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Road repairs should begin, contractors already awarded on Jan 12: PS Maesiola

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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MID Permanent Secretary (PS) Stephen Maesiola

By EDDIE OSIFELO

WORK on the deteriorating roads in Honiara should start after the Central Tender Board awarded contracts to three companies on January 12, this year.

They are EMCO company, Solomon Sheet Steel and Xiao.

Ministry of Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary, Stephen Maesiola told media yesterday that EMCO was awarded contract to work on Honiara highway lot 1 from Henderson to Vura junction.

He said for Honiara lot 2 from Vura to White River, CTB already awarded contract to SSS Company.

Maesiola said for Naha to Kolaridge road, CTB awarded contract to Xiao company

He said these companies have been informed of their award letters and work should be started on these roads.

Furthermore, Maesiola said for Honiara feeder roads both sealed and unsealed, scoping work has completed by their team at Central Project Implementation Unit (CPIU).

He said they are now seeking quotes from the contractors who are interested.

“After that, formality of contractors will come through Ministerial Tender Board and the Central Tender Board.

“In the meantime, CPIU and Ministry of Finance compliance team have worked on the package for these feeder roads,” he said.

Maesiola said as soon as that is done, they should formalize the contracts and work should start straight after.

50 nurses leave for jobs overseas: SPM Rodgers

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Chairman of NHA and Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

FIFTY nurses have signed up for overseas jobs and have left the country.

Secretary of the Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers confirmed this in a press conference yesterday.

“50 or so nurses are leaving the country for overseas jobs,” Rogers said.

He also reiterates that the health ministry is not blocking any nurse wishing to look for green pastures overseas.

Rather, the MHMS is mindful of the effect that this pending mass brain drain in the health care sector will have, thus is monitoring the situation, he adds.

“The Ministry of Health and Medical Services [MHMS] does not look to stopping nurses that would like to seek

but they respect their human rights whilst at the same time they are conscious they don’t want to lose everyone but to retain some to provide health care services and so they are looking at that balance.”

Rodgers said so far, the issue of nurses leaving the country for jobs overseas is not a ‘big problem’ for MHMS.

He said the health ministry also highlighted that there are 306 nurse interns that are yet to be fully registered and 200 nurses coming online.

“Thus, we have about 500 nurses that are coming online,” Rodgers said.

He stressed the other part they are looking at is all the retired nurses because these particular batch of nurses will fit in very well with age care.

“They can be refreshed before leaving the country, if not they can be refreshed to come in and fill gaps if there is any gap sighted when some of the other nurses go out.

“Basically, at the moment nurses leaving is not being stopped.

“They are not going to stand in the way of any nurse that would like to have better returns but they are watching very carefully to make sure national nursing situation does not suffer whilst that happens,” Rodgers said.

SUIDANI OUSTED

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Members of new Malaita provincial government.

Malaita non-executive find success in third attempt. MARA executives boycott motion

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Malaita province’s Premier Daniel Suidani has been ousted by way of motion of no-confidence.

This motion is the non-executives’ third attempt to remove Mr Suidani.

Suidani and his executives reportedly boycotted yesterday’s motion, and the Speaker, Ronnie Butala, went on ahead with the meeting, resulting in a 17-votes to none decision.

Nominations for a new premier is open, and election of a new one is scheduled for this Friday.

Following the motion results, protestors who are sympathisers of Premier Suidani and his MARA government expressed their dismay, and were dispersed by the elite Police Response Team (PRT) who were deployed from Honiara.

The motion was tabled around 10.30am in the Malaita provincial chamber, the delay reportedly from waiting for members of the executive to attend.

The executives had attempted to delay the meeting purposely to wait for the outcome of any high court decision to the case filed by the premier a week ago asking court to interpret what had transpired three weeks ago in which the Speaker allowed the non-executives to defeat the Budget speech via voice vote.

The speaker addressed the assembly and allowed the motion to be moved by MPA for ward 3 (Buma), Martin Fini.

