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Premier Gina wants issues raised tabled in Parliament

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Ben Bilua
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David Gina

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PREMIER of Western Province has urged the Parliament’s Health and Medical Service Committee to raise issues they have discussed to the parliament.

David Gina made the statement when the Committee made a courtesy visit to his office yesterday.

The Committee is on a mission to visit and take stock of needed improvement on quarantine facilities in Western and Choiseul provinces.

Speaking during the discussion, Gina said Western Province hosts more than four quarantine facilities, some of which are in need of upgrading.

He made mention of the quarantine facility at Noro that is in need of urgent assistance from the government to maintain its capacity.

“Quarantine Facility at Noro is going down due to lack of management. There is no security at the site and also there is no cleaner to clean the surrounding,” he said.

Gina said continual support towards managing and maintaining of quarantine facilities are important as far as covid-19 response and preparedness is concerned.

Chairperson of Western Province Disaster Committee, Jeffrey Wickham said the Quarantine Facility at Noro is gazetted by the government – meaning the government is responsible to look after the facility.

He said there has not been any direct assistance from the government to upgrade the Noro Quarantine Facility.

Wickham said Noro Quarantine Facility should be treated as a priority as Noro is also at risk due to international ships docking at Noro International Port on a daily basis.

He urged the committee that fair distribution of assistance towards Quarantine Facilities development is very important.

Wickham said amount of support towards quarantine facilities must be standard across the board – meaning provincial quarantine sites should receive similar supports and treatments like quarantine sites in Honiara.

Chairman of National Parliament Health and Medical Services Committee, Charles Sigoto said the oversight committee will gather information and provide a report to the Speaker of Parliament where the report will be tabled later this year.

He said the recommendation will look at how to improve quarantine facility services and how best the interventions would be for best outcome.

“Committee is independent so as the report that will be presented to the Speaker of Parliament

“Our committee is fairly representing the parliament as you can see, we are from both side of the house – the government side and opposition.

“Our mandate is to look at how well we as a country can provide the best quarantine facilities as part of responding and preparation for COVID-19 worst case scenario,” Sigoto said.

Sigoto said recommendations will be submitted and it will be up to the government to take action or not.

Court backs govt’s lock-down exercise

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The High Court of Solomon Islands. Photo by SIBC.

The recent High Court ruling in favour of the government on the legality of the Emergency Powers and its Regulations to the lock-down conducted last year is a major boost to government’s redirection policy on containing and eliminating covid-19 virus.

According to the High Court judgement delivered on Wednesday, June 30, the accused Denis Mitoro was charged with one count of restriction of movement contrary to paragraph 4(1) (a) and (b) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (Restriction of Movement of Persons in Honiara) as read with regulation 11 (1), 2 (a), (b) and (c) and (3) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.2) Regulations 2020.”

The High Court heard that Mitoro who is the respondent was allegedly not at his place of residence at Talise, East Kola’a Ridge, at 8.05pm on May 20, 2020. He was seen at Tanuli Ridge a designated area within the emergency zone during the restriction period by the Prime Minister.

Mitoro’s lawyer Ben Ifuto’o argued that Mitoro’s freedom of movement is protected under the National Constitution and Ifuto’o further argued that there was no justification for the lockdown as there was no reported case of covid-19 in the country at that time.

However, in the ruling by the High Court it stated “…the Prime Minister had reasons to believe that the May 2020 lockdown was reasonably justifiable…” in light of the proclamation of the pandemic by World Health Organisation (WHO) to which government responded by testing our capability and preparedness during the lockdown.

The court further added, “Being a responsive government certain measures and restrictions were put in place. Upon the circumstances at hand, COVID-19 was and still can be seen as Health Emergency. There must therefore be preparedness on how the government would respond in the actual emergency.

“About March 11, 2020, there was a declaration by WHO that COVID-19 was a global pandemic. Our government should be commended for keeping the virus at the border. So far, there has been no community transmission of the virus in the country. That in my view was the purpose of the lock down. The government was proactive in their efforts in preparing for and putting in place plans and measures on how to respond to a health emergency,” the Court stated.

