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Big companies likely to be the focus of any second round of ESP funding: PS Dentana

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Dentana
Permanent Secretary for Finance McKinnie Dentana.

By Brian Lezutuni

A second Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) is possible depending on the outcome of monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of the current ESP payments.

 Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, McKinnie Dentana told Island Sun future payments would likely be restricted to bigger recipients such as exporters rather than to small farmers or business-owners.

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. 

Further money was made available through Members of Parliament, a total of $42 million dollars.

The payments were due to be completed by July this year.

 Mr Dentana told Island Sun that the ministry of Treasury and Finance will need to see the report of the monitoring and evaluation phase of the payments before deciding on any future initiatives.

“We need to see how faithful people who receive our support are, there are some genuine recipients and some are not that genuine.

But he said any focus in the future should look at bigger players such as companies exporting kava, cocoa, foods, vegetables and cassava.

“These people are easy for us to get information (on), not like micro individual recipients which is challenging.

“Our export (income) goes back to rural people who bring their products for export, the government should only look at issues such as subsidy which it did on copra,” Mr Dentana added

The Permanent Secretary said the monitoring and evaluation report could be ready by the end of this month or in November.

Among those that have supported calls for a second round of stimulus assistance include local exporter Varivao Holdings.

According to General Manager, Benjamin Hageria the economic stimulus package is a lifeline to companies during the pandemic.

Varivao was among the larger local companies that benefited from the stimulus package and according to Hageria, the money was used to buy kava from locals to export.

Despite being provided a lifeline, the company only received two-thirds of the one million dollars it applied for under the stimulus funding.

“We have faced a lot of challenges and we were not able to go further on kava production, hence any similar assistance from the government as suggested by Opposition leader Matthew Wale recently is welcome,” he added

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary said a number of ESP recipients from the public have submitted their reports on the implementation of the ESP, including some of the exporters of copra, cocoa, timber and kava.

“A total of five Members of Parliament have also submitted their reports,” Mr Dentana said during his interview with Island Sun.

Apart from the report on the monitoring and evaluation of the Economic Stimulus Package, an audit of the whole funding package will be carried out as well.

The results will feed into preparations for the 2022 budget, which were launched last week by the Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

Mr Sogavare said the Government will continue to prioritise the productive and resources sectors in the 2022 budget as these two sectors are major drivers and enablers of economic growth.

“This does not mean that other sectors are not important, they will continue to be supported,” he said.

Under the Productive Sector, Prime Minister Sogavare said the Government is aiming to support infrastructure and communication investments, support food security, create employment and entrepreneurship to empower youth and women.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury and the ESP Committee of which McKinnie Dentana is Chairman  will have important input.

“With the Information from the team I can recommend to government whether to roll out another ESP scheme or not,” Mr Dentana said

Economic stimulus: help for some farmers, none for others

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Farmers from Aitolo village with their tools from ESP assistance

By Brian Lezutuni

When COVID-19 brought the biggest economic crisis in a generation the government responded with an equally unprecedented package of funding –  it put $309 million  into the economic stimulus package (ESP).

Fifteen months on some farmers are happy while others are asking why they didn’t see any of the money.

A big portion of the stimulus package – $70 million – was allocated to agriculture. This included famers growing noni, kava, cassava, taro, potato, coconut, cocoa and copra.

According to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and chairman of the oversight committee, McKinnie Dentana said the productive and resource sector is a challenging component of the whole stimulus package arrangement.

“It’s challenging because we opened it for people to apply in relation to their small projects and that takes a longer period to complete,” he told Island Sun in an interview.

While the evaluation and monitoring phase of the project is still being carried out on the implementation and impact of the funds to recipients, some communities in the country are counting their blessings and others are wondering how they missed out on such a lifeline in these trying times.

For farmers on Aitolo village, Malaita Province the Economic Stimulus Package helped expand their flourishing kava gardens in their community.

To them, the government assistance could not have come at a better time. The kava revolution on Malaita is booming and the creation of wealth in the local community in Aitolo are realised 10 years from when the first kava was planted on these rugged parts of the Island.

The Aitolo Self-Reliance Association was set up after applying for assistance under the stimulus funding in July 2020.

According to Association Secretary, Lesley Sanga, the initial application was for $30,000 but only $12,000 was allocated under the scheme.

Tools being shared

 He said the funds were made to purchase tools for the 30 farmers making up the association.

