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Man, 22, jailed for sex assault on sister

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A 22-year-old male has been sent to jail for indecently assaulting his cousin sister.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty on Tuesday and is sentenced to one year four months. He is convicted of one count of indecent act.

The victim was a form-three student when the incident occurred in a village in Guadalcanal in December last year.

Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison in passing sentence said maximum penalty for such offence is five years which means the offence of indecent act is quite serious.

He said the defendant and the victim are cousins through their maternal side; in custom the defendant must respect the victim as his cousin sister, and he is not allowed to have any form of sexual relationship with her.

The actions of the defendant breached the trust between the defendant and the victim including their respective families.

Hollison said on this case the defendant used force by pushing the victim to the ground, and then used a knife to threaten the victim while sitting on top of her.

The victim only managed to escape when she grabbed the defendant’s knife.

“These have caused immense fear to the victim, she shouted for help, and escaped from the defendant.

“These sexual offences that are associated with violence and use of the weapon always have traumatic and psychological effects on the victims.

“The victim in this cried because of fear when he was sitting on top of her and holding a knife,” Hollison said.

Taking into consideration of the submission made by the prosecution and defence lawyers, Magistrate Hollison sentenced the accused to one year and four months for the offence committed.

He also told the defendant yesterday to learn from his incarceration and transform for the better upon his release.

“Both men and women must learn to respect our women, girls and students who are amongst the most vulnerable in our communities, the law is in place to protect such people,” Hollison added.

Plan to re-establish U.S embassy in Honiara still on track

Written by
Ben Bilua
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United States of America’s Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Monica Medina speaking to regional media on Wednesday afternoon

BY BEN BILUA
Suva, Fiji

United States of America’s Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Monica Medina says a proposed plan to re-establish the U.S.A embassy in Honiara is on track.

She says the reopening of U.S embassy in Honiara is definite and progress has been made to achieve the plan.

“They still planning to open it. Nothing has changed from that,” Medina says.

Early yesterday morning Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris mentioned two new countries that will host U.S embassies in the region and this includes Kiribati and Tonga.

She never mentioned Solomon Islands as one of countries that the U.S is planning to set foot on the ground by way of establishing their embassy in Honiara.

However, it was confirmed by Medina that Solomon Islands will still host the U.S embassy when formalities are done.

In February this year, the United States announced they will reopen its embassy in Honiara.

The move was believed to be an effort to bounce back on China’s influence in Solomon Islands as well as other Pacific Island nations.

US STEP-UP

Written by
Ben Bilua
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United States Vice President Kamala Harris speaking to Forum Leaders virtually yesterday.

President Biden pledges closer partnership with Pacific region

BY BEN BILUA
Suva, Fiji

UNITED States President Joe Biden’s administration has stepped up its relationship with Pacific Islands Forum countries embarking on renewed bilateral and multilateral assistances.

Vice President Kamala Harris made the announcement when addressing forum leaders virtually yesterday.

In her speech, Mrs Harris mentioned a number of programmes and funding assistance that would improve the United State of America’s presence in the Pacific while injecting more funding to the Pacific region.

She says the United States is in the process to establish two new embassies in the region: one in Tonga and one in Kiribati. 

“We will also appoint the first-ever United States Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum.  We will return Peace Corps volunteers to the region. 

“And USAID is taking steps to expand its footprint to include re-establishing a regional mission in Suva, Fiji.

“All of these steps will enable us to increase our engagement, and develop and deliver concrete results,” Harris says.

She told forum leaders that United States will deepen its engagement in the Pacific Islands as both United States and Pacific Islands Forum countries embarked on a new chapter in US/Pacific partnership.

“We recognise that in recent years, the Pacific Islands may not have received the diplomatic attention and support that you deserve.  So today I am here to tell you directly: We are going to change that.

“In recent months, we have discussed many of these issues with you.  We have consulted extensively and candidly.  The result is a series of actions that are responsive to your priorities and, we believe, will facilitate our engagement moving forward.

