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LOs threaten to boycott Suidani’s trip to Afio

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Premier of Malaita province Daniel Suidani

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

& IRWIN ANGIKI

AFIO landowners say they will boycott the proposed awareness planned by the Malaita premier for South Malaita.

The landowners are requesting that Premier Daniel Suidani hands over the perpetual estate (PE) land title over the land on which Afio sub-station sits.

And, unless Premier Suidani has any plans to do this in his planned trip to South Malaita, the landowners say there will be no meeting, consultation or awareness held in Afio.

But, Premier Suidani in an interview yesterday says what the landowners are requesting is not possible.

Mr Suidani pleads the landowners for understanding and patience, saying dialogue over the issue is forthcoming.

Speaking to the paper last week, deputy chairman to the Talahanea Original Land and Resource Owners Association (TOLOA) Mr Peter Iroka explains the issue of Afio land is a longstanding problem that dates back to the colonial days.

“In 1979, the title to Afio land was given to the Malaita provincial government to facilitate its transfer back to the landowners from the new government of Solomon Islands.

“The lease over Afio land which was held by the colonial government had expired in 1978.

“Since then, successive provincial governments of Malaita have ignored this matter, until former premier Peter Ramohia, who facilitated the process of giving the title back to the landowners with land reform consultations and launching of the TOLOA constitution.

“The current premier, Mr Suidani, refuses to continue the work that premier Ramohia had done, and insists that we go back to the beginning and dialogue and consult various authorities, which kills all the hard work that we had done with Ramohia. This is inconsiderate and suspicious of premier Suidani.

“Since we have already done the dialogue and other processes, we are in the stage of expecting the Premier to hand over the PE title to us, landowners. Nothing more.”

In response, Premier Suidani, speaking to the paper yesterday, pleads to the landowners of Afio land for their understanding and patience on the matter.

He adds that it is “something that is for us to discuss together and move forward with”.

On the overall, Suidani says he is simply being careful and does not want to rush things.

“When the Afio landowners approached me with land transfer documents to sign, I refused simply because I had no idea or understanding of that matter.

“Though I am premier, I cannot just issue or hand over properties left and right without knowledge of the Malaita provincial assembly, or the matter being well understood by all stakeholders, which includes MARA government, the people and landowners, and the provincial administration.

“I just came in and they assumed that I knew about this matter, which is wrong.

“And, the MPA for that ward in which Afio is located, had advised me to hold back from signing the documents and research and understand this matter thoroughly first.”

Suidani acknowledges this concern raised by the Afio landowners, saying their grievances are “genuine” and “true”.

“This is a complicated issue, with paper work involving a previous caretaker government, which in my view should not have made promises to the landowners while in caretaker mode.

“I and my executive and administration need to well understand this issue first before we discuss any handing over. The landowners’ claims are genuine and something to discuss.”

When asked whether he will go ahead with the planned trip to Afio, Premier Suidani said the awareness is important for people of South Malaita, to keep them up to date with current affairs of the province.

Meanwhile, explaining the issue of Afio land, MPG Lands officer Mr George Hoatamauri supports Premier Suidani’s assertions that it is a complicated matter.

Hotamauri reveals that a return of the title to landowners will result in a titanic cost for the Malaita provincial government (MPG).

“MPG will responsible to compensate for all properties within Afio, which will be costly and MPG is not prepared for this.”

Hoatamauri confirms the title is currently with the province after it was transferred to them by the Ministry of Lands (MLHS) through the national government few years after the country’s independence.

He said the South Seas Evangelical Church (SSEC) first held the title of Afio land under perpetual estate (outright purchase/freehold) status in the colonial days.

“This is was after they purchased the land from the landowners for 36 British Pounds.

“After the independence – in 1979, the land act was in place and entails that no foreigner like SSEC would hold a perpetual estate or absolute title of a land in the country.

“So under the law, the SSEC gave back the land to government and in return government offered SSEC a lease hold of the land but the Church did not show interest.

“This is when Malaita provincial government came in with the interest to have Afio for its substation in the southern region of the province.

“Under that arrangement, the MLHS through the national government transferred the title to MPG and currently the title is with premier and Malaita provincial assembly.”