After judiciously analysing, the reasons to the lockdown the Court point out that “It will therefore follow that the order for restriction of movement of persons in Honiara from 6pm on May 20, 2020 to 6am on May 22, 2020 is valid and lawful in the particular circumstances of this case.”

The Court ordered that “paragraph 4 (1) (a) and (b) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (Restriction of Movement of Persons in Honiara) (No.2) Order 2020 as read with regulation 11 (1), (2) (a), (b) and (c) and (3) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.2) Regulations 2020 are constitutionally sound and valid.”

The case is referred to the magistrate for disposal.

–GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT

Hagalu launches community by-law

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PPC David Soakai pose for a photo with the community members during launching of the by-law

By-laws are not new kind of rules or laws.

They already existed in our homes but died out due to our ignorance.

A strong statement made by the Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province, Superintendent David Soakai during the launching of Hagalu community by-law on July 4, 2021.

More than hundred people including the Provincial Community Officer (PCO), Chiefs, Crime Prevention Committees (CPCs) and community elders attended and witnessed the signing of the by-law.

Soakai says, “Chiefs, CPCs, and elders at Hagalu community really appreciate the partnership established between them and police. The community acknowledged RSIPF Community Policing Office at Tulagi for the engagement and awareness programme. This opens the mindset for us rural communities in recognising the by-laws as one that helps to reduce crimes in our communities.

“I am impressed that this is the first community I have visited and witnessed its by-law launching since I took the office as your PPC. It seems to me this community took initiative and corroborated the Crime Prevention Strategy of the RSIPF in Central Province to work in partnership to reduce crimes in our homes and communities.

“That those by-laws are not the new kind of rules or laws, those are the ones that already exist in our homes but die out due to our ignorance. Thank you for taking the initiatives to redirect the course and recognise the importance of the community living in terms of by-laws in crime reductions.

“Community policing officers will continue to engage with communities in Central Province. I appeal to the people of Central Province to respect and take ownership of the by-laws.

“This will help the Chiefs and CPCs to keep an eye on the community together with the Police. I appeal and encourage communities in Central Province to have a positive mindset in making such by-laws as one that can stand tall in communities in terms of peace and unity in the society.”

11 take step of baptism

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ELEVEN members of the recently established Naha Height Fellowship Group were baptized in a solemn ceremony held last Sunday at their church venue.

Members of the fellowship group are adherents of the South Seas Evangelical Church (SSEC).

SSEC leader and pastor Rev. Andrew Fanasia conducted the baptism service in the presence of fellowship members.

Those baptized are mostly young people who made the decision to accept Jesus into their lives and follow their Christ.

They include two women.

Fanasia reminded those that were baptized that their decision is a demonstration of their commitment to follow and serve God.

“In the history of SSEC, its first baptized members went on to become its leaders,” Fanasia said.

“It is my prayer that those of you who are baptized today will become leaders of this fellowship group,” he told the 11 baptised members.

Fellowship group leader Elton Osiagalo said the baptizing of 11 of its young members is the best thing to have happened within the group so far.

“We thank God for the lives of these young people who have made that important decision to take that step of baptism as reaffirmation of their faith in Christ,” Osiagalo said.

While Naha Height Fellowship Group conducts weekly Sunday service and is opened to people from all denominations.

PM caution citizens to be wary of Delta Variant

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PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the Government is cautious of the imminent threat of the ‘Delta Variant of covid-19’ in neighbouring Fiji.

Speaking during his nationwide address on Monday this week, the Prime Minister said the Delta Variant is highly transmissible and has been described by WHO as the ‘fittest and fastest’ variant of covid-19.

The Prime Minister said the situation in Fiji should be a wakeup call for our people to get vaccinated.

“If the Delta variant gets to our communities before they are vaccinated, our people will suffer. We will see not just an explosion of COVID-19 cases, but sadly, we will also see an explosion in deaths due to COVID-19 infection,” he said.

