally harvesting Tubi trees.

Ngea was fined $50,000 (USD$6,232), the maximum penalty for such an offence.

But the company’s license has not been cancelled so it can resume operations if it wishes.

The Korona landowners are calling on appropriate authorities to intervene and investigate this matter in order to get ride off corrupt practice within the ministries and Attorney General office.

“Who do we trust here?” one of the Korona landowners asked.

Sex abuse case dismissed following a 11-year delay

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case against a man accused of sexually abusing a girl under 15 years has been dismissed by the court due to prolonged delay.

Defence lawyer Frank Kama applied to have the case dismissed according to section 143(2) of the penal code (cap 26) to have the information filed on March 18, 2021 against the accused, on a charge of defilement of a girl between the age of 13 and 15 years of age, contrary to section 143(1) (a) of the penal code.

The accused was arrested and charged by police on or about March 4, 2010 for the offence of rape was alleged to have been committed in February 2010.

This is now well over 12 years ago and so delay is an issue in this case, Kama argues.

The accused was brought before the Magistrate on March 19, 2018 and his plea taken.

He entered a not guilty plea and was committed to the High Court on the same day.

Kama in his submission stated that the charge is stale and should not have been filed.

The matter should have been returned to the Magistrates Court once the decision to file a lesser charge had been preferred.

However, by the time decision had been made, time had also run out.

Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer in his decision said that there has been excessive and inordinate delay in having the amended information, which contained the charge of rape filed.

He said it is unfair and unjust to have a defective information to be allowed to hang over the head of this accused for the past one year and seven months before a decision is made to have him tried in the High Court for rape.

“The delay is simply unacceptable,” Sir Albert said.

“Secondly, the charge of rape initially raised in the Magistrates Court was not continued in the High Court after committal,” he added.

“Had the decision to charge him for defilement been made timely, he could have been dealt with promptly in the court below instead of having to wait so long to have this matter sorted out, 11 years later.

“The delay in having the correct information filed is unsatisfactory.

“I am satisfied the delay in progressing this case is unfair and unjust and it would not be right to allow the amended information to be re-instated after the decision had been made not to have him charged with rape on committal from the start. It is not only prejudicial to his defence but also amounts to an abuse of process.

“The information filed on March 18 2021 therefore should be dismissed, and the amended information filed October 5 2022 stayed permanently,” Sir Albert stated.

Public Prosecutor Letiara Pellie appeared for the crown while Frank Kama represents the accused in court.

Doctor claims being threatened from PNG

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Dr Jack Siwainao and her two daughters.

BY NED GAGAHE

Dr Jack Siwainao says he has received threats warning him against going to PNG to bring back his daughters.

He made this revelation to Island Sun:

“It’s not safe for me to go because the situation was exaggerated and out of context, I felt like I was blamed for the death of their mother.

“I don’t know how to described it but I am broken-hearted, really missed my children, I haven’t seen them for almost three years and so many people they asked on social media why did you not come physically to PNG and take back your daughters, where were you all this time.

“After the death of my wife, I did not go because she was already living with somebody else, it would be disrespectful if I appear there when there is somebody there, I feel I was not accepted, I feel the situation was exaggerated.

“Why I didn’t go was because of safety reasons, I lived in PNG for a long time, and I know what PNG is like, I received a threat from the immediate family of my late wife, my late wife’s first cousin and adopted brother says that my daughter’s uncles and their step dad’s brothers are waiting for me.

“If I go to PNG they are waiting to harm me. That was the reason why I did not go and I am not going to go, that’s the reason I made that call because I could not go there physically.

“My wife she was diagnosed with high blood pressure since in 2012.

“This year is tenth year of living with high blood pressure. When it gets up to 10 years you don’t control it with change of diet and lifestyle you developed complications.

“I think her death is the result of uncontrolled high blood pressure that affected her multiple system organs.

