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‘Fast’ processing of passports suspended

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

AS demand for workforce under the Pacific Labour Scheme in Australia increase to 12,500 for all Pacific Island countries to apply, the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour & Immigration has temporarily halted the fast processing of passports.

This followed high inflow of applicants everyday who paid $1300 to get their passports printed within five working days.

The normal passport application fee is $1000 to print passports within two weeks.

Majority of the applicants are applying for new passports to meet the deadline of Labour Mobility Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work as seasonal workers in Australia’s farms.

Permanent Secretary Riley Mesepitu said the volume of applications received is not possible for Immigration officers to make fast processing on the machine because it may result in overheating.

Mesepitu to make it fair it is good for everyone to pay $1000 because even if you pay $1300, you will not get your passports in time due to overwhelming number received every day.

He said this is a first kind of experience which the Immigration officers try their best to meet demand.

The Immigration department has recorded an influx of applications for passport this year due to the large number of people applying to work in Australia.

Normally, the peak period for the Immigration office was from January and February because students have to travel to study in universities outside the country.

A senior immigration officer said in the first quarter (January to March), there were 1,000 applications.

“In one day, there are 30 to 40 applications and could increase to 60 applications in the some day,” the officer said.

The officer said it is a busy year for them as people continue to flood their office every day.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade aims to send more than 2,000 workers to work in Australia by end of this year.

New city clerk to assume duties

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

DESIGNATED Honiara City Clerk, Justus Gaeti Denni is expected to take up his new role this week after signing his Service contract.

Deputy Mayor, Robert Oge said his officers have prepared his contract yesterday and expect to call him today to go through it.

Oge said if Denni signs his contract, then he should start in his new role this week

The Council full executive formalized his appointment during their meeting last week.

This came after the Ministry of Home Affairs facilitated the appointment process following the removal of former clerk, Rence Sore.

According to inside sources, the Ministry shortlisted three candidates and forwarded to City Council to endorse the candidate.

The Council opted to pick Denni ahead of other two candidates because of his experience and neutrality in politics.

Denni decided to reserve his comment as he is still to receive his offer letter and sign a contract with the Council.

Denni was the former Permanent Secretary of Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace in 2015.

This year, he took up a new role as Human Resources Manager at Gold Ridge Mining.

Brawl lands one in hospital, another in police custody

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

TWO Solomon Islands men working under the Pacific Labour Scheme in Australia have involved in a brawl at Camp Moogerah in Queensland at 2am on Sunday.

Solomon Islands High Commissioner in Canberra, Robert Sisilo, confirmed the incident, adding one is in hospital while the other is in police custody. 

Sisilo said he is still waiting for details from relevant authorities.

Reports claimed one of the men, who was believed to be under the influence of alcohol, stabbed another boy.

This resulted in the arrival of an ambulance and police intervention.

Island Sun has sent an email to Labour Mobility Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade but has not received any reply before the paper went to press last night.

The incident came following the recent involvement of three Solomon Islanders in a fatal car crash in Queensland.

It was reported then that two men age 34 and 39 years have died while a 24-year-old was recovering in Brisbane hospital.

Recently, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade encouraged Solomon Islanders to be good ambassadors when working in Australia.

Minister Manele recently told Parliament that the labour mobility arrangement is the priority of the government because it relieves the pressure on unemployment in the country.

Furthermore, he reminded those selected to take seriously not to just earn income for their families and country but to be good ambassadors.

Manele said there were feedbacks from their employers that they practiced littering and sleep late for their work in the morning.

Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale recently encourage the government to send more workers to Australia to make use of the 12,500 spaces offered by Australia government for Pacific Islands countries.

Covid-19 risk to SI greater than before: Rodgers

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Chairman of the Oversight Committee Dr Jimmie Rodgers

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

COVID-19 risk for Solomon Islands is greater than ever before since the delta variant of the virus is just next door, says Dr Jimmie Rodger, secretary to the Prime Minister.

Rodgers highlighted this at the recent radio talkback on COVID-19 updates.

“The new delta variant of COVID-19is just looking next door to us meaning the risk in Solomon Islands is greater than ever before.

