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Hilton congratulates Soltuna

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Australian high commissioner to Solomon Islands His Excellency Rod Hilton delivers his speech at the opening of the country’s first ever child care centre. Photo credit - Ben Bilua

BY BEN BILUA

AUSTRALIAN high commissioner to Solomon Islands has congratulated Soltuna for the successful implementation of the Pikinini Kea Hau project.

Rod Hilton said the launching of the facility yesterday was a testament of achievement and at the same time reflects the ambition of Australian government’s project in Solomon Islands – that is to create more job opportunity and to see steady economic growth.

“Impressed with Soltuna and its operation more especially the job opportunities the company established to Solomon Islanders.

“Soltuna products are famous around the world selling into Europe and the pacific

“I can understand why it is a number tuna because Soltuna renowned for quality and safety and care of the workforce,” he said.

Hilton acknowledges Noro community and Soltuna for the determination in making sure there are balance in work place and home.

He said Australia is a supporter of job creation in every aspect of its operation in Solomon Islands.

Hilton stressed that Australian supports are more focus is on private sector and job creation adding Australia believes in quality work

He said jobs that Australian government wants to establish are to enable Solomon Islanders to provide for their families, to ensure children attend school and strengthen communities at all levels.

“That is why what we are celebrating today (yesterday) is so exciting.

“This pikinini haus helps the workers of Soltuna to earn and support their families, in a highly skill work place where every individuals is valued for knowing their children are safe and receiving quality care.

“It shows other employees right across the country that they can lift their employees up by providing this kind of service.

“It will free-up women who work for Soltuna community from having to do all the work at home but to concentrate on their job and save money.

“No one has to loss a day’s work to stay home because no one is there to take care of household responsibilities,” Hiltom said.

He said the facility will directly achieve its goal with a greater impact on Soltuna’s productivity.

Hilton said Australian and Western Province will remain a number one partnership into the future.

“I have a long and productive conversation with the premier. I was able to listen and discussed with Premier Billy Veo and what his government’s priorities will be and I’ve been able to peak through how Australian Government will offer our support.

“Job and economic growth were the core discussion and Australian will continue to work with Western Province to achieve its ambitions,” he said.

NDMO OWES $9M

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) Dr Melchior Mataki

Service providers waiting to get paid since covid-19 period

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Solomon Islands Government (SIG) through the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) owes service providers during the covid-19 period $9 million.

This was confirmed yesterday to this paper by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) Dr Melchior Mataki.

“The government through NDMO is yet to pay about $9 million to service providers during the covid-19 period .

“This money belongs to service providers.  

“They are (service providers) needed to be paid,” Mataki said.

He said his team have submitted everything to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) internal audit group go through it.

“They should be finalising it now.

“But from our side we really want the government to pay off this amount of money so that it can be cleared off because people need their money as well,” Mataki said.

He said the “amount of money is not just for catering alone, but for bulk of suppliers like plumping services for quarantine stations including isolation areas in some of the provinces to name a few”.

Mataki said, “this total of money to be paid is for NDMO alone.

“Only some have been paid.”

Search called off, missing children not found

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Search for two children missing at sea in Makira-Ulawa province has been called off.

No sighting has been reported.

Provincial Police Commander in Makira confirmed to this paper that bodies of the two children, who were reported missing at sea on January 16, have not been found and the search has been called off.

Last month an outboard motor (OBM) canoe powered with 40 HP engine carried 14 passengers including children overturned outside a logging camp due to bad weather.

An adult woman and two children aged three and seven were unable to reach the shore, while 11 passengers managed to swim ashore.

PPC Peter Sitai said during the search the body of the adult was recovered; unfortunately the children’s bodies were not recovered and are still missing.

He said the search went on for a week before being cancelled.

Police in their earlier statement said the OBM left Kirakira between 4pm and 5pm and were travelling to a logging camp, however upon their arrival at Na’ana Elite logging camp due to bad weather they were not able to go through the passage.

