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$15M Claim lodged against DFAT, MHMS

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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The proposed Naha birthing facility

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A Local construction company has lodged a claim of $15M from both the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for breach of contract.

This after the termination of its contract on the Naha Birthing Clinic in East Honiara.

The $25 million project came to a halt following the ground breaking ceremony on 26th July 2019.

General Manager of the construction company, Bako Dua, who won the contract said work has progressed in the first stage before it was halted during the second stage.

He said this after a Geo Tech study found the building needs a new design.

Dua said initially the project should be completed in 2020, but was extended to 2021.

He said after the extension lapsed, he received a call that his contract was terminated.

“We engaged a lawyer because my company has signed a contract with both parties.

“We agreed to sort the issue outside court,” he said.

Dua said his lawyer has calculated the claim based on a clause of the contract and it is around $15 million.

He said it is not the fault of the company but the two parties if a Geo Tech study was carried out in the first place before construction started.

Recently, Honiara City Council councillor for Vura ward, Reginald Ngati has questioned why the development is not progressing after the ground breaking ceremony a few years ago.

“This birthing clinic is in my ward and the issue is why it has not been progressing since it was proposed.”

“It is a national project and once completed will meet the challenges faced by pregnant mothers and midwifes,” he added.

“It is quite unbelievable as why such major development is on hold and what really is the cause for the hold up, because the current state does not look right with the community,” he said.

Ngati said he would like the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and DFAT to solve whatever issue and allow the project to progress and be completed.

He alleged it should be solved over the years and expressed concern if political interference on the funding is a factor for the delay.

Ngati said the project for the birthing clinic needs immediate attention and be solved to see it eventuate for the benefit of pregnant mothers in the city.

The Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre is in Naha Valley adjacent to the current Naha Clinic site.

It is intended to support up to 1,500 low – risk deliveries each year, along with primary health care services to the surrounding community.

DFAT and MHMS have promised to respond to our enquiry on the matter for almost a week, but have not done so before the paper went to print last night.

Loulo farmers display their richness

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Fresh from the garden

BY BEN BILUA

Rendova,

LOULO Farmers Association which include farmers from Lokutu and 10 other nearby communities on Wednesday displayed their richness in agricultural produces.

Farmers brought together different types of crops to be part of Diversity Fair – a mini agricultural show which was held at Patoani village.

The two-day programme kicked off yesterday, witnessed by MP Danny Phillip, the guest of honour, officials from Kastom Garden led by Pitakia Tikai, programme coordinator, officials from Pacific Islands Farmers Organisational network, Pacific Islands Rural Agriculture Stimulus, officials from Western Province.

In his opening remarks, Danny Phillip said the government strongly supports agriculture development and he is proud to be part of the programme.

Danny Phillip welcomes guest coming from Honiara to attend the program.

He said Rendova Island is suitable for agriculture and it’s fitting that the show is held at Rendova.

“Rendova is known for its Ngali Nut and other root crops.

“It good to see this agricultural program taking place in my community,” Phillip said.

Chairperson of Loulo Farmers Association John Suia Alepitu said the event will go down as history for Rendova.

Kastom Garden Program Coordinator Pitakia Tikai introduces Aneet Kumer and Angela Birch from PIFON to Western province Agriculture stall.

He acknowledged donor partners, Kastom Garden and Ministry of Agriculture for making the event possible.

Alepitu said the programme will definitely boost farming in Rendova Island.

He calls on farmers to get as much knowledge and understanding from program to improve their farms.

Project Manager of Pacific Islands Rural Farmers Stimulus, who is the implementing arm of the project, George Mae said Diversity Fair is a program designed to improve food security through exchange of knowledge and materials.

Guests take a look at all the stalls.

He said part of the programme is improve production for sustainable and healthy diet so as improve income generation.

Mae said PIRFS is honoured to be part of the programme.

Kastom Garden Board Member, Shane Tutua said Kastom Garden strongly encourages preserving and promoting traditional crops as part of food resilience.

Fresh pana from Rendova on display.

He said Kastom is happy to see farmers taking ownership of the program with keen interest.

Tutua acknowledged donor partners DFAT and IFAM for supporting the programme.

Juveniles convicted of setting fire to Parliament leaf-hut

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Two juveniles who were charged with setting fire to the Parliament leaf-hut on November 24, 2021 have been convicted by the court.

The juveniles denied the charge and a trial was conducted on their case in which the court found them guilty and convicted them with arson.

Chief Magistrate Emma Garo said the issue to determine is whether or not prosecution witnesses positively identified the defendants as the persons who willfully and unlawfully set fire to the leaf hut on November 24, 2021.

The prosecution case is that on November 24, 2021 the defendants willfully and unlawfully set fire to the leaf hut at the Parliament precincts, the property of the speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands

It is agreed that the fire was willfully and unlawfully set to the leaf hut and it was completely burnt on November 24, 2021.

Ms Garo said it is clear from the evidence that the crown witnesses have given different versions about where the fire started and how the fire started, however the different versions given about where the fire started and how the fire started do not in her view affect the veracity and the reliability of the evidence.

