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Government rental taskforce to complete work by year end.

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THE Public Service Rental Scheme taskforce will complete their work at the end of this year.

The taskforce was established to oversee the transition of public servants to the Mamara Estate jointly by the Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey, MCILI and Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

The Taskforce is headed by the Ministry of Public Service.

Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, Fredrick Kologeto explained this when asked by Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale in Parliament on Wednesday.

Kologeto said Public Service had completed a revised policy on Public Service Housing Assistance (PSHA) with the intention to financially empower public officers to use housing entitlements to rent to own one of the Solomon Islands Government purchased housing available at Mamara.

He said the Taskforce together with the Public Service needed to address important issues relating to the new rental scheme in various areas:

  1. to gauging public servants’ interest to purchase house at Mamara
  2. to dialogue with Inland Revenue Divsion on the implications of income tax on the new scheme
  3. to dialogue with relevant ministries on the possibilities of regulating housing rental rates
  4. dialogue with relevant ministries vested with non-devolved functions right down to the rural communities where Solomon Islands Government services facilitates and establish adhoc staff accommodation

Kologeto said in a joint paper by the key ministries they sought Cabinet approval from Cabinet to delay revised policy on PSHA.

He said subsequently, it was approved by the Cabinet.

Meanwhile existing policy in rental scheme is being used as of to date until the end of the year

Kologeto said it is important to note that if a public servant can buy a house using other means, this is permitted.

He said the process is to apply to the Public Service, the Public Service will intend forward to Ministry of Lands and Ministry of Finance to facilitate the purchase.

About 50 houses were purchased by the Government from the developer, Mamara Metropolis Pacific Limited (MPPL).

Currently, Government still pays rental payment to landlords of SIG and public service to waive part of their salary to rent a house that costs more than their rental entitlement.

With the new policy on PSHA, Government will pay rental entitlements directly to employees without waivers.

The rental eligibility based on the level of public servants still remains the same.

New work attendance system to enhance public service.

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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PS of the Ministry of Public Service, Mr Nego Sisiolo

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE successful implementation of the Electronic Attendance Management System (EAMS) at the Ministry of Public Services will pave the way in rolling the system to other Government Ministries.

This is according to the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Public Services (MPS) Nego Sisiolo.

“The successful implementation of this Electronic Attendance Management System in the Ministry of Public Service will pave the way in rolling this system to other ministries,” Sisiolo said.

He said this system is also part of the Solomon Islands Public Service commitment to its broader goal of achieving and sustaining a productive, healthy, efficient and high performing public service.

Sisiolo said with this new system, staff will automatically sign in with their thumb or ID cards and this would automatically record them in the system.

“This will certainly save cost and efficiently manage time wastage with in the Public Services.

He said the Ministry of Public Service through its research team had found out that the implementation of the current Attendance Management Policy to some extent is not very effective.

PACER Plus assists Soltuna secure international market

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Soltuna products

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

SOLTUNA has secured markets in Australia and New Zealand, thanks to the PACER Plus Agreement.

In an interview with Island Sun Gizo earlier this week, Trade Commissioner, Barrett Salato said Soltuna is enjoying the opportunity to export under the PACER Plus Agreement.

He said Soltuna now export its products to Australian and New Zealand Markets with duty free privilege – an achievement Salato wants other local commodities to follow.

“Its good sign for Soltuna and Solomon Islands in terms of expanding the markets,” Salato said.

Last week, Chairman of Soltuna Adrian Wickham said Soltuna produces 130 metric tons of tuna per day five days a week.

He adds that National Fisheries Developments (NDF) catches 25 tons of tuna on average per year.

Wickham said the Noro International Seaport has also provide substantial support towards the tuna industry.

He said Noro International Seaport have installed a container yard with cooling system to store tuna catches ready for export.

Two detained for allegedly printing and circulating counterfeit money.

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

TWO men were arrested and remanded in custody yesterday over allegations they printed and circulated fake $100 notes.

Paul Rubin Olofia and Mark Naku were remanded on the grounds they both had no respect to the Central Bank of Solomon Islands as the financial institution in the Solomon Islands having sole right to issue currency notes and coins in the country.

