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COVID recovery in Malaita as outbreak continues

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

Recovery of covid-19 cases in Malaita continues to be seen as the province faces growing community transmission.

Chairman of Malaita Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), Dr Rex Maukera told this paper on Monday this week 10 patients recovered and were tested and found to be covid-19 free.

He said there are patients in isolation who are recovering, and the EOC team continues to provide them tests as they recover.

Maukera said meanwhile, community transmission is in the province, and that people in Malaita province must continue to adhere to covid-19 measures and listen out for further updates and advice.

He said cases in the province continues to increase.

He said since Monday this week, three patients had been on oxygen and are being monitored.

Maukera also said they continue to receive reports from Ontong Java (MOI), and communities there are in a stable situation.

He said that the current status of the virus will have significant impact on communities and people are asked to adhere to covid-19 measures seriously.

Maukera said the provincial health is currently facing inadequate resources and as staffs are down to the virus it has made it more difficult for them to provide expected services needed.

Covid-19 ward at NRH is now operational 

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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The National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE National Referral Hospital’s Orthopaedics ward that was transformed to into being a COVID-19 ward is now functional.

This was confirmed by Dr Culwick Togamana, minister for Health and Medical Services.    

“Hospital’s Orthopaedics ward that has been transformed into COVID-19 ward is now functional with all patients admitted to the ward, only showing mild symptoms,” Togamana said.

He said in terms of the operations of the hospital are in accordance with the zones established to distinguish between high, moderate and low risk areas.

“Also medical supplies including medicines, personal protective equipment, and all other IPC supplies are continuously being monitored, replenished and distributed for use across the hospital,” Togamana said.

“Decontamination of the facility is ongoing on daily basis to ensure hygiene and viral and bacterial free environment.

“The hospital still remains in emergency mode thus the public is advised to seek medical attention at Honiara City Council clinics for now. Only emergency cases including women in labour and those requiring medications on regular basis can come to the hospital.

“Our National Referral Hospital continues to respond to both COVID and non COVID cases presenting at its emergency department,” Togamana said.

Covid spreading in six provinces

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Six provinces are now reported with community transmission.

Health minister Dr Culwick Togamana announced this in his situation report on Tuesday this week.

“Six of our provinces namely Guadalcanal, Central Island, Western, Choiseul, Makira and Isabel are currently experiencing localised transmission to date.

“All in all, the community transmission of covid-19, as experienced in the capital and observed in the provinces is getting worse with increasing number of positive cases, hospitalization and rise in the COVID-19 related deaths.

“Despite current experience wide spread of covid-19 community transmission recoveries have also been noted across our health facilities and our communities.

“My ministry in collaboration with other line ministries is working to the best of our abilities and capabilities with the limited available resources to manage the severely sick, speed up testing making arrangement and advised on home Isolation to those infected and provide vaccination to those who are yet to get fully vaccinated against Covid-19,” Togamana said.

“Malaita province with the largest population is now experiencing an outbreak of covid-19 across the province with total case count stands at 279. These cases are from four regions of the province. Malaita provincial authority now believed and outbreak has occurred in the province. There have also been reports of community deaths related to covid-19.

“It is critically important now than ever that all covid-19 tests and health measures are to be strictly practised and complied with at household family level,” Togamana said.       

“For Guadalcanal Province the total case count have increased to 76 cases however believed to be high due to under testing, Western Province case count have increase from 83 to 115.Cases are mainly from Gizo, Noro and Munda.

“Choiseul Province cases count stands at 9 all cases are detected in Wagina village south Choiseul. Central Island Province CIP total case count is 52. Makira Province remains at two with one case remain active. For Isabel remains at 22 with 18 are currently active.

“Two remaining provinces have not yet reported any covid-19 cases, therefore both still remain covid-19 free,” Togamana said.

PNG force settles matter with victim they bashed

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Police officer from RPNGC say sorry and present cash to the pastor

By EDDIE OSIFELO

VICTIM Maxwell Filei has reconciled with the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Defence Force personnel at Kingdom Harvest Church at Henderson yesterday.

The reconciliation saw the PNG Defence Force officers handed over food, cash and their shell money to Filei and his family.

Filei comes from Fanelei in Small Malaita and works at Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

In return, the church gave food to the army for the posting Filei made on on his Facebook page.

The post states: The PNG soldiers are getting out of control at Henderson sea side, moving without mask, drinking with women, threatening innocent families. Who is responsible?

Eyewitness said as a result of the post, the army allegedly turned up at Filei’s house at night with guns over the weekend and bashed him up with an object that resulted in a cut on his face.

