MEMBERS of the public in Auki have demanded the immediate departure of the patrol boat from Auki wharf by 6pm yesterday evening.
The demand was raised during a meeting at Auki held between the commanding officer leading the operation to Auki, Lesley Kili, Acting PPC Malaita, Eddie Koto and Auki Operation Manager, Michael Ramosaea and members of the public.
The people expressed fear stating the presence of the boat and an operation team in Auki continues to cause fear to the public, especially on women and children.
They said people have mixed-reactions about the operation with rumors of lethal weapons on board causing women to stop coming to the Auki market to do their businesses.
They also raised that the failure to clarify the intentions of the operation gives people differing views on the intentions of the team in Auki.
They say there is an ongoing political tag of war between the National government and the Malaita Provincial Government, and the arrival and presence of the team in Auki is a provoking act to them and their government.
People went as far as asking the police whether their coming is politically motivated and that they want an explanation.
They said there is no chaos in Auki as they continue to support the Auki police maintain law and order.
They then demanded an immediate departure of the patrol boat and the Honiara team by 6pm yesterday.
Responding to the demand, Commander Kili said he values the demand raised and will consult with colleague officers on the ground and the Police Commander on the matter.
He said as long as decisions are made, he will also consult the premier and the message will be conveyed to the public of Malaita in Auki.
“I am the commander of the operation currently in Auki and at any time I could call off the operation as long as I see it fit,” Kili said.
He explained that the operation is not concerned with arrests or threats of people with guns as rumors have suggested.
“We are only here to maintain law and order after an incident in Auki last Thursday.
Kili further adds that the patrol boat and police are owned by the government and the government is owned by the people.
He said their coming is purposely to protect people and properties and to ensure the people enjoy peace and normalcy to go about their daily activities.
He however, said they will only listen and act according to the demands raised; as it will set a bad precedence for future assistance and that is what people must understand.
By 7pm last night, Patrol Boat Taro is still berthing at Auki wharf.
Tubi logs lying on the sea front at Korona log camp.
OFANI EREMAE
WHEN Malaysian loggerRichard Kong Sing Ngea pleaded guilty in December 2020 to the illegal harvesting of Tubi trees in Solomons’ Isabel Province, tribal leader Wilson Tohidi was thrilled.
Ngea’s admittance of guilt, Tohidi believes, should prompt the Solomon Islands Government to seize the illegally felled logs and return them to landowners.
His tribe, Tohidi insists, is the rightful owners of the logs.
As expected, Government acted promptly to seize the 10,000 cubic metres of Tubi logs that lined the Korona log pond on the resource-rich island of San Jorge on the southern tip of Isabel.
But to Tohidi’s shock, after taking hold of the logs, the Government turned around that gave them back to Ngea’s logging company, Sunrise Investment Ltd, to export on its behalf.
The decision infuriated Tohidi and his tribesmen, who felt betrayed by a government that supposed to serve their interest.
“It’s a betrayal by any government in the highest order,” Tohidi, who is also chairman of the San Jorge Island Resource Owners Association Trust Board, said.
“As landowners we have the first right of claim to those logs. They are logs that were illegally cut down from our land,” he added.
“How could the government seize our logs and then give them to the very person who was trying to steal them at the first place?
“Where’s the justice and the fairness? Whose interest is this government serving?
“No wonder they refused to intervene when I first alerted them about the illegal felling.”
With no one to turn to, Tohidi and his tribesmen took to the Solomon Islands High Court and filed a case challenging the government’s decision, while staking their right over the Tubi logs at the same time.
Deliberate & illegal felling
Sunrise Investment Ltd, a Malaysian logging company notorious for its lack of respect to local landowners, was issued a five-year licence in 2018 to operate on Korona land on San Jorge.
This is land owned by Tohidi and his tribesmen.
But Sunrise’s logging licence does not include the felling of Tubi, scientifically known as Xanthostemon, a rare and endangered tree species, which under local environmental laws, is export restricted.
The company’s licence only allows them to log other commercial species.
However, after cutting down all the loggable tree species on Korona, Sunrise started felling the restricted Tubi trees.
