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5 injured after Kava farming clash on Malaita

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Press Release
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Five people were seriously injured after a fight over a portion of land used for Kava farming in Malobo village, West Kwara’ae on Tuesday.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Malaita Province, Chief Superintendent Stanley Riolo said the incident happened after a father and his son cleared a portion of area to plant Kava.

However, another father and his two sons went in and planted Kava inside that same area.

PPC Riolo therefore said an argument escalated and the trio attacked the father who first cleared the Kava Garden.

His son after seeing his father fell to the ground, fought back against the three and in the process serious wounds were inflicted on each other.

Chief Superintendent Riolo said police have responded and currently investigating the wounding incident.

The five were transported to Kilu’ufi hospital for medical attention. Two among those injured were referred to the National Referral Hospital after their condition became serious.

—RSIPF

COVID CASES, GOV’T SILENT

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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USP main campus in Laucala, Fiji.

BY JARED KOLI

Ten Solomon Islands students in Fiji have reportedly tested positive for covid-19 as the country grapples with an escalating number of cases of the virus.

Two students tested positive from two separate tests conducted last week, and eight others were confirmed positive after another test was conducted on Saturday.

The 10 are studying at the University of the South Pacific (USP) and are currently quarantined at home in their rented home in Nasese, just close to USP’s Laucala campus, together with 16 other students from Fiji and Vanuatu who are also positive.

“The worse thing is we are crowded and we also share the same facilities like shower and toilet rooms,” one brave insider said.

He said some begin to experience symptoms of the virus and have tried out some home remedies to see if that could help.   

“At the moment we just stayed home and see what help we can receive from home in Solomon Islands and the Ministry of Health here in Fiji,” the student, who requested anonymity, told Island Sun from Suva yesterday. 

The student said they are surprised that the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) and Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) said they are not aware of their situation, as the Education Attache in Suva has been informed of it.

“At first when the two students were tested positive, they should relocate the eight of us elsewhere so that we could prevent from being infected. They told us but did nothing, at the moment the 26 of us here all tested positive,” the student said.

MEHRD and MHMS when reached on this issue this week could not confirm the situation these students were faced with.

National Scholarship Division (NSD) Director Curtis Kalu said they did not receive any specific names on the students who were reported to have contracted the virus.

MHMS senior advisor Dr Yogesh Choudhri said they will issue a joint statement on the issue with the students.

“Lot of support is being given by the MEHRD and I am waiting for their component before we issue a joint statement,” he told this newspaper. 

Covid-19 positive cases in Fiji surge daily and yesterday reached 431 and two deaths in the 24-hour reporting period that ended at 8am yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, another Solomon Islands USP student residing in Suva said they are next-door neighbours of covid-19 positive cases.

“The real situation here is totally different, at the moment health facilities started to exhausted and all these positive cases are quarantined at home, hospitals is only for severe cases.

“What is needed here now is for our government to talk out on what is the emergency plan or prepared plans in place to deal with the situation we are currently facing here, most of the cases here are now community transmission,” the student said.

Island Sun understands that a dedicated multi-sectoral taskforce was formed to monitor the daily updates of the on-going transmissions of covid-19 and the measures taken in Fiji.

The multi-sectoral taskforce comprises of MEHRD, MHMS, Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade. They have been meeting on a weekly basis to monitor the daily updates of the on-going transmissions of covid-19 and the measures taken in Fiji.

However, the student in Suva questions the weekly meetings held by the multi-sectoral taskforce.

“They send us an advisory telling us they are committed to ensuring that we all are safe and that our welfare is maintained. Is this some kind of joke?” he questions.

The student said now most of the cases are transmitted locally, exacerbated by the Delta variant which is the most dangerous covid-19 strain. 

Yesterday MEHRD Permanent Secretary Dr Franco Rodie in an email to students confirmed that a repatriation flight for students that will be travelling back home has been set for July 31.

Mr Rodie urged all students who will be travelling to be vaccinated before they travel back to Solomon Islands. 

“One of the key requirements is for students coming on 31 July to have their Covid-19 vaccine. So inform all students coming on the flight to be vaccinated before they travel. Any student who fails to vaccinate against Covid-19 will not be allowed to travel,” cited the email

Debt-for-Climate swap could help address COVID-19 debt

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Former Central Bank Governor, now Senior Advisor to the Pacific Islands Forum, Denton Rarawa.

