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All test results for Papa Mau case negative

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

TEST results for the recent incident of MV Papa Mau that docked in Honiara on the 15th of July have been tested negative, Health minister Dr Culwick Togamana says.

“These test results are for both all primary and secondary contacts,” the minister added.    

“We were fortunate enough that to date, all primary and secondary contacts have been tested negative for COVID-19, with further tests underway to fully rule out any COVID-19 threat,” he stated.

“Nevertheless, with efforts to keep the economy afloat at this difficult time, we cannot simply isolate ourselves from the rest of the world.

“Our engagements in international trade needs to continue thus, the ongoing entry of cargo flights and foreign commercial vessels to our ports.

“These however continue to pose serious risk and concern of COVID-19 entry and community transmission.”

Togamana said whilst the possible transmission is controlled by air, they are now focused on ensuring protocols dealing with vessels are sharpened to ensure COVDI-19 infections do not enter the country through ports.

He adds over the past 18 months, through the efforts of the Vessels Exemption Committee, they were able to protect the country from this deadly virus through the protocols that they have applied.

“As a result of the increasing incidence of finding COVID-19 positive crew members on foreign vessels, the Oversight Committee’s Vessel exemption committee will be tightening up requirements for foreign vessels to adhere to when travelling to Solomon Islands,” he said

COVID affects work on airport project

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

FLIGHT restrictions imposed to protect the country from the global pandemic has affected work on the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) airport project at Henderson.

This was revealed by Asano Yoko from the Embassy of Japan yesterday.

“The work reached up to 30percent as of end of July,” Yoko stated.

“The project is affected by flight restriction; however, so far the work is progressing as it was planned,” she added.

She said the impacts in terms of flight restriction prevented expatriates who are supposed to here for the project unable to travel over.

Yoko said currently about 100 Solomon Islanders work on the project.

Some specialized tasks are also taken by local workers.

Kengo Hoshina Project Formulation Advisor, JICA reiterated the project was supported with total funding of   47.3 billion JPY (about 43.5 million USD) with a project period from December 2019 to February 2023.

Hoshina said the international terminal building, international apron, guideway, etc. were constructed by Japan’s Grant Aid.

He said after almost 20 years, the aging has become remarkable.

In particular, some aprons for international flights have severe asphalt peeling, and some airlines have pointed out that they are not suitable for aircraft operations.

Furthermore, Hoshina said with the increase in aviation demand in recent years, the shortage of international parking spots has become a problem.

Presently (before Covid-19 pandemic) the airport is in need of three parking space for aircraft at the same time, but since the international apron has only two parking spots, the airport tentatively responded by providing the apron from the domestic terminal.

He said the existing domestic terminal, fire garage, and control tower are constructed at a position where the ground height is lower than the surrounding area, and they are easily damaged by flooding during the torrential rain in the rainy season.

Hence, through this Japan’s Grant Aid, renovation and expansion of Honiara International Airport will be completed.

By improving facilities and related equipment at Honiara Airport, safety of the airport will be secured.

“The airport will be able to respond to future increases in aviation demand and for Pacific Game in 2023, thereby contributing to the sustainable economic growth of the Solomon Islands,” he said.

The project includes the construction of international departure terminal, renovation of existing international terminal, repair and expansion of apron and taxi way, installation of aviation lights, construction of flood control embankment, etc.

After the completion of the project and the pandemic, both increase in the number of international passengers and number of international flights departing and arriving are expected stated Hoshina.

Moreover, he expressed the challenges faced when implementing the project 

“The preparatory work started in December 2019, but due to the global pandemic of Covid-19, the project experts were evacuated and the project forced to be suspended for about 8 month.

In time for completion before the Pacific game in 2023, construction has resumed since Dec 2021, but due to recent strengthening of travel restrictions, overseas engineers have not been able to enter the country, and the project is facing a big challenge against time and cost,” Hoshina said.

