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Gov’t to consider burial requests

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The roundabout at the Honiara City Council

THE government is ensuring public requests to repatriate dead bodies to the provinces are appropriately handled, Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dr Culwick Togamana explained in his daily COVID19 updates.

Minister Togamana was responding to requests received from relatives of the deceased to transfer dead bodies to their final resting places outside of the Honiara Emergency zone.  

Sending his heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in our fight against COVID, the Minister states a deceased person deserves timely, dignified, and culturally-appropriate burial.

“Those handling bodies of the deceased should be aware that there is likely to be a continuing risk of infection from body fluids and tissues where COVID-19 infection is suspected or confirmed,” Minister Togamana cautions.   

“Although the risk of infectious transmission is lower than for living patients, action should be taken to mitigate that risk,” he added.

“The virus can also be passed from a dead body infected by the virus to a living person.

“We still don’t know exactly how long the virus can live in the body even after a person has died, but it could be several days.

“If somebody were to go and touch, hug or kiss a dead corpse of someone who died of the coronavirus, then yes, there is a chance they might catch the virus from contact,” he states.

The health minister said it is important that certain safeguards are put in place to prevent the virus from going to COVID free areas in the provinces.  

“It means not allowing any person to accompany the dead body from Honiara to other provinces and also making sure that not more than 10 people collect to undertake the burial,” he stressed.

The Ministry of Health and Medical services says it will be issuing further instructions to educate our people for a COVID-19 safe burial.

Malaita calls for support to help fight COVID-19

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA province is in dire need for support as the virus continues to take its toll in the province.

Chairman of Malaita Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for covid-19 at Kilu’ufi, Dr Rex Maukera mentioned this to Island Sun yesterday.

He said since the outbreak they continue to receive support from Honiara, but they continue to need more support to deal with the current situation.

“So far we continue to receive support on different areas to the outbreak in the province and just recently we received PPEs and 10 oxygen equipment from Honiara.

“The PPEs have been put in use and soon they are expected to run out and we need more support of the needed equipment.

“And for the 10 oxygen, we will distribute them amongst other health centres in the province where they already have the virus,” Maukera said.

He said Atoifi hospital has already been delivered with an oxygen while Nafinua, Malu’u and Afio are yet to receive oxygen each to support patients at the centre.

Maukera said that six oxygen will be put for use at the Kilu’ufi hospital in Auki.

He said the outbreak has put the provincial health in a considerable situation where support is much needed to deal with the current spread of the virus.

Maukera said the provincial health will continue to provide support to people during the situation and asked everyone for cooperation to try and curb the spread of the virus.

He appealed to people in the province to continue to adhere to covid-19 measures which are super important when faced with the current situation.

Maukera called on everyone in the province to continue to practice hand washing with soap and the use of sanitizer, wear face masks, avoid any form of gathering, restrict public movement or movement between communities and other advisable measures.

COVID Are’are deaths to be confirmed

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

EIGHT deaths in the East Are Are constituency recently reported as being related to covid-19 are yet to be confirmed.

Chairman of the Malaita Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for covid-19 at Kilu’ufi, Dr Rex Maukera told this paper investigation is pending on the status of the deaths.

He said the fact that the deaths occurred within the past two weeks and are purported to be covid-19 as the virus is believed to be in the area, yet they are yet to prove it.

Maukera said investigation is being conducted on the matter and a team is on the ground in East Are Are, where findings will be released soon.

On that note, he said another death recently reported on West Kwaio was related to covid-19.

Maukera said the deceased was a registered nurse who had been employed by communities in West Kwaio and worked at a clinic in the area prior to his death.

He said the deceased was fully vaccinated and had underlying medication conditions before his passing-on.

Maukera said so far Malaita province has three confirmed covid-19 related deaths, and as of yesterday one case is on oxygen at the Kilu’ufi hospital and a total of 345 cases for the province.

Frontliners to use KGVI dormitories

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Dormitories of King George VI national secondary school will be used as accommodation for frontline workers.

In a media statement yesterday, the national disaster council said:

King George Sixth National Secondary School dormitories were jointly assessed and approved by the National Disaster Operations Committees (N-DOC) for Sector Response for Education, Health and Infrastructure to accommodate frontline teams engage in the COVID-19 response operations.