“We will engage transparently and constructively, which means we will listen, collaborate, and coordinate at every step of the way.  We will also work to empower a strong and united Pacific Islands Forum, which will strengthen your voice on the world stage as we continue to work together.

“We will also better coordinate our efforts with allies and partners.  And to do that end, we recently launched the Partners in the Blue Pacific, which includes Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and, of course, the United States.

“All of this work recognizes that our partnership with the Pacific Islands spans a wide range of issues.

“With respect to the climate crisis, for example, you are on the frontlines of an existential crisis for our entire planet …and the world’s emissions have an outsized impact on your nations.

“The evidence, of course, is that sea levels are rising.  The coral reefs that protect your islands and foster fisheries are bleaching.   And ocean warming is accelerating.

“This is why, as we work with the world to reduce emissions, we will continue to partner with you to build resilience, support adaptation, mobilize climate finance, and ensure sustainability of fisheries and marine resources,” Harris says.

She adds that United States is also intended to expand the overall economic relationship with Pacific Island countries.

Harris says United States will pursue infrastructure projects that are sustainable, high quality, climate friendly, and, very importantly, that do not result in insurmountable debt.

She also says United States will continue to stand with Pacific Island nations to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will continue our leadership combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, because we know that it devastates fisheries and coastal states like yours.

“We also want to build on our existing work together with regard to food security, with regard to maritime security, education, and disaster relief.

“All of this work together presents an extensive agenda, but each of these issues is incredibly important to this region and to the United States.

“And there is one last principle that I believe must guide our work.

“In this region and around the world, the United States believes it is important to strengthen the international rules-based order — to defend it, to promote it, and to build on it,” Harris says.

“These international rules and norms have brought peace and stability to the Pacific for more than 75 years — principles that importantly state that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected; principles that allow all states, big and small, to conduct their affairs free from aggression or coercion,” she adds.

Solomon Islands welcomes United States 60 million assistance.

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Minister Rexon Ramofafia sitting, Rosalie Masu standing right and Tony Kabasi government officer after the announcement

BY BEN BILUA
Suva, Fiji

SOLOMON Islands has welcomed the United States support worth 60 million per year towards Fisheries management and other related issues that continues to threatens the blue pacific resources.

Minister of National Planning and Development Coordination, representing Solomon Islands during the announcement, Rex Ramofafia says Solomon Islands is pleased with the assistance as it will play a major role in addressing Solomon Islands’ maritime challenges such as climate change, maritime security and other issues.

“This is a welcome news not only for Solomon Islands but also as a forum family within the blue pacific.

“I on behalf of the people of Solomon Islands welcome this support and looking forward to working closely with the rest of the forum family,” he said.

Ramofafia also acknowledges Vice President Harris for reminding the forum family the need to respect sovereign boundaries with shared values and common understanding.

Deputy Secretary Technical of the Ministry of Fisheries, Rosalie Masu shares similar sentiment saying that the assistance will help Solomon Islands long standing issues on maritime resources and safety.

“For Solomon Islands, Tuna is our very important resource. It is a commodity that drive our economy and this assistance will be of great importance to address some of the issues we have.

“Other areas that we will be looking at will be on climate change, maritime security, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and conservation,” she says.

Masu says the Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries is looking forward to work alongside the Forum Secretariat to tap the assistance.

Kamala Harris, the vice President of the United States announced today that United States will allocate 60 million per year for the next ten years.

“We will request from the United States Congress an increase from $21 million per year to $60 million per year for the next 10 years.  Sixty million dollars per year for the next 10 years.

“These funds will help strengthen climate resilience; invest in marine planning and conservation; and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; and enhance maritime security.

“All of us convened here, we — we recognize there is so much we can do together.  We have a strong foundation.  And we will build on this and embark on a new chapter, all in the spirit of partnership, friendship, and respect.

“We must remind ourselves that upholding a system of laws, institutions, and common understandings — well, this is how we ensure stability and, indeed, prosperity around the world.

“We will continue to work with all of you, and all of our partners and allies, to craft new rules and norms for future frontiers grounded in our shared values of openness, transparency, and fairness,” she said.

