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LAW WITH MANY FACE?

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

Political parties to fight back charges

BY JARED KOLI

The two political parties facing possible charges for breaching electoral laws are bracing to defend themselves.

The United Party (UP) admits failure on their part to submit the documents in time, however says they’ll file for defence.

The People First Party (SIPFP) could follow in UP’s shadow.

Both are being accused of breaching Section 59 and Section 65 of the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014.

Political Party Commission Registrar Jasper Highwood Anisi told Island Sun this week the commission would shortly advise the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) to lay formal charges against the UP and SIPFP.

Mr Anisi said the two political parties failed to adhere to the Act by not providing their financial statements to the Commission after the November 18, 2020 Central Honiara By-election.

UP Secretary Abraham Namokari however says it depends on how the Act is interpreted.

“The executive will meet and look at the defence in regard to the Section of the Act. It depends on the Act and how we interpret it, so we will consider all of our grounds of defence and proceed on with it once the commission take it to court.”

He admits that it was a failure on their part to submit the financial expenditure and audit reports in time.

Mr Namokari said his party had handed over the financial records and expenditure, but after the grace period had lapsed. 

President of SIPFP Joyce Konofilia said she will reserve her comment and will consult with UP before issuing any statement on this.

However, she said they have their own reasons why they did not submit their financial statements.

According to Section 59 (1) of the PPI Act: “A political party shall, within 90 days after the close of the polling in an election, lodge with the Commission in the prescribed form a financial statement of donations received, including their sources, and election expenses.”

Subsection (2) said: “For the purpose of subsection (1), the financial statement of the political party must also include the donations received, their sources and election expense by the political party for each candidate.”

Section 65 states: “A political party that contravenes section 59 (financial statement of income and election expenses), commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $15,000 penalty units.”

Mr Anisi said the Office have the discretion to give a grace period, the Commission has the power to extend it but “we have exhausted all channels so we have to follow what the Political Party Integrity Act (PPIA) stated as per section 59”.

He said the commission is serious with the PPIA and wants to see the audit reports of parties contesting in the National General Elections.

Harassed nurse calls on Makira police to act

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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A Nurse who was harassed in her house in a clinic in Arosi 2 of West Makira has called on the Makira-Ulawa Police in Kira Kira to lock up criminals to ensure crime-free communities.

She says if criminals continue to freely roam around communities especially when they are intoxicated with illicit alcoholic drinks like Kwaso, they will continue to harass women especially at night.

She would not reveal her name for safety reasons.

The Chairman of Oneibia Crime Prevention Committee, Robert Renga who first reported the matter to Kira Kira Police said the Nurse was sleeping when a man intoxicated with Kwaso entered her house and harassed her at 3’oclock in the morning of May 28, 2021.

Mr Renga had released the identity of the suspect as Michael Robert and the clinic as Ngarigohu Clinic.

Meanwhile, the people of Tawatana Village in Arosi 1 also of West Makira want to know why Kira Kira Police has not responded to their call earlier for officers to call there following a physical attack on a woman.

They have also reported physical confrontations in their village and that brewing of Kwaso is wide-spread.

In response to the calls, the Provincial Police Commander, Peter Sitai said July 10, 2021 in Kira Kira while Police always wants to carry out its duties as people want, it is currently handicapped to do so.

He said transport is the problem because although Kira Kira Police has two vehicles, it has not been using them during the past three months as they need mechanical repairs, adding they have to ration how they use fuel to travel on motorized fiberglass canoes around the Province.

Mr Sitai said the RSIPF Headquarters in Honiara has yet to release the Provincial Police Post its two quarterly supplies of fuel for 2021, adding “we book the fuel we use.

“And my officers cannot go out on foot patrols in those areas because of the long distance”.

Sitai said the formation of the Crime Prevention Committee in Arosi 2 should help the police with its work to deal with criminals.

By George Atkin

Kira Kira

Fiji cargo flights concerns public

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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The Fiji airways cargo flight into Honiara yesterday.

BY JARED KOLI

Public are raising serious concerns about the frequent Fiji Airways cargo flight every Thursday.

Yesterday a photograph of a Fiji Airways cargo flight at Henderson International Airport posted on a popular local Facebook Forum ‘Yumi Toktok Forum’ prompted hundreds of reaction and comments from locals who took to the platform to warn the Government of allowing flights from high risk covid-19 countries such as Fiji.

Yumi Toktok Forum’s Benjamin Afuga who posted, said: “We all know Fiji’s COVID-19 situation has gone out of control, therefore the decision to allow Fiji Airways flying over to the country is very worrying.”

Another commentator said the Solomon Islands Government must not be complacent in dealing with covid-19.

 “You must not put your guard down, be alert at all times, learn from PNG and Fiji examples. God keep Solomon Islands safe,” he commented.

