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Police officer’s traffic case hits court today

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a police officer alleged of crashing a police vehicle into the Holy Cross Cathedral brick wall in Honiara in 2019 is set for mention before Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison today, 7th December 2022.

Markie Rokoto a police officer is currently suspended in relation to this alleged traffic incident.

The incident reportedly occurred between 10.30pm and 11pm on February 19, 2019 at the Holy Cross Cathedral along the Mbokonavera road.

The allegation said that Rokoto drove at a high speed along the Mbokonavera road while under the influence of liquor and was heading south when he ran the vehicle into the Holy Cross Cathedral brick wall near the road and overturned.

It was also alleged that there were two other police officers in the vehicle with Rokoto during the accident.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown.

Gov’t expects $1.2b budget deficit next year

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Opposition Leader Matthew C Wale.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands Government is expecting a budget deficit of $1.2 billion next year.

This is one of the highest budget deficits since 2016.

Opposition Leader, Matthew Wale highlighted this during his debate on the 2023 Appropriation Bill 2022 in Parliament on Monday.

Wale said total expenditure estimates are set at $4.9 billion.

He said net of $320 million from donors and government revenues of $3.2 billion, this leaves a budget deficit of $1.2Bn to be funded by borrowing.

“The first question this House must ask is whether borrowing to finance this deficit is responsible.

“Members need to ponder on the question as we review this budget,” he said.

Wale said with the exception of 2018, the government has been running deficits in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, & 2022.

“It is significantly increasing that deficit for 2023.

“That makes it a total of seven years in a row that the government budget would be in deficit,” he said.

Wale said the fundamental reason government budgets have consistently been in deficit is clear – high expenditure in the face of decreasing revenues from a narrow base.

“It ought to be common sense policy that if you want to increase expenditure that you enhance the capacity of the revenue base.

“Without expanding the revenue base and stimulating growth in it, government runs the risk of imposing too heavy a burden on the economy by consistently setting high levels of expenditure,” he added.

Furthermore, Wale said there was a time, not too long ago, when government had cash reserves of almost $1 billion.

“Those reserves were squandered over the two-year period 2015 & 2016.

“Cash reserves are essential to the government in a small open economy such as ours. Cash reserves present government will multiply options to prop up and stimulate the economy in difficult times,” he said.

Wale said without cash reserves, government must either live within its means, or borrow to fund an expansionary fiscal policy.

Further to that, he said since 2015, government has pursued an expansionary fiscal policy, and the data is clear that policy has been on the back of deficit financing.

“And given that most Solomon Islands households struggle on hand to mouth situation, it is clear the expansionary fiscal policy has not benefited the vast majority of our people.

“This is a serious charge on fiscal policy that government would do well to reflect on,” he said.

“It is good to pursue an expansionary policy in difficult economic times to stimulate domestic demand.

“However, coupled with such a policy there must be a clear plan of how to get government back into the black,” he said.

“Consistent budget deficits into the mid to long term is irresponsible, as it means government is reliant on borrowing over too long a timeframe for the running of its normal services.

“Donor support masks the real dire situation in government finances,” he added.

Wale said Government can, and at times must, move to deficit financing.

“But this should be only for the shortest amount of time necessary to spur growth in the economy.

“There is need here for government to review its fiscal stance,” he added.

MHMS eyes Copen communication plan

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services is looking at forming a health communication plan against copen, says Minister Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana.

“MHMS will put together efforts to form a of strategic health communication plan against copen which is now being discussed by the health promotion team of the Ministry of Health and Medical,” Togamana said.

When more information is gained on copen – its short term, medium and long term effects, the Ministry will develop health communication material for such drugs or the substance that is illegal, he adds.

He said the development of this material will have to be developed in collaboration with the Ministry  of Education and Human Resources Development, Ministry of Police National Security and Correctional Services, Ministry  of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs and other relevant stakeholders and non-governmental organisations.

“But most importantly work will engage students who are noted to be affected by the copen substance,” he said.

Togamana adds, they are also looking at working with law enforcement agencies and communities affected by copen.

