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Solomon Ports major project held back due to covid-19

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Solomon Ports mega investment project

BY JARED KOLI

COVID-19 has held back the development of Solomon Ports’ mega investment and development project at its commercial development site in Honiara. 

This is according to Solomon Ports Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eranda Kotelawala during an interview with Island Sun recently.

The state-owned enterprise has proposed the development of a mega complex at its commercial site next to the Ports Shed which is now used as car park.

“Because of Covid-19, the investment climate is not yet settled that is what push that complex back for a little while. 

“But perhaps we will start it next year when the economy is back to normal because we need couple more investors for that complex as it is going to be a mega investment and development project,” said Kotelawala.

Solomon Ports is one of the most profitable state-owned enterprise this year focus on improving and enhancing our country’s domestic terminal facilities, in Honiara and Noro Ports in the first instance.

According to its website, its work programme for 2021 include:

•              Construction of new jetties;

•              Rehabilitation and renovation of existing jetties;

•              Beautification of the ports area;

•              Installation of proper Entry and Exit gates;

•              Improvement of the whole Domestic Terminal; and

•              Anchoring of Mooring buoys.

Last week, Solomon Ports unveiled the concept design of the new seaport terminal it will build at the Ports Shed which houses the shipping services office.

CEO Mr Kotelawala said the construction of the biggest and widest jetty by their engineering team is going on.

SINU owed $88m in outstanding fees

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Islands National University

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands National University (SINU) has incurred a total of $88 million in outstanding fees since 2019.

This is derived from the $38.4 million on MPs outstanding fees and $49. 7 million on private sponsored students.

Minister of Education and Human Resources, Lanelle Tanangada confirmed this in Parliament yesterday when asked by Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale.

Tanangada said the $38.4 million comes out from the total arrears of $93 million and represents 41.1 percent.

She said $49.7 million were also derived from total arrears of $93 million and represents 53.3 percent.

However, Tanangada said some of the arrears have accumulated since 2019.

Further to that, the Minister said under the 2021 budget, the Government has allocated $22 million for operation and $30 million capital costs.

She said to date, SIG has released three quarters that is $16.5 million for operation and $10 million for capital.

Member of Parliament for West Are Are, John Manenioru asked if SINU has any policy to help students at this time of economic hardship due to the impact of Covid 19.

Minister Tanangada said the policy that the ministry through SINU tries to review is as of second semester students can pay units, they can afford rather than five courses.

However, she said by doing that student will take longer time to study at SINU.

Parliament has been adjourned until Thursday 29th July 2021.

Private sector could help access millions more in climate funding

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Exley Taloiburi, Climate Change Finance Adviser Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

By Brian Lezutuni

Climate finance brings in big money – more than SBD$1.1 billion SBD (US$159.6 million) in the past 10 years.

If initiatives to be put to the Forum Economic Ministers’ meeting this week are endorsed Solomon Islands may see that figure increase – with private sector involvement.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Climate Finance adviser Exsley Taloiburi says at a time when COVID-19 has impacted businesses across the Pacific, it is fundamentally critical that governments work closely with the private sector to access global climate funds such as the GCF (Green Climate Fund) in order to create jobs, promote COVID-19 recovery, and facilitate public-private partnerships.

“Globally around 69% of all climate finance being mobilised comes from the private sector. If the Solomon Islands is not willing or prepared to work together with its private sector stakeholders, then our country will miss out on the majority of global climate finance available,” he told Island Sun from his Suva Office.

Mr Taloiburi said the private sector has a key role, where they could be recipients of global climate funds, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

Already, the private sector in Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga are accessing Green Climate Fund readiness grants. Apart from direct access, regional businesses could act as conduits in the provision of financing, either in the insurance space, or when it comes to disaster related costs.

In providing workable suggestions on how the Government can work with the Private sector in accessing these funds Mr Taloiburi suggests that first, the government focal points for these global climate funds should encourage the private sector to put forward project ideas and concepts.

“Secondly, include the private sector in relevant national steering committees etc… and ensure the needs of the private sector are included and costed in national plans and GCF Country Programmes which set out Solomon Islands project pipeline.

“Thirdly, consider formalising arrangements on climate finance between the government and the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SICCI).

“Finally, support private sector short term attachment with government ministries, or government officials attach with reputable businesses. Such peer-to-peer learnings could benefit Solomon Islands in the long term,” he remarked.

Mr Taloiburi stressed that there are many benefits to the economy when government strengthens private sector engagement in climate finance.  

