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Housing rentals in Makira questioned

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Kirakira station, in Makira/Ulawa Province

The Member of the Makira Ulawa Provincial Assembly for Ward 5 in Arosi 2, Jackson Sunaone who leads the non-Executive Members, claims a $3000 monthly Housing Allowance paid to Provincial Ministers is not right.

He says with the Parliamentary Entitlement Commission determination on Provincial Assembly Members’ Salaries and Allowances, the Housing Allowance given to the Makira Ulawa Provincial Executive Members is not right because they are housed in Provincial Government Houses in Kira Kira, the Provincial Capital.

Mr Sunaone says the instruction to this effect by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening is a gross defiance of what the Provincial Assembly Members’ Salaries and Allowances Determination says, so the practice is illegal.

He says the Attorney General and the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening Legal Advisor ought to provide advice and opinion to correct this deemed legal anomaly.

And the Provincial Assembly’s Repeal Intent of Ward Development Ordinance and the Makira Ulawa Province Investment Corporation Ordinance, Mr Sunaone says although the intention is affected by the Assembly’s respective passed Resolutions, legally they cannot be enforced, unless or until, a Repeal Bill is brought before the Provincial Legislation for passage.

Mr Sunaone says further more for the Government of Premier Julian Maka’a to bulldoze the respective Repeal Resolution in the recent Provincial Assembly meeting implies total defiance and ignorance of the following sitting Provincial Assembly Resolutions:-

  1. Ward Development Authority: In the period of 2017 and 2018, the Makira Ulawa Provincial Assembly sternly resolved that the policy advocated institution of Ward Development Committees to undertake Participatory Planning and Development in the Provincial Wards, for legal reasons, be best left in the hands and functions of the Ward Development Authority.

Therefore, he says to now put into action the recent Provincial Assembly passed resolution to repeal the WDA Ordinance bears legal implications, hence to allow WDC to now take charge in the Wards is not right.

And Mr Sunaone accuses the Provincial Capacity Development Fund of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening of driving its Governance Roles and Functions on the Makira Ulawa Community Governance Framework from the Province’s legally framed Governance Structure.

He calls on the Maka’a Administration to honour and respect the Province’s legally framed Governance Structure because PCDF’s action connotes a breach of the Province’s Governance Laws and may attract a legal challenge upon the binding Ordinances of the Provincial Legislature.

On repealing the Makira Ulawa Provincial Investment Corporation (MUPIC), Mr Sunaone describes the recently passed resolution to repeal the MUPIC Ordinance as a complete contradiction of the 2020 sitting passed resolution to suspend MUPIC’s operations to enable a review being carried out.

He says on that basis, the entities management was stripped off and functions and operations come directly under the Provincial Government Administration.

Mr Sunaone concludes by saying therefore, to go by the recently passed resolution does not go down well with the anticipated intentions of the 2020 resolution, which he regards as noble in its sense.

In response, Premier Julian Maka’a says the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government has not repealed any ordinances so far.

He says what had happened was to procedurally attend to requirements for such legislations to be repealed, amended, reviewed or invalidated and annulled.

Mr Maka’a says these ordinances must be acquainted with developing governance and MUP must keep up with the changing face of socio-economic turns of this age.

He says Makira Ulawa Province must be on top of changing patterns of development, so “we must revisit not one but all ordinances for the sake of progress and unified approach to meet the demands of change.

“The Makira Ulawa Provincial Assembly member who raised the issues is a member of our House Business Committee, contributed in the resolution and voted in the Assembly, so it is incomprehensible why Mr Sunaone has decided to use the media”.

Premier Maka’a says his Government of Unity, Reform and Advancement is committed to bringing more tangible developments and benefits for “our people of Makira Ulawa people than engaging in media arguments”.

By George Atkin

PM Sogavare hails Russell Islands’ coconut potential.

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Yandina in the Russell Islands.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has praised Russell Islands, highlighting its huge potential in the coconut industry.

He however says this has not been utilised to its maximum capacity owing to a number of factors.

He made the statement in Tulagi during the 40th second appointed day anniversary Tuesday this week.

“There are challenges that hinders the development in Russell one relates to the defunct RIPEL and a number of legal proceedings that is before the courts.”

The second challenge is lack of consideration for down-streaming of coconuts (value-added) on locally owned plantations. Third, is the absence of proper set-ups in rural communities.

He said in 2020, a number of investor dialogue series were held, including preliminary consultation exercises, and several locations were identified to further downstream copra to crude and virgin oil.

He said farmers agreed to work together for down streaming of copra which will add value to the coconut products. Discussions ensued with key buyers of crude and virgin oil in Honiara and they were willing to continue buying the copra.

