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Health awareness held for Ilia school

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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HCC Health promotion director Oliver Oli on right handed over gardening materials for Ilia school to the Ilia secondary school principal Mr Ray Menia after the workshop. Photo- BY CHRIS H. Ha'arabe.

ILIA School at Gilbert Camp has commended the Honiara City Council (HCC), health school Promotion team for facilitating a one-day health promotion program for teachers on Tuesday.

School Principal, Henry Bruno Ravikeni said the program was a huge redirection for the teachers.

“To make change in the school, teachers are the agents of change,” Ravikeni explained.

He said the health promotion program facilitated by the HCC health division is a privilege for schools in and around Honiara city to redirect their studies for a better healthy environment for students.

“I also thank the HCC Waste Management team who were part of the health promotion program for providing us very important information about waste segregation,” Ravikeni said.

“It is very important to teach our students on how to separate rubbish based on what we learned from the one-day program,” head teacher Mr Ravikeni uttered.

HCC Health Promotion director, Oliver Oli said the HCC education authority sees the program as important because schools are very important avenues to start with at an early stage.

“Nurturing processes should be kicked off for students, especially during an early stage, from kindergarten right up to secondary school, form seven or what levels they exit in their studies,” Oli expressed.

He further explained that the important thing about health promoting school concept was to create an environment that supports the health of all the students in the school settings. – BY CHRIS HAPERT HA’ARABE

SFA TO MEET GOV’T

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Talk over forestry law

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Forest Association (SFA) will go through the Drafting Instructions of the Forestry Bill with the government on Wednesday (June 18) next week.

SFA President Johnny Sy confirmed this in an email sent to all members of the Association.

Mr Sy told members that the Minister of Forest and Research, Permanent Secretary, Commissioner of Forest, Legal Advisor, Policy Director and Deputy Secretary will attend the meeting.

The meeting will be held at the SFA Conference room.

Last week, SFA members held their meeting to go through the Drafting Instruction of the Forestry Bill.

Sy asked the members who have an issue with Foreign Investment Division to kindly bring the show-cause letter and cancellation of FID Certificate plus the Central bank Letter of Credit issue.

He asked the members to kindly cooperate or else SFA won’t be able to act on their behalf.

The main objective of the Bill is to make amendments to the Forest Resources and Timber Utilisation Act, Cap 40, in order to make it more robust and forward looking in nature to cater for the new activities and developments which is occurring in the forestry sector now and into the future its fundamental aims and objectives.

The secondary objectives and purposes of the recommended Amendment to the Forest Resources and Timber Utilisation Act include:

-Enable the Act to accommodate changes in the Forestry sector and establish the platform for changes in the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization Act and its relevant Regulations [2005]

-The licensing and enforcement of the relevant conditions of the License

One of the recommended Amendments is the “Commissioner of Forest Resources” should be replaced with the word “Forestry Technical Committee” (Commissioner will issue License based on the advice of the Forestry Technical Committee).

According to section 10 (1) the word “appropriate Government” should be replaced with the word “Council of Chiefs” and the word “Customary Land Appeal Court” should be replaced with the word “Tribal Land Panel” (as Local Court will no longer have the power to hear Land matters).

Section 17, a fine of three thousand dollars or imprisonment for two years or to both such fine and imprisonment” should be replaced with the phrase “a fine of fifty thousand dollars and five years’ imprisonment or both’.

There will be a Forestry Board established to:

  1. To receive appeals from the Minister of Forestry and Research from aggrieved parties
  2. To advise the Minister to lift suspended license and reinstate cancelled Felling License.
  3. To advise the Minister of Forests on appeal matters generally
  4. Any other matters that are referred to the Board by the Minister.
  5. Make decisions on issues pertaining to all Forestry plantations either owned by individual, family or community.
  6. To call up relevant expertise to advise on technical matters when needs arise.
  7. Deliberate on the Declaration of a Moratorium when the need arises
  8. Deliberate on forest clearance for other development purposes e.g., Agriculture, Palm oil, mining, major settlements, infrastructure developments,
  9. To advise the government of the day on Forest Policy issues, e.g., policy review.
  10. Forestry Board’s decision is final

Furthermore, the Ministry of Forestry and Research will put in place a Budget for all Timber Rights Hearing. The total amount should not exceed $80,000.00 dollars per sitting.