She said assessing the evidence from four prosecution witnesses links the evidence of those to whom the defendants made admissions against self-interest, about setting fire to the leaf hut and the evidence of the three witnesses who watched the events unfold from the kitchen inside the Parliament round house, positively identify the two defendants as the person who torched the leaf hut on November 24, 2021.

“I find that the prosecution has proved the charge against the two defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.

“I find the defendants guilty, I convict the two defendants of the charge of arson,” Garo said.

Aluta Basin tribes want rice project

Written by
Samie Waikori
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MP for East Malaita constituency who also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for MID, Hon Manasseh is addressing chiefs and tribe representatives of Aluta basin during a meeting at Tatali, Atori last week

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

TRIBES within the Aluta Basin, which was once earmarked for a national oil palm project in East Malaita constituency, have shown their support for a rice project.

This was expressed by chiefs from tribes within Aluta to Member of Parliament for East Malaita constituency, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure Development, Manasseh Maelanga, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Dr Samson Viulu during a meeting at Tatali last week.

The chiefs said programmes under Aluta proposed oil palm project have gone through lots of challenges with no clear indications on the future of the project.

They said while the landowners still have interest to develop the Aluta Basin, they want dialogue with the national government on a rice project as an alternative to the oil palm project.

The chiefs said the landscape of Aluta is unquestionable; to prove it, they say few individuals have successfully farmed rice there in the past.

They assured their willingness for rice project in Aluta basin and pledged to work together to address what is required from them by national government or investors in pursuit of the project.

In addition to that, the chiefs also asked the national government for support on how they could work together to achieve that development aspiration.

The chiefs also request that such processes and failed promises experienced with the failed oil palm project be ‘not repeated’ once the rice project is approved.

Mr Viulu thanked the chiefs and landowning people of Aluta and encouraged them to work together with the national government behind the interest.

He explained that one of the reasons the oil palm project did not eventuate was environmental purposes, that oil palm industry is not allowed on lands that still maintain their forests.

On that note, Maelanga acknowledged the landowners and assured them of support as their representative to ensure their interest is brought to the national government.

He said there are farmers in the constituency who had engaged in rice farming on a small scale.

He adds that these pioneer farmers could help with their expertise if any such project is endorsed in the future by government.

Maelanga said there are investors interested in supporting the country with rice projects, and it “needs partnership from landowners and government to work towards it”.

WHY PROJECTS FAILED ON MALAITA

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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It’s because of geopolitics, says Virivolomo

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Communication and Aviation permanent secretary, Moses Virivolomo has blamed geo-politics for the failed projects at Fiu bridge and Auki Township Road asphalt sealing in Malaita Province.

Both projects came under the Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Project (SIRAP) funded by World Bank.

China Habour Engineering Company (CHEC) had won the bid to implement the projects.

However, the Malaita Province Communique agreed that the province will not accept any People’s Republic of China (PRC) contractor on Malaita.

Virivolomo highlighted this as one of the challenges faced by the SIRAP National Steering Committee during the Launch Workshop of SIRAP 2 at Heritage Park Hotel yesterday.

He said Provincial Government support is crucial as well in such projects.

“It is very clear on Malaita project where my team tried its very best but don’t have the support from the province.

“In the case of Malaita, it is very complicated because it is geopolitics,” he said.

“I done a lot of projects in the last 30 years in Ministry of Infrastructure.

“I delivered a lot of projects for Malaita but this is first time I failed,” he added.

Virivolomo said it is not normal implementation issue but geo politics.

“Something we in government and provinces need to have some serious thought on how do we handle this kind of issue in future,” he said.

However, Malaita is still included in the SIRAP2 under road and bridges investments.

SIRAP 2 will seal Noro Township Road and build 4 permanent bridges in Malaita which include Kolofe 1 & 2 bridges on North Road, Su’u harbor and Bira village bridges on the South Road.

Asthma drugs back in stock

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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The National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

MAGNESIUM Sulphate and other related drugs are now available at the Emergency Department of the National Referral Hospital.

This is according to a Ministry of Health and Medical Services statement released this week.

The statement comes following claims by a local medical practitioner that the drugs purposely to treat asthmatic patients were running low.

“The stocks of magnesium sulphate including other related drugs have been available at the ED, however the flu outbreak had caused their rapid depletion,” the statement said.

“Alternative drugs are available and sharing of magnesium sulphate by wards to ED due to response to the influx if asthmatic patients presented there due to the flu outbreak have enabled treatment of patients,” it added.

Furthermore, the ministry says it is fully aware of the need to move these medicines out to health facilities and is working tirelessly to ensure this is done quickly.

It also confirmed that 20 medical containers arrived and as of Monday this week, 12 have been cleared and stocking up of medical drugs and consumables is continuing at the National Medical Store.  

“Urgent suppliers have been distributed to the provinces immediately after being removed from containers, while others are kept at the NMS pending requests from health facilities.

“Amongst two to three containers cleared late last week, one contained the medical drug magnesium sulphate for severe asthmatic cases and the drugs has since then been moved to NMS and the NRH pharmacy with more stocks delivered on Monday for distribution across NRH, including the Emergency Ward.”

