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New Japanese envoy pays visit to PM

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PM M.Sogavare and His Excellency M. Yoshiaki

New Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Miwa Yoshiaki, paid a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare yesterday.

During the visit, Sogavare said Solomon Islands and Japan are on a wonderful journey together.

“Eighty years after the battle on Guadalcanal and Japan continues to stand tall as a true friend,” Sogavare said.

“We admire Japan for this,” he added.

“Japan contributed immensely in all sectors across the country.

“Our relationship continues to grow to new heights.

“We stand with Japan on a number of very sensitive issues.

“The Whaling issue is an example.”

Sogavare also said Solomon Islands further appreciates and acknowledges Japan for assisting in the UXO clearance.

“This is very important to us as the unexploded World War 2 Ordinance claimed a number of lives in the country.

“Japan has done a lot for Solomon Islands after World War II especially on the area of infrastructure.”

Sogavare also raised concerns on the proposed plan by Japan to discharge the ALPS treated water or radioactive contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean.

“This is a concern for Solomon Islands and the region as the Ocean is where we obtain food from and our means for livelihood.

On the SI-China Security treaty, Prime Minister explained that this is to address internal security issues.

“The advantage of having bilateral relations with China late is we learned and improve from other countries relationship experiences with China.

“Regional and global Peace and unity remains our decisive aim.”  

In response, Miwa affirms Japan’s determination to further fulfil important missions and duties to promote and expand the bilateral relationship between both nations.

“Japan will further improve key donor support in Infrastructural development, Health, education and ocean governance,” Miwa said.

“Japan is ready to dialogue with the Government and assist in other key sectors,” he added.

“As the country celebrates 80 years of the battle of Guadalcanal this year, Japan is planning a Naval visit to the country.”

Ambassador Miwa is a seasoned diplomat and has been previously posted in Iraq, Finland and Philippines before taking up his appointment here.

Atu prepares to face law

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President of the Malaita For Democracy movement, Knoxley Atu

—-Accuse leaders of avoiding dialogue in stand-off with Police

WANTED Malaita man, Knoxly Atu is prepared to face the law, accusing political leaders of not providing dialogue to end the stand-off between his community and the Police over the past months.

Mr Atu, was the leader of the Malaita for Democracy (M4D) movement and was wanted by authorities following allegations his group helped organized the deadly November 2021 riots in Honiara.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, Mr Atu said he was involved in some activities which are not right, but those activities are not from his own making.

He said as Chairman of the Mala-MOI Council of Chiefs, he had expected leaders, whether custom, church or political to come and help iron out issues that he was involved in.

“The alleged issues against me are not from my own thinking and planning, its political, and over the past six months my community bore the brunt of our law enforcement agency.

“There was never any intention by leaders to organize dialogue, thereby as a leader, I decided it is best I face the law to answer for the allegations against me.

Mr Atu decided to hand himself to the Honiara based Police operations team and not from the PPC of Honiara Police or Auki station as has been reported in the media.

“My decision was made under my own accord and through the trust I have for a senior Officer within Police operations for me to come and face all the charges laid before me.

“I’m a leader and I have to come and answer for my actions and to help my community live a peaceful life,” he added.

Atu said he is saddened that after the Riots, political leaders have defended themselves against wrong doing and allow their followers to suffer.

“If they have offered for us to have dialogue, then we would be able to sort these issues, however, the issue has dragged on.

“My community was targeted and we lived in fear for the past six months.

He said the issues he fought for were not personal issues, they are issues that affect the nation and our leaders are aware off.

“But when things come to worst, people became silent. We thought our leaders would step in and conduct dialogue, instead my community was targeted.

He appealed to his followers to respect the law and allow him as a leader to face whatever comes.

“Leaders who helped initiate these issues are in denial, so I must come out and assist law enforcement to sort out the issues,” Mr Atu added.

Mr Atu was transported to Honiara last week by a speed boat after explaining to his community about his reasons to assist law enforcement clear his name.

China shelves plan on region-wide agreement

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China has shelved its plans to sign a region-wide trade and security deal with Pacific Island nations.