Frontline teams started occupying the dormitories over the weekend. Initially, the designated dorms with bed capacity of 300 were renovated and repurposed to accommodate incoming passengers in April 2020.

The state owned school was included into the N-DOC for Camp Management Sector (CMSC) managed accommodations.

Currently, CMSC is supporting SIG frontline agencies with accommodation support for their deployed response teams.

CMSC said due to the large number of occupants in the Government-operated Quarantine Stations, they have to find more spaces liveable for frontliners to isolate while engaging in the response operations.

“The workers isolate in the dormitories for duration of their rotational shifts. They will leave the accommodation to reunite with their families once they meet COVID-19 testing protocols. 

“Bedding and dignity kits were supplied to occupants upon registration and served daily food,” the statement said.

Meanwhile schools throughout the country remain closed.

–NDC PRESS

CRB awareness and clean-up in Renbel

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The Biosecurity department together with the Biosecurity Emergency Coordination Centre (BECC) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in its continued efforts to contain and manage the spread of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) in the country has recently conducted awareness and clean-up/sanitation programme on the islands of Bellona and Rennell Islands, Renbel Province.

The programme was successfully conducted with funding support from the second batch of funding by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade through the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock – Biosecurity Department.

While in the provincial headquarter, Tingoa; the team made a courtesy visit to the provincial Premier Willy Tuhagenga and met with his executive.

At the meeting the team briefly updated the provincial executive on the ongoing work to contain and managed further spread of CRB in other parts of the country including Renbel Province.

The team also informed the premier and his executive of the activities that has been conducted while they are in the province.

The Biosecurity officers that led the teams to Bellona and Rennell also do direct recruitment of casual workers.

In Bellona casual workers has been recruited from ward 7 to ward 10 covering the whole island, while on Rennell Island, recruitment has been done only in wards 4 & 5.

The casuals were unemployed youths and men are from the two islands.

Community consultation, Awareness and interviews were conducted in both islands, people were well aware of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle which has now become a great threat to their community livelihood and economy.

Posters, brochures and merchandises has been distributed to the casuals and the communities.

The biosecurity team therefore encouraged Rennell and Bellona agriculture extension officers to continue working closely with the plantation owners and good people of Rennell & Bellona islands to closely monitor the coconut plantations and dead stock piles to avoid any further breeding of the CRB on the stock piles.

They advised that the chopped coconut trunks when dried be burnt as soon as possible.

Plantation owners must take the lead in this fight, regularly monitor the coconut palms for infected trees, cut down as soon as identified, to avoid further breeding and spread of the deadly beetle.

Clean-up and/sanitation work will continue again on other provincial sites according to the BECC proposed work plans for this year 2022.

The coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), Oryctes rhinoceros, was discovered in Honiara in January 2015.

The ministry (MAL) through its Biosecurity department has carried out active campaigns to eradicate and contain it within outbreak area but was not able to do so.

To date it is now confirmed that the CRB has spread to some parts of the provinces except for Choiseul province and the worst infected provinces are Malaita, Guadalcanal, Makira (mostly Ulawa), Central Province especially Russell Islands and Ngella and Rennell and Bellona and Malaita Outer Islands (MOI).

Coconut industry and other palms are vulnerable to the invasive pest attack.

RENBEL RECRUITS SORE

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Photo - Former City Clerk Rence Sore. Photo: Supplied

Executive defends decision to employ sacked HCC clerk

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE controversial newly-installed Rennell and Bellona Executive has defended their decision to appoint former Honiara City Council clerk, Rence Sore as a new political advisor/consultant.

This after a man from Renbel living in Australia, Duran Angiki, questioned the decision by new premier Japheth Tuhanuku, to recruit Sore, saying.

Angiki said the recruitment of Sore, who was sacked over his many alleged corrupt dealings while with HCC, is a disgrace to the people of Renbel.

“How low is the Premier and his Deputy, the former deposed Premier, Lance Tago, is preparing to drag our province down the gutter?” Angiki asked.

“Sore was sacked for allegedly stealing money and other corrupt dealings,” Angiki claimed.

“Why are we so blatant in our intentions?

“Are you thinking?” he asked.

“Our people and other Members of Provincial Assembly of the executive should speak up against it or else we are part of this scheme to perpetuate stealing and corrupting our dealings with the national government, logging and mining companies now operating in West/Rennell,” Angiki alleged.

