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New fisheries building completed in Kirakira

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MFMR STAFF HOUSE

FISHERIES minister Nestor Giro last Friday received keys to a newly constructed fisheries building at Kirakira, Makira Ulawa Province.

The handing over of the building coincided with the 38th Second Appointed Day of the Province.

Speaking on the occasion Hon Giro told the Makira Ulawa Province Premier Julian Maka’a, invited guests and others who were present that the DCGA government is committed to deliver projects to the provinces.

He said implementation of flagship projects is a top government priority and urges the Makira Premier to free up more land to allow for development to take place.

The Minister reiterated that the DCGA government focus is on strengthening the economic subsistence an approach that is envisaged for implementation beyond the current global pandemic”.

Hon. Nestor Giro during the staff House opening in Kirakira.

Minister Giro also thanked the builder, SMU Quantity Surveyor & Construction Cost Consultant Company for completing the building within given time frame.

He praised Company Managing Director, Mary Kouto who played a leading role in the construction process, saying women are equal partners in any development.

Minister Giro said the handing over of the Kirakira staff house marks another milestone achievement and in particular the recognition and continuous commitment of the national government to strengthen and support the fisheries sector of this country in line with the Redirection policy.

“It is my ministries commitment under its development plan to support the provincial fisheries to build fisheries infrastructures such as this residential accommodation for fisheries officers in most Provincial Headquarters this year and beyond,” he said.

The Minister applauded the Provincial government for supporting MFMR to fulfil one of its national fisheries infrastructure development for Makira Ulawa Province.

“In particular, I wish to thank Provincial Government for offering the land in Kirakira for my ministry and the building construction company to build and complete this staff housing project within the given time frame,” he added.

Giro stressed that as a productive sector, the Ministry of Fisheries places a lot of emphasis on recruitment of qualified and competent fisheries officers to serve in rural and provincial fisheries, in the same manner recognise the need to build new or renovate existing staff houses for seconded fisheries officers living and working in the Provinces.

“With this understanding MFMR is embarking on this fisheries infrastructure development plan in the next few years,” he said.

The Fisheries Minister also used the occasion to thank the Fisheries Management, the MFMR Project Management Division and Provincial Fisheries Division, key line ministries including Ministry of Infrastructure Development for driving this project.

Deputy Secretary Technical, Rosalie Masu who also spoke during the handing ceremony said it was in 2019 when a team from the Ministry of Fisheries travelled to Hagapore in Makira Ulawa Province for the official opening of the fisheries centre there that the idea to build a new staff house was first raised by fisheries officers from Kirakira. 

Deputy Secretary Technical, Ms Rosalie Masu at the Staff House opening in Kirakira

They then went ahead and pursue the idea with the provincial authorities who agreed to the proposal by allocating the piece of land this building is built on.

Masu said issue of land is the main obstacle standing in the way of development in both Honiara and the Provinces.

“Land dispute and long process of acquiring land through traditional and government bureaucracy has slowed down the MFMR to deliver national fisheries projects. Therefore, I would like to thank you Premier and your provincial government for allocating land for this fisheries staff house,” she added.

SMU Quantity Surveyor and Construction Cost Consultant Company Ms Kouto said it took her company three months to complete the project.

She admitted they encountered challenges during construction period however they managed to overcome them paving the way for the project to be completed as expected.

She acknowledged the assistance of the Provincial Government, business houses and local communities who provided much needed materials when her construction company need it.

She also thanked the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources for the trust and confidence placed in her company.

“Thank you for the trust and confidence you placed in my company. The success we witness today (Friday) is the manifestation of the partnership we build in the last 3 months of 2020,” she concluded.

Cash flow pressure eased this week

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Eddie Osifelo
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Dentana
Permanent Secretary for Finance McKinnie Dentana.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

PRESSURE on Government’s cash-flow is expected to ease this week.

This is after the Ministry of Finance and Treasury began releasing some of the money it collected domestically earlier this week.