“From our conversations I felt like I was blamed for her death, non-communicable disease is the greatest killer in the Pacific because of the change of lifestyle and diet.

“I believe my wife is a victim of this. When she was here, I was very strict in her diet.”

We are still a long way to ending gender violence

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Hon Lanelle Tanangada

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands is still a long way to ending gender-based violence.

That’s according to Education minister Lannelle Tanangada.

She was speaking last Friday at the launch of the 16 days of activism against gender violence.

“The bad news is, we are still a long way from achieving that lasting, fundamental shift including cultural shifts that will enable us to confidently say that gender-based violence against women and girls is not accepted in Solomon Islands and there are no excuses for violence  in whatever form,” she said.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs Dr Cendrick Alependava adds that the 16-day campaign has now widely recognised, longest-running campaign for the rights of women and girls, and Solomon Islands is proud to continue to join this global movement.

Nation grapples with TPA related issues

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
Chairman of the Bills and Legislation Committee John Maneniaru

BY EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands is still grappling with a lot of unattended issues since the signing of the Townsville Peace Agreement (TPA) in Australia, 15th October 2000.

The TPA was signed by two former warring parties, Malaita Eagle Force and the Isatabu Freedom Movement, Malaita Provincial Government and Guadalcanal Provincial Government to end the conflict.

The conflict came about after disgruntled youths of Guadalcanal picked up arms and chased out settlers on their land for failure of past governments to address their grievances dated back to 1988 in relation to land and centralised developments.

In responding to Member of Parliament for West Are’Are John Maneniaru, on what the government is going to do to address these issues to avoid future uprisings, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said his government will discuss the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report.

Sogavare said the report takes us back to history of this country, focuses on how the country collapsed in year 2000 and issues placed before the government which our people felt it was not addressed.

He said for example the spirit of all TPA, if zero down, it says please focus attention outside of Honiara.

“It’s a strongly worded demands in lands and developments.

“Leaders in Guadalcanal stand here in Parliament and continued to make their calls, move some of the major developments outside of Honiara,” he added.

Sogavare said it is a right call and they look at all these issues.

However, he said they lose sight on some of these things that sitting down in all the ministries.

Further to that, Sogavare said some policies are in contrary to demands and expressed thinking of our people in TAP.

As such, he the government need more strategic approach.

“I am calling for Master Plan for Malaita and look at others.,” he said.

Further to that, Sogavare said it’s time to review long term Development strategy.

He said that strategy led to how we satisfy Sustainable Development Goals.

“We need to look at that in the context of what happen in this country that this strategy doesn’t pick it up.

“A summit needs to be called to identify these challenges,” he added.

Parliament resumes on 5th December 2022.

Aftershocks to continue

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0
Damages caused to the stairs of the Anthony Saru Building

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

AFTERSHOCKS of the 7.3 magnitude earthquake are expected to continue for days and weeks until the movement of the tectonic plates, it is reported.

This is according to the National Disaster Council situational report number two released yesterday.

“The seismological unit of the Geological Survey Division reiterates that aftershocks are expected and is expected to continue for days and weeks until the movement of the tectonic plates responsible for the initial major earthquake ceased,” the report said.

The report mentioned that the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Solomon Islands Meteorological Services, and the Geological Survey Division, through the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) reminds residents in on communities on South and Southwest Guadalcanal living near landslides to take extra care and not to go near the landslide areas.

Noting this is also the cyclone season and any rainfall on the landslide areas can cause further landslides.

“Communities living near major river systems are advise to observe unusual water flow, as reduce in water flow may be a result of possible damming that maybe cause by landslides.

“Such damming can result in flash-flooding if there is heavy continuous rainfall on the area,” the report says.

It also stressed that the Honiara City in collaborations with the N-DOC Infrastructure Sector Committee is conducting damage assessment on infrastructure to determine the structural integrity and safety, especially on Government owned Infrastructures (Office Buildings, Schools, etc).

N-DOC Education Sector are also conducting similar work in assisting school infrastructures.

