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IMF recommends gov’t to review CDF Act

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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IFM’s Masafumi Yabara. Photo credit - SIBC Online.

BY NED GAGAHE

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recommended that Solomon Islands Government commences review of the Constituency Development Fund.

This was highlighted by a team from IMF who have recently visited the country to conduct and presented a preliminary finding on the 2023 IV Consultation held with stakeholders in Solomon Islands last month.

Team leader of the group Masafumi Yabara was asked during a press conference if IMF have now concerned after repeatedly recommending the Solomon Islands government to review the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Act.

“Yes, you are right we have been recommending the reform of the CDF in a couple of years.

“I see the government is aware of the issue.

“They are really trying to address the issue – the review of the CDF Act, so that establishment of regulation under the Act, so that we support their efforts and we hope it would materialize in the near future.” Mr Yabara said.

Meanwhile, Yabara also said that the trade structure in Solomon Islands is also changing because China has become the dominant trader partner in the last decades.

Yabara said because of that Solomon Islands needs to review the exchange rate basket for which Solomon Islands dollars is pegged with other trading currencies.

“So that is the part of the reason why we recommend the review of the exchange rate. We need to see to what extent the current basket reflects the trade structure.

“We are recommending the review of the basket to confirm that the composition in in line with the trade structure. For now, we are not recommending changing the basket.

HCC EYES BUS SERVICE

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Crowded busstop at the Honiara Central Market.

Bus drivers/owners continue to ignore regulations, Council considers takeover

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

WITH the long standing issue of short bus route in Honiara the Honiara City Council (HCC) is seriously looking at operating bus services ‘in partnership with some private sectors’.

City Clerk for Honiara City Council Justus Deni confirmed this in a press conference held in Honiara last week. 

“We HCC actually launched our programme to crack down on short bus routes.

“This programme worked for the first day but with some mentality issues and attitude problem that people have this programme did not serve its purpose.

“It was noticed that after first few days the issue of short bus route still stands.

“But going forward we are seriously looking at Council running bus services in partnership with some private sector, we have a committee working on that at the moment to develop our policies and ordinances,” Deni said.

Attorney General John Junior Muria adds, this issue of short bus route is related to the Pacific Games 2023 especially how to deal with logistics.

Muria said, “as per Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s statement during the launch of the Safe and Green games, this week a meeting with stakeholders will be held to discuss on how to address certain issues like the short bus route.

“We will be working on an ordinance that if buses did not adhere to what HCC says, HCC has the power to immediately de-register them and they will be unable to operate because their license will be taken away as well, so, the committee will discuss around this particular issue,” he said.

Secretary to Prime Minister Jimmy Rodgers further stressed that there will be harsh penalties made because it is the only way to change mentalities.

Meanwhile, according to HCC media statement measures to crack down short bus route were outlined and effective as of Monday, January 23 but the measures were not observed and adhered to.

New NRH building work given greenlight by disputing parties

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Attorney General John Muria Jnr. Photo credit - SIG Portal Online.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

DISPUTING parties of the proposed new National Referral Hospital at Gilbert camp, East Honiara have agreed for work to progress.

This is despite the dispute over the land being before the court.

Attorney General, John Muria Junior confirmed this to media last Friday.

Muria Junior said the land is in the name of the Commissioner of Lands after the government paid certain landowners following negotiations.

He said then some disputing parties came in and introduced a caveat and an ensuing court case.

“Since then, number parties also joined in the civil proceedings.

“But one thing is common among everyone is everyone agree for progress to go ahead and hospital to be built,” he said.

Attorney General said it just they don’t want payment to go to certain people only.

“In terms of ground working and all that, everyone agreed for hospital to progress,” he added.

Furthermore, Secretary to Prime Minister, Jimmie Rodgers said construction of the new NRH in two phases namely Planning and design phase and actual construction.

He said the total cost sits around $1 billion, that is the cost of Pacific Games project.

Rodgers said it is not going to be a small entity but Ministry of Health and Medical Services is liaising with Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

Moreover, Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dr Culwick Togamana told Parliament last September that it will take up to 10 years before the actual work begins because there a lot of work involving in the process of the construction of the work.

“Some of the works are developing concept plan, master plan, fencing, land issue and clearance of unexploded bomb.

“The site at Gilbert Camp for the relocation of the hospital is still in the concept planning stage,” Dr Togamana said.