The decision comes following a high-level meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and leaders from 10 Pacific Island nations in Fiji yesterday.

Wang, who spent the past week meeting with his Pacific Island counterparts, said the nations had agreed on five areas of cooperation, but further discussions were needed.

“China will release its own position paper on our own positions and propositions and cooperation proposals with Pacific Island countries,” Wang said.

“Going forward, we will continue to have ongoing and in-depth discussions and consultations to shape more consensus on cooperation.

“Don’t be too anxious and don’t be too nervous, because the common development and prosperity of China and all the other developing countries will only mean great harmony, greater justice and greater progress of the whole world.”

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said there remained a “consensus first” approach to regional agreements.

“As always, we put consensus first among our countries throughout any discussion on new regional agreements,” Bainimarama said at a press conference with Wang.

“Fiji will continue to seek fertile ground for our bilateral relationship. The challenges our people face will only intensify until collective solutions rise to meet them.

“And I am grateful to the minister and his team for bringing the spirit of productive cooperation with them to Fiji.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi touched down in the Solomon Islands last Thursday in an attempt to solidify Beijing’s presence in the Pacific region.

A draft communique and a five-year action plan was sent to 10 Pacific Island nations covering policing, security, trade, marine and data communication.

China’s Ambassador to Fiji, Qian Bo, said while there had been general support from the countries, the agreement had been shelved after some countries voiced concerns.

“There has been general support from the 10 countries with which we have diplomatic relations, but of course there are some concerns on specific issues.”

Vaccine for children here soon

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands will soon have covid-19 vaccine for age group five to 11 years.

According to Ministry of Health and Medical Service Advisor Dr Yogesh Choudhri, donors have confirmed they would supply the vaccine.

“We have got confirmation from our donor partners that they would be able to supply the covid-19 vaccine for 5 years above and 11 years age group,” Choudhri said.

“We have made requestion to the National Therapeutic Drugs committee to consider provision of Pfizer for 5 years above and 11 years,” he added.

Choudhri also confirmed that the total national vaccination coverage of people aged 18 and above is still below 50 percent.

“All in all we have two thirds of the people at least received one dose of the vaccine who are 18 and above.

“The vaccination roll out for 12 years and above and 18 years below is also ongoing in different provinces,” Choudhri said.

He adds overall nationally 17 per cent of children between 12 years and above and 18 years below have been vaccinated with both doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Lack of shipping hits hard on villagers

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Nafinua Island in Star Harbour, Makira Ulawa province. Photo by Frigate Bird Island Lodge, Facbook.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

MEMBER of Makira-Ulawa Provincial Assembly for Ward 14 Solomon Mare says his people are suffering due to lack of shipping service to their area.

Mare said currently small business operating within his ward are without goods, and people in the villages are suffering.

“People cannot rely on local food alone. They also need soap, sugar, rice and other goods as well,” Mare told the Island Sun yesterday.

He calls on ship-owners that currently serve in Makira to include Marubay, Santa Ana and Namuga in their trips

“We have suffered long enough.

“Ships need to come to our area.

“Village canteens are now empty of cargo.

“Those who need to travel back to Honiara, especially students, are still stranded in the village although the academic year has started.

“Many cargoes and passengers are also stuck in town because of this problem.”

Mare said now that covid restrictions have been lifted, ship owners should now reschedule their trips to the province.

“I do not want to see my people continue suffer due to lack of transport to and from Makira.”

Police, immigration ready for border reopening

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Honiara International Airport

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Immigration Division and police officers are preparing to execute the operation plan ‘Keepim Yu Safe’ when our borders are reopened starting next week.

The operational plan was developed by Damien Pollard of the Australia Border Force to assist Immigration Division work at the airport, passport processing, visa management, border control, border compliance, maritime, and Solomon Islands-Papua New Guinea border.

As part of familiarisation with the Op Plan, the Immigration Division with Pollard have conducted a two-day workshop in Honiara starting yesterday.

The training aims to:

  1. Equip Immigration and Police officers with knowledge to execute the operation plan’s border reopening framework for international airports, maritime and SI-PNG traditional border crossing; and
  2. Understand the execution of a joint multi-law enforcement border operation plans to facilitate international border reopening.