However, Lence Tango, Deputy Premier and Minister of Works, Transport, Marine, Civil Aviation and Communication, said it was an executive decision to appoint Sore to develop the policy and translation document.

Tango said the Executive engaged Sore as a direct employee and will be responsible for paying his salary.

In addition, Tango claimed if Sore is a criminal, he should be spending time in jail.

“As far I know, he (Sore) won his case at HCC over all the allegations and Council still to pay him $2.7 million,” he said.

Therefore, Tango said if Angiki is so vocal, “I am very concern because he stays in Australia for 20 years.

“If he (Duran) is very concern, he should take him to court,” he added.

Island Sun understands Sore has already doing work for the new Executive after the members took their oaths this week.

New Renbel premier outlines govt’s plans

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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newly elected Premier Japhet Tuhanuku

By EDDIE OSIFELO

NEWLY appointed Premier of Rennell and Bellona Province, Japhet Tuhanuku has decided to concentrate on covid-19, budget and the affairs of his province.

This came after his five Executive members were sworn-in Honiara on Tuesday 8 February.

This happened following the controversial motion of no confidence against former Premier Willie Tuhagenga on 20 December 2021, at Moreno Rest House on Rennel.

Tuhagenga and his full Executive did not attend the meeting after he claimed it was illegal because Provincial Speaker, Lester Hackle Saomasi breached standing order 62 when he issued a notice for the meeting.

He claimed the Speaker should consult him first before allowing the meeting to go ahead.

However, the Speaker did not bow down to Tuhagenga’s advice and proceeded with the meeting, which resulted in Tuhanuku being elected by six members.

There are total of 10 Members of Provincial Assembly in Renbel Province.

Speaking after the swearing in, Tuhanuku said “Our priority now is to deal with the covid-19 and look at the redirection of Renbel affairs.

“We will also come up with a Policy statement and translation to be tabled in the Full Assembly next week to be approved and launch,” he said.

He said his Executive will also work with Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening and the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme.

In addition, Tuhanuku said his Executive will revise the 2021 Budget 2022 before the financial year ends on March.

This is in preparation for the 2022 Budget 2023 to be tabled after the financial year.

Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Rolland Seleso has appointed Tuhanuku as Premier base on the power conferred to him by Section 20(4) of the Provincial Government Act 1997.

Lence Tagosia is the Deputy Premier and Minister of Works, Transport, Marine, Civil Aviation and Communication.

Eric Saueha Tagaibasa is the Minister of Finance, Treasury, Economic Planning & Commence.

George Tango as Minister for Education, Women, Youth, Children, Sports, Tourism and Culture.

Dory Tuhaika as Minister of Medical, Health, Environment, Fisheries and Agriculture.

Warren Tamaika as the Chairman of Caucus.

Four members are in the Non-Executive.

Renbel gov’t in limbo

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Renbel

By EDDIE OSIFELO

RENNELL and Bellona Provincial Speaker, Lester Hackle Saomasi has defended his decision to allow the debate of the motion of no confidence against Premier Willie Tuhagenga on 20 December 2021.

Japhet Tuhanuku was elected as a new Premier after Tuhagenga and his five member Executives boycotted the meeting.

There are total of 10 members in the Renbel, where six are in the Executive and four non-executive members.

Tuhagenga claimed the meeting was illegal because the Provincial Speaker breached standing order 62 when he issued a notice for the meeting.

Under Standing Order 62, the Speaker may adjourn commencement day of date of the meeting after consultation with the premier where unforeseen circumstances make it impracticable or impossible to proceed as scheduled.

However, Speaker Saomasi, a former national politician and provincial member, said the meeting was legal.

Soamasi was a former Member of Parliament for West Honiara (1997-2001), Renbel (2002-2006) and provincial member for a ward in Marovo, Western Province (2009-2018).

Tuhagenga argued any call for assembly meeting is vested on the power of the premier and not the speaker.

“In fact, I’ve advised the speaker to schedule the assembly meeting on 6 December, however due to logistic and funding issues, the proposed meeting date was deferred to January 2022,” Tuhagenga said.

“But when I announced the date on 6 December, the non-executive requested for a special assembly meeting on 20 December with the main business being a motion of no-confidence in the premier,” he added.

