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BIG PROJECTS LINE-UP HERE

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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World Bank.

WB, ADB outline project offers

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SIX World Bank projects are still in the pipeline to be implemented in the Solomon Islands.

This comes after the Bank supported 8 active projects worth around USD$279 million (SBD$2.2 billion) mainly in transport, energy, water and sanitation and health sectors.

Alison Ofatalau of World Bank told the 2021 Infrastructure Symposium at the Forum Fisheries Agency yesterday that the six pipeline projects would be taken up to the Board by the end of the financial year in June 2022.

She said some of the projects are already in their advanced stage and some with the government before forwarding up to the Board for approval.

Ofatalu said the six projects target mainly agriculture, mining governance, fishery, rural development projects like climate and disaster risks and economic development.

In the meantime, Asian Development Bank says it has pipeline projects for 2021 to 2023.

Dalcy Tozaka, senior country officer said one of them is the Honiara Solid Waste Management Project.

She said it is a USD$3 million grant ($24 million) for 2022 and USD$7 million($56 million) grant and USD$6.5 million ($52.4 million) for 2023.

Furthermore, she said there are preliminary discussions for other projects for health and education.

Ms Tozaka said for education, it is a USD $5 million($40 million) grant and USD$5 million ($40 million) loan while for health it is USD$5 million grant and USD$5 million loan.

Both projects are targeted for 2023.

Solomon Islands Chambers of Commerce and Industries (SICCI) organized the two days symposium to create a platform that will bring together all key role-players in this infrastructure investment space, who have the common goal of accelerating an infrastructure-led economic recovery plan.

Solomon Islands government and development partners announced around SBD 9billion worth of infrastructure development projects for Solomon Islands in the next 5 years that is expected to impact the economy recovery.

Infrastructure is a critical driver of economy growth in the long term.

Afio landowners agree to dialogue with Suidani

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Premier of Malaita province Daniel Suidani

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

LANDOWNERS of the provincial substation of Afio have agreed to dialogue with Premier Daniel Suidani and team over issues relating to their land.

Secretary to the organizing committee of the premier’s visit to Afio, Richard Hou told Island Sun yesterday when asked about a proposed planned by Afio landowners to boycott the premier’s visit this weekend.

He said recently the landowners came up with the issue upon learning of the Premier’s intended visit to Afio.

Hou said the organizing committee was informed of the plan and were able to hold dialogue with the landowners on the ways forward to administer the matter.

He said upon discussion, landowners have agreed to refrain from the planned boycott and discuss the matter with the premier and his team upon their visit.

Hou said this is the resolution reached and landowners are looking forward and preparing to discuss the matter with the premier.

He said there is no boycott planned for the visit as earlier stated, because landowners have resolved in good mind for the visit.

The reason behind the planned boycott was to ask the premier and Malaita provincial assembly to transfer the Afio land title back to landowners.

The land was acquired from landowners during the colonial era and since then the transfer and ownership of the land was moved from the South Seas Evangelical Church (SSEC) to the national government and now with the Malaita Provincial Government.

They said with this transfer of ownership, landowners continue to be spectators in their land and they think it’s time to stand up and speak for their land.

Building Code bill yet to be finalised

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Infrastructure Development has updated the progress of the National Building Code Bill 2021 and Road and Drain Bill during the 2021 Infrastructure Symposium at Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) yesterday.

Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SICCI) has organised the two-day event to create a platform that bring together all key role-players in this infrastructure investment space, who have the common goal of accelerating an infrastructure-led economic recovery plan.

Francis Waleanisia, who is part of the team to formulate the bill, said the team is still to complete the last round of consultation of the National Building Code Bill 2021.

Waleanisia said after the consultation, the bill will be ready to go through the Bills and Legislative Committee and then Parliament in the November sitting.

Furthermore, he said for the Road and Drain Bill, it is still in its second draft.

He said it will go through consultation and then Parliament.

Waleanisia said there is no national building code, no central to modernize and standardize building standards and specifications, no control over competency of technical personal, maladministration and corrupt practices and no proper quality control for construction materials.

However, he said there is standard and building code in place where the Ministry base it on Australia and New Zealand standard, so it is quite high.

