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Climate change in SIIP’s project designs

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Climate change effects on the Mangrove habitat in Isabel Province

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands Infrastructure Programme (SIIP) is considering impacts of climate change as high priority in its design for projects.

Tony Telford, infrastructure management leader in Hub confirmed this during the media breakfast event at Heritage Park Hotel on Monday.

He said the impacts of climate change is real in the Solomon Islands after their scoping visits to Malu’u (Malaita), Buala (Isabel) and Seghe (Western).

“Just focusing on climate change and disaster resilience, certainly climate change is a very real threat and it is something that is considered at the very start of any design process.

“At Malu’u, the shoreline coming closer, so that is something we need to consider at the very start of the design process,” he said.

Furthermore, Telford said the other thing that they noticed at Buala, there is a wharf next to the market and looking at photos, the wharf is under water few times each year.

He said that is another visible impact that climate change has and forefront on design process.

Moreover, Australia High Commissioner in Honiara, Dr Lachan Strahan said with the election of current Australia Government, new emphasis on climate change, step up on climate change efforts.

He said that is to adopt bigger targets and faster.

“As I moved around the country to different locations able to see what climate change is doing,” he added.

Resilient to climate change and natural disasters is one of the five guiding principles of SIIP activities.

The others are:

Aligned with the priorities of Solomon Islands and Australia and overseen by a joint Steering Committee;

Inclusive, accessible infrastructure in every province;

Local jobs and supporting industry with skills and opportunities wherever possible and;

Safe, quality and sustainable planning, design and construction.

New agreement to be signed

Written by
Samie Waikori
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FAD is one of the fishery programs being implemented under the current expired MOU between WorldFish, MPFO and MPG.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

A NEW agreement will be signed soon between WorldFish and Malaita Provincial Fisheries Office (MPFO), and the Malaita Provincial Government.

MPFO said the new agreement will replace the one they signed with Worldfish five years ago.

Worldfish is an international, non-profit research organization that strives to strengthen livelihoods and enhance food and nutrition security by improving fisheries and aquaculture.

“The agreement is to strengthen working relationship between the stakeholders on fisheries programs and activities in the province,” MPFO said.

It said fishery programs under the current MOU have been beneficial to all parties.

The programs include Community Based Resource Management (CBRM), Fishing Aggregate Devices (FAD) and Tilapia farming.

Communities across the province benefitted from these programs in the last five years.

“One of the areas the MOU is looking at is to ensure there is a sustainable use or management of marine resources,” MPFO said.

According to MPFO, several fishery activities have been done within the past five years under the MOU despite the challenges.

New concerns over Mamara project

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

People living around the development at Mamara New Capital City in North West Guadalcanal are concerned about its progress.

According to Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, the project would involve the construction of 1,000 to 1,300 houses for public servants; these houses are expected to be completed just before the 2023 Pacific Games.

The Government had already purchased 50 houses for public servants from developer Metropolis Pacific PTE Ltd.

The Developer plans to build hotels and other businesses like supermarket in the second phase.

The Mamara-Tasivarongo-Mavo development project is guided by the Mamara- Tasivarongo- Mavo agreement Act.

The Act gives power for a council to decide and make important decisions regarding the development of the areas.

The council consists of four officials representing the government- the minister of Commerce, the minister of Lands, the Minister of Provincial Government and the Minister of Finance.

The Premier of Guadalcanal Province is also a member of the council as well as three investment members representing the developer, MPPL.

However, Guadalcanal Post-Conflict, Reconciliation Rehabilitation and Restoration Association (GPCRRRA) Western Region said the original plan of Mamara has changed.

GPCRRRA said ministers have purchased some houses there already and the people stay in fear and wait to see what government does next.

It said the government needs to address the abandoned land issues on Guadalcanal that is stipulate under the Townsville Peace Agreement.

“It is true of government not address but can spark anything.

“High Court of country try to deny TPA because it is just a mere agreement, but its pave way for peace,” GPCRRRA said.

According to GPCRRA, about 10 percent of registered land is on Guadalcanal with 95 percent customary.

It is concerned that some of the abandoned land are already occupied by people and investors without addressing the issue.

“We have no problem with Government policy to focus on major developments because Guadalcanal has given its land for Honiara city in the past.

“However, we want the Government to address some of the land issues because we can allow the extension of boundary in Honiara city,” GPCRRA said.

Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Jimmy Rodgers said the Government is to sit with Guadalcanal people and look at what the issues are and how they are best addressed going forward.