Sanga said the tools helped expand existing kava gardens for these farmers.

Walter Ara, a long-time kava farmer and member of the Association said with tools acquired he was able to expand his garden.

“I now have 2000 kava plants, and was able to expand the past year,” He added.

Mr Ara began his kava farm back in 2011. So far, he has engaged in six harvests, earning enough money to build three permanent houses in his village.

According to Sanga, the Association is on the right track in terms of its development aspirations.

While the community on Aitolo are fortunate, other farmers around Malaita felt that due to their remoteness, schemes such as the stimulus package are un-heard of.

Walter proudly showing his kava garden

Silas Su’ufua, from Gwounafou village, East Malaita can only dream of such a funding. He said there were no awareness done to his part of the Island about the availability of such a fund.

“We never heard about the ESP, but we too need some form of assistance to help us on our farms,” the softly spoken father told Island Sun after selling his Kava products in Auki.

Senior Agriculture Officer from the Malaita Agriculture Office Patrick Maesuba said over 100 recipients have benefited from the funding on Malaita.

He said the only issue is they were not part of the implementation process of the funding, hence would not know if the funds have benefited communities on the Island.


Senior Agriculture Officer from the Malaita Agriculture Office Patrick Maesuba

“Such a funding should come through the Ministry and more importantly the provincial office, as we know who the active farmers on the field are, and will identify them.

 “The government did not see those on the ground, it is the agriculture staff who go around the province and interact with farmers.

But Permanent Secretary, McKinnie Dentana said the Stimulus Package has saved the country from further deterioration over the past year as COVID-19 closed borders and disrupted economic activity.

Dentana
PS Finance Mckinnie Dentana

He said the ESP is implemented in short term, just like other stimulus packages implemented by countries around the world.

“It should be a quick urgent government measure to ensure economic activity remains stable during the crisis,” he emphasised.

According to the Central Bank of Solomon Islands Governor, Dr Luke Forau the country has yet to realise the economic benefits of the Economic Stimulus Package to the economy.

He said as far as export commodities go, only copra has increased exports in the past financial year.

“All other other export commodities declined, so I suppose the stimulus package on the cCopra industry has worked, especially when they subsidized the copra freight,” he said when addressing local Journalists around June this year.

Mr Forau looks forward to the monitoring and evaluation report, adding it may shed light on the impacts of the stimulus package on the economy.

 Permanent Secretary Dentana further explained that in the productive and resources sector the government targeted copra, cocoa and timber as in the Solomon Islands trade is still operating and export is continuing.

“But people do not have money to participate to bring in their product to the market to be exported, this goes for kava as well.

“The assistance can see farmers turn their resources into money for them to use during the crisis and for export purposes to help our bilateral trade,” he explained.

GP youths on leadership training

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Group photo of participants attending the three days youth leadership training

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

YOUTH leaders from Guadalcanal Province are undertaking three days of leadership training aimed at grooming youths to have good leadership qualities. 

The training is hosted and funded by the International Republican Institute in the US.

Janet Tuhaika, general secretary for Solomon Islands National Council of Women, said the idea is to train these youth leaders to help young people to become good leaders in all settings.

“We need to groom new leaders because young people are the new people to take over leadership positions. They need to be groomed because we Solomon Islanders sometimes have no care attitudes on things but leadership is very important because leaders makes decisions where affects the lives of people.

“It doesn’t matter at what level. Leaders if they are mentored as to what makes a good leader we hope that we can groom people with potential to become better leaders in the future,” she said.

Melinda Kii, programme officer for International Republican Institute in the country said his training is to encourage youths networking around the provinces where the training is implemented in for them to work together from the village level to their community, ward level and provincial level   

Kii said these provinces were identified because they have existing provincial youth councils. This training is also to engaged youth on civic awareness in terms of their rights and engagement especially on leadership.

Twenty-six-year-old Esther Tangithia from Longu in Guadalcanal said she is grateful to be part of this youth leadership training because it will help her to motivate her fellow youth members in her community on how to become a good leader in all works of life.

“Also this training will help me see and recognise the challenges leader’s faces in all setting and how they are managed or addressed.  At the same time this training will help me groom my skills to become a good leader in the future,” Ms Tangithia said.

Meanwhile the same training was already conducted for Western Province youth leaders and the second training was carried out in Malaita.

This one is the third and the next one will be for Choiseul youth leaders.