Like Premier Suidani, Hotamauri sympathises with the Afio landowners, saying:

“Since the return of the land from SSEC to the government, all the arrangements made regarding the land were made without consultation with the landowners.

“The quest of landowners’ to return their land is rightful, but there are areas that Malaita province is wary of, that is why it is hesitant to rush the transfer of title to the landowners.”

With that, MPG through the lands office has had several meetings with the two landowning groups claiming the land at Afio into some mutual partnership to address the matter.

Western province leading in copra and log export

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WESTERN Province has been identified as the leading exporter of copra and log in the first half of the year.

Central Bank of Solomon Islands Quarterly Report states that Western Province has contributed a total of 27 percent to the total output for copra, making it the leading producer of copra this quarter.

Central Province sits behind Western Province contributing 22 percent, while Choiseul contributed 15 percent, Guadalcanal with 14 percent, Makira Province with 11 percent and other provinces contributed the remaining 11 percent.

Again, Western Province has come top on log production compared to other provinces.

The report states that Western province make up the largest proportion of log volume with a 30% share.

This is followed by Guadalcanal with 23%, Isabel with 12%, and Choiseul with 11%. Other provinces not stated above accounted for the remaining 24%.

Copra and log exports are two commodities that have seen improvement in the first quarter of this year.

New vax deadline for govt workers, Oct 31

Written by
Press Release
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THE National Cabinet has set October 31, 2021 as the date for all public servants and employees of government agencies and state-owned enterprises to take their first dose of covid-19 vaccine.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his nationwide address yesterday said by November 1, 2021, all public servants, and employees of government agencies and SOEs that have not taken their vaccinations will not be allowed to return to their workplaces.

He said the only exceptions will be for those officers with genuine medical contraindications as certified by the Incident Controller, and pregnant women who wish to be vaccinated but were unable to be vaccinated due to pregnancy.

“The Oversight Committee will be presenting an analysis of the implications of this decision on services and options to be considered to address any gaps that might result from public servants who choose not to be vaccinated,” he said.

In relation to all teachers, Sogavare encouraged all education authorities to ensure that all their teachers are vaccinated.

He said the government assists all education authorities through grants and wishes to seek the cooperation of all education authorities to ensure that all teachers and staff funded through government support are vaccinated.

“With regards to all other employers in the country, while it is outside the jurisdiction of the government to enforce its policies on your corporations or companies, I emphasise that you all have a duty of care to protect this country from COVID-19,” the Prime Minister said.

Sogavare said Solomon Islands must learn from other countries where all employers in the private and public sector cooperated to achieve the country’s national vaccination targets so that their borders can reopen quickly.

“I must emphasise that to achieve the 90 percent target, we need the support of all employers, all churches, all communities to increase our vaccination rate to reach 20,000 doses per week. This will ensure we can reopen our borders fully by June 1, 2022,” he said.

The Prime Minister said if we can increase our vaccination numbers above 20,000 doses each week, we will be able to open our borders earlier than June 2022.

–OPMC PRESS

World food day honoured in style

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Mr Elvis kikolo and his friend smile with cassavas on their shoulders

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THIS year’s World Food Day was honoured with a variety of food displayed in style to raise awareness on the importance of food and to honour farmers in the country.

The three-day event commenced with a float parade starting from the Honiara City Council to Townground, featuring stakeholders and food farmers showcasing different food in their booths.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare who was the guest speaker of the event echoed, “We continue to invest in training our farmers, because the impacts of climate change on people’s live are really disturbing.”

One of the energy farmer enjoys the parade yesterday

He said his government will continue to invest in food security training in terms of supply of tools and equipment.

“We are committed a s government to growing the sector and making it more productive to support our business farmers to feed our nation, grow our economy for good living standard and to improve our health. In simple term this is our vison for the people of Solomon Islands and our nation,” Sogavare said.             

Jimi Saelea, Food Agriculture Representative (FAO) on behalf of FAO Director General Mr Qu Dongyu and FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for Pacific Islands, said this year’s World Food day is celebrated under the cloud of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“On this World Food Day (yesterday), we pay tribute to the Food Hero’s including our rural farmers, fishers, foresters, food processors, market vendors and the back yard gardeners who ensure we had food to eat.

