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Govt yet to pay $22M to Mamara investor

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Work on the Mamara City project last year.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Government is still to pay the $22 million to Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd.

This following rumours that the Government has paid the company owned by  Singapore’s Metropolis Pacific Ptd Limited.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI), Riley Mesepitu said there is no payment yet.

Mesepitu said the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey will facilitate the payment.

However, he said so far there is no payment unless an agreement is signed.

Mesepitu said the Government Communication Unit is expected to put out a press releases this week explaining the issue of payment to the company.

In a leaked letter from the current developer, Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd dated 17 May 2021, the company is seeking Government to prepare a payment of more than $21 million for the first 30 completed houses proposed for the Public Servants Housing Scheme.

The letter was addressed to the Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, Hon. Frederick Kologeto and copied to a number for Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and the Premier of Guadalcanal Province

The houses include:

  1. Type A: 3 bedroom and 2-bathroom costs $997,000 each. So, the 5 houses will cost $4,987,500.
  2. Type B: 3 bedroom and 1 bathroom cost $798,000 each. So, the 10 houses will cost $7,980,000.
  3. Type C: 2 bedroom and 1 bathroom cost $598,500 each. So, the 15 houses will cost $8,977,500.

A citizen, Michael Salini posted on Yumi Tok Tok Forum on social media in May 20 this year, there are serious concerns already expressed by Solomon Islanders who believe their tax dollars have been used by the government to construct and pay for the Mamara housing estate.

“For its part the Solomon Islands Government has not been forthcoming with its MoU with Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd.

“Similarly, the government has not been transparent with the public about its financial arrangements with Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd,” Salini said.

He said the MoU and financial arrangements between the Solomon Islands Government and Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd were endorsed by the Cabinet.

“There has been suggestions in the past by critics of the government’s involvement in the Mamara housing development that the Solomon Islands Government would ultimately pay for the houses.

“The letter by Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd is now confirmation that taxpayers of Solomon Islands will be used to pay for these pre-fab houses at Mamara Estate,” he added.

Relatives of late Mary demands harsh justice for perpetrators.

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Women and children demanding protection for vulnerable individuals and people with disability. Photo BY MAVIS PODOKOLO

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

RELATIVES of the late Mary Aram, 8 who was allegedly raped and murdered on Kolombangara Island last month says lenient court rulings on rape cases in the country are sending the wrong signals to rapists.

And as such, they demand that punishment for similar crimes committed on their daughter and other victims to start at 50 years to life imprisonment.

The call was made by John Aram- Kealau, uncle of the late Mary during a public demonstration held on Thursday to remember and call for justice in the case of the young child and those who met the same fate over the years.

Mr Kealau said they are appalled knowing that rape cases over the years have finished with light sentences handed out of between 1-5 years imprisonment for these offenders.

“Our society is sending the wrong message to rapists and persons with sick minds.

“We are saying it’s okay to rape, and you can get away with only 2 years, 5 years or 8 years.

“This is insane!!… a girl is traumatized for her life-time and yet the rapists are going to walk free in just a few years,” he added.

Mr, Kealau said as relatives of late Mary, they are appealing to the government and lawmakers to make amendments and begin sentences of rape cases from 50 years or life imprisonment with no release on parole.

“We further call on attempted rape cases and defilement case sentencing to start at 20 years or more.

He said the country must be serious to save the lives of our children and women from these people, who are not even worthy to be called humans.

“Let’s start sending a message that the justice system in this country cannot let rapists go free,” he remarked.

GP BOYCOTTS MPGIS MEET

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Ministry fails us, says Tahisihaka

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Guadalcanal Province Executive has boycotted a two-day meeting/training organised by the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).

The training was scheduled to begin yesterday.

GP government has presented its reasons to the MPGIS for the boycott.

GP’s Minister for Finance and Administration Andrew Tahisihaka explains his government’s decision:

“MPGSI has failed to seriously pursue and facilitate the submission from the Provincial Assemblies to the Parliamentary Entitlement Commission (PEC) through MPGSI for the review of the Members of the Provincial Assembly entitlements since 2019.

“It has become apparent the MPGIS through its policies and approach is indiscriminately targeting the Members of the Provincial Assembly by subjecting them to increasing scrutiny this is evident through the trend observed in the recent audit reports and policy direction.”

Tahisihaka added that the third point is that the current approach by MPGIS regarding policies developed and implemented is not empowering the leaders of Guadalcanal province.  