Local conservation organisations share knowledge

Written by
Ben Bilua
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MMGB Group photo with NRDF field officer, CEPF, SIRA, Sirebe Tribal Conservation and Siborae Tribal Conservation Rangers at the Sirebe rangers base along Kolombangara River.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

MAI-MAASINA Green Belt (MMGB) group which consists of conservationists from Malaita province recently completed a look and learn trip to conservation associations in Western and Choiseul provinces.

Eddie Huitarau from Solomon Islands Rangers said the look and learn trip was organised to provide an opportunity for various conservation reps affiliated under MMGB to visit protected areas and to obtain and enhance perspective on the working context made by Sirebe Tribal Association.

He said Babatana Rainforest Conservation Project and the Sirebe Tribal Association have made history by becoming the first landowner group in the Solomon Islands to commence trading under a forest carbon project.

.Mrs. Joyce Kauraena representing Ahetaha Conservation under MMGB is trying out Ranger Finder to determine the height of a tree during one the training session at Sirebe. 

Huitarau adds that Mai-Maasina Green Belt is proud to be the first environmental organisation to take a visit and do look and learn trip to Sirebe.

He said the trip activity was supported and funded by Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – a small grant and implemented by MMGB, focusing on look and learn trip activity to conservation sites with Protected Area status and declaration.

Huitarau described the trip as a worthwhile opportunity that brings substantial information for MMGB Conservation rangers.

He said knowledge and skill obtained from the trip will definitely boost the visiting team to get maximum benefit so as to further their conservation aspiration.

.MMGB Team Traveling from Nusatupe Airport to Gizo before setting off to Fatboys resort. 

One of the visitors, Alick Kingz of Kira Tribal Chief and MMGB Elder said the trip was an eye opener and he thanked MMGB for organising this learning trip as well as CEPF for funding.

He also acknowledged the Solomon Islands Rangers office for facilitating the basic rangers training on site.

Kingz said technical skill obtained from Siborae Conservation rangers were beneficial for the visiting team.

“Though we are only coming from behind we can sense that this trip do really create in us the belief that we are not alone as far as rangers is concerned. We are a member of big conservation family determined for one common goal,” he said. 

MMGB photo with Sirebe members- sitting (L-R): Mr. Linford (Sirebe Tribal Association Coordinator), Mr. George Ma’aikeni (Raripaina Biodiversity Conservation), Mr. Bartholomew (Sirebe Tribal Association Chairman), Aaron Watena’ona (To’okina Tribal land Conservation rep). Standing (L-R): Sirebe Head Ranger, Joyce Kauraena (Ahetaha Water Conservation rep), Mr. Esau Kekeubata (Baru Conservation Alliance rep), Mr. Jayson Erewai (Po’otori People’s Foundation rep), Ms. Immaculate Tautauhono (MMGB Legal officer) and Mr. Eddie H Huitarau (Solomon Islands Rangers General Secretary, MMGB Vice Chairman and Look & Learn Trip Team Leader). PC: Zahyid Namo

Another member of the team Joyce Kauraena shared similar sentiment saying that the technical skills learned during the trip were new for her especially the basic skills in doing Forest inventory readings and calculation to find the cubic stand of your own tribal land.

She said learned lots of things but one that stood out is the importance having biological and species baseline data of your own tribal land.

“This training was timely and relevant as such a time and with the information provided through the trip, she feels that her work will improve,” Kauraena said.

MMGB Chairman Max Totorea applauded NRDF, Gizo office for accepting the request sent by the MMGB office to assist them with the trip’s activities.

“Your support means a lot for the eight conservation groups who are in a Protected Areas process.

“I think it’s good to learn from Sirebe’s experience so that we do not repeat the same challenge and at the same time we learn from them”, he said.

The eight conservation association which travelled under MMGB are Ahetaha Water Conservation, Baru Conservation Alliance, Kira-Takataka Tribal Conservation, Ora Tribal Conservation, Po’otori People’s Foundation, Raripaina Biodiversity Conservation, To’okina Tribal Land Conservation and Wai-Hau Conservation Foundation.

Marovo kava farmers trained on practices to produce quality.

Written by
Press Release
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Photo of some of the participants at Rukutu villages training venue.

