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Manuari: push to extend Parliament influenced by foreign elements.

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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

OPPOSITION MP Derrick Manuari says he believes the government’s agenda to extend Parliament from four to five years is influenced by foreign elements.

Speaking at the Opposition Group’s ‘Insight’ programme recently, the Member of Parliament for West Makira said it is clear because the current decisions and actions of the government is against the will of the people.

He said the government is pushing people to the edge knowing well that the people are not in support of any plan to extend parliament because they are confused and not convinced by the reasons given by the government.

“Foreign powers are dominating political play in our domestic affairs,” he said.

He said during the consultations, one of the messages put across by government officials is that government needed more time to allow China to fund government programmes in constituencies.

Mr Manuari said this is the same government and the same Prime Minister that had been in power of the last three years and even in the past.

“What have they done? We all know how they have underperformed over the years. Three years have gone by and there is nothing to show that this government has delivered its promises to the people so what makes you think another mere 8 months would make any difference,” he said.

“This government has already failed people in this country,” Manuari said.

He said even with the extension it would not make any difference at all.

The West Makira MP said the government has good policies in place but implementation is just anyone’s guess.

“They are busy trying to hold on to political numbers rather than delivering on their promises to the people in this country through the influence of foreign elements,” he said.

Manuari adds the government have the numbers to make amendment to the constitution and they could have used it to their advantage to make changes for the betterment of this country.

“This is not a responsible government. They are serving their own interests and that of foreign elements,” he said.

Mercy and partners only here for 12 days

United States Naval Hospital Mercy arrived in Honiara yesterday

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

U.S Navy Captain and Commander for the Pacific Partnership 2022 mission Hank Kim says Pacific Partnership 2022 commitment in Solomon Islands is only for 12 days.

This, he added, is due to Mercy’s commitment throughout the region.

Kim said Mercy is on operation need throughout the region. Each country has needs that Mercy tries to service.

“But Mercy also has operation commitments within the region and off course we need to spread that operation commitment to different countries,” he said.

Kim adds based on that they have had discussions with each country and having an initial discussion of about what is needed in the country.

“And in our initial discussion it was 12 days for our commitment here in Solomon Islands.

“I would like to add that this is our fifth visit to Solomon Islands and all though we would like to stay as long as possible.

“We have commitments to Solomons and we would try to come back as often as we can,” he said.

Acting Medical Superintendent and Head of Paediatrics Ward at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara Dr Titus Nasi says patients that require treatment on-board have been selected and also both teams at NRH and Mercy can managed them together in the hospital.

“Please come through the normal process of accessing health care services through the referral system from the clinics to NRH to each of the departments to work with colleagues on board to see who that needs to go on-board,” Nasi said.

He said the dental team have been working with the schools and they have organised a lot of kids to be seen by the dentist on board.

“Thank you very much PP2022 for coming over here we are all excited to see the biggest floating hospital which some of us will be receiving health care services from,” Nasi said.

Malaita supporting crime prevention efforts

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Police Commander for Malaita province, Lesley Kili

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

MALAITA provincial police (RSIPF) is continuing with its support and engagement with communities on crime prevention and by-law programmes and activities.

In an interview with PPC Malaita yesterday, Lesley Kili made the statement stressing the importance of policing work with communities in the province.

He said recently his team visited communities of Sulufou, Kofiloko, Sasava areas in North East Malaita to strengthen their Crime Prevention Committees (CPC) or By-Law Committees and provided awareness on policing work.

Kili said a by-law was launched in Kwara’ae are where police attended and assured of their cooperation with the by-law committee and the community.

He said there are communities with existing CPCs or by-law programmes where police is liaising with them to strengthen their operations.

Kili also said that as part of the programme many other communities are requesting police to assist them on the establishment of their by-laws and CPCs.

“Lots of supports coming from communities in the province for the program and police are happy and committed to work with them,” he said.

Kili assured that although provincial police are handicapped on areas like staffing and logistics, they will take time to provide assistance to the communities with the programme.

The PPC however urged people to work together and respect orders carry out by CPCs and bye-law committees in the province.