In addition, he said the Road Act is obsolete for 80 years.

He said there is no legal basis for adoption of code of manuals for construction of road.

Waleanisia said there is also customary land rights versus concept of public roads.

He said there is no responsibilities on the road reserve and drainage systems and high cost of repair and maintenance.

The symposium continues today.

Afio LOs distance their issue from Mala politics

Written by
Irwin Angiki
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Peter Iroka (left) and Chairman of TOLOA, Alfred Subouou

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Landowners of Afio, Small Malaita, have clarified their issue published earlier this week as not being political in nature.

This is in response to public perception that their issue, published by Island Sun on Wednesday this week, was an attempt to tarnish Premier Daniel Suidani’s leadership amid Malaita province’s political turmoil.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, Peter Iroka, deputy chairman of TOLOA Trustboard and primary landowner of Afio land, said on the contrary they support Premier Suidani and what he is doing for Malaita province.

Iroka explains, despite the timing of their media article, they had brought this issue to the media in light of Suidani’s announcement of a planned trip to South Malaita.

 Suidani had uttered this when addressing public upon his return to Auki Monday last week.

“The timing is unfortunate that we raise our issue in the media when Malaita provincial government is facing political turmoil with the non-executives.

“But, to be clear, we brought our issue to the media in response to Premier Suidani’s announcement that he would be visiting Afio soon for awareness,” Iroka says.

Iroka pointed out this would be Premier Suidani’s first-ever visit to Afio since coming into power, and would be an opportune time to meet him face to face and discuss their outstanding issue of Afio’s land title.

He adds that getting the premier’s attention has been difficult, leaving them with the media option.

“From our engagement with Premier Suidani through the media, the incumbent now knows what we the landowners of Afio will be anticipating as the main agenda should he come and meet with us.

“Regarding the politics of Malaita province, we the landowners of Afio fully support and back Premier Suidani. In fact, we wish that the MPA for ward 23 joins Premier Suidani and MARA government. And, we look forward to hearing what Premier Suidani has to say in his awareness tour to us in South Malaita.

“But that is another matter. Our concern which was published on Wednesday this week regarding our desire to have the perpetual estate land title over Afio land, is totally different from politics. Some members of public might think that we trying to tarnish Premier Suidani due to the timing of our article’s publication, but no.

“Let me make it clear now that we the landowners of Afio land support Premier Suidani. We urge our MPA of ward 23 to join MARA government.

“Our issue is we want Premier Suidani to give us the PE title, and in his planned trip to Afio, we will want to discuss this with him,” Iroka stressed.

On Wednesday this week, Island Sun published this issue in the article titled ‘LOs threaten to boycott Suidani’s trip to Afio’. In it, Iroka, on behalf of Talahanea Original Land and Resource Owners Association (TOLOA) called on Premier Suidani to hand over the PE land title over Afio land, which the province has possession of, back to the landowners.

Premier Suidani, in response, had welcomed the landowners’ concerns, explaining that any handover of the title now will not be possible.

Suidani explains that as a responsible premier, he is not sure and is yet to fully understand this issue, therefore, cannot sign off on any land title transfer document.

He told Island Sun that this issue of Afio land title is “something that is for us to discuss together and move forward with” with the landowners.

“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.”

Premier Suidani is planning to travel to South Malaita to hold an awareness tour there.

No date has been announced for this trip yet.

Suidani could not be reached for comments yesterday.

Suidani expects chiefly welcome at Afio

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 .

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

PREMIER of Malaita province and his team are expecting a chiefly welcome ceremony during their visit to the Afio substation in the southern region of Malaita province.

Suidani and team will visit Afio from the 23rd-24th this month and would be his first official appointment to the southern region since taking up office.

Secretary to the Organizing committee for the premier’s visit to Afio, Richard Hou told this paper from Afio yesterday.

He said preparations for the visit is well underway and work on cleaning-up the substation has commenced in the past weeks and will continue today.   

Hou said government workers, business houses, chiefs, schools, churches and everyone in the area are prepared for the event and looking forward to welcoming and hosting the premier.

