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3 Political appointees axed

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THE Democratic Coalition for Government Advancement (DCGA) has cut down on its political appointees this week.

This after the government has terminated three PAs who have close connection with John Maneniaru in Opposition Group and John Dean Kuku in Independent Group.

Two of the political appointees have worked with sub-committees in the Office of Prime Minister and the other one with Caucus.

The two PAs have joined the Government at the start when Manenioru was the then Deputy Prime Minister.

However, the government decided to axe them this week since Maneniaru is now with the Opposition.

Island Sun seeks comments from Chief of Staff Robson Djokovic.

One-link missing money report yet to be finalized

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

INVESTIGATIONS into the 300k exhibit money that went missing last year in police custody is yet to be finalized.

Assistant Police Commissioner Evelyn Thugea said the file is still with the Professional Standard Internal Investigation (PSII).

She said once PSII finalized the report, the file will be sent to the office of the Director Public Prosecution for viewing and an advice on the appropriate charge to be laid on the suspect.

Thugea said investigation is not easy and members of the public who complain about cases that are under investigation by PSII should contact the PSII and check on them about the cause of delay.

Previously police said the issue will be priority investigation for the Professional Standard Internal Investigation, thus a thorough investigation will be conducted looking at all avenues and how the money was missing from the exhibit facility and also look at the possible recovery of the missing money.

Man denies false pretence charge

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

ACCUSED Martin Nehemiah Pola has entered a not guilty plea to three counts of false pretence against him when he was arraigned by the court this week.

After entering a not guilty plea the court adjourned his case for June 17 to fix the trial date.

This is in relation to the case of accused Nehemiah who is facing three counts of obtaining credit by false pretence from Smart Technology shop at Chinatown in 2019.

Prosecution alleged that on February 5 2019, the accused met with the owner of the shop and introduced himself as the president of the Accelerate Christian Education Schools of Solomon Islands.

Upon their discussion, the shop owner at Smart Technology convinced and agreed for the accused to collect the items discussed that will be re-paid when the school grants are ready.

Later on February 28 2019 around 10am, the accused came and collected one mobile phone at a cost of $2, 250 as according to the agreement and walked out with a proforma invoice, again on March 15 he collected one notebook laptop14 inches and 1X 8c honour brand mobile, later on March 28 , he again went to the Smart technology shop and collected two Redmi mobile handsets.

The total cost of all items collected is $12, 150.00, a few months later the shop owner made several attempts to call the accused to settle his credits but was unsuccessful.

The shop owner gave him enough time until March this year, however the accused never turned up to settle his credits and the matter was reported to police in which the accused was arrested and charged.

Police to investigate patrol boat incident in Buala

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Isabel-Provincial-Police-Commander-Leonard-Tanhimana-salutes-the-PM-as-he-disembark-from-Patrol-Boat-Gizo

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE will be conducting a full enquiry into an incident involving the Patrol Boat Gizo in Buala during the celebrations marking the Isabel Provincial Day.

The incident involved the Patrol boat suddenly reversing at high speed while the Prime Minister and delegation were disembarking to meet dignitaries at Buala.

Assistant Police Commissioner, Evelyn Thugea said they are aware of the report and will be conducting full investigations.

Patrol Boat Gizo was escorting the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare for the second appointed day celebration when the incident occurred.

His delegation was still on the wharf talking to the Premier and the Isabel Provincial Police Commander when the Patrol Boat suddenly reversed at a fast speed.

One Officer at Buala said children garlanding the guest and even the guests were in shock when the incident occurred, as the ropes and ladder were still tied to the wharf.

The incident also left the crowd who turned up at the wharf stunned.

Meanwhile one of the officials in the Prime Minister’s Office also confirmed that the Prime Minister has asked for a full report of why the Patrol Boat suddenly reversed during that time.

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

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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

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