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SECOND ESP

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Most families still live ‘hand to mouth’: Wale

By EDDIE OSIFELO

The persistence of hardships felt by families and households in the country has prompted the call for government to come up with a second stimulus package.

Opposition Leader Matthew Wale is urging government towards this.

He explains that a second Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) is needed due to the hardships faced by families and households to make ends meet, and even simply to put food on the table on a daily basis, let alone meet other basic needs such as clothing, water, electricity, education, health, and transportation.

This situation is particularly hard in urban centres.

The Government introduced a covid-19 $319 million ESP mid-last year to address the economic impacts faced by businesses, farmers and individuals.

Speaking at the special adjournment motion in Parliament on Monday, Wale asked “What lessons has the government learnt from the ESP?

“A successful ESP must be inclusive in the benefits that flow on from it in the broader economy,” he said.

Wale said the majority of Solomon Islanders live at the bottom end of the economy in a ‘hand to mouth’ situation.

He said a successful ESP must aim to ensure its flow-on benefits reach those especially at the lowest margins.

As such, Wale said there is need for another ESP.

“However, this one must be better targeted and focused and funded to around SBD2bn, or 20% of our pre-covid GDP.

“The government must seek donor grants support for such an ESP. we shouldn’t have to borrow for it,” he said.

“But we need it desperately.

“Government announced that it is being prudent and responsible in its fiscal policy and management of public finances,” he said.

“But I contend that the greater duty of care is to the majority of the Solomon Islands population who have been driven further into poverty and economic hardship by covid.

“Government’s responsibility to them must trump all else. It is not an argument to be fiscally irresponsible, but to be proactive and assertive with donors,” he said.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said this is a matter he will leave it to Cabinet and advice from Central Bank of Solomon Islands and Ministry of Finance and Treasury to advise government on it.

Sogavare said the government is rolling out to rural areas with some programmes that never reach them.

He said one thirds of the development budget goes through Members of Parliament.

“If we use it good it should help in stimulating the rural economy,” he said.

Sogavare said the suggestion to look at another ESP that is 20 percent of Gross Domestic Product is right in economic arguments.

However, he said the government needs to look at national capacity to do that.

“When comes to liquidity, the banks will have so much liquidity.

“And State-Owned Enterprises will find it difficult to deposit money because the banks will refuse,” he said.

Wale urges govt on ‘incentive for jab’ approach

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

With government facing a failing plan to have 80 percent of the population vaccinated, Opposition is suggesting a change in approach.

Opposition leader, Matthew Wale, in parliament earlier this week, proposed government coming up with incentives for people who take the jab.

Wale explains that the vaccination campaign is running against time and chance, and this is not being helped when a huge number of the eligible population are reluctant to take the jab.

Wale in his debate speech on the special Adjournment Motion said the vaccination rollout in the country is long overdue.

“With this, some planning is needed to ensure that a mass rollout is on the basis of vaccines that are already in the country of reasonable expiry age, under proper cold storage, in appropriate locations close to population centres.

“I would encourage the government to consider incentivizing the jabs, to raise the uptake.

“We have had ample time to observe vaccination roll-outs in other countries to learn what we can be done here. The low uptake here quires a new creative approach.

“Government is aiming for 80 percent vaccination coverage in its vaccination programme to achieve herd immunity and it cannot be achieved with only 18 years old and above. The demographic is such that this is not possible.

“I therefore call on the government to clearly outline how it aims to achieve 80percent vaccination coverage. This is a matter of some importance and cannot be blindly assumed, as seems to the case here,” he said.

SI constantly among 10 global disaster most-at-risk countries

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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A clean up effort carried out by villagers on the Guadalcanal Plains area after the 2014 Flash floods. PHOTO: WORLD VISION

BY JARED KOLI

SOLOMON Islands is consistently ranked among the 10 most-at-risk countries in the world in global disaster.

This is according to a new transport strategy (Transport Sector Assessment, Strategy, and Road Map 2021–2025) for Pacific launched by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday in Manila, Philippines.

The new strategy reviews transport sector performance, summarizes development constraints, and articulates the rationale and strategic direction behind ADB’s support in Asia Pacific.

“Under Climate change adaptation and disaster risk management, on global disaster risk indices, Pacific countries such as Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu are consistently ranked among the 10 most-at-risk countries in the world.

“Natural hazards, compounded by the effects of climate change, are producing frequent and tangible losses in the Pacific region,” it said.

The report adds disaster events, such as tropical cyclones, have grown in intensity; while heightened weather variability is leading to prolonged periods of droughtand flooding.

“Sea level rise, spring tides and storm surges, and other extreme events associated with climate change can have devastating effects on connectivity infrastructure,” the report said.

