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Dora’s case moved

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

The case against owner and director of One Link Pacifika money scheme has been adjourned for next week.

It was mentioned in court for a plea to be made, however, some issues which needed sorting out forced the adjournment.

Accused, Charles Dora, is facing charges under the Financial Institutions Act 1998.

Allegations said on July 4, 2019, One-link Pacifica was registered at the company Haus under the name of Mr Charles Dora as Director and Mr Dora is the proprietor and sole trader of the OLP, he is also a manager for online mentors.

One link Pacifica scheme was described as sharing resource; however, it is a Ponzi scheme, the essence of the scheme is that investors give money towards the company, on promise there will be a higher return after 30 days of investment, the creator of the scheme then used recruiting agents (mentors) for people to come along and invest their money through them.

Prosecution alleged that Dora collects deposits from mentors by way of online deposits. Members of the public invested their money through his agencies, and the total amount that was alleged to have invested in the were around $56,440,475, those monies went missing and have not been recovered since.

Prosecution also alleged that between the period of December 2019 to March 2020, investors did not receive their money as promised. Within the period, CBSI warned public members about the operation of the scheme, that one-link Director Mr Charles Dora did not apply for a licence under the FIA to engage in the business of banking in Solomon Islands.

On March 4 2020 CBSI wrote to Charles Dora as Director of One-Link to make available to CBSI record, books or accounts relating to the business for examination within 7 working days pursuant to section 3(3) of the FIA. However, Mr Dora did not provide detail documents or failed to comply such their bank account details, receipt books and accounts books.

Later on, March 27 2020, CBSI informed Police that One-link Pacifica seem to be operating as a banking business, and does not comply with the Financial Institution Act, it was at that time investigations were made and the accused was arrested for that offence.

Partnership to strengthen sawn timber exports

Written by
Press Release
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IMPROVED certification standards are expected to boost the Solomon Islands’ $80 million sawn timber industry and strengthen economic recovery.

A recently signed agreement between the Value-Added Timber Association (VATA) in the Solomon Islands and the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus Program (PHAMA Plus) will strengthen quality management, traceability and legal sourcing of sawn timber.

Through PHAMA Plus, an initiative supported by the Australian and New Zealand Governments, VATA – a key member of the Solomon Islands Timber Processors and Exporters Association (SITPEA) will buy plantation timber from small, community-based plantation owners for export.

SITPEA is the representative body for the Solomon Islands value-added timber industry, a sub-set of the country’s estimated $1.6 billion forest sector.

Through the support also, two critical certification managers will be hired to improve standards and help SITPEA members to maintain access to existing high value export markets and meet international certification and quality standards.

Australian High Commission First Secretary Economic, Louisa Macdonald Hall said, “Australia is proud to support this project to ensure that Solomon Islands can meet international certification standards and produce timber that is ethically and legally sourced from communities in a sustainable manner. 

“This partnership has the potential to boost industry revenue and contribute to Solomon Islands’ economic growth.”

Association representative, Julius Houria, said certification standards demonstrated that their timber had been legally sourced from forest to end-user, in compliance with local laws and regulations.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has motivated our members to work towards economic recovery in securing market access and create new opportunities,” Houria said.

“Australia and New Zealand are our major timber buyers and represent 70 percent of the timber market valued at SBD60 to SBD70 million dollars per year. In order for us to continue to supply to these markets, we need certification standards which we anticipate achieving by end of this year.”

Steven Wong, Director of Pacific Export Alliance Group said PHAMA Plus support was critical.

“Only with the support of PHAMA Plus is the local timber industry able to push forward with legality compliance ensuring that Solomon Islands’ timber can continue to sell our key markets in Australia and New Zealand and beyond.”

Improved teak plantation management in the Solomon Islands will raise the quality of timber and allow for higher returns for growers.

More than 7700 hectares of teak were planted in the Solomon Islands in 2019 but the forests remain a significantly untapped resource as community teak farmers have been unaware of opportunities and they have lacked aggregation, harvesting, logistics, and marketing skills to improve the value of their product.

