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Why people get missing at sea, SIMA explains

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY JARED KOLI

Reports of people going missing at sea in the country is getting frequent.

And, this is due to many of these victims travelling at sea without prior preparations.

This is according to the Director of Solomon Island Maritime Authority (SIMA) Thierry Nervale in an interview with Island Sun this week.

“It happens too often and when this happens, authorities have to deploy a lot of resource to find them and bring them back to land,” Mr Nervale said.

Nervale said before people go to sea, boat drivers and passengers should check the weather forecast, check that they have lifesaving equipment to be able to signal their position if they are missing.

“They need to inform people at their destination when they leave and their expected time of arrival beforehand,” Nervale said.

He said boat drivers need to prepare their boat and engine well, making sure that it is perfectly suited and worked well before travel.

On Monday it was reported that a 40-horse powered Outboard motor boat went missing three people on board.

Information obtained by Island Sun had it that they were part of the Point Cruz Yacht Club (PCYC) fishing competition held last weekend.

PCYC confirmed this when called.

They later went ashore at Moe island in the Russell Islands from Mere Island after it was believed they experienced a mechanical problem.

Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services on Tuesday issued a fifth strong wind warning.

It said a strong wind warning is current for waters of Rennell & Bellona, Makira and Temotu provinces and southern waters of Western, Russell and Guadalcanal.

“Seas will be moderate to rough and moderate (2.0 to 2.5 meters) southeast swells, and people in the areas above must take precautionary measures as such strong winds have the potential to impact lives and properties.

“Sea travelers are urged to consider safety actions as such winds can produce dangerous wave conditions which are hazardous to small boats. Expect poor visibility in shower and thunderstorm areas,” it says.

The MET service said a general easterly trade wind flow persists over Solomon Islands.

It earlier explains that a strong wind warning means that winds of 20 to 25 knots which may gust up to 30 knots are expected to produce hazardous sea wave conditions to small crafts.

“Decision as to the degree of hazard will be left up to the boatman, based on his experience and size and type of boat.

“Be aware that these wave forecasts are an average. The height of some individual wave can be expected to be much as two times greater,” it said.

Gov’t dialogue on quality education

Written by
Press Release
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Senior Government Officials with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Education and Human Resources Department and Senior Ministry Officials.

GOVERNMENT officials have successfully completed their round of dialogues to enhance quality education and training needs in the country.

A statement from the Government Communications Unit (GCU) of the Prime Minister and Cabinet says that officials representing the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination, Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, Finance and Treasury and Ministry of Public Service, held successful and fruitful discussions with the MEHRD  Senior Management.

This meeting is to wrap up the series of dialogues with the two leading institutions University of the South Pacific Solomon Islands Center (USPSI) and the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) since early this month. 

The Officials briefed MEHRD on the Government’s Redirection Policy, future training opportunities for SI Students, and academic performance of our students at the tertiary institutions.

The meeting noted the successful cooperation between Government and the USP and SINU over the years and the keen interest of these institutions to support the Government, with its manpower training and Human Resources Development of the Country.

The meeting was also briefed on the SIG students’ enrollment at the academic two institutions as well as the various courses and programmes offered, and the keen interest to take on more students in the future.

Officials were later briefed on a number of Post Graduate Courses as well as Research Opportunities offered at both USP and SINU and commended these Institutions for these initiatives, which will help the country.

One of the issues highlighted in their discussions with MEHRD officials was the importance of undertaking programme audit and monitoring of all SIG sponsored students at both USP and SINU to ensure compliance and that they complete their programmes and training on time and according to their scholarship awards.

The meeting welcomes the opportunity to hold future dialogue and meetings with the Ministry and both USPSI Center and SINU, to enhance their cooperative efforts and collaboration.

—Government Communication Unit

Temotu man wants TSI to set up there

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY JARED KOLI

A Temotu man wants the Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) to extend its office to Temotu Province to monitor corrupt activities taking place there.

This sentiment follows the Opposition Leader’s call on the Commissioner of Forests to suspend Xian Ling Timber (SI) Ltd’s logging licence for the damage the company is causing to the Lata airstrip runway; and to direct the company to repair the damage immediately.

Jason Moi thanked Opposition Leader Matthew Wale for his concern on the issue. He said it was sad to see a different person from different constituency concern about Temotu and question Temotu leaders for being tightlipped on the issue.

“That is why we want TSI to extend its office to Lata in Temotu province to monitor corrupt and illegal activities taking place in Temotu province,” said Mr Moi.

Speaking as a member of the Nende Resources Development Association (NRDA), Moi said he supported the call by Wale for the Commissioner of Forest to act on the issue and suspend the logging company’s felling licence.