According to the key results of the World Risk Index 2020, which indicates the disaster risk for 181 countries in the world, Solomon Islands sits at the fifth with the fifth highest disaster risk (24.25), Vanuatu leads the index with highest disaster risk (49.74) and Qatar has the lowest risk (0.31).

However, the new ADB assessment strategy highlights sector performance; priority development constraints; and ADB’s support, experience, and strategic directions for the transport sector in its Pacific developing member countries.

The assessment strategy is linked to and informs ADB’s strategy document for the region, the Pacific Approach.

Both the Transport Sector Assessment, Strategy, and Road Map 2021–2025 and the Pacific Approach cover the period from 2021 to 2025.

Missing Isabel chiefs found safe

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SEVEN missing people from Bugotu in Isabel province are now back with their families after floating for almost three days at sea.

Buala Police confirmed to this paper yesterday that the men were found after they shored at the Hograno area yesterday.

“We have received a report that the missing boat was located and went ashore at Kilokaka village in the Hograno District,” Buala police said.

The officer also said what they heard was that the passengers are safe and well and they are now at home with their families.

Buala police also said investigations are ongoing, but what matters most is that they are now safe.

Meanwhile Buala Police warn travelling OBM around Isabel and other provinces to always watch and listen out on the weather before travelling.

‘No sim-card registration will weaken cybercrime law’

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY JARED KOLI

The implementation of the proposed cybercrime legislation, currently being developed, will be difficult without SIM-card registration.

Director of Communications in the Ministry of Communications and Aviation, Alwyn Danitofea informed the Bills and Legislation Committee during a hearing of the Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill 2021 yesterday.

Mr Danitofea said it is important to have the amendment bill passed so that when a person commits a crime, they can be responsible for what they are doing.

“Without having a name register to SIM-cards, it will be hard to implement a cyber crime bill which is in the development process.

“Registration of sim cards is really important because when someone is interacting using mobile phones, we know the person who is communicating,” Danitofea said.

He said when there is no name attached to mobile phones, it has issues because if there is something wrong to a user or a client using the service, it’s difficult to tag the names to the person responsible.  

“These are the security challenges prior towards the end or 90s or early 2000s. Misuse of the technology is becoming obvious so other countries have done this.

“This is why it is important to have mobile phone SIM-cards to register to have a name tag register to the user,” Danitofea said.

He said they have completed a face-to-face consultation with the two Internet Service Providers (ISP) in the country and separate ones with the Government ministries and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to identify their views, as well as in provincial headquarters with provincial members and executives. 

He said the consultation also reached down to villages from the far eastern Solomon Islands to the west – across all nine provinces of the country.  

“So, from the consultations we had, we have come to finalise the Bill which is before us, coverage and accessibility was the main concern,” he said.

The Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill 2021 provides for the telecommunication service providers to must register for recording the information of a person’s identity.

Section 78D says a service provider or agent must not sell a SIM-card to a person who is less than 18 years of age.

Meanwhile, trough the Australian Attorney-General’s Department the Australian Cyber Cooperation Programme are supporting Solomon Islands’ cybercrime legislative reform and development of necessary instruments to implement the legislation.

Wale cautions gov’t over future repatriation plans

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Leader of Opposition Mathew Wale. Picture Supplied

Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale is cautioning government not to down play the recent mutation of the coronavirus into the delta variant; and to now take a zero-tolerance attitude towards keeping Solomon Islands covid-19 free in any plans to repatriate our citizens or visitors from abroad.

Further to his remarks in Parliament recently, Mr Wale said, “It is truly unfortunate that some of our students in Fiji are now infected with the virus and with its ravaging effect there, their families must be concerned.  These are truly hard and my heart goes out to the affected families.

“The recent mutation of the corona virus into the delta variant, now in Fiji only mean the government must step up a notch in our Covid-19 preparedness plans to prevent entry.”

He said recent overseas statistics clearly suggest; after one year the pandemic has gotten from bad to worse in most countries, adding that Fiji, regrettably is now one of the countries with confirmed cases of the delta variant strand which has a proven higher transmission rate and severe consequences. 

“The sudden increases in the number of infections and deaths are now taking their toll on Fiji’s health system and resources.

“The situations in both Fiji and PNG therefore must serve as a serious reminder that the fight against covid 19 is far from over and if anything; must now be taken right on our door steps,” the Opposition Leader said.

“This demands that our domestic efforts to prevent entry must be raised to the highest of standards which may require, imposing strict vaccination conditions and containment protocols for any person coming in from Fiji or any other red zones with this strand. Given our current situation, our people must now at the forefront of any decision making by the government.

“I therefore urge the government to make every effort necessary to inform our students and citizens overseas that it is in everyone’s interests that Solomon Islands is kept Covid-19 free, and any actions that may undermine this zero tolerance attitude should not be tolerated under any circumstance.

“I also encourage our students and citizens overseas looking to return home to give priority to the importance of protecting our people by doing their part in adhering to best medical advice on the importance of getting vaccinated,” said Wale.

