Home Blog Page 818

SolAir records $12M loss so far

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Airlines has recorded a $12 million loss from January to August this year.

This is a turn-around from the $17 million loss the state-owned enterprise (SOE) recorded last year.

Manager Finance, Peter Soqoilo told reporters yesterday that things are hard but there are some positive signs and these are driven by additional charters.

“We have generated $20 million over and above what we have projected.

“The weekly cargo flights have been generating good revenue,” he said.

In addition, Soqoilo said from June with this “Yumi Tugeda Package”, is showing some increase in their domestic revenue.

Meanwhile, he said the A320 aircraft is currently in Singapore to undergo its normal C-Check and will cost Solomon Airlines $4 million.

“Last week, we paid half of it to the service providers in Singapore.

“To ease our cashflows, we have leased two of our twin outers to Air Kiribati, generating fixed cost of $50,000 ($25,000 us) and $220 US per hours,” he said.

Soqoilo said the lease is generating USD$195,000 a month.

Chairman of Airlines Board, Frank Wickham said while they try to reduce ongoing loses, they also have a need for cash flow.

“Over the recent past we have support from Australia and New Zealand to help towards costs and also hard work to maximize revenue make cash improve.

“But we still need to focus on our cashflow towards end of year and next year,” he added.

Wickham said the Chief Executive Officer, Bret Gebbers has worked hard to maintain relationship with creditors and leasers.

“A lot of success to do with goodwill on both sides, creditors, big suppliers and those lease to us,” he said.

Furthermore, as part of reducing cost, Solomon Airlines had removed 58 staff last September and maintains 220 staff.

Soqoilo said there are some areas because of safety requirement, they have to recall some staff in particular areas.

He said currently the company took 20 percent cut from every employee, including the cleaners to CEO since last October.

Manager Marketing, Colin Sigamanu said they have enough cabin crews to serve Dash 8 and maintain international service.

USO company contract questioned

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0
Ministry-Of-Finance-IRD

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A company awarded a contract to build a school in Bellona is under question.

USO Development and Construction Limited has won a $1.1 million contract, awarded by Central Tender Board to build a school in Bellona Island.

However, a prominent man from Rennell and Bellona has questioned CTB in the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to award contract to USO because it is owned by a lawyer and politician.

The Renbel man claimed the company has no work history and should not be awarded the contract.

“Gray should be in the court and the MPA concentrates on politics,” the Renbel man said.

Company Haus that USO is owned by Director of Public Solicitor, George Gray and Member of Provincial Assembly for ward-4 in Renbel province, Eric Saueha.

Saueha said the company is still to sign a contract with CTB to commence the three to four months’ work.

He said the company will meet every expense like hiring of a badge, timbers and hard wire because there is none on the island.

Saueha said despite the cost, they have to do it because the building is important for their children in future.

“After we complete the work, we will bill the government of all the expenses,” he added.

He said other 10 companies have been awarded by CTB to build schools in other provinces as well.

A officer in CTB confirmed the company has met the criteria of the Technical Evaluation Committee in the Ministry of Education and Human Resources.

The officer said USO is a new company but the MEHR wants to try out in this contract.

MID to discuss e-procurement system with Pacific Tenders

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0
MID Permanent Secretary (PS) Stephen Maesiola

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Infrastructure Development (MID) is preparing to discuss with Pacific Tenders on its new E-procurement system to address corruption in the Government’s procurement process.

Permanent Secretary, Stephen Maesiola confirmed this when asked by Island Sun yesterday.

Maesiola said the ministry is waiting to discuss the new product with Pacific Tenders.

He said the ministry has been a partner with Pacific Tenders through advertising contracts on its online platform.

According to Pacific Tenders, in any market, there is no guarantee of success.

“Tenders can be a mug’s game. A success rate of 1 in 3 is considered to be quite good, which means there are a lot of lost tenders to debrief.

“But the hardest part is finding out the real reason why you didn’t win. The scoring was the scoring, and often times it is done as fairly and objectively as possible by tender evaluation committees. But everyone wants the playing field to be level until they’re winning on it,” PT said.