40 schools to take Copen survey 2023

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

FORTY random schools in the country will take the Copen survey next year.

Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana said they will be randomly selected in the country to undertake the school health survey following widespread of the new substance (copen drug) in the country.

Togamana said the Ministry of Health will work to collect information and data on this especially the illegal use of copen at school is a bit necessary.

“The copen questionnaire is already included in the school Health survey that will be done early next year in 2023.

“The survey will be undertaken in 40 schools that will be randomly selected in the country,” he said.

Togamana adds, this school base survey will give authorities evidence on the external use of the substance so they can work on what strategies can be formed to address this matter.

He echoed the above sentiments in a parliament debate earlier on 5th December 2022.

Gov’t lacks law on cooking gas

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology Member of Parliament for East Kwaio, Stanley Sofu.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Government has no legislation in place to control domestic cooking gas products in the country.

Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Stanley Sofu confirmed this in Parliament on 7th December 2022, when asked by Leader of Opposition, Mathew Wale.

Wale claimed there was a study by scientists released last month, that found the cooking gas products like butane gas are risky for people’s health.

In response, Sofu said chemical management in the country is fragmented and covered under different legislations.

“For example, the Pharmacy and Poisons Act 1941 regulates the importation, sale, suppliers and use of pharmaceutical drugs and provisions under the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

“The Safety at Work Act 1982 regulates the manufacture, suppliers and use of chemicals and pesticides, as they relate to work place health and safety, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock,” he said.

Sofu said the crop health unit which also among the pesticide registry.

In addition, he said a large number of chemicals are not coverable.

“As such on part of meeting our obligations under the Stockholm conventions on persistent organics pollutants, we have made a provision in National Implementation Plan and sound chemical management inclusion of chemicals that are not covered under existing legislations.

“Unfortunately, due to limited capacity within the Environment and Conservation Division, the implementation of NIP has been delayed,” he added.

Furthermore, Sofu said the draft Environmental Act Amendment Bill which is at advance stage of drafting, has a new provision in Part 5 and management of chemicals that are not covered under existing legislations.

He said the part states that any chemicals deem as dangerous substance that is imported, exported, stored, produced, sold, use and dispose, which may cause environmental harm, must be managed accordingly to standards prescribes by Regulations.

“Origin gas has imported butane gas last year, however, due to covid 19, they have stopped.

“They did not buy empty bottles for 30 cents and stockpile the collected bottles for disposal at their area at Henderson. It is currently being stockpile,” he added.

Sofu said currently, the ministry does not undertake compliance monitoring and enforcement of domestic cooking gas products.

However, he said the current draft Environmental Act does not provide for sound chemical management and therefore will consider compliance, monitoring and enforcement in the implementation of the new Environmental Amendment Bill.

CRB TRAP BACKFIRE

Written by
Irwin Angiki
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Beetle traps such as this have become successful breeding sites for the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. Credit: Daley Tesuatai

Coconut rhino beetle widespread on Bellona thanks to MAL and covid-19

BY NED GAGAHE & IRWIN ANGIKI

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) is widespread on Bellona Island, ironically, thanks in part to the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock (MAL) and covid-19.

The ministry is seemingly trying to make up for this inadvertent failure.

MAL Biosecurity director Mr Francis Tsatsia told Island Sun on Thursday last week the ministry plans to send personnel to the beetle-covered island to assess the situation. But, this is yet to take place.

Late last year, a team from MAL travelled to Bellona to quell the beetle’s spread.

By then, it was nearing the centre of the island, having started spreading from the east where first sightings were reported in 2019.

The MAL team instructed locals to heap sawed coconut trunks together to form what they called a ‘trap’ for the beetle. The idea behind this was the traps offered a nesting ground for the beetle, and two or three months later the MAL team would return to burn these traps, killing the larvae and eggs.

The MAL team reportedly told locals on Bellona that this exercise, once repeated could end the beetle’s presence on the island.

They left Bellona, promising to return in July this year to burn the traps.