Despite complaints and reminders from the landowners and the Isabel Provincial Government, Sunrise failed to listen.
Tohidi took the next step by writing to Government authorities in Honiara, requesting they step in and stop the illegal felling.
After three months and with no action coming from the Government, Tohidi and his tribesmen decided to stop the illegal Tubi harvesting by going to the court.
By this time, according to Tohidi, around 10,000 cubic metres of illegally felled Tubi logs, estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars, were lying inside the Korona logging camp.
Wilson Tohidi
Besides seeking damages from Sunrise,Tohidi and his tribesmen obtained immediate court orders that not only put a stop to the illegal felling, but also prevented the Asian logger from shipping the logs out from Korona.
Tohidi addressed his letter to Dr Culwick Togamana, the then minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology.
The same letter was copied to the Director of Environment, the Attorney General and other relevant state authorities.
Togamana, a former University of the South Pacific (USP) lecturer, responded by instructing relevant officials to act on Tohidi’s letter.
But for some unknown reasons, no one took any action to stop the illegal Tubi harvest.
“We just cannot believe that these government offices chose not to intervene when I brought the matter to their attention,” a highly disappointed Tohidi said.
“Our suspicion was that someone up there was dictating the situation in favour of the Malaysian logger,” he added.
“I mean here is a situation where a logging company that does not have a licence to fell Tubi, yet it is openly doing it in front of everyone without any action from the Government.
“It was simply unbelievable.”
When contacted on the matter, Attorney General John Muria Jnr claimed his office was never informed.
“The Attorney General acts on instructions,” Muria said,
“Unless the Attorney General is instructed, there is nothing we can do,
“A request must be given to the AG from any ministry.”
Plot to seize the logs
Tohidi and his group said they found Togamana helpful, pointing out that the minister was sympathetic to their cause.
What they didn’t know was the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is plotting its own plan on how to deal with the logs.
As debate around the Tubi logs rages, Togamana found himself suddenly removed from the Ministry of Environment and shifted to the Health portfolio.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare took the decision while Togamana was out in the province of Malaita on official duties.
Government gave no reasons for Togamana’s removal, except that “it was a normal reshuffling exercise”.
However, those closely following the Tubi issue believed Togamana’s removal was due to his sympathetic stand with Tohidi and his group.
Asked to comment on his removal, Togamana said the decision was the prime minister’s prerogative.
Then Health minister, Dickson Mua, was brought in to replace Togamana.
Within weeks, and much to Tohidi’s surprise, Mua used his ministerial powers and forfeited the illegally felled Tubi logs to the state.
The logging road that runs through the island of San Jorge.
He took the decision despite the case over the Tubi logs was still active before the court, and that the High Court had already ordered the logs not to be shipped out of Korona log pond.
Also, Togamae Lawyers, the law firm representing Tohidi and his group, had earlier wrote to Mua, seeking the minister’s indulgence that any forfeiture action must be made known to his client.
That letter was also copied to the Attorney General and the Solicitor General.
Although Mua had access to legal advice that he could consult on the state of the Tubi logs, he went ahead and seized the logs.
He then issued an order for Sunrise to sell them “on behalf” of the Government.
Logger with a track record
When Sunrise’s Ngea pleaded guilty to the illegal Tubi felling in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court in December 2020, he was ordered to pay a fine of SBD$50,000 (USD$6,232), the maximum penalty for such an offence.
He found little difficulty paying the fine. In fact, he paid it off at the rising of the court.
But this was not the first time Ngea and his Sunrise company were penalised.
Towards the end of 2020, the Foreign Investment Division ordered Sunrise Ltd and two other Malaysian logging companies operating in Isabel Province, to each pay SBD$1,000,000 fine for violation of their investment licences.
Sunrise has since pulled out its operation on Korona.
It has also lost its membership with Solomon Forest Association (SFA) over its illegal action on Korona land.
SFA president Johnny Sy said they took action against Sunrise, and another Malaysian logging company called Mas Solo Investment Ltd, after assessing the illegality of their logging activities.
Sy said their action paves the way for the Ministry of Forestry to cancel the felling licences of these two companies.