“Having this crushing mills means that copra production in Russell Islands will be milled into oil thus adding value to the raw product.  This year 2021, funds were procured to ensure communities which mills will be given to have proper set ups. In close collaboration with the Central Islands Province agricultural officer stationed at Yandina, a consultation was carried out in communities to identify set ups and committees in preparation for formalization and registration of community companies in which the Mills will be operated. This activity is work in progress and will conclude soon.”

He also said parties anticipate the signing of several memorandums of understanding between the communities that will benefit directly from the coconut oil mills and Solomon Islands Government, Central Islands Province and Russell Islands Investment Forum (the recognised coordinated body) of the indigenous people of Russell Islands.

Old labour-ward to be turned into multi-ward

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Lack of beds at NRH’s labour ward.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE old labour ward at the National Referral Hospital will be transformed into a multi ward, says Chief Executive Officer to NRH, Dr George Malefoasi.

Malefoasi confirmed this at a recent press conference on the issue of bed shortage at the NRH.

“We have the old labour space that we are going to transform into a multi ward that surgeon can use for day surgeries, that the Emergency Department can use for all patients waiting admission and we can use it for surge capacity,” he said.

Malefoasi said this is one measure they are looking at to address the bed issues at NRH.

“We are also looking at all the opportunities in the ward for the kids, we have 20 bed spaces that we could create at the gynaecology ward and we are working on 10 beds at the Postnatal waiting room,” he said.

Malefoasi stressed at the moment they will put on additional mattresses and additional sanctified beds from Australia so it will help in creating additional bed space.

Isabel eliminates malaria

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

ISABEL province has made a remarkable success in eliminating Malaria, says the Deputy Premier to the Provincial government, Tony Vahia.

Vahia echoed this at the recent commemoration of the Grereo festival held in Honiara last week.

“The province has made some remarkable success and one of those is eliminating malaria in the province,” he said.

Vahia stressed that the provincial government has also spent the PCDF funding, 22 percent of the total expenditure is being spent on improving the Isabel health sector.

He stressed in terms of health situation in the province, infant mortality remains high at 16 babies dying during birth to every 1000 births, while 70 percent of deaths are Non-communicable Disasters (NCDs) related and we have the highest record of girl’s death due to cervical cancer.

“To reduce these preventable deaths, the province has managed to improve water supply with 90percent access provincial wide, however access to improved sanitation remains a challenge and it lags at only six percent access,” Vahia said.

He adds with the alarms of the COVID-19 pandemic, budget reallocation has impacted their general services to the people. However, preparation of Buala hospital and various rural clinics throughout the provinces are well underway.

Training centres receive land and sea transports

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Principal of Tabaka RTC (left), Michael Dive shakes hand with APTC country director Abigail Chang after signing the handover document

BY JARED KOLI

Four vocational training centres in the country yesterday took delivery of new land and water transports funded by the Government of  Australia through the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC).

The training centres are Afutara Adventist Vocational School in Malaita province, Tabaka Rural Training Center in New Georgia, Western province, Batuna Vocational Training center in Marovo, Western Province and Don Bosco Technical Training Institute in Honiara.

A 15-seater bus was handed over to Don Bosco and 60 Horse powered Outboard Motor Engine and 23-feet ray boat for each of the three Rural Training Centres (RTC) – Afutara, Batuna and Tabaka.

Since 2014, APTC supports training coalition and the four vocational training institutions are National Training Provider Partners of APTC.  

The transportation project which cost SBD$900, 000 was delivered to principals of the four vocational training institutes by Australian High Commission to Solomon Islands His Excellency Dr Lachlan Strahan, witnessed by APTC Country Director Abigail Chang, Australia High Commission and APTC staff in a handover ceremony hosted at the Don Bosco Technical Training Institute in East Honiara.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, H.E Dr Strahan said the 15-seater bus and 60 Horse powered outboard motor engines and boats for each of the three rural training centers will serve the institutions on several purposes.

“The transport that we are handing over will serve several purposes simultaneously, one is to help with the daily operation of the training centers, secondly it will become part of the training programme. The other thing is to build and establishing links between training centers and industries,” H.E Dr Stratan said.

He said rural training centers play a central role in driving economic development, skills and knowledge, and also about improving the self-sufficiency and productivity of rural communities.

“Australia has a long-standing support for education programme in Solomon Islands from elementary level, primary level all the way to tertiary education.

“I must say I am proud of what APTC does because it is at the frontline of delivering those important skills in the vocational sector. Since it was established in 2007, over 2000 Solomon Islanders have gone through APTC courses.

