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Gov’t: Malaita MPs are not resigning

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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

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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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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.

Border site visits

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Police officers patrolling the Western border with Bougainville. PHOTO ABC

By EDDIE OSIFELO

AUSTRALIA Defence Force (ADF) engineers are in the country visiting the international border sites at Shortland and Temotu.

Government has identified the Patrol Board Outpost near Lofung close to Solomon Islands/Papua New Guinea international border.

However, it is still to identify the site in Temotu, in the eastern part of the country.

Australia High Commissioner in Honiara, Dr Lachlan Strahan told media in a breakfast event at Heritage Park Hotel yesterday that those projects were impeded by COVID and they could not get their personels into country that really held things up.

“But now we are moving quite rapidly with the engineers now on the ground visiting the sites and moving things forward,” he said.

Furthermore, Dr Strahan said just in the last few weeks, they have held a Security Policy Forum and Project Governance Board.

He said those two processes are joint processes as the Security Policy Forum is co-chaired by him and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Police and National Security Karen Galokale.

Further to that, Dr Strahan said the Project Governance Board is co-chaired by Galokale and one of his colleagues in Canberra, who was responsible for their Defence Infrastructure Programmes.

“What we have done is to find serious of milestones for the design and construction work, which will unfold from now over the next 18 months of so?

“What we have done is we pull forward some of those milestones by some months?” he said.

“I keep pushing my colleagues to go faster and faster but they are also reminding of quality.

“We put little emphasis on getting cracking but there is a point where one of my colleagues call the law of physics intervening and you can’t actually move faster without building which is poor quality,” he added.

“So, we have some teams of the Australia Defence Force who are doing scoping study at both sites, in Shortland and looking at whole range of sites in Temotu.

“We haven’t selected a site yet in the East but this will be very much the decision of the government here,” he said.

At the request of the Government, the Western Border and Patrol Boat Outpost will be constructed near Lofung at the entrance to Kulitanai Bay on Shortland Island and provide safe vessel access and mooring for the two RSIPF Guardian-class Patrol Boats.

The facility will be a sovereign Solomon Islands asset and will be owned and operated by the national government.

It will include accommodation for up to 30 RSIPF officers and other government officials deployed to the region on a temporary basis.

The Outpost will facilitate wider, whole-of-government operations, including Customs, Health, Immigration and Biosecurity agencies.

Customs and Immigration personnel will be able to manage border controls for people entering Solomon Islands’ western border region more effectively.

Plastic Wise Gizo champion of wastes

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Members of Plastic-wise Gizo showcase Hand bags made from rope which normally wraps around carton of noodles

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PLASTIC WISE Gizo has been identified as a local NGO to pilot rubbish recycling in the country.

The project is funded by the government of Australia through Strongim Bisnis program.

Founder and Chair of Plastic Wise Gizo, Rendy Solomon said his company is buying empty aluminum cans at $2.00 per kilos.

She said the target is to fill 18 tons of aluminum plastics but so far the project only managed to fill 5tons.

Mrs Solomon said the project will roll out to other provinces if the pilot project in Gizo is successful.

She said one of the core objectives of Plastic Wise Gizo is to change the behavior of people and add value to solid wastes.

“Stop arguing for royalties which comes from development like logging. Your royalty is to add value to solid wastes and benefit from your own hard work,” Mrs Solomon said.

She said COVID has posed challenges to the project but Western Province especially Plasticwise Gizo is proud to lead the pilot project.

Mrs Solomon said Plastic Wise Gizo will continue to be a beacon of hope for solid waste management.

Konofilia wants his case progressed

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A MAN accused of participating in last November’s riots in Honiara wants the prosecution to quickly deal with his case.

Moffat Konofilia told the court yesterday that his case has been delayed for almost two months awaiting investigation.

He also questioned the prosecution why the investigation has been prolonged.

Konofilia is charged with one count of Sedition contrary to section 4 (1) (a) and 3 (1) (iv) of the Sedition Act and one count of unlawful assembly contrary to section 74 of the Penal Code, Cap 26.

Public Prosecutor Samuel Tovosia said partial disclosures have already been provided to the accused, only the video footage is yet to be obtained from investigators.

Tovosia also ask for further time to sort out other relevant outstanding evidence to be served to Konofilia.

The matter was then adjourned to next week to allow the Crown serve full and complete disclosures to the defendant.

Japan commits to remove old bombs

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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EOD Operator remove the UXOs.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

JAPAN says it is serious with its intention to assist Solomon Islands in the safe removal of Unexploded Ordinance to secure safe life.

Japan’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands Yoshiaki Miwa reiterated this last week.

Miwa said on March 15 this year, a grant contract of SBD$6, 267,000 was signed to provide important equipment such as excavator, special purpose vehicles and boats required to widen the scope of the EOD to reach other islands.

“In order to proceed the urgent and dangerous operation of EOD effectively and safely, the equipment donated to the Solomon Islands is playing an important role.

“It is our government’s intention to develop the cooperation with our partners in this particular project to secure a safe life in the Solomon Islands,” he said.

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

In response, Police Assistant commissioner Everlyn Thugea said for the past years they have heard of a significant increase of fatal incidents involving UXO.

“The corporate funding support from our donor partners like Japan, Australia and the US will greatly assist the RSIPF to deal with this UXO threats,” Thugea said. 

“We are fortunate to have a support package from the Embassy of Japan office in SI through the Japan grant assistance for grassroots and human security projects,” she added.

Thugea said the socioeconomic impact of explosives remnants of war is felt in many countries around the world and cannot be understated and although the Solomon Islands may not always have the resources to address it, it remains one of the main goals of the RSIPF.

