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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Group photo of the participants with the PM during the opening yesterday
PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the intention to have local content in infrastructure development is a positive step in infrastructure development in the country.
Speaking during the opening of the SICCI Infrastructure Symposium in Honiara yesterday, he said there is an increasing trend in local content requirements imposed by governments worldwide in the effort to improve employment and industrial performance domestically.
Sogavare said local content can result in job creation, increase use of domestic resources supporting local industries and positive spill over impacts to the overall economy, as it emphases on the use of domestic goods and supply services amongst other measures.
“Therefore, the intent to prioritise local content in infrastructure development in Solomon Islands is not only important but very timely as well given the impacts faced by the economy due to the global pandemic,” he said.
Looking forward, the Prime Minister said we must also bear in mind the urgent need to focus on the recovery of our economy to ensure that we have a vibrant economy that can adequately support our people and country in the next 2 to 5 years.
Some of the participants participated in the Infrastructure Symposium
Sogavare said the private sector is expected to play a key role in infrastructure development.
“Private investment is expected to take advantage of opportunities arising in developments in ICT and digital infrastructures as well as increased trade opportunities in the medium to long term as a result of increased and better connectivity and also improved supply chains,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said whatever outcome reached from this Infrastructure Symposium, must also consider the downsides of local content.
He said the short term impacts of local content policy and local content requirement must be carefully thought through and balanced against its long term impact on the infrastructure industry and the economy as a whole.
SICCI Chairman Ricky Fuo with Sir Bruce Saunders
“I understand that SICCI has done a consultation with businesses from the building and construction industry from 26th May to 4th June 2021 and that common themes and issues were raised,” he said.
Sogavare said he expect these issues to be thoroughly discussed during this two-day workshop by both the public and private sector, and most importantly with donor partners.
“I make specific mention of our donor partners because most of these huge infrastructure development is funded by them,” he said.
PM Sogavare and SICCI Chairman Ricky Fuo before the photo shoot
INFRASTRUCTURE plays a significant role in developing our country.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare highlighted when delivering his opening remarks at the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce (SICCI) Infrastructure Symposium at the FFA Conference Centre, in Honiara yesterday.
The Prime Minister said the National Government has recognised the importance of infrastructure development which is stipulated in the National Development Strategy Objectives;
1: Sustained and inclusive economic growth, and under the Medium Term Strategy and;
3: Expand and upgrade weather resilient infrastructure and utilities focused on access to productive resources and markets and to essential services.
“The Government redirection policy also prioritise infrastructure as an important component in keeping our economy afloat and ensuring a resilient economic recovery post COVID-19,” he said.
A guest speaker giving his presentation
The Prime Minister said the need for reliable, effective and high quality infrastructure is magnified by the undeniable challenge of the country’s geography.
He said it is even more challenging by our susceptibility to natural disasters and climate change.
However, Prime Minister Sogavare said what is irrefutable is that our economy cannot accelerate or reach even half its potential with the existing infrastructure that we have, and this must be addressed aggressively.
“Infrastructure development is important for economic development and recovery in any country, and this is also true for Solomon Islands,” he said.
The Prime Minister said infrastructure development does not only enhance connectivity but it also plays a fundamental role in trade facilitation.
Prime Minister Sogavare said it is also a catalyst for development and an enabler for faster and inclusive growth which leads to poverty alleviation and improving standards of living.
“Development in transport infrastructure also impacts productivity significantly and accelerates growth. It generates employment opportunities, contributes to tourism and domestic market development,” he said.
PM Sogavare had a brief conversation with officials
Prime Minister Sogavare said infrastructure forms the basis of building resilient societies and sustainable development.
He said infrastructure designs and investments made now will affect how Solomon Islands responds to challenges such as COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and building inclusive and resilient societies.
“Infrastructure will play an important role in post pandemic recovery efforts due to its multiplier effects. In the same vein, infrastructure projects are pivotal because it helps facilitate the provision of essential services such as water, sanitation, health care and education post COVID-19,” he said.
Prime Minister Sogavare said the Government remains committed to infrastructure development in Solomon Islands and will continue to support the infrastructure development initiatives undertaken by our various development partners and implementing agencies, especially during this global pandemic.
From April 2021, a team comprising specialists from many different fields started a journey that would eventually take them months.
Led by Dr Morgan Wairiu and Community Engagement specialist Nancy Kwalea, the team from the USAID funded SCALE-NRM project were on a mission to share information with rural tribes, resources owners and farmers of Malaita Province in the Solomon Islands about an ambitious program, SCALE-NRM, that seeks to work with them to protect, manage and reap benefits from their natural resources.
People of this most populated province were already aware of the USAID funding that was in the pipeline but had not yet been oriented to the benefits the project will offer them.
The team’s mission was to help resource owners and local populations to understand how the funds can be utilized to help people regain control over their inherited resources, which are at risk of being despoiled by uncontrolled natural resource exploitation.
Logging activities have already ravaged and devastated the Island’s forests for decades.
SCALE-NRM livelihoods manager Brown Onahikeni explains the livelihood component
Solomon Islands has been logged at an unsustainable rate.
With logging activities so far beyond sustainable levels, much of the country’s lowland forests have gone.
In its push to re-engage with the Pacific, the United States of America through USAID have decided to support Malaita Province to not only restore and protect its natural resources but to find alternative economic benefits for Malaitan people.
