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Magistrate talks out against stealing

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRINCIPAL Magistrate Leonard Chite has reminded citizens that there is no gain in using one’s position to illegally acquire Constituency funds for personal gain.

He made the statement when sentencing the former Constituency Development Officer of Temotu Nende.

Chite said everyone makes mistakes, but it takes the wise to learn and take constructive steps and measures to become a better person.

“If anything that I must strongly emphasize on is learn to appreciate what is genuinely acquired that what is pleasing but unlawful for every work of the hands will soon be revealed and when they do bad works normally attracts severe punishments.

“I hereby make bold to state that those who find passion in stealing from the government or acquiring monies from abuse of positions are journey bound to prison. There is more to life that indulging oneself in act of official corruption,” Chite said.

Chite explained that the offence of official corruption is very serious, in that the defendant was vested with responsibility to look after and administer constituency Development fund for the Constituency. Clearly, the role encompassed, although indirectly, looking after the welfare and financial limitations, as well as the greater need of the less fortunate, including other community-based development plans.

He adds acquiring that money in the guise of financing a housing scheme project for his own family is an outright disrespect, breach of trust and lack of empathy to those he promised to serve.

Sakui urges public to support HCC look after Kukum Market

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
One-of-the-two-Kukum-Market-building-facility-that-was-recently-opened

BY NED GAGAHE

Honiara City Council’s (HCC) Market Manager Nelson Sakui has called on public, city residents and market users to respect and support the HCC look after the newly reopened Kukum Market.

Mr Sakui made the call following the upgrade and reopening of the market on Friday last week.

“I call on the general public, residents and market users to cooperate and let us work together and take responsibility by keeping the market facility.

“It’s a new facility, costs a lot of money, moreover, it is where we buy and sell food, the hygiene of this place is very important. 

“The opening marked what people had anticipated. It took HCC two and half years to upgrade the market.

“It is expected that the market will ease up the challenges that HCC is facing in the city to remove illegal vendors from the streets, also the congestion that we are facing at the Central Market.

“After the reopening of the Kukum Market, Fishing Village Market will be closed. We are hereby encouraging vendors to come forward and use the new Kukum market facilities.

“We will be tough in terms of ordinance at the new Kukum Market but it comes back to people as we relied heavily on them to work cooperatively with HCC to achieve this.

“Now that the market has reopened, I would like to encourage, people, city residents and users to make full use of the opportunity to come forward to market our crops and vegetables at this new Kukum Market facilities.

“On that note, I encourage users to look after these facilities. We must change from our careless attitudes towards the properties of the market.”

The market was opened for public as of Monday, December 5.

Man accused of burning his parent’s house deny charge

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man alleged of setting fire to his parents’ house in 2020 at the Goldridge area has pleaded not guilty and a pre-trial hearing was conducted on December 7.

Nelson Vajua is charged with one count of arson c/s 319 (a) of the Penal Code.

Yesterday prosecution and defence lawyers set the trial date to February 13-17, 2023.

Prosecution alleged that he burnt the house belonging to his parents at Vatumauri Village, Gold Ridge area in Central Guadalcanal on October 16, 2020.

This case has been delayed for quite a while because the defendant Vajua had not been attending court, thus a warrant of arrest was issued on the defendant.

He was re-arrested and placed in custody awaiting his trial. Public Prosecutor Samuel Tovosia is appearing for the crown on this matter

Shanel rejects PAC recommendation

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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THE Minister for Civil Aviation and Communications, Peter Shanel

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTER of Communication and Aviation, Peter Shanel Agovaka has rejected the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) recommendation that the 161 towers are not ‘viable’.

PAC made the recommendation after the Telecommunication of Solomon Islands (TCSI) Interim Commissioner, Calvin Ziru told PAC recently that their position goes along with the KPMG report.

Experts of KPMG New Zealand came up with the report after the Government planned to borrow money from Exim bank in China to build 200 towers.

After the report came out, the Government downgraded it to 161 towers and signed a contracting agreement with the vendor and contractor, Huawei/China Harbour Engineering Company Limited.

Shanel said he got advice from Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI), some groups overseas and Ministry of Finance and Treasury which said this project is “viable”.

He said KPMG has different set of numbers because they did their calculation on 200 towers and not 161 towers.

“How they calculate in terms of interest rate, they calculate on different rate?

