LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale has rubbished the response by a faceless official within the PMO to his statement on the $200,000 China funding under the shameful so-called National Development Funds.
“Of course you expect that kind of response from political operatives, whose interest is only their jobs and not wider national interest,” Mr Wale said yesterday.
The Opposition Leader said if the shameful NDF is open to all then publish the list of beneficiaries who received these funds in 2019 and 2020.
“I am calling on the Prime Minister to publish the list of beneficiaries and corresponding amounts received in 2019 and 2020.
“It really is very disappointing that the PRC is continuing this practice and funding.
“If they are requiring some accountability, that is an improvement.
“However, the fact that these funds are only for MPs who support the PM clearly shows these are political patronage funds,” stressed Wale.
He said the Minute signed by the Prime Minister dated 25 August 2021 is clear.
“The NDF is only for 39 MPs, adding that the list of those 39 MPs contain only MPs in government.
“This is political funding. And it is SHAMEFUL!”
Wale adds:
“There is no way to hide it under anything else.
“Why this attempt to cover it up and make it sound better than it is?
“Why this blatant unashamed attempt to deceive the Solomon Islands public about the true nature of the shameful so-called National Development Funds?
“Why mock the ordinary people of Solomon Islands who are struggling on a hand-to-mouth situation?
“It is disrespectful of the people of Solomon Islands.”
The Opposition Leader further added that the shameful so-called National Development Funds undermine Solomon Islands sovereignty, and the fact that the Prime Minister does not see it as such, is even worse!
AFTER 94 years as a branch of the United Kingdom Scout Association, the Solomon Islands Scout Association, is now independent and is the 172nd member of the World Organisation of the Scouting Movement (WOSM).
This announcement which was made at the 42nd World Scout Conference that ended in Dubai hosted from GENEVA yesterday 30 August 2021.
It was greeted with joy and celebrations in Honiara despite the lockdown.
Chief Scout Governor-General Sir David Vunagi in welcoming the declaration on behalf Solomon Islands Scouts Association thanked WOSM for accepting SISA into the global family of the scouting moment.
“This is a special day for us as we become the newest member of the WOSM,” said SISA Chairman, William Barile.
“We have worked tirelessly to achieve this ultimate goal that is to become independent from the United Kingdom Scout Association,” he said.
“The real work and new life starts here,” said Chief Commissioner of SISA, Joe Billy Oge.
Oge was one of the key members of SISA who worked so hard with the Asia-Pacific Scout Region in the past two years to ensure Solomon Islands got its independence from the UK in the last meeting.
Young scouts
“Today we have achieved our that goal. It is a new dawn for us let’s move forward as a new born baby from here,” Oge said in Honiara this week.
Being independent, SISA can now deal directly with other members of WOSM and attend meetings as a full member.
“Our voice can be heard at the world platform. We now have an equal standing with the rest of our scout family to the services WOSM offers,” said Oge.
SISA was founded in Tangarare in 1928, 94 years ago by a Roman Catholic Priest. It had then spread throughout the country during the colonial days and post independence.
Moves to achieve WOSM membership began as early as 2007 and finally it was granted this week.
Traditionally, the Chief Scout position is held by the Governor General of Solomon Islands. Sir David, who is the current Governor General, is the chief Scout.
In achieving independence, Oge pays tribute to the UKSA which had been the custodian of the SISA for the past 94 years.
“I would like to thank UK for their support towards us in the past years and supporting us to get our independence from WOSM.
“I am so grateful to them for guiding us to achieving independence,” he said.
Oge also paid honor to the Asia Pacific Regional Scout Office in Manilla for the support it rendered to SISA along the process to attaining membership with WOSM.
“They have been with us since day one and we are so grateful for their support,” he said.
Additionally, Oge thank the British High Commission in Honiara which has been very supportive of SISA in the past.
He said their support has been huge and they too contributed significantly to “our achievement.”
“I would like to thank them especially the current high commissioner Dr Brian Jones who has been one of our biggest supporters since his appointment here.”
Solomon Islands Scout Association was represented by six [6 ] Youth Delegates and eight [ 8 ] Leaders and Observers of the Organisation for the Virtual Conference which began on the 18th of this month and ended Monday 30th August 2021.
Meanwhile, SI Scout Association would like to thank the following who have contributed significantly to enable SI Scouts Associations to participate in this first World Scout Conference.
