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Govt parl extention plan to deny people right to vote

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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TSI

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE DCGA Government’s proposed policy to extend Parliament from four to five years would deny people their democratic right to choose who should represent them more frequently.

A survey carried out by Transparency Solomon Islands found 47 percent of the respondents strongly agree that such a policy would deny them their rights to go to the polls more frequently.

“Any policy that denies citizens democratic rights is not acceptable.

“The Prime Minister labelling citizens as ‘tom, dick and harry’ and public officers as ‘lunatics’ at the floor of parliament indicates the country needs new leadership,” TSI said.

“To be labelled these names for demanding to be consulted, saying no to dictatorship, for having the best interest of Solomon Islands when they leaked the secret China Security MOU with DCGA respectively shows a government and leadership that has lost touch with its people, also a government that does not show care and respect for its people.

“The DCGA Executive Government has very little respect for the views,” TSI said.

“The DCGA Executive Government has very little respect for the views, concerns etc of citizens, nor does it recognise their democratic and human rights to be heard.

“Elected representatives of the people must treat people with dignity, make them aware of their rights be it political, legal, civil, or human rights,” TSI said.

Twenty-eight (28) percent of the respondents strongly disagreed with citizens being denied their democratic rights.

“Should the DCGA be a government that has shown a heart for the country, people, unite the nation, does not declare war on its own people, does not train our police force force crowd control using guns, and seek people’s view, it would not have mattered.

“The DCGA government is not such a government but has openly denied people their democratic right to participate in debates of issues of national interest and concern,” TSI said.

“The extension can only mean more of the same.

“Solomon Islands citizens must stop this dictatorship,” TSI said.

Borders set to re-open with no quarantine

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Honiara International Airport Terminal.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare confirmed in his nation-wide address yesterday that international borders will re-open fully on 1 July 2022.

He said all international arrivals to Solomon Islands will no longer undergo institutional quarantine, but can proceed directly from the airport after clearing their normal arrival formalities to their booked accommodations in hotels or to their homes.

“If they go directly to their homes, we encourage them to use face-masks in the first few days after their return.

“Also from 1st July 2022, all international travellers to Solomon Islands no longer need to apply for special exemption to enter the country. All travellers can book directly with airlines to enter the country and sort out their own accommodations”, Sogavare said.

He said all international travellers to Solomon Islands are advised that while there is no longer impose post-arrival quarantine or exemptions for entry into the country, all are still required to provide one negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of arrival in Honiara, and must fully vaccinated against COVID-19 except for children that cannot be vaccinated.

“Any traveller that does not comply with these two requirements will not be able to travel to Solomon Islands,” Sogavare said.

DOWN-SIDE OF OUR HOSPITAL

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Patients lying on the floor at the Emergency-Outpatient area, Friday June 24. Photo by Irwin Angiki

NRH floor-bed problem continues

By MAVIS PODOKOLO & IRWIN ANGIKI

Patients lying on the floor of the Emergency-Outpatient of National Referral Hospital (NRH) will be an ongoing sight for a long time to come.

This sad reality with our National Referral Hospital (NRH) is caused by a number of factors, which the hospital’s management and the ministry of health (MHMS) currently cannot fix.

Sick patients often find themselves having to spend few days and nights on the floor of the EOD corridors, waiting to be admitted to a ward or be seen by a doctor.

Some patients tell Island Sun over the weekend they have been lying on the floor of EOD for a week, others two to three nights.

For years, sick people seeking help have died along the corridors of the emergency-outpatient department, senior doctors at NRH tell Island Sun.

“I must admit that there are cases over the years where we missed and they died lying along the corridors of the outpatient and outside,” an EOD doctor tells Island Sun on condition of anonymity.

“There are cases who sleep at the corridors, only to be noted they are very sick when they are gasping for their last breath,” the doctor added.

MHMS when sought for comments, referred the paper to their June 14 press statement on overcrowding at NRH, in which the ministry blamed the problem on patient caregivers, which it says has increased following the lifting of covid-19 restrictions.