The OBM’s skipper then diverted the canoe to near-by logging camp in which they managed to go ashore, however while they were still unloading a huge wave washed ashore and took the canoe further out to the deep with the passengers still onboard, and unfortunately capsized.

Concerns raised on police officers posted in Ulawa

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Concerns have been raised against police officers posted at the Police Post in Ulawa.

A concerned Ulawa man who wanted his name withheld said police officers in Ulawa are not doing their job instead they are engaging in unlawful activities.

The man said the officers involve themselves with youths drinking home-brew and even taking marijuana.

“Police officers are supposed to do the right thing,” he says.

He said officers should be the people upholding law and order in the communities and be a role model for communities.

The man calls on the Police Commissioner to investigate the behaviour of the officers and take action against them.

However, when contacted the Provincial Police Commander Peter Sitai, he denied receiving any complaints from the communities about the allegation.

He said the allegations are serious and called on the leaders, chiefs and elders in Ulawa Island to report to his office any concerns about the officers, so that proper action can be taken to address the issue.

Many procurement activities of MHMS took place before necessary authorisation and approval: OAG report

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Released audited reports from the Office of the Auditor General ( OAG).

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

IT was uncovered that many procurement activities took place at the Ministry of Health (MHMS) before the necessary authorisations and approvals were signed, this shows lack of accountability.

This was found in the audit report on procurement relating to COVID-19 Disaster relief fund by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) released by Office of the Auditor General.

The report says in the sample tested, OAG identified transactions that did not comply with financial requirements in the tendering and awarding for contracts including not implementing the required competitive quotation/tendering process without an appropriate waiver, awarding contracts to businesses which did not have a valid or current business registration and failing to maintain adequate supporting documentation for transactions.

“Many procurement activities took place before the necessary authorisations and approvals were signed, which meant internal controls were not complied with, which creates a lack of accountability.

“The identification of these deficiencies in a relatively small sample indicates that internal controls cannot be relied upon to ensure that procurement will achieve best value for money or eliminate the possibility of conflict of interest and misuse or misappropriation of public funds,” OAG report says.

The report adds that Office of the Auditor General also found that the Ministry was unable to provide records associated with procurement transactions, particularly in relation to the decision-making process around what to procure, how to procure and who to procure it from, but also basic transactional documentation such as purchase requisitions, delivery dockets and evaluations reports. Compliance checklists which are used to ensure that all controls have been implemented, were also not available for all transactions.

The report further adds excessive use of imprest accounts by the Ministry was convenient for rapid purchasing but meant that key internal controls to ensure value for money and integrity were not fully effective.

$275k payment paid to security service at GBR, no documentation and engagement evidence: OAG report

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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GBR quarantine site during the height of the pandemic. Photo supplied.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Office of the Auditor General has uncovered no documentation and engagement evidence of a $275,000 payment paid to a security service engaged at Guadalcanal Beach Resort (GBR) in 2020.

That is according to the audit report on procurement relating to COVID-19 Disaster relief fund by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) released this week by the Office of the Auditor General.

“Company A was engaged to provide security services at the Guadalcanal Beach Resort (GBR) from March 24, 2020. The first month’s payment was made via imprest account and the second month’s payment was included in Office of the Auditor General’s test sample.

“The payment for 24 April to 24 May was for $90,000. A letter in the transaction documentation indicated that the Camp Management committee had entered into a contract with Company B from 24 May 2020. 

“There is no documentation to indicate that any form of competitive process was used to engage company B or that any contract existed before 24 May 2020.There is a bid waiver request dated 15 June and approved by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services on 16 June, but not by the Accountant General as required by Finance Memo 479/5/1 of 26 February 2016,” OAG report stated.

The report stressed, regarding company B there is no evidence of a competitive process for this engagement nor does any sort of due diligence appear to have been carried out.

“This contract transitioned into a longer-term engagement and Ministry of Health and Medical Services paid another $185,000 for the next two months of services through the Ministry of Finance and Treasury payments systems without further competitive tendering,” the OAG report says.

