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Kraus back at helm of SolAir

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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New CEO of Solomon Airlines, Gus Kraus.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

SOLOMON Airlines yesterday officially introduced Gus Kraus as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Chairman of Solomon Airlines Frank Wickham said Kraus brings with him more than 54 years of industry experience.

“I would like start by welcoming Mr Kraus. He has re-joined us here as Solomon Airlines CEO,” Wickham said.

“We had a board meeting this week and we welcome Kraus in the board meeting and we had a welcome get-together yesterday with management and staff,” he added.

“As you may know Kraus is former CEO of Solomon Airlines on an interim arrangement and was previously general manager ground operations as well as commercial.”

Wickham said with the full confidence of the board, Kraus he has accepted the role of the CEO to lead the Solomon Airlines’ ongoing operations.

He also thanked the former CEO Brett Gebers for the Aviation experience and expertise that he brought to Solomon Airlines over more than four years and for his strong contribution to the national carrier during what has been an immensely challenging period.

CDF POLICY DEVELOPED

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNMENT is developing a new policy that will guide the management and delivery of the highly controversial Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) Dr Samson Viulu disclosed this to reporters yesterday,

Provincial-wide consultation, Viulu said, has begun in Isabel Province.

“This policy framework will set the basis for a MRD internal taskforce to develop the drafting instructions for the proposed review of the CDF Act 2013,” Viulu said.

“It will also further enhance the planning, coordination, implementation and management of the CDF,” he added.

Viulu said the new policy is also expected to address the issue of ownership of properties, equipment and machines purchased from CDF, but often taken over by the sitting MP after he or she lost the seat.

Furthermore, he said the police will explore the establishment of Constituency Development Centres to bring government services to rural people to grow the economy.

He said the policy will try to narrow down the focus of CDF because as it is now, “the scope is too wide”.

“Maybe focus on social, economic, infrastructures or livelihoods,” he said.

Viulu added the policy will also look at the governance of CDF – whether the delivery mechanism is already.

“The vision of the CDF policy is to achieve safe, clean, healthy, friendly, peaceful and vibrant rural communities across the country by 2035.”

Viulu mentioned that some national leaders are open to the idea to remove MPs from being signatories of the constituency bank accounts and leave it to constituency committees.

He said the police will also seek to establish strong and effective collaboration with other ministries on delivering the projects.

Under CDF, each constituency is allocated up to $6 million a year.

But these funds are currently controlled and managed by sitting MPs.

MPs also decide who benefits and how it is allocated.

Often, MPs have been accused of using the funds to pay supporters and keep them in power.

Although the funding was established to develop the 50 constituencies, there’s very little being translated into actual development.

Over the years, Solomon Islanders have been calling for the abolition of CDF and its removal from the control of MPs.

But those calls have fallen on deaf ears, and MPs continue to have access to the millions of dollars given in the name of constituency development.

Manuari: push to extend Parliament influenced by foreign elements.

Written by
Press Release
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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

OPPOSITION MP Derrick Manuari says he believes the government’s agenda to extend Parliament from four to five years is influenced by foreign elements.

Speaking at the Opposition Group’s ‘Insight’ programme recently, the Member of Parliament for West Makira said it is clear because the current decisions and actions of the government is against the will of the people.

He said the government is pushing people to the edge knowing well that the people are not in support of any plan to extend parliament because they are confused and not convinced by the reasons given by the government.

“Foreign powers are dominating political play in our domestic affairs,” he said.

He said during the consultations, one of the messages put across by government officials is that government needed more time to allow China to fund government programmes in constituencies.

Mr Manuari said this is the same government and the same Prime Minister that had been in power of the last three years and even in the past.

“What have they done? We all know how they have underperformed over the years. Three years have gone by and there is nothing to show that this government has delivered its promises to the people so what makes you think another mere 8 months would make any difference,” he said.

“This government has already failed people in this country,” Manuari said.

He said even with the extension it would not make any difference at all.

The West Makira MP said the government has good policies in place but implementation is just anyone’s guess.

“They are busy trying to hold on to political numbers rather than delivering on their promises to the people in this country through the influence of foreign elements,” he said.