He said the fourth reason is, members of the Guadalcanal Executive strongly believe that the Permanent Secretary of MPGIS is not using the correct communication channel to discuss and address the issues raised to MPGIS by Guadalcanal.

He said the fifth point is that Guadalcanal and Malaita provinces continue to have the Federal Government System at heart as stipulated in the Townsville Peace Agreement (TPA).

“The political goal for greater autonomy, GP including Malaita and the rest of the province in the country, remains critical thus the progress towards achievement of such vision should be embraced by MPGIS in its relationship with all the provinces.

“Point number six, in relations to the failure of dealing decisively with the gazetting of the 10 Ordinance passed by the Guadalcanal Provincial Assembly in 2020 is unacceptable.”

He stressed one of reason also is poor planning for the current training, the administrative function of the province has been severely affected for the past three weeks. 

Tahisihaka said the last point is Members of the Provincial Assembly are elected by the people of Guadalcanal being an elected member of the Assembly, they are vested with certain powers in carrying out its functions and providing provincial services.

Comments are being sought from the MPGIS.

Motion against speaker still stands: Suidani

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

The motion of no-confidence against the Speaker of the Malaita provincial assembly still stands, says Premier Daniel Suidani.

He says the motion will be tabled in the coming provincial budget sitting.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, Suidani said initially the motion was for the speaker and his deputy, but the one against the deputy has been withdrawn since he has joined the executive.

This leaves Butala alone to face the motion.

In an interview, deputy speaker Joe Heroau said he was asked to join the executive if he wanted the motion against him dropped.

“I accepted the offer and condition given and I’m happy to be part of the executive government,” Heroau said.

Suidani said in preparation for the budget meeting; MARA government proposed its executive meeting to begin on Monday, October 8 to look at the provincial budget.

After, the Provincial Publics Account Committee (PAC) will look into the budget before debating it in the full assembly on the following week.

“The motion against the speaker will table during the meeting.”

The motion was filed by Suidani on October 19 against both speaker and his deputy, a day after a notice of no confidence motion has issued against premier.

The motion against premier Suidani failed to reach the floor of the assembly after the people of Malaita staged a peace march on the mover of the motion, Elijah Asilaua, urging him to withdraw it.

Since then, the MARA government after suffering numerical strengthen had been recovering and the recent inclusion of Heroau has made MARA government back in number with 17 MPAs in the 33-ward province.

Short supply sends betel nut prices up

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

BETEL nut prices have skyrocketed to $4 this week due to scarcity of the product from suppliers on Guadalcanal.

According to one vendor, a 10 kilogramme bag betelnut used to cost $80 to $90 but now is nearly $200.

While the 20kg bag of betelnut used to cost $170-$190, it has now increased between $500 and $700.

“This is the reason why we increase the price of our betel together with its leaf to $4.

“The small betel nuts with its leaf cost about $3,” the vendor said.

One vendor said she told her customers to take betelnuts through credit in order to make profit from the sale.

“If I allow people to take on credit, I will not make any profit because the bag of betel nuts is very expensive now,” she said.

With the country now in the rainy season, vendors are expecting low supplier of betelnuts until next year.

According to University of Hawaii, the scientific name for betel nut, sometimes spelled betelnut, is Areca catechu.

It is currently only found in cultivation so the exact origin of the species is unknown. South Asia, southeast Asia, and the Philippines have been suggested as areas of origin.

The kernels of both green and ripe fruits (often called “nuts”) are chewed as an astringent and stimulant, often in combination with the leaves or fruit of betel pepper (Piper betel) and lime.

Betel nut was introduced to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the western Micronesian islands by early indigenous voyagers.

Since then, its use and cultivation has spread eastward to Fiji, Samoa, and other Pacific islands.

It is a major commercial crop in south Asia where it is widely used, but in the Pacific, it is generally grown for local consumption or for interisland trade.

Bigger countries fail Paris Agreement

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Climate change effects on the Mangrove habitat in Isabel Province

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Paris Agreement is one of the important frameworks to mitigate effects of climate change through ambitions to reduce global emission.

The agreement also establishes an avenue for financial assistance to most vulnerable countries who are incapable of helping themselves due to poor financial capacity.

Solomon Islands is one of the vulnerable countries who has very limited financial capacity to fight against climate change.