The Controller of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) when receiving an invoice from Company B for the services provided up to 24 May, 2020, he had to query Camp Management if they had actually provided these services. A Purchase Requisition was eventually signed for the April-May services on 29 June 2020 and the account was paid from the Imprest Account on the same day, the report stated.

“There is no documentation on the original decision to engage Company B. There were no approvals of any kind in advance of the engagement. There is no evidence of any due diligence regarding Company B. There is no documentation of the services they provided – no time sheets, no guards names; no sign off sheets by camp supervisors.

By the time the Permanent Secretary of the MHMS approved the Bid Waiver (procurement in state of emergency), the deal had been done, the services had apparently been provided and the account had to be paid,” OAG report said.

MHMS without documents for $4.7m Multi-purpose hall works

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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The Multi purpose hall used as a field hospital.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Health and Medical Services has not provided any documentation to support the contractor that refurbished the Multipurpose Hall into an Isolation Ward for $4.7 million.

The Office of the Auditor General found this in its compliance audit released on Wednesday.

“For example, the refurbishment of the Multipurpose Hall into an Isolation Ward was contracted at a cost of $4.7 million but there was no documentation supporting the selection of the specific vendor chosen to do the refurbishment.

“The first documentation  available for this project was a letter from the vendor on 5 October advising a contract price and also indicating that work was well underway,” OAG states.

“This means that work was started even before a contract price was established.

“Three weeks later on 26 October 2020, PS MHMS indicated to the Oversight Committee that this refurbishment work was 95% complete, but a Purchase Requisition was not signed until 20 November 2020,” OAG report states.

“Neither the availability of this contract nor its award was publicly advertised.

“The procedure used to select vendors in non-competitive procurement is also not documented and neither is the reasoning for individual selection decisions,” OAG report states.

Furthermore, OAG obtained some transaction documentation held by MHMS but this was not complete.

“There was no compliance check list and no funds transfer advice.

“The Scope of Works Schedule provided held by the Ministry was an illegible copy but did seem brief for a complex refit project,” report states.

OAG was not provided with any documentation related to a bid waiver submission.

“Urgency of work was mentioned on the request letter there was no other supporting documentation and no approved bid waiver.

“A memorandum dated 6th October 2020 was sighted that mentioned specifications, drawing, scope of works, and costing, but the Ministry was not able to provide these documents,” OAG said.

Apart from that, another payment was a total value of $1,190,000 for motor vehicles was also missing original documentation from Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

OAG said there was no justification for the number of vehicles.

“The Bid Waiver, PR and Payment Voucher referred to eight vehicles but this was reduced by the Accountant General to four.

“There is no clarification or supporting documentation for either initial number of vehicles or the reasoning for reducing the number of vehicles,” OAG said.

“Although the bid waiver application was completed, significant controls such as compliance checklist has not been completed by MoFT.

“No contract agreement or award letter was provided,” OAG said.

Further to that, OAG said the decisions around these procurements were significant.

“Inadequate documentation of decisions and missing original documents is a failure by the Ministry to secure original documentation and maintain evidence of the implementation of internal controls.

“Inability to provide the OAG with full documentation to review transactions also indicates a major failure of accountability,” OAG said.

The OAG conducted this audit in accordance with International Standards for Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAI) namely the ISSAI 400: Compliance Audit Principles and ISSAI 4000: Compliance Audit Standard issued by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

The objective of the audit was also to assess whether the Ministry’s procurement for disaster relief complied with required procedures, and in accordance with the principles of transparency, accountability and inclusiveness. These procedures included the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA), the Financial Instructions (FIs) and the Solomon Islands Government Procurement and Contract Manual 2013 (PCAM).

MHMS documentation management was inconsistent: OAG report

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Released audited reports from the Office of the Auditor General ( OAG).

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

FINDINGS of the Office of the Auditor General uncovered that Ministry of Health and Medical Services documentation management was inconsistent, with some documents not able to be found.

OAG audited the accounts of Ministry of Health and Medical Services and discovered that signatures of authorising officers varied from document to document and handwritten changes to documents after signature.

OAG when carrying out the audit recommended to MHMS that where significant errors are made in documentation MHMS should ensure that documentation should is recreated and reauthorised rather than being changed by hand and copies of all key documents which support payments are maintained in the Ministry.