“We calculate on very modest interest rate. This is the reason why the figures do not match,” he said.

Shanel said CBSI helped them in the calculation which made him and Minister of Finance and Treasury to agree on the project.

Apart from that, Shanel said in the past, former Minister of Finance, late Columbus Abe made a loan to tar seal the main highway in Honiara.

“We work on numbers, CBSI helped us in the numbers, when I look at that, I and Ministry of Finance agree

“That time, I said, how can we repay the loan.

“Today we repaid the road,” he said.

Shanel said for the towers project, Government is expected to repay it in last than 20 years.

“It is for the good of the people of this country to bring people closer to the rest of the world.

“They use telecommunication for trade, information to gather, study and do anything in internet,” he added.

The 161 towers is part of the Solomon Islands National Broadband Infrastructure Project or SINBIP.

The SINBIP is one of the priority projects of the National Government.

The SINBIP is consistent not only with the DCGA Policy Statement, but is also in line with the Solomon Islands National Infrastructure Investment Plan (2013), National ICT Policy (2015), and Solomon Islands National Development Strategy, 2016-2035 (2016).

According to Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the SINBIP will be fully funded with a 20 years’ term concessional loan of approximately $66 million from the Exim Bank of China at one percent (1.0%) interest rate.

The government expects to complete the first 48 percent of the 161 towers before the Pacific Games in November 2023.

This should enable people, especially in the rural areas, to enjoy the games even if they do not come to Honiara.

HCC: new betel-nut market at Gegema January 2023

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0

BY NED GAGAHE

HONIARA City Council (HCC) will open a new betel nut market at Gegema in January next year.

This is according to HCC Market Manager Mr Nelson Sakui.

Sakui told journalists this when he was asked about the council’s plan for a new vendors market in the city following its decision to ban betel nut selling at the newly upgraded Kukum Market.

Sakui said HCC has already chosen the site at Gegema between Vara Creek and Marble Street.

“This site is not really a permanent place, but at least we provide venue for our betel nut vendors since we will be working on closing all illegal vendors areas in the city.

“So, it is expected that by January 2023 the market should be fully operational.

“Consultations has been ongoing throughout the year; HCC has received some objections from certain residents but it’s HCC land.

“There are advantages to that for the residents in terms of economics.

“They will hugely benefit out of it. Land clearance has already commenced except for back-filling of the site which is expected to commence soon,” Sakui said.

Sakui also clarified unofficial reports that a site at the Kukum seafront was recently cleared to make way for a betel nut market.

Responding to that Sakui said permission was sought from the HCC to allow betel nut vendors but since the land belongs to a private business owner, the council cannot issue vendor licence to private business owners to run vending on their land.

Maelanga defends govt

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Deputy Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

DEPUTY Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga has defended government on issues of boat building, drainage system in Honiara, road maintenance and building of wharves around the country.

Maelanga, also Minister of Infrastructure Development, was responding to the recommendations made by Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on his ministry’s programmes.

Speaking during the debate of the 2023 Appropriation Bill 2022 in Parlaiment yesterday, Maelanga said a team was sent out this year to Langalanga lagoon in Malaita province to assess the boat builders there.

He said the people of Langalanga are known for building boats and transporting people and cargoes in the past.

“We have prepared a report and there will be support given to them when it is finalised,” he said.

Further to that, Maelanga said the Ministry also supported the private sectors and other constituencies which own ships as well.

Regarding Honiara’s drainage system, Maelanga said there will be another contractor next year to work with the current contractor to look after the drainage systems and the bad state of roads in the capital.

Honiara’s drains usually get blocked during rainy weather, which results in debris overflowing on the main road.

Furthermore, he said for the maintenance of roads in Honiara and the provinces, it’s an ongoing project, where some are funded by World Bank.

Maelanga said work on Chea wharve in Marovo, Western province is expected to start soon, after their Member of Parliament, Chachabule sorted out the land issue with the landowners.

Further to that, Maelanga said the Ministry is also preparing to open the wharves in Tulagi (Central Islands) and Ugi Islands in Makira Ulawa.

HCC: private security firm to look after Kukum market

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
One-of-the-two-Kukum-Market-building-facility-that-was-recently-opened

BY NED GAGAHE

Honiara City Council (HCC) is looking to private security firms to look after the newly opened Kukum Market.

HCC Market Manager Nelson Sakui revealed this to local journalists at the reopening of the market on Friday last week.