Speaker Butala then opened the one-sided floor for debate on the motion.

Three non-executive MPAs made their debate speech, and due to the absence of the premier to respond to the motion, the mover (Fini) asked to conclude the debate.

The speaker announced the motion to be put to a vote, which was supposed to be secret ballot paper under Malaita Provincial Assembly Standing Order (SO) 161.

However, due to the circumstances faced with the absence of the executives, the speaker suspended SO 161 and replaced it with SO 156 for a voice vote.

The speaker called for a voice vote and the 17 MPAs on the non-executive side voted ‘Aye’ in favour of the motion.

After the motion was passed the speaker announced the nomination for the post of premier, which opens 9.30 today and ends after 48 hours.

This is so that the non-executive could prepare ahead of election of the premier on Friday, where the new executive government of Malaita province will be made known.

The speaker also announced that while Malaita province is yet to have its new provincial government, the deputy premier will look after the premier’s post until a new government is formed. 

Suidani who is being seen as a stout defender of democracy had manage to lead the country’s most populous province since coming to power in June 2019.

His defeat comes just five months before the life of the current Malaita provincial assembly ends.

Suidani stood against the immense pressure from the Solomon Islands national government and China, halting any aid from China and accepting US aid instead.

HONIARA’S RAIN CURSE

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Groundbreaking ceremony of the Kongulai water treatment plant held yesterday. A significant milestone on the journey to deliver safe, sustainable, resilient and reliable water supply and sanitation services to all people in the Solomon Islands.

… to become a thing of the past, soon

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Whenever it rains in Honiara, the water supply gets cut-off in most parts. This has been an ongoing problem which notably began in 2018.

But, a ground-breaking yesterday could see the end to this ‘Honiara rain curse’ in a matter of months.

The ceremony marks the beginning of work on a new water treatment plant at Kongulai water source – Honiara’s main water source.

The new Kongulai water treatment plant with a capacity to produce 15 million litres of treated water daily will enable Solomon Water to continue its service delivery ensuring safe, quality water for customers.

Speaking to the launching event Unit Head Solomon Islands Pacific Country Office, Asian Development Bank, Elmar Elbling, on behalf of the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP) and its development partners – the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, says the ground-breaking event marks a significant milestone on the journey to deliver safe, sustainable, resilient and reliable water supply and sanitation services to all people in the Solomon Islands.

“The demand for sustainable and safe water services in urban and peri-urban areas in Solomon Islands is increasing rapidly, considering the high population growth rate in urban areas.

“When commissioned later this year, the Kongulai water treatment plant with a capacity to produce 15 million liters of treated water daily, will improve the lives of more than 140,00 people living in the greater Honiara area

“The frequent shutdowns due to heavy rain and high turbidity (water), which impact households and businesses throughout the greater Honiara area will become a thing of the past,” Mr Elbling said.

Gloria Hong on behalf of Solomon Water said it was a long time coming and despite challenges in the last few years, Solomon Water continued to and still remains firm in its commitment to see the Kongulai Water Treatment project enabled.

“Todays (yesterdays) ground breaking ceremony marks the start to the largest project undertaking by Solomon Water to –date.

“This water treatment plant shall enable Solomon water to continue its service delivery ensuring safe, quality water for customers.

“Upon its completion and in its operational capacity the treatment plant will ensure that clean water is produced during high turbidity – the main cause for many unfortunate disruptions in the past,” Ms Hong said.

Deputy Secretary for Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Daniel Rove says the delivery of this project will provide significant long-term benefits for local people and for local businesses in Solomon Islands.

“We expect a lot of people and local businesses to be involved in the building of this water treatment plant and the joint venture will provide employment opportunities for up to 70 people depending on the different work requirements.” 

The project was possible with the generous support from donor partners, these are the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Union / government Union.

Reopening of embassy not US response to any country’s action: Charge d’affaires Comeau

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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From (L-R) Taylor Ruggles, Russell Comeau and Colin Beck.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE US has said its reopening of an embassy in the Solomons is not a response to any country’s action.