Those benefits include leveraging private finance, access to innovative approaches and technologies, new job creation, payment of more taxes and building the resiliencies of businesses to stay in business during and post Covid-19.

Solomon Islands also has work to do on its government processes if it wants to access more climate funding.

“There is a misconception that because Solomon Islands is a vulnerable country to climate change, it gives us a better chance of accessing more climate funding,” Mr Taloiburi said.

“The reality is that countries who are successful in accessing global climate funding are those that have strong/robust national public financial management (PFM) systems, and not so much based on their level of vulnerability.

Cashflow problem caused by finance mismatch: Kuma

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister of Finance and Treasury Harry Kuma

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTER of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma has blamed the current cash flow challenges by the Government on domestic revenue timing mismatch with general SIG expenditure.

Kuma explained this when he responded to the question asked by Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale in Parliament yesterday.

He said the Government hopes that this mis-match will ease in the third and four quarter.

Furthermore, Kuma said with the implementation of new revenue measures introduced in the 2021 Budget together with stringent efforts in overall SIG agencies revenue collection, the Government remain very hopeful and positive that total revenue collections will improve in the months ahead.

The Government has passed the $3.9 billion budget in late April this year and started the execution of the $2.7 billion Recurrent Budget from 1st May.

There are $938 million in the Development Expenditure and $258.5 million in the Budget Support Expenditure.

Kuma said as of 30th May, SIG Year to Date expenditure was recorded at $1,166.9 million.

He said this was under budget spend by $427.7 million.

Kuma said this is due mainly to Recurrent Expenditure was under spend at $25.8 million, debt service was under spend at $6.6 million, and Development Expenditure was recorded at $13.6 million, or Year to Date pro rata under spend at $365.1 million.

Furthermore, the Finance Minister said Year to Date revenue at 31st May, on the other hand, was below budget by $41.8 million despite above collection by Customs and Exercise at $16.9 million and above collection by Inland Revenue Division at $7.2 million.

Kuma said the overall under collection at 31st May, is mainly due to other SIG Ministries revenue collection, which below budget by $65.9 million.

He said bulk of this under collection was recorded under the Ministry of Fisheries, which $53.3 million.

“This under collection by Fisheries is due mainly to seasonal factor as majority of Fisheries dues normally receive towards the end of the fourth quarter,” he added.

Earliear in the leaked email by  Bruce Phillips, Accountant General  Ministry of Finance and Treasury said presently Treasury has over $200 million of payments that it is not able to pay due to very limited cash flow. 

He said this situation has largely been brought about due to the significant 3rd quarter payments due in the first two weeks of July.

“The 3rd quarter payments relate broadly to provincial health funding, provincial administration and salary grants, education grants, parliamentary entitlements, housing rentals, other allowances and MRD constituency payments. 

“Naturally donor funded payments are NOT impacted nor are COVID related payments as these are funded separately from SIG,” he said.

Phillips said MoFT is working closely with supportive donors and the local debt market to address the current constraints.

“We anticipate agreeing terms for the use of almost $100m of JICA funding in the coming days to assist with the current funding shortfall,” he said.

 Phillip said Ministries are advised that there will not be  a quick fix to the current situation and they are requested to PROACTIVELY take all  necessary steps to ensure spending being incurred is prioritised and in accordance with the government’s clear redirection guidelines. 

“If Ministries do not act PROACTIVELY Treasury will be forced to take more stringent steps to improve cashflow.

“ During this time Treasury is also trying to slowly build up SIG cash reserves to a more acceptable level,” he said.

Phillips said Provincial touring imprests or payments in particular will continue to be closely scrutinized along with other non-essential expenditure.

He said Treasury will continue to prioritise weekly SIG salaries, utility payments, provincial government grants, housing rental payments and MRD related payments.

Phillips said a further cashflow update will be provided on Friday 23rd July.

Register Kava as Pacific product or lose it: Pacific Academic

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Locally produced Kava

By Brian Lezutuni

A regional academic says the patent of Kava as a pacific commodity must be taken forward if regional countries are to depend on it as a source of economic sustenance.

Dr Satish Chand Professor of Finance in the School of Business at the University of New South Wales and based at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra, has warned Pacific Islanders to be careful in ensuring that Kava remains a Pacific Island commodity.

The professor made the remark as fears emerge that once other regions like Asia start growing kava without paying money to Pacific Island countries, the prices will drop dramatically and the Pacific will not be able to compete. Effectively kava could become an Asian product.