Trainings aimed at improving kava farmers’ knowledge and skills to produce quality kava production was successfully held at South Vangunu and Rukutu villages, Marovo lagoon in the Western Province from October 4-7, 2021.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), through its Extension Division at New Georgia Region, Western Province, facilitated the four days theory and practical kava training which focused on kava management, harvesting and processing.

Chief Field Officer (CFO) for Western Province Sipuru Rove said the trainings was a success.

“Kava is a new cash crop therefore farmers need practical training and important information regarding the crop to ensure they have the required knowledge and skills to produce quality outputs.

“To ensure our country become a leading player in the kava market we must produce quality kava. So the training is critical and timely to better farmer’s knowledge on the practices to produce quality production,” Rove said.

Close to 60 participants joined the trainings which included men, women and youths.

Participants expressed profound gratitude to MAL through its Western Province Extension Division at New Georgia for the trainings.

They said such training is very important because it enabled them (farmers) to better their knowledge on proper cultivation of kava and the processes it takes to produce quality kava productivity.

“The training is a boost for us. We learned a lot of new information about this newly introduced cash crop (kava) which will really help us to improve our kava cultivation management and processing,” Rove quoted Rukutu participants.

“Harvesting and processing of kava is really critical. Most of us (farmers) lack proper understanding on kava processing. We had some disappointing experiences in 2020 when our kava products were rejected by a company who buys kava in Honiara for not meeting the required market value/quality.

“So this training is an advantage for us. We will utilize the knowledge and ideas acquired to guarantee we produce quality outputs,” excited participant from Tinge South Vangunu, Philip said.

Meanwhile, Rove said to meet market requirements, sound knowledge and understanding of quality kava production and kava variety recognition, are of paramount important that should be disseminated to kava farmers.

“This, will boost farmers’ capacity on quality kava production. The insight of kava information disseminated to participating farmers during the trainings, has built their confidence on new skills and basic knowledge to continue grow and process quality kava production.”

While acknowledging MAL through its Western Province Extension Division for facilitating the training Mr Levi Muli and Pr Pareti Ngini who spoke on behalf of South Vangunu and Rukutu participating farmers said the trainings really clear their uncertainties on growing and processing kava.

They call on MAL to continue with such support training in Marovo Lagoon to enhance farmers understanding on kava for better production output.

CFO Rove thanked participants for their time and commitment proven during the trainings and also acknowledged MAL management through its Extension Department in Honiara for the continuous support to the Western Province Extension Division.

He also recognized his Extension officers in the Western Province at New Georgia, Gizo, Munda, and Seghe for the job done in enabling the training.

The training is facilitated and conducted by MAL Extension officers from Munda and Seghe, combined with the kava farmer expert from South Vangunu Duko Village Mr. Muli Levi, who won the kava quality show hosted by Kubonitu Holdings Limited, October last year (2020) in Honiara.

Members and Extension Officers involved in the training are; Levi Muli, Kava expert grower from Duko, Langa Wilson, agriculture attached student, Esmond Roba, Extension Officer, Lorima Bella, Extension Officer, Bennett Paiyda, Extension Officer, George Vudere, Extension Officer, Kelvin Lamusasa, Extension Officer and Salome Ete, Livestock Officer.

–MAL PRESS

SUIDANI REIGN

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Part of the protest drama in Auki town yesterday.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THOUSANDS of Malaitans succeeded in blocking a no-confidence vote against their premier in a dramatic show of “people power” never seen in the country’s history.

In a public show of unity and solidarity, they sieged the building housing the Malaita Provincial Assembly and forced the mover, Elijah Asilaua, to withdraw the motion just hours before it was scheduled to be moved.

The access road leading to the provincial chamber was condoned off, women staged a sit-in protest in front of the entrance to the chamber, while a huge crowd marched along the streets and later to Hotel Malaita, where Asilaua and other non-executive MPs stayed.

Under pressure, Asilau announced his withdrawal of the motion at around 10am, later signing off papers to formalize his decision, witnessed by Premier Suidani and acting Malaita Provincial Police Commander Charles Koto.

A MARA government supporter is presenting a shell money gift to Premier Daniel Suidani for defeating the motion yesterday.

The withdrawal means no no-confidence motion is to be brought against Suidani until after a year.

The notice of withdrawal reads:

“On 18th October 2021, I Elijah Asilaua MPA Ward 11 filed a Motion of No Confidence against Premier Daniel Suidani MPA Ward 5.

“And notice was issued for the Motion to be heard on 27 October 2021.