SI Telecom for their sponsorship to install the wireless internet with the routers for the Zoom meetings and contribution t
National Youth Congress for providing the venue to host
SI Scout Delegation all through out the conference
Smart Technology for the Zoom Equipments
All individual Delegate Scouts, Leaders and institutions who have contributed one way or the other.
“Your contributions have all made the successful participation of Solomon Islands Scouts in this first World Scout Conference,” said Oge.
A significant decline in international arrival continues to be recorded since restrictions were imposed on international flights by the Government towards the end of March 2020.
The latest Visitor Arrivals bulletin released by National Statistician Douglas Kimi on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 confirmed this.
The report showed the total arrivals for fourth quarter of 2020 were 1,256.
Mr Kimi said that although this is an increase of 55.6 percent compared to the previous quarter (3rd quarter 2020), “compared to the same quarter a year ago, a decrease of 92.3% was recorded”.
“Returning residents made up 89.6% of arrivals for fourth quarter 2020. This was followed by Visitors with 9.3% of arrivals and the remaining 1.1% were Intending residents,” said Kimi.
Visitor arrivals for the fourth quarter decreased by 39.9% to 117 visitors, compared to the third quarter 2020 figure of 194 visitors. There was a decrease of 98.6% in visitors’ arrivals from fourth quarter 2019 to fourth quarter 2020.
Meanwhile, visitors by country of Residence for the fourth quarter 2020 showed that Australians (72.5%) remain the largest group of visitors to the Solomon Islands.
“There was an increase of 0.6% to 85 in Australian visitors compared to the third quarter of 2020 figure 84, Mr Kimi said.
“The next largest group of visitors were from China (16.7%), followed by Other Asia (6.4%), New Zealand and Canada (1.7%), and PNG (0.9%).”
Visitor arrivals by month showed that October recorded more than half of visitor arrivals (51.3%) in the fourth quarter of 2020 with 60 visitors.
The report reiterates, restrictions on international flights as part of the SOPE measure against Covid-19 pandemic had adverse implications on visitors travelling predominantly for tourism purposes.
The fourth quarter of 2020 recorded zero tourists whose purpose of travel was for holiday and vacation.
WORLD Vision in its support of the government’s national covid-19 vaccination campaign, is urging residents in Small Malaita to be jabbed.
National Director Jimmy Nadapdap made the call in his official remarks during the official opening of World Vision’s new office complex for South Malaita Area Programme in Afio Sub-station, Thursday last week.
Nadapdap echoed this as the covid-19 vaccine roll-out programme last week reached Afio Substation.
“Before I close, I wish to highlight that as part of World Vision commitment in supporting the National Government in all its endeavors to prevent the country from COVID 19, I support the COVID 19 Vaccine roll out in the country.
“I know the roll out has reached Afio and as someone who has already taken the vaccine, I am appealing to everyone to join the effort made by the Government of Solomon Islands to take the COVID 19 vaccine,” Nadapdap told the attendees.
As part of that commitment a total of 57 World Vision staff have already taken their jabs of the vaccine whom the majority are those in the National Office, Honiara.
The staff of the South Malaita Area Programme and Auki Area program are also taking their vaccines.
He also reminding World Vision staff from time to time on the importance of the vaccine and also to supporting the government from protecting the country from this deadly virus.
Nadapdap also emphasised to the community representatives the importance of owning the projects that the organization is currently implementing in that Area Program.
“I wish to highlight that these projects will be here for a short-time, therefore I urge you to own these projects as that is a very important component to ensure sustainability of the projects when their time is up.”
The newly opened office complex will go down in the history of the organization since World Vision has extended its services to this part of the country especially as its sixth Area Program. Over the years, the Southern Region Administration Office has been so good in granting a space for the organization to use as its office until Thursday this week.
Motoyuki hands over the vehicle key to PS MoFR Dr Vigulu with senior supporting officers standing beside the Vehicle
BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO
THE Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has supported the Ministry of Forestry and Research with a new vehicle to support the Sustainable Forest Resources Management Project.
This new vehicle is the second JIDCA has donated for the project.
Tatsuji Nishikawa, Chief Advisor /Forest Policy, Ministry of Forestry and Research, said the new vehicle will be used mainly in Malaita province.