BY BRIAN LEZUTUNI

WITH rising debts in the Pacific due to impacts of Covid-19, the Pacific Islands Forum secretariat (PIFS) is heading to the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting later this month with a string of proposals aimed at helping nations in their recovery process.

A Debt-for-Climate swap based around the proposed Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) would help communities be better prepared for disasters while at the same time easing the need to add to the government debt burden.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Pacific nations have accumulated a total debt of $1.6 billion, according to former Governor of the Central Bank and Senior Economic advisor to the PIFS, Denton Rarawa.

Rarawa told a team of Pacific Journalists this week that most regional countries are classified as high debt risk countries.

“Even before the Covid-19 issue, most countries in terms of growth have been slow or lower so governments have been experiencing economic difficulties even before COVID-19,” Rarawa said.

“When COVID came it exacerbated the whole situation,” he added.

The Pacific Resilience Facility, an initiative of Pacific Forum leaders – will be the only Pacific-owned and controlled climate fund.

Once it is established it will offer small grants for projects such as community centres and schools that can also be used as evacuation centres, transport links, wharves and coastal defences.

But first Pacific leaders must find USD$1.5 billion in capital for the fund – not an easy task in difficult economic times.

Rarawa said PIFS believes the Pacific Resilience Facility could be used as a vehicle to implement a debt swap.

“The idea is to get (Pacific) countries to contribute to this Facility and use those contributions as a means of off-setting our debts … this is the proposal that we are taking to the ministers,” he said.

The proposal for a Debt-for-Climate swap based on the PRF would allow Pacific countries to pay debt repayments to the PRF instead of creditors creating a sustainable financing model.

Rarawa said the Forum is working on soliciting support from traditional and non-traditional partners towards capitalisation of the Pacific Resilience Facility.

“We are also proposing a Regional Debt Conference to be convened at the end of the year or maybe in the 1st quarter of 2022.

“This is to allow debtor countries and creditors to come together to resolve the debt issue in terms of debt relief and debt restructuring so on and so forth.”

Solomon Islands government debt is significant and growing.

In his budget speech Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma noted Solomon Islands debt to GDP ratio had reached around 11.7 percent at the end of December 2020.

“This is a sustainable level. However, at this level of debt, the Solomon Islands has limited capacity to borrow fund for its needed development.”

In a statement, the Central Bank of Solomon Islands said the Government’s debt rose from $1,074 million at the end of 2019 to SBD$1,451 million in 2020.

This is an increase of 35 percent or $377 million, much of it related to covid-19 borrowing.

Second jab for Western frontliners

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Recent vaccination roll-out in the Western Province

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Second vaccination roll out for the Western Province is currently underway.

Front liners residing at the provincial capital, Gizo took their second jab yesterday.

The vaccination team will travel to Noro next week and then to Shortland Islands in the coming weeks.

In an interview with SunGizo, Director of Health for Western Province, Dickson Boara said he was happy with the turn out yesterday.

“Turnout was slow today (yesterday) but I’m happy with the total number of officials who turned up for vaccination.

“This is the second dose, meaning we are safe from COVID-19,” he said.

Boara said the public who are willing to take their first dose are welcome to visit the vaccination site close to Gizo hospital.

He said the call is in response to the idea of making use of the vaccine before it reaches its expiry dates.

“I call on the public who wish to take their first dose to come to the vaccination site.

“This is because we want to make use of the doses. We don’t want the vaccines to be wasted,” he said.

Three buses involved in market pile-up

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

A traffic incident at the Honiara City Council bus-stop has resulted in a “chain reaction” involving three buses running into each other on Wednesday afternoon.

Luckily passengers in all three buses escaped unhurt with no casualties.

This after an oncoming bus (Driver C) hit the back of the parking bus (Driver B), which forced it to hit the waiting bus (Driver A) in front of it.

The oncoming bus sustained big damage to its front screen and door.

The middle bus sustained big damages to its screen and back door because of the collision.

The bus infront sustained minor damage to its back screen and back door.

Island Sun was at the screen to witness the accident which attracted a huge crowd near the Magistrate court.

One woman passenger in the middle bus said the collision nearly gave her a heart attack.

She was about to get off the bus when the incoming bus hit the back of it.

The Honiara City Council law enforcement and Police Traffic attended the scene and dealt with the issue.

It is unclear whether police has made any arrest after the accident.

Foreign ships keep front-liners busy

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Vessels berthing outside Gizo. FILE PHOTO

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

FRONTLINE workers in Western province have been busy the past month as international vessels continue to arrive in the country.