“Upon consideration of the grounds submitted for the Motion, and further consultation with the other MPAs and in consideration of the best interest of the Malaita province, I the mover of the motion now files this notice in according to the Standing Order 139 and other Standing Orders as may be relevant to this notice, to inform the clerk of the Malaita Assembly that I now withdraw the Motion of No Confidence, which was supposed to be debated today 27 October 2021.”

Speaking yesterday, Asilaua said his team greatly valued the call of the people and considering the situation faced, they decided to withdraw the motion.

Elijah Asilaua (right) hand shakes with Premier Daniel Suidani (left) after formally signing the notice to withdraw the motion yesterday.

“We on the non-executive side tried our best to dialogue yesterday (Tuesday) on what we had witnessed today.

“It’s not only me so I have to take back the issue to my colleagues to discuss the matter and make sure processes must be met.

“And today we managed to come up with the decision to withdraw the motion.”

Asilaua said what was witnessed in Auki was beyond their control.

Premier Suidani acknowledge the decision, saying the withdrawal of the motion comes from the heart of his colleague MPAs for the good of the people of Malaita.

Premier Daniel Suidani is addressing the public of Auki at Auki Primary School sports-field yesterday.

He said nothing is wrong or illegal about this Motion of No Confidence, because it’s a normal thing in any democratic government.

Suidani said the way things turned out has resulted in the situation witnessed and the MARA government on behalf of the people of Malaita province thanked the non-executive group for the heart they have for the people.

He also apologized to his non-executive colleagues for any abuse comments they may have received from the people.

Suidani appeals to Asilaua and his colleagues to join MARA and work together for the good of the province.

He called on Asilaua and team to work together with MARA government for the good of the people and province Malaita.

WPG political spat now in court

Written by
Ben Bilua
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The High Court of Solomon Islands. Photo by SIBC.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE political impasses of Western Province has ended in court following an Extraordinary Gazette Order made by the Minister of Provincial Government instructing the Western Provincial Assembly to convene on October 25.

Responding to the order, the Speaker of Western Province submitted a case at the High Court for a judicial review of the Gazette Order.

The judicial review will try to pinpoint the legal bases of the decision made by Speaker of Western Province to adjourned Provincial Assembly Meeting until November 7 and the Gazette Order made by the Minister of Provincial Government to convene the Assembly Meeting on 25th this month, which is on Monday this week.

Sharing his view on the litigation, Ramrakha Talasasa said the Assembly is the right place to solve the political issue of Western province and not the court.

He said the litigation will drag lots of time and those who will suffer the most are the people of Western Province.

Talasasa said the general public of Western Province has been a bystander with lots of questions pending answers.

“Just for public’s information, of course there are opportunities to go to court with these issues but we don’t feel that the court is the right place to address these matters.

“I for one believes and I’ve shared with my group that the courts will not solve these issues, the court can only give us the legal interpretation of these issues in accordance with the law, but it will not solve the problem.

“These issues can be solved on the floor of the Assembly and this issue is not as complicated as someone might think, it’s easy and simple, convene the assembly and we address the issues,” he said.

Talasasa said the current governance system of Western Province is beyond the rule and fundamental principle of democracy.

He adds that the basic principle of democracy has been buried and gone.

“The fact behind this issue is that, the government does not have the majority to rule but yet it has been allowed to sit in office for more than 30 days. Where is the rule of democracy? Majority rule,” Talasasa said.

He said the other side of the house has raised the majority rule principle to MPGIS based on the fact that Solomon Islands system is recognised majority rule as the basis of democratic decision.

Talasasa said MPGIS is yet to respond to their queries.

Attempts to get comment from the government proved futile yesterday.

Material shortage slows down Mamara project

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

WORK on the Mamara City Development in North West Guadalcanal is progressing very slowly due to slow arrival of materials from overseas.

Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd Manager William Ling said the progress of the Mamara City Development is ongoing, just moving slowly because of the shortage of building materials.

He said the shortage of building materials was caused by the unprecedented factors which included the shortage of the shipping containers and space on cargo ships, unequal distribution of resources as well as other global constraints.

“However, we are still trying our very best to bring in the needed building materials,” he said.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare launched the Mamara New Capital City development on April 30, 2020.

The (MTMD) project is being managed by a Foreign Investor Metropolis Mamara Development Limited a subsidiary of Metropolis Pacific PTE Limited.