“The new project vehicle will be used by the taskforce of the Ministry of Forestry and Research when not in use for JICA SFRM project,” Nishikawa said.
He also urged JICA SFRM project team to keep this new vehicle in service to ensure it lasts longer.
“Thank you very much to JICA for this wonderful truck. I hope the Malaita forestry officers would take care of its maintenance and upkeep,” Nishikawa said.
At the same event JICA Resident Representative, Uegaki Motoyuki said it is an honour to officially hand over the vehicle to the Ministry to accelerate the project.
“I understand this project focuses on enhancing the capacity to manage the Forest Resource not only at Ministerial level but also community level through technical cooperation so that we would see no more over extraction that causes significant forest degradation in this country,”
“I believe the Ministry and JICA project team cooperate together in order to achieve the project goal by using the vehicle,” Motoyuki said.
He added by expressing his respect to everyone who worked on and support this “Sustainable Forest Resources Management Project.”
“I am looking forward to seeing a situation where sustainable forest management system would be expanded to the whole country in the near future,” Motoyuki said.
In response Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Forestry and Research Dr Vaeno Vigulu thanked JICA for the partnership they have established.
“I on behalf of the Ministry of Forestry I thank you JICA for assisting us,” Vigulu said.
He lauded JICA for supporting his officers in terms of training opportunities provided and supported by JICA.
The Sustainable Forest Resources Management Project first two projects were piloted in Komuniboli, Guadalcanal, while the other in Falaka, Malaita.
THE Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) has lifted the beche-der-mer ban, reopening the harvest period for a year, starting today.
And the ministry advised interested Beche-de-mer (BDM) operators, exporters, fishermen, fisherwomen and the general public that the BDM Fishery ban will be revoked and effective on 1st September 2021 to 1st September 2022.
The Cabinet, through its special meeting on Thursday 26th August 2021, resolved that due to the Corona Virus Pandemic (COVID -19) and its impacts on the economy and livelihoods of our people, the opening of the BDM Fishery has been confirmed.
“All interested BDM operators, exporters, fishermen, fisherwomen are allowed to fish, in possession of, buying and selling and exporting of BDM as of 1stSeptember 2021 until 1st September 2022,” a statement from the ministry said.
“You are also further advised that two species of sea cucumbers, white teatfish (Holothuria fuscogilva) and black teatfish (Holothuria nobilis) had been listed as endangered under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) which is adopted under theWildlife Protection and Management (Amendment) Act 2016,” it added.
“However, Solomon Islands as a party to the CITES can only trade these endangered listed species under CITES Trading and Management requirements.
“This means that the white teatfish and black teatfish will only be harvested and exported pursuant to CITES trading and management requirements and Wildlife Protection and Management (Amendment) Act 2016.
“All interested BDM operators, exporters, fishermen, fisherwomen and the general public are requested to take note of this notice. MFMR would like to further advice that harvesting, processing and selling of sea cucumbers and beche-de-mer before the 1st of September 2021 is illegal.
“Any perpetrators found in possession of, selling or export of beche-de-mer before 1st of September 2021 will be prosecuted with severe penalties according to the laws of Solomon Islands.
“Should you have any queries on the subject matter, please do not hesitate to contact the Director of Fisheries, Mr. Edward Honiwala on Phone 39151 or Email: [email protected]”
NINE MPAs of the Malaita provincial government are planning to resign, Island Sun was reliably informed yesterday.
These nine MPAs are reportedly in Honiara at the moment, preparing to tender in their resignation from the MARA government.
This would leave Premier Daniel Suidani’s Malaita Alliance for Rural Advancement (MARA) government with a minority of just seven members in the 33-member assembly.
This mass walkout is reportedly linked to the recent sacking of deputy premier Randol Sifoni following his activities, which premier Suidani saw as compromising the MARA government in light of ongoing hostilities between MARA and the national DCGA government.
MARA had governed with a 18-member majority before it kicked out Mr Sifoni.
If the nine MPAs group with the 16 non-executives, they will have a vast majority of 25 MPAs.
This is according to a source (MPA) who is on the executive side.
He told Sun Auki yesterday that the nine MPAs are currently in Honiara as they are mobilising themselves.
The source said names of the nine MPAs are already known and MARA government is just waiting for the official handing in of their resignations.
Meanwhile, he said MARA government sees the current move as politically motivated.