“Take the hypothetical example of the NZ-based firm, with a long-term operation in a Pacific country. Chinese firms have been under-cutting their prices for 10 years now and they can’t compete with the price element.

“So, they lobby to have other elements of their work scored more highly in bids, such as quality or safety track record, to ‘level up the playing field,” PT said.

In addition, PT said for the banks in particular, who idolise market competition, it has been difficult to prize them away from their particular obsession with ‘the lowest priced conforming bid.’

“There has been some movement in this direction, but it is discretionary and therefore corruptible. Banks try to avoid any subjective analysis when assessing evaluation criteria.

“The incentives for bank employees would need to change to encourage a deeper examination of “value” in tenders and resulting contracts,” PT said.

“None of this helps small firms much though of course. More requirements only raise the bar and therefore make the price and effort for entry higher.

“This reduces competitiveness overall.

“A nuanced approach to each market and project type, based on market survey and research, would be a welcome development,” PT said.

“This may lead to more ‘limited international bidding’, market-appropriate evaluation criteria. E-procurement platforms, including Pacific Tenders, also have a role – to provide remote tender submission and reduces perceptions of corruption.

“Perhaps then the ADB President would have a response to his own comment.,” PT said.

Milk Fish booked out

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0
Milk Fish lodge bungalows at the Marau sound. Picture: Tourism Solomons

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A little-known resort in Marau, East Guadalcanal, is booked out for December and January.

Called Milk Fish, it is tucked away in Marapa island beside the famous Tavanipupu resort.

Solomon Airlines Manager Marketing, Colin Sigamanu said the Yumi Tugeda Package initiative launched by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare last year is really taking off and becoming very popular.

He said the private sector initially made use of it by passengers to visit our domestic destinations.

“But with the public service now coming on board, we have seen a marked increase in travel under the Yumi Tugeda Holidays.

“In fact, my marketing team just reported to me late yesterday afternoon, that the months of December and January for a particular resort in Marau, Milk Fish has been totally booked out,” he said.

“And that basically coming from the Public Service, who are taking more and more interests in utlising the Yumi Tugeda initiative.

“Our forward booking profile, the graph is going north,” he added.

Sigamanu said this is helping them with revenue and cash flow.

He said it is also a very positive sign for our struggling operators in the provinces who the packaged also aimed at assisting them in the absence of international tourists coming in.

“The aim of the package as we initially wanted to do is actually been realized, we are hoping the more and more unknown operators participating in the Yumi Tugeda are receiving clients.

“The package is generating much needed revenue to sustain and keep them off the ground,” he added.

Milk Fish’s relaxing getaway offers 2 ensuite bungalows which can accommodate four people in each.

There is dining area serving meals and drinks.

Activities that can be enjoyed at your leisure are swimming, snorkeling (bring your own equipment), birdwatching and bush walks.

Other activities such as fishing, sandy island excursions and boat trips can be arranged at additional cost.

Hou queries gov’t on visa delay to US officials

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
-
0

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MEMBER of Parliament for Small Malaita, Rick Hou has questioned the Government on the delay to issue visas to United States officials under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programmes in the country.

Hou told Parliament yesterday the matter has now taken at least six months to be finalized.

He said it is important for the USAID officials to enter the country to set up their office, US Embassy and its other programmes like the Strengthening Competitiveness, Agribusiness, Livelihoods and Environment (SCALE), the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and Peace corps.

Minister for Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration, Fredrick Kologeto was not available to response to the questions.

However, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade said first thing first, they have to have overall bilateral partnership framework for development cooperation and agreement.

Manele said Cabinet has passed a draft agreement, which they sent to US to comment on it and are still waiting for their response.

He said under the agreement are the details for the other agreements on the set up of US office, SCALE programme, MCC and Peace Corp.

“All these will come under the overall umbrella agreement,” Manele said.

“This is the similar arrangements we have with our development partners,” he added.