The office of the Commissioner of Forest has not responded to questions sent to them for comments about the illegal actions of Sunrise and Mas Solo.
Latest check in the Government’s Company Haus registry also confirmed Sunrise is now deregistered due to its failure to submit its annual return dues.
Minister Mua reshuffled again
Not long after he used his ministerial power to seize the logs, Mua was reshuffled again to the Ministry of Forestry only after three months.
Prime Minister Sogavare then brought in the late Titus Fika, a government backbencher, as replacement.
Like his predecessor, late Fika appeared to have come in with a set agenda.
As soon as he assumed responsibility, he issued an executive order for the sale of the Tubi logs.
He also directed the Director of Environment to issue a special export permit for Sunrise to sell the logs.
Under the sales arrangement, Sunrise Investment Ltd would receive 60 per cent of the proceeds, while Government would only collect $500,000 in good-will payment plus 25 per cent in duty.
When the Island Sun newspaper exposed late Fika’s export sale order in a front-page article published in February last year, the minister was quick to defend his decision.
In a statement the Office of the Prime Minister issued on his behalf, late Fika stated:
“The truth of the matter was that on 21 December 2020 after taking over, I issued an executive order for government bodies to facilitate the export by Sunrise Investment Ltd.
“The reason for this is because the Tubi logs were already vested on the state and become the property of the Solomon Islands Government.
Chief Eric Gnokro of Lelegia village infront of a pile of illegally felled Tubi logs at Korona, San Jorge.
“Funds are needed by the Government to conduct its business.
“As a responsible minister I have a duty to the Government to ensure government property is disposed of and funds paid to the Government.
“The choice to appoint Sunrise Investment Ltd is many, which outweighs the fact that it was the illegal logger.
“Primarily, Sunrise Investment Ltd has the capacity to quickly export the logs for the Government.
“The decision to appoint Sunrise Investment Ltd was seriously considered and we stand by it.”
Late Fika and the Government may have stood by their decision to seize the logs from Tohidi and his group and gave them to Sunrise.
But Solomon Islands High Court judge Justice John Keniapisia said the decision is not only immoral, but an “intervention in the court process”.
Judge hits out at ministers
He subsequently declared the minister’s action illegal and gave the landowners the right to sell the logs.
In his ruling of the case Tohidi and his group filed against the government action to seize the logs, Justice Keniapisia hit out at Mua and late Fika over their decisions to seize and logs and gave them to Sunrise Ltd.
“Mua’s decision to seize the tubi logs while a case the landowners filed is still before the court amounts to ‘interference in the court process’,” Keniapisia said.
He pointed out that the Government has touched on and interfered with this case three times – first Mua’s forfeiture order, second Mua’s sale order condition and third Fika’s executive sale order.
Keniapisia also pointed out that the owner of Sunrise Ltd, Richard Kong, had pleaded guilty and fined in the Magistrate’s Court over his illegal action.
Yet, the judge said the Government saw it fit to give Kong the right to sell the logs and receive 60 per cent of the sales proceeds.
Keniapisia said the law was very clear on such issue.
Law cannot assist a criminal
“The law will not lend its aid to a man who find his cause of action upon immoral or illegal act,” he stated.
“Or the law will not lend its assistance to enforce something that is unlawful and contrary to public policy – in this case felling Tubi without permit is the unlawful act,” he added.
“Public policy rational here is that investors/people should not be encouraged to tamper with the law, knowing that Government and the Court will be on their side to somehow get away and benefit from tampering with the law.”
He said the effect of the ‘sale order conditions’ by the Government is to assist Sunrise to recover its operational cost.
“In effect the minister is employing a formula of 60 per cent operation cost to investors, which is normally applied by courts to benefit investors, in cases of illegal operations, where there are claims for trespass and damages.
“But Court would normally attach conditions to the 60 per cent.
“One condition is there must be expert evidence to verify the 60 per cent cost.
“Whilst the minister can assist a law breaker to benefit from the breaking the law, the Court cannot.
“Nothing more, nothing less.
“The fundamental reason is that the court is the custodian of the law.
