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AUKI AWAITS SUIDANI

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Premier of Malaita province Daniel Suidani

Hero’s welcome expected for returning premier

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

A huge reception is being planned to welcome premier Daniel Suidani when he arrives in provincial capital Auki.

Suidani is expected to leave the GBR Quarantine facility tomorrow.

The Auki reception is organised by Malaita For Democracy (M4D) and members of the public to receive the provincial leader after his successful medical trip overseas.

Suidani and delegation arrived on September 17 and underwent 21 days mandatory quarantine in Honiara.

According to a plan schedule, Suidani and delegation will be met by members of his executive led by traditional dancers and pan-pipers upon his arrival at Auki wharf on Monday, October 11.

The procession will continue from the wharf into Auki town where the official programme will be held, including speeches from acting premier Lenty, premier Suidani and his advisor.

The ceremony will end with a few remarks from president of M4D and entertainment from traditional dancing groups.

In Honiara, it’s understood Malaitans are planning to meet Suidani outside the GRB Quarantine facility when he comes out.

Since last month, the Suidani-led MARA government has been faced with political upheaval after the sacking of his former deputy premier and the resignation of six of his executive members.

The upheaval still remains as tug of war continue to exert between his government and the non-executive side of the assembly and even the national government.

The public of Auki hope that his arrival back home will have an impact on resolving the current situation.

Malaitans urged to get vaxxed

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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An overwhelmng turn-out for the vaccination launch in Auki.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Wale is urging communities in Malaita to take up vaccination due to the slow roll out there.

This is in light of the overall slow roll out in the whole country.

Speaking at the special adjournment in Parliament yesterday, Wale said there is a need to double, may be even triple the resources allocated to this all important aspect of our preparedness.

“I call on communities that have misgivings about the vaccines to at least be open to an honest facts based conversation about them.

“I especially call on Malaita communities that I hear are resisting vaccination to accept a process of dialogue about their fears to ensure that the safety of the country is not jeopardized by the irrational fears of some,” he said.

“I am aware that in Malaita some have been spreading alarm about the vaccines based on fearmongering that is probably driven by political paranoia.

“I call on all such people to embrace the facts and science about vaccines, and allow all eligible Malaitans to receive the vaccines,” he said.

Furthermore, Wale said the government must urgently also roll-out vaccines for 12 to 17 year olds.

He said this is such a sizeable chunk of our demographics, so that they are able to realistically aim for 90% of our population.

In addition, Wale said the healthcare system is at breaking point, even without having to cope with community transmission of covid-19.

He said the Health committee’s report on the implementation of the 2009 recommendations show there are serious structural weaknesses in our healthcare system, particularly at the NRH.

“These matters have been postponed for so many years.

“How many more years should government postpone action on these matters for?” he asked.

“Who should be held accountable for this neglect?

“Nobody in government seems to take responsibility for this very important matter. No amount of drip feeding of resources will address these issues,” he said.

Wale said the current healthcare system was crafted in the 1970s for a national population of around 200,000.

He said there is need for serious significant investment in the healthcare sector which must include radical structural reforms to give the country any realistic chance of having a better quality healthcare system.

Wale calls for halt to mining here

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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A recent mining exploration on Isabel Province. Photo by Axiom Mining Solomon Islands.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

OPPOSITION Leader, Mathew Wale calls on the Government to place an indefinite moratorium on mining licenses.

He said the moratorium must cover both prospecting and mining leases until a new legislation has been passed in parliament or at the very least that the weaknesses in the current law are rectified.

Speaking at the Special Adjournment motion in Parliament yesterday, Wale said the first-come-first-served rule in the current law is outdated and is a great risk to the proper management of our minerals sector. 

He said it is being exploited by companies with dubious capacity owned by shareholders with dubious character.

“The government’s policy to fast track three mining licenses is a bad decision,” Wale said.

“Our minerals are a non-renewable resource and must be protected,” he added.

Wale said the companies that are being considered for these fast-tracked licenses have a clear and direct association with individuals we know from the logging industry to have participated in transfer pricing and other illegal and unethical conduct.

He said the government must not allow the practices in the logging industry to be migrated over to the mining industry.

“If no changes are made to current legislation before those licenses are issued, it will be clear that government is intent on ensuring that those bad practices are repeated in mining.

“And this country and its people will again be the biggest losers,” he said.

Wale said it is a terrible excuse to say these licenses need to be fast-tracked to increase government revenues.

“We would rather be poor than continue to be raped and looted by these dubious foreigners,” he added.

Maka police station yet to be renovated

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services is still to construct or refurbish the run-down Maka police station in Southern region of Malaita province, though there is an existing plan to inspect and refurbish the station.