The Solomon Islands’ timber industry provides employment for 1500 people and supports the livelihoods of about 9000 rural families involved in harvesting around the country.

PHAMA Plus will organize a knowledge sharing workshop targeting other exporters, policymakers and donor agencies working in the timber sector to share the learning of the round log teak export.

This will encourage other exporters to understand the cost-benefit of the export of round teak. It will also help the Ministry of Forests to organise its teak conservation and replanting activities with communities as larger volumes are harvested and sold for export.

Plans to connect PPIA with Schedule 2 of Constitution

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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The office of the Registrar of Political Parties.

BY JARED KOLI

The Political Parties Commission is planning to connect the Political Parties Integrity Act (PPIA) 2014 to the Constitution of Solomon Islands in the current review of the PPIA through amending Schedule 2 of the Constitution.

This aims to put in measures to address gaps within the PPIA that was experienced after the 2014 and 2019 elections.  

Political Parties Commission Registrar Jasper Highwood Anisi said this is so that the Governor General instead of calling for election of Prime Minister, invites the party or coalition with majority numbers to form the executive government.

One of the major loopholes in the Act was in the case of Ownership Unity Responsibility (OUR) Party which registered after the election in April 2019 and eventually form the current ruling government under Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

Sogavare ran as an independent candidate, but straight after the election he rallied many of the other Member of Parliaments (MP) who stood as independents behind his newly re-formed OUR Party. He was then nominated for Prime Minister.

Following this, MP for Aoke Langalanga and rival Prime Minister nominee then, Matthew Wale claim this was illegal under the PPI Act and use the courts to stop Sogavare becoming prime minister. However, the High Court of Solomon Islands later ruled in May 2019 that the case be struck out.

Chief Justice Albert Palmer in Paragraph 86 of his ruling states that: “The problem with the PPI Act 2014 is that while it has noble and admirable intentions and objectives in its inception to promote integrity in the development and operations of political parties in the country, it had one fundamental flaw or defect in its enactment.

“While it sought to determine the process of nomination of a Prime Minister pursuant to the requirements (s) of the PPI Act, it miserably failed to institute a corresponding amendment(s) to the relevant provisions of the Constitution, in particular, Schedule 2.”

This is one of the reasons why the commission is planning to connect the Act with Schedule 2 of the Constitution so that so that the Governor General instead of calling for election of Prime Minister, invites the party or coalition with majority numbers to form the executive government.

Below is an extract of Schedule 2 of the Constitution under the heading “Election of Prime Minister.”

Calling of election meeting

1. As soon as possible after a general election of members of Parliament, or whenever there is a vacancy in the office of Prime Minister, the Governor-General shall convene a meeting of members for the purpose of electing a Prime Minister by issuing to each member a notice stating-

(a) the date, place and time of the election meeting;

(b) the place at and the date and time on which nomination papers are to be delivered to the Governor-General which time shall be not later than four days before the date appointed for the election meeting.

Meanwhile, Mr Anisi said what OUR Party does after the 2019 national general elections was legal based on the fact that it meets all the legal requirement under the PPIA 2014.

“The only thing is that OUR Party has not participated during the last election period. In order to express to the people (voters) their visions and explain what was under their Party Policy intentions. This allows the voters opportunity to vote on their Policies.”

“We want the parties to do that, however this was not foreseen during the initial drafting of PPIA.  Hence, we are reacting to it,” he said.

Mr Anisi informed this paper that one of the other areas under this review is also to set a time frame for registration of new Political parties before and after the election.  

He said the legislation failed to address this issue by not having time frame in place to register Political Parties.

He said the timeframe is to ensure that political parties are duly registered and able to participate fully during an election period.

As part of the review process, due nationwide consultations will be undertaken, to ensure the voices of our people are being captured as part of this process.

New USP BA programme target range of communication roles

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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USP main campus in Laucala, Fiji.

BY JARED KOLI

The newly launched Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communications and Media programme of the University of the South Pacific (USP) offers students to choose specialist subject that will open doors to a wide range of communication, media and marketing roles.