“The visit will be historical to us, not only people in Afio but the whole of the southern region including representatives from community chiefs who will attend to the visit.

“This is the moment we’ve been waiting for, to have a premier at our midst and learn from him on some of the plans his government has for the southern region of the province,” he said.

Hou said the committee will be showing the premier and team some of the run-down government infrastructure services at the substation as they hope the way forward will be discussed.

He said some of them are Afio wharf, Maka police station, Maka market facility, Afio health centre and even a visit will to the MPG owned Rokera Provincial Secondary School.

Hou said invitations were made to community leaders within the southern region and transport will provide to pick and return them as they will be part of the visit.

He said the MP for Small Malaita, Hon Rick Hou will represent his other two colleague MPs from the southern region, Hon Peter Kenilorea Jnr and Hon John Maneniaru during the event.

Police yet to confirm details of girl’s death

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

ASSISTANT Commissioner Crime and Intelligence Patricia Leta says police are yet to ascertain whether the seven-year-old girl was raped before being murdered.

Responding to questions asked she said police are still waiting on the Doctor’s report regarding the incident and speculation surrounding the death of the victim are still investigated by Police.

“And so, at the moment we are treating that incident as suspicious death while awaiting the report,” Ms Leta said.

She also said police will thoroughly investigate the matter to make sure those involved face the full force of law, as such incident is really cruel towards such a young child.

Leta said police already arrested two suspects, both from Malaita, alleged to have involved in the incident and currently are being remanded at the Gizo police custody awaiting appropriate charges to be laid.

She said police are waiting on the Director of Public Prosecution’s advice before laying

Ms Leta said further details will be released once investigation is complete and currently police are calling on surrounding communities to provide information to the police regarding the incident.

Leta said from initial report police received, the deceased was walking home after school with her other siblings and on their way home, she said she was hungry and she started running ahead of them to quickly reach home.

There is a sharp bend on the main road and when she reached that bend her siblings were not able to see her, however her siblings continue to walk home and it was when they arrived home, they discovered that she was not at home and it was at that time they alerted their parents and started looking for her, Leta said.

Case file of missing $300k still with DPP

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

ASSISTANT Commissioner Crime and Intelligence Patricia Leta says the case file of the $300,000 missing exhibit money is still with the Office of the Director Public Prosecution.

She said she cannot confirm when the file will be returned to the investigators, “it depends on the DPP”.

The file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution last month for viewing and advice on the appropriate action to be taken on the suspect alleged to be involved.

This is the missing $300,000 cash money that was recovered from the so-called Director of One-link Pacifica during the police investigations early last year.

Those monies that were recovered are supposed to be kept as exhibit into the one-link case, that is currently ongoing before the court, however that money went missing while under the care of trusted officers of the RSIPF.

A police officer has been suspended following the missing of the exhibit money, while investigation was carried out.

Yandina by-law reviewed

Written by
Press Release
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RSIPF officers and members of the CPC during the review of the Yandina by-law

Tulagi Police together with the Community Governance and Grievance Management Project (CGGMP) conducted a review of Yandina community by-law on October 19, 2021.

The review was conducted following community application of the by-law and identified the need to address issues concerning moral beliefs (Culture) and Customs since Yandina is a multicultural community. The by-law has been reviewed and will be launched next month.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province, Superintendent Soakai says, “I am privileged indeed under the arm of the RSIPF crime prevention roll out program in Central Province to salute leaders in various communities set up in Yandina for their time and effort in reviewing the by-law.

“The reviewing of this by-law shows working together by members of the community. I would like to thank chiefs, church leaders, CPCs, men, women and youths in Yandina to have this by-law reviewed to shape our mind set as a leader on ways to have peace in the community.

“Reviewing of this by-law reveals ownership among people, properties and resources to accept the security measures of the leaders leading the ways of developments in rural communities.

“I appeal to all leaders of Yandina and Russell Islands to stand tall in the rural community to respect and work with the Crime Prevention Committee (CPCs) and chiefs to ensure our community is peaceful and crime free for the good of our children and generation to come,” says Soakai. 