“Currently we are working on outstanding issues of the Central Market.

“We tried as much as possible to make Kukum Market a role model for Central Market and other markets as well in Honiara City.

“So, our plan now moving forward is the security will not be directly under employees of HCC.

“We will outsource it to a private firm.

“Hopefully with the help of the private security firm, they will work along with the help of HCC Law Enforcement Officers.

“We are anticipating that the issues and challenges faced at the Central Market will not a as visible at the Kukum Market,” Sakui said.

FAMILY AFFAIRS CUT OUT

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister for Women Youth Children and Family Affairs Freda Rotutafi Rangirei.

MWYCFA sad $1.3m missing in govt $4.6b budget

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Women, Youths, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) is saddened to see their submission for $1.3 million to establish a Family Affairs Division not included in the 2023 Appropriation Bill 2022.

The MWYCFA Minister had asked Government to set up a Family Affairs Division to work with all Christian churches in Solomon Islands in order to reduce violence against women and girls and all forms of abuse to children.

Minister Freda Rotutafi Rangirei​​ expressed this during her debate on the $4.6 billion budget in Parliament yesterday.

She said one of the most powerful ways to reduce all forms of violence and abuse to women and girls is working together with churches like Solomon Islands Christian Association and Solomon Islands Full Gospel Association.

“This is to enable churches preach to their congregations the Family Protection Act 2010 and Child Family Affairs Act 2017 in collaboration with biblical doctrines, in order for our Lord and Saviour to transform families, children and youths for brighter future,” she said.

“We believe all these violences and abuses as well as youths’ misbehaviours will become less so that our Hapi Isles would be peaceful Solomon Islands again.

“True transformation comes from God and if we support our churches with this $1.3 million each year, we can be able to see transformation in our youths, children and families where less violence and abuse will be experienced.

“True transformation, harmony and peace comes from God,” she said.

Rangirei said they have “fostered this understanding with our churches and was the idea given to us”.

She said since nothing will be given, the Family Affairs will not be supporting churches next year.

The debate continues in Parliament today, December 8.

Dead body found at Fiu River bridge

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Police in Auki are treating the finding of a dead body on December 6 at the Fiu river as a ‘likely murder case’.

The body was found just after 7am under the Fiu bridge, and has been identified as a man in his 30s who was from Fulikaomae, a village in the outskirts of Auki town.

RSIPF Operation Manager at Auki, Sergeant Charles Eddie Koto said initial reports say the deceased was last seen with a group of boys along the river on Sunday.

Koto said a fight broke out between them and the deceased fought with one of the boys.

Koto said the dead body has injury marks and police are investigating whether they are related to the fight on Sunday.

He said Auki police have already identified some of the boys whom they will bring in for questioning.

Koto said the body of the deceased was brought to Kilu’ufi hospital yesterday and kept for post mortem which was arranged for today.

He appealed to families and relatives of the deceased and parties involved to remain calm and allow police to carry out investigations.

Koto urged those who may have information about the incident to report to police.

He conveyed condolences to the immediate families and relatives of the deceased.

Witness in murder case gives testimony

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

HEARING of evidence in the case of a man alleged of murder has started at the High Court.

James Tangasuna is charged with one count of murder in relation to the death of a 50-year-old man at Keuna Village in the Marumbo area of West Guadalcanal on June 14, 2020.

A Prosecution witness told court yesterday he saw the defendant hit the deceased with a two-feet long 3×2 timber, and the deceased fell onto the ground with blood running out of his nose.

The witness said the incident occurred between 1am and 6am on June 14, 2020.

He said prior to the incident a fundraising was held at the village and the defendant was drinking alcohol.

The allegation said the accused and the deceased were both drunk and had an argument before the incident.

It is alleged the accused got hold of a piece of timber with both of his hands and struck the victim twice. The first strike allegedly landed on the back of the victim’s head, and as the victim fell to the ground, the accused then gave the second strike which landed on the left side of his head including the victim’s left shoulder.

Police said the deceased fell unconscious on the ground with blood coming out from his mouth and nose. The deceased was then transported to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) for medical treatment.

The deceased remained in a critical condition for eight days until he died on June 22, 2020 at NRH.

The trial will continue today.

Public Prosecutor John Wesley Zoze appears for the crown while Benham Ifutoo represents the accused.

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