He urged the premier of Temotu to act on the logging issue which he alleged as illegal.

 “The provincial leaders know well that what the logging company has been doing in the province is illegal but they have done nothing about it,” Moi claimed.

The Opposition Leader’s call follows a recent report that the company’s ongoing use of the runway as a logging road is destroying the condition of the runway making it unsafe for planes to land.

Wale described this as ‘reckless attitude’ and posed safety concerns on the resulting in Solomon Airlines raising safety concerns over the company’s activities.

 Wale said it is mandatory under Solomon Islands laws for logging companies to build their own operation related roads and to respect public and private property.  

The issue was widely debated in social media. However, several commentators termed the report as ‘misleading’ saying there is no logging operation near Lata airport.

“This is news to me. Are log trucks really using Lata Airport? If so for what reason as there is no logging’s concession area within 20km vicinity of airport. Wasn’t this referring XL Landcruiser?

“If so then they are just like the rest vehicle owners using the airport runway as access to adjacent settlements. And for the latter, best solution upgrade the Airport and fence it,” a Lata resident commented in a local Facebook forum.

Xiang Lin (SI) Limited has also strongly denied any damages caused in the Lata airstrip runway.

In a statement to Island Sun, the company demanded an immediate apology from the Parliamentary Opposition Leader and editors of Solomon Star and Island Sun newspaper for publishing the story which they say is “false and misleading.”

Naha birthing centre on hold

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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The proposed Naha birthing facility

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Building of the Naha birth centre and urban health clinic project has been put on hold.

This is due to concerns raised over the design of the facility.

Redesigning of this Australia-funded project is however ongoing, says Pauline McNeil, permanent secretary to the ministry of Health (MHMS).

She uttered this during a press conference this week on addressing bed problems at the national referral hospital (NRH).

MHMS and DFAT in a joint statement to Island Sun yesterday said the redesigning process is near completion.

“With the redesign process near completion we are committed to the project’s recommencement in the coming month.

“Construction commenced in January 2020, however, was put on hold when concerns with the design were identified,” the statement said.

MHMS and DFAT said during these times of continued health challenges and constrained health resources, the project continues to be a priority for both the Australian and Solomon Islands governments.

It further stressed this project will provide quality and safe birthing services and reduce the strain on the overcrowded maternity ward at NRH.

“DFAT and MHMS took decisive action to ensure the quality and safety of this important project and commissioned an Independent Technical Review,” the joint statement said.

Man gets more than six years for sexual assault on daughter

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A 43-year-old man from Isabel has been sentenced to six years and nine months in jail for indecently assaulting his daughter.

The man committed the acts on his third-born daughter on three separate dates between November 2020 to February 2021.

He was charged with three counts of indecent act without consent.

Chief Magistrate Emma Garo made the sentencing in the recent court circuit in Buala.

The incidents occurred at a village in the Highlands of Isabel. The first occurred on November 3, 2020 at their family home; the man told his daughter to heal him since she had some healing talent gained from a so-called healing movement.

He told his daughter to check his private parts, claiming he had some illness there. The daughter did as she was asked. It was at that time the man committed the offence.

The second offence occurred on January 5, 2021; the man again complained of the same illness, and told his daughter to bless him. The daughter did as her father told her and again, he committed the same offence.

The third offence occurred on February 8, 2021. The man and his daughter had gone to their garden in the bush to sleep so that they could begin their gardening early the next morning. That night the man called his daughter and told her to hold his private parts, there again committing the same offence.

Ms Garo in her sentencing said there is a clear imbalance of power in the offending where the accused had the upper hand all throughout the commission and the repetition of the commission of the offences.

“I am supported in this view, when the fact he had abused the power he holds as a father is combined with the age disparity, is weighed against the victim’s young age, immaturity and vulnerability,” Garo said.

She said there is a clear imbalance of power in the circumstances of the offending by the defendant. It is clear from the agreed facts, that he had the upper hand and power over his daughter because of his position as a father and his age against her vulnerability and immaturity.

“It is clear that the defendant’s actions not only robbed the victim of her innocence but also robbed her of her future in education.” Ms Garo said.

Therefore, she imposed a total sentence of six years and nine months imprisonment.

Legal bid against MP Chacha’s group filed

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

A court order has been filed against Marovo MP Chachabule Amoi’s Fairtrade company and three accomplices to restrain them from alleged illegal logging operations on Vangunu island, Western province.

BETS Legal Service principal, Ben Etomea filed the permanent injunctive order against Jeffery Onga, Morris Rikihi and Atupia Kito and Fairtrade Company Ltd at the High Court on Tuesday this week.

