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Inmates celebrate Christ’s victory

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Inmates receiving Holy Communion during the event.

As part of the Christian tradition, Rove Central Correctional Centre inmates joined the global family to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ last Sunday.

The event was held at St. Paul’s Chapel at the Correctional Centre.

“While serving time behind bars, inmates brothers and sisters were given the opportunity to leave their cells for a short period of time for the service,” a statement from Correctional Service Solomon Islands (CSSI) said.

“The tradition depicts the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection from the tomb,” the statement added.

“Inmates gathered for prayers, worship, sharing the Lord’s supper and singing of hymns to express their love and faith in Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

“There’s not a lot they can do in the Correctional Centres.

Inmates escort Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi and his delegation to St Paul Chapel at Rove Central Correctional Centre, Honiara.

“Just because of their crime committed, sin and attitude problem, it doesn’t mean they are exempted from the celebration to mark Christ’s victory and hope for humanity.

“Wherever we are, Christ paid the penalty for our sin on the cross.”

During the service, inmates were encouraged to reflect and embrace the death and resurrection of our one and only Saviour Jesus Christ.

“Regardless of our status, we all are experiencing a lot of challenges and difficulties in life.

“Therefore, let the Easter message of triumph and victory, give us hope, renewal and newness in life.”

Inmates celebrate the victorious succession of Jesus Christ from death.

The statement said protocol wise and in cultural tradition, 10 selected inmates in red ordinary cloths escorted the CSSI Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi and RCCC Commandant and management to St. Paul’s Chapel for the service.

Supervising Commandant RCCC, Lawrence Meke acknowledged the Commissioner for accepting his invitation to participate and witness the celebration of the Lord’s resurrection with the inmates.

Sogavare promises to disclose China security treaty

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare

BY JENNIFFER KUSAPA

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the controversial security treaty with China will be made public after further consultations with Beijing.

Sogavare stated this when responding to Opposition leader Mathew Wale in parliament yesterday.

Wale had suggested to Sogavare that since the agreement had now been signed, it should be made public so that Solomon Islanders would see and know what’s in there.

In response, Sogavare said this would be done but only after further consultations with China.

The prime minister would not say how soon that would be when Wale pressed him on that.

Earlier yesterday, he confirmed in parliament the agreement had been signed after the Chinese Foreign ministry broke the news to the world on Tuesday during its regular press conference.

Foreign Affairs ministers of the two countries signed the treaty recently.

He said the Government has taken a sovereign decision to broaden its security cooperation with more countries guided by the country’s National Security Strategy (NSS).

Sogavare asked all friends and partners to respect the sovereign interests of Solomon Islands which the country had subscribed to under the Biketewa and Boe Declarations on regional security.

“I ask all our neighbours, friends and partners to respect the sovereign interests of Solomon Islands on the assurance that the decision will not adversely impact or undermine the peace and harmony of our region”.  

“Let me once again reiterate that Solomon Islands Security Cooperation with China is guided by the country’s Foreign Policy of ‘Friends to all and Enemies to none’.

“Solomon Islands do not have any external adversaries nor is the framework directed at any countries or external alliances rather at our own internal security situation from within the state.

“It complements our (2017) Security Agreement with Australia,” Sogavare said.

He said Foreign Affairs minister Jeremiah Manele will visit some regional countries soon to assure our neighbours that the cooperation with China is about peace and wellbeing of Solomon Islands and the region. 

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday the security cooperation follows the principle of equality and mutual benefit, and is based on respecting the will and actual need of Solomon Islands.

He said the security cooperation aims at promoting social stability and long-term tranquility in Solomon Islands, which conforms to the common interests of Solomon Islands and the South Pacific region.

“The security cooperation is open, transparent and inclusive, and does not target any third party.

“It proceeds in parallel and complements Solomon Islands’ existing bilateral and multilateral security cooperation mechanisms.

“China stands ready to work with relevant countries to leverage respective strengths to form international synergy,” Wenbin said.