“As you all may know, this support package will boost the capability of the EOD Teams and help them to keep our citizens safe.

“Your Excellency Ambassador Yoshiaki Miwa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police I wish to sincerely thank your good office for this generous support and the facilitation of these equipment,” Thugea said.

TRIO GIVE IN TO POLICE

Written by
Samie Waikori
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The trio at the back of the stubby craft guided by PRT officers as they departed Auki wharf yesterday afternoon to Honiara for questioning.

‘Rioters’ surrendered, shipped over to town

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

POLICE yesterday whisked across from Auki, Malaita, three men who gave themselves up after they were wanted for their alleged involvement in last November’s rioting and looting in Honiara.

They were transported in a police stubby craft.

Malaita’s Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Lesley Kili said the trio came in voluntarily and handed them over to police to clear riot-related allegations against them.

“I want to acknowledge them for the heart they have and respect they had shown for the law,” Kili told Island Sun.

“They came as leaders and voluntarily handed them over to police rather than hiding and this is the way forward,” he added.

Kili said they also assured his office that more of them will come behind as they are working with them to do the same thing by voluntarily handing them over to police.

He said his office had also talked with one or two of them and they assured them of their willingness to hand them over to police soon.

Kili said these initiatives were from the men while Auki police were playing the facilitative role.

The provincial police commander called on the wider community to respect them and the prudent decision they took that will greatly support police’s investigation into the matter.

“I appeal to everyone not to look on them as culprits. Let’s leave them to the law.”

Last November’s riots have left Chinatown in total ruins.

Police have so far arrested a number of key figures they believed initiated the rioting.

MAL commends taro project on Malaita

Written by
Samie Waikori
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(L-R) Rep from Exodus Trade Development construction company, Mr Philip Foanaota witness the ground breaking demonstration by Mr Micheal Ho'ota from MAL, Premier Suidani, MPG and Barret Salato from MFAET .jpg

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) has highly commended a taro project for Malaita province under the EIF-ECAT funded project facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

Speaking during a ground breaking ceremony to mark commencement work on a taro pack house at Adaliua on Friday, Deputy Secretary of MAL, Michael Ho’ota said the project will greatly benefit taro farmers in the years ahead.

He said the completion of the taro pack house facility will assist Goshen Enterprise as a local exporter to enable them meet the standard requirements to trade.

And this will in turn provide a market for hardworking farmers on Malaita province.

Ho’ota said the establishment of this facility will address the government policies, specifically under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) which are as follows

1, this will develop and strengthen production of export crops,

2, facilitate and support the development of commercial agriculture,

3, enhance food security and the livestock industry to alleviate rural poverty

4, strengthen biosecurity to protect SI against exotic pests and disease and improve capacity to export

5, facilitate and support the development of commercial agriculture.

6, Facilitate research, development and marketing of high value cash crops.

“Strengthen and diversify agriculture sector is the best defense against impacts of covid-19 and climate change, while continue to meet our national food security needs, and to help contribute to boosting our GDP.

“There is renewed interest across all sectors to re-invigorate agriculture for all the right reasons, but especially for its critical role in achieving sustain growth trade development and poverty alleviation.

“Rural farming communities that are equipped with the right technologies, training, knowledge and policies are central to the advancement of rural development and national unity and this facility will certainly contribute to this effect.

“I look forward to all your support as the construction of this facility commences an already greatly anticipating its completion and eventual operation in the not too distant future.

“This will significantly enhance the livelihoods of our farmers in Malaita province and the rest of the country,” he said.

Suidani thanks SIG, donor partners for taro project on Malaita

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Guests who attended the ground breaking ceremony

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA provincial government has acknowledged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and donor partners for the initiative to establish a taro project on Malaita province.

Premier Daniel Suidani made the statement during a ground breaking ceremony to begin work on a taro pack house program at the Fiu/Adaliua.

He said the project came in line with government policy in trying to invest more in economic activity and the productive sectors, and this project is one of them.

“This more or less rules out that direction on the government policy to support the rural areas and increase more farmers to plant commercially.

Construction work on the taro pack house project at Adaliua on the outskirt of Auki town.

“It must be noted that without continual growth and progress such words as improvement, achievement and success have no meaning.

“This has been a long and tedious process where the project has started with a vision to engage more in economic activity in the productive sector.

“Therefore, this project in years from today will remain special and remain the envy of many other taro farmers within the province.

“The pack house will be constructed in preparation and anticipation of the increase number of taro farmers in the future to contribute to the trading of the product locally and internationally,” Suidani said.

He said taro is not new as forefathers of the province were involved in their farming years back.

(L-R) Rep from Exodus Trade Development construction company, Mr Philip Foanaota witness the ground breaking demonstration by Mr Micheal Ho’ota from MAL, Premier Suidani, MPG and Barret Salato from MFAET

“Therefore as a traditional root crop, I encourage all farmers in Malaita to involve in the farming to supply and support the taro pack house.

“Although the taro pack house is the beginning in the taro industry, we should focus more on improving on other avenues with regards to taro farming.

“I urged the government and those responsible to find other alternative funding innovative programs that may boost the industry.

“This is a challenge that we must encounter in order to achieve our aim in commercial farming of the product to meet the existing demand,” Suidani said.

He said the taro pack house is more than an infrastructure as it looks at it in a broader context.

Suidani said it is an important part of greater efforts to connect local farmers through strategic infrastructure investment and major steps in stimulating economic development in the province.

“This is an all-inclusive provincial project, a project that MARA government would be proud of, knowing their vision and dreams live on.

“This will bring the province a step closer to fulfilling its economic development,” he said.

Suidani said the completion of the project will not only see its limitation to taro but other agriculture products as well.

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