Manuari adds the government have the numbers to make amendment to the constitution and they could have used it to their advantage to make changes for the betterment of this country.

“This is not a responsible government. They are serving their own interests and that of foreign elements,” he said.

Mercy and partners only here for 12 days

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0
United States Naval Hospital Mercy arrived in Honiara yesterday

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

U.S Navy Captain and Commander for the Pacific Partnership 2022 mission Hank Kim says Pacific Partnership 2022 commitment in Solomon Islands is only for 12 days.

This, he added, is due to Mercy’s commitment throughout the region.

Kim said Mercy is on operation need throughout the region. Each country has needs that Mercy tries to service.

“But Mercy also has operation commitments within the region and off course we need to spread that operation commitment to different countries,” he said.

Kim adds based on that they have had discussions with each country and having an initial discussion of about what is needed in the country.

“And in our initial discussion it was 12 days for our commitment here in Solomon Islands.

“I would like to add that this is our fifth visit to Solomon Islands and all though we would like to stay as long as possible.

“We have commitments to Solomons and we would try to come back as often as we can,” he said.

Acting Medical Superintendent and Head of Paediatrics Ward at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara Dr Titus Nasi says patients that require treatment on-board have been selected and also both teams at NRH and Mercy can managed them together in the hospital.

“Please come through the normal process of accessing health care services through the referral system from the clinics to NRH to each of the departments to work with colleagues on board to see who that needs to go on-board,” Nasi said.

He said the dental team have been working with the schools and they have organised a lot of kids to be seen by the dentist on board.

“Thank you very much PP2022 for coming over here we are all excited to see the biggest floating hospital which some of us will be receiving health care services from,” Nasi said.

Malaita supporting crime prevention efforts

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Police Commander for Malaita province, Lesley Kili

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

MALAITA provincial police (RSIPF) is continuing with its support and engagement with communities on crime prevention and by-law programmes and activities.

In an interview with PPC Malaita yesterday, Lesley Kili made the statement stressing the importance of policing work with communities in the province.

He said recently his team visited communities of Sulufou, Kofiloko, Sasava areas in North East Malaita to strengthen their Crime Prevention Committees (CPC) or By-Law Committees and provided awareness on policing work.

Kili said a by-law was launched in Kwara’ae are where police attended and assured of their cooperation with the by-law committee and the community.

He said there are communities with existing CPCs or by-law programmes where police is liaising with them to strengthen their operations.

Kili also said that as part of the programme many other communities are requesting police to assist them on the establishment of their by-laws and CPCs.

“Lots of supports coming from communities in the province for the program and police are happy and committed to work with them,” he said.

Kili assured that although provincial police are handicapped on areas like staffing and logistics, they will take time to provide assistance to the communities with the programme.

The PPC however urged people to work together and respect orders carry out by CPCs and bye-law committees in the province.

He said these committees become the focal point of police out in the rural communities and everyone must support each to uphold and respect law and order in our communities.

NEW NRH STILL LONG WAY OFF

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
The National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara

No master plan yet for proposed hospital

By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNMENT says it is still to secure a master plan for the proposed National Referral Hospital earmarked to be built at Gilbert camp, east of Honiara.

And Health minister Dr Culwick Togamana says the ministry is yet to engage a consultant to design the master plan.

The project has been in the pipeline for almost 10 years now due to the design issue and associated land dispute.

Togamana told parliament yesterday the process for this planning was further stalled by the pandemic as state resources were put in preparedness and response to COVID.

“Likewise, our preparation to host Pacific Games 2023 play a vital role, slow down, we concentrate resources on the National Referral Hospital.

“We need consultation on the size of hospital we are going to build,” he said.

“Hopefully this consultancy group we are going to engage will come up with a Master Plan,” he added.

Togamana said this is important because the existing National Referral Hospital was built to cater for a population of only 300,000, but now our population exceeds 600,000.

“Therefore, we need to properly plan so that our new NRH caters for our growing population,” he added.

On site preparation, Togamana said this is an ongoing activity to date where 2,500 square meter perimeter fencing has been constructed.

“This is because squatters are there already?

“And therefore, we need to secure the site and when you fence the site, you need to deal with those in the perimeter,” he said.