Minister Anthony Veke explained this when asked by MP for Small Malaita, Rick Hou in Parliament on Tuesday.

Hou said the Maka Police Station, in the southern region of Malaita Province, was a component of the

institutional strengthening programme under the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

He said it is now more than 5 years since the departure of RAMSI from Solomon Islands.

Hou asked:

  1. What is the progress on the work on Maka Police station?
  2. What is the Government’s plan for Maka Police Station, and other police stations in Malaita?

Veke said the slow progress is due to the following reasons:

  1. The Fixed Term Estate of Maka land is expired; and
  2. Land dispute.

Veke said in relation to the Fixed Term Estate, the Commissioner of Land resumed the land and therefore the land belongs to the government.

“Therefore, the Fixed Term issue is resolved, however we still have an issue with land dispute.

“The Ministry of Police has received a letter early this year asking Ministry of Police to evacuate the land,” he said.

“So, there are people who claim ownership of the land so because of that the Ministry hold back abit and try to do consultation on different parties that claim ownership of Maka land where the police facility is,” he added.

Furthermore, Veke said in terms of Government’s plan to refurbish Maka and other police stations in Malaita, the Ministry has infrastructure strategic plan that include construction of new police buildings and upkeep and maintenance of deteriorating buildings inclusive of police infrastructures in Malaita province as well.

“Hence like other provinces, the Ministry tries to work within the limited resources that is available and prioritized infrastructure of police within Malaita that are critical to the services in Malaita province

“The Ministry will continue to make assessments to identify the critical infrastructure need for Malaita province for immediate resolve within the tight resources where it is available now,” he said.

However, Hou said he has raised the issue since 2012 and received the same answers.

He said there is an alternative location at Afio which belongs to the Government through the province and has no dispute.

Veke said the Ministry is aware of the proposed site where he believes the MP himself is proposing.

He said there was a visit done in 2019 on the proposed site to replace if they hard to solve Maka.

“Unfortunate there few things that need to meet the criteria of Royal Solomon Islands Police Force on that particular site.

“There is a hold back on the particular site,” he said.

Veke said the Ministry wants to solve Maka because it is existing to refurbish or construct a new site.

However, Hou said the Minister is giving a lame excuse because the land at Afio is over 100 hectares of land and belongs to the government.

“In 2009, I brought the then Commissioner of Police and then Permanent Secretary to visit Maka.

“They promised us to do something about it. We wait but nothing done about it. Iam disappointing this is left unattend for people in Southern Region,” he said.

Veke assured Hou that next year’s programme of RSIPF for construction of new police post in Malaita, Maka, Atori and Atoifi included, funded by partners in RSIPF as well as Auki Police headquarters.

12 plead not guilty to Taimareho tragedy

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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27 lives were lost on the MV Taimareho in April 2020 when the ship sailed through rough weather.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE directors, General Manager, captains and the West Are’are Constituency shipping company have entered not guilty pleas to charges regarding the April 2020 incident that cost 27 lives at sea.

The plead this to 102 counts under the Shipping Act.

Their case has been adjourned to November 4, 2021 for a pre-trial conference before High Court Judge Justice Maelyn Bird.

The 12 defendants are charged in relation to the sea tragedy incident involving the ship MV Taimareho that caused the death of 27 people at sea in April 3, 2020.

The 12 defendants are charged under the shipping Act 1998, which include sending an unsafe vessel to sea, Vessel going to sea without a valid certificate, taking an unsafe vessel to sea, disciplinary offence, failing to keep an official log book, failing to notify the principal surveyor of change in condition of a vessel and not complying with the convention international on standards of training certification and watch keeping for seafarers.

The defendants on this case are charged under the 1998 Shipping Act.

They are Michael Roy Galo (ship master) Joe Malepa and Stephen Waina’a (captains) Shipping Directors are Esther Hoasihere, John Bosco Houanihunu, Lawrence Hunumeme, Stephen Maahanua, Aaron Oritaimae, William Parairato and Aloysius Poiohia and the General Manager Cypriano Taamora.

This is the case relating to the incident occurred on April 3, 2020 and 27 innocent lives were lost at sea in Malaita when MV Taimareho

The tragedy struck as the ship was carrying people from West Are’are back to their home villages during the national repatriation exercise ordered by the prime minister last year as the threat of covid-19 began in the South Pacific, drawing nearer to the Solomon Islands.

Only six bodies were recovered during the search.

Samuel Tovosia appeared on behalf of the Director Public Prosecution while the Public Solicitor George Gray represents Michael Roy Galo and a Private lawyer James Apaniai represents Joe Malepa, Stephen Waina’ai, WAC SHIPPING COMMUNITY COMPANY LIMITED and the Directors of  WAC SHIPPING COMMUNITY COMPANY LIMITED

PM and Chinese envoy sign agreement on economic and technical cooperation

Written by
Press Release
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Prime Minister Sogavare signed on behalf of the Solomon Islands Government in his capacity as Acting Finance and Treasury Minister.