Etomea says evidences show they had already felled 10,000 cubic metres of logs and caused environmental damages on the customary land.

Onga, Rikihi and Kito claim to represent the Kadiki Kale Eongo landowners and trustees of the land.

The filed Order states:

  1. to restrain them (Onga, Rikihi and Kito and Fairtrade Company Ltd) and their agents, associates, friends, relative and family members from doing illegal logging operation on the Kadiki Kale Eongo customary land and to remove their machineries and equipment from the long pond on Vangunu in the Western province.
  2. to restrain them and their agents, associates, friends, relative and family members not to make any land development dealings with regards to the land.
  3. to restrain them and their agents, associates, friends, relative and family members not to interfere, harass or intimidate the members of the Edward Tokuru, Paul Kito and Victory Varane and Kadiki Development Company Ltd in Honiara or on their land. Tokuru, Kito and Varane are the land owners and trustees of Kadiki Kale Eongo customary land.
  4. to restrain them (Onga, Rikihi and Kito) and their agents, associates, friends, relative and family members not to interfere or cause threat to the landing of the machineries of Edward Tokuru, Paul Kito and Victory Varane representing Kadiki Kale Eongo Tribe and Kadiki Development Company Ltd and their contractor Metro Team Ltd on the land.
  5. a court order for Onga, Rikihi and Kito and Fairtrade Company Ltd to pay the environmental damages caused to the proposed land.

Allegations contained in the filed Order include the following:

Tokuru, Kito and Varane and Kadiki Development Company Ltd after obtaining a felling licence, signed a Standard Logging Agreement with the Metro Team Ltd on September 20, 2019 and Technology Agreement on June 12, 2020 respectively to do logging within the Kadiki Kale Eongo customary land.

However, the Standard Logging Agreement and the Technology Agreement were later terminated by contents of a letter dated June 25, 2020.

Tokuru, Kito and Varane and Kadiki Development Company Ltd (KDCL) following the termination, entered a Timber Harvesting and Management Agreement (THMA) with Fairtrade Company Ltd on November 2, 2020, to do logging on the Kadiki Kale Eongo customary land.

However, Fairtrade Company Ltd, after signing the THMA with Tokuru, Kito and Varane and KDCL, failed to provide them with a copy (not until it was seen exhibited as “CA3” in the sworn statement of Chachabule Amoi filed on May 27, 2021 in Hcc: 174 of 2021).

Fairtrade’s Managing Director, MP Chacha Amoi, after signing the THMA had promised Tokuru, Kito and Varane and Kadiki Development Company Ltd that he would provide them with a copy as soon as he paid the stamp duty.

Tokuru, Kito and Varane and KDCL did follow-up checks with Amoi but every time the Managing Director said he would provide a copy “soon”.

This continued on for about three months after the signing.

On February 28, 2021, Tokuru, Kito and Varane and KDCL met and decided to terminate the agreement with Fairtrade Company Ltd.

Onga, who is of the trustees of the Kadiki Kale Eongo customary land, had also attended the meeting of Feb 28, 2021 and had consented to the THMA with Fairtrade Company Ltd being terminated.

After this THMA was terminated, a new one was signed with the Metro Team Ltd.

Metro Team Ltd helped Tokuru, Kito and Varane and KDCL pay the Development Consent fee, which costed $14,000, on March 19, 2021. This resulted in the Development Consent being issued the same day in the name of Kadiki Development Company ltd.

Their lawyer, Etomea on April 15, 2021 wrote to Fairtrade Company Ltd informing it of the termination; the Commissioner of Forests was also duly informed the same day.

On April 20, 2021 Tokuru, Kito and Varane and KDCL signed the Camp and Log Pond Agreement with Metro Team Ltd for the purpose of landing machineries and storing logs extracted from the Kadiki Kale Eongo customary land. However, Onga for unknown reasons did not sign.

On May 1, 2021, Onga unauthorisedly signed a Camp and Log Pond Site Memorandum of Agreement with Fairtrade Company Ltd by himself (without the consent of Rikihi and Atupia Kito).

On or about May 7, 2021, Rikihi (Onga’s brother) threatened Varane in Honiara to sign papers he had brought with him and warned him against following Tokuru.

On or about May 12, 2021, Fairtrade Company Ltd landed its machineries and started to do illegal operation within the Kadiki Kale Eongo customary land without the consent of Tokuru, Kito and Varane and KDCL.

On June 18, 2021, Onga, Rikihi and Kito illegally sold more than 1000 cubic metres of round logs mainly of non-exportable species to Fairtrade Company Ltd which was transported from the Varamana Log Pond to Cuba Timber Yard owned by Fairtrade Company Ltd.

