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No mass SINU termination as claimed: Tanangada

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Lanelle Tanangada former Minister for MEHRD

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTER of Education and Human Resources, Lanelle Tanangada has denied any mass termination of Solomon Islands National University staff.

Tanangada stated this in response to a question asked by Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale in Parliament yesterday.

About 123 academic staff and 107 support services staff are affected by the exercise.

This include 34 in Faculty of Education and Humanities, 29 in Faculty of Science and Technology, 17 in Faculty of Business and Tourism, 18 in Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science is 17 and Distant Flexible Learning is eight.

About 70 percent of these staffs are former staffs of the then Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE).

Almost 90 percent of them have a basic degree in teaching streams while large numbers in the TVET areas have only certificates.

The administrative departments were dominated by staff with diplomas and certificates.

She said there is no mass termination at SINU as claimed by media.

“What I understand based on advice being given by SINU management is notices have been issued to staffs whose contracts have ended and a recruitment exercise has been conducted to fill in the positions,” Tanangada explained.

“This is a normal university activity that administration conducts at the expiry of contracts of staff,” she added,

Furthermore, Tanangada explained that at the inception of SINU in 2013, it adopted a recruitment policy that required all staff recruited by SINU to be on a three-year contract.

She said previously staff were on continuing appointment, meaning it has an open-ended time frame.

Moreover, Tanangada said as SINU Council resolution dated June 22, 2015, all positions must be advertised in the open market before the contracts expired.

She said the rationale was to recruit staff that meet SINU minimum qualifications requirement known as MQR to teach at the university and upgrade to a level and quality of the programme that is taught at the university.

“Similarly positions in administrations and logistics support services at SINU are also advertised as to well-educated and competent persons.

“Up until now and owning to a variety of reasons such as allowing for a period of transitions, the recruitment policy was never previously adhered to and comply with,” she said.

Tanangada said following a period over eight years now as per SINU Council resolution, dated March 29, 2021, the management has now considered it most appropriate to execute the recruitment policy smoothly and seamlessly for purposes of upgrading the quality of the programmes offered at SINU and attracting competent administrative support staffs.

Tanangada said interviewing of applicants are currently ongoing and expect all positions in academic and non-academic to be filled at the start of second semester on August 8.

Parliament has adjourned for September 13, 2021.

Sisiolo clarifies delay in appointing new AG

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Press Release
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PS of the Ministry of Public Service, Mr Nego Sisiolo

CLAIMS in the Island Sun Newspaper on July 29 assuming the Government is politically delaying the appointment of the new Auditor General is misleading.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Nego Sisiolo explained that the endorsed candidate is the most suitable and highly qualified person for the position and relevant Ministries are seeking additional funding to meet the incoming Auditor General’s salary and other remunerations.

“The need for a remunerations additional budget came about because the endorsed applicant negotiated with SIG-OAG, MPS, MoFT and OPMC a counter package up to a level that commensurate his qualifications, experience and skills,” Sisiolo said.

He said the SIG parties deliberated on the candidate’s counter offer in light of the following factors:

  • The position of the Auditor General is a highly technical profession that has rigorous qualification criteria on its own. Hence, the profession can be equated to professionals in the legal and medical sectors;
  • The endorsed candidate has a wealth of experience in this field and a qualified local chartered public accountant;
  • The endorsed candidate is the only applicant that applied for the post and therefore SIG as the employer do not want to drop him;
  • The endorsed candidate may lose its personal business activities/interest once appointed to the said post.

Consequently, the SIG parties decided to take-on the counter offer by the candidate by collaborating to locate payroll savings that can be reallocated for the AG emolument, which has now been identified.

In the process, the Ministry of Public Service also collaborated with the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to provide a Business Case (BC) as justification for supplementation to existing terms and condition. The Business Case is essentially to use to brief the Prime Minister who has power to decide on the terms and conditions for constitutional offices.    

On Tues 27 July 2021, the Deputy Auditor General (DAG) briefed the acting Secretary to Cabinet on the business case that provides the rationale for the supplementation to existing terms and conditions.