He said these committees become the focal point of police out in the rural communities and everyone must support each to uphold and respect law and order in our communities.

NEW NRH STILL LONG WAY OFF

The National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara

No master plan yet for proposed hospital

By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNMENT says it is still to secure a master plan for the proposed National Referral Hospital earmarked to be built at Gilbert camp, east of Honiara.

And Health minister Dr Culwick Togamana says the ministry is yet to engage a consultant to design the master plan.

The project has been in the pipeline for almost 10 years now due to the design issue and associated land dispute.

Togamana told parliament yesterday the process for this planning was further stalled by the pandemic as state resources were put in preparedness and response to COVID.

“Likewise, our preparation to host Pacific Games 2023 play a vital role, slow down, we concentrate resources on the National Referral Hospital.

“We need consultation on the size of hospital we are going to build,” he said.

“Hopefully this consultancy group we are going to engage will come up with a Master Plan,” he added.

Togamana said this is important because the existing National Referral Hospital was built to cater for a population of only 300,000, but now our population exceeds 600,000.

“Therefore, we need to properly plan so that our new NRH caters for our growing population,” he added.

On site preparation, Togamana said this is an ongoing activity to date where 2,500 square meter perimeter fencing has been constructed.

“This is because squatters are there already?

“And therefore, we need to secure the site and when you fence the site, you need to deal with those in the perimeter,” he said.

Furthermore, Togamana said a ground survey on UXO needs to be carried out prior to construction.

This is because the area was subjected to heavy engagement during the second World War.

 Further to that, he said construction of security houses is being done, being tendered and awarded so that they have officers that will mann the site and prevent further interference from illegal settlers.

Attorney General, John Muria Junior clarified that in terms of legal proceedings, two disputes over the same land have been consolidated into one proceeding.

He said in 2016 when the government paid out the land from a landowner, that person transferred the land to the Commissioner of Land.

But he said when the land was transferred, other landowners challenged the transaction.

Muria said the matter is heading for trial so that a settlement could be reached sooner.

Parliament continues at 9.30am today.

Botanical team to visit Fiji this month

The Botanical garden in Honiara.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A National Herbarium & Botanical Garden team is ready to visit Fiji this month with the aim of bringing back plants removed during the ethnic conflict between 1998-2003.

Minister of Forestry and Research, Dickson Mua confirmed this in Parliament when asked by the Leader of Opposition, Mathew Wale.

Mua said the team will negotiate with officials in Fiji for the safe returns of these plants.

Furthermore, Mua highlighted the facelift at the garden, including cementing the pathway, installing water, fencing, training of tour guides and completion of data base.

However, he said a Cabinet paper to deal with trespass was submitted to Cabinet because the fence cuts through some homes.

A National Herbarium & Botanical Garden Division is looking after the new building that was opened in 2017.

The Division exists as an implementer of Solomon Islands and overseas joint researches and studies which would lead to greater understanding and knowledge about the use of the forest resources and why protection, conservation and studying of these forest resources and their ecological biodiversity is so important.

Besides that, the Division is also responsible in the collection and preservation of the plant specimen and information for the identification of their botanical names and their potential uses.

PM conveys govt’s appreciation for Mercy’s visit

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Navy Capt Kim, Prime Minister Sogavare and Russell Charge D’Affaires of the US in SI watching the bands performing

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has conveyed the government’s sincere appreciation for the visit by the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy to Solomon Islands to assist our people and our country.

The Prime Minister shared the message at the Unity Square before the ship’s Pacific Partnership Mission Commander Henry Kim, Captain Feinburg and Captain Nolan, United States Officials, and the traveling contingent of the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy.

Mr Sogavare said, “It is a fitting demonstration of our strengthening cooperation with the visit coming shortly after the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal earlier this month.”

He thanked Mission Commander Kim, Captain Feinburg and Captain Nolan “…for dedicating the vast resources of the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy to support the people and government of Solomon Islands”.

Sogavare reiterated that the visit by the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy is welcome and the services provided to the people of Solomon Islands is sincerely appreciated.