Students can create a specialist subject out of courses from a wide range of disciplines, in order to pursue an area that is both interesting and of relevance to the student’s future career plan.

This is according to USP’s Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics Dr Fiona Willans in a newly developed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet of the programme.

The information had it that if students want to target a communication and media role in a particular field, they could choose 4-6 courses that will help them build up knowledge in this field.

“Your CV will show a desirable qualification in Communication & Media, and you can show that you have chosen to focus your specialist subject in this particular area,” it says.

It stated that possible fields to consider include Environment, Health, Inclusive Education, Marine Science, Nutrition, Pacific Arts and Heritage, Pacific Policing, Social Work and Tourism.

In addition, if students want to target a communication and media role in NGOs or civil society organisations, they could choose 4-6 courses that engage with political and societal issues in general, enabling them to work across a range of fields at a later date.

The possible subjects to consider for this scenario include Governance, Politics and Sociology.

Moreover, if students want to add additional skills and competencies to their CV, rather than specialising in any particular field or sector, they could choose courses that would enable them to learn a new language, or develop skills in business or technology field.

The possible subjects to consider for this scenario include Accounting, Business Information Systems, Chinese, Fijian, French, Hindi and Management.

“If you want to pursue any other passion or favourite subject, safe in the knowledge that the BA Communication & Media is already a desirable qualification…

“You can use your specialist subject to study 4-6 courses in any field of your choosing. This can be a good way to follow your heart and study any discipline in as much depth as you want.

“This will also likely open up new opportunities that you were not aware of when you first enrolled, since you will be taking subjects that you already know you are interested in,” the newly developed FAQ sheet stated.

For job prospects of the new BA programme, the information had it that job advertisements for roles in Communication and/or Media are common.

“Quite often, these advertisements specify the preference for a first degree in Communication, so this programme will give you an advantage. The programme will also make you eligible for many roles in media, digital media, marketing, public relations and communications management.

“The BA in Communication & Media includes job application training, a work placement, and a range of digital, communication and research skills,” it says.

It adds the courses for specialist subject must be approved by one of the programme coordinators during the first semester.

Prospecting students are told that any subsequent changes they wish to make must be approved.  Students must ensure that they meet the pre-requisites for any courses that you choose for your specialist subject.

USP new BA programme can be completed in any of its campuses

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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0

BY JARED KOLI

The newly launched Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communications and Media programme of the University of the South Pacific (USP) can be completed from any of its campuses across the Pacific region.

This is according to USP’s Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics Dr Fiona Willans in a newly developed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet of the programme.

The information had it that the BA Communication & Media is a prescribed programme of 24 courses with with most courses are offered in at least two modes.

“This means you can take advantage of face-to-face opportunities at Laucala, or you can study entirely online, or you can combine the different modes,” it says.

The programme is offered for full-time students and part-time students.

Full-time students can complete the whole programme in three years, taking four courses each semester.

Part-time students should note that each course requires approximately ten hours per week of study. You should therefore only take on more than one course around your work commitments if you have this much time available.

The programme also gets students ‘workplace-ready’ with job application training, a workplace attachment, and a range of digital, communication and research skills built in.

“You can use the specialist subject either to target a communications role in a particular field (e.g. Pacific Heritage and Arts, Marine Science, Inclusive Education, Nutrition …), or to target a range of roles in NGOs or civil society organisations (e.g. Politics, Sociology, Governance …), or to pick up additional skills that look good on your CV (e.g. a new language or useful business skills), or simply to follow your love and study a subject that you’re passionate or inquisitive about, safe in the knowledge that a BA in Communication & Media will open doors to a wide range of jobs,” said Dr Willans.

Applications are now open and new students may join the programme in Semester 2 this year.

Continuing students may switch to this programme and cross-credit any courses they have already completed.