Opposition MP and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Peter Kenilorea Jnr. told Radio New Zealand the government needs to make the security document public.

He said the Beijing-Honiara pact is not only a sovereign issue when it comes to security and geopolitics in the region.

The East Are’Are MP added the deal Sogavare has struck with China is a regional concern and countries in the region will continue to have a say on it.

Kenilorea said the signed copy of the agreement must be made available to know the details of what it contains and the implications it will have for the Pacific.

“It is that important that it should be made public. We have a security treaty with Australia, and that can be accessed online.

“So why couldn’t this be and I will be calling for that signed copy to be made available so that all Solomon Islanders as well as a region can see what is in there,” he said.

A draft copy of the treaty was leaked two weeks ago. It’s not clear whether there are any major changes to the final draft.

Australia and the United States have been expressing concerns about the agreement over fears it may pave the way for China to build its naval base here.

But Sogavare argued the agreement does not cater for that, and that Solomon Islands will never allow for that to happen.

In Canberra yesterday, Australia’s Foreign Ministry says it is “deeply disappointed” that Solomon Islands has pressed ahead and signed a security pact.

It’s unclear last night whether a proposed visit this month by top United States officials to Honiara to dissuade Sogavare from signing the treaty will still go ahead now that the agreement had been signed.

$972.6M deficit in govt’s 2022 plan

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The National Government has planned for an overall deficit of $972.6 million in the 2022 Budget with total consolidated revenues estimated at $3.559 billion and total expenditures estimated at $4.531 billion.

Finance and Treasury Minister, Harry Kuma informed Parliament last week that out of the total consolidated revenue estimates, total domestic SIG revenue is projected at $3.053 billion.

The government is confident that the balance of $972 million will be externally and domestically sourced to ensure the fiscal stability and credibility of the budget is maintained.

 Of the forecasted $972 million budget deficit, government has already secured $563 million from its normal multilateral and bilateral partners, as well as from savings brought forward to 2022.

In terms of expenditures, the $4.531 billion in total consolidated expenditures consists of $3.050 billion in recurrent expenditures, and $871 million in development expenditures, of which $20 million will be budget support from the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). A total of $20.0 million is also budgeted as Contingency Warrant provision for the year.

Minister Kuma said the Government is conscious that the two shocks including covid-19 and the recent riots will severely impact the economy in 2022.

At the same time, the Government is also aware that as a developing country, we also have a very young population with increasing demand for quality social services, and more infrastructure development to boost growth in order to provide more employment opportunities.

—GCU

Wale: Are we prepared for 2nd wave?

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Opposition leader, Matthew Wale

OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Wale has queried government response plans on a looming second wave of Covid infections in the country.

In a statement, Wale said recent reports of 110 new Covid cases and increased hospitalization in Honiara in the last 72 hours is alarming.

The Opposition Leader said the fact that majority of the cases are re-infections also needs scientific explanations so that the public is made aware.

“We really need to know whether this is a new variant. I have been calling on the government in the past to purchase a genomic sequencing but it has fallen on deaf ears. We wouldn’t have to send samples to Australia if we had one in the country,” he said.

Mr Wale said government responses must be strategic and not panic driven as experienced during the first wave.

“We need to be made aware of government response plans if there is a second wave. We had experienced government failure and lack of preparedness during the first wave,” he said.

He said the government had issued a statement early this year that the country must brace itself for a possible second wave but failed to provide any modelling to counter this.

The Opposition Leader said experiences and challenges faced during the first wave including the current situation at the NRH, lack of oxygen, manpower, allowances of frontliners amongst others needs to be improved and addressed urgently.

“It needs to be addressed and not just to merely identify them as challenges,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said other countries have experienced surges in infections and deaths, some even on 4th waves.

Wale said the government’s planning must prepare for that.

“With the government’s “living with covid” approach and given the current situation at the NRH and provincial hospitals, lack of an alternative COVID facility, lack of any comprehensive strategy for Honiara and provinces, lack of planning for further waves of infections would be catastrophic,” he said.