“The minister may be a law and policy maker, or the implementer of law and policy but not necessarily or primarily a custodian of the law.
“As the custodian of the law, I will say, I cannot or Court cannot assist Sunrise to benefit from breaking the law.
“If I do, I will be opening the flood gates because investors will know that they can break the law and can still get their share from breaking the law.”
Criminal logger tobenefit, not state
Furthermore, Justice Keniapisia said to allow Sunrise to sell the Tubi logs on behalf of the Government and get 60 per cent of the proceeds does not make sense.
“If it is true that the Government owned the Tubi and only engaging Sunrise to sell them for and on behalf of the state, then what is there to show for in terms of monetary benefit to the state from the sale order conditions?
“The sale order conditions do not benefit the state, in terms of money earned into the public wallet.
“The 25% to the state in the sale order conditions is a statutory due – tax. Ministers do not have to order that. It is a statutory obligation of investors.
“But that is really a peanut share, if you consider the total proceeds from the sale ($9,000,000).
“And goodwill may be inapplicable, where the state is said to own the Tubi.
“If the state owns the Tubi, why is it paying itself goodwill again? Does not make sense.
“The only benefit is to Sunrise, the 60% operational cost, based on a standard court formula, but without verification like the Court would normally do.
“So I can imply that where there is not monetary benefit to the state, or minimal monetary benefit only, what the minister is really trying to do is to assist Sunrise – a law-breaker – to benefit from breaking the law.
Again whilst the minister may be free to do that, the Court is not free to do that.”
Justice Keniapisia pointed out that Mua and late Fika’s interference was “quite deliberate”.
“Deliberate because the ministers knew that a dispute on the illegal harvest of Tube was pending before the court.
“Yet they decided to take away the very subject matter (Tubi) of the pending dispute.”
In dismissing the ministers’ orders, Justice Keniapisia gave Tohidi and his tribesmen the right to sell the logs under an arrangement to be made with their lawyer.
Court decision welcomed
“This was exactly the decision we have been waiting for,” an elated Tohidi said.
“It is a victory for us landowners,” he added.
However, Attorney General Muria said the case the landowners took in the High Court against the Government’s forfeiture of the Tubi logs was done without the knowledge of the state.
“The Attorney General has appealed the court decision,” Muria said.
“The position of the Government is that because of the forfeiture, the State owns the Tubi and not the landowners.
“And since we have appealed the High Court decision, I will not comment any further.”
Sunrise had also successfully lodged an appeal in the Solomon Islands Appeal Court last November, preventing Tohidi and his group from exporting the Tubi logs as per Justice Keniapisia’s order, pending the appeal.
The Korona logging camp on San Jorge Island
The Court of Appeal is expected to hear the arguments over the ownership of the logs in its first sitting this year.
But Tohidi feared the economic value of the logs will diminish if they remain at the Korona seafront.
“That’s our fear. This is why we are asking the Government to allow us export the logs since we already have a buyer.
“But this government is not helpful. It continues to block our efforts to export the logs,” Tohidi said.
He said they’ve already secured a buyer, YangZhou JianPinYuan Wood Industry Co Ltd, who has offered to pay the logs for SBD$17.5 million.
On the other, the Sunrise Investment, which the Government wants them to export the logs, is selling them for only $9 million.
“So you can see that landowners who owned the logs will benefit more if we sell the logs ourselves compared to what Sunrise has offered the government,” Tohidi said.
“In fact we were already in the process of loading the logs last November on board a vessel for export when we received orders from the Attorney General to stop the loading.
“This is how far this government could go to stop our efforts.
“I don’t know who this government is really serving.
“As resource owners, we have the right over the logs and the government should assist us in exporting them,” Tohidi said.
Meanwhile, environmental activist Lawrence Makili, who has been closely following this case and other logging disputes in the country, said it was a shame to see the Government siding with a foreign logger when they should be standing up for the people of this country.
“The ministers’ actions and that of the government clearly show they care more for their logging friends than resource owners.”
Makili calls for the cancellation of the logging licence of Sunrise and other loggers who deliberately violated the country’s laws, and deport their owners.
“Let’s not allow these people to play around with our laws.