“Is not an easy solution it is something that exist for a long time but we want to make sure that land issues not just in Guadalcanal but all over the country are dealt with in a way that achieve its objectives.

“One that convert the economic potential of the land for the landowners and others and secondly actually gives some assurance that land owners ownerships are there and is recognised,” he said.

“For example, Denarau in Fiji, the formular they do there is what we are looking at.

“It basically in Denarau that landowners are in the same shareholders in every investment that comes there,” he said.

“Every hotel that has an investment there, Denarau landowners have percentage in the profit of the investment.

“The landowners constitute the majority of the land workforce that work in those,” he said.

Ruling on Vokia’s case today

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE ruling on the stay proceeding on the case of Member of Parliament for North East Guadalcanal Constituency Ethel Vokia, and her husband Jamie Vokia with the Member of the Provincial Assembly Rose Tala and two others will be made today.

This is on whether or not the matter can be heard in the Magistrate court or the High Court.

 The MP and all the four defendants are facing charges relating to the alleged incident that occurred during the 2019 National General Election (NGE) for bribery offences.

MP Vokia faces two charges one election Bribery: Contrary to Section 126 (1) (a) and (b) (ii) of the Elector act 2018 and conspiracy to defeat justices and interference with witness: Contrary to Section 116(b) of the panel code 9Cap26) to be read with section 21 (a) of the Penal Code (cap 26)

While Jamie Lency Vokia, Rose Tala, Moses Beason and Polycarp Peresini are charged with conspiracy to defeat justice and interference witness.

All accused were released on bail – MP Vokia on cash bail of $1,000, Lency Vokia $500 while other three accused were released on principal bail of $500.

Geitaba Waletofea of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution is prosecuting.

CITY WASTES PILLING UP

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Council says it’s a big issue to tackle

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

HONIARA City Council (HCC) says managing wastes within the city is becoming a major challenge as the population continues to increase.

City Clerk Justus Denni admitted this a Japanese Embassy led tour to his office last week.

“HCC waste management has become a challenge for us but we are doing our best to tackle the issue,” Denni said.

He added despite the challenge, the council is now gearing up its preparing to make Honiara a clean city ahead of next year’s Pacific Games in Honiara.

“HCC is preparing to make Honiara clean during the games.

“Plans to properly manage waste collection is already in place but then again there are also huge challenges identified.

“But with the support of the National government HCC will be able to achieve its plans in keeping Honiara clean,” Denni said.

Japan is a major sponsor of the council’s waste management efforts.

Denni said HCC is looking at getting more garbage trucks to cater for the Pacific Games event, as well as to keep Honiara clean.

In terms of the landfill at Ranadi, Denni said it is now filled up and has no space to accommodate additional wastes.

“However, HCC has a concept to identify a new landfill site.

“We are working with Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology and Guadalcanal provincial government to secure a new site.

“We are also discussing evicting people illegally occupying land around the Ranadi landfill.”

Goshen announces work plan for Malaita

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Goshen Enterprise demonstration taro farm at Gwaigeo, Malaita.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

GOSHEN Enterprise Ltd has announced its plan to work with taro farmers in Malaita Province.

The announcement was made during a ground breaking ceremony to commence work on a taro pack house at Adaliua, which is more than a hope for the program.

Director of Goshen Enterprise Ltd, Lewi Maesimae said Goshen will soon begin its work with taro farmers with equipment provided by Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAET) through EIF and ECAT program.

He said that as part of the taro program, farmers in Malaita have continued to be supported with trainings within the past two years.

Maesimae said MFAET also supported Goshen with $100, 000 taro grant money and distributed agriculture tools worth $99, 000 to taro farmers in both central and northern regions of the province.

He said along with that, MAFET provided Goshen with tiller machine and facilitated the procurement of tractor and ploughing machine.

Maesimae said with the machines provided especially the ploughing machine, Goshen plans to begin work with taro farmers within wards two, three, four and five in the province.

He said Goshen will consult farmers and schedule a working program to go from farmers to farmers assisting them by ploughing their land for taro planting.

Maesimae said the schedule is to ensure taro farmers get assisted by boosting their taro activity under the program for the province.

He said this is part of the taro program for Malaita province and it will begin with the first four wards and later roll-out to other wards.  

Maesimae also said that Goshen has started buying taro last year at $6 per kilogram and they continue at the moment as part of the taro project.

He said at the moment Goshen only does taro business locally and as the taro program grows and production entails export, they will prepare for international market.

SIIP sets to roll

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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The bustling Gizo Market. PHOTO: SIIP

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands Infrastructure Programme (SIIP) has commenced work in approving projects and many more to be considered in coming months.