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare yesterday signed the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation with Chinese Ambassador Li Ming.

Sogavare signed on behalf of the Solomon Islands Government in his capacity as Acting Finance and Treasury Minister.

The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation is for the implementation of injection of Rural Constituency Development Programme support in the year 2021, the 2023 Pacific Games Project and the Solomon Islands National University Dormitory Buildings Project.

Speaking during the brief ceremony, Sogavare said the signing further strengthens the shared national interests between both countries.

He also acknowledged the relationship between both countries reflecting on the exciting developments ahead of the Pacific Games 2023.

Sogavare said the commitment by China in developing Solomon Islands has now come to fruition with the major developments towards the Pacific Games in 2023.

Ambassador Li in response said China will continue to assist the Solomon Islands in its development endeavors.

He said the signing is a very important step to implement the consensus reached between the Prime Minister and the Chinese President.

Li said relationship between both countries have achieved a lot since its establishment not long ago.

He said the signing is also a positive step in the infrastructure development for the Pacific Games 2023.

The Chinese ambassador also acknowledged the Government and people of Solomon Islands for the ongoing friendship and support.

–OPMC PRESS

National Security Reporting Course held for journalists

Written by
Press Release
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Participants of the NSR course with speakers and facilitators in the first session

THE Australia Pacific Security College (PSC) in collaboration with the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) have commenced a National Security Reporting Course for journalists based in Honiara and Gizo.

“Leading the National Security Conversation” will be the topic of discussions for these journalist participants over the next four weeks online.

Speaking at the opening programme, MASI vice-president Douglas Marau said the issues of national security surrounding climate change, geopolitics and resource security would be the main topics for discussions during the duration of the course.

Marau also briefly highlighted the National Security Strategy document launched by the Government in November last year and the need for the media to align itself to the strategy as an important partner in national security reporting.

He said the media plays an important role in national security reporting.

“I believe some of the important interrogations that will surface during our discussions will include the important role media plays in the governance of the security sector; as well as the challenges that impede the media’s ability to provide effective oversight over security institutions,” he said.

The MASI vice-president also highlighted challenges faced by journalists reporting on security issues, which include restriction to certain information for public dissemination and the vulnerability because of modern technology and the free flow of uncensored information on social media platforms.

On the other hand, he said the media also has a duty of care and responsibility to make sure they release information that will not cause anxiety, fear and information that is a threat to national security.

“Nevertheless, the media and security sectors are mutually dependent on each other.

“The media plays an important role in our national security and this is the most important feat that must be acknowledged,” Marau said.

Other speakers in the opening session are Professor David Gegeo, Head of Humanities and Science at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and Professor Meg Keen of the Australia National University (ANU).

Dr Steve Sharp, owner of TME Media and Education Services, a Sydney-based consultancy is leading the course while MASI President Georgina Kekea is facilitating the sessions locally.

Participants to this course will have the opportunity to reflect on the importance of reliable reporting and the timely flow of information – all of which are vital for the strength and security of the Solomon Islands.

The objectives of the course are to enhance participants’ journalistic and communication skills in reporting and conveying information on security issues.

PSC has worked with senior editors in the Solomon Islands media to identify the topics of priority to use as case study material to ensure relevance and a degree of realism.

MASI acknowledges the support provided by PSC especially by its staff Jay Caldwell and Kalei Billings–Dugucanavanua.

The MASI Board also thanked the Editors of the mainstream media for their input in this NSR course.

Building a stronger MASI

Written by
Press Release
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MASI Board Members and AHC’s Kevin Playford with the equipment funded by the Australian Government.

THE Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) will be better equipped to carry out its important role of building a skilled, independent and ethical media sector in Solomon Islands after receiving new equipment funded by the Australian Government.

Yesterday, the Australian High Commission handed over equipment worth over $58,000 to the President of MASI, Georgina Keka and representatives of the MASI Board as a part of an existing grant to strengthen the training of journalists in Solomon Islands.

The laptops, cameras, webcam and projector handed over to MASI will assist with connecting journalists to remote/virtual workshop opportunities delivered by regional media organisations such as PACMAS (the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme).

It will also assist with training journalists to use new technology to report responsibly through new mediums such as mobile storytelling.

The equipment grant complements existing funding provided by the Australian Government enabling MASI to conduct a 40-day scoping study on media accreditation in Solomon Islands with consultations held in Auki, Gizo and Lata.