However, this plan was reportedly abandoned following covid-19 community transmission in Honiara (announced on January 19, 2022) and ensuing restrictions and funding problems.

Hence, the beetle traps, which lined Bellona’s road from east to west, became a breeding sanctuary for the beetle. By September this year, beetle sightings had come from all corners of the island.

Speaking to Island Sun during the paper’s visit to Bellona in late September this year, school teacher Mr McQueen Tekatoha said MAL had failed Bellona, and blamed the ministry for the beetle now covering the island.

“The beetle after its first sighting in 2019 had spread relatively slowly. But, after the failed MAL-led attempt to cull the pest with the traps, the beetle has now completely covered Bellona.

“Bellona has been facing a food security crisis, and the coconut rhinoceros beetle’s spread is exacerbating the problem.

“Since January, we have not heard anything from MAL regarding any plan to try and reverse this wild spread of coconut rhinoceros beetle which they have caused.”

Another school teacher on Bellona, Mr David Taetonu, called on the government through MAL to consider helping Bellona with its CRB crisis.

“Since MAL had unintentionally enabled the wild spread of the beetle on Bellona, government should at least have the decency to try and come up with something to help fight the beetle’s spread and tackle its population here.”

MAL Biosecurity Director Tsatsia admitted to Island Sun in last week’s interview that it was beyond their control due to the covid-19 outbreak and lack of funds thereafter.

“That work they should have already been done but unfortunately what has happened in terms of the covid-19 it is beyond the ministry’s control.

“Because after they cut the coconut trunks, they should burn it. Because when it stays that way, it becomes a breeding site.

“Funding has been a problem that continued to delay the work that should have been done earlier.”

Rennell and Bellona islands are home to the tall species of coconut which bears huge fruits, and MAL is aware of the danger CRB poses there.

“The Rennell Tall species or big fruit as it is known widely is a unique species that is only found in Renbel province. That is important to complete the work to protect the species or variety of coconut,” Tstatsia told Island Sun.

 “It is critical the we complete the work the sooner the better. To reduce the population of the Rhinoceros Beetle and protect the Rennell Tall species.”

Director Tsatsia reassured the concerned people of Bellona that MAL is onto this problem.

“An officer from the Agriculture Extension will be travelling to Bellona to try and complete the work.

“All the arrangements have already been made. He should leave Honiara for Bellona today [Thursday, Dec 1] and will stay there for two weeks and come back to update us on what should be done next.

“The key focus of his task is to complete the work. When he arrives there, he should hire some casual workers in the community and hire chainsaws to assist him do the work there.”

However, since this interview, MAL has not sent an officer to Bellona.

New political party formed

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Members of People’s Liberal Democratic Party (PLDP)

BY NED GAGAHE

A new political party has formed – the People’s Liberal Democratic Party (PLDP).

They are inviting candidates wishing to contest 2024 national general election, provincial and Honiara City Council (HCC) elections to join.

In a statement the PLDP issued their call following their recent formation saying that they are now well into 48 weeks of party awareness.

“Today, with the internal approaches of the PLDPSI we are now into the 48th weeks of the party concept awareness held every Wednesdays and Fridays continuously.

“The Party (PLDPSI) is humbly calling and inviting candidates wishing to contest 2024 National general election, provincial and HCC election and you wish to join the party, please do come forward and urgently join so that we can speed up the legal process for registration of the party.

“The next party concept meeting will be held on Wednesday this week, 10am at Mbokonavera 4 (MB4) and continues alternatively.”

The party slogan is, “liberal people for liberty, liberty for liberal people”. 

The party’s democratic expression is “When Democracy is right accordingly, it nourishes but when it is incompatible, it neglects its entire responsibility while one by legality must exist to embrace forever”.

Seven communities to benefit from US grant

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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SIDT Executive Director, Longden Manedika, left, Russ Comeau, Charge d’Affairs for the Solomon Islands U.S. Department of State, Christine Murphy, International Program Director, Action on Poverty and William Pryor, Country Coordinator for the Solomon Islands, USAID

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ABOUT seven communities in Guadalcanal and 11 communities in Kiribati will benefit from the Pacific Health and Sanitation grant of $7 million (US$850,000).