APTC Country Director Abigail Chang said through training coalition with training provider partners,  APTC support rural training centers to deliver quality trainings to meet the needs of workplace.

Principals of the four vocational training centers expressed their acknowledgement and sincere thanks to the Government of Australia and APTC.

“On behalf of Tabaka RTC I humbly accept this gift. Today is a special day for us, it is a milestone for education partnership, thank you for your continuous support for vocational education.

“This shows your government recognition and commitment for education in Solomon Islands. This transport will reduce our challenges, and will really assist us in cases of emergencies, banking and other purposes ,” said Michael Dive the Principal of Tabaka RTC.

Batuna RTC Principal Ibi Drelly also acknowledged the government of Australia and said this is a great vision to support capacity building of Solomon Islands in the education sector.

Booklet on outstanding women of SI launched

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Group photo of participants after the official launch of booklets.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

A booklet on outstanding women of Solomon Islands was launched yesterday with aim to pay tribute to women valued and respected for their contributions to communities.

The booklet was launched at the Solrais Warehouse, Ranadi yesterday and was taped to bags of Rice with focus for all booklets to reach rural communities within Solomon Islands.

The aim of this initiative is to pay tribute to women who are valued and respected because of their positive contributions to their communities and leadership values.

According to the booklet, 120 women were nominated as outstanding and their names were listed at the back of the booklet. All these women are valued for many different reasons.

Speaking at the launch, Afulia Billy from SECSIP said they are very pleased to partner with Solraise in distributing these booklets throughout Solomon Islands.

“It is a very effective way of getting out the booklets into communities. We will be monitoring response from communities,” Billy said.

SolRice workers pasting the booklets to Bags of rice

SolRice General Manager James Bradford said they looking forward to offering support to the future for the growth and development of Solomon Islands.

Lachlan Strahan, high commissioner of Australia, said empowering women is the right thing to do. “If any society wants to prosper economically and a good future for young people is by empowering women.”

“In the long run if you want to empower your women socially and economically democracy allows that to happen. A lot of political change still yet to happen that is why it is so important to support the electoral system that is reason why Australia is putting in money to SECSIP to support UNDP.

“It is really important to identify strong women leaders who act as royal model,” Strahan said.

The Outstanding women of Solomon Islands booklet was made possible by the UNDP SECSIP (Strengthening the Electoral Cycle in the Solomon Islands Project) through a gender component (output five) to enhance women’s participation for a more cohesive society.

Positive responses for cross road on Makira

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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THE man behind the idea of building a road across Makira, Reginald Nunu, says he has received positive responses from the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, and the Ministry of Forests and Research in Honiara for his project.

Mr Nunu who is Managing Director of Bawest logging company said in Kira Kira June 29, 2021 that the authorities have all endorsed the idea to build a road from Waita in West Bauro Ward and Tetere in Haununu Ward.

And he said as building the road is an expensive exercise, he had applied to the Ministries especially the Ministry for Finance to consider granting him and Bawest logging company tax exemptions on duty log exports.

Mr Nunu said while MID and the Ministry of Forests and Research have endorsed the application for export duty exemptions from log exports, the Duty Exemption Committee of the Ministry of Finance has yet responded.

He said as there is a time-line to the request, it is important to hear from the Committee, the sooner the better.

Mr Nunu said he had requested the export duty exemptions because there are streams and rivers along the road that will need culverts and bridges to be built across them.

And the road is important, he said because it will link a proposed Don Bosco Rural Training Centre at Tetere Plateau in Haununu Ward, and a proposed 2,500 hectare Cattle Ranching Project at Wango Plateau in Arosi 1 of Ward 8 with the West Makira Road.

By George Atkin – Kira Kira Correspondent

Manetiva calls for govt to put province eco- development first

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Premier Manetiva welcoming prime minister Sogavare to the Central province recently for the Second Appointed Day celebration of Central province. Photo by Jennifer Kusapa

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PREMIER of Central Islands province Stanley Manetiva has called on the national government to prioritise provincial economic infrastructure development.

He said provincial governance as agents of the national government should be fully utilised.

He adds this is because provincial governments, more importantly, to an extent, are implementation agents of the national government.

“It is high time now and long overdue for coordination purposes of development plans of Provincial Governments to be included in the national Infrastructure development plans of Solomon Islands to be of a realistic note here, most often Provincial Economic Infrastructure development plans are not prioritized to advance major rural/local economic development,” Manetiva said.

He also said that PCDF funds are restricted to small infrastructures and it is the Provincial call to better improve the coordination between constituency and provincial governments to be administered by Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of National Planning Aid Coordination, which will truly reflect a National Infrastructure Plan for Solomon Islands.