He also made a suggestion for such a visit to be made on annual basis, and that it would be excellent to have the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy to visit during the hosting of the Pacific Games from 19 November to 2 December.

“A visit during the 2023 Pacific Games will add a new dimension to the Pacific partnership program, because US Navy Hospital Ship MERCY will be supporting all twenty-four nations in the Pacific in one single location,” the Prime Minister added.

Sogavare said such a visit will also provide relief to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services whose primary responsibility will be to look after over 5,000 athletes and officials from 24 countries in the Pacific region.

–GCU PRESS

PM says US coast guard vessel request arrived in his office late.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has clarified some misinformation currently carried on international media about the visit by the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry and HMAS Spey.

Speaking at a ceremony to welcome the visiting United States Hospital Ship USNS Mercy in Honiara yesterday evening, Sogavare said there had been a delay in the granting of approval for entry into the country to the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry due primarily to the appropriate information not sent to the Office of Prime Minister on time.

The Prime Minister’s Office sought and received the required information on August 20, 2022. Approval was granted for the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry to enter the country and participate in the FFA operation Island Chief event on August 20, 2022.

“Unfortunately, by the time the approval was communicated on the evening of 20th August 2022, the Ship’s captain had decided to leave our waters,” Sogavare said.

In relation to the HMAS Spey, the approval process to enter Solomon Islands was aborted when the Prime Minister’s Office received notification from the British High Commission in Honiara, that they were no longer seeking approval for HMAS Spey to enter the country.

The delay in these approvals demonstrate the need for the government to review and refine its approval requirements and procedures for visiting military vessels to Solomon Islands.

“To this end we have requested our partners to give us time to review and put in place our new processes before sending further requests for military vessels to enter the country. Once the new mechanism is in place, we will inform you all. We anticipate the new process to be smoother and timelier,” Sogavare said.

The government has asked all partner countries with plans to conduct naval visits or patrols to put them on hold until a revised national mechanism is in place. These will universally apply to all visiting naval vessels. 

Solomon Islands have had unfortunate experiences of foreign naval vessels entering the country’s waters during the course of the year without diplomatic clearance granted, hence would like to avoid such incidents from reoccurring.

Solomon Islands would like to see partnership is in place to build national capacity to police our Exclusive Economic Zones. Once the process and procedures are in place suspension of naval vessel visits will be lifted.

The Government have communicated its position to all countries requesting to send in naval ships into Solomon Islands waters.

Meanwhile, the Government and people of Solomon Islands welcomed the visit of United States Hospital Ship USNS Mercy now in Honiara.

The United States Medical team in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services will be carrying out a number of health programmes in the Capital and in some provinces over the next few days.

–GCU PRESS

Forestry Bill to be tabled before year’s end

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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE long-awaited Forestry Bill is expected to tabled in Parliament before the end of this year.

Minister of Forestry and Research, Dickson Mua confirmed this when asked by Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete yesterday.

Mua said currently the Ministry has answered all questions and queries sent by the Attorney General Chambers and sent it back.

He said now they wait for the Attorney General Chambers.

“We are hoping and the Government is seriously pushing for this to come in before the year’s end,” he said.

Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale said this is a strategic sector which needs managing strategic resources for the economy and manage strategies to get the highest returns with less environmental and social damage.

“We have a lot of problems with this sector and industry which exploited our own weakness,” he added.

Wale said when he entered Parliament in 2008, he heard about the bill.

“I am hoping Minister, you will be the Minister that will be bring the bill and it will be a good bill and not a diluted and watered-down bill,” he said.

The main objective of the Bill is to make amendments to the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization Act, Cap 40, in order to make it more robust and forward looking in nature to cater for the new activities and developments which is occurring in the forestry sector now and into the future its fundamental aims and objectives.

The secondary objectives and purposes of the recommended Amendment to the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization Act include:

Enable the Act to accommodate changes in the Forestry sector and establish the platform for changes in the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization Act and its relevant Regulations [2005]

The licensing and enforcement of the relevant conditions of the License

One of the recommended Amendments is the Commissioner of Forest Resources” should be replaced with the word “Forestry Technical Committee” (Commissioner will issue License based on the advice of the Forestry Technical Committee).