Speaking to SunGizo, Director of Western Province’s Health and Medical Services, Dr Dickson Boara said the swab team has been carrying out testing on incoming and outgoing international vessels since the beginning of this year.

He said three cargo vessels are currently under quarantine outside Gizo this week.

“Over the cause of this week, our Swab Team has carried swabbing on crews of the ships as part of COVID-19 test procedures.

“We are determined to make sure everyone entering the country via Western Province must satisfy all the COVID-19 test requirements and procedures before proceeding to the purpose of their visit to the country. 

“We understand that these vessels pose risk to our country in some ways and the responsibility is for to make sure the virus is not entering our country via these vessels,” Boara said.

He told this paper that a total of 10 incoming international cargo ships are expected to arrive in the next two weeks.

Boara said protocols of covid-19 testing will be enforced on these ships upon arrival at outside Gizo.

Two men arrested over sex assault on children

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Two men have been arrested on alleged sexual crimes against children in Choiseul province.

The first, a 28-year-old is accused of sexual assault of his four-year-old stepson.

The second, a 76-year-old, is alleged of sexual intercourse with his grand-daughter who is just seven years old.

The 28-year-old man is accused of indecently assaulting his four-year-old stepson last month.

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said the step-father took his stepson out for fishing when the incident occurred.

Mangau said after the two arrived from the fishing trip the mother noticed her son’s trousers had blood stain on it; it was at that time that the mother checked her son’s trousers and saw blood coming out from the victim’s private parts.

Mangau said police were alerted and the man was arrested for the said incident.

A second incident occurred on June 10, 2021, involving a 76-year-old male allegedly having sexual intercourse with his seven-year-old granddaughter. It was alleged that the accused took her to the garden prior to the incident.

Mangau said it was on their way to the garden that the accused pushed the victim who fell on the ground, following which he committed the offence.

Mangau said the two suspects were arrested on different dates and times and were placed in police custody.

Mangau again calls on parents to look after their children and not leave them to the care of men as some men have different mindset when with children and girls.

“I further appeal to all men to respect our young girls and boys as such incidents will affect them for the rest of their lives. It is also against the law and police will not tolerate this type of action,” Mangau said.

Vaccinate before flight: Fiji, Vanuatu students told as flight set for July 31

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY JARED KOLI

Solomon Islands students completing their studies in Fiji and Vanuatu will be repatriated on July 31, 2021, however, they must undergo covid-19 vaccination before the flight.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) Dr Franco Rodie confirmed the flight in an email circulated to students yesterday.

Mr Rodie said the government oversight committee has endorsed the list of students pending additional passengers to fill the seats to the maximum, which will now include four students to be picked up from Port Vila.

“However, one of the key requirements is for students coming on 31 July to have their Covid-19 vaccine.

“So inform all students coming on the flight to be vaccinated before they travel. Any student who fails to vaccinate against Covid-19 will not be allowed to travel,” Rodie said.

He earlier told Island Sun that this includes those who will be completing their studies at the end of semester one, 2021 and those who have decided to complete their semester two studies at home via online mode.

Meanwhile, the Education Attache in Fiji Mr Francis Tavava said those who wish to go home but their names are not on the list must write directly to Director National scholarship Division. 

“Information for travelling will be circulated to students as soon as received from the Over Sight Committee and those travelling will be able to complete and send it to Honiara,” Tavava said in an email sighted by Island Sun.

Tavava continues to remind Fiji students to “adhere to health protocols and safe hygiene”.

Yesterday Fiji Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong warned Fijians should expect the next wave of the covid-19 virus to arrive in four to five days.

He said the virus moves in waves and the next wave to come, they expect will be the most severe yet.

The Solomon Islands Students Association (SISA) executive has also warned Solomon Islands students in Fiji not to take the current situation lightly.

“The Ministry of Health of the host government has issued a strong message that indicates the difficulties and complications that lie ahead in terms of personal health and wellbeing. The days ahead will not be easy, we must brace ourselves to face the difficult situation,” SISA told students.

Cash box case today

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SENTENCING and mitigation submission on the case against a man convicted of stealing a cash box containing local and foreign currencies will likely be made today.

The case was listed before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea.

This is the case of Ian Pias Walelabua who was convicted on the last occasion for stealing a cash box or safe box containing SBD300,000, AUD20,000 and 5000 British Pounds at a dwelling house, Henderson area.