A THIRSTY TUNA

Written by
Admin
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Discussion between the MFMR BHTPP Project Working Group and Development partners

-Challenges remain for Bina Harbour project

-Development partners remain committed

Water, among others, is reportedly a bother for the landmark Bina Harbour project.

This was raised during a virtual meeting between the Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant Project (BHTPPP), the ministry of Fisheries (MFMR) and development partners recently.

While updates on the Project paint progress, several issues remain as challenges; such as – water source for the plant, sources of required landfill, power supply, telecommunications, potential for bulk fuel storage, environmental and social baseline studies, and technical work to prepare the site for investment presentation.

Project Manager, Peter Cusack, appealed to development partners to support further investigations into these outstanding challenges.

One progress of note, revealed by BHTPPP legal consultant Dr Phil Tagini, is that the long history of issues is now close to resolution and that the Trust Deeds for the key parcels of land is expected to be signed shortly.

A media statement by BHTPPP said the collective response by the development partners to the meeting’s project updates shows “in-principle support for the project and a general commitment to engage in detailed discussions with the Ministry about what roles they might play in supporting its realisation”. 

Development partners include New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

MFMR, responding to this positive response by development partners, reiterated that it is “determined more than ever to pursue and deliver this national flagship project to the government and people of Solomon Islands”.

Permanent Secretary to MFMR, Dr Christian Ramofafia, who chaired the meet, reiterated the national government’s commitment to the project, saying the Project is one of government’s priority national development projects.

MFMR was mandated by government in 2015 to lead the Project and to be at the forefront in engaging potential investors and development partners.

Mr Ramofafia lauded the partners for their support, particularly long-term financial and technical support from New Zealand’s foreign ministry, the IFC, and recently, Australia’s foreign ministry.

“The project currently has a strong sense of working together with key stakeholders expressing interest in helping to push this vital project forward,” he said.

IFC, which has been a partner since 2015, highlighted its support for the Project’s aim of “establishing a tuna port at Bina Harbour that can host a second Solomon Islands tuna processing plant at Bina, which would provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs and livelihoods and anchor economic development on Malaita”.

“Technical and economic feasibility studies conducted by IFC in 2020 determined that the project may be economically and strategically attractive for a vertically integrated tuna operator interested in forging a long-term, mutually beneficial fishing access arrangement with Solomon Islands. In parallel with that study, IFC also commissioned a port infrastructure scoping study aligned to development of a tuna port.” The BHTPPP media statement said.

Fiu bridge saga ends in MARA gov’t favour

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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The Fiu River Bridge

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MALAITA province’s stand to reject the sole bidder, China Harbour Engineering Company to upgrade Fiu River Bridge on Malaita Province has turned out ‘victorious.

This after the Solomon Islands Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP) under the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) issued a rejection letter to the proposer last week.

The issue of the rejection letter completes the procurement process.

It is believed the proposer is CHEC, who has submitted its proposal for the design and construction of the Fiu Bridge.

According to well-placed sources, CHEC’s proposal was proposal was evaluated and found to be technically responsive and fully qualified, in accordance with the World Bank Procurement Regulations.

The proposal was accompanied by a bid validity statement which expires in July 2021.

However, SIRAP’s National Steering Committee (NSC), following careful consideration of funding sources to meet the proposed price, recommended to MCA and MID to reject the proposal.

Well-placed sources claimed the decision of the NSC was related to the stand of Malaita Province against the proposer to carry out the construction.

The province continues to stand by the spirit of the Auki Communique to ensure that developments in Malaita province when it comes to roads and bridges are of quality and not sub-standards.

The Solomon Islands Government has allocated SB$30m under the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) towards the Fiu River Bridge. The total estimated cost of the Fiu River Bridge is SB$42m with the difference to be funded through the MID 2021 Development Budget.

Contributions from the ESP, the MID 2021 Development Budget and the World Bank Grant and Credit agreements were all considered.

According to SIRAP in a press release, the World Bank Procurement Regulations were followed in an open and transparent process. These same procurement regulations are used all over the world to deliver infrastructure projects.

During its deliberations, the NSC noted that under the World Bank Procurement Regulations the budget cost estimate is not an upper limit for the contract amount and so proposals are not automatically rejected if they are higher than the budget cost estimate.

A survey of international contractors who did not bid showed a reluctance to participate due to a heavy construction workload from a number of infrastructure projects leading up to South Pacific Games 2023 and the impacts of COVID19 restrictions.

Australian-based company SMEC was supporting SIRAP in the procurement of Fiu River Bridge.

The NSC is continuing to consider options for the future replacement of this very importance piece of infrastructure.

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