Police officers tirelessly working to bring the riots under control. PHOTO: Mavis N Podokolo
THE Burnscreek community in East Honiara plans to reconcile with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare following the devastating riots in November 2021.
Prime Minister Sogavare was also a victim after rioters burst into his compound at Lunga and burned down part of his multi-million-dollar property.
Chairman of Burnscreek community and deputy Paramount chief, Seti Iromea said his community was supposed to meet yesterday to discuss plans and ways for a fundraising to reconcile with PM Sogavare.
He said the riot was really bad and made them ashamed to meet the Prime Minister at his office to apologise to him.
Iromea said the leaders were not involved in the riot, even though they tried their best to stop the youths which proved futile.
Furthermore, he said Burnscreek had organized similar reconciliations in the past in 2008 and 2014 where they reconciled with people of Guadalcanal as a result of the ethnic conflict.
Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma has confirmed the riot last November has cost the country $811 million worth of infrastructure.
It was one of the worst riots since 2006.
It is estimated more than 1000 people have also lost their jobs.
India’s High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, Inbasekar Sundaramurthi presenting the AstraZeneca brand of vaccines made in India to the Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dr Culwick Togamana yesterday.
BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO
INDIA’s High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands handed over 50,000 AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services yesterday.
The vaccine was received by the Minister Dr Culwick Togamana at the Honiara International Airport.
Dr Togamana said although vaccination started in 2021, the program was met by geographical challenges.
“Most of our people are yet to receive their vaccines.
“And so, these lifesaving AstraZeneca vaccines will assist the government to vaccinate the number of our people who are yet to receive their vaccines.
“On this note, I also convey to you our sincere gratitude for the first donation of 24 thousand AstraZeneca that we have received through the COVAX facility.
“Knowing the challenges that your people have gone through, but you have the heart of humanity to assist us,” he said.
Togamana stressed that Solomon Islands had faced vaccination hesitancy, but his team has worked hard and are hoping to achieve 70 percent of vaccination coverage by the end of this year.
India High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Inbasekar Sundaramurthi the coviShield presented is actually the AstraZeneca vaccines produced in India.
“It is the first time India will bring in covid-19 vaccines to the Solomon Islands. These vaccines are going to come into the country by Wednesday or Thursday, the vaccine will come by flight.
“Australia and all the bigger countries have done their major part.
“India as a development partner, it is now our duty to do our part that is why we will bring in the 50 thousand Covid-19 vaccines,” Sundaramurthi said
Seated front row left to right is, Deputy Secretary Technical (DST) Hugo Hebala, new MRD Permanent Secretary, Dr. Samson Viulu, MRD Hon. Minister Duddley Kopu and Deputy Secretary Corporate (DSC), Constance Wane and all staff of the ministry of Rural Development during a ceremony to officially welcome their new PS.
The newly appointed Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) Dr Samson Viulu has unveiled a range of legislative reforms he plans to achieve with the support of his administration and Minister over the course of his tenure in office.
PS Dr. Viulu revealed these priority reforms in a meeting organised by MRD’s management on Tuesday 21st June 2022 at the Cowboys Grill in Honiara to formally welcome him (PS) to office.
The legislative reforms are aimed at decentralizing government services to our rural people and establishing relevant institutes in the constituencies so that there is further positive impact on the disbursement and use of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to transform our rural sceneries and improves rural people livelihoods. The reforms will also see the expansion of functions of the ministry as well as guarantee better service delivery through projects to boost economic activities and development in our rural communities or areas.
“I want to see the CDF as an engine for the economic growth of this country and I believes this can be achieved through establishing a proper regulatory framework for the CDF,” PS Viulu said.
“Of course, it is a tough step to take, but it is a give and take situation. So that is the path we are taking here on,” PS Dr. Viulu said.
A number of priorities that the new PS and his administration want to achieve in the coming months and years include;
CDF Act Reform and Regulatory Framework
Policy framework for Rural Development
Policy Paper on Rural Development
CDF Act Amendment Bill to Parliament within a year timeframe from now that will capture the following;
Institutionalization of constituencies as department of MRD rather than being political boundaries as they are currently.
Establishment of constituency growth centers
Decentralization of government services through the CGC.