“I said this because I see it with my own eyes on how the pandemic is actually going like a wild fire in Fiji, am saying this because am currently living here in Fiji.

“It is very difficult to stop the virus, if it reaches our communities.

“Our second intention of course is whenever it comes into the country it must be stopped and contained at the quarantine facilities and eliminate it there.

“We also push on vaccination and also on corporation of people to make sure the under 18 years are protected from the virus as well,” he said.

Rodgers said the delta variant is affecting many countries and that is why the government is very careful.

“The key message here is those who are eligible to vaccinate, please get vaccinated and reduce movement.

“Non vaccinated people are the ones that are dying early,” he said.

19 in quarantine

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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King Solomon quarantine site .

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

WHILE the country is preparing for a 36-hour lockdown, 19 people are serving their mandatory quarantine at government funded stations.

Jonathan Taufiariki, deputy director to National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) in a radio talkback confirmed this.

“We have 19 quarantiners serving their mandatory quarantine periods. Of the 19, seven are serving their mandatory quarantine period in Nila, Shortlands Islands, Western Province.

“Eight are Olympians who have returned back from Japan and other four coming from Papua New Guinea who are all quarantined in Honiara,” Taufiariki said.

He said at the moment, Camp Management, the body looking after quarantine stations, is managing five quarantine facilities declared by the national government.

“These quarantines stations are GBR, SA apartment these two are located in the Henderson area. The other three quarantine facilities are hotels these include Heritage Park Hotel, Pacific Casino Hotel and King Solomon Hotel. So in total we have five quarantine stations in Honiara,” Taufiariki said.

He adds, in Western Province there are three and one in Choiseul province.

PM says UXO is an ‘ugly legacy’ of WW2

Written by
Press Release
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EOD Operator remove the UXOs.

THE issue of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) is an ugly legacy of World War 2 Solomon Islands is still experiencing its effects to this day.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare highlighted during the launching of the UXO package support from the Australian Government at the Office of the Prime Minister & Cabinet, Friday last week.

Sogavare said Solomon Islands like all other Pacific Island countries which have had this war fought on their shores, remains heavily contaminated with UXO, both on land and sea. 

“We are amongst one of the worst affected countries in the Pacific and this terrible legacy continues to have a devastating impact on people’s lives up to this day,” he said.

Prime Minister Sogavare said it is sad to highlight that in the past years alone Solomon Islands continued to experience loss of lives.

He said earlier this year an UXO took the life of two young Solomon Islanders. Prior to that two foreign nationals who were tasked to work with this UXOs also lost their lives.

The Prime Minister said the Government sees this as an ever-present danger to the well-being and safety of our people.

“Though we are limited in our capacity, we continue to strive to provide the best training possible to our disciplined force to deal with this legacy of a conflict that was not of our own making,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal team (EOD) is the only specialized Unit mandated to deal with UXOs.

He said though they are limited with resources, they continue to do a great job under challenging circumstances. 

“They have at times continued to bring high repute to their expert field amongst their pacific peers, and for this I wish to salute them for the work they do each day to keep our people safe,” he said.

Prime Minister Sogavare said conducting explosive clearances operation and awareness activities to our communities is an important but dangerous job.

“These men and women continue to put their lives at risk to ensure that we enjoy a safe and secure environment free from UXOs,” the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Sogavare said as a Government, they are tasked with ensuring the security of the people, and will continue to accept any support that aims to protect and keep everyone safe.

Taimareho case moved

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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27 lives were lost on the MV Taimareho in April 2020 when the ship sailed through rough weather.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case against the directors, General Manager, captains and the West Are’are Constituency shipping company has adjourned to October 5 due to technical issues.

The case was mentioned yesterday at the High Court for plea but since the defence raised some issues regarding the charges against the defendants, the case adjourned.

12 defendants are charged in relation to the sea tragedy involving MV Taimareho causing the death of 27 people at sea in April 2020.

The defendants are charged under the shipping Act 1998, which includes sending an unsafe vessel to sea, Vessel going to sea without a valid certificate, taking an unsafe vessel to sea, disciplinary offence, failing to keep an official log book, failing to notify the principal surveyor of change in condition of a vessel and not complying with the convention international on standards of training certification and watch keeping for seafarers.