Permanent Secretary McKinnie Dentana revealed this during a media Press Conference Cabinet yesterday.

“I am happy to inform the Press from this week we start to mobilise some of the domestic raised resources.

“Later this week the Minister of Finance will sign the first bond agreement from a bond purchaser that will help to implement government programmes especially the Development Budget,” he said.

The Government aims to raise about $300 million of bond in the $3.9 billion budget passed in April this year.

“So hopefully by the end of this week and going forward, this mismatch or the pressure should be eased when we start to receive other sources to fund the Development Budget,” he said.

Furthermore, Dentana said hopefully by the end of this week they should clear some of the arrears both in terms of the development as well as recurrent expenditures of government.

There is $2.7 billion in the Recurrent Budget, $938 million in the Development Expenditure and $258.5 million in the Budget Support Expenditure.

“Although this is a challenge we face, in terms of recurrent budget, at the end of July we implement more than 50 percent because of the prudential cash management in order to meet the priority of the government and ensure we implement the development budget.

“As of end of last week, we execute more than 25 percent of the Development budget,” he said.

Dentana said this is in line with their estimate because the Development Budget began implementation in June.

He said majority of the funding comes from control made on domestic revenue.

“As soon as additional funding help to fund Development budget, the pressure should be eased on the Recurrent Budget as well as Development Budget.”

Furthermore, Dentana said two major revenue streams of the Government, Customs and Inland Revenue Division performed strong up to end of July.

“Customs is striking above budget by 5 percent and Inland Revenue Division is performing above budget by 1.6 percent,” he said.

This is equivalent to $22 million collected by Customs and $16 million for IRD.

However, Dentana said the worrying part is in non-tax revenue where it involves Fisheries.

“Fisheries were below budget by 28 percent up to July.

“Most fisheries revenue not come together at one time. We expect big payments from Fisheries in fourth quarter of this year,” he said.

Moreover, Ministry of Finance and Treasury in consultation with Central Bank of Solomon Islands has revised the Gross Domestic Product growth rate from one percent to 1.3 percent.

PMO awaits petition

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CALM DOWN: Police Inspector Tex Tafoa addressing a crowd that gathered at Kukum yesterday in anticipation of a protest march to the Prime Minister's Office. Heavy presence of Police on ground at Kukum on Monday calmed the rowdy crowd and dispersed them while their leaders worked with Police to address the issue.

THE Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet is still to receive the petition from the so-called Honiara based Malaitans group.

Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Albert Kabui told media in a press conference yesterday that they are still to see the petition.

However, he said if the office receives the petition, they will look into it.

Kabui said there was no petition received in July as claimed in the media.

Attorney General, John Muria Junior said the government has a process to receive submission.

Furthermore, Kabui said in terms of assembly by the group that breached the Emergency Regulation under the State of Public Emergency, this is up to the police to deal with it.

He said any arrest is subject to police investigation.

A spokesman for the group, Noxly Atu earlier told Island Sun they had been in dialogue since Thursday last week because the Prime Minister reportedly did not receive the petition, they had handed his office on July 23, 2021. It was also reported that the petition was not properly signed.

“Because of this we are working on it to have our group leaders to sign it, and we will resubmit it to the Prime Minister tomorrow [Tuesday this week],” said Mr Atu.

The initial petition was reportedly submitted to the Prime Minister two weeks ago, July 23 and copied to the Opposition leader, Police Commissioner and the Honiara City Mayor.

Only Opposition Leader Matthew Wale and the Honiara City Mayor had acknowledged receiving their copies of the petition.

On Sunday a crowd of Honiara-Malaitans met with senior officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) at the new Kukum market where they dialogued following the petition.

Police told the crowd and leaders of the Honiara-based Malaitan group to allow time to sort things out.

On Monday, a rowdy crowd gathered again at the Kukum market area with plans to stage a protest march to the Office of the Prime Minister.