Honiara Central Market vendors Association members

“This World Food Day also calls on all of us to become a food hero ourselves as we continue to transform the ways in which our food is produced, processed, stored, distributed and consumed,” Saelea said.  

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Ethel Francis said speaks highly of all farmers inside the country.

PS for MAL Ethel Francis delivers his speech

“Let me thank all of you our women farmers around the country for your role in the homes and in farming. We who are here today (yesterday) know our women’s contributions to the homes and this sector because we all have farming mothers.

“Allow me to pay respect to our many hardworking farmers around this beautiful country of ours because they are the ones who keeps the wheel turning for us.”

“We often look at the figures and value and forget where and how it happened and what the person that makes it happen went through. These are our unseen heros, true Solomon Islanders,” Ms Francis said.

MAL launches agriculture growth 10-yr plan

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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PM Sogavare and his delegation visiting the noni stall

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has launched its 10-year plan for Agriculture Sector Growth Strategy and Investment aimed at capturing the nature of Agriculture investment.

Speaking during the launching and commemoration of the World Food Day, Permanent Secretary for MAL Ethel Francis said this is the first-ever plan launched which will capture the nature of agriculture investment.

“Today (yesterday) we are officially launching our first ever 10-years Agriculture Sector Growth Strategy and Investment Plan 2021-2030.It is the first time we have a longer term plan to capture the nature of agriculture investment in that agriculture it takes time before you fully realise the return of your investment,” Ms Francis said.

Farmers taking part on the parade yesterday

“Our country vision for agriculture sector as presented in this strategy is for our nation to have a “A sustainable, competitive and profitable agriculture sector that enhances economic growth, food sovereignty and prosperity for all Solomon Islanders”. It identifies strategic opportunities and outline ambitious pathways to revitalise the sector,” Francis said.

She said the overall goals are to increase agriculture sector contribution to GDP, increase self-sufficiency through local food supply chains, decreased levels of stunting in children under five years, increased agricultural productivity and value addition , increased profitability for all value chain actors and decreased levels of people living below the poverty line.

Mr Daniel displays with his young helper dressed in copra bag

Jimmy Saelea on behalf of Food Association Organisation (FOA) commended the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock for having accomplished a historic milestone in the development of the 10-year Agriculture Sector Growth Strategy and Investment plan.

“FAO is pleased to have collaborated in this significant achievement with mal and OFAD in putting the plan together.

“This is a significant achievement for the government and MAL and Agriculture sector, more so the country. The agri-food systems in the country will now have a clear plan with which development partners and others may wish to invest. FAO support for plan does not stop here. Already FAO consultants are developing project concept notes and proposals to implement the plan,” Mr Saelea said.

Solomon Islanders bearing witness to climate change.

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Birds at Leorava Island

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

IN the Western Province, climate change has spelt death for many islands, but it has also given birth to one.

Across the jewel seas of the province, there are regretful scenes as small but beautiful islands fall victim to sea level rise caused by climate change.

A report published by Solomon Islands Government Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology on August this year states that, sea level is expected to increase between 0.29 to 1.05 metres by 2100 and will exacerbate coastal erosion and storm surges which already huge problems for low are laying islands.

In some cases, some coastlines may retreat by 30 metres by 2050.

The prediction is based on sea level data from the Honiara tide gauge with records starting from 1981.

A few minutes’ boat drive to the west of Gizo lies a wreckage of Nusa Ivili Island reduced to coral due to sea level rise.

Nusa Ivili was an inhabited Island but its beauty attracted people to frequently visit the island for picnics and leisure activities.

According to Freedom Tozaka, he and his friends last went to the island for a barbeque when returning from Choiseul province back in 2018.

Gizo resident, Freedom Tozaka

“I’m speechless to see how fast this island has sunk underwater. It is sad to see this island gone in a matter of 3 years.

“I was here in 2018 and this Island was full of life,” he said.

Further down, what used to be a ridge connecting Mburuburu islands, Nusa Belama and Sulumania Island has been reduced to sand drowning that one can barely see the landscape underwater.

Some of these small islands belong to Tozaka’s tribe and he said that with them some of their culture and traditional heritage have gone.