The City development project is crafted with mutual understanding framed under the ‘Mamara- Tasivarongo- Mavo Agreement Act’ that was passed in parliament in 1995 to govern and develop the Mamara- Tasivarongo- Mavo demarcated geographical site into a new capital city.

Pacific Tenders reported that since February 2020, the Company brought in the building materials and machineries with the total worth of USD11, 534,244 (SBD 92million) which consists of the following:

  1. Mamara New Capital City Site Office, Staffs Quarter, Warehouses.
  2. 3 units of sample houses (Type A, Type B, & Type C).
  3. First 50 units of Villas (Type A- 10 units, Type B- 15 units, Type C- 25 units).
  4. 1 unit of 2,400 sq. meter of factory building (Light Steel Structure Manufacturing).
  5. Partial material for 70 rooms hotel.
  6. Material for utilities facilities and infrastructure construction.

The City development is already making headway with the construction in progress for the Spring Villas project.

The Spring Vilas Project has the land coverage of approximately 100 hectares and comprise of 1184 units of residential houses, shop houses, 41 units of logistic warehouses, school, utilities facilities and tourism facilities.

The Residential houses are built of a light steel structure, recyclable, reduced waste of materials, quick to assemble & construct. Houses are designed to be soundproof and well-insulated to protect from severe heat too.

The residential units are prefabricated based on 3 different designs:

  1. 368 units of Type A, each unit covers an approximate land area of 255 square meter
  2. 310 units of Type B, each unit covers an approximate land area of 202.5 square meter
  3. 506 units of Type C, each unit covers an approximate land area of 150 square meter

The Residential houses are built of a light steel structure, recyclable, reduced waste of materials, quick to assemble & construct.

Houses are designed to be soundproof and well-insulated to protect from severe heat too.

The Second phase is the Steel Factory which ground work is already in place to commence building by June 2021.

This will be done by Metropolis Anmeijie Steel Structures.

The Environmental assessment for the Shopping Mall and Hotel is being prepared. Target construction time should be September 2021.

The Hotel is anticipated to be completed by September 2022.

This will be managed by Metropolis AnMeiJie Mamara Hotel Limited.

A town outside of Honiara will ease the social pressures associated with more population congregating in Honiara city.

The project is expected to provide around 500 more job opportunities for local Solomon Islanders.

Premier Gina boycotts meeting

Written by
Ben Bilua
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David Gina

BY BEN BILUA

SEVENTEEN Provincial Members of Western Province turned up for Assembly Meeting on Monday following instructions from the Minister of Provincial Government and Institution Strengthening (MPGIS) Extraordinary Gazette Notice dated October 14.

The assembly meeting was held in the absence of the Premier, Speaker, Clerk and other Executive Members of Western Provincial Government.

Island Sun understands that there is case filed against the minister’s order for judicial review pending court hearing and also a notice advising WPG staffs that there will be no Assembly Meeting until further notice.

However, speaking to the media yesterday, Ramrakha Talasasa said the judicial review application is yet to take effect and that the Minister’s Gazette Order validates the Assembly meeting on Monday.

“Of course there is a judicial review application but we believe that the Gazette Notice still stands unless the High Court Order is made to overrule the Notice.

“There is High Court Stamp on the document we received but there is no date and time for the case to be heard in court, so our interpretation is that, the High Court has received the law suit as seen on the high court stamp but there is no decision made or a court order prohibiting any Assembly meeting till the time decision of the case is announced.

“Furthermore, we see the Speaker’s notice as a letter of instructions based on the fact that the matter to convene Assembly meeting is subjected to litigation and not a legal notice like the one given out by the Minister of Provincial Government.

“By looking at the two documents; one is from the Speaker and the other from the MPGIS.

“We see that the notice given out by the speaker is a legal process that is yet to be processed by the High Court while the other document is a legal notice that has been decided through legal processes.

“Based on this interpretation and understanding we decided that we are bound by the gazette notice.

“While there was uncertainty from the ruling government members and officials, we were present to fulfil the gazette order given by the Minister of MPGIS,” he said.

Talasasa adds the MPAs have also received a notice from MPGIS legal team advising the Assembly Meeting Scheduled for Monday this week as valid.

“I discussed the matter with our legal officer this morning (Monday Morning), the file received are pleading files (the file in this regard is the application submitted by the Speaker for judicial review of the gazette notice) and we a yet to receive a court order to refuse the ministerial order.