Fiji, Vanuatu students to return next month

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) Permanent Secretary (PS) Dr Franco Rodie

BY JARED KOLI

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) will bring home Solomon Islands students completing their studies in Fiji and Vanuatu next month.

MEHRD through the Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA) is expected to bring home students from Fiji based universities as well as the few from USP’s Emalus campus in Port Vila, Vanuatu, according to MEHRD Permanent Secretary Dr Franco Rodie.  

Island Sun obtained a copy of a spreadsheet containing the names of 124 Fiji -based students that have been listed to travel back in the July flight.

Rodie said that an exact number of graduating students and a specific date for the flight are yet to be confirmed.

He said the students include those that 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.

In Fiji, the second wave of Covid 19 has sparked an increase of cases each day, and has affected Solomon Islands students studying there as the country was ‘at war’ with the virus.

A senior student studying at the University of the South Pacific said the government must not treat lightly the second wave of Covid 19 that is currently battling Fiji.

“Compared to last year, it is totally different, life here is hard, (and) the government needs to think seriously and do something about it,” the student said.

He said the current situation affects students on all fronts.

In the meantime, MEHRD will liaise with health authorities to ensure strict measures are followed when repatriating the students to avoid possible transmission and ensure Solomon Islands maintains its Covid 19 – free status.

Students in Fiji reminded to follow regulations

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

BY JARED KOLI

NEWS cases are recorded daily in Fiji, and Solomon Islanders working and studying there are reminded to abide by COVID-19 hygiene protocols and regulations.

On Tuesday, the Student Education Attaché in an email to students thanked them for adhering to health protocols since the start of the covid 19 re-emergence in Fiji. 

“All we need to do now is to practice the hygiene protocols in place and follow strict measures of going to supermarkets to find food and other necessities,” the email stated.

Students who have been vaccinated have been asked to submit their names.

“This information is important for any emergency plans that may arise in the future during these unprecedented times. Therefore, I kindly request students to send in their information and treat this instruction as urgent as Solomon Islands Government (SIG) is also concern with the safety of students,” the email reads.

A senior student studying at the University of the South Pacific spoken to yesterday said government must not treat lightly the second wave of covid 19 that’s currently battling Fiji.

“Compared to last year, it is totally different, life is hard here, the government needs to think seriously about it,” the student said.

He said the current situation affects students in all fronts.

“Mentally, students cannot cope with school work. When you are busy trying to get down with studies, and next is the Fiji Government announce several new cases, 26, 35, 84 or 95 cases.

“How can we cope and concentrate when cases increase every day?”

The student said things are becoming expensive as well, and calls on the government to seriously think about the situation students currently face.

A student residing in the USP Student Halls informed this paper that students need to show a pass at the gate before they are allowed to go to the supermarket for shopping, but only for one hour.

He said only super markets are open.

As of yesterday, Fiji recorded 845 Covid 19 cases, 234 have recovered and four have died from covid-19.

Deo questions CBSI’s meeting with ‘victims’

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Dr Deo Harorimana

By EDDIE OSIFELO

CONSULTANT and owner of AIPF SI Ltd, Dr Deogratias Harorimana, has questioned the genuineness of people who attended a meeting with the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) and its Solomon Islands Financial Intelligence Unit (SIFIU) on Wednesday.

Deo claimed those who attended the meeting were Charles Ashley; George Kosui, Joyce Konofilia and Leslie Talomae Mani, representing Solomon Security.

He claimed SSS lost in a High Court case for failing to pay $2.5million owed to AIPF since 2018). 