Dr Togamana said a taskforce was appointed in 2021 and it comprises important stakeholders have been selected to work together on this important project.

“One important task is to involve important consultant groups for the designing of the master plan for the new hospital.

“This is important because the existing NRH only caters for a population of about 300,000. But our national population has exceeded 600,000.

“We need to properly plan so that the new hospital can cater for our growing population,” the Health and Medical Services Minister said.

Dr Togamana said site studies have been conducted on the location and are being reviewed by his ministry and other key stakeholders of the national government.

Attorney General blocks mineral resources bill 2022

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Permanent secretary Ministry of Mines, Dr Chris Vehe. Photo credit - SIG Portal Online.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Attorney General Chambers has blocked the Mineral Resources Bill 2022 after advisors submitted a draft bill, instead of drafting instruction.

Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification permanent secretary, Dr Christopher Vehe confirmed this to media last Friday.

Dr Vehe said there is a clear expectation and anticipation from the Chamber that drafters only submit drafting instruction and not draft bill.

“One issue causes this prolongation of having the bill to Cabinet.

“Instead for those that work put together all this consultations information into drafting instruction but move ahead to draft the bill,” he said.

Dr Vehe said when it reached the AG Chambers, it has its own position on that and the whole draft bill not taken on board.

He said it’s nothing to do with DCGA holding back on progressing the bill to Parliament.

“It’s all of this technicality we need to make proper,” he added.

MMERE has hired Professor William Kosar – a Canadian now living in Kenya – to help put the Bill together.

Dr Vehe said the legal advisor engaged again will arrived on Tuesday to really go through the drafting instruction.

He said all of this month to tidy up properly and should approach Cabinet next month.

“We really looking at two months to allow Cabinet to look at it,” he added.

According to Solomon Star, Prof Kosar described the Mineral Resources Bill as “shoes for Solomon Islanders’ feet”, when he met with media last year.

He said under the new Bill, mineral ownership of a mineral located in or on Solomon Islands land … waters is vested in the people and Crown (Government) regardless of:

“where … the mineral is located or whether the mineral is dissolved or suspended in … waters or located in the seabed or subsoil of those waters,” he said.

He stressed that in dealing with matters concerning minerals in Solomon Islands, the government “must at all times, act “on behalf of the people of Solomon Islands and in the best interests of her people.”

Prof William said the Bill was intended to address, among other things, “the natural resources world is rapidly changing as is the demand for minerals.”

Solomon Islands’ Mines and Minerals Act is now three decades old and “has failed to keep up to date with advancement in other sectors.”

The Bill also proposes setting up of a Mineral Resources Special Fund within the meaning of section 100(2) of the Constitution.

“The purpose of the Fund is to receive and hold payments made by holders of mining tenements into the Fund. The Fund shall be the principal depository for all revenue sourced from mineral exploration,” it said.

It shall be held by the Central Bank of Solomon Islands.

The Bill also proposes setting up a Solomon Islands Minerals Advisory Centre (SIMAC) to support landowners and communities by providing training, consultation and awareness activities and facilitating independent advice at all stages of the mining life cycle.

‘SIMAC shall have a permanent or semi-permanent presence in Provinces an communities where mining is taking place,” the notes said.

Women shall be “substantially” included in community level negotiations and decision-making regarding mining activities.

“Where possible, a community or landowner group will benefit from mine-related training, scholarships, employment or other similar benefits men and women will, as far as possible, shall have equal access to those benefits.

TOLOA gives Malaita provincial govt 90 days

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Afio station, Small Malaita. Photo credit - SIBC Online

BY NED GAGAHE

Talahanea Original Land and Resource Owners Association (TOLOA) Board of Trustees have issued a three-month notice to the Malaita Provincial Government to resolve rental arrears for two water dams built at Weilulu head stream source build within customary land outside Talahanea 2 provincial boundary.

In an interview with this paper TOLOA Board of Trustees representative Alfred Karuheu said TOLOA Board of Trustees decided to issue the warning based on a recent meeting concerning the matter and lack of forthcoming discussion by the Malaita Provincial Government.

“A letter was written by the TOLOA Trust Board and Executive Committee on 03rd December 2021 addressed to the Hon. Premier and attention to Provincial Secretary. On the same note, a letter was written to the senior Administration Officer South, Afio based attention to Officer in Charge Rural Water Supply on date 7th December 2021.

“Non response to the above legal letters shows negligent of duty of care in your higher office.