“Only court order can supersede the ministerial order or the gazette notice given out by the Minister of MPGIS. In the meantime, the Minister’s order is the instruction that is legally binding according to law. Please comply with the gazette notice and the law of Solomon Islands.”

Talasasa said the email was sent to him by the Permanent Secretary of Western Province and that was another cause for the MPAs to turn up for the Assembly meeting.

He said the business of the Assembly went well in accordance to Standing Order 37 of Western Province Standing Order as most of the administrative staffs especially the speaker, clerk, deputy clerk and assistant administration officers were not present.

Talasasa explained that Standing Order 37 states that; in the event where official stated above are not present, members with absolute majority may appoint someone to preside on the Assembly Business and adjourned the meeting.

“That is exactly we did today (Monday).

“We opened the session with a word of prayer followed by a roll call with 17 members present one member sent his apologies due to medical grounds, the other eight MPAs were unable to give their reason as to why they were not attending the Assembly meeting,” he said.

Talasasa said the Assembly business was administered by the MPAs present during the meeting as Assembly Staffs were not present, only the Permanent Secretary greeted the members and left before the meeting convene.

“We tried out best to contact the provincial staffs but our attempts came back negative. I know the provincial staffs are placed in a situation where they must choose between the provincial government and the ministry of provincial government.

“All the staffs fear insubordination that would lead to negative implication to their employments,” he said.

Talasasa said the meeting was adjourned after the house was briefed with the current situation and awaiting further instructions from MPGIS.

He said a report of the Assembly Meeting will be compiled and submitted to the Minister of MPGIS informing that the Assembly has respond to the Gazette Notice then wait for further instructions from the Minister on what to do next.

Talasasa said those attended the Assembly Meeting considered the meeting as legal based on the interpretation and instructions given by MPGIS.

Attempts to get comments from the government prove futile yesterday. An email was sent but there was no response.

This paper also called government officials for comments but the calls went unanswered. Island Sun will continue to seek the opinion of the government in response to these reports.

Budget stretched, services on halt, says Talasasa

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Provincial Member for Nusa Roviana and ward 16, Ramrakha Talasasa

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

Provincial Member of Western Province, Ramrakha Talasasa says the province’s budget allocation towards respective divisions have been stretched and there is a need for the 2021-2022 supplementary budget to be tabled immediately.

He said all the commitments of government divisions have been affected and the province needs the supplementary budget to further appropriate funds towards service deliveries in the remaining month of this year until March 31 next year.

 “Currently, the provincial government is in a position where unable deliver effective services to people as the budget allocation appropriated in March this year has been stretched to its limit.

“Some department have exhausted their allocated funds and they need extra funds to execute their program and activities.

“Sad that the provincial government cannot spend further due to certain regulations which prohibit the provincial government to do so.

“There are opportunities available such as virement but the virements are limited to five percent of the allocated budget – meaning such fund will insufficient to deliver much needed services.

“There are funds available but the law prohibits the province to spend any cent,” Talasasa said.

He said the problem is how to appropriate the fund to allow administrations of fund towards divisions.

Talasasa said the current political situation is one of the major challenge to the possibility of convening Assembly meeting to pass the budget and that the MPGIS needs to step in.

“Our attempt to convene assembly meeting earlier than November to quickly debate the 2021-2022 Supplementary Budget failed.

“It’s quite hard to solve the issue of convening the Assembly Meeting earlier than November 7.

“We have also made few submissions based on Standing Order 58 which requires absolute majority to submit a letter for Assembly Meeting earlier than November but the respond proved negative.

“One might argue that, we are the ones who create this mess. Off course that is very true and we apologize for that, but we as MPAs and legislatures, we do have legislative obligation and one of our legislative obligation is to ensure that we are ruled by a majority government.

“Part of our legislative obligation is ensure that democracy is alive and respected in our province.

“For us to entertain a government that is minority of the assembly, then we will not accept the fact that, that government will table and pass an ordinance such as the budget,” he said.

Talasasa stressed that a budget is an appropriation ordinance which is a law in itself as such the budget needs absolute majority to pass it in the floor of assembly.

“Again, we cannot pass a law with minority vote.

“We have the number to manipulate the affairs of the province because we have the number and that is how democracy system rules,” he said.

Attempts to get comments from the government proved futile yesterday.

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