–POLICE MEDIA

197k covid doses administered as of last Friday: PM

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Press Release
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Thelma measuring the mils before carrying out an injection. PHOTO BEN BILUA

A total of 197,643 doses of covid-19 vaccines have been administered since last week Friday, October 15.

Speaking during his nationwide address this week, the Prime Minister said this represents 23.9 percent of the total doses required to cover the total target population of 414,327 people in the country which is 828,654 doses.

Prime Minister Sogavare said 44,613 people have completed both doses of COVID-19 vaccines, representing 10.8 percent of the total eligible population.

He said an additional 108,417 people have taken their first doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

“This means that 153,030 or 40% of our total eligible population has taken at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccines,” he said.

The Prime Minister thanked and congratulated all the 153, 029 people that have joined him in taking their COVID-19 vaccines for their dedication to protect our people and our nation.

“Many of the vaccinated people are from our provinces. I thank the respective Premiers of our provinces and your governments for your leadership in driving the vaccination efforts in our provinces,” he said.

As of last Friday, the first dose administration in our provinces are as follows:

  • Renbel province 84.3%,
  • Isabel province 61.3%
  • Central Islands Province 56.4%,
  • Western province 36%
  • Malaita 24.5 %,
  • Choiseul province 26%
  • Guadalcanal province/ Honiara 21%
  • Makira 12.1 %,
  • Temotu 19.1 %

However, the Prime Minister said our national average for first dose administration is only 27 %.

“It is important to note that the three provinces with the highest coverage of first dose vaccinations only started their vaccination campaigns in the past 2 months,” he said.

He said at this rate these three provinces will reach their 90% full vaccination target earlier and they will be ready to welcome visitors and investment from overseas.

“I once again ask all eligible citizens in our country that have not yet been vaccinated, to please go for your vaccination without further delays,” he said.

–OPMC PRESS

‘Good decision’ manual handed to PM Sogavare

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Press Release
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare yesterday took delivery of a new booklet known as the “Good Decision-Making Manual”.

Ombudsman Fred Fakarii and Chairman of the Leadership Code Commission Solomon Kalu presented the manual to Sogavare, as the minister responsible for the Ombudsman’s Office and Leadership Code Commission Office.

Divided in six parts, the manual covers the importance of good record-keeping, principles of good decision making, why, what, when and how of good record-keeping, good decision-making check list, communication of good decision making among others.

Handing over the Manual, Fakarii shared with the prime minister concerns about the high rate of bad decision-making in the public service generally.

He expressed that bad decisions made by public officers is costing the government millions of dollars annually.

“Bad decision-making in the public service cost the government around $15 million a year for very minor employment issues, which if done correctly should not even cost the government $50,” Fakarii said. 

He adds it is the Ombudsman Office’s work to try and correct these bad decisions.

“The importance of the meeting with the Prime Minister this morning was to inform him that these things are happening, and some serious actions must be taken to stop this resource wastage.

“We need to do that in order to save the resources to be used elsewhere in other urgent sectors of development,” the Ombudsman added.

He pointed out there is evidence of bad decision-making throughout the entire public service, and despite the huge resources spent on good governance and its principles – transparency, accountability, training and advocacy, the evidence to-date shows little improvement in the decision-making of public officials.

Fakarii said he hopes the Good Decision-Making Manual will become a compulsory knowledge and experience requirement for all senior managers in the public services.

Receiving the manual, Sogavare said he hopes the  document will assist public officers make good and wise decisions to prevent unnecessary wastage of government resources.

Prime Minister Sogavare said the problem of bad decision-making in the Public Service has been a major concern for the government.

He believes the document will assist public officers make good and wise decisions to prevent unnecessary wastage of government resources while enabling the state to use the available resources on other urgent sectors of development for the good of our people. 

The Ombudsman thank the Australian Government through DFAT, the Commonwealth Ombudsman of Australia and the Queensland Ombudsman for their assistance in the development of this document.  

Fakarii said he hopes to soon complete two other documents currently being worked on.

One is a Complaint Management System Procedures for all government ministries and agencies to properly deal with complaints at the ministerial and agency level. This, he said, will hopefully reduce the chances of minor and simple case which can be dealt with effectively and at minimum costs at the ministry and agency levels

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