New govt scholarship brings more confusion

Written by
Admin
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Solomon Islands National University

CONTINUING students at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) have received Solomon Islands Government scholarship to pursue a new programme.

A female student, who wished not to be name revealed to the media yesterday after she received a scholarship this semester to start her programme in Bachelor of nursing.

She is currently doing her final year of Bachelor in Teaching.

“I applied to the government to support me in my final year in Teaching.

“However, to my surprise, the award letter I receive informs me to first year in nursing,” she said.

The female student said other continuing students at SINU have also received similar award.

“I have informed the Director of National Training Unit, Curtis Kalu but she urged students to follow the awards letter.

“This is surprising to us because we stated all our information in the information forms so that NTU can be well aware of the programmes we are pursuing,” she said.

Therefore, the student alleged whether it is a deliberate move by NTU to issue wrong scholarships to students.

She said students cannot change course because they are already into their second, third or final year in their career programme.

Island Sun has sent an email to Ministry of Education and Human Resources permanent secretary, Dr Franco Rhodi and Director of SITESA, Curtis Kalu on Sunday, but have not received any response until last night.

Taimareho case moved to end of August

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0
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 management of the West Are’are Constituency shipping company, owners of the vessel Taimareho has been moved to the end of August.

The case was against the Directors, General Manager, Captains and the West Are’are Constituency shipping company.

It was adjourned to August 23 for a possible plea.

The 12 defendants are charged in relation to a sea tragedy involving the Taimareho that caused the death of 27 people at sea in April 2020.

The defendants were supposed to have entered pleas yesterday however, there are certain issues needing to be sort out before the arraignment can be made.

One of the issues of adjournment is that one of the defendants is still in Buala and not available to front court.

Also, the defense requested the crown provide them one of the international conventions as some charges are under that convention, the STCW document.

The Prosecution said the STCW document, is not like other documents that are readily available on line, but will liaise with Maritime to get the document.

Some of the charges against the defendants are under the shipping Act 1998, which include 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.

The defendants on this case are charged under the 1998 Shipping Act.

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.

This is the case related to the incident which occurred on April 3 2020 where 27 innocent lives were lost at sea in Malaita when MV Taimareho carrying people from West Are’are back to their home village encountered rough seas, unfortunately that trip cost 27 lives with only six bodies recovered during the search.

Gun case adjourned to Friday

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court has adjourned the case of a man charged with one count of possession of fire-arm to Friday this week for the set-up of a trial date.

This is the case of accused Alfred Maefalea whom police arrested at the Guzo point on June 6 2020.

The case was mentioned before Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison, but since the defence lawyer Daniel Kwalai was busy at the High Court on another trial, the court moved the case to Friday.

Maefalea was arrested and charged after police allegedly discovered a firearm inside his vehicle in the early hours of June 6 2020.

Police said after they discovered the gun, he was immediately arrested and escorted to the Central Police Station watch house with the firearm where he was formally arrested and placed in police custody.

He was then was charged with one count of possession of firearm without license contrary to section 5 (2) (a) of the Firearms and Ammunitions Act.

Police said the Honiara City Response Unit (CRU) was on a routine patrol in the Kukum area when they came across a car parked in the Guzo Point area along the Kukum Highway.

On checking the vehicle, officers discovered the driver asleep in the driver’s seat and believed to be drunk. They also discovered a modified point-22 firearm wrapped in a bag in the boot of the suspect’s vehicle.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appeared on behalf of the crown

Court concern about items seized by police

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court has raised concerns on how law enforcement officers are dealing with the issue of confiscated items and goods belonging to people arrested for illegal hawking at public places.

Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison made the comments in court yesterday when sentencing a vendor guilty for hawking in public without a licence.

Following a guilty plea by the woman on the charge of hawking without a licence, the Magistrate discharged the accused without conviction, due to no exhibit being presented to court to support the charges.

He said how the HCC law enforcement officers dealt with illegal hawking cases are quite concerning as there were no exhibit presented in court.

He told the HCC prosecutor that any cases of such must provide exhibits to the court for proof.