“A strong message needs to be sent out to these loggers.”
This article was produced with funding support from the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project (UNPRAC) and Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalists Network (PACJN)
A political appointee in the Opposition Office, George Kosui has accussed Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Robson Djokovic of falsifying his Curriculum Vitae to get his job.
Kosui claimed he carried out an investigation on Djokovic’s education background following their media argument this week.
He had questioned why Djokovic, who is also a nephew of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, is still being engaged by the government when he has a criminal record.
In response, Djokovic accused Kosui, an economist by profession, of simply repeating the same old rhetoric.
However, Kosui said he found that Djokovic’s claims in his CV that he has graduated with Bachelor’s Degrees (Credit) from the Queensland University of Technology, during the years 1991-1993 and 2012 – 2014, were untrue.
“The controversial figure, Robson Djokovic’s Curriculum Vitae came on the radar when his educational background was checked with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
“The checks revealed that Djokovic does not complete the courses and does not have any degrees as stated in his Curriculum Vitae,” he said.
Kosui said QUT has confirmed that Djokovic does not complete the courses, nor achieve any degrees as stated in his CV.
In addition, Kosui said the claim that he has studied Business Management, Applied Science and Law with claims that he was given credits was also misleading.
“Therefore, one would conclude that qualifications and academic achievements mentioned in the CV are perceived as false and grossly misleading,” he added.
Furthermore, Kosui said concerning his prosecution and conviction, Djokovic was convicted on a number of cases which range from drug use and abuse to other criminal offences.
His conviction as recorded by the Queensland Courts were as follows;
Kosui said as seen and proven by the documents, Djokovic has continued to deceive the Solomon Islands Public.
“His fake claims of achieving decent and recognized qualification is enough to get rid of him from the COS position.
“I think it’s about time the PM must respond to questions on employment of Robson Djokovic, a convicted criminal, drug user and addict and fraudster forgoing good governance principles?” he said.
“To me, I still hold the view that it is unwise and ethically unjustifiable to allow a foreigner with questionable background to hold a top job in the Office of the Prime Minister,” he said.
Asked for comments, Djokovic said Kosui’s claim was out of date and that he would respond later.
Earlier, Djokovic said his qualifications and curriculum vitae speak for itself.
He also accused the Opposition of attempting to undermine the leadership of Prime Minister Sogavare by using him as a “political scapegoat”.
Christmas cakes donated by the bakers for RCCC inmates on 25 Saturday, 2021
Showing sincere humanitarianism, cake bakers in Honiara donated 11 beautifully crafted and baked cakes to the inmates at Rove correctional centre.
A statement from the country’s correctional service (CSSI) yesterday said:
“RCCC inmates on Saturday 25, December 2021, celebrated with 11 cakes donated by SICA, SIFGA, Francis Sivita, Sharita Sivita, Charles Ha’amori, Lily Ha’amori, Neverlyn Rave, June Fakarii Keni, Virah Gorosi, Phillip Lui and Kathy Sevese Havea.
SICA and SIFGA members
“30 minutes visitation by the bakers gave the opportunity for them to share the festive season message to encourage inmates to think about their own life and made right decision in New Year 2022 when they release from Correctional Centre.
“On behalf of the CSSI Executive the Acting Commandant RCCC Chief Supt Bernice Wasia thanked the SICA and SIFGA members and the bakers for free of charge donation of Christmas cakes for the inmates.”
FLIGHT cancellation to Ngorangora Airport in Kirakira, Makira Ulawa province, may soon become a thing of the past now.
This was after Trades Transformation Company Ltd upgraded the grassy airstrip and expected to complete it in two weeks’ time.
Owner of TTC, Leslie Tarzan Holosivi said they have completed half of the 600-meter airstrip.
Holosivi said they will move to the other half of the airstrip to allow the Dash 8 and Twin Outter planes to land on the other side.
He said in the past if it rains, Solomon Airlines would cancel its flights to Kirakira.
“It is a big loss to Solomon Airlines.
“This time it does not happen because we complete half of it and plane can still land even though it rains,” he said.
The upgrading of the airstrip comes under Ministry of Communication and Aviation.