The report says N-DOC Committee meet to deliberate plan of action and approach for implementation of possible support to earthquake affected communities through support to the GP P-DOC and HCC M-DOC.

It also adds that Guadalcanal P-DOC has deployed six (6) teams to conduct Initial Damaged Assessment (IDA) on six (6) of the wards that initially reported disaster impacts as the result of the earthquake, the IDA is part of GPs’ coordinated assessment to confirm and verify reports being received from South and Southwest Guadalcanal.

Teams deployed yesterday 26th November 2022.

The Development partners briefing was conducted on the 23 November 2022, hosted by the United Nations Joint Presence Office in Solomon Islands.

Under the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Arrangement, the UN through the head of the UNDP has the function to coordinate Donor and Development Partners Support during Disaster in collaboration with the NDMO the report says.

LANDOWNERS CRY ‘FRAUD’

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
Tubi logs lying on the sea front at Korona log camp.

Gov’t backs Malaysian logger to export illegally-cut Tubi

BY EDDIE OSIFELO

A Malaysian logging company, Sunrise Investments Limited has exported more than 10,000 cubic meters of Xanthostemon logs (tubi) from Korona, San Jorge, Isabel province.

This is despite the Korona tubi issue is still pending for Judicial Review in the High Court.

The landowners of Korona have described the export as ‘fraud’ and ‘broad daylight corruption’, allegedly backed by Attorney General Office, Solicitor General Savenaca Banuve, Director of Environment Joe Horokou, Commissioner of Forest Reeves Moveni, to allow Sunrise to export the logs on 6th November 2022.

The landowners were convinced after they cited the Bills of lading, that shows Sunrise Investments Ltd exported 5,000 cubic meters of tubi trees to the buyer, Karridale PTD, Ltd in China.

Sunrise Investments Ltd got around $4.9 million, the Free on Board (FOB) value of the logs, through a Letter of Credit from Pan Oceanic Bank, on the export.

The Bill of lading document also shows the shipping vessel, MV Victoria Voy loaded the tubi logs at Lelegia.

Lelegia is another log pond, about six kilometers across the pristine Thousand Ships Bay on the mainland of Isabel.

It has also kept huge stockpile of Tubi trees.

Mas Solo Investment Ltd, another Malaysian logger, holds the lease over the area.

The Korona landowners said the tubi issue is still pending for Judicial Review, while the Solicitor General, allegedly unlawfully ordered Director of Environment to issue export permit to Sunrise Investments Ltd.

They said Sunrise Investments Ltd owner, Richard Song Sing Ngea did plead guilty last December to a criminal case the Solomon Islands Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) filed on instructions from the Ministry of Environment, accusing the company of illegally harvesting Tubi trees.

Ngea was fined SBD$50,000 (USD$6,232), the maximum penalty for such an offence.

But the company’s license has not been cancelled so it can resume operations if it wishes.

The Korona landowners are calling on appropriate authorities to intervene and investigate this matter in order to get ride off corrupt practice within the ministries and Attorney General office.

“Who do we trust here?” one of the Korona landowners asked.

Comments are being sought from Banuve, Horokau and Moveni.

HCC awaits pending request

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0
Damages inside the office of the MNPDC caused by the 7.3 magnitude earthquake. Photo by Jared Koli.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

HONIARA City Council (HCC) Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC) together with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID) is waiting on pending request by business houses or the public for building safety purposes and use.

That is according to the National Disaster Council’s national situational report number one released earlier this week,

“Honiara City Council Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC) chair has been informed and directives for Works Division to liaise with Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID) for assessment of buildings is pending on request by business houses or the public (for building safety purposes and use),” the report said.

It added the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) is on full activation and trying to establish communications with the south West Guadalcanal communities.

“Communications with the provinces was established to gather information on impacts and an initial Situational Overview (Fly-over) was conducted to ascertain the scope and scale of earthquake impacts,” the report stated.