The Opposition Leader also pointed out that the increased risk now brought about by the delta variant is giving more credence to my earlier call for the government to be proactive in its vaccination programme.

“There is no better defensive mechanism that having the majority of our people vaccinated,” Wale further added.

–OPPOSITION PRESS

Santa Cruz flights resume

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Lata township airport runway

Solomon Airlines has confirmed the resumption of regular flights to and from Santa Cruz Airport following the completion of urgent runway repairs.

Santa Cruz flight operations had not been possible since June 26 due to poor runway and weather conditions, with the first Twin Otter flight able to operate on Monday this week.

“Both the Ministry of Communication and Aviation and Solomon Airlines recognise that this has been a difficult time for the community and this project was a priority for us,” said Brett Gebers, CEO of Solomon Airlines.

“As soon as weather conditions allowed, all parties worked closely together to repair the runway, taxiway and apron as swiftly as possible to improve Santa Cruz runway operations.

Twin Otter H4-SIC at Santa Cruz airport

“To assist the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, their Civil Engineer and designated contractors, Solomon Airlines also located our senior Operations Manager at Lata for the duration of the works,” said Gebers.

While Santa Cruz services are currently scheduled to be operated by Solomon Airlines Twin Otter aircraft type, to accommodate the needs of a backlog of passengers, the airline has scheduled its larger De Havilland Dash 8-100 aircraft to operate today. The recovery flight will operate as follows:

• Flight IE 4818 from Honiara to Santa Cruz departing 7.00am arriving 8.40am.

• Flight IE 4819 will depart Santa Cruz at 9.00am arriving in Honiara at 10.40am.

“Disruptions caused by heavy rains are unavoidably linked to the state of our runways,” Gebers said.

“Whilst we would love to operate a reliable schedule year-round with the Dash-8, this is just not possible, as is the case for Santa Cruz and the majority of the local airports we operate to.

“Until the runway and aircraft parking area are hard surfaced, airports will always have disruptions during or following heavy rains,” Mr Gebers added.

The Santa Cruz runway

Santa Cruz was also recently named as the 12th and latest new destination under the expanded ‘Iumi Tugeda Holidays’ programme, with access via the airport in Temotu Province, in addition to Lomlom.

“We thank the Ministry of Communication and Aviation for their completion of these runway works. The renewed capability for Dash-8 operations will improve our ability to fly to Santa Cruz, enables us to use the larger aircraft as demand requires, and we hope, restore faith in the destination’s short break potential” he added.

–SOLAIR PRESS

Japan is waiting for Team Solomon

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Solomon Islanders in Japan with their Japanese friends

IN Japan, where the Olympic Games will start next week, a voluntary group of Solomon Islanders and their friends are waiting for the arrival of the Team Solomon to support them.

The group named GoSoloGo2020Tokyo was formed in 2019, headed by Alistair Legua from Isabel.

Besides Solomon Islanders in Japan, the members are the Solomon Island loving Japanese, such as EX-JOCV, business people, and fisheries people.

“My two and half years in the Solomons were very memorable, and I always remembered Solomons after returning to Japan,” Kyoji Mizutani, the former JICA representative in Solomon Islands said.

“When I heard that this group was formed, I invited my colleagues to join. And everyone recommended Alistair to be the chair,” Mizutani recalled.

There are a few dozens of Solomon Islanders living in Japan, scattered all over the country.

Legua, an old boy of KGⅥ, went to Japan as a scholarship student 29 years ago and has lived there ever since.

“There were not so many delegations coming from my country to Japan.

“Especially since last year’s Covid-19 pandemic, traffic has been severely restricted, and all Solomon Islanders here are expected to receive our wantok team,” Legua said.


Alista Legua, President of the Go Solo Go 2020 Tokyo

The group had fundraised and planned various exchange projects and support projects.

However, Tokyo is under a state of emergency until August 22, and public gathering is restricted.

“Unfortunately, Covid-19 has forced us to reconsider or cancel the various exchange projects we were planning.

“We can’t even get together in Tokyo,” Legua said.

“However, we are all trying our best to support Team Solomon with Japanese friends. We hope all athletes could perform well and enjoy Olympic Games,” he added.


Swimming Team in Okinawa, Japan (2017)

The Team Solomon is coordinated by Naoyuki Fujiyama, treasurer of NOC and has lived in Solomon Islands for 31 years.

He joined NOC late 1990s and has been working for the Team Solomon to participate in the Olympic Games since then.

“I was in Malaita, working for Kilufi hospital early 1990s and have been a friend of Fuji since then,” Machiko Kawada, former JOCV and one of the founders of the group said.

“As soon as I heard that Fuji is coming to Japan with the Olympians to Tokyo, I decided to contribute to the Team for the success of the athletes.”