Establishment of Constituency Business Companies and Investment Arms
Ownership of constituency properties, machines, equipment to remain with constituency companies and MRD
Formalization of committees.
Collaboration with donors
Collaboration with government technical ministries
Create New development programs for 2023 with direct support from willing donors and friends.
Seek external funding support to the ministry
MRD restructuring
Strengthen Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and establish a project management unit/
Create opportunity tracking tool/list
Promote integrated approach to rural development
Discourage any affiliations with preferred suppliers by officials of MRD.
Capacity building for MRD staffs and constituency officials
Dr. Viulu resumed official duties as Permanent Secretary for MRD on Monday 21st June, 2022.
Prior to taking up the PS role at MRD, Dr. Viulu served at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) as the Policy Secretary for Productive Sector looking after seven ministries namely, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI), Ministry of Lands, Housing & Survey (MLHS), Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) and Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID).
PS Viulu looks forward to working closely with the MRD Minister and support the Minister in his role as the lead reformer in all of the outlined priorities.
MP for Aoke Langa Langa constituency and Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Hon Matthew Wale during his constituency consultation talk in Auki town yesterday.
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI
LEADER of Opposition, Matthew Wale has asked Malaitans to embrace other citizens of Solomon Islands, despite decisions made by their leaders under this current government.
Wale made the call in Auki this week for greater unity and friendship and the fact that ordinary citizens are innocent of decisions made by their leaders.
Mr Wale said he finds the hopes and desires of the people of Malaita are just the same as those from other provinces and from the four corners of this country.
“So love and embrace the people of this country. What we are not happy about is done by the government and their decisions.
“But ordinary people of this country, we have the same heart, aspiration and desire,” Wale said.
He said it is not the right attitude to look at certain ordinary people of this country and blame them for the decisions of their leaders.
Wale said only a few people up there are responsible for decisions made, one that people are not happy about.
He said this kind of attitude must not be encouraged and Malaitans must continue to embrace fellow citizens of this country.
Everyone who holds a Fixed Term Estate or a registered Lease is required to pay annual land rent.
In this article I explain more about these fees, how they are calculated and their importance.
When a Fixed Term Estate or Lease is purchased, it usually comes with a Premium price and an ongoing annual rental payment.
The way in which these fees are calculated varies according to the situation.
The fees attached to the lease of a parcel from a Solomon Islander who owns the Perpetual Estate to another party will depend upon the negotiations between those two parties, and they may refer to a land valuation as the basis to determine Premium and land rent.
Where the Perpetual Estate is owned by the Commissioner of Lands on behalf of the Solomon Islands Government, the Land Board has an established policy that guides the calculation of the Premium and land rent.
The policy states that the Premium is calculated as 10 per cent of the unimproved value of the land, except for churches, schools and non-government organisations in which case the Premium is 2 per cent of the unimproved value of the land.
The land rent is then calculated as 10 per cent of the Premium, meaning that for most cases the amount to pay each year is 1 per cent of the unimproved value of the land.
There may be special circumstances where the Land Board departs from the standard calculations, and these cases are recorded in the Board’s Minutes which are publicly available on the Ministry of Lands website.
It may seem like a bargain that rights over government land can be obtained at an initial up-front price (Premium) of just 10 per cent of the actual land value, but consider the fact that there is an ongoing annual Land Rent to pay.
After 90 years the full land value would finally have been paid, i.e. 10 per cent as premium plus 1 per cent multiplied by 90 years for land rent.
Fixed Term Estates issued in the last few years though only run for 75 years, after which the Fixed Term Estate holder would need to apply for a “renewal” of the Fixed Term Estate and a new Premium and annual land rent will be calculated and be payable at that time.
So, a Fixed Term Estate owner keeps paying for the rights over the land over and over again, but with reduced and stretched-out fees.
Unlike Council rates, no services are rendered in return for the payment of land rent.
It is simply a way of spreading the cost of buying the rights over a parcel of land over time, so that the initial price (Premium) is not such a large financial burden, and the price is spread out over time in the form of annual payments.
Rents can however be revised over time, either in accordance with conditions in a lease agreement that allow for increases over time, or in the case of Fixed Term Estates, to match updates in the Valuation Roll maintained by the Valuer General.