“I refer you to letter given to Senior Admin Officer South that stated the SAO must come to Auki to discuss the Water Dam with PS at Auki for monthly rental purposes at $30,000/dam and $60,000 for both per month.

“Be aware that the above-mentioned rental must be back dated to 2019 estimated at $3,600,000.

“I am urging you the Provincial Secretary and Malaita Legal Advisor to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding after discussing the issue with the Senior Admin Officer South and TOLOA Trust Board incorporated in the next 90 days/ three months.

“I advise you to resolute the issue out of court. I hold documents and information to go to the High Court of Solomon Islands.

“This is to show to the people of this country and Malaita Province that you are operating on bad governance, not on good governance in Malaita Provincial Government,” Mr Karuheu said.

SEASONAL WORK SEASONAL

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0

LMU establishes phone lines to enable public to check on online, email submissions

The Labour Mobility Unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade will establish phone lines to enable members of the public to enquire if their online/email submissions for the LMU recruitment drive is received by the office.

This action will be taken as a measure to ensure public trust in the two modes of submission for this round of the LMU Work Ready Pool recruitment drive.

Two phone numbers will be used to allow those who have applied to check whether their names have appeared in the LMU database during the first week of recruitment.

For those who have submitted online, the number to call is 7797111.

For email submissions, the number is 7797110.

The Solomon Islands Support Service under the Pasifiki Recruitment Agent will answer calls for Online Submissions, while the LMU Office will look after email submissions.

As of Friday (March 3) a total of 6055 applications have been received by the Labour Mobility Unit. 4,600 email submissions and 1,455 email applications.

The current recruitment drive will close on Friday (March 10) and members of the public interested to be part of LMU Work Read Pool are encouraged to apply before the due date.

–MFAET PRESS

JAPAN STEPS IN

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Pauline Mcneil, Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Peter Shanel Agovaka, Ambassador of Japan to Solomon Islands, H.E. MIWA Yoshiaki and Supervising Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Cornelius Walegerea.

The Government of Solomon Islands and Japan have signed off on a document of assistance that will see the procurement of much needed medical equipment urgently needed by the Solomon Islands Health sector.

The signing of an Exchange Note was held yesterday between the Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka and the Ambassador of Japan to the Solomon Islands,Miwa Yoshiaki

The equipment to be provided includes portable ultrasound devices, enzyme immunoassay devices, ultra-low temperature freezers, blood cold storage units, dry ice machines, and haemoglobin meters.

Mr Agovaka said this bilateral support is worth 200 million Japanese Yen (SBD $12 millionM) for the procurement and supply of these medical items and equipment.

He said this support signifies the comprehensive vision of the Japanese Government, to promote health sector development and to effectively enhance the country’s medical service delivery.

“The provision of these much-needed medical equipment to the National Referral Hospital and provincial hospitals and health centreers around the country, will surely have substantive and meaningful impacts in the lives of Solomon Islanders and help bridge the existing gaps that requires urgent attention in the country’s health and medical sector.”

Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka and the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. MIWA Yoshiaki.

Agovaka said as Solomon Islands slowly recovers from the devastating impacts of COVID19, such unremitting support from the Government of Japan, is a portrayal of the permanent friendship between the two Governments and the understanding and awareness of the needs of its peoples.

He thanked the Government and good people of Japan for the support and assures them that Solomon Islands will continue to work together with Japan to promote and advance matters of mutual interests.

In response, Ambassador of Japan, H.E MIWA Yoshiaki said the Government of Japan hopes that the medical equipment will be used effectively in hospitals and medical health centres in Honiara and provinces in the country to improve the welfare of the Solomon people.

This year marks 45 years since Japan and Solomon Islands forge diplomatic relations and both countries have enjoyed warm cordial relations over the past decades.

MFAET PRESS STATEMENT

People warned to ensure safety first

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
Director of Solomon Islands Meteorological Service David Hiriasi.

BY NED GAGAHE

People are warned to take extra actions to ensure safety in light of the intense weather conditions currently experienced in the country.

Director of Solomon Islands Meteorology Services David Hiriasia issued the warning in a statement yesterday following announcement by the National Disaster Operations Committee to activate the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) to a level one activation (stand-by mode) and Temotu Provincial Emergency Operation Centre (TP PEOC) on level two full-on activation on 27th February.

Mr. Hiriasia said the weather system will cover most of the Islands of Solomon Islands in the coming days as the system intensifies.