In addition, Manele said USAID William Pryor is currently undergoing 21 days mandatory quarantine.

He said Pryor will work on finalizing some of these arrangements so that they can move forward.

Member of Parliament for East Are Are, Peter Kenilorea Junior asked what is the government policy on Vienna Convention due to COVID-19.

Manele said in terms of project people, whether it is a need to give them exemptions.

He said sometimes these projects people are not diplomats but technical people.

“A point of contention sometimes.

“Important we have process in place, as much we want to work with them,” he said.

However, Kenilorea Junior, also Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee, said these USAID officials are attached to State departments.

Manele said these are the issues they are currently working, as they move to set up office, what privileges or immunity to give to them.

He said this is subject to current discussion and will be working closely with US Embassy in Port Moresby on those.

Manele said similar arrangements was made with Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Japan.

“Something that is normal with partners, not only apply to US,” he added.

Kuku queries gov’t decision on beche-de-mer opening

Written by
Press Release
-
0

THE Leader of the Independent Group has accused the cabinet and the Ministry of Fisheries and Natural Resources of rushing into making a decision on the lifting on the ban on the harvesting of wild beche-de-mer without due consideration for the conditions required for lifting the ban itself.

Dean Kuku made the accusations following revelations that the ministry had failed to meet the core conditions needed to trigger any lifting of the ban.

“One such condition was for the ministry to carry out a stock assessment of the wild population of bechedemer, which in fact wasn’t done.”

Mr Kuku added that another condition required the ministry to put in place control measures and tighten loopholes on harvesting based on past experience under the ministry’s management plan to control this kind of fisheries species.

“Again, those requirements, nor a review of the management plan was done.”

Kuku warned that Solomon Islands is a party to the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES) and as such, we are required to carry out and provide a non-detrimental finding to this international regime to confirm that we are managing our endangered species well in the likes of White Teeth, Black Teeth and Sunfish, among other types of bechedemer.

“Any non-compliance would mean that we are in breach of CITES, which puts us in a precarious situation where any export or sale of this fisheries product will be treated as unacceptable by the international community.”

Moreover, Kuku said the standard buying price for bechedemer is not ready yet as a condition for lifting of the ban.

“The price must never be determined by our so-called exporters, but should be determined after thorough consultations between the ministry and overseas buyers so that locals get maximum benefit from their resources.”

The Leader of the Independent Group went even further to incriminate the national government in lifting the ban saying that license processes were not finalized yet and the government was merely playing catch-up game on the matter to correct a fast tracked process to please our foreign export license holders.

–INDEPENDENT GROUP PRESS

Beche-de-mer warning

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
-
0
Beche-de-mer

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

ONLY genuine beche-de-mer buyers will be allowed to do business in the Central Province, its premier Stanley Manetiva has warned.

Manetiva issued the warning yesterday as people within the province venture out to dive for the lucrative sea cucumber.

“We don’t want to see buyers coming in to fool our people who are struggling to earn money when they have the opportunity,” Manetiva said.

The national government recently lifted ban on beche-de-mer harvest, allowing people to harvest the produce for a year.

Manetiva said buyers must obtain provincial licence in order to trade and must do so according to the correct price from the Ministry of Fisheries.

“I want genuine buyers only in Central Province, and those who have paid their business licence,” he stated. Guadalcanal Province also issued a statement yesterday, reminding buyers to obtain business licence before moving into the province to trade.,

“Anyone who buys beche-de-mer without a licence will be liable for prosecution,” the statement said.

Guadalcanal also informed its people not to rush into selling their beche-de-mer, saying the responsible ministry is yet to finalise the buying price of beche-de-mer species.

Only 6.4% are fully vaccinated

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
-
0

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

ONLY 6.4 per cent of the targeted population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

This was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Medical Services Pauline McNeil in a talk-back show.

McNeil said the vaccination status of the country as of Friday 17 September 2021 recorded 26,710.

“Practically this gives us about 6.4 percent of eligible population,” she said.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his COVID-19 update yesterday said the targeted population is 417,327 people.