They are Michael Roy Galo (ship master) Joe Malepa and Stephen Waina’a (captains) Shipping Directors are Esther Hoasihere, John Bosco Houanihunu, Lawrence Hunumeme, Stephen Maahanua, Aaron Oritaimae, William Parairato and Aloysius Poiohia and the General Manager Cypriano Taamora.

Public urged to adhere to lockdown orders

Written by
Press Release
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0

ATTORNEY General Muria John (Jnr) calls on the public and especially people residing inside the Honiara Declared Emergency Zone to respect and adhere to the lockdown orders, which will come into effect next Sunday, 29th at 6:00 pm and cease on Tuesday, 31st at 6:00 am.

“Lockdown orders are valid and constitutionally sound,” Muria said.

“This has also been confirmed by the High Court of Solomon Islands in Mitoro v Regina Criminal Case No. 1 of 2021,” he added.

“Failure to follow the lockdown orders is a breach of the law and you will be arrested and charged,” Muria said in a radio talkback show.

Director of the National Disaster Management Office, Loti Yates, also explained during a media briefing over the weekend that the simulated lockdown will be inconvenient for our communities but heightening our preparation and response capabilities for COVID-19 and especially the Delta-variant is paramount is at this stage.

He kindly urge Honiara residents to accept and listen out to media outlets for the simulated lockdown as frontline agencies conduct case scenarios to test their response mechanisms.

The revised COVID-19 Lockdown Plan was updated to provide guidance to emergency responders attending to suspected covid-19 cases in the communities, and limit public movement to restrain transmission of the virus.

The plan provides the overarching framework for managing lockdowns in a location of interest.

It specifies the governance arrangements, the roles and responsibilities of responding agencies as well as the continuation of specific essential services during the lockdown period.

The lockdown plan is supported by a series of Terms of References and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) for frontline agencies.

Any person breaking the Lockdown Order will be liable to a maximum penalty of SBD$15,000 or face imprisonment for 5 years, or both, under the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.2) Regulations 2021.

The lockdown is only for the Honiara Declared Emergency Zone from Aligator Creek to Poha.

Police teams will set up 10 checkpoints inside the emergency zone and mount surveillance operation.

500+ police officers to work in lockdown

Written by
Press Release
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Police patrol

More than 500 police officers will be deployed during the lockdown exercise operation next week.

COVID-19 Police Operation Commander Simpson Pogeava says the lockdown will start at 6pm on August 29, finishing at 6am on August 31.

Mr Pogeava says police are supporting the Ministry of Health and Medical Services as the leading agency to test their response capabilities should there be any community transmission when borders reopen.

Pogeava says from the police operational perspective, there will be six sub-zone boundaries from Poha Bridge in North West Guadalcanal to Alligator Creek in the Eastern side of Honiara International Airport. Within those sub-zones, there are 10 checkpoints within Honiara and part of Guadalcanal policing jurisdiction.

He says police are working on other essential services to be exempted during the lockdown.

“I kindly ask everyone to prepare ahead for this lockdown. Stock up your homes with food and other necessities to keep you for that period.

“Be mindful, though it is a lockdown exercise but police will arrest and charge those who breach it. I ask you, my good people in Honiara, to stay home during the lockdown. Other essential services will be exempted and work during the lockdown period to attend other essential services,” says Pogeava. 

–POLICE MEDIA

Yacht causes scare in Ugi

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A yacht anchoring off Selwyn Bay, Ugi island, Makira-Ulawa province is causing a scare.

Kirakira police yesterday told the paper the principal of nearby Pawa school had raised to them concerns of this yacht and the scare it is causing on surrounding coastal communities as well as staff and students of Pawa.

Kirakira police say they have alerted authorities in Honiara, and are standing by for any order from the capital.

Community rumours reaching Kirakira police say the yacht had run into some mechanical problem, thereby forcing it to drop anchor.

Provincial Police Commander advises surrounding communities not to go near the yacht as the country is currently in State of Public Emergency.

The yacht carries two male foreigners; the description of the yacht is white in colour with the name Vivre, and one mast.

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