The source said MARA government is however, stable and any plan to oust them will not succeed.
The source said that MARA government has already identified MPAs to replace any executive member who resigns.
He said MARA government has an overwhelming number on their side and they are confident despite this commotion.
The source called for working together amongst provincial leaders as any plan to oust MARA government will not succeed.
An email sent to MARA Government for comments has not been responded to.
Members of public of Auki showing banners in support of MARA government in a photo after the meeting yesterday in Auki.
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI
The Malaita for Democracy (M4D) is calling on the nine MPAs who are planning to leave the MARA government to ‘rethink and reconsider’ their decision.
This follows reports that nine provincial members (MPA) of MARA are in Honiara, ready to tender in their resignations.
M4D made this call after a meeting held in Auki yesterday on the matter.
President of M4D, Knoxly Atu told media the purpose of the meeting was to call on the nine MPAs to reconsider their decision to tender their resignation from MARA government.
“We the voters and people of Malaita province have call on them to review their decision to resign from MARA government.
“If their move is centered on money they must rethink their plan and not to split Malaita provincial government just because of that,” he said.
Atu said people support the principles of the current Malaita Alliance for Rural Advancement (MARA) government and will not likely support any new government with new agendas.
He said the people still support MARA government as it stands for what they believe and what they want for Malaita province.
Atu said the people’s call is simple and clear and it’s up to the nine MPAs to make wise decisions and rejoin the MARA government.
THE Office of Western Provincial Premier has condemned a fake Facebook account which has the picture of the Premier and a popular businessman at Gizo.
The fake account is a member of the Gizo Forum Facebook page with the name Jimson Kokole. It has reportedly been tarnishing the reputation of the premier.
In a statement to this paper, the Office of the Premier condemned the action in the strongest form.
“The practice by some people making faked names gained no benefit from anyone. People using fake profile should never be accepted by social media face book,” the statement says.
It states that investigation to find the owner of the account is underway with further action expected to be made when the owner of the fake account is found.
The office of the premier is calling on social media users to stop using other people’s image as it amounts to defamation.
It encourages users to use their own image with real name and at the same time post discussion that would lure development so as bringing greater benefits to the province.
An example of the NDF achieving its purpose is the recently refurbished and electrification of the Seghe Area Health Center in Marovo Constituency
THE Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement has denied accusations that the Prime Minister’s $200,000 National Development Fund (NDF) is for political expediency and NOT for development.
This after Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale described the continued funding of the so-called National Development Funds (NDF) by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) directly to support the Prime Minister and MPs in his government as “shameful”.
Documents show the PRC Embassy in Honiara has pumped in $7.8 million to support the 39 Members of Parliament in the Government.
Each member received $200,000 from the total funding.
However, the Prime Minister Press Secretariate has responded that this is not true.
“The NDF was first established by the ROC when they provided these funds for discretionary use by the Prime Minister,” it said in a statement.
“Previous Prime Ministers have exercised their discretion in allocating these funds. However, when ROC gave these funds they did not require that these funds be used for development projects,” the statement added.
“This has now changed under the Peoples Republic China but only until 2022.
“This arrangement is to ensure a transitionary period after we switched diplomatic relations and will end in 2022.
“However, under PRC, the NDF will only be used for development projects upon application.”
It says Opposition MPs may wish to submit their proposals to the Prime Minister’s Office if they wish to.
“Wale’s false ignorance is shameful.
“It is NOT the PRC’s intention to interfere with national politics nor an egregious breach of Solomon Islands sovereignty as Wale erroneously claimed,” PMO said.
“PRC does not even intend this to undermine the government’s ability to maintain semblance of independence in its foreign policy, far from it.
“These funds are for developing the constituencies through projects. For example, these NDF was used in the Marovo Constituency to connect the hospital to the main power grid, repainting of the full hospital, electrical rewiring and refitting, purchase and installation of ceiling fans and air cons,” it said.
“Wale was there last week during the inquiry into the Public Health Emergency Bill, yet he has accused the Government of using the funds for political purposes when these funds were actually used to benefit the sick people of Marovo Constituency.
“The politicization of the diplomatic switch to PRC overt and covert by some of our politicians is becoming childish and tedious,” it said.
“We should all be focusing on development and not on politicking,” it said.
The Embassy of China in Honiara has not responded emails Island Sun sent them for comments.