A heavy police presence was at the scene and officers managed to calm the crowd and disperse them with help of the group leaders.

Commissioner of Police Mostyn Mangau in a media statement that day strongly asked those who intended to join the protest to refrain.

“The planned protest was illegal under the Procession Act and the current State of Public Emergency Regulation. RSIPF will not tolerate such illegal activities that threatens Public Safety and National Security. The Police is on top of the situation and have advice the organisers not to progress with any protest whatsoever.”

Bid to rebuild failed Marau mini hospital

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Run down materials inside the failed mini-hospital. Photo by JARED KOLI

BY JARED KOLI

A REVISED plan is being devised for the failed Marau mini hospital project.

The current plan is to rectify the defects which resulted in a demolition order carried out by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID) in 2019.

This is according to Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG) Minister of Finance, Treasury and Administration and Provincial Member for Birao ward in Marau, Andrew Tahisihaka.

Tahisihaka said assessments were made and recommendations were made with a number of reviews on the revised building plan.

“Due to the covid-19 progress has been very slow despite the efforts made. Once plan is complete, it will be resubmitted to GPG Planing and Development Board for approval,” he said.

Tahisihaka said funding remained secure and current design needs to align with the available funding of SBD$10 million dollars.

“More work needs to be done and get the revised plan approved. Land issues at hospital site at Manikalaku have been sorted out by GP Executive,” he adds.

GPG Director of Health Dr Joel Denty said the mini hospital is a community initiative which started back in 2007 with construction began in 2010.

The mini-hospital was funded through a welfare trust fund on Health made available after the Bank of Hawai’I, which holds majority share in the then National Bank of Solomon Islands (NBSI), left the country.

John Sullivan QC of Sol-Law was a trustee to the Trust Fund.   

Island Sun was informed that the Marau Community approached John Sullivan as he is also a shareholder of the Tavanipupu Private Island Resort in Marau Sound, east Guadalcanal.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare briefed by Nurse In-charge inside the failed Marau mini-hospital. Photo by JARED KOLI

The Marau Community dialogued with John Sullivan and saw the need because the Marau clinic was destroyed after the ethnic crisis in year 2000.  

A Marau Mini-Hospital Trust Board was then formed and work commenced thereafter.

However, according to Dr Denty who had involved in the project since 2011, a year after it began construction, the building has issues along the way.

One is, the structure and its plans never passed through Provincial Planning and Development Board.

The construction that began in 2010 was issued a stop notice in 2015 when the project was expected to have been completed its first phase.

Works Division went over to Marau in 2015, inspect the building and put the stop notice.

It was after concerns that the corridor was narrow and could not accommodate hospital beds to make a turn in and between the corridors.  

Works Division began to raise issues in regard to quality of material, design of building and building permit.

“The question is why did Works Division let the construction to continue while it is still not passed by the Provincial Planning and Development Board,” questioned Dr Joel in an interview with Island Sun.

Island Sun witnessed during a recent trip to Marau that quality of materials within the building have run down. The flooring is made from ply woods.

The building was deemed failed in 2019, after a team from MID went over and issued a demolition notice, according to Dr Denty.  

It was claimed that John Sullivan has spent $6 million on the project and was not happy with its turn out.  

“The Marau mini hospital is a sad story. To hold people in ransom without quality health service for 10 years is unacceptable,” said the GP health director.

Island Sun witnessed that there were some sick patients that were admitted in the mini-hospital during a recent visit inside the building.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare also paid a visit inside the failed hospital during the time and witnessed the state of the hospital and challenges faced.

Dr Denty said these patients are only allowed to use the three wards within the hospital. However, the hospital is supposed to have a dental clinic, a theatre and an x-ray department. But all these were not there.

He said the Member of Parliament for east Guadalcanal has recently assisted on facelifting the old clinic by building an outpatient, admission block, and also repainted it, which is also now serving the people in Marau and nearby communities.

The GP health director adds: “Marau already has the post for dentist and doctors, this is not an easy thing to create, in terms of human resources.”