It is a $1.8 million project and a timeline of 6 weeks.
Ngorangora airport, which has been recently tarsealed. Photo by Julian Maka’a.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has announced during the Makira Ulawa province Second Appointed Day in Kirakira on 5th August 2021 that the tar sealing of the Ngorangora Airport was listed for the second phase of the current airport tar-sealing program.
“However, because the government does not own the land of interest – development partners are not comfortable in funding any proposed project on that land.
“Because of this, the government will soon consider a policy for the outright purchase of lands where strategic infrastructures are constructed,” he said.
Sogavare said once this policy is approved, the government will consider outright purchase of the land of interest at Ngorangora.
In the meantime, TTC also carryout emergency works on the Makira unsealed coastal roads after the Government through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development through the Central Tender Board (CTB) awarded the contract in April 29 2021.
This road network runs eastwards from Kirakira to Rawo and westwards from Kirakira to Wango covering a total of 69km.
Contract for this emergency project totaling $5.9 million was already mobilized on site in late May last year.
This is funded under the SIG Development Budget under the Economic Infrastructure Program (EIR).
Prime Minister Sogavare also highlighted constructing a sustainable wharf at Kirakira to serve the interests of business houses and the travelling public to and from Kirakira is vital.
The Kirakira wharf is part of the Land and Maritime connectivity Project (LMCP). Design and bidding documents for this project including the rest of the maritime package including the Kirakira wharf was compiled in May 2021 while the procurement of the Construction Supervision firm has been completed.
Sogavare also mentioned the Rawo and Warihito Bridges needs to be constructed because they are considered strategic to support cocoa farmers in that area to boost cocoa production.
The Small Malaita Constituency (SMC) has successfully launched the second phase of their road infrastructure programme.
A media statement from the constituency office said the event, held on January 3, 2022 at Rorongo, was witnessed by the Member of Parliament for SMC Rick Hou, the SAO, Mr David Mane representing Malaita Province, chiefs, church leaders, heads of landowning groups and hundreds of constituents from the Asimae and Asimeuri Wards particularly from the nearby Iola including Korutalaupeine, Korutalaumweimwei, Kalapea, Louatowa-Haitataimwane and Ueniusupeine.
The ceremony began with the escorting of MP Hou and other invited guests by the Rorongo Women’s band.
A short church service was followed by speeches and feasting,
Hou was the Guest of Honour and in his keynote address he said the primary goal of the SMC development plan is to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of the rural people by providing access to government service and to provide the enabling environment for more economic opportunities.
He said the primary objective of the road infrastructure programme has been achieved.
“Today the communities of Tetele, Ou’oumatawa, Tapa’atewa, Ruru’uhe, Rorongo and Likimaea have direct road access to Matangasi Port. Now you can reach the Sea Port and Afio Government Station within 30 minutes.”
He further highlighted that once phase II is completed people from Asimeuri Ward in the eastern side of the island will also access government services.
“Today also marks another milestone – we are embarking on Phase II of the Road Programme. When completed, all communities between Walande and Roone will be connected with Matangasi Port and Afio Admin Centre. This will further enhance achieving our primary goal – to provide access to services. So we have every reason to celebrate this day.”
The statement said Part 2 is the main highlight of the programme that is, the dedication and blessing of machineries and the project team which took place at Rorongo Field where phase 1 terminates.
Officiating the dedication service was the Chief Elder of Asimeuri Association, Pr Felix Holo.
The programme ended with the cutting of ribbon by MP Hou, Chief Elder Asimeuri, Provincial representative and Land Owner representative to officially declare the launching of construction work for Phase II.
On 28 December 2021, the MP for East Guadalcanal, Bradley Tovosia, officially opened the Reighila Farmers Association Open Day at the Hanaga Riverside, East Guadalcanal. This open Day brought together communities as far as Makaruka and Bokasughu areas in the west to Chavunamate on the East
As the omens of covid-19 becomes globally prevalent and evasive, many Solomon Islanders living in Honiara headed back to their villages in their respective provinces as their means of safety.
But really, what are in our villages that will protect us from COVID?