Furthermore, Togamana said a ground survey on UXO needs to be carried out prior to construction.

This is because the area was subjected to heavy engagement during the second World War.

 Further to that, he said construction of security houses is being done, being tendered and awarded so that they have officers that will mann the site and prevent further interference from illegal settlers.

Attorney General, John Muria Junior clarified that in terms of legal proceedings, two disputes over the same land have been consolidated into one proceeding.

He said in 2016 when the government paid out the land from a landowner, that person transferred the land to the Commissioner of Land.

But he said when the land was transferred, other landowners challenged the transaction.

Muria said the matter is heading for trial so that a settlement could be reached sooner.

Parliament continues at 9.30am today.

Botanical team to visit Fiji this month

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
The Botanical garden in Honiara.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A National Herbarium & Botanical Garden team is ready to visit Fiji this month with the aim of bringing back plants removed during the ethnic conflict between 1998-2003.

Minister of Forestry and Research, Dickson Mua confirmed this in Parliament when asked by the Leader of Opposition, Mathew Wale.

Mua said the team will negotiate with officials in Fiji for the safe returns of these plants.

Furthermore, Mua highlighted the facelift at the garden, including cementing the pathway, installing water, fencing, training of tour guides and completion of data base.

However, he said a Cabinet paper to deal with trespass was submitted to Cabinet because the fence cuts through some homes.

A National Herbarium & Botanical Garden Division is looking after the new building that was opened in 2017.

The Division exists as an implementer of Solomon Islands and overseas joint researches and studies which would lead to greater understanding and knowledge about the use of the forest resources and why protection, conservation and studying of these forest resources and their ecological biodiversity is so important.

Besides that, the Division is also responsible in the collection and preservation of the plant specimen and information for the identification of their botanical names and their potential uses.

PM conveys govt’s appreciation for Mercy’s visit

Written by
Press Release
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Navy Capt Kim, Prime Minister Sogavare and Russell Charge D’Affaires of the US in SI watching the bands performing

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has conveyed the government’s sincere appreciation for the visit by the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy to Solomon Islands to assist our people and our country.

The Prime Minister shared the message at the Unity Square before the ship’s Pacific Partnership Mission Commander Henry Kim, Captain Feinburg and Captain Nolan, United States Officials, and the traveling contingent of the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy.

Mr Sogavare said, “It is a fitting demonstration of our strengthening cooperation with the visit coming shortly after the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal earlier this month.”

He thanked Mission Commander Kim, Captain Feinburg and Captain Nolan “…for dedicating the vast resources of the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy to support the people and government of Solomon Islands”.

Sogavare reiterated that the visit by the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy is welcome and the services provided to the people of Solomon Islands is sincerely appreciated.

He also made a suggestion for such a visit to be made on annual basis, and that it would be excellent to have the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy to visit during the hosting of the Pacific Games from 19 November to 2 December.

“A visit during the 2023 Pacific Games will add a new dimension to the Pacific partnership program, because US Navy Hospital Ship MERCY will be supporting all twenty-four nations in the Pacific in one single location,” the Prime Minister added.

Sogavare said such a visit will also provide relief to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services whose primary responsibility will be to look after over 5,000 athletes and officials from 24 countries in the Pacific region.

–GCU PRESS

PM says US coast guard vessel request arrived in his office late.

Written by
Press Release
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0

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has clarified some misinformation currently carried on international media about the visit by the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry and HMAS Spey.

Speaking at a ceremony to welcome the visiting United States Hospital Ship USNS Mercy in Honiara yesterday evening, Sogavare said there had been a delay in the granting of approval for entry into the country to the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry due primarily to the appropriate information not sent to the Office of Prime Minister on time.

The Prime Minister’s Office sought and received the required information on August 20, 2022. Approval was granted for the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry to enter the country and participate in the FFA operation Island Chief event on August 20, 2022.

“Unfortunately, by the time the approval was communicated on the evening of 20th August 2022, the Ship’s captain had decided to leave our waters,” Sogavare said.

In relation to the HMAS Spey, the approval process to enter Solomon Islands was aborted when the Prime Minister’s Office received notification from the British High Commission in Honiara, that they were no longer seeking approval for HMAS Spey to enter the country.