“MHMS should ensure that key signatures have been verified before documentation is sent to Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) for payment,” the OAG report says.

Ministry of Health and Medical Services in response to OAG says their management has agreed to the recommendations and has proposed to do the following:

“· The MHMS will comply by taking a sample of all key signatures of the accountable officers in the ministry.

· The ministry will through the offices of the HODs, Accounts and Procurement, will address this. Where major errors are noted, the request will be cancelled and instruction will be given to recreate and re submit proposal.

· The ministry through workshops and conferences and supervisory tours and on a one to one basis with officers will remind officers of this recommendation,” OAG report stated.

$677K IN 5 DAYS

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Released audited reports from the Office of the Auditor General ( OAG).

NDMO rushes to spend covid-19 fund on expensive vehicles ‘not related to the pandemic’, OAG report finds

By EDDIE OSIFELO

The National Disaster Management Office had purchased a Toyota landcruiser and Toyota Hilux under dubious means in 2020, an audit report has suggested.

The audit report by the Office of the Auditor General published on Wednesday says these vehicles were bought from Ela Motors totalling $677,500 of covid-19 funds.

Following declaration of state of emergency on March 25, 2020, government had redirected funds from ministry budgets towards its covid-19 preparedness and response plan – generally called covid-19 funds.

This special fund was purposely to pay for goods and services towards government’s covid-19 preparedness and response plan.

These two brand new expensive vehicles bought by NDMO using the covid-19 fund were not relevant to the purpose of the fund, the OAG Report suggests.

“One significant procurement appeared to be unrelated to the pandemic. The NDMO chose to supplement its vehicle fleet with the addition of two new Toyota vehicles at a cost of $677,500.”

OAG investigations also found that the competitive bidding process for the purchase of two vehicles was a paperwork process only.

On June 15, 2020 the Director NDMO received a quote from Ela Motors for a Toyota Land cruiser.

  1. On June 16 at 11.18am the PS MEDCM wrote to the PS MOFT seeking support to procure a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Toyota Hilux under the COVID-19 budget citing the age and maintenance requirements of the current fleet to support the need to do this. At this stage the Ministry seemed to be set on purchasing the two Toyotas.
  2. On June 16 at 1.05pm the PS of MOFT requested the PS MECDM complete the procurement process including quotes and a report from the MTB for consideration by the CTB.
  3. On June 16 at 2.58pm, PS MECDM directed the Director of the NDMO to seek quotes for a trooper and a hilux from Ela Motors and other suppliers.
  4. On June 18 the Deputy Director NDMO received a quote from United Auto for a Nissan Navarro vehicle which is equivalent to a Land Cruiser but not equivalent to a dual-cab Hilux. The NDMO also received an undated quote from Kosol for a Hyundai Tucson, a medium sized SUV which is not equivalent to either a Toyota Hilux or a Land Cruiser. The supposed competing quotes obtained by the NDMO were not for two vehicles which were comparable to the two vehicles they had indicated they wished to procure.
  5. On 18 June the Director of the NDMO sought permission from the PS of MECDM to procure a Land Cruiser and a Hilux at the quoted price, even though the quote for the Hilux had not yet been received. Although not mentioned previously the specification was for an all-terrain diesel vehicle capable of carrying 10 people with a winch and tow-bars.
  6. On 19 June the Director of the NDMO received a quote from Ela Motors for a Toyota Hilux.
  7. On 23 July the CBT approved the purchase of the vehicles from Ela Motors.
  8. On 29 July the Payment Voucher was certified as goods having been received.

AOG said ultimately, a Bid Waiver was granted so the fact the NDMO did not have a comprehensive specification and was not doing a serious comparison of possible solutions as detailed in the PCAM is probably overtaken by this.

“Although a Bid Waiver was granted by the CTB, the OAG did not sight the Bid Waiver application so the reasoning behind the waiver is not known,” AOG said.

According to SIG Procurement, in a normal cycle of procurement, up to $10,000, you have to provide one written quote.