The accused Rose Geli of Malaita pleaded guilty in court for selling betelnut fruits, fruit leaves and roll cigarettes along the yacht club fence on July 19 2021.

She was arrested by HCC law enforcement officers and her items were all confiscated during her arrest.

None of those items were produced when the case was called before court, and the presiding magistrate Hollison discharged the victim without conviction.

Hollison also told the woman not to involve in such activities as there are lawful ways to sell their produce and earn money.

He told the woman to always abide by the law.

“Sell your items or goods at the proper place and not along the streets of Honiara,” Hollison warned the woman.

New strategy to empower women & girls launched

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Press Release
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PS MWYCFA and Womens Development Division staff

THE Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs has launched the revised National Strategy for Economic Empowerment of Women & Girls 2020-2023 on Friday 30th July. 

The document builds on the first national strategy which was implemented from 2015-2019 and reviewed in 2020 to assess its effectiveness across its five strategic focus areas.

“One success story from the previous Strategy was the increase in saving clubs established under the Ministry of Women Youth, Children and Family Affairs, reaching into the provincial and rural communities,” a statement from the ministry said.

“The purpose of the second strategy is to address the gaps and areas for improvement identified in the review of the previous Strategy and pave the way for women and girls in Solomon Islands to realizing their economic potentials,” he added.

The statement said the strategy identifies the following key strategic focus areas to realizing women’s economic empowerment:

  • supporting gender mainstreaming as an approach to working with the whole of government;
  • addressing financial inclusion especially targeting the informal sector;
  • enterprise development and improved employment opportunities;
  • creating an enabling environment through legislation and policy changes; and
  • the institutional strengthening of Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs.  

Minister Freda Rotutafi Rangirei said these five strategic areas will continue to ensure improvement on what has been done and address the gaps needed to pave way for women to realize their economic potentials so women’s economic status can be improved. 

She said implementation of the second Strategy places more emphasis on reaching rural and remote areas, building stronger partnerships and linking economic empowerment more closely to other elements of the National Gender Equality and Women’s Development Policy particularly gender mainstreaming, women’s leadership, preventing violence and increased access to education for women and girls.  

Quoting Kofi Annan, Rangirei highlighted the role of women in development.

“There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women,” she said.  

Australian High Commissioner, Dr Lachlan Strahan, reiterated the value of the community working together to empower women. 

“The pandemic has placed a disproportionate economic burden on women,” Strahan said.

“Women’s participation in the labour market is lower than men, women still take up more informal and vulnerable jobs, women carry the larger burden of unpaid domestic work and childcare,” he added.

“This often goes uncounted and unrecognised, women are still paid less, they have much lower access to social protection, they are much less likely to have bank accounts and have less access to the digital economy.”

Strahan said the National Strategy seeks to improve the ability for a woman to participate equally in existing markets, increase access to and control over productive resources, get decent jobs and participate meaningfully in economic decision making from the household level right up to larger institutions. Australia has been a tireless supporter of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Solomon Islands. 

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs Dr Cedrick Alependava acknowledged all stakeholders, development partners and Women’s Development Division of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family for the partnership and collaboration in the implementation of the first strategy and looks forward to the continues cooperation in the effective implementation of the revised framework. 

He said a National Taskforce will be established to provide guidance and strategic leadership in monitoring the strategy’s implementation progress.

The National Strategy for Economic Empowerment of Women & Girls 2020-2023 is a key outcome of the Ministry’s National Gender Equality and Women’s Development Policy 20162020 Priority Outcome 2: Improved Economic Status of Women. 

The Strategy is also aligned to Solomon Islands national, regional and international commitments to advancing gender equality and improving the economic status of women and girls in Solomon Islands.  

The Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs would like to sincerely thank the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under its Gender Equality Program for their financial and technical support to the review and launching of the Strategy.

Why gov’t imposed new travel restrictions

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Press Release
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THE threat of the delta variant has forced the Government to impose new travel restrictions, Health Minister Dr Culwick Togamana has revealed.