“I have said in multiple forums that we should look at registering our intellectual property to kava so that kava remains a Pacific island product

“Wait until kava leaks out to Asia or to some commercial production abroad and then that’s when the price …is going to erode quite quickly,” Professor Chand remarked when meeting Pacific Island journalists via zoom last week.

Trade and Investment Commissioner of Pacific Trade Invest Australia, Caleb Jarvis also raised concerns after hearing that kava is being grown  in Vietnam at the moment.

“This is concerning,” he added.

The call to register Kava as an Intellectual property of the Pacific should not be taken lightly. Fiji recently was involved in a bitter fight over the trademarking of its ‘Bula’ word in the United States.

The trademarking of ‘Bula’ was carried out by a US businessman for his bar in Florida, “Bula on the Beach”, at which he sells kava. The Fiji Government brought its fight to the United States Patent and Trademark Office as well as the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

There is, however, an increasing opportunity for Pacific Island to tap into the market in the United States for Kava.

Mr Jarvis thinks there is opportunity to expand the kava market, with the proliferation of Kava bars in the United States.

“It’s a completely different segment and rather than people going out socially and getting munted on 20 beers or the whiskey, is it not a better thing for them to socialise around a bowl of kava? He asked.

“I respect kava and its cultural significance but it is one of the great development tools that can play out across the whole region if we can create new international markets for it.

Accident victims discharged from hospital

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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The vehicle that was involved in the incident at the Tenaru bridge. PHOTO BENJAMIN AFUGA

BY JARED KOLI

Two people who were injured in the recent accident near Tenaru bridge in far east Honiara last week have been discharged from the National Referral Hospital.

Doctors at NRH confirmed that the two had been admitted and treated at the NRH Emergency department following the accident which had claimed five lives on Wednesday night last week.

One of the doctors said they have not been admitted at any major wards within NRH, and one of them was discharged the next day after the victim was rushed in at NRH.

It was reported that three people have sustained injuries and taken to the hospital following the accident, but the doctor at NRH said they were two that have been discharged.

Police in a statement said the fatal accident occurred after a land cruiser chased by police vehicle for careless driving drove through a group of people who were doing a fundraising in front the old Tenaru Bridge.  

While on the chase, the driver of the land cruiser saw an incoming vehicle on the Bridge and parked vehicle at the western end of the Bridge, he then decided to drive through the old Tenaru Bridge where a fundraising was happening.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Guadalcanal Province, Superintendent Edwin Sevoa said the vehicle drove straight towards the crowd, hit several of them and later stopped.

Police at the Henderson Police Station have charged the suspect with careless. He has been charged for causing death by reckless and careless driving, contrary to section 38(1) of the Road and Transport Act after he was arrested yesterday 8 July 2021.

Man gets 11 years for rape

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A teacher has landed himself 11 years in jail for raping his daughter.

Court found the man guilty of committing the crimes twice on his daughter at a school in Isabel in 2016.

The victim was 17 years old and her father 44 years old at the time of offending.

Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer in his sentence said the maximum sentence for rape is life imprisonment and is reflective of the view that Parliament takes in relation to this type of offence and the need to protect young girls from this type of unlawful activity by some men.

“The courts have a duty to respond to this widespread public concern in the community by ensuring that fair and just penalties are imposed that will send a clear message of both general and specific deterrence to the community that those who offend will expect an immediate and lengthy custodial sentence if convicted.”

He also revealed that there has been an unprecedented increase in the commission of sexual offences against young girls and children and numerous concerns have been expressed about this abnormal increase in this type of offending in our society.

Sir Albert said such offence robs the child of her innocence and the defendant’s actions were both selfish and disgraceful.

“One of the aggravating features of this case is breach of trust and accountability he held towards the victim as her biological father. He was in a position of power, authority and trust, and had a duty of care towards the victim. The victim in turn is entitled to rely on him for her safety, protection, wellbeing, love and affection as a father.

“In fact, the evidence adduced showed that she was raped at the times when she had gone to her father’s for food as she was hungry. She was at boarding school where her father was a teacher and during her break times on those two occasions she had decided to go to her father’s house for food. The first incident occurred during morning break from school, while the second incident occurred after her prep (study) time in the evening. On both occasions he took advantage of her vulnerability and abused his position of power and authority and raped her.”