Solomon Islands calls for united pacific

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Minister Jeremiah Manele at the 51 PIFLM in Suva Fiji

BY BEN BILUA
Suva, Fiji

SOLOMON Islands has called on Pacific Island countries to unite as a region.

Solomon Islands made the call following the withdrawal of some pacific island countries from the Pacific Islands Forum.

Speaking to Island Sun in Suva, Fiji, Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeremiah Manele says Solomon Islands position is similar with Fiji and that is for the Pacific Islands Forum to be united.

“Our view is, we would like to see the forum united. It is very important and we hope our Micronesian brother reconsider their decision.

“Forum countries must stand together with collective voices and efforts in order to overcome challenges respective member countries faced,” he said.

Kiribati announced on Sunday its decision to withdraw from the Pacific Islands Forum family.

The announcement come as a major blow to the 51 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting which kicked off on Monday and is expected to conclude tomorrow (Thursday).

Unconfirmed report states that Fiji has been looking into the issue seriously as the chair of the 2022 51st Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

It is stated that Fiji will likely suspends Kiribati relations with Fiji as Kiribati’s action was a huge disappointment for Fiji as the host of the event.

Prime Minister witness launching of 2022 – 2032 Pacific Regional Culture Strategy.

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Prime Minister Sogavare with other leaders during the launching

BY BEN BILUA
Suva, Fiji

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare was among other Pacific leaders to witness the launching of the 2022 – 2032 Pacific Regional Culture Strategy.

The event was held at the Grand Pacific Hotel and was blessed with the presence of Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere.

President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere launched the strategy making it an obligation for forum leaders to implement the vision and objectives of the strategy in their respective countries.

Delivering the keynote address, Ratu Katonivere says Pacific Island countries have cultural allies that would be instrumental in addressing challenges and threats are looming hard in the region.

Prime Minister Sogavare and President of Fiji Ratu Wiliame Katonivere during the launching

He emphasised that it is crucial that for forum nations to embrace shared community and contribution to sustainable development.

“Fiji like many other countries in Pacific is progressing its work its work towards national cultural policy.

“I believe all of us gather this evening, that mutual goal for united blue pacific and ensuring that the work we do benefits our region and strengthens our relationship as a Pacific family.

“Across the Pacific relationships are at our heart of our identities. Our challenges are so great, that cooperation is not an option but it’s the necessity,” Katonivere says

The strategy aims at preserving, reviving and at the same time supports sustainable development by applying a people-centred approach to science, research and technology across the Sustainable Development Goals by interweaving science, technology and innovation with cultural wisdom and indigenous knowledge.

Forum Leaders who witnessed the launching

Solomon Islands was part of the discussion, drafting and finally launching of the strategy.

Earlier this month, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele led a delegation to the Pacific Foreign Ministers Meeting in Suva to endorse the strategy.

Manele was accompany by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Fiji His Excellency Joseph Ma’ahanua, Pacific and Regional Organisation Branch Assistance Secretary, Janice Kemakeza and Second Secretary to Solomon Islands High Commission in Fiji Madolyn Yalu.

MARA welcomes former deserter into its ranks

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Auki provincial town of Malaita.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

THE Malaita Provincial Government this week received the Provincial Member for ward 26, Alick Junior OfoOfo back to the executive fold.

The MPA was one of the engineers of MARA government but deserted them to the non-executive during the no confidence motion last year and now is back with the ruling provincial government.

His was met with overwhelming salutations from the members of the executive and was sworn-in as the new provincial minister for agriculture and livestock.

Premier Daniel Suidani thanked the MPA for the heart he has to work together with government for the people of Malaita province.

He said the re-inclusion of minister OfoOfo came upon his personal conviction as a leader for the people of Dorio district and Malaita province. 

“The MPA came and asked if MARA government could take him back as an executive member and we agreed.

“I see working together as a team is an important aspect of the leadership of MAR$A government to serve the people we represent,” Suidani said.

He said the inclusion of OfoOfo will fill the seat vacated by MPA for ward 28, Claudio Te’efi who recently resigned to contest the West Kwaio by-election.