It adds Guadalcanal Province Provincial Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC) is also on full activation and is establishing links with the communities of South West Guadalcanal. GP Police has activated the GP forward command post and trying to establish communities near the epicentre of the earthquake.

The report also mentioned that Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMS) has issued a No tsunami threat for the Solomon Island following the 7.3 magnitude earthquake.

SIMS also activated its call-out to first responding agencies (NEOC/RSIPF/NRH) and informed them of the situational update following the earthquake, and beside go on air with the SIBC and provide situation update regarding the event to the general public highlighting the precautionary measure that people should take following the major earthquake, the report said.

It stressed RSIPF Police Operations Centre (POC) is also on full activation .

The RSIPF personal were deployed to the coastal areas of the Honiara city to ascertain the situation and ensure communities remain calm.

Further to that, the Geological Survey Division (GSD) has issued preliminary earthquake parameters indicating the South Guadalcanal is the epicentre of this 7.3 magnitude Earthquake.

A total of three earthquake technical reports were issued.

New COVID cases in Gizo,public warned

Written by
Ben Bilua
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0
Gizo Hospital

BY BEN BILUA

GIZO Hospital has recorded COVID cases over the past weeks – losing its COVID free status since border restrictions were lifted.

According to reports, cases are expected to increase given that people are returning to normal life with less precaution on public health measures.

Speaking during an awareness program at the MSG building yesterday, Western Province Environmental Health Inspector, Merilyn Vana warned betel nut vendors and the general public to be cautious.

She said COVID-19 can easily transmit in areas where people are crowded such as at betel nut stalls.

Vana adds that betel nut stalls encouraged unnecessary social gathering and that Western Provincial Administration along with other stakeholders will take necessary steps to discourage such gatherings.

She went on to warn Gizo residents to be cautious and reemphasises public health measures to stop COVID-19 from further transmission.

Siwainao hopes to get his children back soon

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Dr Jack Siwainao and her two daughters.

BY NED GAGAHE

Medical doctor and father of two Dr Jack Siwainao says he expects the soon return of his two daughters who were held against their will in Papua New Guinea.

Siwainao had posted on his facebook wall on Wednesday 23 November an acknowledgement thanking the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG) James Marape and all those who are involved in response to his call for the safe return of his two daughters.

The girls accompanied their PNG mother to Moresby in 2019, but the woman remarried and has since passed away in September this year.

This left the two girls stranded in PNG and attempts by Siwainao to talk to them have proven futile.

This week, he went on social media calling for help to get his two daughters back.

His appeal went viral and has attracted a lot of supports in Solomon Islands and abroad calling for the safe return of the girls.

PNG’s Post Courier newspaper had run an article that featured Siwainao’s plea for the safe return of his daughters.

This week Director Immigration, Chris Akosawa says on Facebook he had a zoom meeting with his PNG counter-parts, the PNG Immigration Citizenship Authority (ICA), to discuss the matter.

“I have spoken with executive officers who are supportive to locate the two children for repatriation back to Solomon Islands.

“PNG ICA had advised me to inform Siwainao to contact them and Solomon Islands High Commission (SIHC) in Port Moresby (POM) for assisting him to repatriate his children back to Solomon Islands.

“I have given officer’s email so that Siwainao can communicate with PNG ICA,” Akosawa said.

He also called on everyone not to speculate about deportation, saying that it is not the best option when dealing with children related issues.

“Immigration understands Child Rights Conventions (CRC) and during any circumstances facing risks under the laws, laws to protect children always prevail.

“I will continue to communicate with our PNG counterparts to assist Dr Jack to have access to his children ensuring that PNG ICA assists the children.

“Just to assure you all that PNG ICA and Solomon Islands Immigration we have close working relations as Melanesian brothers.

“Just last month (October) I was in POM having meeting with PNG ICA over issues of common interests and one of them is visas for Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and PNG ICA supports for Solomon Islands Immigration.”

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