It is expected that the Secretary to Cabinet will advise the Prime Minister for his decision soon.

Subject to the PM’s decision on the supplementation requested, the next immediate course of action will be to collaborate with OPMC to draw-up a service contract for signing before the Governor General appoints the endorsed candidate. 

“I therefore would like to clarify that from SIG-MPS perspective, the delay is nothing to do with politics,” Sisiolo said.

“On the contrary, the delay is to do with time needed for the Ministry of Public Service to negotiate and collaborate with other SIG ministries and offices to build a good case for government’s consideration and secure the supplementation budget to meet the counter-offer package negotiated and requested by the endorsed applicant.” 

PM cautions journalists of ‘yellow journalism’

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Press Release
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has warned the media that the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.2) Regulations 2021 has provisions relating to Yellow Journalism. 

Speaking in Parliament on the motion to extend the State of Public Emergency by a further four months in Parliament today (29th July), Prime Minister Sogavare said, the rationale for having this provision is to ensure that individuals or the media do not spread rumors or misinformation that may cause disturbances that may divert much needed resources to deal with these disturbances.

“I respect our freedom to express ourselves but I must say that I am extremely disappointed in how some individuals and mainstream media have continued to disseminate rumors and misinformation to our people,” Prime Minister Sogavare said.

He brought to the fore, recent media reports that were published in the past few days are pathetic and disappointing, especially since the publications are mere rumors, misinformation and just outright lies.

“The Government has been very tolerant of these malicious lies and rumors published in the media. We have demonstrated restraint but I must say our patience and restraint is surely tested with this yellow journalism,” Prime Minister Sogavare said.

Press, he adds, though not formally recognised as an established part of the formal political system, does play the role of the watchdog over the formally established three estates of the state- judiciary, legislature and executive.

Prime Minister Sogavare reemphasized, the role of the watchdog must be based on the press providing verified and reliable information to the public.

He said the press is accorded the title of ‘Fourth Estate’ because of the confidence and trust that the public has in the press as the watchdog.

Quoting Sir, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Prime Minister said, “Freedom of the press is essential to the preservation of a democracy; but there is a difference between freedom and license. Editorialists who tell downright lies in order to advance their own agendas do more to discredit the press than all the censors in the world.” 

Prime Minister Sogavare further quoted Arthur Hays Sulzberger, the publisher of the New York Times from 1935 to 1961 saying, “Perhaps we ought to ask ourselves just what freedom of the press really is. Whose freedom is it? Does it merely guarantee the right of the publisher to do and say whatever he wishes, limited only by the laws of libel, public order and decency…?

“Is it only a special license to those who manage the units of the press? The answer, of course, is No. Freedom of the press — or, to be more precise, the benefit of freedom of the press belongs to everyone — to the citizen as well as the publisher,” he said.

“The publisher is not granted the privilege of independence simply to provide him with a more favored position in the community than is accorded to other citizens.

“He enjoys an explicitly defined independence because it is the only condition under which he can fulfil his role, which is to inform fully, fairly and comprehensively.

“The crux is not the publisher’s ‘freedom to print’; it is rather the citizens’ right ‘to know’,” Sogavare added.

Yellow Journalism refers to reporting rumors and false information often using eye-catching headlines merely for increased sales. 

East Mala road accusations are groundless: Maelanga

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Press Release
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Accusations implicating the Deputy Prime Minister and East Malaita Member of Parliament Manasseh Maelanga for misusing East Road maintenance funds are groundless and were mere attempts to discredit his leadership by disgruntled rivals.

Mr Maelanga in a statement said he is aware of those ignorant individuals that failed to appreciate the road expansion projects into the Highlands of his constituency that now relieved the previous transportation burden to his people.

Never before in the history of East Malaita constituency has any new road been built and Maelanga said his ultimate aim is to make sure new roads are built with any possible project funding that benefits the remote highlands communities.