In an interview with Island Sun Gizo, Deputy Secretary (Technical) of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Chanel Iroi, said decision on Long Term Finance (LTF) must be reached at the COP26 meeting.

He said endorsement of the LTF will not only provide financial leverage to struggling small island states but also honor the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage which was one of the resolutions of Paris Agreement.

Iroi said Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on the effect of climate change in the coming years reemphasized the need for world leaders to endorse and roll out the LTF to vulnerable countries.

He said ground work on Loss and Damages must continue at the same time global leaders must make the right choice to reduce emissions so as facilitating financial resources towards mitigation and adaptation programs.

Iroi said priority areas for slow onset events and non-economic losses on the international stage while incorporate “limits to adaptation” in National Adaptation Plans and other GCF proposals is important.

Island Sun understands that IPCC is a piece of information that would save the world if world leaders listen and take the report’s recommendation seriously.

According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, evidence of climate change danger is irrefutable and that greenhouse gas emissions are choking the earth and placing billions of people in danger.

He said global heating is affecting every region on Earth, with many of the changes becoming irreversible.

“We must act decisively now to avert a climate catastrophe,” Guterres said.

The IPCC report was compiled by a group of scientists who the United Nation described them as the “a code red for humanity”.

Nepotism a drawback to local voices

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

Solomon Islands has entered an alliance with Small Island States to voice concern over the effects of climate change at the COP26 meeting.

Head of Solomon Islands Delegation to COP26, Channel Iroi said the approach will make it easier for Solomon Islands to be heard at the international level.

He said Solomon Islands continues to face challenges when it comes to voicing its concerns as bigger countries always put their voice at the top while suppressing small island states who are more vulnerable to climate change.

“Solomon Islands is a Least Developed Country (LDC) and a Small Island Developing State that is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, voicing our issues and key positions through negotiation groups such as the LDC group and Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) is vital,” he said.

Iroi said Solomon Islands already submitted its revised nationally determined contributions (NDC) Agreement on the “Common Time Frame” for elaboration at the COP26 meeting.

He said Solomon Islands position is to have a “5 plus 5” time frame.

“Every five years, countries must communicate two consecutive NDCs at the same time – one is an update, and the other is a new NDC for the period starting in five years’ time,” Iroi explained.

Australia supports Temotu’s remote Reef islands

Written by
Press Release
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Matema community welcomes the DAP project visit and looks forward to the completion of the project

The Australian Government through the Direct Aid Programme (DAP) has funded a new permanent pigpen project, led by Mathew Nare, to assist the Nola community in the Reef islands, Temotu province, generate income by selling their pigs.

Australian High Commission First Secretary Political Jessica Carpenter handed over the pigpen on October 19 during a wonderful cultural celebration at Nola.

The communities of Nola thanked the Australian Government for funding the project, which will encourage small sustainable economic growth and increase food security for the local community.

Father Arthur Amble and Chief John Mark Paso, the community representatives of Nola Village, expressed their gratitude for Australia’s support during the handover ceremony.

“This is the first visit from the Australian High Commission and the first Australian funded project we received in our community,” said Chief Paso. “Australia has not forgotten us.”

Ms Carpenter thanked the people of Nola for their warm and friendly welcome, proudly demonstrating their culture. Congratulating the local community for successfully completing the project, she said:

“The Australian Government is proud to be working with the people of Nola to ensure that men and women in the communities learn and acquire new skills on modern livestock and farming methods. We look forward to seeing this farm up and running soon, providing a lasting benefit for the community into the future.”

As part of the trip to the Reef Islands, on October 20 the DAP team travelled to Matema Island where the Australian Government through DAP funded four 5,000 litre water tanks. Facing the impacts of climate change, including salination of ground water, these tanks are crucial for the water security of the community going forward. The Matema community welcomed the DAP team upon arrival with song, dance, entertainment and feasting.

The High Commission looks forward to visiting Matema again in the future, once the project is complete. As a remote island, transportation of materials has been a challenge. We applaud the community for its resilience and commitment in the face of hardship.

The Direct Aid Program is a small grants fund managed by the Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands, which supports community-led projects and seeks to improve living standards.

–AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION

Launching Digital Governance here

Written by
Press Release
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Permanent Secretary McKinnie Dentana with Australian High Commission Counsellor Kevin Playford pictured with staff of the ICT Center, at the launch of several new ICT projects.