The grant is part of the USAID’s Pacific American Fund US$35 million five-year grant facility, that addresses critical development challenges across 12 Pacific Island Countries, including the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The project aims to reinforce Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the 18 communities in Solomon Islands and Kiribati from September 1, 2022 to February 2025.

Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT), that set up in 1988 with a concept by late John Roughan to ‘Improving the Quality of Village Living’, will implement the project here.

Speaking at the launching of the project at Honiara Hotel yesterday, SIDT Executive Director Longden Manedika said as a means to advance the objectives of the project  towards issues of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, this project involves a community of interest that includes Action on Poverty (AOP), Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific Kiribati (FSPK), Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT), and  Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney (ISF-UTS) .

Manedika said in the Solomons, they will be working with Seven Communities in Guadalcanal Province.

He said an estimated 420 direct project participants will be empowered to advance positive and acceptable behavior towards improved health practices in terms WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) at the village setting. 

Further to that, Manedika said gender dimensions and social inclusion were crosscutting elements in the design of the outreach activities.

He said project will use evidence-based, field-tested approaches such as Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and Dynamic Adaptive Management Process tool (DAMP) – (a tool developed by ISF-UTS and relevant locally designed open learning tools relevant in both Solomon Islands and Kiribati.

“Tools that stir participatory decision-making processes to plan for the delivery of basic services under a changing climate, and help to build skills and knowledge which will enable the community to participate in identifying solutions relevant for their context,” he said.

Manedika said AOP, ISF-UTS and SIDT were involved in a previous PACAM project funded by USAID.

“Coupled with SIDT’s previous community governance work (Bridging the Gap project), this initiative will enable us to continue to build on the previous investments made by US Government and the community-based work undertaken through that program, given it was focused on both WASH and local knowledge on climate change, both relevant to the current initiative,” he said.

Details of how much Solomon Islands will benefit from the $7 million is still sketchy.

Case of woman assault returns to court today

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0
In-court

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a woman alleged of assaulting her ex-husband’s partner will be mentioned again in court on 6th December 2022.

This is the case of Julie Wutete Shanel – she is charged with one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Police alleged that the defendant approached the victim while she was in JJJM second hand clothing and attacked her.

It is alleged the accused grabbed the victim on the hair and bit her right hand. The victim struggled to escape from her but couldn’t, as the accused had tightly grabbed her. Fortunately, bystanders and the security guards managed to separate them.

Police also said the victim ended up at the Natal Family clinic suffering from bruises and injuries on her right hand and minor injuries to her body as a result of the bite from the accused.

The case then was reported to police and the accused was arrested for the said offence.

Police Prosecution Department prosecutes the matter in court.

MHMS eyes boosting lab to test illegal drugs

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Minister for Health and Medical Services-Dr Culwick

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

MINISTRY of Health and Medical Services has identified the need to secure resources to increase analysis of illegal substances at the National Public Health Laboratory.

Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana said this need of resource mobilisation to support proper drug testing system at the National Public Health Laboratory has become a priority following the widespread the new drug copen in the country.      

“There is an identifying need to secure resources to increase laboratory analysis of not only copen drugs but other illegal substances that is being used by the public,” Togamana said.

He said in the meantime MHMS will try and look at other overseas referral and arrangements to do the analysis. This may include linking up with law enforcement agencies such as the RSPIF, Ministry of Police National Security and Correctional Services.

Togamana adds, the National Public Health Laboratory mainly supports our exports especially fish to EU market so support provided at the moment is only through that direction.

“The lab is capacitated to be able to assess cassava, taro so they can ascertain heavy metals if possible for to be able to know before export them overseas countries because they have certain limits of MRL that is allowed on these crops.

“Therefore to extend to substances like copen we need resources and other capacities to equip our laboratory,” Togamana said.

He echoed the above sentiments on 5th December 2022 in Parliament.

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