But, a senior doctor in NRH’s administration, also speaking to the paper on condition of anonymity, disagrees.

“The ministry is diverting attention to blame the people when the factors influencing the problem lie elsewhere, and are issues which MHMS and government do not have funding or the will to pursue their realisation.

“The hospital is in dire need of expansion. But, expansion itself will not solve the problem, as it will eventually catch up after NRH is expanded.

“MHMS should implement policies to help to reduce Non-communicable diseases (NCD).

“NCD now tops the list of admission. The majority of people in admission are NCD patients

“MHMS should decentralise the point of care. Guadalcanal province needs a hospital itself. Honiara City needs a hospital or clinic that runs 24/7.

“All main provincial hospitals need specialist doctors to be posted with support services such as Lab, x-rays etc.

“We need to improve all the points of care, health centres in all the provinces to cater the demand of health services.”

Supporting services at the NRH are vital to how fast the hospital provides medical care to patients, and they also need improving, the EOD doctor says.

“Our paramedics must work 24/7 to help us at the outpatient to make decisions to discharge or to keep or admit.

“For example, a person presented at 8pm with Fever. We want to test for malaria and dengue, we collect the blood samples but have to wait for the next day for the lab to process them.

“The same goes for ultrasounds and X-rays. We have to keep patients overnight just to do those the next day. In the end, we have an overcrowded emergency and outpatient area.

“If those supporting services run 24/7, the service at the emergency and outpatient (EOD) should be flowing and hence reduce the overcrowding.”

The doctor of NRH admin tells Island Sun that another important matter is that of the hospital’s autonomy.

“Hospital needs some autonomy.

“A lot of problems at NRH can be solved easily, but are hindered by protocols and channels established by the system.

“The management level of NRH is powerless to bring about the needed changes to improve services. The ministry, which is basically a third party to these issues, has the power.

“CEO, MS do not have any power to execute decisions because they themselves are powerless.”

Another issue which contributes to overcrowding at the EOD corridor is what is called ‘bed blocking’ at the wards.

A ward doctor tells Island Sun:

“NRH is facing bed block every day. So, most times all patients supposed to be admitted in the wards are kept at the Emergency ward, resulting in over-crowding at the EOD.

“This issue won’t be solved until when we expand the hospital, by increasing the beds in the wards. Right now, there is no space in the wards, hence no more beds can be added.”

Meanwhile, the MHMS press statement on June 14 in response to overcrowding at the hospital states:

“Following lifting of COVID-19 restrictions the NRH has noticed the sudden increase in the number of care givers which has causing inconveniences for doctors and nurses when doing ward round and clinical rounds.

“Therefore, the NRH is advising the public in Honiara to limit the number of family members and relatives coming to the hospital including the number of visitors at a given time.

“According to the last bed census, out of 200 patients, the number of relatives doubled by 400.

“Currently the NRH is on stand down and fully back to normal business with no COVID-19 patients.

“However, this does not mean people can now come in numbers to the hospital.

Given these developments, the hospital will be undertaken certain measures to control this flow and public must accept if they are being turned back from entering the hospital of the wards,” the MHMS statement said.

MP hands over boats, engines & eskies to constituents

Written by
Ben Bilua
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One the recipients try out his outboard motor engine.

BY BEN BILUA

MEMBER of Parliament for Marovo constituency has handed over 160 boats, 160 15hp engines and 160 eskies to the people of his constituency.

The handover ceremony took place yesterday, Dokudola Camp, where the boats were built.

Ambassador of People’s Republic of China HE Li Ming, Supervising Minister of Rural Development Rollen Seleso, plus other government MPs Fredrick Kologeto, Samson Galo and officials from PMO and other government ministries witnessed the handover ceremony.

The event also attracted people from communities far and near who were eager to see community representatives receive their share.

Speaking to Island Sun newspaper, one of the recipients Rev Ahopitu Maka acknowledged MP Chachabule Amoi for making a difference in people’s lives.

Officials after inspecting the boats.