Lessees and Fixed Term Estate holders must remember to pay their land rents annually, otherwise they face the real prospect of having their Lease or Fixed Term Estate forfeited.
The Ministry of Lands does not mail out statements each year, and it is incumbent on the Fixed Term Estate holder to be proactive and come forward to pay the land rent each year.
If you don’t know your annual land rent figure or if you have lost track of when you last paid the land rent, please visit the Ministry of Lands customer service section to obtain a statement.
Land rent payments can be accepted at the cashier’s office adjacent to customer services.
MOST tourism operators are looking forward to international borders reopening, but are they ready?
Like other tourism operators in the region, local operators have felt the brunt of COVID-19.
In Western Province, Agnes Getaway Lodge (Munda) and Kesoko Inn (Noro) have to dig deep to keep their doors open during the pandemic.
The closure of international borders in April 2020 and five months of domestic travels restriction have taken a toll on these local operators.
They were tested financially and mentally over the past 29 months but their resilience to get back to business is tremendous.
Vincent Mayamaya, the General Manager of Agnes Getaway Lodge said the closure of international borders was a huge blow to Agnes Getaway lodge as it depended almost entirely on international tourists.
Vincent Mayamaya and his staff at Agnes Lodge Reception office
Agnes Getaway Lodge was lucky to have signed up for the ‘Umi Tugeda Holiday” travel bubble – a local tourism bubbled launched in 2022 which aimed at boosting the country’s domestic tourism numbers, Mayamaya said.
“We focus on the domestic market for the past months. We worked closely with Solomon Airlines through the “Umi Holiday” package and we also work closely with Dive Munda to accommodate local divers who were part of a diving training organized by Dive Munda and former Miss Solomon Islands Gladys Habu.
“This was our lifeline and it gives little justice to our financial pressure,” Mayamaya said.
Bungalows at Agnes Lodge Munda
For many tourism businesses in Western Province the low point of their COVID-19 journey arrived with domestic travel restrictions.
“Things (were) getting worse and we found ourselves in a situation where few local operators nearly lost (their) business,” Mayamaya said.
Francina Veo of Kesoko Inn shared similar sentiment saying that international border restrictions followed by COVID-19 outbreak nearly put Kesoko Inn out of business.
Francina Veo, the familar and welcoming face at Kesoko Inn
Kesoko was not part of the Umi Tugeda Holiday Bubble and that contributed to its challenges.
Veo had to lay off some staff and halt Kesoko Inn’s operations until further notice.
“We see our bookings reached rock bottom during the height of COVID-19 in Noro. Income was really bad that we faced an uphill challenge trying to serve our business.
“It has been five months and we are still struggling,” Ms. Veo said.
Both operators said that they have missed out on the government’s stimulus package.
Welcome to Kesoko Inn at Noro
Strategies to serve business
The most difficult challenge for both operators was to decide whether to let go of their employees to ensure survival of their company or to keep their employees and risk bankruptcy.
At Agnes Getaway Lodge, employees were given an opportunity to continue their duties.
Mayamaya said he decided to decrease employees working hours, separated his staffs into two groups and allocated separate shifts to each group.
“I see all my employees as family, so instead of terminating my employees, I put them in groups and they rotate every fortnight. Each group took turn every fortnight just to give a change to earn a living during this difficult situation,” he said.
This was not the case for Kesoko Inn.
Veo said Kesoko Inn management had no choice but to lay off seven of its staff.
“Kesoko Inn was unable to generate enough revenue and its becoming difficult to pay employees’ salaries so management decided that the best approach was to save the business.
“Only family members volunteer to keep the operation going.
“We felt sorry for our staffs but do not have other options,” she said.
Ms. Veo said Kesoko management was planning to reinstate the staff when operation is back to normal but the staff could not wait and have secured jobs elsewhere.
Now Kesoko will have to scout for new recruits when business is back to normal.
Preparation towards border reopening
Solomon Islands will open its international border next month and Agnes Getaway Lodge and Kesoko Inn are more than ready.
Seaview at Agnes Getaway Lodge Munda
They have not just survived -they have renovated and are thinking of new experiences to offer tourists..