Another said the virus entered Fiji through luggage of the Indian couples that came from India and then a frontline worker carelessly handled that luggage and got infected.

“The government should be taking measures. We don’t know the situation of incoming cargo flights, such as from Fiji should be stopped,” said another.

“Very true concerns, why allow the Fiji airline to land while Fiji is now out of control of Covid-19,” one commentator adds.

A staff at the Solomon Airline’s Airport Operations International Terminal Office when called, said the Fiji Airways flight that landed yesterday is a normal cargo flight that normally bring cargo into the country every Thursdays.

“The flights carry no passengers, only cargoes, most of the cargoes are for the government and as well as medical supplies. We have standard operation procedures to follow during these flights,” the International Terminal worker said.

BLC insists for ‘outside’ review of new Bill

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Islands National Parliament

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Bills and Legislative Committee wants to see the Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill 2021 reviewed outside of Parliament.

This was despite Clerk to Parliament David Kusilifu making the first reading of the Bill on Monday this week.

Chaiman of BLC, John Maneniaru said the Bill needs to be reviewed to take into account the reality on the ground.

He said this after the Committee found out the Bill did not reflect the policy intention of the government, when officials of Ministry of Communication and Aviation and legal draft person in Attorney General Chambers appeared before them on Tuesday.

“For example, this Bill only covers new sim registration. What about the current sim registration holders?” he asked.

Maneiaru said the host Ministry agreed to make amendments before bringing it back to the Committee to complete the hearing process.

However, he said because it is a government policy, Cabinet will make the final decision on the Bill.

According to insiders in Parliament, if the Bill has not been read the first time yet, the Minister in charge of the Bill can communicate his or her intention to the Clerk to withdraw the bill, and that would suffice.

“However, since the Bill has been read the first time already, the legislative process has already kicked-in so to say and it’s a House matter now as opposed to an Executive matter.

“This means that the Minister in-charge of the Bill may have to withdraw the Bill on the floor of Parliament,” insiders said.

“There has been numerous occasions in which Standing Order 59 was interpreted that way, and it has become the practice of this House as such.

“It may seem to be that BLC would have to continue and complete its inquiry into the Bill and make necessary recommendations where it sees fit. Alternatively, amendments can be introduced during the Committee Stage,” insiders said.

However, Chairman of BLC, Maneniaru said the Committee has the power to make recommendations on the bill for amendments.

He said the bill cannot continue in Parliament if it has not completed the hearing process with BLC.

The Bill aims to amend the Telecommunication Act 2009 to ensure that all SIM cards are registered.

It establishes the minimum age for purchasing Sim-cards at 15 and requires person to provide valid ID when purchasing the SIM-cards from the service providers or their agents.

The service providers and the agents will be responsible for establishing an electronic registry for recording accurate information to identify the purchasers.

72 in custody over religion

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SEVENTY-TWO people are in custody following an attack and burning incident at Raro village, Roviana Lagoon, Western province.

The incident occurred on July 7.

Assistant Commissioner Crime and Intel Patricia Leta during a press conference yesterday said the motive behind the incident is an ongoing row and differences between two sects of a religious group there.

“It has come to a point that their differences escalate and those from group A attacked those from group B.”

She said police in Noro, Munda and Gizo mounted a joint operation and attended the scene, questioned and interviewed the 72 people and took them to Gizo for further dealing.

She said they are charged with unlawful assembly, rioters, enduring buildings and arson; however their court dates are yet to be confirmed by the investigators, currently the suspects are remanded awaiting their court appearance.

Leta said three dwelling houses were completely burnt, three other permanent houses were looted and destroyed, leaving the affected families homeless with no food and shelter.

She adds, during the attack there were five casualties who were taken to Munda hospital for treatment, one of them due to serious injuries – that person is currently admitted at the Helena Goldie Hospital.

Leta calls on the leaders and chiefs of those two groups to assist police in their investigation.

Gizo’s covid-19 case heading to Honiara

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

Gizo’s first covid-19 case is heading for Honiara, onboard MV Vimaru Pearl.

Health officials in Western Province are not yet sure which covid-19 variant the Gizo patient is being diagnosed with.

The vessel was yesterday reported headed for the capital for ‘further interventions’.

Director of Western Province Health and Medical Authority Dickson Boara said the lab only detects the virus’s presence, not which type of covid-19.

He said only further testing will determine the type of covid-19 strain.

According to Vessel Assessment documents from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, MV Vimaru reached Vietnam on June 18 then Philippines on June 23 before heading to Solomon Islands.

Vietnam and Philippines are listed as extreme high-risk countries and as part of the country’s safety protocols, the ship was told to quarantine for 21 days upon arrival at Gizo, Western Province on July 1.

Speaking of extreme high risk, the Philippines detected its first two cases of B.1.617 variant coronavirus variant known as the India variant added to the two existing variants on May 11 this year [Reuters].