On accusations that he misused road maintenance funds of $4.424 million without results, Maelanga said those claims were fabricated only to discredit his efforts to build new roads in his constituency by ignorant rivals.

He urged the claimants to prove their accusations with evidence that he misused funds and to stop spreading lies to influence public perception.

Maelanga said the East Malaita road is approximately more than 40 kilometres that cuts through the island from the West to East running through valleys and mountains that cannot be properly maintained with a few million dollars.

“Those accusers need to gather complete information on the cost of different components on road works from engineers and other qualified authorities to understand how much it cost to build new roads or maintain existing ones. They just don’t go to Facebook and express their jealousy without accurate information,” he said.

On accusations implicating that he influenced awarding of contracts, Maelanga said all due tender processes have been applied and it is none of his business to tell the Government Central Tender Board (CTB) to award contracts to preferred companies.

“To assume that I did that is simply ridiculous,” he said.

Maelanga explained that to fix a certain section of a road, for example from Dala to Atori and from Nafinua to Kwaibaita with $4.424 million is insufficient.

“It will only meet fuel, labour and machinery costs plus perhaps re-gravelling without proper drainage and bridge repairs,” he said.

“This will result in roads not lasting more than six months given the high rainfall level in that region,” he added.

Maelanga said the Facebook commentators appear to be dreaming from their comfort zones trying to score points and linking the East Malaita road with the current MARA Government’s standoff with the DCGA Government.

“I invited these so-called Facebook commentators to visit the East Malaita Constituency to see and appreciate the challenges that affected the East Malaita road network rather than barking unnecessarily in the media,” he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister encouraged his opponents to report any allegations to police and other relevant authorities for investigation rather than orchestrating unfounded claims.

–GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT

ACOM supports covid-19 vaccine

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Archbishop taking his first COVID-19 vaccine dose. Photo Credit -

The Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) has come out to voice its support for the covid-19 vaccine.

In a statement yesterday, the ACOM said it believes that the vaccines are an answer to the prayers of humankind for ways to eliminate the covid-19 pandemic.

The Church adds that since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been supportive of the government’s ambition to protect Solomon Islands against covid-19.

“The Anglican Church of Melanesia has always stood alongside the government’s view and policy on Covid 19 pandemic.

“Since the Covid 19 became a global pandemic, the Anglican Church like many other sister churches sent messages to every Anglican in dioceses, parishes and districts to pray for the nation.

“The Church recognises the fact that Covid 19 has been here and that our islands and people are vulnerable.

“The Church through its canons also recognises three strands of healing, so long as they are done in manners along with the church dogmas and procedures.

“One of the strands is through Medical Science for which various vaccinations had been successfully explored and developed.

“It is believes that successful covid 19 vaccinations achieved in fact were results of prayers of the churches worldwide.

“The vaccinations are God-powered and God-given, hence a gift that enables protection against covid 19 and its variants.

“In the eyes of many, including the Church, covid 19 is a medical infliction needing medical attention as a remedy.

“Currently the vaccinations available could be the best remedy that we have so far.

“God will certainly inspire scientific people around the world to provide better medication against Covid 19 as we journey into the future.

“The negatives that we hear are unverified and should not be the causes of fear and anxieties.

“If today you think you are protected by your faith, do so through works.

“That work is through vaccination substantiating your faith. In this perspective Anglican Church of Melanesia strongly urge you to take your vaccination today.

“The Church prays you never regret taking the vaccination, but the contrary may happen if you don’t.

“Behind all the research done in finding solutions to the Covid 19 and its variants, God is present so we will overcome it.

“That is the display of our faith.”

ACOM is the second mainstream church to come out in the media announcing its support for the vaccine. Last week the Seventh Day Adventist church, responding to this paper’s enquiries, voiced its pro-vaccine stand. This was in response to rumours that few pastors were advising their congregation against being vaccinated.

Police reminded on HCC saga

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A concerned Honiara Resident has accused police investigators of playing delay tactics in the investigation of Honiara City Council issues.