Acting Director of Immigration, Chris Akosawa said this training needs to be completed this week because some Immigration officers will be posted to Shortlands next week.

Akosawa said the training is important for Immigration officers and police officers serving at the SI-PNG border to understand Immigration, customs, biosecurity, health, border treaties and MOUs to execute immigration operations.

“Besides operations in Honiara, we have existing MOUs with PNG.

“We have two border treaties Basic Border Agreement 2004 and Framework Treaty guiding principles 1997,” he said.

Furthermore, Akosawa said Solomon Islands has existing SI-PNG Royal Papua New Guinea police force MOU.

He said Immigration also has MOU with Biosecurity and Customs.

Further to that, he said it is important for Immigration and Police to understand the concept of multi-law enforcement agency because they are going to operate different legislations like customs, health, bio security and immigrations laws.

“These agencies have authority under their own directors and controllers.

“So, it is very important especially our police force to really understand how you going to support us during border operations,” he said.

Akosawa said Royal Solomon Islands Police Force is the principle law agency to enforce and support Immigration’s operations and keeping officers safe operating in a high-risk environment.

Cabinet has approved the reopening of borders following recommendations from the Border Opening Committee of the covid-19 Oversight Committee.

New disease remains a threat

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Mavis Podokolo
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Technical advisor to Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Dr Yogesh Choudri

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Ministry of Health and Medical Service says it is possible Solomon Islands may record monkeypox following two cases reported in Australia.

Dr Yogesh Choudhri, Technical Advisor to Ministry of Health, stated this.

“The new infection worries the Ministry,” Choudhri said.

“We have seen that two cases have been reported in Australia and other parts of the world are also reporting the cases so it is possible that we might get a case from one of these countries,” he added.

Choudhri said at the moment the ministry is keeping a closer eye on this new disease.

“We are making sure that we have the diagnostic capability here, we need to procure the reagent.

“So our lab has already started the process,” Choudhri said.

He said that individuals who may come from countries that records monkeypox or exposed to monkeypox and likely to develop monkeypox symptoms like body rush with blister all over the body, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle ache must immediately report to the ministry so that they can launch proper investigations to see if it is monkeypox or not    

“So keep a close watch on that,” Choudhri said.

He adds in terms of prevention there is already a vaccine for it but is not yet available here.

“So we encouraged the use of mask to protect you from contracting this new infection that can be spread via droplets,” Choudhri said.

Woman faces court over unpaid taxi bill

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A woman accused of assaulting a police officer and displaying offensive behaviour within police premises will return to court on June 13.

The woman appeared in court yesterday, but said she needs a lawyer to represent her.

Paul None from the Public Solicitor’s Office told the accused to visit their office and seek legal representation.

Police said on 18 April 2022 the defendant took a taxi and refused to pay her bill.

The taxi driver then took her to Central Police in which she argued with the police officer on duty at that time and also use abusive words at the officer.

Police claimed the woman used abusive words and also shouted at the officer saying that she is a landowner and told the officer on duty to go back to their home.

Malaita, the least vaccinated province

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

SINCE the roll out of covid-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca) in Malaita province last year, only 19 percent of eligible population of nearly 90,000 had completed their doses.

It’s a worrying statistic and it means only 19 percent of population above 18 years in the province are protected from covid-19, while 81 percent are not.

Director of Malaita Provincial Health, who is also the Chairman of Malaita EOC, Dr Rex Maukera expressed the fear in the wake of the lifting of covid-19 restrictions.

The restrictions were lifted last Friday.

Maukera said the statistic shows the province still has a long way to achieve its aim to ensure the eligible population are fully vaccinated and protected from covid-19.   

He said covid-19 vaccination coverage for the province is 36 percent for those with first dose and only 19 percent for those that completed their second doses.

“The biggest contributing factor to this low vaccination rate in the province is ‘hesitancy’,” Maukera said.

“That is the majority of people continue to believe in unreliable information from sources like social media and others,” he added.

Maukera said the current vaccination rate shows Malaita is the least vaccinated province and that signals catastrophe in the event of a future covid-19 outbreak.