Russell Comeau, chargé d’affaires ad interim, United States Embassy Solomon Islands told a press conference this after yesterday’s official opening.

“We have been engaged in the Pacific push for almost a decade now. The realisation of our presences matters not only in the Pacific but around the world, this is not confined with the Pacific 

“Reopening of our embassy is not an action of us responding to any other countries action this is Untied States striking out on its own work plans.

“What witnessed today is the realisation of the commitments we made in the Indo Pacific strategy,” Comeau said.

Taylor Ruggles, director EAP/ANP, United States Department of State, says the core to their strategy in the Pacific is for peaceful open Indo–Pacific.

“It is not focused on any one country. But it’s about the values that we share, the democratic values, the development objectives, the peaceful aspiration and the partnership that we established throughout the region,” Ruggles said.

Colin Beck, permanent secretary to Solomons foreign affairs ministry (MFAET) and the only government representative at the occasion, said the reopening of this mission is welcomed by the government and people of Solomon Islands.

“It is a manifestation of the rich historical ties we share, the ongoing friendly relations between our two countries, and ushers renewed ambitions to deepen our bilateral partnership,” Beck said.

US visas will still be managed in PNG 

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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US Embassy in Port Moresby, PNG. Photo credit - https://pg.usembassy.gov.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

US visas will still be managed by the embassy in Port Moresby, PNG.

The newly reopened United States embassy in Solomon Islands confirmed this yesterday.

This was echoed by Russell Comeau, chargé d’affaires ad interim, United States Embassy Solomon Islands.

“The US Visa will still be managed at Port Moresby, PNG.

“Unfortunately, US visas request here is quite low so it is difficult to have that justification.

“Perhaps if we have more interests in Visa to US we can get an officer here.

“But we have a great team in Port Moresby, they are very responsive, we get visas very quickly.”  

On the same note Taylor Ruggles, Director EAP/ANP, United States Department of State says “We have discussed how we can better serve Solomon Islands and other Pacific Island countries that do have visa issue.

“This is an interim presence, it will too early to speculate what our long term looks like in terms of facility but as we go along we having discussions with colleagues on how we can incorporate our services. So, stay tuned,” Ruggles said.

The only Solomon Islands government official to attend the low-key reopening of the US embassy was Collin Beck, permanent secretary to the ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAET).

Mr Beck said the opening of the US embassy in the Solomons is a new era in terms of new relations and beginnings.

“Despite not having their presence on the country we still have the relationship through Moresby. Now they are in town we are basically have the opportunity to explore more opportunity on a daily basis in terms of looking at all issues.

“So we will be talking each other, we will be listening to each other and we will be working with each other going forward,” Beck said.

AMERICA IS BACK

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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US Embassy office in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

US re-opens embassy in Honiara in low-key

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

UNITED States of America (USA) officially opened its embassy in Solomon Islands yesterday in Honiara.

The low-key event was attended by the Solomon Islands foreign affairs permanent secretary, Collin Beck.

Thirty years after it closed its embassy in Honiara on July 30, 1993, the US is reopening its doors in a small building shared with other offices at the Commonwealth Street, along the road leading to the wharf.

In reopening the embassy USA is hoping to broaden opportunities to engage with Solomon Islands, says Mr Russell Comeau, chargé d’affaires ad interim United States Embassy Solomon Islands, speaking at the reopening press conference.

 “This embassy we hope to and expect to broaden the opportunities to engage with Solomon Islands, to increase access.

“Becoming an embassy is really the first step as we moving toward establishing more permanent facilities and deploying diplomatic personnel.

“We hope to get a bigger team out here in the Solomons deliver the initiatives we are working in partnership with around the region,” Comeau said.

He said the US embassy in Solomon Islands will serve in key platforms from which US government will continue to develop its partnership in the Pacific based on shared values, democracy, human rights and the rule of laws.