Pita Hardy told this paper yesterday that HCC issues regarding audit report, fire extinguisher and so on, was reported last year to the police for investigation, and even the Ministry of Home Affairs also forward the audit report to the police sometimes last year.

He said there should not be any excuse, as all the reports police need in their investigation were submitted to them, they should read and follow information inside the reports to get additional documents they need.

“Honiara is not New York City; this is Honiara where you just step out from your office doors and get additional information from.

“Police investigators please do your job professionally, so that the people you are serving have the trust and confidence in you.” Hardy said.

Police Commissioner, Mostyn Mangau recently said they were still collecting evidences on the Honiara City Council (HCC) saga before they can constitute any charges.

He also confirmed that the audit report involving the HCC saga is before their attention and investigators are collecting evidences in terms of court proceedings and investigations.

Hardy said while the public are trying to understand the work of the investigators the continuous delay is not accepted on such cases.

Honiara City council has been under the spotlight since mid last year when the former chairman of finance Willie Billy Abae made a call to investigate the unaccounted revenue collected for sales of Fire Extinguishers and also the audit report and ‘the vehicle’.

Man gets 2 months for trespass and damage

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A 57-year-old man from Rennell has received a two-month jail term for unlawful damage, criminal trespass and resisting arrest.

Billy No’apai of Rennell Island, Rennel Bellona province, yesterday was convicted following his guilty plea.

However, he was released at the rising of the court as he had already spent two months in custody while awaiting his case to be dealt with by the court.

Principal Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi said the argument between Noapai and the complainant arose out of a long-standing land dispute between their families.

“I must however remind the convict and others that there are lawful means of resolving land issue, taking law into one’s own hands is not the solution but rather will escalate the situation and will only bring more problems,” Taeburi said.

Taeburi said in relation to the charge of resisting arrest, the court must make it clear that the institution of the police must be respected by the public, this is because the role of the police in the society is very crucial, they ensure that law and order and stability are maintained.

“Imagine what it would be like without police officers to enforce law and order,” Taeburi said.

Taeburi after considering the facts and mitigation provided by the defence counsel imposed a sentence of two months.

The facts before the court said the incident occurred in Rennel in which Noapai argued with the complainant in front of the complainant’s house.

Noapai went back to his house took a bush knife and returned to the complainant’s house; he went into the complainant’s property uninvited and cut down the complainant’s pawpaw tree and coconut trees.

Police at Rennell went to arrest him the next day, he refused to comply with directions and resisted arrest.

50k AstraZeneca doses arrive from Australia

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Australian-made AstraZeneca unloaded from cargo flight

Fifty thousand Australian-made AstraZeneca doses arrived in Solomon Islands yesterday on a flight from Brisbane – the largest single consignment of AstraZeneca doses yet to arrive in Solomon Islands from anywhere in the world.

Australia is delivering on its pledge to provide Solomon Islands with up to 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. This is the second shipment of Australian-made vaccines to arrive in Solomon Islands, following the 13,000 doses which were delivered on June 11. These 50,000 doses form part of Australia’s pledge to work with the Solomon Islands’ Government to provide a steady, reliable, and safe supply of vaccines to help protect the community and those on the frontline.

Australian High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan said his office has been working in close partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services on the vaccine roll-out to ensure these doses and future consignments are available when they are needed and can be administered in accordance with the Solomon Island Government’s vaccination roll-out strategy.

“Australia’s pledge of up to 1 million doses of AstraZeneca means there will be enough safe and effective vaccine doses to ensure the entire Solomon Islands population over 18 can get vaccinated. This consignment of 50,000 doses is the first of many more batches on their way from CSL in Melbourne,” Mr Strahan said.

Underscoring the importance of vaccination when the Delta strain is affecting countries all over the world, Strahan said, “The Solomon Island Government has done a great job to date in the fight against COVID-19, but with the Delta strain in our region, it’s time for all of us redouble our efforts. The Delta strain is more much more transmissible and possibly more virulent. Sadly, it’s wreaking havoc in our own region. The health and economic impacts of COVID-19 can’t be underestimated.”     