“In acting the way, they did, they disregarded numerous warnings issued to the public on awareness of fake note circulations and they kept on making fake currency notes,” documents investigators presented before the courts say.

The duo were charged for uttering in relation to an alleged incident that occurred on 25 July 2022.

Police said on that particular day at around 9pm both defendants attended to the Titinge area in Honiara, Guadalcanal Province, per car registration T-1613 driven by the co-defendant Mark Naku.

 Upon arrival at Titinge they turned around and parked at a spot and Paul Rubin Olofia approached a nearby canteen owned by the complainant.

At the front counter, the defendant said he wanted a small luncheon meat, defendant Olofia then pulled out a one hundred dollar note and gave it to the canteen owner.

The canteen owner carefully observed the note and discovered it was a fake note.

He turned around and told Olofia that the note is fake.

At this time, Olofia quickly escaped from the canteen.

The complainant rushed out from the canteen and saw the defendant ran pass the parked car that he was travelling inside and disappeared in the dark.

The canteen owner however, approached the driver who is the co-defendant standing in front of the car and told him not to move whilst he contacted and alerted police about the incident.

An hour later police arrived at the scene and located and seized some one hundred dollar fake and counterfeit notes in the possession of the co-defendant Mark Naku.

Police then escorted Mark Naku into the police vehicle and brought him to the Central Police Station.

During a Police recorded interview both the defendants’ made admissions and confessions.

Olofia confessed that he intended to buy a small luncheon meat with a fake 100 dollar note.

He was in possession of 17 x 100 dollars fake notes at that time.

It is alleged that Olofia also admitted to the police that he was responsible for printing the 100 dollars fake notes at his cousin brother’s Printing shop at Ranadi in Honiara.

At one time, he gave one-hundred-dollar notes to his girlfriend to buy fish and chip at Rove fish market.

Prosecution also alleged in their application yesterday that co-defendant Naku also made admission that on three occasions he drove Olofia around town to pay with the 100 dollars fake notes in shops and market stalls.

Both accused were remanded in custody yesterday and will appear again in court in the next 14 days.

Jonathan Auga appears for the crown.

Government launches new system to record work attendance.

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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PS of the Ministry of Public Service, Mr Nego Sisiolo

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Ministry of Public Services launched its Electronic Attendance Management System (EAMS) aimed at saving cost and efficiently manage time wastage within the Public Service.

The launch event was held yesterday at the office of the Ministry of Public Services in Honiara.

Permanent Secretary for MPS Nego Sisiolo said this new Electronic Attendance Management System will replace the old AMP system, which has a manual attendance registry, which had to be filled by individual staff of MPS weekly during working days.

“With this new system staff will automatically signed in with their thumb or OD cards and this would automatically records them in the system,” Sisiolo said.

“This will certainly save cost and efficiently manage of the time wastage with in the Public Services,” he added.

Sisiolo said this system is also part of the Public Service commitment to the broader goal of achieving and sustaining productive, healthy, efficient and high performing public service.

He adds it is also found that installation of  CCTV is essentially important to complement the automatic registration management system in order for the Attendance Management Policy to be effectively implemented across the public services.  

“I believe to some extent this project will also support the overall implementation of performance Management Policy and Attendance Management Policy more efficiently and effectively,” he said.

Sisiolo says the successful implementation of this Electronic Attendance Management System in the Ministry of Public Service will pave the way of rolling this system to other government ministries.

Andrew Elbon, Councillor for Governance, DFAT, congratulated the Ministry of Public Service for finally getting the Electronic Attendance Management System installed.

Measures to help in students learning

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

STUDENTS in forms 3, 5 and 6 are given specific units by Ministry of Education and Human Resources to prepare for their exams towards end of this year.

Also, students in non-examination classes are guided by their teachers with right subjects to learn from.

This came about following five months of learning loss due to the covid-19 pandemic that affected face-to-face learning between students and teachers.

Minister Lanelle Tanangada confirmed this when asked by Member of Parliament for Small Malaita, Rick Hou in Parliament on Tuesday.