He also acknowledged the national government and People’s Republic of China for making the project a success.

Maka said the assistance served its purpose as it comes with an esky.

“I believe that this assistance is something to do with fisheries and we thank the thinking of our Member of Parliament for giving us eskies.

“We have youths doing nothing in our small community and confident that this assistance will make a difference.

“Our youths will engage in fisheries d this would help their families financial needs” Maka said.

Another recipient, Daniel Lokopio, a chief and elder of Patutiva Community, shared similar sentiments saying that the assistance will definitely have positive impacts on communities.

He said sea transport is an essential service for people of Marovo.

“We live in different place divided by ocean as such we need sea transport to travel to other places.

“We also need sea transport to transport our sick ones.

“Above all, these assistances will help rural people,” Lokopio said.

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Rural Development, Dr Samson Viulu said the recipients will sign a contract with his ministry before owning the boats, eskies and engines.

Brand new engine ready to be installed on one of the boats.

He said the process is important as it will safeguard the properties for intended purposes.

“This process is to avoid misuse of properties bought under government fund.”

The recipients will take home their shares after the official launching and handing over of Marovo Constituency Fisheries Initiative and Gasini Market.

‘TVET education important for SI’

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Don Bosco students

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

The negative perception that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is a second choice compared with the conventional academic field should be eliminated by parents and youths in order for the country to produce a more skilled workforce.

With the Country’s population comprising 70 percent of youth, there has been a perception that TVET is a second-choice education among young people. It has been observed that youth participation in TVET is considerably low due to this perception.

Director for TVET at Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Mr Solomon Pita said every nation needs people to build it, and nation builders are those people who have skills, and most of the skills that are needed to build the nation fall under the TVET training sectors.

Pita explained that Solomon Islands has come a long way in its journey as a nation but still struggles to develop the country to build the nation. Some industries have to recruit people overseas to work in order to help build the nation—a very good example of why TVET education is very important.

“We need TVET education to build this nation. Every developed nation has a very good TVET training program in their country that help them train and produce people who can build the nation and work in the different industries that require the skills to build the nation,” he said.

“We need to develop TVET in order to help the government develop this nation, and not only build the nation but give the opportunity to people who will not go and take the higher education pathway but choose to take TVET and not regard it as a second-choice education.

“Young people should regard it as a choice for life. They should be helped to realize that when they choose TVET training, they are not second best but they are the best and the best related to what they can do with the skills they gain when they attain training and when they are employed or when they create their own business to make a living and also to give opportunities to others.”

Pita encourages the Government sectors, private institutions, private sectors, donor partners, and families to continue promoting TVET sector in the country so young people can recognize the importance of TVET as a key driving force of economic growth and social development in today’s world.

Solomon Islands National Youth Congress is the legitimate youth body that represents the voice of young people across the Solomon Islands.

One of its key functions is to represent the interests, views, and aspirations of young men and women, to the government and other stakeholders including donor and development partners.

Vicechair for Solomon Islands National Youth Congress and President for Honiara Youth Council, Mr. Harry James Olikwailafa said National Youth Congress has been working with TVET institutions to clear the TVET perception among young people.

He said their collaboration with the Australia Pacific Training Coalition to host a virtual youth skills hub dialogue recently offered a great opportunity for young people to have meaningful conservation on TVET skill training and employment opportunities.

Currently, there are 68 Rural Training Centres spread through the nine provinces of the Solomon Islands.

These RTCs are active members of the Solomon Islands Association of Vocational Rural Training Centres (SIAVRTC).

Sogavare reaches out to widowed market vendors

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Madam Emmy presents a gift to one of widow

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

MADAME Emmy Sogavare hosted a fellowship for widowed market vendors over the weekend.

The vendors are from the Honiara central market and other satellite markets around the city.

The prime minister’s wife encouraged the widows to always seek God amid the challenges they face in their vending businesses.