Most probably to avoid people coming from abroad as Honiara is the gateway to our country. But how long did they last in the villages?
Many quickly returned to Honiara.
In the Christmas holidays of 2020, a group of villagers from East Guadalcanal, got together and formed an association that they called themselves, Reighila Farmers Association.
A farmer from a nearby community bringing his produces across the Hanaga River on a wheel barrow
The word Reighila in the Moli dialect means to ‘understand, recognise or acknowledge’ the essence or the truth behind an issue.
This follows some community awareness about the science of covid-19 and how it affects the organs of the human body and the possible consequences.
They were told that one possible preventative measure that was available to communities in rural areas was to eat more locally grown food in their diets and avoid or try to eliminate rice, noodles and taiyo as much as possible.
They were encouraged to grow more vegetables, fruits and traditional greens (kemau, boto, sabure, kwika, kailuvaluva, kumichi, etc).
This led to the formation of the Reighila Farmers Association. They have to pay a registration fee of $10 to be a member.
Now, there are about 110 formally members.
Part of the crowd listening to the discussions.
After their formation, Global Green Grant (GGG) provided a small funding for them, which helps them to formally register the association and to purchase some equipment and seeds.
They have since went into farming and on December 28 decided to come together and to demonstrate the produce from their gardens and at the same time earn some money to assist for school fees for their children in the coming new year.
It is the first time and has been described as a success.
Tovosia, MP for East Guadalcanal has also supported the East Guadalcanal Constituency communities with seeds and agricultural hand tools.
Bananas and taro on display
He is committed to do more in supporting the communities in the coming years.
After the official opening, prayer and remarks from the chiefs and elders, the stalls were inspected and then the produce were on sale. This was then followed by discussions on the challenges and opportunities that they encounter and exchanges of ideas and possible solutions to help each other going forward.
pawpaw on display
It was agreed that this will be an annual gathering and there will be another better and bigger one this coming Christmas with more inclusivity of traditional food and its preparation and at the same time to support families with their livelihoods and needs.
Jerry Atu, the chairman of the Association, sincerely thanked everyone for attending and urged every farmer to support each other.
He concluded that “only by supporting each other, they will be able to make progress for their respective families and communities”.
A political appointee in the Opposition office has questioned Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) capability to manage the 100 percent increase of the Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF).
This comes after an Audit Report by the Office of Auditor-General for the periods from 1st April 2012 – 31 December 2014 and 1st April 2016 – 31 March 2017 on the Renbel Province revealed interesting findings on how substantial amount of funds have not been accounted for.
The 2016-2017 OAG findings also revealed that some of the Province’s funds, have not been recorded and a register to keep track of revenue collected and payments made were not established to make it easy for checking and reconciliation of Provinces financial records.
This includes simple control mechanism such as the introduction of Special Imprest Register, performance of Bank Reconciliations (regular), revenue collection records and regular review of Provinces General Ledger to check and verify financial position and finances in general.
MPGIS permanent secretary, Stanley Dick Pirione told the Malaita Executive during their meeting in Auki early this year that the PCDF that targets Provinces small scale infrastructure developments is increasing it from $30 million to $60 million.
However, Kosui, an economist by profession, said the announcement of an increase of 100% to the PCDF is good news to the Provinces but is the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) capable of administering, monitoring and management of the funds disbursed to the Provinces?
“Under the current funding arrangement, provinces receive funding based on how they perform according to minimum requirements standards set by the Ministry.
“Assessments are done at the end of each financial year by technical people in specific areas to assess how the Provinces implement recommendations and relevant standards that align each province financial and other system’s management and administration to the SIG procurement processes and Public Finance Management Act (PFMA),” he said.
Kosui said while the 100 percent increase in funding is good news to the Provinces, it also leaves a lot of questions to be asked on how the MPGIS is able to get things under control, when some cases of corruption, abuse and misuse of funds have not been addressed.
He said the OAG has found that there was significant business and financial risks in the handling and management of Renbel Province’s finances which require further investigations or prosecution of those that involve in the mismanagement of the Provinces financial resources.