“Definitely, looking at the curriculum materials, in reality, 40 weeks to cover everything in 27 weeks is not possible for teachers to squeeze everything within.

“So, what we are focussing on is the examinable classes. We gave specification of units that teachers really need to cover so that students can sit their exams and progress to the next,” she said.

Tanangada said for the other students, they are hoping that at least teachers cover main things that students need to learn and they will continue to catch up in the next year or so.

Furthermore, Lanelle said from the ministry level down to schools, they really want to encourage parents to send their children to schools.

She said there was an allowance for students to repeat as the minister has power for students to repeat.

Tanangada said not only Solomon Islands is experiencing this, other countries are affected by covid 19.

She said in terms of getting in classroom, definitely there will be spaces in provinces, only town is full.

Moreover, Tanangada said the ministry will review the continue learning programme broadcasted on SIBC because schools have resumed classes.

She said the feedback from the radio programme is not good because students get use to face to face learning.

Further to that, she said UNESCO and UNICEF is supporting the ministry on e-learning on schools throughout the country.

Education Minister says COVID affects students here

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Form three exam starts today.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE covid-19 pandemic has affected secondary students in their participation and academic performance in the national examination of 2021.

Minister of Education and Human Resources, Lanelle Tanangada confirmed this in response to Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale in Parliament on Tuesday.

Tanangada said up to 23 percent left schools before the examination was administered in school.

She said the highest number of students that left school early at Year 11 was 971.

“The lowest number of students who registered to sit the Year 12 exams at the beginning of the year but did not six their examinations was 514.

“In terms of students performance, there was a significant decline across the examination years, particularly in Year 9 mathematic,” she said.

Further to that, Tanangada said most students did poorly in Year 9 mathematic examination.

She said there was also disruptions caused by covid-19 which hindered students from completing their Year 11 and Year 12 internal assessments.

“Therefore, students did not do well in their overall performances hence in their subjects that they study.

“Consequently, due to covid-19 pandemic, placement rates in 2021 have declined for Year 9 and Year 11 compare to 2020,” she said.

Tanangada said the minimal decline for Year 9 was 0.4 percent.

Moreover, Tanangada said the continue limited spaces in senior secondary level due to limited infrastructures, still resulted in 81.4 percent, that’s around 3,752 students unplaced and not being able to access Year 13 across the country.

She said this number excludes the enrolment of number of students undertaking USP and SINU Preliminary foundation programmes.

In addition, Tanangada said there was no external examination administer to primary school pupils since the removal of the senior secondary school entrance examination in 2019.

She said the large-scale assessment on Solomon Islands Standardised Test for Literacy and Numeracy was not conducted between 2020 and 2021.

“So, we don’t have data on primary school pupils’ academic performance.

“Schools have classroom assessment data that show how pupils performed in 2020 and 2021,” she added.

PM says he held back from sacking SIBC management

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says he has held back from sacking the management of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC).

This was after SIBC did not make profit since 2018 and other infringements PM Sogavare decided not to reveal in Parliament on Tuesday.

As a result, Sogavare omitted SIBC from the schedule of the State-Owned Enterprises Act and it continues operating solely under the Broadcasting Act Cap 112.

In response to MP for Small Malaita Rick Hou, Sogavare said the only actions left is to sack them.

“I will not do that.

“As rightly observed by Hou, I called the CEO and discussed the analysis with him.

“He was shocked. What he said, thank you very much, it is within your right to take any actions against us,” Sogavare said.

“I said please go and start and address the concerns of government.

“Government is here. If you hear anything, come and seek clarification from right ministries before broadcasting,” he said.

Further to that, Sogavare said SIBC has not ceased operations, rather more control has been given to government.

He said it might not be a permanent arrangement.

However, Sogavare said maybe in long term, look at SOE Act because some of the SOE run to $200m to $300m in their accounts.

He said they only pay $5 million for dividends and should do service.

Sogavare said SOE improves governance issues.

He said it is good, have role to play, but not make service they want.

“At this point of time, decision stay like this,” he added.

Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale asked what is the government’s level of control in transition period over SIBC editorial policy.

Sogavare said they will not go to extend to tell everything government want to say.

“We are concern about certain things we are not happy.

“In the Broadcasting Act, I can report to Parliament,” he said.

However, Chairman of Public Accounts Committee, Douglas Ete said the idea of SOE is a structural adjustment programme of Government.

He said it is not wrong that Government thinks that way.

“Either privatising or get the Act to Parliament and repealed it.

“And get an Act that is open so that it is not seen that the Prime Minister is controlling SIBC because seemingly in this arrangement, government take it off from SOE because of the many reasons Prime Minister had said,” he said.

Ete believes this SIBC Act is too old and obsolete.

He said it is not good for the Prime Minister to summon the Board member, it would be seen as dictatorial approach and they don’t want it.

“Can government take a white paper to Parliament to discuss it before we canvass it for repealment and amendment of SIBC Act?” he asked.

Sogavare said when come to issues of good governance, SOE stand out clearly.

He said SOE introduced in 2007 on very reasons, level of control political government has over the bodies.

“Before introduction of SOE, people in government stayed in the Boards and helped to destroy the bodies.

“It is a serious big problem, we were saved by the introduction of SOE,” he said.

Sogavare said 90 percent of old issues of governance, get right people in Board and run this organisation.

He said maybe white paper on all SOEs because before they became SOEs, they are service delivery arms of the government.

Togamana: study done on effects of vaccines here

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Health and Medical Services has carried out a study and investigation into side effects of vaccinations administered in the country.

Vaccines studied include AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Sinopharm.

Minister Dr Culwick Togamana confirmed this in response to Member of Parliament for West Are Are, John Maneniaru in Parliament on Monday.

  1. AstraZeneca – 522 reactions, serious – 4 recorded, hospitalisation -4, death-0;
  2. Pfizer – no immune side effects, hospitalisation – 0 and death -0;
  3. Sinopharm – 61 show some reactions to vaccination, serious – 0, hospitalisation– 0 and death-0.

However, Togamana said he was extremely disappointed with no evidence of death.

He said there are malicious misinformation spread in the media and some renowned citizens about vaccination.

“This is extremely sad,” he said.

“All vaccinations are approved by World Health Organisation. There are studies done elsewhere,” he said.

Furthermore, Togamana said 51 percent of 18 years above have completed fully vaccinations of two doses.

“After five to six months, you can take your first booster shot, follows by second booster shot after four months.”

However, Togamana said 63 percent of people in Malaita Province have not taken any vaccination.

FAKE NOTES ALERT

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Press Release
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CBSI: counterfeit banknotes circulating again

The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) is urging public to be on high alert and to look out for fake banknotes following reports of a high number of counterfeited banknotes being intercepted by Honiara residents.

Reports reaching CBSI indicate that residents, especially local businesses have been receiving fake banknotes of the latest print (or issue) in the denominations of $100, $50 and $20 notes.

The reports highlighted clear intent by perpetrators on victimising the local business owners in Honiara and the public at large with fake money.

“CBSI would like to reiterate over again that any use of fake money or counterfeit currency for purposes of purchasing or acquiring legitimate products or services, is in effect a criminal act, and any group or individual found to be doing this activity is liable for prosecution,” the bank said in a statement.

“Members of the public may call in at the Central Bank during working hours to obtain a leaflet on the security features of banknotes. The security features may also be consulted on the Bank’s website at https://www.cbsi.com.sb/currency/cbsi-banknotes/,” it added.

“CBSI strongly encourages the general public to continue to report any such incidents of counterfeit money being used or if you have in possession a fake banknote, make sure to take it to your nearest commercial bank branch, police station or to the CBSI office in Honiara.

“All citizens must be on high alert at this time in the country, and be on the lookout for certain groups or individuals going around with fake money, and using them on unsuspecting people.”

According to CBSI, the latest fake note being confiscated is the new $100 issue with the serial No: A/3476154.

CBSI is the only authority under Solomon Islands law that is allowed to print and issue legal tender currency (banknotes).

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