Tozaka is from one of the big islands in Western Province called Vella La Vella – few miles from the Islands.

His tribe’s connection to the islands came along way since head hunting days.

“These islands are our lives, we are connected to the islands and what lives within. We are helpless as climate change robbed us without warning. We cannot do much to save these islands,” Tozaka said.

A ridge connecting Mburburu Island, Nusa Belama Island and Sulumania Island reduced to Island due to sea level rise

When he was a child, Tozaka travelled to the island with his parents on a Seagull Engine for a picnic every weekend.

Now at sixty years old, Tozaka said the islands’ landscape has changed.

“These islands are getting smaller in size and there’s not much life within them, unlike in the 80s where we shared these paradise with the seabirds.

Patrick Vilaka, who worked as a boat driver for Western Province Education Authority, shares a similar sentiment saying that close to three small islands have perished recently around Gizo.

There is no official record on the number of disappearing Islands in Western Province. However people like Vilaka who frequently cruising the area have done their own math.

“For me, these islands are my traditional beacons when travelling at sea during bad weather. I used these islands for navigation. Now that they are gone, I find it quite difficult to navigate around these areas when travelling at night or during bad weather,” he said.

Amidst these sad events, there is a bright side of climate change that makes some people smile.

Approximately, 20 kilometres from Gizo, lies Leorava Island which recently came back to life.

Austin Beto, a 75 year-old local residence who live close to Leorava Island said the island was once a dinky little sand rising above the sea level but over the years, the island slowly expanded and in 2009, trees grew and full of life.

Austin Beto

Beto, who lived at Epanga Island in the late-1970s, recalled that his family used to go to Leaorava Island for picnics and fishing in 1990s.

“There was no trees that time but a beautiful beach filled with seabird eggs. Fish was also abundant on the island.

“It is interesting to see what the island has become,” Mr Beto said.

For Vilaka, Leorava Island is a new beacon when travelling eastward from Gizo.

“Leorava Island is like a transit destination for me when travelling from Noro to Gizo. I used to come and rest on the island before going to Gizo,” he said.

Like anywhere in the world, Solomon Islands is vulnerable to climate change.

In his statement during the launching of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) this year, Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology Titus Fika said Solomon Islands takes adaptation as a matter of survival and not just an option.

He said short to medium term adaptation priorities are set out in the country’s National Adaptation Programme of Action.

“Long-term adaptation plans will be captured in new National Adaptation Plan. Relocation of communities in low-lying and artificial islands must be supported now rather than later,” Fika said.

He said Solomon Islands is serious in meeting its mitigation targets as a moral contribution towards the goal of the Paris Agreement and at the same time to call on bigger emitters to drastically and immediately reduce their emissions to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 oC.

With its limited resources, below average support for resilience programs and other climate mitigation and adaptation activities, and a higher-than-average risk of climate-induced disasters, the people of western province are especially vulnerable.

SUIDANI FACES VOTE

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Premier Suidani is carried on a platform as he and his delegation was welcome by Malaitans in Auki .

Second no confidence motion filed against Malaita premier

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

MALAITA Premier Daniel Suidani is poised to face his second motion of no-confidence within a year when the Provincial Assembly meets towards the end of this month.

Members of the non-executive group filed the no confidence motion with the Office of the Malaita Provincial Assembly Speaker in Auki yesterday.

“I received notice of the motion at 11am today,” Speaker Ronnie Butala told Island Sun yesterday.

“After looking through the content of the notice, I’m satisfied it had met the criteria under standing orders 106 and 107,” he added.

“The notice will take seven clear days (excluding Saturday and Sunday) from the date of submission before it can be tabled in the provincial chamber for MPAs to debate.”

Butala said the motion will be debated on 27 October.

He has not provided contents of the motion.

Following the sacking of his deputy Randall Sifoni and the subsequent resignation of six executive members, Suidani is believed to be running a minority government.

In October last year, Suidani defeated the first no-confidence motion that was tabled against him.

Incompetence, financial mismanagement and abuse of office were some of the reasons given by provincial assembly member David Baerara for bringing the no confidence motion against Suidani last year.

However, when the motion was finally moved it was defeated by 24 votes to nine.

Suidani is an outspoken critic of the national government’s decision last year to switch Solomon Islands’ diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China.