Health Minister Togamana in his nationwide address on Monday said the Government has imposed new travel restrictions for incoming passengers by both sea and air.

“We are not allowing any incoming passenger services whether by air or by sea from countries reporting community transmission of the delta variant,” he said.

Togamana said these restrictions will be reviewed and updated regularly.

As of now, the Health Minister said all incoming flights will only be strictly for cargo and no passengers will be allowed to enter the country until further advice.

“We will only lift the travel restrictions when our experts tell us it is safe to bring people into the country again. During this period, we will review and upgrade our SOPs and prepare our quarantine stations to be able to cope with this new variant should it enter the country,” he said.

Nevertheless, Togamana said with efforts to keep the economy afloat at this difficult time, we cannot simply isolate ourselves from the rest of the world.

He said our engagements in international trade need to continue thus, the ongoing entry of cargo flights and foreign commercial vessels to our ports.

“These however continue to pose serious risk and concern of COVID-19 entry and community transmission,” he said.

Health Minister Togamana said that while we are controlling possible transmission by air, authorities are now focused on ensuring our protocols dealing with vessels are sharpened, so we do not allow COVDI-19 infections to enter the country through our ports.

“As a result of the increasing incidence of finding COVID-19 positive crew members on foreign vessels, the Oversight Committee’s Vessel exemption committee will be tightening up requirements for foreign vessels to adhere to when travelling to Solomon Islands,” he said.

Togamana however, has acknowledged that in the past 18 months, because of the efforts of the Vessels Exemption Committee and the protocols applied, we have continued to protect the country from community transmission.

—PMO

Guadalcanal announces plans for province

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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0

BY JAREDKOLI

GUADALCANAL will establish its headquarters at Mamara, west of Honiara, and build three other townships around the province.

Premier Francis Sade announced this during the province’s 37th Second Appointed Day celebration at Marau, Monday.

Premier Sade said the township project is the government top priority project policy.

Guadalcanal Premier Francis Sade delivering his speech yesterday

“It has been a dream of many people to have a town that hosts a provincial headquarter,” he said.

“This government is committed to making this a reality with the support of the national government, and has now established a township project office with qualified officers manning it,” Sade added.

Guadalcanal Premier Francis Sade being escorted to the podium during yesterday’s ceremony

“We have identified Mamara for the construction of the provincial headquarter, Henderson, Marau and Verana are our township project.”

He said the Guadalcanal Provincial Government is also planning to establish township for people in the inland areas of Guadalcanal.

The site for this is yet to be determined and planning is underway.

“By establishing these townships, Guadalcanal people would and should able to take advantage of the economic activities that they persuade.

To show our commitment to establish township for Guadalcanal province, today we witness the signing of the Henderson Local Planning Scheme

(LPS) for the Henderson Township, the signing of the LPS by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Survey and Provincial Secretary is a dream come true for people of Guadalcanal Province,” the premier said.

He said this legal framework will control the development in Henderson Township.

“The gazetting of LPS for Henderson will continue to broaden the province’s local revenue. This is a long-awaited legal document and I wish to thank the GP township office and GP Lands division for this outcome to continue work with the Ministry of Lands,” he said.

Premier Sade yesterday unveiled the Marau Township Master Plan in the presence of the Prime Minister, Member of Parliament and invited guests that attended the Second Appointed Day ceremony.

Guadalcanal Premier Francis Sade shakes hand with Western Province premier as he present him a chupu

He also unveiled the first proposed Guadalcanal province three story office complex for Marau

“The township master plan will control the development of the township. The proposed three storey office complex will commence this year under the Guadalcanal Provincial Government Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF).

“My good people of Birao and east Guadalcanal constituency, a township project will start here in our home

Thank you for allow us the land and resource for the province and National Government to undertake these development activities.

“While I thank you for your generosity, I wish to strongly advice our people to prepare for the township development.