The OAG findings revealed that for the periods from 1st April 2012 – 31st December 2014 the following have been found:
Premier collected licenses fees without depositing them in the Provinces bank account
Misappropriation of $1.2 million of Provincial funds
Awarding of PCDF to private company and construction of the Kia Koe Lodge
Incurred $4 million in expenses on accommodation at the Heritage Park Hotel
Mismanagement of funds that led to accumulated arrears that resulted in non-payment of Provincial direct-employee’s salaries for a period of 15 consecutive months
For the revenue’s collected in the periods from 2012 – 2014, a total of $3.08 million was collected from Samlinsan Logging Company, Bintan Mining, Mugaba Atoll, Eth Global Investment and Partners. From OAG findings, details of the revenue collected was sighted but unable to confirm if they are deposited in the bank accounts because the deposit books are missing.
In all, a total of $3.2 million was collected as revenue from companies operating in Renbel Province and a summary of their records revealed that OAG failed to ascertain how the funds have been used.
“These issues need to be put in order before any funds procured under the PCDF is nothing but a wastage of public funds.
“While the 100% increase in PCDF is good news to the Provinces, it is also important that the MPGIS ensure that financial management and administration of the funds are improved by 100% to ensure investment in the PCDF is not another hole that public funds are wasted,” he added.
Chairman of NHA and Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers.
BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO
THOSE intending to travel overseas for less than two months are discouraged from doing so.
Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr Jimmie Rodgers highlighted this in a radio talk back show, Sunday.
“We would advice that you postpone your trip if you are travelling only for less than two months,” Rodgers said.
“We would recommend that any one travelling overseas, you plan to stay out for at least two months before coming back because the requirements and incubation period of the infection you might bring it,” he added.
Rodgers said for those that plan to travel and stay a little bit longer they must get a booster dose before leaving the country.
He adds the Oversights Committee on its last meeting allowed to increase numbers of the country’s weekly flight from Brisbane.
“We are hoping to start on the 14th of this month on next Friday,” Rodgers said.
He also stressed that for those wishing to enter the country new requirement will be set in place for them to follow.
“We will be putting in new requirements for people to come in.
“This new requirement we will have to require home quarantine for anyone who wants to come into the country.
“We will define the number of days but home quarantine will be mandatory.
“We will also introduce rapid antigen testing on airport before they enter.
“So they must test negative with COVID-19 before they board the flight. If detected positive they will not be allowed to board the flight. This will be instituted as of now,” Rodgers said.
The Kirakira ramp destroyed by strong waves. Kirks Kwalo.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
LAND issue stops Trades Transformation Company Ltd (TTC) from building the $200,000 shed to accommodate toilet and shower close to the new ramp in KiraKira, Makira Ulawa province.
This was after the people who used to live on the land have threatened the TTC workers with knives after they made three attempts to build the shade.
It is claimed the people have demanded the Makira Provincial Government to pay them compensation after their homes were removed by the contractor to give way for the new shade.
The Kirakira ramp and Shed project along with the wharf in Malu’u, North Malaita, are part of the Economic Stimulus Package funded by the National Government to create economic activities and trading with the farmers to bring their products to Honiara.
Owner of company Leslie Tarzan Holosivi said if Makira Provincial Executive could not solve the issues with the people, they would pull out because they have completed the ramp already.
Holosivi said they have completed the $5 million ramp already in the first phase of the project and ready to build the shed when the issue with the so-called landowners popped up.
“If things are not sorted out, I have to pull my boys out for their safety.
“Therefore, I want the Makira Provincial government to quickly sort out the issue with the landowners,” he said.
TTC still remains in Kirakira because the Government has given them another contract to upgrade the road from Central Makira to West Makira and the airstrip.
However, some people have accused TTC on social media for not doing a good work on the ramp after recent strong waves destroyed the land pathway connecting to the ramp.
Holosivi said his workers have already filled up the gap caused by the waves.
Ministry of Infrastructure Development permanent secretary, Stephen Maesiola said based on the design of the ramp, there should be three layers, however the contractor only managed to complete the first layer due to lack of money.
Maesiola said the MID engineers should travel to Kirakira to reassess the ramp and make a report whether to complete the next two layers.