“But when things happen this way, we also have risks of losing those posts. A doctor for Marau has returned to Honiara as well as the dentist,” he stated.

Dr Denty said his patience is now running out and wants the national government or any other funding agencies to step in and help address the issue faced with the mini-hospital.

He said the Aola and Avuavu mini hospitals have been built to standard and have completed successfully although they were built years after the Marau mini-hospital begin construction.

Island Sun could not get comments from John Sullivan as he was overseas.

His law firm, Sol-Law refused to give us his email address, but instructed  us to email them the questions.  

Man gets 3 years for false pretence

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

COURT has imposed a three-year sentence on a man guilty for demanding money by false pretence.

Sam Ngedea pleaded guilty to 25 counts of False Pretence Contrary to section 308(a) of the Penal Code [Cap 26].

Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison in passing sentence said the defendant impersonated himself as the husband and later as the son of the same woman who visited the complainant’s bedroom once.

Hollison said reading through the facts provided before the court and considering submissions from the prosecution and defence lawyers, a custodial sentence is appropriate for the case.

He imposed a four-year sentence however due to delay incurred he deducted 12 months leaving three years for the accused to serve in jail.

“Thus, I now sentence him to three years (36 months) imprisonment. The pre-sentence-custody period, if any, must be duly deducted as well,” Hollison said.

Hollison said in his sentence that the defendant clearly planned the offending and used the name of custom and infidelity to demand money from the aged victim. The aged victim agreed to pay the compensation to the defendant on installment basis because he was threatened and he also believed that the representation made was true.

The offence of false pretence was repeated for 25 consecutive times that culminated in the total loss of approximately $25,800.

“The repetition is an aggravation and I am obliged to impart a strong deterrent message by imposing the appropriate sentence.

“In this present case, the lack of restitution on the part of the defendant is an aggravation which means that the complainant suffered unwarranted and unnecessary monetary losses that may never be recovered.

“I understand that I can also invoke section 27 of the Penal Code [Cap 26] to order the defendant to reimburse the money taken by way of compensation, however, I refuse to do so because I opined that the defendant will be punished appropriately by the custodial sentence that he will serve in this case. There is nothing that stops the defendant to consider reimbursing the complainant’s money later upon his release.”

He highlighted that the current case is a classic example of someone who falsely impersonated another person or other persons and exerted threats on the victim under the name of culture or custom to extort money from a vulnerable and aged member of the community unlawfully and unfairly for his own benefit. The most appropriate sentence is none other but a custodial sentence to teach the defendant a lesson. The combined aggregate sentence in this case serves as a warning to the members of the public not to involve in such deceitful and unlawful activities to gain money.

Steward Tonowane of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown while Lazarus Waroka of the Public Solicitor’s office represents the accused.

Nehemiah’s case in court today

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of Martin Nehemiah Pola will appear in court for mention today before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea.

Nehemiah is currently facing three counts of obtaining credit by false pretence from Smart Technology shop at Chinatown in 2019.

Prosecution alleged that on February 5, 2019 the accused met with the owner of the shop and introduced himself as the president of the so-called Accelerate Christian Education Schools of Solomon Islands.

Upon their discussion the shop owner was convinced and agreed for the accused to collect the items discussed, to be re-paid when the school grants were ready.

Later on February 28, 2019 around 10am the accused came and collected one mobile phone at the cost of $2,250 as according to the agreement and walked out with a proforma invoice.

Again on March 15, 2019 he collected one notebook laptop 14 inches and 1X 8c Honour brand mobile.

Later on March 28, 2019, he again went to the shop and collected two Redmi mobile handsets.

The total cost of items collected is $12,150.

A couple of months later the shop owner made several attempts to call the accused to settle his credits but was unsuccessful.

The shop owner gave him enough time, till March this year, but Nehemiah never turned up to settle his credits and the matter was reported to the police in which Nehemiah was arrested and charged.