Pastor Ellison Bako, who officiated the reconciliation ceremony, said they did it according to the wish of Filei because he is a church member and a harmless person.

Pr Bako said Felie just wanted to settle the issue and say “sorry” to the PNG army.

He said it was good and they appreciated it because the PNG army also lived on the same area.

“We want to bring back the community spirit.

“What we did is going to set the course on what to come behind?

“As we know PNG is very close to us and the church has a long-time relationship with families in PNG as well,” Pr Bako said.

Island Sun understand relatives of Filei have raised a formal complaint against the PNG force to the local police.

PNG forces are part of the Solomon Islands International Assistance Force led by Australia, which was requested by the government to restore law and order during the November riots in Honiara.

The alleged bashing has widely discussed and condemned on social media.

Local police say they are investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, Opposition spokesman and chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee, Peter Kenilorea, has condemned the alleged action of the PNG soldiers.

Relatives caught trying to send bodies home

Written by
Press Release
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Honiara is the beating heart of the country's economy.

The Oversight Committee on COVID-19 says it is concerned that there are people in the Honiara Emergency Zone who are covertly sending bodies of deceased persons to their villages under cover of darkness.

In the last 24 hours, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force intervened two boats planning to leave Honiara to Malaita Province.

A government statement said the boats were expected to depart Honiara around 3am yesterday morning with the deceased accompanied by relatives.

It stated those persons doing such activities are putting their villagers and communities at risk.

“The Committee reiterates that the protocols in place are there to protect our communities.  

“Those in breach will be charged under the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.3) Regulations 2021 which carries a maximum penalty of $10,000.00 or five (5) years imprisonment or both.”

Borrowers told to see their banks

Written by
Press Release
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Central Bank of Solomon Islands. Photo by CBSI

BORROWERS are asked to see their banks about any issues over their loan repayment in light of the COVID-19 community outbreak.

Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) issued the advisory, Monday.

This came after CBSI waived three regulatory policies for financial institutions.

These are:

  • CBSI has waived the application of paragraphs 33, 34 and 40 of prudential guideline 2 (PG2) and application of paragraph 7 of PG8.  The former relates to classification of loans considered under COVID-19 relief package and loan loss provisioning.  
  • The waiver to paragraph 7 of PG8 allows licensed financial institutions to change or introduce new interests, fees & charges without the 30 calendar days required before implementing such changes.
  • This waiver is effective for six months from the date, Thursday 3rd February 2022.

In a statement, CBSI said:

“This action is necessary in light of the current COVID-19 community transmission which is adversely disrupting business operations of households and/or individuals resulting in weak cash flows to repay loan commitments on time.

“Meanwhile, CBSI encourages bank customers to talk with their respective bank or credit institution on appropriate COVID-19 relief packages for their consideration during this difficult time of community transmission of the coronavirus.”

Resource and productive sector budget maintained

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister Hurry Kuma

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Government has maintained the $580.2 million for the resource and productive sector in the 2022 Budget.

This is the same estimate made in the 2021 budget where $370.4 million was allocated to Resource sector and $209.8 million allocated to the Productive sector.

However, in the 2022 Budget analysis, it increased the social sector to $130.6 million and $220.8 million to Fundamental.

These estimates are part of the $950 million Development Budget, up by 1.1% from $939.8 million in 2021 Revised Budget.

A total of $4.16 billion budget by the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma is expected to be tabled in Parliament next month.

When he tabled the 2021 budget, Kuma said government had decided to redirect its policy after thoroughly reflecting  on our past drawbacks and using this experience to set the basis for future  growth and further development in our country.

He said the actual government spending on investment projects in both the  productive and resource sectors had drastically declined over the last three years.

“For example, in 2018, government spent $557.5 million on investment  projects in both the productive and resource sectors.

“This further declined  to $412.5 million in 2019 and to $355.5 million in 2020,” he stated.

Kuma said this downward trend is a concern to the government.

“Both the productive and resource sectors are important pillars of the economy.

“If Solomon Islands economy is to grow and provide jobs for the growing population, then adequate financial resources must be allocated to both the productive and resource sectors.

“This explains why government has redirected resources  and increase budget allocations to both sectors to $580.2 million in 2021,” he said.

Kuma said in this trying time, it is very important that our limited financial resources be prioritised and only focus on economic activities that would provide the highest socio-economic benefits to our people.