Former Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, George Kosui said CBSI and SIFIU requested them to compile and submit a report of the facts relating to money laundering and violation of banking regulation allegedly employed by Deo and other authorities.

Kosui said this is to allow CBSI and SIFIU to investigate all the allegations levelled against Deo’s controversial AIPF SI Ltd before taking the next step.

However, Deo said their reaction to this is the fact that the regulator is asking facts from the so called “victims” who all owe money or breached commercial contractual terms, which calls into question the motives of all the claims levelled against AIPF SI.

He said their trap has now back fired. 

Furthermore, Deo said what is also apparent is that most people who attended these meetings have no business history or relationships with AIPF.

Wale urges Sino, gov’t to follow due process

Written by
Press Release
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Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale

LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale calls on the government to allow due process to take its cause in relation to the recent cancellation of SINO Capital’s Foreign Investment Board approval.

SINO Capital is a foreign company currently operating in the country which has come under the spotlight for alleged dubious business dealings many times in the past, with allegations levelled against it that includes; illegal logging operations, tax evasion and even meddling in domestic politics.

“It is truly regrettable that this company has connections high up in the government which has served it well to the detriment of landowners and the Guadalcanal Provincial Executive,” Wale said. 

“This has been going on for so long now and so must be stopped,” he added.

“While the country depends on foreign investors, they do have a duty to comply with our laws and respect our people’s rights which in this case, appear to have been affected.”

Wale says in these circumstances therefore, it is in the best interest of all those affected and the public that, due process be allowed to take its cause. 

“It will be foolish of the Minister responsible therefore to even consider revoking the cancellation by FIB. 

“Of course the company is entitled to defend itself, but this must be done through proper channels and not through political leveraging,” the Opposition leader adds. – Opposition Press

Husband to pay fine for assaulting wife

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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In-court

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

ASSISTANT Police Commissioner National Operations, Evelyn Thugea has encouraged women who face abuse and violence from their partners to report them to police.

Ms Thugea said women and girls facing violence and abuse must report such issues and must also have clear understanding of the role of police during the course of investigation.

“What the police are doing is important to save lives, many victims are reluctant to report,” Thugea said.

She made the comment yesterday following a recent case in Kirakira where a husband was fined $600 for assaulting his wife.

The husband is a 27-year-old man and was charged for the incident that occurred in 2020.

Police alleged that on December 2020 between 2pm and 2:30pm, the husband due to some disagreements grabbed his wife and knocked her down to the ground.

While the wife was still on the ground, he took a piece of timber and struck it on his partner’s back. The wife received bruises as a result of that assault.

Thugea thanked officers involved in the investigation for their tireless effort to get the suspect before the court.

She said police investigation sometimes is not easy as the victim and relatives occasionally pressure investigators for early withdrawal of such matters.

CEMA eyes additional trading centers

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Martin Housanau speaking during the consultation

BY BEN BILUA

Gizo

THE Commodity Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) is looking at establishing two additional trading centers, to bring the total number to six.

In an interview with SunGizo, Team Leader of Cabinet Sub-committee consultation taskforce who is also a director of CEMA, Martin Housanau said the taskforce is looking at Gojoruru in Isabel Province and Taro in Choiseul province.

He said consultations to set up ground work before opening these two proposed buying centres will be held around August.

Housanau said the team will first travel to Isabel to meet and discuss with the Isabel Provincial government before reaching out to Choiseul province.

“I’ve been to Buala Isabel, during the Isabel Province Second Appointed Day and have carried out preliminary assessment at Gojoruru,” he said.

“Potential to reopen Gojoruru buying centre is already there, we just need to tap the process with positive outcome,” he said.

Housanau adds that the team has similar projection for a Taro Buying Centre.

He explained that Cabinet and CEMA Board will go with any Buying Centre that is ready to open before the end of this year.

“Other buying Centers who are not ready to open this year will expect to carry forward to 2022,” Housanau.

The team travelled to Noro yesterday to see firsthand the state of the Noro CEMA buying Centre.