The programme requirements for the BA Communication & Media include UU100 -Communications & Information Literacy, UU114-English for Academic Purposes, JN101 – Introduction to Journalism, JN103-Media Law & Ethics, LN111-Introduction to Language Studies, MG101 Introduction to Management and two courses at 100-level from an approved specialist subject.

In the 200-level or year 2, students will undertake UU200 -Ethics & Governance, UU204-Pacific Worlds, JN201-Print & Online Journalism, LN216-Language Use in the 21st Century Pacific, MG206-Marketing Principles & Strategies plus 1 or 2 of: JN202-Radio Broadcasting, JN203-Television Journalism, LN211-Structure of English plus either 1 or 2 courses at 200-level from the specialist subject.

In the 300-level, students will take JN303-Journalism Production, LN317-Qualitative Analysis of Texts, MG303-International Marketing plus 3 or 4 further courses from: JN301-International Journalism, JN302-Journalism Research, LN311-English in the Pacific, LN315-Corpus Linguistics & Language Technologies and MG301 Management of Service Operation plus either 1 or 2 courses at 300-level from the specialist subject.

CSSI launches new training curriculum

Written by
Press Release
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Australian High Commissioner His Excellency, Dr. Lachlan Strahan handed over the CSSI Capability Training Frame work Document to Hon. Minister of MPNSCS Anthony Veke

THE Correctional Service Solomon Islands (CSSI) yesterday launched a new training curriculum that will assist its Corrective Services Training Centre (CSTC) to effectively deliver foundation training for CSSI staff.

The document was jointly launched by the CSSI Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi, Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services Anthony Veke and the Australian High Commissioner, Dr Lachlan Strahan, at the CSSI headquarters in Honiara.

The new training curriculum will enhance learning and development opportunities in modern corrective practices for CSSI staff and new recruits.

It contains a variety of training programs, and focuses on various topics including security, case management, mental health, juveniles, and anti-racism.

The training manual was made possible through a collaboration between the Australian and Solomon Islands Governments and the CSSI.

 Speaking at the launch, Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi thanked the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services and the Australian High Commission for their continued support to CSSI and described the launch as a historical beginning for CSSI.

Hon. Minister of Police National Security and Correctional Service Anthony Veke handing over the CSSI Capability Training Frame work Document to CSSI Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi

“This is a historical beginning for CSSI in terms of capacity and capability development of CSSI staff,” Manelusi said.

“This is also in line with the DCGA Policy statement, which is to improve the standard of training delivered within CSSI.”

Delivering the keynote address, the. Minister of Police National Security & Correctional Services (MPNSCS) Anthony Veke said his ministry is mandated to improve resources and capacity within CSSI.

“The envisage out of this policy is to upgrade the curriculums of all agencies to enable them to be accredited to national education authorities and renown regional institutions as well as international institutions,” he added.

Australian High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan reiterated the important role of the wider justice system.

“The wider justice system plays such an important role, not just in maintaining law and order, but in fact in underpinning society and the economy,” Strahan said.

“Without a strong justice system, an economy cannot function, and a society cannot live in harmony.

“We are very proud that Australia has played a role over a long period of time in supporting training and reinforcing the different arms of the justice sector, including ongoing support to CSSI, through technical, infrastructures and learning and development programs in partnership with the Queensland Corrective Services (QCS).

“Learning never stands still. We can always learn from the past and come up with better ways of doing things. I’m glad an Australian adviser, Angelique Deep, was able to play such an important role in developing the new curriculum even though she was working remotely.

“She proved that it’s still possible to get good work done in these challenging COVID-19 times.”

Refurbished Kukum clinic re-opens

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Center Deputy City Mayor Robert Oge and Dr Becha cuts the ribbon to mark the official reopening of Kukum Health centre while two of the invited guests looks on

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

HEALTH authorities yesterday re-opened the strategically-located Kukum clinic in east Honiara.

The clinic has been undergoing major refurbishment work since last year.

“The reopening of the clinic will ease the burden of over-crowdedness currently experienced at the National Referral Hospital (NRH),” deputy city mayor Robert Oge said.