His government’s refusal to allow any aid from Beijing into the province has been a source of friction at both the provincial and the national levels.

Manslaughter for man over Tenaru bridge deaths

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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The vehicle that was involved in the incident at the Tenaru bridge. PHOTO BENJAMIN AFUGA

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE man charged for causing death to five people at the Tenaru bridge in July this year is facing manslaughter.

Yesterday the Public Prosecution substituted the charges of causing death to five people by reckless and careless driving to that of manslaughter.

Having the initial charges substituted to manslaughter charges the defence is seeking time so that they obtain further instruction from the defendant for a plea on next occasion.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea then adjourned the case to October 25 for possible plea to be entered.

This is the case of Danny Benson who was arrested and charged in relation to the fatal road accident at the Tenaru Bridge East of Honiara on July 7, 2021 that took the lives of five people.

Police said the man was carelessly driving the vehicle from the Burns Creek area and his way up to Tenaru Bridge, the driver of the land cruiser saw an incoming vehicle on the Bridge and a parked vehicle at the western end of the Bridge, so the driver of the land cruiser decided to drive through the old Tenaru Bridge where a fundraising was happening.

The vehicle drove straight towards the crowd, hit several people and later stopped. The driver of the land cruiser escaped after the accident but was later arrested. It has been confirmed that the suspect was drunk. Some unknown person later burnt down the land cruiser into ashes.

Emy Rusi of the Public Solicitor’s Office appeared in court on behalf of her colleague Henry Kausimae who represents the accused yesterday.

100,620 doses of Pfizer to arrive soon

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

A total of 100,620 doses of Pfizer covid-19 vaccine has been confirmed to arrive in the country on October 29, 2021.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Pauline McNeil said this over the weekend.

“We are expecting our 100,620 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will arrive in the country on the 29th of October 2021,” McNeil said.

McNeil said this is administered through the COVAX facility with the support of UNICEF.

“In preparation for the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine, we have now had the ultra-cold chain the equipment which is positioned and stationed at the National Medical Store,” she said.

McNeil said the equipment has the capacity of minus 70 and minus 80 degree Celsius to store the Pfizer vaccine

“So, we have that installed and positioned lo medical store and we are expecting four smaller versions for that equipment that will be arriving,” she said.

COVID awareness for SIEA staff

Written by
Press Release
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Dr Sarah Habu (far right) of the Ministry of Health with Solomon power staff at the main head office.

COVID-19 threat to our health and lives is indiscriminate, every single person more especially those unvaccinated are at risk of getting very sick, admitted to the hospital and die from COVID-19.

As seen in many other countries including our neighbours Fiji and Papua New Guinea, the devastation of COVID-19 spans far and wide affecting almost all socio and economic sectors of the country.

Therefore, it is only fitting that collective efforts to fight against COVID-19 by every single member of the society and across all sectors.

Last week, the Ministry of Health is pleased to roll out COVID-19 awareness to staff of each department of the country’s electricity power provider, Solomon Power.

This includes corporate division, finance and customer services, regulatory and metering team, transmission, distribution, and generation.

A wonderful opportunity indeed that saw many whom have already taken their vaccines doses attending the sessions to increase their knowledge about the vaccines to spread the message to their families and friends.


MHMS’s Dian Maggie Row presenting to Solomon Power Staff COVID-19 vaccines.

Few who are yet to get their jabs had the opportunity to ask questions to Ministry of Health’s health promotion officers and doctor accompanying the team to ensure that all concerns, doubts, fears and anxiety properly addressed.

Director Health Promotion Adrian Leamana said that health promotion unit engaged to manage risk communication related to the current COVID-19 vaccine roll out is encouraged to see requests from various organizations and institutions for COVID-19 vaccine awareness.

“It was a pleasure indeed for our team to have conducted the session with Solomon Power last week and more importantly that even those who already had their jabs also attended to acquire more information about the vaccines to share with their families and friends,” Leamana said.

“There is significant level of limitations that our teams are facing in pushing these messages right down to the majority of our population at homes and in our most rural and remote communities,” he added.

“Therefore, using family and friends network can be effective and efficient in ensuring these messages trickle down to where it should reach.”

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