Onga, Rikihi and Kito and Fairtrade Company Ltd had illegally extracted more than 10,000 cubic metres of round log from the Kadiki Kale Eongo customary land and is currently storing them at Varamana long pond.

They have caused a lot of environmental damages to the Kadiki Kale Eongo customary land out of their illegal actions.

Island Sun understands Fairtrade Company Ltd’s lawyer, Wilson Rano is expected to file defence for his client within the 28 days’ time period.

Only 2 UNESCO Conventions ratified so far

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands has only ratified two UNESCO Conventions.

They are:

  1. The 1972 World Heritage Convention ratified on the 10 June 1992 and
  2. the 2003 Intangible Cultural Convention (ICH) ratified on the 11 May 2018.

The country is still to ratify these following UNESCO Cultural Conventions:

  1. 2005 Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
  2. 2001 Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
  3. 1970 Fighting against the illicit trafficking of cultural property
  4. 1954 Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict 

Speaking at the opening of the second UNESCO 2001 Underwater Culture Heritage (UCH) Convention in Honiara yesterday, Director of Culture, Dennis Marita said the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the 2003 Convention of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) were part of the same cabinet paper their Ministry sent to cabinet for consideration in 2017.

“As understood only the ICH Convention was ratified.

“We hope to resubmit a cabinet for the 2005 Convention and the 2001 Convention (UCH) in our next submission hopefully in 2022,” he said.

Marita said Solomon Islands known after the wealthiest King in Biblical History, King Solomon is no mistake at all as the ‘wealth of the Solomons’ is truly obvious in what we see around us today through our people, culture and environment.

He said the ‘water world’ is no exception in which they must not only cherish but also thrive to protect and safeguard from spoils of globalization and manipulation.

“The country’s ratification of the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) is a step in this direction.

“I just want to wish all of you in this workshop, the very best in your discussions so as to better pave a way forward to seeing Solomon Islands a party to this important convention,” he said.

The Ministry of Culture & Tourism is committed to this process and will continue to liaise with UNESCO in this regard through the office of the Culture Department.

The first workshop was held in Honiara in 2009.

The objective of the consultation is to enhance the understanding of the UCH Convention among the national stakeholders, in particular, in terms of its benefits and obligations, and indicate the possible ways towards Solomon Islands’ ratifications of the UCH Convention.

WinWin clarifies 2018 payment to trustees

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

WIN Win Investment company has clarified the payments under the Surface Access Agreement signed with the 24 trustees of Turarana in Central Guadalcanal in 2018.

This after a landowner of Turarana, Joel Jackson questioned the outstanding log of claims in the SAA regarding the alluvial mining operation on the area.

Jackson said according to the agreement clause 1.0 Premium, an amount to be paid for a contract of insurance is SBD$26,000 and in Clause 1.1 Access fee is SBD$250,000.

He added that in Clause 1.1.4 Campsite is SBD$3,000 x 58 months, so Win Win mining did not pay SBD$174,000 to the landowners since 2017 till today.

Further to that, Jackson also added that for land rentals under clause 1.1.4, Win Win did not pay SBD$58,000 so they are operating free for 58 months on Turarana land.

“For Clearing of Land under clause 1.4.3 in the agreement we did not know who Win Win mining paid to,” he said.

Jackson questioned if Win Win paid those dues, which landowners did they paid the money too which was supposed to be the Turarana tribal people.

However, chairman of Koehoto Landowners Association (KLA), Celestine Seri said he and Jacob Manengelea have received the $250,000 access fee for Prospecting License during the signing of the SAA and gave it to their trustees.

Company’s representative, Charles Meke said the $26,000 premium fees and $58,000 rental fees will be paid after the completion of land acquisition process.

Meke said currently an officer in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey is carrying out land acquisition process in order to secure the Fixed Term Estate title because it is a national project.

He said the Perpetual Estates title is held by the 24 landowning trustees.

Meke said after the Commissioner of Lands secured the FTE, he will sub lease it to the company.

He said when this process completes, then the company will start paying the premium and land rental fees.

Further to that, Meke said the company will pay the $174,000 campsite fees after the completion of the land acquisition process.

He said the company cannot make any payments now when their bank accounts are not sorted out.

KLA represents Turarana tribes while Giluagano Landowners Association (GLA) represents the tribes of Mamasa tenement.

Meke said both Koehoto and Giluagano have determine their borders of the land in order to divide them into four blocks already.

Win Win has extracted alluvial deposits on the stream beds of both tenements to get the minerals, especially gold.

The company started operations on Mamasa in October 2019, however the company discovered the tenement had low alluvial deposits on its stream beds.