Agnes Getaway Lodge has made refurbishments on one of its bars, upgraded its jetty, constructed new double bed rooms, improved its existing bungalows and redesigned its corridors.
Mayamaya said one of Agnes Getaway Lodge’s buildings has been transformed into an Isolation Center for COVID related cases.
His staff have undergone series of Standard COVID-19 Extra-Care Trainings which was carried out by the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Health.
“I’m confident that my staffs have obtained relevant knowledge and skills on how to handle a situation where a guest is positive with COVID-19,” he said.
Mayamaya further stated that Agnes Getaway Lodge has found a new product that tourists would be interested to see – a special tour to visit until-now hidden World War II sites in parts of Western Province.
New comfy double bed at Agnes Lodge
Myamaya believes the World War II relics are museum pieces that are important for history and research.
Kesoko Inn has also made huge transformation to its rooms and its staff have attended similar trainings on COVID-19 Safety Standards.
Ms. Veo said a room has been allocated for suspected COVID-19 cases, to keep the local community and other guests safe.
“Since the outbreak, we encourage guests to swab and tested negative before booking and we will be encouraging our future guest to follow the procedure.
“We have strict standard procedures when comes to COVID-19 and we hope to handle any situation and help our guests,” she said.
Ms. Veo said she is confident her staff are ready to handle circumstances when a guest gets sick.
“We have gone through bit and pieces of the process to make sure COVID-19 Standard Procedures are satisfied during our trainings, so I’m confident that we can handle any situation,” she adds.
Munda Bar at Agnes Lodge
Is Solomon Islands re-opening too late for its tourism industry?
With the July 2nd re-opening of Solomon Islands borders just days away, the tourism industry faces its biggest test yet – how to attract back tourists who have many other choices of destination.
Fiji and the Cook Islands have been open for months and other tropical destinations such as Bali and Thailand are also back in business.
According to Mayamaya, the decision to open the international borders is not too late.
“We still have time. I think it’s good that we open our borders late because it helps us to learn from our neighboring countries on how they handle the situation,” he said.
Mayamaya said Munda is a primary diving hotspot in Solomon Islands but – so far – few international tourists have contacted Agnes Getaway Lodge for bookings.
Expectations are high but the future still uncertain.
“I hope tourism industry will quickly pick up and return to normal, time will tell,” Mayamaya said
“For now, we are waiting to welcome tourists back in Munda and explore the richness of Western Province.
TRANSPARENCY Solomon Islands has rejected the reasons given by the Government as basis for its decision to defer the National General Elections to 2024.
Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr Jimmy Rodgers and other officials in the Prime Minister Office confirmed the Government cannot hold the elections next year because of the Pacific Games happening in the same year.
Dr Rodgers said the Government has approached the Pacific Games Council to defer the Pacific Games to 2024 after it was originally scheduled for July 2023.
However, he said the Pacific Games Council refused it because no Games should be held during the Olympic year in 2024.
The original date for the Pacific Games in Honiara was on 16 to 29 July 2023 but rescheduled to 19 November to 2 December 2023.
The Summer Olympic Games is scheduled to take place in Paris, France, from 26 July to 11 August 2024.
However, TSI Chief Executive Officer, Ruth Liloqula told a talk back show on Sunday that all the reasons given by Parliament for extension and deferment are well within the powers of Executive government to make it happen.
“All the taxpayers are paid and who have the control over that. It’s the Executive Government?
“So, it’s all about the planning and proper thinking Government to plan for the event,” she said.
Liloqula said the executive can because this year Parliament passed a budget of $6.8 million per constituency.
“So, does that mean it does not have money?
“If we can give money to a scheme that corrupt everything, surely, we can provide money for Pacific Games and run General Elections.
“For Pacific Games, it looks like we will meet cost. The participating teams will send money for food and accommodation,” she added.
Liloqula said the cost benefit analysis has not been provide by Government.
“It’s not all about the Olympic Games. What is Olympic Games compare to the Constitution of Solomon Islands?
“So, it’s within their area to actually solve it. So, they better solve and run the elections in 2023,” she added.
TSI has also launched a report regarding the proposed Extension of Parliament from Four to Five years.
The report is based on citizens speaking, perception, observations, experiences, opinions and recommendation.