“The impact of such system may cause widespread impact on people, livelihood and properties.

“Therefore, people are urge to take extra actions to ensure their family, communities and properties are safe and secured.” Hiriasia said.

Meanwhile in a statement NEOC had encouraged people to take precaution when travelling on land and sea as the weather may be aggressive to parts of our country in the next few days.

“People are encouraged to call 933, 955, 977 for weather and safety advice.” NEOC said.

‘THINK SAFETY’

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0

Public urged to be alert as possible second cyclone forms south of Renbel, bad weather to continue

BY NED GAGAHE

Public are being warned to take extra safety as bad weather is predicted to continue for the next couple of days.

The current bad weather is due to cyclone Judy, which is passing through Vanuatu, and the low depression south of Renbel province, which is forecasted to develop into a cyclone today.

This low depression according to weather updates yesterday evening, was heading towards Renbel province.

Cyclone Judy as of yesterday evening is a category-four storm.

Director Meteorological Services David Hiriasia in his update yesterday on the current bad weather experienced throughout the country, said it is associated with Cyclone Judy and the low-pressure system, and is likely to go on for the next two days.

Rough seas and high swells yesterday as a result of Tropical Cyclone Judy and the low-pressure system had caused a ship, MV Vatud to be washed ashore at the Kukum seafront.

“Tropical Cyclone Judy had already gone passed Vanuatu however rain clouds associated with it has joined the low-pressure system near Rennell and Bellona.

“It is also important to note that the low-pressure system has yet to develop into a cyclone maybe tomorrow (today) but it is the main cause of the current weather condition we are experiencing at the moment. It is expected to develop into a cyclone maybe tomorrow (today). But the system is expected to pass through Vanuatu Thursday (today) or Friday.

“So, we expect bad weather to go on for the next two days or so,” Hiriasia said.

Hiriasia also warned sea travelers not to travel whilst the sea is still rough until such time when the weather is fine.

A tropical disturbance is enforced for all provinces.

Meanwhile, as of 2pm yesterday the tropical low (18U) in the Coral Sea with a central pressure of 996 hectopascals was located near 12.5 degrees latitude south and 159.3 longitude east.

“This is located approximately 68 nautical miles (127 km) southwest of Rennell and Bellona province. The tropical low (18u) is expected to continue to move east-southeast at 12 knots towards Rennell and Bellona province.

“Expect gales force winds of 34 to 47 knots (63- 87 kilometers per hour) over most provinces with very rough seas and moderate to heavy swells (3.5 – 4.5 meters).

“Rain and thunderstorms, heavy at times is expected to continue over most provinces.

“Such bad weather may lead to possible landslide and flooding over communities living near hill slopes, close to large rivers, streams and low-lying areas.

“Sea travelers are urged to consider safety actions as such heavy rain can reduce visibility.

“Motorists are also advised to use extreme caution when travelling on road. Do not attempt to cross rivers and large streams of unknown depth.

People should take precautionary measures as bad weather associated with the tropical disturbance poses threats to lives and properties.

Please share this information to people with disabilities. Please listen to SIBC and all media outlets for further updates.

‘SIMA in process of procuring Mammography unit for NRH’

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Pauline McNeil.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA) is in the process of procuring a new mammogram machine (a low X-ray to examine human breast for diagnosis) for the National Referral Hospital.

This was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Pauline McNeil.

McNeil said the ministry was in the process of procuring a new mammogram machine in 2022 but then Solomon Islands Maritime Association (SIMA) came on board as part of their social responsibility and decided to procure that specialised equipment.

“So, as we speak, we have signed sealed an agreement with SIMA in October 2022.

“So, the status now is, SIMA use their rules and regulations on procurement and went out to tender. Now the evaluation committee is being set up including technical officers of the NRH depending on availability of our specialist who will evaluate those bidders.

“So hopefully the tender evaluation committee meet this week to go through the tenders to progress the work to procure that machine,” she said.

McNeil clarified that one mammogram machine was donated in 2014 by a Soroptimist without consulting NRH technical persons and they went head and procured it.

“It is, so very good because it is philanthropist but we also needed a technical person to provide a specific detail of that specialised equipment so that they are able to use,” she said.

McNeil said it was functional for about four years until 2018.

She adds that the ministry is also looking at other options to procure additional ones for the provinces especially Gizo and Kilu’ufi hospitals.

McNeil echoed the above sentiments in a recent press conference held in Honiara.

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