Wale urged the government to pull up their socks that serious waves of infections are yet to come and serious decisions and strategies must be put in place to avoid an already terrible health crisis becoming even worse.

The Opposition Leader said government response plans for the second wave must be based on epidemiological data and modelling to show both past and current infection rates, fatality rate, recovery rate and future projections to inform the response strategy.

“Our fight against COVID 19 will only be effective if it is informed and driven by sound epidemiology taking into account the challenges from past experience and most importantly there must be political will to drive this,” he said.

RAPPP fire expert supports joint operation to remove chemicals

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1. RAPPP Fire Expert, Gary Power, supporting the RSIPF Fire and Rescue Service in a joint operation to remove harmful chemicals from the National Agriculture Research Development Centre (NARDC) compound at Ranadi in East Honiara.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF)-Australian Federal Police (AFP) Policing Partnership Program (RAPPP) includes support to the RSIPF’s Fire Rescue Service Division through the provision of an expert in emergency services- specialising in firefighting.

Inspector Gary Power from Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) brings with him 37 years of experience in firefighting, hazardous materials management and leadership.

Gary used this knowledge to assist the joint operation last week to safely remove chemicals from the National Agriculture Research Development Centre (NARDC) compound (Ex-Taiwan Technical Mission) at Ranadi in East Honiara.

He has experience managing a fire service and large emergency incidents particularly hazardous materials incidents that pose risk to health, property and the environment.

Gary’s involvement at the joint operation assisted RSIPF fulfil one of its functions within the Fire and Rescue Service which is to help safely deal with hazardous material incidents.

The chemicals discovered in the NARDC compound were hazardous materials stored in a 20 ft. container which could have been harmful to humans or even cause death and damage to the environment.

1.    RSIPF Fire and Rescue Officers help removing chemicals from a container.

Gary supported the RSIPF preparation for the operation and since arriving in Solomon Islands he has been supporting the RSIPF’s Fire and Rescue Service with advice, training and assisting at emergency incidents. 

Recently, RAPPP gifted much needed personal protection equipment to protect RSIPF Fire and Rescue Service members when responding to hazardous incidents and training aids to assist with the delivery of first aid training materials.

“I provide advice and training to the RSIPF’s Fire and Rescue Service to assist the development of officers in the Service. It’s a pleasure to work co-operatively with the Service,” Inspector Gary says.

Containers where chemicals were stored in.

The AFP, through the RAPPP, work with several RSIPF operational Divisions including; investigations, frontline, Police Response Team (PRT) and National Response Department (NRD).

AFP members have solid partnerships with both RSIPF and the Solomon Islands communities and continue to support regional stability. A/Commander Smith highlighted that the AFP will continue to work in partnership with the RSIPF and support them to keep the community safe.

—RSIPF

Reeves Envico mobilise to build three bridges on Auki-Dala road

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Crew of Half Kas Transport Junior Gereniu

Three bridges on the Auki-Dala road in Malaita Province at Koa, Bio 1 and Bio 2, will soon be replaced following the selection of Reeves Envico as the successful bidder as part of the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP).

Former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Stephen Maesiola signed the contract on behalf of SIRAP with Reeves Envico on November 3rd, 2021.

Reeves Envico is now mobilising its workforce for the replacement of the three bridges that will improve safety and travel time on the northern road of Malaita.

Junior Gereniu, a crew member of Half Kas Transport serving the East Road in Malaita said he is happy that the Bio bridges will be improved.

“These bridges are very old and run down, which is not very safe for us road users and travellers,” said Gereniu who is from Uta’ae Village on Ward 16, East Malaita.

He said the improvements will make travel safer, faster and more reliable, reducing the travel time for vehicles during busy times.

“The improved bridges would be good for us transport providers as there is frequent travel to and from home base to Auki Town for business,” Gereniu added.