According to section 10 (1) the word “appropriate Government” should be replaced with the word “Council of Chiefs” and the word “Customary Land Appeal Court” should be replaced with the word “Tribal Land Panel” (as Local Court will no longer have the power to hear Land matters).

Section 17, a fine of three thousand dollars or imprisonment for two years or to both such fine and imprisonment” should be replaced with the phrase “a fine of fifty thousand dollars and five years’ imprisonment or both’.

There will be a Forestry Board established to:

  1. To receive appeals from the Minister of Forestry and Research from aggrieved parties
  2. To advise the Minister to lift suspended license and reinstate cancelled Felling License.
  3. To advise the Minister of Forests on appeal matters generally
  4. Any other matters that are referred to the Board by the Minister.
  5. Make decisions on issues pertaining to all Forestry plantations either owned by individual, family or community.
  6. To call up relevant expertise to advise on technical matters when needs arise.
  7. Deliberate on the Declaration of a Moratorium when the need arises
  8. Deliberate on forest clearance for other development purposes e.g., Agriculture, Palm oil, mining, major settlements, infrastructure developments,
  9. To advise the government of the day on Forest Policy issues, e.g., policy review.
  10. Forestry Board’s decision is final

Furthermore, the Ministry of Forestry and Research will put in place a Budget for all Timber Rights Hearing.

Taimareho 1 captain faces court for 2020 sea tragedy

27 lives were lost on the MV Taimareho in April 2020 when the ship sailed through rough weather.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of the Taimareho captain has been adjourned to September 7, 2022 for mention as he is yet to confirm his legal representation to assist him with his case.

Captain Michael Roy Galo is charged by police with 27 counts of manslaughter in relation to the Taimareho sea tragedy that occurred on April 3, 2020.

Appering in court yesterday Public Prosecutor Hellen Naqu confirmed that investigation has completed, but disclosures were yet to be served.

This is because the defendant is yet to confirm his lawyer.

Galo was alleged to be the Master of that ship Taimareho 1 when the incident occurred.

Prosecution said that 27 people were washed away by waves from the MV Taimareho due to overloading of the vessel on April 3, 2020. The vessel departed from Honiara on April 2, 2020 for ward 24 in West Are’are in Malaita Province.

During the course of the voyage, the ship encountered bad weather between Guadalcanal and Malaita Province, and three huge waves struck the ship during the night, as a result 27 people were washed overboard. The ship managed to make its way to Su’u Harbour around 7am on April 3, 2020.

Prosecution also said only six dead bodies were recovered.

West Kwaio by-election candidate disqualified

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

A candidate for ward 28 by-election of West Kwaio constituency, Mr Chris Rioka has been disqualified.

His disqualification comes after SIEC through its election team in Auki found that the name Chris Rioka does not exist in the 2018 voters list, which is the current validated list.

According to the election team in Auki, in 2014, Rioka had registered in West Kwaio and Central Kwara’ae constituencies.

He made the double registration in September and Central Kwara’ae was taken as his preferred constituency.

And in 2018, Rioka registered at Abalolo polling station in the Aoke Langa Langa constituency, but with a different name, Mr Jimmy Bata.

The election team said the registration of the candidate as Mr Chris Rioka to contest the by-election with the non-existence of the name on the validated voter’s list led to his disqualification.

They said the candidate’s valid name in accordance to the 2018 validated voter’s list is Mr Jimmy Bata, and if registered as that name he won’t disqualify.      

The election team said that the candidate had already informed on his disqualification and soon he will receive his notice of disqualification.

The exclusion of Mr Chris Rioka from contesting ward 28 provincial seat in the upcoming bye-election left with four intending candidates, 

  • Mr David Gosia
  • John Daubo Tafiiru
  • Fr Alfred Funuka
  • Reginald Maesugea

Poll for the provincial bye-elections of Ward 28 and 18 seats and West Kwaio constituency seat will be on September 21, 2022.