Robert Oge Deputy Mayor to Honiara City Council delivering the key note address to mark the official opening of Kukum Clinic refurbishment

“Now that the clinic has reopened, we expect it to ease the burden experienced at the Outpatient of the NRH,” he added.

“Now our people will once more able to access the facility when they need it.”

Oge called on Honiara residents to go back to Kukum clinic and see the nurses and doctors there before they could be referred to the NRH.

“Our doctors and nurses will make the decision on whether you need to be referred to NRH for further treatment,” he said.

Antenatal room inside the newly refurbished Kukum health centre

Oge said the refurbishment work has gone behind schedule, but thanked the public for their patience.

“I empathize with the experiences you went through during the closure of Kukum clinic.

“May I kindly call for your cooperation in looking after this facility. Building new facility or renovation is no small task.

“It requires resources such as money to complete the job.”

Olivia Bale Nurse in charge for Kukum Health Center escorting guests to visit the newly reopened clinic

Oge also reminded nurses and doctors working at the clinic to faithfully serve the sick and use the facility for its intended purpose.

“Whilst we appreciate the re-opening of Kukum clinic, let me quickly remind us that health is everybody’s business.

“Please look after yourself. Avoid unhealthy behavior which makes you sick.”

Meanwhile, opening hours for the clinic is from 8am – 10pm on Mondays to Fridays and 8am – 4pm on weekends. This was the usual opening hours agreed upon previously.

Kukum Health Center health workers

Health Director for Honiara City Council Dr Chris Becha said this reopening of Kukum will pave the way to relook at the arrangement for the posting of medical officers.

“Kukum clinic is strategically located,” Becha said.

“It serves the population of Honiara well since its establishment,” he added.

“I therefore will discuss with all colleague doctors on how best to serve our people of Honiara.”

SDA SUPPORTS VACCINE

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

The Seventh Day Adventist Church has thrown its full support behind the covid-19 vaccine.

In doing so, it has downplayed rumours that the Church does not allow covid-19 vaccination for its members.

This is according to the SDA Solomon Islands president Pastor Silent Tovosia.

Mr Tovosia confirmed this to Island Sun yesterday following claims circulating in Honiara, saying SDA members are not allowed to be jabbed.

“Absolutely not,” Tovosia said.

“We encourage all our members above 18 years to go for their vaccinations in full support of the Government’s programme,” he added.

“I deny these claims. They are completely false.”

Tovosia said they strongly advise all members (above 18) to cooperate with the church and Government and have their vaccinations done as soon as possible.

“It is the only way to help protect yourself, your family and your country,” he said.

Tovosia further stated the SDA church relies on the scientific evidence endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to encourage all members of the church and communities to have their vaccinations with the vaccines promoted by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

He said an official statement encouraging members to get vaccinated had been circulated to all SDA churches and pastors.

“As we cooperate with the Government, Ministry of Health, and the PM’s task force, let’s also pray that God will help to keep our country free from the COVID 19 as we continue with the Vaccination program.

“For your encouragement read Psalms 46:1-11.”

Tovosia’s proclamation isolates incidents in which some SDA pastors have reportedly advised their flocks to avoid getting the jab, claiming that the covid-19 vaccine is the ‘Mark of the Beast’ [a prophecy in the Biblical Book of Revelations which identifies followers of an evil authority which will rise in the end of times, leading to the persecution of faithful Christians. It is one of the most heavily preached beliefs of the SDA Church].

Vaccine critical to recovery: Seselja

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Zed Seselja.

By Brian Lezutuni

Vaccine rollout in Solomon Islands and across the Pacific is critical to economic recovery.

And Australia is leading efforts to vaccinate countries in the region with its vaccine dose supply expected to reach one million by the end of next week.

Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja told Pacific Journalists this week that his government is committed to supply up to 15 million doses to the Pacific and Timor-Leste by mid-2022.

He emphasised that getting vaccines into people’s arms is vital to re-starting Pacific economies.

“Getting vaccines, getting populations vaccinated, of course, in the short term will be one of the best ways to …start economies up.”