This paper understands that the CEMA Revitalisation and Recapitalisation Strategy 2021 – 2027 was launched by the Hon. Prime Minister early this month.

A budget allocation of SBD26 million dollars is estimated for the implementation of priorities specifically for the first and second phases of the strategy.

CEMA trading center at Noro to open soon

Written by
Ben Bilua
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0

BY BEN BILUA

Gizo

EXPORT Commodity Market Authority (CEMA) Trading Centre at Noro is expected to reopen at the end of this year.

This was highlighted during a consultation between the Cabinet Sub-Committee of the Prime Minister’s Office and officials from the Western Province on Wednesday this week.

In an interview with this paper, Director of CEMA who is also the Team Leader of PMO’s Cabinet Sub-committee, Martin Housanau said the consultation was successful with a lot of positive outcomes to pave the proposed plan forward.

“So, we are here for two purposes.

“Our first objective is to inform the Western Provincial government that cabinet has endorsed a strategy to reinstate the trading functions of the Commodity Export Authority and that CEMA is looking at reestablishing its Noro buying center to buy copra and cocoa.

“And the second objective is to discus with WPG on preferable partnership arrangement that would see greater benefits for both CEMA and WPG. Partnership can either be a joint venture and what type of joint-venture is much preferred for CEMA to strike with WPG business arm,” he said.

Housanau said information gathered from the meeting will be deliberated by the cabinet so as the board and management of CEMA for possible intervention around November this year.

He said the team will travel to Makira province to meet with the Makira provincial government and then to Malu, Malaita and Lata, Temotu province with the same message on later dates.

“Hopefully, the Noro buying center is expected to open around November this year. The same goes to other buying centers in Malu Malaita Province and Kaonasugu in Makira province.

“These are the four major buying centers that the team through cabinet’s blessing is trying to work towards this year.

“If any of these buying centers are unable to open this year, we will look at opening these buying centers next year,” Housanau said.

He said two engineers from the Ministry of Infrastructure are also travelling with the team to undergo technical assessment on proposed buying centers.

Housanau explained that the assessment focuses on both physical infrastructure and basic infrastructures such as road, bridges and wharves.

Stop Marau land registering

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Marau sound. Picture: Conflict Bay lodge

BY JARED KOLI

ACTIONS of individuals or families to register any customary land in Marau, east Guadalcanal, must be stopped immediately.

This is according to spokespersons of Centre Peace — an advocacy movement for peace in Marau, Rocky Mauana and Edwin Esau Pori.      

“Authorities must stop accepting wrongful or unlawful registration of lands in Marau coastal area unless it is through right process and procedure in accordance to the laws of the country,” the two said.

They said any development planned for Marau must go through proper procedure, from the national government or investors through the Guadalcanal provincial government and down to rightful landowning groups or tribes.

“Land and resources must be protected for people. Any development in Marau must go through right process from the top down to the House of Chiefs who then will identify rightful land owners so that land for development is agreed to by people and acquired lawfully.”

The two said an individual in Marau recently received a considerable payment, and as such they want to caution the relevant authorities not to deal with individualism. 

“That is why the establishment of the House of Chiefs is very important, and it must form immediately,” said Mr Mauana.

The two adviced the land-owning groups in Birao ward on Marau to work closely with the Guadalcanal Provincial Government to protect and manage their land and resources.    

The two said any form of payment for land and sea resources must be for tribe or resource owners and not to certain individuals.

“Anything about land or sea needs proper dialogue and parties involved must come to a mutual agreement. We need to get rid of individualism,” Mauana said.

Mr Pori adds there is a need to create a model or concept to address land issues in Marau to get rid of individualism where only certain individuals benefit from development funding or payment. 

The two acknowledged the Guadalcanal provincial government for supporting the establishment of House of Chiefs in Guadalcanal province.

“Marau is an economic zone in Guadalcanal with huge plans ahead, and creation of a model or concept is important for development in Marau,” Pori said.

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