SPAWNING Potential Surveys methodology is currently underway at the Honiara Hotel aimed at providing avenue for fishermen and women to discuss opportunities on management of marine resources.
Dr Gregory Bennett, Conservation Program Manager on behalf of the World-Wide Fund (WWF) Solomon Islands, said the program will enable participants to discuss the opportunities towards established and effective management of important marine resources.
Bennett said today threats are increasing due to rapid population growth expanding commercial interests and decision-making constrained by incomplete information.
“Events such as climate change and coral bleaching, cyclones and tidal waves have devastating impacts on our country’s biodiversity,” Bennett said.
“WWF-SI recognises the critical need to safeguard and manage the marine and coastal resources as people of Solomon Islands exhibit a high dependence on coral reefs and fisheries for their food and livelihoods,” he added.
Bennett said the WWF-SI values the partnerships that will be created in the three days training especially from the government line ministry and Marine Resources, Provincial fisheries officers from three provinces, Sepi Women’s Fisheries and Snap Fisheries.
Minnie Rafe, Ifuto’o Community Base Fisheries Management (CBFM) Program Coordinator, said the importance of the training is getting the communities to understand, especially community people and fisheries officers, what WWF do in terms of promoting sustainable fisheries through this spawning potential survey methodology where they introduced to Sepi women in Isabel province.
Paul Tay Tua, Chief Fisheries Officer, Research Section Inshore fisheries on behalf of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, said the training is more on capacity building of fishers and officers who are responsible to collect data in terms of sustainable management.
NEW Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Schwass and PM Sogavare
NEW Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Schwass on Monday paid a visit to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
“The New Zealand PM looks forward to a formal catch up,” Schwass told Sogavare.
The two leaders discussed issues revolving around a stable, resilient and socially cohesive Pacific.
They talked about the development of an economy that enables prosperity and more equitable distribution of benefits; and deliver for all citizens and engage constructively between them as well as the region.
Along with his ambassadorial duties, Schwass assured Sogavare of his intention to rebuild a stronger SI-NZ bond.
“We are keen to pick up our relationship with Solomon Islands to post pandemic level. If there are gaps, we would be pleased to learn,” Schwass said.
New Zealand’s ongoing cooperation and assistance are in the areas of Infrastructure development, education, economy, health, Labour Mobility Scheme, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force among other sectors.
Sogavare stated “the government supports a stable region. The view that Solomon Islands will host a military base is nonsense.”
Sogavare commends New Zealand for its interest to further explore the broad issue of climate change.
He thanked the government and people of New Zealand for standing beside Solomon Islands in its good and tough times.
MEMBERS of Parliament need to listen to their people when deciding to defer the National General Elections from 2023 to 2024.
Chairman of Transparency Solomon Islands, Frank Paulsen stated this following legal argument that Members of Parliament are mandated to represent the people after the election and do not need to consult people on policy matters.
Responding to a question during the talk back show on Sunday, Paulsen, a lawyer by profession, said it is true they (MPs) are the voice of the people, “but one thing people in authority or our MPs must understand is they cannot operate in isolation or in a vacuum”.
He said they (MPs) must be sensitive of the fact that they are leaders of the people.
“They must also understand they exercise authority where people give to them.
“It does not mean they take it forever,” he said.
Paulsen, former Chairman of Law Reform Commission, said this is the kind of inalienable rights that people have that cannot be taken away by anybody.
“You are just exercising the voice and mouthpiece of the people, so you must listen to people.
“I think it’s common sense and logic that you stay there, you represent the people, you listen to people,” he added.
“I remember one Parliamentary debate where one MP said his chiefs said he must not support one certain agenda in Parliament.
“He (MP) goes against that.
“How I see it is irresponsible.
“What if the people decide not to vote you next time around?
“Not try to put fence between people and yourselves because you are the property of the people,” he added.
Furthermore, TSI executive officer Ruth Liloqula said the big question here is the Prime Minister stood as Independent.
She said Our Party was formed after elections.
Our Party is led by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
“This issue of extension of Parliament was not a campaign issue.
“Therefore, on this very issue, they are not the voice of the people,” she said.
“This is why they need to consult and take it as an election for the next Parliament and not this Parliament.
“How can you talk about something big like this to change constitution and say voice of people? she asked.