The current outbreak of the Delta Variant in Fiji started with just two people returning from India in April this year. At that time Fiji only had 67 cases and two deaths since the beginning of the Pandemic. However, from mid-April to yesterday, Fiji registered an additional 6,094 cases 28 deaths in two and a half months.

Prime Minister Sogavare cautioned that if covid-19 breached our borders, our quarantine stations and get into the community, the situation in Solomon Islands would be much worse than what is occurring in Fiji right now.

“This is the reason why we must all get vaccinated to ensure our population is safe even if COVID-19 breached our borders.

“If all adults in Solomon Islands are vaccinated, then we have a chance of protecting our population below 18 years of age that cannot be vaccinated,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said we have now reached the stage where we must roll-out our COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country for all adults that are 18 years of age and over.

He said with the increasing threat from the highly transmissible ‘Delta Variant of COVID-19’, which is now proven to be air-born, the Government has decided to implement a full rollout of vaccination in all provinces for all adults over 18 years of age.

The Prime Minister said we have more than 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines and additional vaccines committed to be supplied by our partners.

“It is our strategy to vaccinate all eligible adults in the country to ensure we minimize the risk of widespread community transmission if COVID-19 re-enters Solomon Islands. It is also our stated strategy that every person travelling to Solomon Islands from high-risk countries or countries with community transmission of COVID-19 must be fully vaccinated before they are allowed to board their flights,” he said.

–OPMC PRESS

PM urges citizens to be jabbed

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A total of 25,628 covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in Solomon Islands.

These includes 5,987 of people that have completed their second doses, meaning that they are now fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare highlighted in his nation-wide address on Monday this week.

The Prime Minister said so far implementation for covid-19 vaccination roll-out programs have covered targeted populations in Honiara, Western province, Choiseul province, Malaita Outer Islands and Guadalcanal province.

“This means 5,987 people are now fully vaccinated and a further 13,654 people have received first doses. However, this also means that only 19,641 people have received vaccinations out of a possible target population of around 450,000 adults, which is only about four percent of the target population in the country,” he said.

Yet, the Prime Minister said the country’s vaccination rate is very slow.

Therefore, he said vaccination is now open for all adults above 18 years of age.

Prime Minister Sogavare said we cannot wait because COVID-19 is not going to wait for us to get vaccinated.

“In Honiara 5,917 people have completed their 2nd doses, this is about 10 percent of Honiara’s target population. Second dose rollouts in Western province, Choiseul province and Malaita outer Islands will commence from this week,” he said.

The Prime Minister also encouraged people in the provinces that have undertaken their first dose to compete their second dose to be fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sogavare said the fight against COVID-19 have now reached the stage where we must roll-out the COVID-19 vaccination throughout the nation for all adults that are 18 years of age and over.

“With the increasing threat from the highly transmissible ‘Delta Variant of COVID-19’, which is now proven to be air-born, the Government has decided to implement a full rollout of vaccination in all provinces for all adults over 18 years of age,” he said.

The Prime Minister said there are more than 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines available and more vaccines to be supplied by our partners.

–OPMC PRESS

PNG honours Solomon Islands’ 43rd anniversary

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY JARED KOLI

THE Papua New Guinea (PNG) High Commission Office in Honiara commemorated in recognition of its neighbour Solomon Islands on attaining its 43 years of nationhood.   

PNG High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Moses Kaul and his staff held a low-key commemoration ceremony on Monday to celebrate the country’s 43rd anniversary.  

Speaking during the event, Mr Kaul said on behalf of the government and people of Papua New Guinea, the High Commission of PNG in Honiara recognises the 43rd independence anniversary of Solomon Islands.

“That is the reason why we organise this small refreshment in the chancery to give that recognition and respect to our neighbours Solomon Islands.

“We PNG attached a lot of significance with our relationship to our neighbour country Solomon Islands. Its more than bilateral relationship because we identify ourselves as friends, with a common identity as Melanesians,” Kaul said.