Seslja acknowledged the debt crisis many Pacific nations are facing.

“The best way to see budgets coming back will be when we see activity coming back, that will happen when there are more vaccinations.

“That would mean that people are able to run their businesses and trade is able to be more easily facilitated and in time, travel in the region will come back. 

“And, of course, that is so important to so many economies in the Pacific.”

Continued economic reforms would also be important to making sure that economies recover strongly from the pandemic the Minister said.

So far, around 750,000 Australian doses of AstraZeneca vaccines have been delivered to the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

Seselja said that amount is expected reach the million mark by the end of next week.

“The health security of our neighbours is critical to Australia’s health security and vaccines are critical to the region’s recovery,” he adds.

The Solomon Islands government has recently announced that the option of opening up national borders will be discussed if up to 80 percent of the population is vaccinated.

To date, just under 30,000 people have been vaccinated in the country.

Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare on Monday said the target population for the nationwide vaccination strategy is 414,500, and these are citizens above the age of 18.

“If the whole 414,500 adults in our country are vaccinated, this constitutes about 64 percent of our population which would offer some level of protection to the other 36 percent of our population that cannot be vaccinated,” he said.

Prime Minister Sogavare said citizens that cannot be vaccinated rely on those that can be vaccinated for their protection and for their lives.

More apply for passports

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

DESPITE current travel restrictions due to COVID-19, the Immigration Division says it received an influx of applications for passports this year.

Normally, the peak months for the Immigration office were January and February when students apply for passports to travel overseas for study.

A senior officer in the department who asked not to be named said the high demand for passports came about because people want to travel to work in Australia under the Pacific Labour Scheme.

“In the first quarter (January to March), there were 1000 applications,” the officer said.

“In a day, we would receive up to 40 applications, which can increase to 60 on certain days,” he added.

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.

Currently there are 533 workers in Australia and 291 in New Zealand.

Minister Jeremiah Manele told Parliament told Parliament early this year that beyond April to June, indicative numbers they have is around 632.

“This will bring the number to more than one thousand two hundred and forty-four workers (1244) by mid this year,” he said.

Manele said getting to 2000 workers by the end year is their goal and they see this as achievable given the growing number of workers entering the Australia market. 

He said the government is mindful of the decline in employment opportunities within the domestic market given the down turn of the economy.

“Seeking employment for our youths remains a priority of the government.”

However, Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale urges the Government to send more workers to Australia.

He said around 100,000 youths are unemployed in the country.

“Australia needs 26,000 farm workers, we have possibly 100,000 young people who are unemployed, and who could go right now to meet the needs in Australian farms.

“But the government is aiming to send only 2,000 by December 2021. What a ridiculous situation! It is clear that the government cannot manage the labour mobility scheme,” he said.

Wale said it must now urgently seek to outsource this important responsibility to a credible private sector operator.

“We must find where in Australia the farms are that need the 26,000 workers, and then do everything in our capacity to get them the workers urgently.”

According to DFAT, the Pacific Labour Scheme helps address workforce shortages in rural and regional Australia, while providing opportunities for Pacific and Timorese workers to gain experience, earn income and send remittances home to support their families and communities.

The Scheme commenced on 1 July 2018 following a successful pilot program in northern Australia and builds on the success of the Seasonal Worker Programme. Under the Scheme, Approved Employers are able to recruit workers from nine participating Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.

Australian businesses are currently employing workers from Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu in low and semi-skilled roles.

Australia’s labour mobility programs are among our most highly valued initiatives under Australia’s ‘step-up’ in the Pacific region, helping to support the economic prosperity of the ten participating countries. Labour mobility benefits Australia and sending countries, and will be even more important as Pacific economies recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pacific Labour Scheme is demand driven and helps fill labour gaps in Australia’s towns and on our farms, by providing access to a reliable and productive workforce. This helps to boost economic activity and competitiveness in rural and regional Australia.

When labour market testing demonstrates that no suitable Australian workers are available, Approved Employers can access workers under the Scheme.

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