Under the productive sector:

  1. $25 million for Agriculture Investments.
  2. $100 million for Ministry of Infrastructure Development
  3. $24.8 million for Communication and Aviation investments.
  4. $15 million for Fisheries
  5. $10 million under Lands, Housing and Survey
  6. $10 million for Ministry of Culture and Tourism
  7. $25 million for Commerce

Resource Sector:

  1. $11.8 million for Mines and Energy
  2. $342 million for Rural Development
  3. $6 million for Environment

Social Services Sector:

  1. $90 m for Education
  2. $202.5 m for Health
  3. $10 m for Police
  4. $31.5 m for Provincial Government
  5. $5.5 m for Home Affairs
  6. $3 m for Women and Youth

Fundamental:

  1. $10m for Finance and Treasury
  2. $201.4m for Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet
  3. $8.4 m for Development and Planning
  4. $1m for Justice and Legal Affairs

Mesepitu: addressing COVID must be priority

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Western Premier Christian Mesepitu

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PREMIER of Western Province has called on the government to exhaust all its efforts on the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Christian Burley Mesepitu said availability of life saving equipment such as oxygen and protective gears (PPE) must be a priority.

He said the national government’s fiscal measures should be focused on the well-being of the people so as frontline officials.

Mesepitu suggests that the national government should prioritize its spending on procurement of latest live saving machines and equipment that are already available off-shore.

 “COVID-19 is here to stay, as such our national government should seriously consider upgrading the capabilities of our hard-working doctors in specilised intensive health care services and by providing COVID-19 specilised equipment and life-saving equipment for patients.

“Curing COVID-19 in the human body is a very expensive undertaking and we know that we do not have the capacity in terms of vital lifesaving machines, equipment, and oxygen supply and specilised intensive care personals.

“It is time for our national government to call on our traditional partners and organisation, especially traditional trading partners national who have benefited from the logging industry to assist us with needed resources,” he said.

Mesepitu said the number one priority of the national government should be the lives and health of its citizen and the general public than the South Pacific Games and related development.

“All citizen including politician and non-national are not immune to COVID-19 and it is unwise to play around with people’s lives.

“A nation with a healthy population will thrive,” he said.

Parents eagerly wait for school results

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PARENTS, guardians and students are anxious to know the placements for forms four, six and seven.

However, the ministry of education is silent. No one is working in its offices.

Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Education James Bosamata when contacted yesterday said that they are currently not working.

“Sorry – we are not working, the best you could do – is to check with Linda and John Liliu,” Bosamata said yesterday.

Contacts were made yesterday but unsuccessful due to no people picking up the Ministry’s phone.

Earlier this year the ministry had assured public that the placement results would be announced by the end of January and first week of February.

Entering the second week of February, and there is still nothing from the ministry.

One concerned parent said the Ministry of Education should release the exam results so that parents and guardians can prepare and save money for school fees.

Patteson Jay said the Ministry in their recent statement said that the results will be released end of January and first of February, but results are yet to be released.

“We are into lockdowns and uncertain situation and some of us already spend our monies for school fees, therefore the Ministry should release the results so that we too can save some money for school fees,” Jay said.

He said they have called to the Ministry of Education but no one responded to their calls.

Therefore, they are calling on the Ministry to inform the people what happened to the results.

No ESP in govt 2022 budget

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0

By EDDIE OSIFELO

The Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DGCA) Government has not allocated funding for the proposed Economic Stimulus Package in the 2022 Budget.

Ministry of Finance and Treasury permanent secretary, McKinie Dentana in October 2021 announced there is a possible second ESP depending on the outcome of monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of the current ESP payments.

Dentana said the future payments would likely be restricted to bigger recipients such as exporters rather than to small farmers or business-owners.

About $306 million was approved for the ESP programme in July 2020.

A total of $230.1 million worth of projects and grants had been approved and paid up to 22nd March 2021.

In the first phase of the ESP hundreds of farmers and other micro- and small-businesspeople benefited from funding for practical business inputs such as tools or planting material.

In July 2020, $124 million was allocated for immediate measures to help these businesses cope with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including $70 million for rural production, $44 million for forestry, fisheries and tourism businesses and $10 million for assistance through the Development Bank of Solomon Islands.

However, in the 2022 Budget Analysis, there is no funding for the ESP.

In the meantime, DCGA is projecting $400 million from external funding for development.

While the Budget Support decreased by 68 percent from $517 million to $308 million.

The ESP was DCGA’s fifth fiscal measure approved by Cabinet in April  2020 to address the negative economic impacts created by the corona virus on the local economy.

The primary objective of the ESP was to assist the productive sector  players to maintain production output at all levels of the production chain.

This is to ensure the local economy remains afloat during these challenging  times.

However, reports claimed the ESP failed to achieve its objective following the monitoring and evaluation process done in Honiara and the provinces.

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