In terms of numerical strengthen, MARA government is currently with 17 MPAs and the non-executive is with 14 MPAs.

SIPPA trains youth on family life education

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Participants and their facilitators

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

ABOUT 20 young people from rural Guadalcanal are being trained with the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association on Family Life Education.

It is a first of its kind for SIPPA to roll-out the programme under the United Nations Fund for Population Activities to equip young people with information about Family Life Education.

Jack Martin, senior programme officer Youth/CSE of the International Planned-Parenthood Federation, said the programme is a transformative agenda for six countries in the Pacific including Solomon Islands.

Jack Martin of IPPF Fiji

Mr Martin said the programme is to equip young people with information about Family Life Education curriculum for Out of School; the custodian of this curriculum is the Ministry of Health and Medical Service and SIPPA implements the programmes.

Martin said in Solomon Islands almost 20-35 percent of the population are young people and there are lot of problem affecting them and one of which of teenage pregnancy.

Facilitators explaining to the participants

“We see now in the Solomon Islands a lot of young people are becoming parent themselves, they are not yet independent to look after themselves but they become parents and that adds pressure onto already our family circle, already the pressure on families is quite big so if you have young people again, there is complication for young people, if young person and children have children’s complications will happen children born to young parents will have some issues too,” Martin said.

So, the training that is currently underway will equip young people and they share to other young people in their own communities the importance to being informed and aware of the complication of teenage pregnancies

He said the training was conducted as a result of the request made by the Solomon Islands Government under the UNFPA due to the high rate of teenage pregnancy, as from recent data Solomon Islands.

SIPA refutes claims against CEO

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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CEO of SIPA Mr Eranda Kotelawala.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SOLOMON Ports has refuted allegations CEO Eranda Kotelawala shipped out company vehicle during his recent travel overseas to attend to his mother’s 100 days celebration.

Solomon Ports when responding to queries on the claim said the vehicle in question was not a company vehicle, but Kotelawala’s private car.

“We would like to refute claims he took the company vehicle with him when he left for his home country,” Solomon Port said in a statement.

“The truth is he never took any company vehicle with him,” the statement added.

“The company vehicle in reference to was parked at his official parking spot here at the SIPA headquarters during the whole duration of his leave, and to commemorate his mother’s 100 days.

“That was his own private vehicle, not a company vehicle. His official company vehicle is still here.”

SI Ports said the Rav4 was his private and has nothing to do with SIPA and not in any way connected to SIPA.

Meanwhile, CEO Kotelawala also said the vehicle was his private vehicle.

“It was my personal vehicle and it was sold here, there was nothing purchased from Ports,” Kotelawala said.

CEO Kotelawala has already returned to the country and has resumed normal duties as of Monday this week.

Voter queries sharing of housing materials

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Admin
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A voter has questioned the distribution of materials to constituents of Small Malaita constituency under its housing project.

This after the voter missed out on benefiting from the Rural Constituency Development Funds (RCDF) for the last two years.

The voter, who asked not to be named, claimed only supporters of the Member of Parliament, Rick Hou have collected authorisation letters from the Constituency Office to collect materials from the supplier, JQY.

“This is really unfair to the people of Small Malaita.

“The distribution of the RCDF should not be politicised but open to every voter that applied,” the voter said.

The voter urged the Constituency office to approve letters of other voters who applied for projects as well.

However, Constituency Development Officer, Terry Brown said the distribution of materials is based on a policy.

Brown said under the policy, the Constituency provide materials to constituents who have timbers to complete their houses or constituents that build their houses and could not complete them.

He said each chairperson of the 12 zones in the constituency have to submit lists of recipients to the Constituency office for approval before distribution takes place.

“We provide materials for 10 to 12 houses in each zone,” he said.

Further to that, Brown said it is hard to identify who are the supporters of the MP or not because of the new electoral system where counting is based on batches and not individual ballot boxes.

“If anything goes wrong in the distribution to recipients, then the zones’ chairpersons should know,” he said.

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