Josephine Tolenigaugela, a schoolteacher from Kwai Island in East Malaita said there is always the fear of overloaded vehicles getting into an accident due to the unsafe bridges.

“Transport operators always take the risk to cross these bridges. It will be a great feeling once the bridges are finally implemented and improved to a more secure and safer standard.”

Tolenigaugela said improvements to the bridges at Koa, Bio 1 and Bio 2 would make travelers safer while travelling to and from Auki from East Malaita.

SIRAP is committed to see the construction of these bridges begin soon to ensure faster, safer and easier access to health services, education and families across Malaita Province.

SIRAP is being implemented by the Solomon Islands Government, with funding from the World Bank. The US$54.6 million project is funded through a US$20.5 million grant and a US$30.5 million credit from the World Bank, with the Solomon Islands Government providing US$3.6 million counterpart funding for complimentary support.

—SIRAP

Mayor commends govt for fuel exemption

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Eddie Siapu.

Mayor of Honiara City Eddie Sipau has commended the DCGA Government for the incentive to carry out 50 % duty exemption on fuel imports and remove sales tax which will be effective on 1st June 2022.

This follows the announcement by the Minister of Finance and Treasury Harry Kuma during the budget speech in the National Parliament recently.

In a statement, the Mayor said the decisions by DCGA on fuel will support and enable business houses and investors to revitalize and sustain business operations during this challenging period as fuel is a major overhead cost for businesses in Honiara and the whole country.

The mayor also adds that HCC expects to see savings in fuel cost transferred to control in prices of goods and services.

On the same note, Mayor Siapu acknowledged the decision by DCGA to support business houses that suffered losses in November 2021, and said this is a welcome boost.

This will allow and enable these businesses to rebuild and re-start business operations and provide their services within the City.

Also it will again create employment opportunities for all Solomon Islanders residing in the City.

The Mayor further added that this is a boost for investment leading to potential increase in tax revenue for SI Government and also revenue for HCC.

It will revitalize the local economy and increase access to services.

—HCC

SOLOMON ISLANDS-CHINA SECURITY COOPERATION SIGNED.

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The Security Cooperation between Solomon Islands and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) was signed recently by the Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele and his PRC counterpart, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare yesterday announced the formal signing of the Security Cooperation in Parliament saying the Solomon Islands has taken a sovereign decision to broaden its security cooperation with more countries guided by the country’s National Security Strategy (NSS).

Sogavare asked all friends and partners to respect the sovereign interests of Solomon Islands which the country had subscribed to under the Biketewa and Boe Declarations on regional security.

“I ask all our neighbours, friends and partners to respect the sovereign interests of Solomon Islands on the assurance that the decision will not adversely impact or undermine the peace and harmony of our region”.  

“Let me once again reiterate that Solomon Islands Security Cooperation with China is guided by the country’s Foreign Policy of “Friends to all and Enemies to none”. Solomon Islands do not have any external adversaries nor is the framework directed at any countries or external alliances rather at our own internal security situation from within the state. It complements our (2017) Security Agreement with Australia,” Sogavare said in Parliament this morning.

Solomon Islands had subscribed to the Biketawa Declaration and the Boe Declaration on Regional Security and committed to the Principle of non –interference in the domestic affairs of another member state and support the development of National Security Strategy frameworks to address its traditional and non-traditional security threats.

“We will not allow any threats from within Solomon Islands to threaten regional stability.  Solomon Islands stability is the region’s stability,” Sogavare said.  

Domestically, internal instability erupted in 2006 of which Honiara City was torched. RAMSI concluded in 2003 – 2017 after 14 years of presence in Solomon Islands.  Sadly again in 2019 Honiara experienced rioting and more recently in November 2021, the capital City was looted, re-ignited with properties and lives lost.

Against the ongoing internal security threats, the Government intend to beef up and strengthen the Police capability and capacity to deal with any future instability, by properly equipping the Police to take full responsibility of the countries security responsibilities in the hope that the country will never be required to invoke any of our bilateral Security Arrangements.