Group photo of widows with Madam Emmy

“Widows I want to encourage you to seek God every day in your life. Mothers pray for your children they are your gifts from God. I don’t know the pain and hardships you been through but I want you to seek first the kingdom of God and all these shall be added unto you, this is my Godly advice to you Godly advice.”

She presented gifts to the widows donated by the Peoples Republic of China.

She adds by thanking China for the donations.

Moreen Sariki, president of the Honiara Market Vendors Association, thanked Sogavare for recognising the difficulties women vendors face in their daily lives.

President of the HMVA Moreen Sariki

“We thank you madam for inviting us to your home. We are all here with broken hearts. No one can read the tears we share with you only God can,” Sariki said.

Irene Paia, one of the widows, shared how honoured they were to meet and have fellowship with the prime minister’s wife.

“We cannot change and repay what you do for us today. We prayer that God will bless your heart and your home Madam Sogavare,” Mrs Paia said. 

The fellowship was held over the weekend at Sogavare’s private residence at Tasahe, west Honiara .

Malango chiefs reject deferment of election

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
Solomon Islands National Parliament

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Malango and Bahomea House of Chiefs says it opposed to Government moves to defer of the National General Election from 2023 to 2024.

This was resolved in their meeting held at Holiday Resort on 10 June 2022.

The Resolution totally rejected the six reasons put forward by the DCGA’s strategy to extend parliament term from 4-5 years in 2023-2024.

The six reasons of DCGA are:

  1. The main rationale behind the deferment of the 2023 National General Election is that will we be hosting the 2023 Pacific Games in the same year. This is needing a lot of financial and logistics support.
  2. Registration of Voters have not started or updated yet, include those who turn 18 years from last NE.
  3. The effect of the global pandemic has affected our economy as well include the riot.
  4. Political parties reform, looking at changing the process of electing the Prime Minister
  5. The deferment will be a one off, it is not to extend the term of government, it’s the term of the 11th parliament that is extended NOT the government.
  6. The issue of permanently extending the term of Parliament from 4 to 5 years is one that can be campaigned on in preparation for 2024 NGE.

But the House of Chiefs rejected the main reason for DCGA’S deferment of the election, in relation to the Pacific Games 2023 as following:

“Sports is not a Constitutional requirement; it’s a social requirement, reference to other sporting bodies in the world, reference to Olympic, Commonwealth, include others have moved due to global pandemic.

“Why not the SPG?

“The other five reasons are just a mere political excuse by DCGA’s without any supporting constitutional evidence,” the House of Chiefs said.

TSI: why MPs want elections deferred

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0

By EDDIE OSIFELO

The entitlements and benefits MPs are getting is believed to be a driving factor behind government’s proposal to extend parliament.

This was stated in a recent survey by the Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI).

Half of the 1,248 respondents interviewed strongly agreed that the lucrative members of parliament entitlements and benefit is “one of the hidden motives for the extension of the Parliament”.

They were interviewed in a survey conducted by Transparency Solomon Islands on the opinions and views of the citizens of this country on the proposed extension of the parliament from 4 to 5 years between March 16 to 1st April 2022.

“When it comes to these entitlements and benefits, the Constituency Development Fund all sides of the house (Executive Government, the Official Opposition and the Independent) are the same – they hardly speak against it, or when they do present very weak arguments in their own favour.

“Performing or non-performing, they continue to receive lucrative allowances and other entitlements,” TSI said.

TSI said they are the most privileged of all public officers with their entitlements reviewed and new ones added yearly performing or otherwise.

“They hardly passed more than one Bill last year.

“Some MPs have not said any word for the entire parliament 4-year period or contribute to any debate of substance in the parliament and yet they continue to get these benefits for doing nothing,” TSI said.

“What is given to parliamentarians under the Parliamentary Entitlement Regulation each year should be based on their attendance, performance and active engagement.

“The taxpayer of the Solomon Islands should no longer pay non performing parliamentarians,” TSI said.

“Let people vote in new representatives every 4 years to get rid of highly paid non performing MPs,” TSI said.