He said a total of 120,515 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered as of Friday 17th September 2021.

“Collectively this means that 93,805 people in Solomon Islands has had at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine, representing around 22percent of the total target population,” Sogavare said.

He stated these include numbers of people that have received their first doses in all the 10 provinces of the country now that the final 3 provinces – Makira, Rennell and Bellona and Temotu have rolled out their COVID-19 vaccination programs.

“I thank all provincial premiers, your executive, and all members of your provincial assemblies for leading the vaccination rollout in your provinces.

“Your leadership will bring confidence to your people to follow your example and protect the people in our provinces.

“I also thank all church and community leaders in our provinces for supporting the COVID-19 vaccination rollout programs by receiving your vaccination injections.

“Your participation will generate confidence in members of your congregations and communities to take their injections of COVID-19 vaccines.

“I also thank the Ministry of health and provincial health teams and all those that supported and made the vaccination rollout in all our provinces possible.”

PM calls for more to get vaccinated

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
-
0
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Photo supplied.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

IMPACT of any COVID-19 community transmission here will be far worse than what we’ve seen in Fiji, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says.

He was speaking during his COVID-19 national address on Monday.

“The impact of any community transmission in Solomon Islands will be worse than the situation in Fiji,” he pointed out.

“It will set the country back many years in development if we have community transmission of COVID-19 before we reach at least 90 percent vaccination coverage of our total eligible population,” Sogavare added, as he urges people to take the vaccines.

He said all the countries that have re-opened their borders have based their reopening dates to their vaccination coverage of more than 90 percent of their total eligible population.

“For instance, Fiji has scheduled the reopening of its borders on 1st November 2021.

“As of yesterday, Fiji has achieved 98 per cent coverage of its population for 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccines.

“This is 587,346 people from a total eligible population of 599,333 people – achieved in five months.

“Fiji has also achieved 66 percent coverage of its population for both doses of the vaccines.

“This is 395,560 people. Fiji is confident they will achieve the 90percnet   full vaccination by 31st October 2021 to reopen on 1st November 2021,” Sogavare stated.

He said for the country to reopen its borders soon , we need to adopt a similar approach like Fiji.

Sogavare said Cabinet has directed the Oversight Committee to consult widely with the private sector, business houses and all stakeholders to propose the target date for the reopening of our borders.

“And to itemize the activities that must take place for to meet that target reopening date including achieving at least 90 percent of the total eligible population that must have been fully vaccinated with the two doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

“This is exactly what countries like Fiji are doing to ensure they can plan for the reopening of their borders ahead of time,” he said.

Japan to fund classroom building for Mala school

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
-
0
Group photo after the signing of the project

BY MAVIS N. PODOKOLO

JAPAN will fund a new classroom building for Dala South Primary School in Malaita worth $516,000.

Agreement for the funding was sealed in Honiara yesterday.

Japanese Ambassador Yasuhiro Morimoto said his country is pleased to support this vital school project.

“This project is expected to improve the learning environment at Dala South Primary School,” Morimoto said.

“And the students will no longer experience attending in the makeshift classrooms made of local bush materials,” he added.

“We believe this project will have positive impacts on the development of human resources in Solomon Islands and strengthen further cordial relationship between our two countries.

“I would like to congratulate you on the official approval and it is a great honour to contribute to the development of this project.

“We would also like to emphasize that this is just the beginning for you to start implementing this project properly and we do expect strong community commitment to the success of the project.

“And, we hope it will reach its successful completion in the near future.”

Francis Loboi, the school’s project manager, signed the funding agreement on behalf of St John Dala South Primary school.

He thanked Japan for seeing it fit to fund their project.

“Never in our history have we ever received such funding from donors or from the national government,” Loboi said.

“This classroom building will provide a conducive learning environment to all our learners,” he added.

“It will also set a legacy from the government and people of Japan to the people of Dala South and nearby areas.”

1...817818819...1,665Page 818 of 1,665