Many Japanese volunteers have been worked in the Solomon Islands.

One of them is Kazunori Watanabe, known as Kazu.

He was the coach for the U17, U20, U23 national soccer team in the mid-1990s and defeated NZ for the first time in 1993.

“Last year, I heard about the group and decided to join immediately,” says Watanabe.

“There is limited opportunity for us to do under COVID-19, but why not cheering up the Team Solomon.

“We should try our best as athletes from Solomons do.”

“Many ex-volunteers have always approach our office to seek the opportunity to keep ties with Solomon Islands,” says Tatsuya Haga, Secretary General of the Honorary Consulate of Solomon Islands in Tokyo.

“They always communicate with Solomon Islanders in Japan. Such background leads this project and it is not always in other country, as far as I know.

“It is an essential part of the relationship between the two countries,” Haga pointed out.

The Tokyo Olympics will bring together more than 10,000 of the world’s top athletes from 206 countries.

Three Olympians will participate from Solomon Islands.

They are Mary Kini Lifu for weightlifting, Edgar Richardson Iro for swimming and Sharon Kikini Firisua for athletics.

Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga will also visit Japan as a VIP delegation and will meet with Japan’s government leaders, IOC executives and others.

The team will leave for Japan on the 19 July.

Galo calls for electoral review

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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South Choiseul Member of Parliament, Sammy Qalo

By EDDIE OSIFELO

NEW Member of Parliament for South Choiseul, Sammy Galo is calling for review in the Electoral Act to address any gaps that may delay re-election of any member in a by election.

This was after South Choiseul constituency was without a member for one year six months after his father and former MP, Robertson Galokale lost in a petition case.

Speaking at the special adjournment motion in Parliament on Monday, Galo, who took his oath on the same day, said South Choisuel was without a voice in Parliament for over a year.

“We are without a constitutional representative and has been denied a political participation in this national arena,” he told parliament.

“This is a very sad chapter in the political history of South Choiseul,” Galo added.

“I believe that no constituency should ever gone through the experience that South Choiseul has faced by being deprived of one year and six months for not receiving the benefits where other constituencies received at the time,” he added.

Galo beat his runner up Tozen Leokana by just one vote – 1671 to 1670.

He represents 33 percent of the total votes that were casted on the by election.

Galo is the sixth member of South Choiseul to be elected into Parliament since 1978.

He said he is looking forward to fulfil his constitutional duty for South Choiseul.

Galo is currently the member of the current government.

NO GOV’T MONEY REF. WHY?

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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BY JARED KOLI

With Government facing a cash-flow problem and tight revenue collection, there is no one to monitor how government is spending its money. And, the Opposition wants to know why.

Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale is questioning Government over the long delay in filling up the position of Auditor General, which has been vacant since March this year.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s Motion of Special Adjournment in the floor of Parliament yesterday, Mr Wale called for immediate action.

He said the position is established by Section 108 of the Constitution as an independent office mandated to audit public accounts and monitor government finance related activities.

He adds that the independency of that office means only a substantive holder of the position can appoint other persons to carry out the functions of the office.

Wale said the ongoing absence of a substantive Auditor General raises questions on the authority of that office to discharge its functions especially under present circumstances where the government is operating under a state of emergency framework.

“This is a matter of great public concern. With drops in government revenue it is of paramount importance that government expenditure is tightly monitored so that spending is focussed only in areas that really matter.

“The ongoing delay surely is not helping in this regard, and I therefore call on the responsible authorities to speed up the process and to have the position filled at the earliest,” says Wale. 

As a result of the lack of an Auditor General, there is no one to sign off on audit reports on all financial statements of public sector entities at the moment.

Former Auditor General, Peter Lokay’s contract ended in March this year.

Deputy Auditor General, Rachel McKechnie had earlier said auditing on financial statements are still ongoing, however there is no Auditor General to provide a final opinion whether it is true or fair.

According to Section 108 (2) of the National Constitution, the Auditor-General shall be appointed by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Public Service Commission.

Chairman of Public Service Commission, Milner Tozaka said the position has already been advertised, with one candidate most likely to take the job.

Tozaka said now it is up to the Public Service ministry to decide when the person should take up the post.

He said at the moment he cannot name the chosen candidate because the Public Service is still to make a decision.

One of the aims of the Auditor General is to produce reliable and persuasive reports on the performance of public sector activities that aim to generate significant improvements in public sector administration.

The primary output of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) is audit reports – to the National Parliament, the nine Provincial Assemblies, the Honiara City Council and the various Boards of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and Statutory Authorities (SAs).

The Office also produces Special Audit Reports which are provided to the requesting government agencies when it is believed that the topic is of importance for the general governance of the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) or in the public interest.

In addition, the OAG also undertakes efficiency audits of government programmes or operations (known as Performance Audits) which are also reported to the National Parliament.

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