He said Solomon Islands and PNG also have a common spirit of cooperation, and carry the same values attached to common traditions, common cultural heritage, values and even history.

“For that matter, I should also say that we carry the same lingua franca, we are people with common identity, and so we are proud, and wish all the people of this beautiful country and leaders, especially the Governor General Sir David Vunagi and Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, all the leaders, all the people of this country, the very best wishes and happy joyous Independence Day celebration.

“We believe that our God will continue to protect and guide us, especially when we go through this difficult time when COVID-19 affects a lot of our businesses, affect a lot of affairs, in politics and every other aspect of our society, we believe God will still protect us and continue to take us until we can be able to see what tomorrow offers, and we know that God is still good and will still going to protect us,” Kaul said.

He said Solomon Islands and PNG share a lot of the aspects of cooperation and relationship, and their technical aspect of cooperation is going on very well.

 “As far as training and study programs being offered to SI students studying in PNG – I have seen evidence of that and I am proud to say that this will continue as assured by PNG Prime Minister James Marape when he was in Honiara last year, 2020.”

He said Prime Minister Marape also signed an economic and framework agreement with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare then.

“So, we are looking forward to enhancing that area of cooperation because we believe that it is very vital for the sustenance and long-term cooperation of our two countries,” Kaul said.

Centre condemns rise of rape cases

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THE Family Support Centre says it strongly condemns the rape of women and young girls in the community.

In a statement, the centre said recently there are a lot of rape cases that occurred in the communities, which is very shocking.

“It is sad to read and hear those women and girls are being raped by somebody they trust and disrespectful men and boys in the community,” the statement said.

“An example was the alleged raped of a 7- year-old girl at North West Choiseul in Choiseul Province last month,” it added.

“Raping of women and girls is a grave and systematic Human Rights violation and Gender based violence.

“It has serious consequences for the victim and has grave damage to the victim which will impact their lives as long as they live.

“Rape should not be tolerated, justified and it must be stopped in the community.

“It is a serious crime and the law agencies should not show mercy but punish the perpetrators with the full force of the law and award the strongest penalty to the perpetrators to avoid similar cases occurring in the future.”

“The statement said women and girls are very important in any family circle and the community.

They also contributed towards the development of their community. They should have been respected, valued and protected by men and boys in the community.”

The statement said currently there is an alarming rate of rape in our society which we often read and hear that rape always occurred in the communities.

“In most cases most of the victim of rape are women and girls. This is quite obviously seen as a major problem in our society today.

“There is a need to address rape in the community so that women and girls and men and boys be equally valued in the community and can exercise equal rights.

“Despite our country making significant development to end violence against women and girls through the government policies and the passing of the Family Protection Act, advocacy programs made by International Organizations, Civil societies and the Honiara Referral (SAFENET) to address and protect victims and survivors of gender-based violence, there is still cases of rape appeared in the news almost every week and month which shocks many families, women and girls today.

“Rape is a violation of a human being and a heinous act performed by someone who wishes to exact complete power and control over another person.

“Either gender can be the perpetrator or the victim of rape. In most cases women and girls are the victims.

“Women and girls are raped by men they know as well as men they never met before.

“Most rapists are close family members, those of trust, neighbours, and friends of the victim or someone who lives very close to the victims.

“The effects of rape can include both the initial physical trauma as well as deep psychological trauma.

“The most common and lasting effects of rape involves mental health disorders which diminished social confidence.

“Also, the effects can completely disrupt the victim’s life and must go through a healing process to put her life back together.”

In a study about 85% – 90% of raped of adult and children is not reported to police and authorities. 

Only 10% of all rape cases are reported.

Many women and girls don’t or can’t easily report their rape because they often suffer from humiliation and suffering when questioning by responsible authorities, feel ashamed and cannot cope with anyone knowing what has happened to them or they might be threaten by the perpetrator if they attempt to report.

“There are people in the communities who knew about someone who has survived rape and there are individual women and girls who are still survivors of rape, and hardly reported such case to the rightful authorities.