United States Secretary of State Antony J Blinken says, “Am grateful for our partnership in Honiara and across Solomon islands.US and Solomon Islands will work together tackle issues in the Pacific community.”

Taylor Ruggles, Director EAP/ANP, United States Department of State adds they have seen over time that having no presence on the ground makes communication very difficult

“When we are not present on the ground, communication becomes difficult its harder for us to understand the priorities of the Solomon Islands Government to maintain the contact with the People.

“In order for us to communicate our policies and messages to the people and the government of Solomon Islands the Biden administration has prioritise re-establishing the embassy here in the Solomon Islands,” Ruggles said.

Colin Beck, permanent secretary to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade congratulates United States on the technical opening of the US Embassy in Solomon Islands on behalf of the government.

“The reopening of this mission is welcomed by the Government and people of Solomon Islands,” Beck said.

He said the Embassy in Honiara is the 164th US diplomatic mission in a foreign country.

“The reopening of this mission is welcomed by the government and people of Solomon Islands. It is a manifestation of the rich historical ties we share, the ongoing friendly relations between our two countries, and ushers renewed ambitions to deepen our bilateral partnership.

“But most importantly, the establishment of the Embassy shows the people of Solomon Islands that US is here, and will be for the long haul,” Beck said.

Good news for Gizo residents

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Western Provincial capital Gizo

BY BEN BILUA

WESTERN Provincial Assembly has passed a budget worth $500,000 to buy a water truck for Gizo residents.

This is a good news for Gizo residence as they depend entirely on rain water to cooked, wash and drink.

It is still unclear when the provincial government will purchase the water truck.

Island Sun understand that water shortage is a long standing issue which has affected people residing in Gizo for over 20 years.

Early this year, Solomon Water rolled out the first phase of its Gizo Water Project digging boreholes at Mile 6 and other parts of Gizo.

The budget allocation and Solomon Water Project will definitely address the water shortage in Gizo.

Man alleged of sexually abusing 7-year-old still without lawyer

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man alleged of raping a seven-year-old girl in November 2022 is still without a lawyer to represent him in court.

The case was called again for mention yesterday; however, the defendant is still without a lawyer and the case was further adjourned to February 15 for mention.

Meanwhile Bobby Harunari of the Public Solicitor’s Office who appeared  in court said he will inform his superiors to allocate a lawyer for the defendant.

The defendant who cannot be named for legal reasons is currently facing five counts of raping a girl under 15 Contrary to Section 139 (1) and two counts of Indecent Assault Contrary to Section138 of the Penal Code (amendment) Sexual Offences Act 2016

The rape incident happened on November 20, 2022. 

Police said during the arrest of the defendant that such behaviour is inhuman and is a very serious crime. Rape bears a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

231 leprosy cases from 2018 to 2022

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Director for Tuberculosis/Leprosy program Dr Henry Kako.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

A total of 231 cases of Leprosy have been recorded from 2018 to 2022.

This is according to   the Director for Tuberculosis/Leprosy program Dr Henry Kako.

“Solomon Islands between years 2018 to 2022 recoded a total of 231 leprosy. It is not going to be easy as we think, but ending it must be the challenge to all countries in the world that have not yet zero leprosy elimination,” Kako said.

He says this gives the country 0.65 – 0.75 per 10,000 populations as the country continues to sustain elimination target.  

“The detection rate of above years was 5.80 – 6.75 per 100,000 populations,” Kako said.

He adds, seven provinces are till reporting cases within that period and are as follows, Honiara, Malaita, Guadalcanal, Western Choiseul, Central and Temotu provinces.

“Among the seven provinces reporting cases Honiara City Council, Guadalcanal and Malaita annual reporting cases have been accounted for most reported cases,” Kako said.

Yet, he stressed with the availability of leprosy services in most of the clinics in the country and trained staff on leprosy, the country should be easily on the path to eliminating leprosy.

The theme of World Leprosy Day reads “Act Now. End Leprosy”. The event was marked earlier this week.

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