The SI-PRC Security Cooperation is based on mutual respect for sovereignty and in compliance with domestic and international law. 

“Let me assure the people of Solomon Islands that we entered into an arrangement with China with our eyes wide open guided by our national interests. We have full understanding of the fragility of peace and our duty as a state is to protect all people, their properties and critical national infrastructure of the country,” Sogavare said.

Under the Boe Declaration, all Pacific countries were asked to develop their respective National Security Strategy and Solomon Islands have conducted wide consultation in framing its Solomon Islands National Security Strategy 2020 and now implementing the strategy in accordance with the Implementation Plan of the Strategy.

“Broadly, there is much for us to implement in our security space and if we are to continue operating under the same status quo of business as usual, we will not be able to effectively cover all the critical security gaps capable of weakening our vulnerability to the changing security environment,” Sogavare said.

Sogavare assured the country that signing the Security Cooperation with China is done in the best interest of the country which compliments and supports regional and bilateral peace keeping arrangements with respect for the concerns of its regional security partners that Solomon Islands collectively trust to maintain peace and stability of the region.

The focus of Solomon Islands is to advance its national development priorities and restore confidence for local businesses and investors to build better and bigger investments.

Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands Foreign Minister will visit some regional countries soon to assure Solomon Islands neighbours that the cooperation with China is about peace and wellbeing of Solomon Islands and the region. 

—GCU

Hygiene promotion campaign launched

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB), Solomon Water, and the Government of Solomon Islands have launched a hygiene promotion campaign on the radio.

Elmar Elbling, Unit Head of ADB’s Solomon Islands Pacific Country Office, represented ADB at the event on 19 April, which saw the partners launch a hand-wash song by popular local artist, Tibon Billy Oge with hygiene messaging, live on air at the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation in Honiara.

A statement from ADB said it collaborated with the Solomon Islands Government and Solomon Water to identify opportunities to build a resilient¸ inclusive¸ and equitable water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The song will continue to be aired on radio and shared on social media.

13 new officers to join SI Customs

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Group phot of participants with PS McKinnie and SI Customs Comptroller with his senior officers

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

THIRTEEN new officers of Solomon Islands Customs have successfully completed a 16 weeks training focused on customs operational areas and are now equipped to start working with SI Customs.

Comptroller of Solomon Islands Customs, Jim Sutton said participants have been trained in different areas with SI Customs.

He said these new graduating officers will be useful to his office and will continue to advance the plans that SI Customs has in place.     

Sutton on the same note encouraged participants to stay true to themselves as there will be a lot of challenges faced during their time on field.

From (L-R) Peldro Rooney, Watkin Keleni and Anderson Kukutu

“Let me remind you to stay true to yourself and your Christian beliefs when you are carrying out your work on the field as there will be a lot of corruption you will be faced with.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Finance and Treasures McKinnie Dentana said these new graduating officers will help advance the plans the ministry has in place.

“On behalf of my ministry, I congratulate you for completing this training. I am sure you are now ready and excited to carry your work with SI Customs,” Dentana said.

Three of the six female participants

Meanwhile, the Customs New Recruit Induction Course number two of 2021 commenced on Monday the 8th of November 2021 and concluded with a Graduation Ceremony for 13 participants on Tuesday the 19th of April 2022.

The Training Course runs for a 16 weeks’ duration consisting of 10 weeks’ classroom-based learning and 6 weeks of On the Job (OJT) placements.

PS McKinnie hands over Junior Batarii’s certificate

 There are eight Modules undertaken in the classroom that are as follows: Module 1 – Customs Corporate, Module 2 – Law and Customs Clearance Procedures, Module 3 – Customs Classification and Tariff, Module 4  – Customs Valuation, Module 5 – Customs Asycuda System, Module 6 –  Customs Risk Management and Examinations,  Module 7 – Customs Enforcement and Module 8 – Customs Warehousing and Audit

The lead trainer of the program is Stuart Millan supported by senior staff from SI Customs.

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