“Therefore, the Family Support Centre would like to encourage every victim of rape to step forward and report to any nearby police stations or any service provider on any sexual abuse case they experience in their lives to help stop this criminal activity (rape).

“Family Support Centre wish to urge the community and the existing groups (churches, youth, women, chiefs etc.) to start to talk about rape in the community, by informing the communities that rape is a heinous crime and once committed and once found guilty perpetrators can be imprisoned.

“Also, to work together with Non-Governmental organizations and civil society that have effective programs to curb Gender Based Violence in the community especially to educate the communities to help to change attitudes, help the victims and work to address and protect victims of rape.  

“Family Support Centre wants to appeal to everyone who need urgent assistance and free confidential Counselling to walk into its office at the Tandai High Way, or call 20619 or 132 (SAFENET free toll line) for face – to – face counselling assistance.”

SINU clarifies controversy

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Islands National University

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands National University has denied any influence by Vice Chancellor Ganesh Chand to advertise 228 positions currently.

This after some people have questioned the decision by SINU to end the contracts of such high number of lecturers during the covid-19 pandemic period.

However, Estee B. Lonamei, Senior Marketing and Promotion Officer, said this is part of the transition from certificate and diploma holders to bachelors and Master programmes.

Lonamei said these groups of positions are those that transition from Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE) to SINU.

He explained on 22nd June 2015, SINU council then, which was led by Sir Nathaniel Waena passed a resolution to have all positions adverted in the market when and before the contracts expired.

“The resolution was made so that the University MQR (Minimum Qualification Requirement) is updated.

“This resolution was never been implemented until the current council met on 29th March 2021 and revisited the resolution and asked the management to implement this decision. (Therefore, it is never a management decision made by VC Ganesh Chand),” he said.

 Further to that, Lonamei said the 2015 resolution was made because they have lecturers who are certificate holders teaching certificate courses, or diploma degree holders teaching diploma courses and same with Bachelor degree holders teaching bachelor courses.

He said it shouldn’t be the case in any University.

“Bachelor holder should only teach diploma or certificate courses.

“Now, SINU have offered Masters courses, and we can’t have Bachelor holders teaching the Masters courses, we have to have PhD holders,” he said.

 Lonamei said the current holders of the positions they advertised now are given the opportunity to re-apply for the positions.

He said they are not kicked out or removed as you claimed.

“The current exercise is to look into the market again, there are a lot of our qualified people coming back from studies and still in the “jobs hunt”.

“This is the opportunity for them to compete with current holders,” he said.

Lonamei said the bottom line is that, the University is working towards providing the best quality education our university can provide.

Moreover, he said concerning exam markings and grading, the University under each Faculty has that managed already.

He said the current advertisement won’t affect it.

No official independence celebration

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE country will not celebrate the 43rd Independence tomorrow like it used to do in previous years.

A well-place source said the decision not to hold an official celebration was based on the Cabinet’s decision made last week.

It’s related to covid-19 and lack of budget by the Ministry of Home Affairs to host the celebration.

As such, there will be no parade perform by police and correctional officers and other performers as traditionally seen in the past years.

However, one citizen said the government should host the Independence Day celebration because it’s an event that normally brings our people together.

He said the country is held together until after she gained her independence from Great Britain.

This is the second national celebration that was not marked this year.

On Friday 11 June, the Queen’s Birthday was celebrated on low key as a result of the current covid-19 State of Public Emergency.

It was a public holiday however, the customary official Parade at Lawson Tama and the Governor General’s formal reception were cancelled.

The Queen’s Birthday address was broadcasted on the National Broadcaster, SIBC and Televised on TTV including other online platforms.

The Governor General also  performed the presentation of previous Honours and Awards to recipients at a short ceremony at Government House.

Solomon Islands is a ‘constitutional monarchy’, meaning that The Queen is Head of State, though she acts entirely on the advice of Government ministers in the country.

The Governor-General represents her Majesty in the Solomon Islands on a day-to-day basis.

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