IN the ever-increasing global digital economy, electronic governance or ‘e-governance’ is the way of the future – more and more governments around the world are digitising their services to maximise efficiency and make government administration more transparent, quick, and accountable.

At the request of the Solomon Islands Government Australia is dedicated to working with partners to help modernise major Solomon Islands Government Information and Communications Technology (ICT) systems.

The recent completion of several upgrades to Government ICT systems builds on Australia’s infrastructure investment in the high-speed fibre optic internet cable project, the Coral Sea Cable System, alongside which the importance cyber security and infrastructure resilience must be recognised.

Timely upgrades to both software and hardware ensures government services are available to citizens in a convenient, safe, and transparent manner, and the networks and devices we use are protected from attempts to damage or destroy their function.

In a world where we are increasingly reliant on technology in our day to day lives, prioritising cyber security strengthening also preserves data privacy and protects sensitive information.

To this end, recent upgrades to the Windows Server operating platform and licences now align with Microsoft support and security recommendations, making internet access and anti-virus protection function more effectively and securely.

Further, the installation of security cameras and access controls, and procurement of storage hardware from Australia for the Solomon Islands data-center, has bolstered the physical security of the new ICT premises built with Australian support in 2019.

Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded challenges to the ICT landscape, in Solomon Islands and across the world.

Yet at the same time, the pandemic has created opportunities, including for Solomon Islands ICT Services, by fast-tracking enhancements to connectivity.

Reliable access to external technical assistance, training through virtual meetings, and better ICT security enables large-scale access to the benefits of remote working.

To support remote connectivity is Australia’s investment in the upgrade of Citrix, the platform which enables users to access government ICT servers virtually.

These advancements are part of a package of eight ICT support projects supported by Australia totaling approximately SBD $8.9 million.

At the launch on 3 November, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury McKinnie Dentana congratulated the ICT Services staff and acknowledged the importance the Government of Solomon Islands places on enhancing ICT:

“In this growth industry, we need to move forward with the commitments under our ICT strategy – including enhancing security and infrastructure and expanding IT services into the provinces.”

“E-commerce and e-governance are priority areas, and we value the continued support of our stakeholders, as we continue to grow the skills of our workforce and contribute to Solomon Islands’ economic growth”.

Australian High Commission Counsellor Kevin Playford, also acknowledged the critical role ICT plays in service delivery for governments:

“ICT is such a critical part of our world these days and an essential tool for the effective functioning of the public service.

“There are changes and evolutions all the time, it’s hard to keep up, but it’s becoming increasingly vital for the effective functioning of government.”

Counsellor Playford also paid tribute to the Solomon Island Governments’ leadership and commitment in modernizing ICT systems software, and applications to improve the delivery of services for the people of this country.

“It takes time and effort to coordinate and sequence priorities and stay on the front foot of emerging changes to both technology and its supporting infrastructure, and yet Australia’s partnership with Solomon Islands to date has brought significant improvements of which we can be proud, and excited.  

“We are delighted to continue partnering to harness the incredible and life-changing power of technology and help the government improve its delivery of services for the people of the Solomon Islands”.

Australia has been supporting Solomon Islands Government ICT Services since 2003.

More recently, since 2017, Australia has delivered key investments including the new ICT Services Building in Lengakiki, the Data Centre, the 5-year ICT Strategic Plan, an ICT Training Lab, Solomon Islands Government Portal and Mobile APP, the Security Operations Centre, license upgrades in the Service Monitoring Centre, and significant upgrades to the IT Service Management System.- Australian High Commission Press

210,439 DOSES TAKEN

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0

Only 11% of population fully vaccinated

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

A total of 210,439 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far.

They include both AstraZeneca and Sinopharm, health Permanent Secretary Pauline McNeil says.

She added said the 210,439 figure was recorded as of 29 October 2021.

“With this, the number of people who completed their second doses is   47,417 which is equivalent to 11.4 percent of population,” McNeil said.

“I thanked those of you who have come forward and get your full dose of COVID-19 vaccines.”

McNeil said the number of people who have received their first dose is 115,309, adding some need to come forward for their second doses.

“So that is still our call to urge those of you who have your second dose overdue to come forward.

“Those of you who are yet to get your first dose please come forward also and those in the provinces that are yet to be reached by our health teams to please be on standby.”

Attorney General John Muria Junior also urges unvaccinated people to come forward and get their COVID-19 vaccine to help protect themself, family, community, and country.”

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