Once completed in November 2021, the scoping study will identify ways for MASI to assist in protecting Solomon Islands’ media industry as well as developing mechanisms to hold Solomon Island journalists to an expected ethical standard for their work.

At the handover ceremony Ms Kekea thanked the Australian High Commission for the equipment and said “this equipment will greatly assist MASI to support its members, especially in training sessions.

“Equipment such as these are basic tools needed to carry out our work effectively. Most times participants come to trainings and sessions unequipped. However having these equipment in place, will greatly assist facilitators and participants in future training and workshops”.

Highlighting the importance of the media as an institution in society, Political Counsellor Kevin Playford said the media is an essential component of any liberal democracy.

“An objective and skilled media sector ensures the public is kept well informed about issues of national significance,” Playford said.

“We hope that this new equipment will assist MASI to continue to build the capacity of journalists in Solomon Islands to report accurately and responsibly on issues affecting the nation.”

PARL PASSES TELCO BILL

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

All sims cards will soon be registered

By EDDIE OSIFELO

PARLIAMENT passed the Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill 2021 yesterday despite earlier recommendations from the Bills and Legislative Committee to have it withdrawn.

This came after the Committee of the Whole House adopted changes to some of the clauses in the Bill, that will form part of a new Act.

The changes resulted in deletion of some sections and substitution of others.

Also, some sections were omitted while new sections have been inserted.

Further to that, the changes omit the penalty units in the bill and substitute the maximum penalty for individual to $50,000 penalty units and five years imprisonment, while penalty for corporate bodies is $500,000 penalty unit.

Minister of Communication and Aviation, Peter Shanel Agovaka said the new Act will accommodate the changes.

However, MP for East Are Are and chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Peter Kenilorea Junior said on social media after the passage of the bill said despite recommendation for the withdrawal of the bill in its current form, the Government has the numbers so they pushed through the bill regardless of the many flaws the Bills and Legislative committee identified.

“We had to read the bill with its corrigendum.

“I think we were pushing it today in parliament as to what the definition of a ‘corrigendum’ is.

“The ‘corrigendum’ we saw in parliament contained new drafting amending the amendment bill itself,” he said.

Kenilorea said the corrigendum contained substantial amendment to the amendment bill.

“It was a disheartening exercise as a lawmaker as I know the law parliament passed today could have been better,” he added.

This bill will see compulsory registration of all prepaid SIM cards that are sold by service providers in the country.

It establishes the minimum age for purchasing SIM card, which is 15, and requires person to provide valid ID when purchasing SIM cards from the service providers or their agents.

The service providers (Our Telekom and Bmobile) and agents will be responsible for establishing an electronic registry for recording accurate information to identify the purchasers.

Parliament continues today.

Suidani asked to clarify $5m help from Taiwan

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Premier of Malaita province Daniel Suidani

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

MALAITA Provincial Assembly Member for ward 11 Elizah Asilaua has called on Premier Daniel Suidani to clarify the $5 million financial assistance from Republic of China (Taiwan) last year.

Asilaua said the financial assistance came in the name of the Malaita people and the premier must clarify how they spent that money.

He said how ROC provided that $5m assistance was also done without consultation with the executive members and the assembly; the arrangement was done by the Premier himself, his advisor and the then suspended Provincial Secretary.

“And during the executive meeting the premier confirmed to us that the financial assistance provided by Taiwan is for payment of 20030 bags of rice for all 33 wards in Malaita which was not forth coming.

“Only 17 wards in Malaita got their shares with 200 bags of rice each other 16 wards still without any rice till now, so Premier Suidani you must explain and clarify to the people of Malaita what have you and your team spent on the 5M dollar financial assistance from Taiwan,” Asilaua claimed.

He said they have been calling on the Premier to provide a break-down and report on that money but he has not responded.

Asilaua also claimed that even transport hiring for delivery of rice during that time was not paid as well and the truck owners are still asking for their bills.

Asilaua said all arrangements made in the Malaita Provincial Government was only made by the premier without any consultation from his executives and the assembly.

Asilaua also said that the action of Premier Suidani with his cronies in securing financial assistance from Taiwan and diplomatic ties with ROC cause a serious doubt on the integrity and quality of leadership by Premier Suidani; worst still, assistance from Taiwan was made outside of the legal framework of Governance under the Provincial Fund.

Asilaua also claimed that the money from Taiwan purposely was to fund MARA on its planned activities inside Malaita Province and this is a clear case where the Speaker of the Malaita Provincial Assembly should apply section 15 (subsection 1) under the provincial government act and disqualify Suidani as MPA.

“Therefore, we do not have the trust and confidence on Suidani’s government as he is very much listening on his advisor rather his colleague ministers,” Asilaua added.

Comments are being sought from Suidani.

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