The court after considering the circumstances and actions of the defendant impose 14 years jail term however, taking all his mitigating factors into account, the court deduct three years from the sentence of 14 years, leaving a total sentence of 11 years to be served.

Therefore, the man is to serve 11 years in jail.

This is the case of a man accused of raping his own daughter at a school in Isabel province on unknown dates in 2016.

The man is charged with two counts of rape contrary to section 136F (1) (a) and (b) of the Penal Code [cap. 26], as amended by the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 (“the Sexual Offences Act, 2016”) and has been convicted after a trial.

According to the facts before the defendant had made special arrangements to have his daughter stay with him and his family to enable her to attend school. She was his child born from a relationship he had with the mother of the victim in his early years while working as an Agriculture Officer at the village where the mother was.

Police confirm arson related arrests

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Press Release
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POLICE in Western Province have arrested 72 people including six females in relation to an arson incident on 7 July 2021.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Western Province Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu says:

“There are three dwelling houses burnt down and other three permanent houses were looted and completely destroyed.

“Police have responded to the arson incident, stabilized the situation and rushed casualties to Munda hospital for further treatment.

“One of them sustained serious wound and currently admitted at the Helena Goldie Hospital.

“Families were left homeless, with no food and shelter.

“A group of men burnt some of their valuable properties.

“It is alleged that the motive behind the arson incident is an ongoing tension between Christian Fellowship Church (CFC) members who split in to group A and B.

“Police managed to control and calm the tense situation.

“Community chiefs were reached to assist police on the matter and during the meeting the community allow the police to carry out their duties that led to successful arrest.”

Investigation into this matter continues and I appeal to anyone with information regarding this arson to come forward and assist police.

“You can contact Gizo police on phone 60999 or Munda police on phone 62189 or police free toll line on phone 999.”

Seven people still missing at sea

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SEVEN people including an Anglican Priest are still missing at sea.

They were reported lost between Isabel and Buenivesta in the Central Islands province on the afternoon of July 10, 2021.

Reports said about 20 boats left Sepi on the morning of July 10 around 11am and travelled to Nagotano Buenavesta in Ngella for the Chiefs Convention that is underway this week.

One of the boat drivers who transported the chiefs told this paper that they were all travelling together when they left Sepi village on Saturday, however on their way out in the ocean that particular boat took a different route away from the rest of the boats.

“The sea was rough and everyone of us are travelling together but I don’t know why that boat travelled further out from our direction.

“It was at our arrival and the day started getting dark we realized that the boat hasn’t arrived and it was at that time, every one started to do the search, but unfortunately not managed to locate them”, the driver said.

He also said it was a sad scenario for such to happen to one of the boats and the people inside are also the chiefs and elders of the community.

Reports also said the boat carried seven people, one woman, an Anglican priest and four other chiefs and the boat driver all elderly people.

Some chiefs from the village that the missing people were from returned yesterday to Isabel to be with their community and families of those missing.

Meanwhile police in Isabel Province are investigating this matter.

Tangirongo is new envoy to NZ

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Press Release
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PM Sogavare and High Commissioner Tangirongo at the Commissioning Ceremony

GOVERNMENT has reappointed the country’s former High Commissioner to Britain, Eliam Tangirongo, to head the New Zealand mission.

Tangirongo returned home after the Government closed the London office last year.

He was commissioned for his new posting yesterday.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare administered the commissioning ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in the presence of senior government officials and family members.

A Government statement said Sogavare reminded High Commissioner Tangirongo that his tasks as the new High Commissioner to New Zealand is first to represent and promote the interests of the Government of Solomon Islands in New Zealand.

“These tasks could be political, economic, social and cultural,” Sogavare said.

He further advised the High Commissioner not to compromise his official duties with personal interests and other forms of persuasions during his term in Office.

Sogavare also reminded the high commissioner that he is the link between Solomon Islands Government and the Government of the country to which he is accredited and that his office and home will be the safe haven for Solomon Islanders in times of need.  

During his term in Office, High Commissioner Tangirongo was reminded that his instructions on all occasions during his mission will come from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and that he must avoid extravagance at all costs.

Prime Minister Sogavare is confident that Tangirongo is eminently fit in his personal qualities and experience in the affairs of State for the charge the Government of Solomon Islands has entrusted on him.

Prior to his appointment to the London Mission, he served as one of the chairperson’s of the Public Service Commission.

Tangirongo is a highly experienced Public Servant.

He replaces Joy Kere, whose term at the Wellington mission ended last year.

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