“The good news however, is covid-19 vaccination is continuing in Auki town and at the moment the provincial health is administering the roll-out of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and booster vaccines.

“There will be another roll out of the vaccines in the province and communities are asked to support the provincial health on the program.

“And I asked all stakeholders in the province to support the provincial health by passing right information to our people so that they understand and accept the vaccines.

“There were incidents where health workers facilitating the vaccines were chased and threatened by certain communities.

“Everyone must understand that we are trying our best to provide health services to our communities and we depend on them to make it happen.

“I call for cooperation from communities to support the upcoming vaccination roll-out to protect the province from covid-19.”

Maukera said as Pfizer will be part of the roll out; they hope the eligible population can be able to get their vaccine to protect them and everyone from the virus.

He said as covid-19 restrictions are lifted, Malaitans are asked to continue uphold hand washing, face masking and social distancing.

Maukera said the EOC for covid-19 at Kilu’ufi hospital will continue to monitor the COVID situation in the province.

Vanuatu media supports MASI boycott of ‘One-question press conference’

Written by
Irwin Angiki
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BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Vanuatu’s media association has thrown its weight behind its Solomons counterpart’s decision to boycott the joint press conference with China’s foreign affairs minister.

Dubbed as the ‘One-question conference’, yesterday’s media event did not sit well with Solomons Media Association (MASI) after a government invite indicated that the local media was allowed only one question – and that would be to Solomons’ foreign minister.

China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, was to be asked only one question; but that privilege was given to China’s media.

Furthermore, selected few mainstream media agencies were allowed only one representative each. A good number of journalists, especially those taking news for international outlets were shut out.

MASI has decried this farcical arrangement, actioning it with a boycott of the joint press conference.

In a show of solidarity, Vanuatu’s media association (MAV) president Mr Stevenson Liu emailed MASI president Ms Georgina Kekea yesterday supporting the boycott decision, and calling on Pacific governments to “allow press freedoms at all times”.

“The Media Association of Vanuatu, MAV declares its solidarity with the MASI regarding the decision by MASI to boycott the coverage of the Chinese delegation to the Solomon Islands.

“People are expecting us, the Media to be their eyes and ears and to ask questions on their behalf.

“Not allowing the Media to freely demand answers from Government and the Chinese delegate is a slap to the principles of Freedom of Information and democracy.

“Therefore MAV is supporting the stand taken by MASI and demands pacific governments to allow press freedom at all times.

“This is the freedom to inform ordinary citizens and upholds democracy.

“MAV hopes the people of Solomon Islands acknowledges the stand taken by MASI and understand and support their journalists in their quest to fight for the right to know.”

In a press statement on Wednesday, President Kekea explained MASI’s disappointment.

“Solomon Islands is a democratic country and when media freedom is dictated on someone else’s terms, it then impedes on our democratic principles.

“The Chinese delegation’s visit is an important and historical one for our country and our members plays an important role in making sure it provides the right information and awareness on the importance of the visit to our people.

“Journalists should be given the opportunity to ask questions on behalf of the people.

“According to the programme, the press will be given the opportunity to ask only two questions. One from a Solomon Islands journalist directed to the Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Minister, and one from Chinese media, directed to their Foreign Affairs Minister.

“How ridiculous is that? If we want to interview our Foreign Affairs Minister, we can just do it without the event. What is the whole purpose of hosting such an event for the Press when they are only allowed one question and directed to their Foreign Minister only?”

Ms Kekea said even the discriminatory manner in which journalists are selected to cover the event does not bode well with the Association.

“MASI thrives on professional journalism and sees no reason for journalists to be discriminated against based on who they represent. Giving credentials to selected journalists is a sign of favouritism. Journalists should be allowed to do their job without fear or favour.”

She said the reason given that the arrangements were done that way because of COVID protocols ‘is an excuse’.

“We have community transmission, people are crowded in buses, shops, markets, banks and so forth so this is a very lame excuse,” she said.

She said Press Freedom is enshrined as a fundamental element in our country’s constitution.

“Same as the Prime Minister has defended democracy in parliament after the November riots, MASI is also defending democracy in this space.”

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