From $10,000 to $100,000, you have to provide three written quotes with selection using a comparative bid analysis.

From $100,000 to $500,000, the bid will go through the Ministerial Tender Board competitive tender.

More than $500,000, to go through Central Tender Board (CTB) competitive tender.

However, procurement during State of Emergency, there will be a bid waiver.

Where competitive and simple tendering is not possible a bid waiver request can be used.

A reasonable reason needs to be justified.

CTB approve procurement with value of $100,000 and over and Accountant General is delegated authority for $10,000 to $100,000.

The OAG conducted this audit in accordance with International Standards for Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAI) namely the ISSAI 400: Compliance Audit Principles and ISSAI 4000: Compliance Audit Standard issued by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

The objective of this audit was to assess whether the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) managed COVID-19 Procurement in accordance with relevant laws, policies and regulations of Solomon Islands Government.

These include the Public Financial Management Act 2013, The National Disaster Council Act 1989, Emergency Powers Acts for COVID-19, the Interim Financial Instructions currently in force and the Solomon Islands Government Procurement and Contract Manual (PCAM).

First ever child care centre opens in Noro

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Premier Veo left and H.E Hilton right pose for a group photo with children and staffs of Soltuna Pikinini Kea Haus.

BY BEN BILUA

A first ever Child Day Care Centre has officially opened in the country, congratulations to Soltuna and Strongim Bisnis Programme for the huge achievement.

Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton, Premier of Western Province, Billy Veo, Western Provincial Executive, other stakeholders and officials from Soltuna witnessed the opening of the SOLTUNA Pikinini Kea Haus yesterday.

GM of Soltuna Mr Jim, Premier Veo and H.E Hilton cut the cake to mark the great achievement.

In her speech, Soltuna’s Human Resource Manager, Bella Simiha said the facility was made possible through support from the Australian Government under the Strongim Bisnis Programme.

She said the main idea prompting the establishment of the facility was to address absenteeism.

“As a company we see lots of women faced challenges when comes to family commitments, especially when their children are sick.

“We also realised that women who come out from maternity find it difficult to choose between their job and newborn baby.

“After much discussions, Soltuna Management see the need to establish this facility to support our women,” Simiha said.

Children sleeping while Day Care officers on duty looks on.

She said the journey to complete the facility was very difficult but she is happy that the facility is up and running.

Simiha said the facility will be managed by 10 staff who have been trained to execute the needed job.

She acknowledges those who contributed one way or the other towards the completion of the project.

“I want to thank the Australian Government for the funding, constructors who renovate the building and also Soltuna Management for the support towards this project,” Simiha said.

Strongim Bisnis Business Advisor, Zefi Keritina said Strongim Binis is a programme funded by the Government of Australian dedicated to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Solomon Islands.

She said the facility is a result of a partnership sealed between Soltuna and Strongim Binis in May 2021.

Keritina said the project aimed at establishing a day care center for the employees of Soltuna to improve attendance, working condition, and access to free high quality child care.

“Long-term goal is to boost productivity and profitability for business operating on a large scale and at the same time reduces the burden of child care on working mothers and to improve women economic empowerment in workplace,” she said.

Officers who worked at the Soltuna Pikinini Kea Haus.

Keritina said Strongim Binis is proud to provide support and resources to the child care facility which includes hiring a mentor to build Soltuna’s capacity to run the center.

Capacity building program includes health care and early childhood education and supporting the production of child care resources.

She said the project will support the lives of over 300 hundred women working at Soltuna

“We are thrilled to be part of this innovative project that will not only benefit the employees of Soltuna but also serves as a model for other business to follow,” Keritina said.

General Manager of Soltuna, Jim Alexander said the facility is a product of ideas and strong ambition which started six years ago.

He acknowledges the committee and those who drive the project to its completion.

Alexander said absenteeism has raised to 10 percent and it has affected the production of the company.

He said the dream is to reduce absenteeism to the lowest number as possible.

“From business point of view, the child care center is a very important investment as more people will work and production will improve,” Alexander said.

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