Malango chiefs call for return of land

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Designated-market-area-for-Guadalcanal-women-at-Alligator-opposite-Hell’s-point

THE people of Malango Ward, Central Guadalcanal, reaffirm and reiterate previous declarations and statements that the land from Lunnga (Betikaman River) in the west to Bokonavua (near Foxwood) in the east customarily and traditionally belong to them.

“We are the rightful traditional and customary owners of the area, the land commonly referred to as Levers Land,” said Vice Chairman of Malango House of Chiefs, Paramount Chief Justus Denni.

“This land is our traditional hunting, fishing and gardening area,” he added.

“Malango people are the traditional owners and custodians of the land since time immemorial.”

Because of our traditional ownership, Denni said Malango people strongly call on the Government to return the land to them as traditional owners.

“If the ruling Democratic Coalition for Change Government can return alienated lands on Makira Ulawa Province and other provinces to traditional landowners, what is so hard about doing the same to Lungga- Tenaru Land?

“Why is the Solomon Islands Government ignoring and neglecting our call for return of our land.

“We call on the Government to do the right thing and return our land to us.”

Furthermore, Denni said the people of Malango strongly call on people from other areas on Guadalcanal and other provinces to respect their traditional customary ownership and stop illegal entry or intrusion into their customary land.

“People should respect our rights and do not come and settle illegally.

“We further call on people settling illegally to refrain from constructing permanent residences or setting up business operations because we are going to get our land back.

“People living illegally within Lungga -Tenaru land should start moving out instead of building.

“We are determined in our resolve to get our land back as our land is our resource, our security and our future,” Denni said.

Maka’a : Full internet needed to enable digital banking

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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The Makira Ulawa Provincial Premier, Julian Maka’a has said in Kira Kira, the Provincial capital, that advancing technology can mean Solomon Islands will have full access to internet – thus going into digital banking.

He uttered the sentiment while making his closing remarks of two days of consultations on traditional governance run by three officials of the Ministry of Traditional Governance.

Mr Maka’a said when that becomes real, hopefully, next year Solomon Islands would access the internet and would become the first country in the South Pacific to go into digital banking.

He said the Ministry of Traditional Governance can use this technology to promote the Traditional Governance and Customs Facilitation Bill 2018.

Premier Maka’a feels constant promotion and information sharing will be needed in order to make the new Bill or Law, once passed by Parliament, to be understood and adhered to by ordinary Solomon Islanders.

He also said that donors today stress the importance of including women in the decision making processes, and as it has been highlighted that if the law is silent on women, they may be excluded from the processes although they could be included in sub-committees or committees.

Mr Maka’a said the need for including a curriculum on the set up in the school system must be considered in order to ensure the future generations understand and value it.

In the final analysis, Mr Maka’a said the State-owned radio, the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, the SIBC, can help with the promotion of the new law when implemented.

But he requested the Traditional Governance consultant team to raise “our complaint that SIBC signals are very poor and need to be improved so our link with the national government through the media is re-strengthened and maintained.

“SIBC is a communication medium that can help in the promotion of the new law”.

By George Atkin – Kira Kira Correspondent

Logger to demolish clinic for province

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Commins Ikioa : Capacity Development Adviser of Makira province

THE Chia Tai logging company which has been carrying out logging operations in Arosi 1 of West Makira in Makira Ulawa Province has agreed that it will demolish Aringana Health Clinic at no cost to the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government.

The news was relayed to the Provincial Capacity Development Advisor, Commins Ikioa who has led a three-member training team to carry out training to members of Ward 8 Ward Development Committee in Arosi 1, West Makira.

Mr Ikioa said in Kira Kira, the Makira Ulawa Provincial Capital that he was told the good news at discussions he had with Chia Tai’s Camp Manager and General Manager at Baurosi Camp July 18, 2021.

He said they discussed two issues, the demolition of two buildings at the aging Aringana Health Clinic and the completion of construction work on Asimanioha Health Clinic which has remained uncompleted since 2012.