Naturally, the people of Malaita have high expectations from the new project.
The population is accustomed to financial support being provided from ‘constituency development funds’ for relatively short-term initiatives.
SCALE-NRM Forest specialist Patrick Waetara explains the project concept to villagers
Therefore, when the term ‘project’ is used, people think in term of cash grants.
It was going to be a daunting task to convert mindsets to refocus on long term activities and benefits – the SCALE modality.
The team realized that transforming people’s mindsets was not the only challenge they will encounter.
One of the more daunting tasks was accessing remote rural villages.
Poor road conditions and lack of proper infrastructure around the island rendered the mission challenging, but the team was committed to ensure the SCALE program is rolled out.
Partnership meeting with Technical Institute of Malaita
One sunny morning in May, the SCALE-NRM team set off on one of their awareness raising expeditions.
Leaving Malaita’s capital Auki mid-morning they first had to complete a four-hour truck ride through mountainous terrain.
After braving the rugged road from Auki across the island to East Fataleka, the team arrived under the cover of dark and rain, dripping wet. People from surrounding communities that converged at Bethel village had waited for the arrival of the team since afternoon.
The preparations and anticipation by the villagers were a clear indication of the high expectations the team knew they would need to address across the many villages in the forthcoming days and weeks.
Dr Morgan Wairiu, supported by the project’s team leaders, wasted no time to set out SCALE-NRM’s objectives and key messages.
The team spent almost two weeks in the eastern region of Malaita, holding awareness talks and collecting data at 14 different centers, attracting hundreds of villagers from four different wards. Wards are local authority areas, typically used for provincial and national election purposes.
SCALE-NRM Police and Governance specialist Daykin Horahau collects data from a tribe in Malaita
The team collected data on intact forests, tribal ownership, community establishments and commercial crop types communities are dependent on, in order to inform proposed project activities.
The team met large gatherings and received overwhelming commendation from villagers who expressed the need for more information and clarity regarding the SCALE-NRM program.
“How do we apply for small grants under this project to help us implement our plans” was the most frequently asked question.
This inquiry confirmed the team’s understanding that a direct support approach has become a norm and that other approaches would be a departure for rural dwellers, requiring sensitization and effective communications.
The team engaged villagers using practical examples on how properly planned and designed interventions are crucial for long term results. For example, the team pointed to the rapid growth of the population against the exploitation of the fast disappearing forest and other natural resources.
Villagers feast after a SCALE-NRM gathering in East Fataleka
Villagers did not find it difficult to agree because many rural associations have made failed attempts as well to conserve their resources.
“We have made several attempts in the past,” Hainorae tribal leader in East Malaita Chief Andrew Gwaitalafa admitted.
Mr Gwaitalafa said the challenge is lack of by-laws to deal with villagers who break the conservation rules, “but again it is difficult for everyone because there were no alternatives for villagers who depended entirely on forest for survival.”
SCALE-NRM focuses on ensuring increased community economic benefit for resource owners and communities from their forests through a combination of income-generating activities and conservation concessions.
The project will strengthen models of local conservation economies around opportunities for the pursuit of sustainable livelihoods and development of conservation markets that provide communities with viable alternatives to logging and that incentivize conservation.
The SCALE-NRM team visited the central regions of Malaita thereafter, splitting into two teams to accelerate the awareness process and data collection.
The two teams headed to the northern and southern regions of Malaita.
The teams also held consultations with vocational schools in the province.
As part of the objective to collaborate and strengthen Community Based Organizations, the project also identified vocational schools to partner with in areas relating to natural resource management in Malaita Province.
The livelihood component of the SCALE-NRM project attracted overwhelming interest from farmers around the province.
“For us women, livelihoods activities are the foremost.
“That is what we do to earn little income to meet our families’ daily needs,” Everlyn Soela from New Konga in North Malaita said.
Ms Soela and her family runs a coconut milling business.
“We provide a lot of support to rural people by buying their dry nuts and providing people with cooking oil from the small-scale milling business,” she added.
Women at Subobono village, East Fataleka
SCALE-NRM under its livelihood component will work with farmers, particularly coconut, cocoa, kava and taro farmers to increase quality production in preparation for the proposed processing plants earmarked for Malaita.
The team found out from data collected and interviews conducted that the major existing cash crops that people have been depending on for years included cocoa and coconut. Kava and taro farming are also major emerging cash crops.
The challenges faced by the team in transforming the mindsets of people as well as accessibility across the province, were successfully overcome as the team concluded the activities by the end of August, winning the hearts and minds of Malaitans.
Many resource owners and farmers emotionally testified about dreaming of such project.
They openly expressed their eagerness to utilize their resources in order to derive beneficial results and pledged their readiness to work together with SCALE-NRM to fulfill these dreams.
The team successfully visited 30 of the 33 wards of Malaita, establishing community connections with traditional and tribal leaders as well as identifying active community associations.
Community, tribal and church leaders expressed readiness to work with SCALE-NRM in implementing the project activities.
The provincial-wide community engagement and data collection activity has created a firm foundation and relevant information that accurately informs the SCALE-NRM project to enter into implementation activities.
The national project, implemented by Winrock International, initially targets Malaita and is made possible by the generous support of the American people to develop and implement sustainable models for improved natural resource governance in Malaita Province and throughout Solomon Islands.
– By EDNAL PALMER, SCALE-NRM Communications coordinator