The delay in these approvals demonstrate the need for the government to review and refine its approval requirements and procedures for visiting military vessels to Solomon Islands.

“To this end we have requested our partners to give us time to review and put in place our new processes before sending further requests for military vessels to enter the country. Once the new mechanism is in place, we will inform you all. We anticipate the new process to be smoother and timelier,” Sogavare said.

The government has asked all partner countries with plans to conduct naval visits or patrols to put them on hold until a revised national mechanism is in place. These will universally apply to all visiting naval vessels. 

Solomon Islands have had unfortunate experiences of foreign naval vessels entering the country’s waters during the course of the year without diplomatic clearance granted, hence would like to avoid such incidents from reoccurring.

Solomon Islands would like to see partnership is in place to build national capacity to police our Exclusive Economic Zones. Once the process and procedures are in place suspension of naval vessel visits will be lifted.

The Government have communicated its position to all countries requesting to send in naval ships into Solomon Islands waters.

Meanwhile, the Government and people of Solomon Islands welcomed the visit of United States Hospital Ship USNS Mercy now in Honiara.

The United States Medical team in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services will be carrying out a number of health programmes in the Capital and in some provinces over the next few days.

–GCU PRESS

Forestry Bill to be tabled before year’s end

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE long-awaited Forestry Bill is expected to tabled in Parliament before the end of this year.

Minister of Forestry and Research, Dickson Mua confirmed this when asked by Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete yesterday.

Mua said currently the Ministry has answered all questions and queries sent by the Attorney General Chambers and sent it back.

He said now they wait for the Attorney General Chambers.

“We are hoping and the Government is seriously pushing for this to come in before the year’s end,” he said.

Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale said this is a strategic sector which needs managing strategic resources for the economy and manage strategies to get the highest returns with less environmental and social damage.

“We have a lot of problems with this sector and industry which exploited our own weakness,” he added.

Wale said when he entered Parliament in 2008, he heard about the bill.

“I am hoping Minister, you will be the Minister that will be bring the bill and it will be a good bill and not a diluted and watered-down bill,” he said.

The main objective of the Bill is to make amendments to the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization Act, Cap 40, in order to make it more robust and forward looking in nature to cater for the new activities and developments which is occurring in the forestry sector now and into the future its fundamental aims and objectives.

The secondary objectives and purposes of the recommended Amendment to the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization Act include:

Enable the Act to accommodate changes in the Forestry sector and establish the platform for changes in the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization Act and its relevant Regulations [2005]

The licensing and enforcement of the relevant conditions of the License

One of the recommended Amendments is the Commissioner of Forest Resources” should be replaced with the word “Forestry Technical Committee” (Commissioner will issue License based on the advice of the Forestry Technical Committee).

According to section 10 (1) the word “appropriate Government” should be replaced with the word “Council of Chiefs” and the word “Customary Land Appeal Court” should be replaced with the word “Tribal Land Panel” (as Local Court will no longer have the power to hear Land matters).

Section 17, a fine of three thousand dollars or imprisonment for two years or to both such fine and imprisonment” should be replaced with the phrase “a fine of fifty thousand dollars and five years’ imprisonment or both’.

There will be a Forestry Board established to:

  1. To receive appeals from the Minister of Forestry and Research from aggrieved parties
  2. To advise the Minister to lift suspended license and reinstate cancelled Felling License.
  3. To advise the Minister of Forests on appeal matters generally
  4. Any other matters that are referred to the Board by the Minister.
  5. Make decisions on issues pertaining to all Forestry plantations either owned by individual, family or community.
  6. To call up relevant expertise to advise on technical matters when needs arise.
  7. Deliberate on the Declaration of a Moratorium when the need arises
  8. Deliberate on forest clearance for other development purposes e.g., Agriculture, Palm oil, mining, major settlements, infrastructure developments,
  9. To advise the government of the day on Forest Policy issues, e.g., policy review.
  10. Forestry Board’s decision is final

Furthermore, the Ministry of Forestry and Research will put in place a Budget for all Timber Rights Hearing.

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