“Now more than ever, we must urge everyone, in the strongest possible terms, to get the jab to help protect their families, friends, workmates and neighbours. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Listen to scientific advice, not nonsensical and utterly false conspiracy theories. The AstraZeneca vaccine can help us protect each other. It’s 92 per cent effective against the Delta strain with two doses,” said Strahan. 

Solomon Islands and Australia are committed to working together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. This consignment of AstraZeneca doses forms part of Australia’s broader commitment to help vaccinate quickly our friends and neighbours in the Pacific at a time when the international supply of vaccines is constrained.

Australia’s support for a Pacific response to the global pandemic builds on our longstanding and ongoing investment in health services and combating other infectious and non-communicable disease threats.

–AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION

Gov’t wants churches to pray for stability

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THE Government says while it strongly denies the allegation of a priest, praying for the coalition to stick together, it welcomes prayers from all church leaders.

In a statement, the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) insists that at these critical times posed by the COVID- 19 pandemic, church leaders must pray for political stability.

The statement says with the record of accomplishment of keeping the country safe from the pandemic and keeping the economy afloat, DCGA welcomes prayers from all churches to continue to implement its redirection policies at these uncertain times.

The DCGA statement also revealed that it is a norm in the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) for all staff members to pray together with the Prime Minister.

“Before official work starts at 8:30am, staff members including the PM would converge in the conference room to pray,” the statement added.

The DCGA statement reiterated that praying is not new in OPMC, and one does not have to be a priest to pray.

The statement pointed out that DCGA believes in churches and their contribution to the social, economic and spiritual development, and this is testified in the annual church grants given to constituencies.

The Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs administer the church grants.

The statement highlighted that the DCGA sticks together because its members have faith in the leadership as well as the policies that the coalition stands for.

“The Members of Parliament in DCGA are resolute in their allegiance to remain with coalition and implement its policies,” the statement added.

The DCGA statement reiterated the call for media to exercise balanced reporting and assured media practitioners that the OPMC is open for journalists to seek answers to any queries.

CEMA to build commodity refinery mill at Noro

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

COMMODITY Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) is planning to build a Refinery Factory and a new Buying Centre at Noro, Western Province.

The proposed developments are part of CEMA’s ongoing effort to reinvigorate CEMA’s operation as per the Cabinet decision earlier this month.

In an interview with Island Sun, Director of CEMA, Martin Housanau said Western Province and CEMA are in the second consultation phase to fast-track the development plans.

He said consultations are looking positive and it will be just a matter of two months for ground work to kick off at Noro.

“As you know our team was here earlier this year and the previous meeting was to inform Western Province Government (WPG) about the National government’s intention to re-establish Commodity Export Marketing Authority (CEMA).

“Also we briefed WPG with the proposed joint venture partnership for the province to decide.

“Now we brought the documents for the province to see and decide the type of joint venture business platform the province and CEMA going to sign.

“Furthermore, our visit today (Wednesday) is to incorporate the reinvigoration of CEMA in Western Province specifically the Noro Buying Centre,” Housanau said.

He said his team will return to Western Province around September to see if the province has decided on the type of joint venture it prefers.

Housanau said CEMA Board has a proposed joint-venture approach that would see both CEMA and Western Province benefit from the project.

“So here is the snapshot of our proposed joint-venture approach.

“CEMA will manage the Noro Buying Center while the Province and CEMA shared the benefit of the products coming out from the Commodity Refinery Mill.

“So, farmers will sell their products to CEMA and the raw products will be refined at the Refinery Mill, the products belong to CEMA and WPG,” he said.

Housanau said farmers who own a crushing mill can also sell their products to the Refinery Factory.

He explained that the Refinery Factory will accommodate cocoa, coconut and also kava.

Housanau said products coming out from the Refinery Mill will meet international market and this is a good news for WPG, CEMA and the government.

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