Around the same month, Vietnam also uncovered a new covid-19 variant combining characteristics of the two existing variants first found in India and the UK, the report added.

When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Chairperson of Western Province Response Team, Jeffrey Wickham said the situation is under control and officials are putting efforts to track down and put frontline workers who have been in contact with the ship to quarantine.

He adds that contact tracing team is monitoring the frontline workers’ movements in the days leading up to Wednesday when the positive case was announced.

Island Sun understands that MV Vimaru Pearl, with the covid-19 patient, left Western Province headed for Honiara for further intervention yesterday.

Meanwhile, it is noted that the positive case was announced a week after the Parliament Health and Medical Committee visited quarantine facilities in Western Province.

Initial findings of the committee speaks volumes that there is a need for government support towards quarantine facilities so as frontline workers in the province.

Two arrested over death in Honiara

Written by
Press Release
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Police have arrested two suspects in a murder incident yesterday morning at Forest valley, west Honiara.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Honiara City, Superintendent John Matamaru says, “investigators from White River Police and National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) have responded to the murder incident while White River General Duties officers support them to manage the situation.

Matamaru says, “the cause of the murder incident was because of common nuisance in the community.

Superintendent Matamaru says, “although it is caused by common nuisance police will look at that during the cause of the investigation and further update us.

“Another suspect is still at large and I call on the suspect to surrender himself to police.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Police intelligence with no evidence

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Police intelligence are still without any evidence to the missing $300,000 exhibit money under its care.

Assistant Commissioner Crime and Intel Patricia Leta says the case file is still with the Professional Standard Internal Investigation.

She also dismissed media reports that a foreign advisor was involved.

“Investigation on such matters is not easy as the public might think.

“Police are trying their best to investigate such matter but if there is not enough evidence the matter will not progress forward.

“Investigators must be satisfied with the evidence they have before the case file can be forwarded to the Office of the Director Public Prosecution for viewing and advice on charges.

“Even if the alleged offending occurred inside the RSIPF, once there is no evidence we cannot take the case to the court, so we are still looking for evidence,” Leta said.

When asked why Police suspended one of its officers while there is still no evidence regarding the allegation, Leta said it is a normal procedure that whenever an officer is implicated, the officer has to be suspended while investigation is underway.

This is regarding the missing $300,000 cash exhibit money that went missing while under the custody of Police; the money recovered from the Director One-link Pacifica during police investigations early last year.

Kira Kira Ramp to be launched on Makira Day

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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The Kira Kira Ramp will be officially launched on Makira Ulawa Province’s Second Appointed Day on August 5.

The Makira Day, as it is commonly known, falls annually on August 3, but this year, it is being moved to August 5 to enable the Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare to launch the Kira Kira Ramp.

But the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Honiara will confirm at a later date whether or not Mr Sogavare will launch the Kira Kira Ramp, or his Deputy, Manasseh Maelanga.

Meanwhile, the wife of the Construction Manager of Trades Transformation Company Limited, Aillsha Saru who spoke on her husband’s behalf July 5, 2021 said work on the Kira Kira Ramp has been completed and is ready for launching.

She said TTC will finish building wave-breakers on the seafront next to the ramp this week, adding maintenance work on the roads at the eastern and western outskirts of Kira Kira, the Provincial Capital has also been completed.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Premier of Makira Ulawa Province, Julian Maka’a has described the completion of the Kira Kira Ramp as great news indeed.

He then expressed deep gratitude to the Australian Government through the National Government, “my Executive as well as the landowners and TTC, the contractor, for the concerted effort, which has resulted in the milestone achievement”.

In other news, the Provincial Planning Office says it is planning to include the official opening of Karie Clinic by the Prime Minister. 

By George Atkin

Kira Kira

Relationship between Kira Kira Hospital and SINU intact

Written by
Press Release
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0
Kirakira station, in Makira/Ulawa Province

The Makira Ulawa Provincial Health Minister, Benson Piringi has denied media report about a rift in relationship between the Kira Kira Hospital and the Solomon Islands National University’s School of Nursing in Honiara.

He said in an interview on July 5, 2021 in Kira Kira, the Provincial Capital, that he was disappointed with the report because it had spoiled the hospital’s good image.

Mr Piringi added the Health Division of the Provincial Ministry of Health and Medical Services which had carried out an investigation had found no elements of truth in the media reports.

“I had reported that the SINU School of Nursing would no longer be sending its students to Kira Kira Hospital to get practical experiences in the future.

“And the decision to black-list Kira Kira Hospital as training avenue for nurses, were based on credible reports that senior male hospital nurses had involved some of the recent group of SINU female student nurses on alcohol drinking sprees and were engaged in un-ethical behaviours at work place”.

Piringi said, however as the Health Division had found no elements of truth in its investigation, the relationship between SINU and Kira Kira Hospital stays intact.

By George Atkin

Kira Kira

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