“Let’s ensure that our House of Chiefs and our traditional governance structures are in order and ready to mitigate the pressing issues that will come with this township development,” He said.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said his government is fully committed to support Guadalcanal Province in its plan to build the township.

No jab, no work for public servants

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0
Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana

GOV’T GETS

TOUGHER

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

PUBLIC servants working for both the national and provincial governments risk losing their jobs if they choose not to get vaccinated.

Members of their families are also required to get their jabs as the Government takes new and tougher measures to protect the country from COVID-19.

Health minister Dr Culwick Togamana announced these new measures yesterday after Cabinet approved them last Friday.

Togamana said the mandatory administration of COVID vaccines will apply to:

  • all public servants and employees of the central and provincial governments and eligible members of their families,
  • all staff of state-owned enterprises [SOEs] and other government institutions/subsidiaries and eligible members of their families,
  • employees of private companies undertaking work at the front-lines – such as shipping agents, airlines, stevedores, crews of fishing vessels and eligible members of their families.

Togamana said under the mandatory COVID-19 administration, those who choose not to get vaccinated will not be allowed to access their place of employment and will also be chosen as “self-terminated”.

He said persons coming under these three groups in the provinces where there is COVID-19 vaccination rollout, had already commenced.

This includes Honiara, Western, Choiseul, Guadalcanal and Malaita Outer Islands.

“They must now receive their first doses of COVID-19 vaccination by 31st August 2021 and their second dose by 30 November 2021,” Togamana stated.

“Any person covered under the above categories who chooses not to get their 1st dose of vaccination by 31st August, will not be allowed to access their place of employment,” he added.

“And any person in the three categories not fully vaccinated by 30th November 2021 will be taken as having chosen to self-terminate their employment.”

For provinces where vaccination rollout has not yet commenced, Togamana said all employees under the above three categories will have 60 days [2 months] to get their first dose of vaccination and the last date to take their 2nd dose of vaccination will be 12 weeks from the date of the closing day for the 1st dose period.

“Like those in Honiara, Western, Choiseul, Guadalcanal provinces and Malaita Outer Islands, any person under the above categories who chooses not to receive their first dose by the end of the period for taking the first dose, will not be allowed to access their workplaces.

“And if they still choose not to be vaccinated by the closing date of the 2nd dose period will be taken as having chosen to self-terminate their employment.”

Togamana said Cabinet has also agreed to set a national vaccination mark to attain 80 percent 1st dose vaccination coverage nationally by 30th November 2021, and an 80percent 2nd dose vaccination coverage nationally by 28 February 2022.

“The government respects people’s individual choices.

“However, the government has a duty of care to protect the total population of Solomon Islands.

“During this pandemic the only thing that has been effective in preventing or altering the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic is full and effective vaccination coverage of the total eligible population.

“As a responsible government, we will not wait for community transmission to occur before making vaccination mandatory.

“We must ensure our total eligible population is vaccinated before COVID-19 has a chance to reach our communities.

“We need to learn from the lessons of other countries around us to do the right thing.

“We are in this fight together.

“We must vaccinate together to protect those that rely on us to protect them because they cannot be vaccinated themselves – our children below 18 years of age.”

Togamana said it will be totally irresponsible on responsible eligible citizens’ part not to protect them (children below 18 years of age), by not getting vaccinated.

“For those employees in the above three categories that choose not to be vaccinated, we will not stand in your way, but accept that the choices you make will also have its own consequences.

“I call on all eligible Solomon Islanders to think about how best you can protect the unprotected members of your families, your provinces and our country from COVID-19 and be vaccinated instead of sitting on the fence or spreading false information about COVID-19 vaccines.

“We can only protect our people and our country if we work together – and the only proven way to fight COVID-19 is to get vaccinated.

“It is not the government’s intention to punish people. Its intention is to protect the total population of this country from COVID-19,” he said.

Togamana said appropriate legal instruments are being put in place to ensure this mandatory requirement to protect the nation is implemented within the framework of the law.    

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