Walelabua was convicted of one count of Burglary in relation to the incident which occurred on August 28, 2020.

Police alleged that he and another male entered the complainant’s house by climbing the wall, and removed the security camera.

The allegation said it was when they were inside the house, they removed a cash box that contained the amount of $300,000SBD, $20,000AUD and 5,000 Pounds.

It was also alleged that Walelabua before committing the offence called another employee, who also worked for the complainant to find out the couple’s movement on that night.

The phone conversations were made by the accused and his phone call was to check on the couple whether they were out of their residence.

Police also said Walelabua worked as an electronic officer for the complainant.

109 travel under local holiday package here

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

ABOUT 109 passengers have travelled with Solomon Airlines so far under the ‘Iumi Tugeda Holidays’ travel bubble initiative introduced in March this year.

The Government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is trying to keep the ailing tourism industry afloat following international travel restrictions due to COVID-19.

This has propelled Solomon Airlines, the Public Service Ministry, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism along with other tourism stakeholders to launch the travel bubble initiative.

Solomon Airlines Commercial Manager, Collin Sigamanu said since March this year 109 passengers have taken the Iumi Tugeda Holiday packages, with forward bookings strong, particularly with the Independence Day public holiday next week and the opportunity for an extra-long weekend.

Sigamanu said Gizo and Munda in Western Province are still the most popular destinations accounting for 60% of bookings, with interest in Marau also increasing and currently accounting for about 25%.

He said the he remaining 15% of travellers visited other developing tourism destinations such as Seghe and Auki.

Josefa Tuamoto, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Solomons:

“Together with Solomon Airlines, we are focusing our efforts to expand awareness of the other destinations on offer as part of Iumi Tugeda Holidays through advertising, social media and recent trips by the Tourism Solomons and Solomon Airlines teams to other provinces including Temotu, Choiseul, Rennell and Bellona.

“Currently there are 11 destinations and 40 operators partnered under the Iumi Tugeda Holidays initiative, and we are working to expand that and also build trust in existing and lesser-known tourism operations within our country.

“This will have multiple benefits including growing awareness domestically and internationally, ensuring an avenue to support survival of our local tourism operators and to ensure readiness for when international border restrictions ease.

“The Iumi Tugeda Holidays initiative was introduced as a direct result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism sector. Our tourism industry is severely affected and our priority right now, while international borders must remain closed is on survival for our domestic operators.

“Another initiative we are working on with the Ministry of Public Service is development of a program for public servants to redeem accrued leave towards Iumi Tugeda Holidays, and likewise encouraging Human Resources teams within the private sector to adopt this initiative.  Solomon Airlines has already introduced a similar program internally to enable this.

“This idea and opportunity was presented recently to SICCI members and we are continuing to encourage support for the tourism industry through this and signing new operators up to join the initiative.

“Together with the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Tourism Solomons has already set down our five-point plan aimed at preserving our tourism operators and infrastructure and later working hard on the process of reviving the Solomon Islands tourism sector through adapting to a post-COVID-19 climate. ‘Iumi Tugeda Holidays’ is an important part of that plan. If we can encourage our citizens to travel more while we await the return eventually of international visitors, we not only support our local operators, we will be prepared and ready to receive international tourists again.

“Our focus must also be to learn to go about our tourism business within the new context of COVID-19. That means we must accept, that we will be living with COVID-19 in our daily task execution for quite some time yet.”

Solomon Airlines Commercial Manager Colin Sigimanu agrees:

“In the present time, the ‘Iumi Tugeda’ campaign provides an excellent platform for the nation’s tourism and aviation sector to adjust to the ‘new normal’ requirements now existing worldwide in travel and hospitality.

“Iumi Tugeda Holidays is a long-term initiative to ensure that together we can encourage our local Solomon Islands residents to visit operators and provide essential revenue and support during this difficult time.

“For the last few domestic schedules, Solomon Airlines has planned the schedule to cater for increasing long weekend demand generated by Iumi Tugeda Holidays activities, including Friday departures from Honiara, returning Mondays to Honiara making long weekend getaways possible.

“Solomon Airlines latest domestic schedule (announced last week and effective from 28 June) includes enhancements to support the Iumi Tugeda programme.  The changes were made possible by the introduction into daily service of our newest Twin Otter H4-SIC, including direct services being Honiara and Marau being established as a result of this demand.

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