Win Win is now operating on Turarana which is believed to have high alluvial deposits.

Gov’t supports UNESCO Convention deal

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Director of Culture, Dennis Marita

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands Government has totally supported the move to ratify the 2001 UNESCO Convention.

Director of Culture, Dennis Marita confirmed this during the opening of the second UNESCO 2001 Underwater Culture Heritage (UCH) Convention in Honiara yesterday.

The first workshop was held at Honiara in 2009.

The objective of the consultation is to enhance the understanding of the UCH Convention among national stakeholders, in particular, in terms of its benefits and obligations, and indicate the possible ways towards Solomon Islands’s ratification of the UCH Convention.

Marita said the SIG supports this course based on the following reasons:

  1. That Solomon Islands is a Maritime Country and that part of our heritage and history is based with the ocean and what that is beneath and above it. Just like our other brothers and sister in the Pacific, the ocean caries much of our identity and survival from past to present generations.  As such, the ocean water has been an integral part of our history paving way for journey into the Pacific, as well as sustaining the very existence of our people and civilization.
  2. There are many legends of the sea in our culture that relate to physical structures and landscapes both on land and underwater.  An example is the sunken islands between Ulawa and the Three Sisters Islands in the Makira Ulawa Province, Eastern Solomon Islands.  The legends told that the ancestors were angry with the people of the islands and cursed them to sink beneath the waves. Whilst this may be contrary to scientific reasoning of a tectonic fault causing this catastrophic event, the legends very much prevail to this day. For the Government these sunken islands are cultural treasures and archeological sites at the same time as house structures can still be seen in the water during fine weather. The Kavachi underwater volcano in the Western Province can also be regarded as an underwater cultural heritage due to the traditional legends and stories associated with this marine volcano. I believe there are many more examples of similar nature in other parts of Solomon Islands if we are to carry out serious assessment in this area.
  3. Solomon Islands was a hotspot during the Second World War and much of the war machines and amour used at that time, have now become relics of history both on land and in the sea. The particular stretch of sea between Guadalcanal and the Florida Islands (Ngella) and Savo is called the ‘Iron Bottom Sound’. It was given this name because this is where hundreds of planes, warships and boats belonging to the two warring parties (the Allied Forces and Japanese Forces) found their resting place. It is a mass grave of war machines and twisted metals…not forgetting the thousands of souls that have perished in these waters during the war. 70 years on, Solomon Islands has come to embrace the war in the Pacific as part of its story and history.  Despite the horror it produced, it also contributed to the formation of Solomon Islands as a country. Today World War two wrecks and relics form part of the tourism attraction for Solomon Islands.  We even have a WWII Relics Act to protect these historical artefacts from abuse and illegal trade as they have come to be regarded as national treasurers.  I am sure you will come across the WWII Relics Act within your discussions in the next two days.

The workshop ends today.

WinWin employee rebuffs allegations

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Turarana river, where the WinWin mining company is operating.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ONE of the employees of Win Win Investment Company, Jeremy Rex has defended wild allegations made against him by a landowner of Turarana, Joel Jackson.

This after Jackson claimed Rex has benefited a lot from the mining company through owning a vehicle and receiving cash.

However, Rex said he does not own any vehicle as it belongs to the company.

He said it is part of his entitlement as an employee to use the vehicle.

“If I got terminated from the company, the vehicle will get the vehicle back,” he said.

Jackson also claimed that Rex is not living on Turarana in order to be aware of the meeting between chiefs and tribal leaders on 5th June 2021.

He said Rex is living with his family at Chuchupuna which is some 200-300 meters from Turarana village.

However, Rex said he lives on Turarana village and was not aware of any meeting.

He said according to the protocol and business structures set up for the alluvial mining operation, Chairman Michael Berekeke of Giluagano Landowners Association (GLA) and Chairman Celestino Seri of Koehoto Landowners Association (KLA) would normally inform the company of any meetings.

Rex said this is so that the company can also support boths Associations to hold the meetings with the people.

He said in this case, the meeting was done outside the existing structure of the company and the two Associations.

Win Win has extracted alluvial deposits on the stream beds of both tenements to get the minerals, especially gold.

The company started operations on Mamasa in October 2019, however the company discovered the tenement had low alluvial deposits on its stream beds.

Win Win is now operating on Turarana which is believed to have high alluvial deposits.

The company has started exporting alluvial gold to Hong Kong in January this year after it registered the company in 2016.

The company’s Mamasa-Turarana operations on Central Guadalcanal were disrupted by the 2020 Chinese New Year and the closure of borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its operation had resumed around September 2020 until the armed robbery last December.

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