Some of the projects approved including redeveloping markets in Malaita, Isabel, Western, Guadalcanal and Honiara.

Australia High Commissioner in Honiara, Dr Lachlan Strahan told media in a breakfast event at Heritage Park Hotel yesterday those markets were selected to be geographically inclusive to make sure that SIIP reaches out across the country.

Strahan said they are also funding water and sanitation study for Bina Harbour (Malaita Province) as part of preparation phase.

He said it is so important the water needs of the local communities plus what they hope to be a Tuna processing plant and port are all met.

Furthermore, Strahan said they are funding the design detail work for the Noro Port (Western).

He said later this week they have a new set of proposals which they will put in front of them to make some decision about what they should be funding.

All SIIP activities are decided by a high-level Solomon Islands-Australia Steering Committee, co-chaired by the Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Australia High Commissioner.

Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of National Planning and Development Coordination (MNPDC), and Finance and Treasury are also members.

The committee meets quarterly to assess and agree on projects SIIP will support, and reviews progress on activities already underway.

This joint decision making ensures projects are well aligned to national priorities and coordinated within the scope of SIIP resourcing.

The SIIP is Australia’s flagship 10-year $1.5 billion partnership with Solomon Islands to create local economic opportunities through a pipeline of high priority infrastructure projects.

Launched in 2021, SIIP will:

  • Help build high quality, nation-building infrastructure focussing on inclusion, climate resilience and local jobs.
  • Work with government and industry to establish the best settings and practices to plan, finance, construct and maintain infrastructure to drive long term, sustainable economic growth across the nation.

Gov’t: Malaita MPs are not resigning

Written by
Press Release
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MALAITAN MPs in the ruling DCGA have denied reports they are resigning en masse from the Government.

Solomon Star newspaper published the claim last Friday.

But a statement the Government issued yesterday described the article as “fallacy and sloppy journalism”.  

“The National government is intact with the full support of all Malaita MPs in the DCGA,” the statement said.

“Constituency tours and awareness by all Malaita Members of Parliament in the DCGA are ongoing and constituents have been very receptive,” it added.

“We strongly deny any rift within the Malaita MPs or government over constituency awareness.

“Tying the resignation with constituency awareness is cheap politics.”

The statement said the government will not bow down to the evil intention of a few people adding, intimidation, bullying and violence have no place in our society.

“The government will not allow elements of disunity, chaos and anarchy driven by the narrow political agendas of a very few individuals to overrun it.

“The media must not allow itself to be used for rampant speculation or being used to advance other people’s interest rather than that of the country.”

Call to fast-track state system

Written by
Admin
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Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare

Guadalcanal Post-Conflict, Reconciliation Rehabilitation and Restoration Association (GPCRRRA) Western Region has urged the Government to fastrack the Federal system.

The association made the call after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare promised the people of Guadalcanal last year to give federal system by 2026.

“Until now we have not received any timeline and workplan of government working towards Federal System,” GPCRRRA Western Region general secretary George Hilly said.

“So, we question whether government work on it or halt,” Hilly added.

He said the issue of China has taken over the core issue of this country.

“If there is a timeline created, this association with legal attachment to government, should have a copy of that,” he said.

Guadalcanal and Western provinces are pushing for Federal system in order to benefit immensely from their resources.

PM Sogavare told Western Province during its Second Appointed Day last December that the draft Federal Constitution takes more than 10 years and over $100 million of budgetary provisions to develop.

Sogavare strongly assured the province that his government is committed to introducing the Federal System of Government as recommended by the Imminent Persons Group.

PM Sogavare also used the occasion to dispel the rumour that government is being influenced to brush aside the issue of State Government System.

Japan donates new vehicles to police

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0
Ambassador Miwa hands over the keys of the Vehicle to Assistant Police Commissioner Everlyn Thugea whilst visiting the UXO site.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

JAPAN handed over two Land Cruisers to the Explosive Ordinance Disposal team of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in Honiara last week.

The vehicle keys were officially received by the Assistant Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

Japan’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands Yoshiaki Miwa said the vehicles are important to the work of the police in the removal of old World War II bombs.

Yoshiaki said Solomon Islands is heavily contaminated with UXO even today as a result of the battle between Japan and Allied Forces exactly 80 years ago.

“My government has been providing assistance to the National Response Department to develop capacity to deal with the UXO threats,” he said.

He stressed the Government of Japan has been and will continue to support the Government of Solomon Islands with its development plans in the years ahead.

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