He said Chia Tai logging company managers told him the company will carry out the demolition work of the two buildings at Aringana Health Clinic at no cost to the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government.

And Mr Ikioa said he raised the uncompleted Asimanioha Health Clinic at the discussions after Asimanioha community leaders raised the issue with him.

He said both Chia Tai Managers had assured him that their logging company will help Asimanioha Community to finish the uncompleted Rural Development Program funded project.

Mr Ikioa who thanked the logging company managers for their offer of free help said   that he will inform the Province’s Premier, Julian Maka’a of the logging company’s offer of assistance.

He said the logging company managers will wait to hear from the Provincial Administration before they start to carry out the tasks.

Mr Ikioa told them that he will inform the Provincial Health Director, John Harara about the discussions and for him to liaise with the Aringana Nurse to remove medications, drugs and medicines from the old clinic before demolish work can proceed.

By George Atkin

Kira Kira

Huge Kava surge in South Guadalcanal

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Hauvalisi Kava farmers With GP extension staff at a Kava farm – Tina Delta.

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) through its Guadalcanal Extension office has noted huge involvement of communities in Kava farming in the remote South Guadalcanal in 2021 compared to 2018.

A team from MAL Guadalcanal Province Extension office toured the region from 8th-18th last month (July) on a kava follow-up and processing demonstration mission aligned to South Guadalcanal Kava Intervention and recorded the increase in statistics.

Team leader and Chief Field Officer (CFO) for Guadalcanal Joseph Wotomaru said his team visited 6 wards in the region and compared to data collected in 2018 it shows a huge increase of 52 per cent.


Hauvalisi Kava farmers with Kava demonstrator (Nathaniel Ringo).

“We visited the same 6 wards in 2018 through where we recorded a total of 48,061 kava plants being planted,” Wotomaru said.

“However, from data collected during our recent trip to South Guadalcanal it indicates an increase compared to year 2018 as there are 101,165 kava planted which is approximately 50.6 hectare of kava being planted to date,” he added.

“This depicts an increase in the number of kava plants by 52 per cent from 2018 to 2021.”

He said his team executed two activities during the field trip which include kava field assessment and processing trainings or demonstrations to increase capacity of farmers.




Farmers and GP extension staff showing Kava chips dried on top of an old fibre water tank.

Wotomaru said the demonstration exercises specifically focused on harvesting, washing and cleaning, selection of chips and roots, cutting and chopping of roots and Chips.

“The processing demonstrations conducted are important to increase the capacity of famers on the standard market requirements so that farmers can be able to produce quality and marketable kava products, hence improving income generation and reducing poverty in the rural areas.

“The field assessment and trainings was conducted purposely to assess kava farms and to collect the latest field data.


Lynette Taghoa GP Extension survey and data officer collecting data during the tour.

“This is to measure the impact of the trainings conducted and the planting materials we distributed to the farmers since 2018 – 2020 with the aim of increasing kava production from 1.2 metric ton (MT) in 2018 to 5 MT by the end of 2023 in the region.

“Data collected could also be used for planning purposes as well as for further farmer support to ensure sustainable kava production in South Guadalcanal.”


Moffat Viniago, kava farmer from Hauvalisi and two Guadalcanal Province extension officers.

He said the trip was a success and a crucial one as information or data collected will assist Guadalcanal Province Extension office to verify the status of each kava farm and to project the total area planted in the target areas and possibly plan out the type of support the farmers need.

The team also delivered British High Commission seed and tools support to Avuavu lead farmers associations, Avuavu Secondary School and Laloato Community High School (CHS).

Wotomaru thanked MAL management and Guadalcanal Provincial Government for the support to the trip to ensure the program is implemented to support farmers in the remote South Guadalcanal region.

“Increasing kava production in South Guadalcanal will not only benefit the famers but it will also have a positive impact to the provincial and the nation economy.”

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