According to the notice issued on 10 December the Speaker calls to convene the meeting on 20 December under Standing Order 58.

Speaker Saomasi said the non-executive members signed a letter and requested a special meeting to be held on 20th December.

He said it was a lawful request according to Section 58 of the Standing Order.

Section 58 states that the Speaker shall also call a meeting if a absolute majority of members present a letter to the Speaker, signed by each member, calling for a meeting on the date stated in the letter.

The letter shall state the reasons for calling the meeting and the business to be discussed at the meeting.

Speaker Saomasi said former Premier Tuhagenga advised him to defer the meeting to 20 January 2022 based on Section 62 of the Standing Order but he refused to follow him.

“Under the meeting, no one has the power to direct me.

“The Speaker proceed it to the best of his judgement,” he said.

“I cannot negotiate with the Premier because the motion was against him,” he said.

Tuhagega said the same notice was issued to him on 14 December, which means there is no clear seven days from the date of service of the notice.

He questioned the validity of issuing and approving the date.

“This is an assembly meeting and I should be consulted prior within clear seven days.

“It ought to be made clear that I have no intention to defer the assembly meeting as there are certain requirements that must be fulfilled before the meeting can proceed.”

Speaker Saomasi said the reasons given by the former Premier Tuhagenga to defer the meeting based on finance did not qualify under Section 62.

He said they knew the meeting to be held six months ago.

Speaker Saomasi said his stand against former Premier Tuhangenga was to stop the attitude spoiling the politics of Renbel.

He said in history, Renbel has been suspended twice because of such attitudes where leaders decided to hold on to power and dragged the issue without finding a solution.

Speaker Saomasi said other big provinces have gone through motion of confidence but they dealt with on the floor of chambers and elected their new Premiers without any hassles.

Tuhagenga said he’s taking the matter to court so that it can be sorted out.

He said there will be negative implications on the province if this issue is not sorted.

Tuhagenga said this so-called change of leadership through illegal means will set a bad precedence for the province and will affect its development and progress.

Speaker Saomasi said only the court is the right avenue to sort out the political impasse facing the province.

Market reopens in Auki

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

The Malaita provincial government has allowed the Auki market opened temporarily amid the covid outbreak there.

The government says this temporary measure aims at helping ease the financial hardships faced by vendors and their families, who have been hit hard by the lockdown and movement restrictions.

This includes betel nut vending and selling of other local foods.

A letter from Deputy Permanent Secretary of MPG on Tuesday says due to the current pandemic situation there are measures to adhere to when selling products at Auki central market.

Therefore, vendors are advised to follow tentative program for market vendors to enable them resume markets, but only at approved days and times.

The schedule as follows.

Fish and chips, cooked food sausage and cake are allocated for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6am – 4pm.

Bake food and lakeno, tea, coconut oil and shell money etc are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays 6am – 4pm.

According to the letter, the temporary arrangements will be strictly monitor and assess as per our current require covid-19 practices and standard.

Also note that upon consultation with the premier, he appointed somebody to look after the betel-nut market to implement rules or covid-19 measures required.

Malaitans warned to follow covid-19 rules

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Kiluufi hospital

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

MINISTER of Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana has strongly reminded people in Malaita to adhere to lockdowns that are enforced.

He made the call during his national update on Tuesday evening following increase of covid cases in the province.

“To our good people in Malaita; it is critically important now than ever that all COVID-19 safe and health measures are to be strictly practised and complied with at household family levels.

“Any lockdowns or restrictions of people movements that will be enforced, must be seriously adhered to. As it was often mentioned by the Prime Minister on several of his nation address on Covid-19 pandemic, the virus can ONLY spread when we move and interact more.”

He said the virus finds a host to survive – to keep itself alive.

“Therefore, limit people movements between homes and communities and only do so if it’s necessary.

“Always wear face masks when going out or cover mouth and nose with a cloth if you don’t have face masks. Constantly practice hand washing, maintain social distancing, coughing into bent elbow and DO NOT organize any large gatherings nor participate in one.

“It is also important not to stigmatize those tested positive for COVID-19 or carrying COVID-19 like symptoms.

“Be supportive and provide encouragement to each other at this difficult time.

“Please follow the guidelines issued by the provincial and national government on how to care for a COVID-19 positive case in your homes and protect yourself,” Togamana added.

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