Ngati raises concern over feeder roads

Written by
Press Release
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Councillor for Vura ward Reginal Ngati has raised concerns on the deteriorating road conditions along the feeder roads in the city.

He said since the beginning of the year, no work has been carried out on the feeder roads within Vura, Kolaridge and almost all feeder roads.

“Work on these roads is important as it provides maintenance on the road to improve it’s conditions.”

“Evidently there are lot of potholes and quick action needs to be taken before it deteriorates and causes a huge challenge. This is also to avoid a hefty budget so it is best to repair them now,” he added.

Ngati said these feeder roads serves Government officials, public servants and the general public and is an important infrastructure.

“I call on the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID) to look into this matter and help address it for the public’s sake,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ngati thanked MID for the work which had been carried out on drainages and road maintenances and look forward for continuous partnership.

Malaria drug runs out at Isabel rural clinic

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Medicines such as coartem are running out in one rural clinic.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Kalenga rural health clinic in Isabel province has run out of Malaria drugs.

Malaria patients there have been advised to ask their relatives in Honiara to send them anti-malaria drugs.

Few patients spoken to yesterday said the clinic has been without drugs for months now and sick patients are suffering.

“Since our clinic do not have any drugs for Malaria, we are now drinking pawpaw leaves just to help us get better,” one patient said.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has said it is fully aware of the need of drugs in the clinics and hospitals, and is working tirelessly to replenish their supplies ‘as soon possible’.

MHMS says a total of 20 medical containers arrived and 12 have been cleared, and stock-up of medical drugs and consumables is continuing at the national medical stores.

“Urgent supplies have been distributed to the provinces immediately after removed from containers while others are kept at the national medical store (NMS) pending requests from health facilities.”

MHMS also said with the remaining eight containers to be released, distribution will continue for stock-up at the national medical store and 2nd level medical stores in the provinces and to health facilities for administration to patients.

New mobile unit for seasonal work passport enrolment

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration opened a mobile unit at the National Auditorium on Monday to deal with enrolment of passports for those applying for season workers programme in Australia and New Zealand.

This is a temporary measure to ease the pressure on the influx of people crowding the head office in Honiara.

Permanent Secretary, Riley Mesepitu said the gathering at the head office was too crowded and sometimes disturbed the flow of vehicles from the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet and movement of employees of other departments.

Mesepitu said people came in for enrolment and processing of passports.

However, he said for printing of passports, they will still need to go to the head office.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday are allocated for those applying for the seasonal workers programme.

Tuesdays and Thursday are allocated for non-seasonal workers.

So far, the Passport Unit has issued more than 13,000 passports worth $10.7m in the past 18 months.

More than 90 percent of the issuance is from season workers.

More than 4000 workers are currently abroad for the seasonal workers programme and expected to hit more than 5000 by 2023.

PMO DENIES ABC REPORT

Written by
Press Release
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Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare

‘It’s just a neighbourly discussion’

The Australian High Commissioner “was never being summoned” by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Television has published.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office says the High Commissioner has had ‘neighbourly discussion’ with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade on a number of issues pertinent to the relationship between Solomon Islands and the Australian Government.

“The Four Corners Program of ABC was merely part of the range of issues discussed,” the statement said.

“The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, however, is concerned of the Four Corners’ program, particularly on a number of misinformation spewed out by the program,” it added.

“It is a baseless allegation to say that a Chinese firm is going to buy off the Kolombangara Forests Products Limited (KFPL) on Kolombangara Island, Western Province.

“The KFPL is a joint venture of the Nien family of Taiwan who hold 60 percent of shares and the Solomon Islands Government with 40 percent shares.

“At no time the shareholders’ have made a decision to sell off the company to a Chinese firm.”

The statement further says   the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has no intention to set up a naval base at Kolombangara as Angus Grigg of the Four Corners program would like to portray to his viewers.

“It was obvious that Grigg was putting words into the mouths of the interviewees and that speak volumes of his intention which is clearly to cause division between the governments of Australia and Solomon Islands.

“The Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare has maintained and repeatedly reaffirmed to Solomon Islanders and the Pacific region that there will be no military or naval base in Solomon Islands.

“The Four Corners program never acknowledged that assurance and instead delve into the PRC- Solomon Islands relationship with the intention to cause animosity between the Governments of PRC, Solomon Islands and Australia.

“The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) finds it laughable that the Leader of Opposition has gone out too soon to allege that it was the Prime Minister who instructed the Foreign Affairs Officials to summon the Australian High Commissioner.

“If the Opposition Leader has any seriousness in his job as the alternative leader, he would have sought the right information before releasing a public statement.

“The Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, however, reiterated that his number one priority is to protect the sovereignty and national interest of the country and its citizen.

“The Prime Minister’s responsibility is to protect the Sovereignty and National interest of the indigenous people of the independent state of Solomon Islands. 

“Therefore, whose interest is Mathew Wale advancing?

“If this is where Wale’s interest is, then it’s sad, he lacks leadership qualities to protect the interest of his people at heart.

“This is why Mathew Wale will never be entrusted the Prime Minister’s post.”

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