One commonly quoted comment by the 28 percent that strongly disagreed with this is the need to put in place a mechanism or tool to measure the performance of members of parliament.

“Their entitlements should be reflective of their performance rather than being paid these lucrative entitlements and benefits just for being members of parliament.

“Such a mechanism will demand quality and high performing MPs which produces positive results and construction debate in each parliament seating,” TSI said.

Survey: China remote controlling DCGA

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MOST believe that China is remotely controlling the DCGA Executive Government since the switch.

This is one of the hidden agendas Transparency Solomon Islands got from its survey in public and in street discussion.

TSI said of the 1,248 respondents, 41 percent strongly agreed that the extension for a year longer is to allow China to cement its relationship with the DCGA government.

“It is allegedly to give time to DCGA government to effect policies and legislative reforms demanded by Chinese Communist Party for the funding of the Pacific Games 2023 and other development projects.

“The current happenings with the secretive importation of replica guns, the arming of Chinese officials of the Embassy, the police training on crowd control by Chinese police officers, the secretive China Security MOU is but just a tip of the iceberg of what DCGA government has promised China or China demanded of the DCGA government,” TSI said.

“It needed the extra year in power to affect all of its new diplomatic friend’s demand,” TSI said.

Furthermore, TSI said the 27 percent strongly disagree with this as a good enough reason for the proposed extension argued that Solomon Islands is a democratic country and should not be sold to China.

Both strongly agree (41 percent) and the strongly disagree (27 percent) are of the opinions that DCGA/China diplomatic relation continues to be the most divisive of all the diplomatic foreign relations in the country and in the region.

“It has pitched the national government against the provincial governments, resulting in the downfall of premiers who do not work with it or dance to its tune.

“It portrays Solomon Islands and the people of Solomon Islands as manipulative, scheming, and not trustworthy,” TSI said.

TSI said this is the image and reputation that DCGA Executive Government has painted of the country, and people is not welcomed.

“China, since the switch, is remote controlling the DCGA government for its own world and regional agenda.

“It is time for a new government and new leadership to step in and ensure that the Solomon Islands government and people decide what China could and could not do in Solomon Islands as Solomon Islands new diplomatic friend,” TSI said.

Solomon Islands switched to China in 20 September 2019, ending 36 years of diplomatic relationship with Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan.

Survey: MPs fear losing seats

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By EDDIE OSIFELO

One of the main influences behind government’s proposal to defer the 11th parliament is the fear by some MPs that they would not be re-elected next election.

In the survey carried out by Transparency Solomon Islands, about 48 percent of the respondents strongly agree that this is one of the hidden agendas behind the proposed extension of the parliament term.

“Given the many controversial policies and decisions the DCGA Executive Government has made in the absence of an inclusive consultation process with the people, they fear not being re-elected.

“The extra year is needed to buy voters that have become disgruntled,” TSI said.

“Solomon Islands has experienced a very turbulent time with this leadership and people must be given their right to go to the polls and elect new representatives.

“It is about people, their economy empowerment and the education and health of the people of this country that is important, not the biased of temporary government and temporary group of politicians,” TSI said.

The 25 percent who strongly disagreed with this being a good enough excuse to extend the parliament believe that the country needs a change of leadership.

“Naming citizens ‘Tom, Dick, and Harry’ is unacceptable.

“It is only at the election times that citizens have the opportunity to inflict punishment on their representatives – National General Elections must be held in 2023,” TSI said.

TSI said the country needs leadership that has a heart for the country and citizens.

TSI conducted the public opinion survey on the opinions and views of the citizens of this country on the proposed extension of the parliament from 4 to 5 years between March 16 to 1st April 2022.

The interviews were by phone, face to face and online reaching 1,248 respondents.

On Facebook group pages 930 respondents were reached. A total of 2,178 respondents participated in the survey.

Of the 1,248 respondents 42 percent are female, and 58 percent male.

On age cohorts 9 percent of the respondents are age groups 13-18 years (children), 50 percent are age group 19-34 years (youth), and 41 percent are age group are 34 plus years (adults).

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