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BLC insists for ‘outside’ review of new Bill

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Islands National Parliament

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Bills and Legislative Committee wants to see the Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill 2021 reviewed outside of Parliament.

This was despite Clerk to Parliament David Kusilifu making the first reading of the Bill on Monday this week.

Chaiman of BLC, John Maneniaru said the Bill needs to be reviewed to take into account the reality on the ground.

He said this after the Committee found out the Bill did not reflect the policy intention of the government, when officials of Ministry of Communication and Aviation and legal draft person in Attorney General Chambers appeared before them on Tuesday.

“For example, this Bill only covers new sim registration. What about the current sim registration holders?” he asked.

Maneiaru said the host Ministry agreed to make amendments before bringing it back to the Committee to complete the hearing process.

However, he said because it is a government policy, Cabinet will make the final decision on the Bill.

According to insiders in Parliament, if the Bill has not been read the first time yet, the Minister in charge of the Bill can communicate his or her intention to the Clerk to withdraw the bill, and that would suffice.

“However, since the Bill has been read the first time already, the legislative process has already kicked-in so to say and it’s a House matter now as opposed to an Executive matter.

“This means that the Minister in-charge of the Bill may have to withdraw the Bill on the floor of Parliament,” insiders said.

“There has been numerous occasions in which Standing Order 59 was interpreted that way, and it has become the practice of this House as such.

“It may seem to be that BLC would have to continue and complete its inquiry into the Bill and make necessary recommendations where it sees fit. Alternatively, amendments can be introduced during the Committee Stage,” insiders said.

However, Chairman of BLC, Maneniaru said the Committee has the power to make recommendations on the bill for amendments.

He said the bill cannot continue in Parliament if it has not completed the hearing process with BLC.

The Bill aims to amend the Telecommunication Act 2009 to ensure that all SIM cards are registered.

It establishes the minimum age for purchasing Sim-cards at 15 and requires person to provide valid ID when purchasing the SIM-cards from the service providers or their agents.

The service providers and the agents will be responsible for establishing an electronic registry for recording accurate information to identify the purchasers.

72 in custody over religion

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SEVENTY-TWO people are in custody following an attack and burning incident at Raro village, Roviana Lagoon, Western province.

The incident occurred on July 7.

Assistant Commissioner Crime and Intel Patricia Leta during a press conference yesterday said the motive behind the incident is an ongoing row and differences between two sects of a religious group there.

“It has come to a point that their differences escalate and those from group A attacked those from group B.”

She said police in Noro, Munda and Gizo mounted a joint operation and attended the scene, questioned and interviewed the 72 people and took them to Gizo for further dealing.

She said they are charged with unlawful assembly, rioters, enduring buildings and arson; however their court dates are yet to be confirmed by the investigators, currently the suspects are remanded awaiting their court appearance.

Leta said three dwelling houses were completely burnt, three other permanent houses were looted and destroyed, leaving the affected families homeless with no food and shelter.

She adds, during the attack there were five casualties who were taken to Munda hospital for treatment, one of them due to serious injuries – that person is currently admitted at the Helena Goldie Hospital.

Leta calls on the leaders and chiefs of those two groups to assist police in their investigation.

Gizo’s covid-19 case heading to Honiara

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

Gizo’s first covid-19 case is heading for Honiara, onboard MV Vimaru Pearl.

Health officials in Western Province are not yet sure which covid-19 variant the Gizo patient is being diagnosed with.

The vessel was yesterday reported headed for the capital for ‘further interventions’.

Director of Western Province Health and Medical Authority Dickson Boara said the lab only detects the virus’s presence, not which type of covid-19.

He said only further testing will determine the type of covid-19 strain.

According to Vessel Assessment documents from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, MV Vimaru reached Vietnam on June 18 then Philippines on June 23 before heading to Solomon Islands.

Vietnam and Philippines are listed as extreme high-risk countries and as part of the country’s safety protocols, the ship was told to quarantine for 21 days upon arrival at Gizo, Western Province on July 1.

Speaking of extreme high risk, the Philippines detected its first two cases of B.1.617 variant coronavirus variant known as the India variant added to the two existing variants on May 11 this year [Reuters].

Around the same month, Vietnam also uncovered a new covid-19 variant combining characteristics of the two existing variants first found in India and the UK, the report added.

When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Chairperson of Western Province Response Team, Jeffrey Wickham said the situation is under control and officials are putting efforts to track down and put frontline workers who have been in contact with the ship to quarantine.

He adds that contact tracing team is monitoring the frontline workers’ movements in the days leading up to Wednesday when the positive case was announced.

Island Sun understands that MV Vimaru Pearl, with the covid-19 patient, left Western Province headed for Honiara for further intervention yesterday.

Meanwhile, it is noted that the positive case was announced a week after the Parliament Health and Medical Committee visited quarantine facilities in Western Province.

Initial findings of the committee speaks volumes that there is a need for government support towards quarantine facilities so as frontline workers in the province.

Two arrested over death in Honiara

Written by
Press Release
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Police have arrested two suspects in a murder incident yesterday morning at Forest valley, west Honiara.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Honiara City, Superintendent John Matamaru says, “investigators from White River Police and National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) have responded to the murder incident while White River General Duties officers support them to manage the situation.

Matamaru says, “the cause of the murder incident was because of common nuisance in the community.

Superintendent Matamaru says, “although it is caused by common nuisance police will look at that during the cause of the investigation and further update us.

“Another suspect is still at large and I call on the suspect to surrender himself to police.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Police intelligence with no evidence

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Police intelligence are still without any evidence to the missing $300,000 exhibit money under its care.

Assistant Commissioner Crime and Intel Patricia Leta says the case file is still with the Professional Standard Internal Investigation.

She also dismissed media reports that a foreign advisor was involved.

“Investigation on such matters is not easy as the public might think.

“Police are trying their best to investigate such matter but if there is not enough evidence the matter will not progress forward.

“Investigators must be satisfied with the evidence they have before the case file can be forwarded to the Office of the Director Public Prosecution for viewing and advice on charges.

“Even if the alleged offending occurred inside the RSIPF, once there is no evidence we cannot take the case to the court, so we are still looking for evidence,” Leta said.

When asked why Police suspended one of its officers while there is still no evidence regarding the allegation, Leta said it is a normal procedure that whenever an officer is implicated, the officer has to be suspended while investigation is underway.

This is regarding the missing $300,000 cash exhibit money that went missing while under the custody of Police; the money recovered from the Director One-link Pacifica during police investigations early last year.

Kira Kira Ramp to be launched on Makira Day

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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The Kira Kira Ramp will be officially launched on Makira Ulawa Province’s Second Appointed Day on August 5.

The Makira Day, as it is commonly known, falls annually on August 3, but this year, it is being moved to August 5 to enable the Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare to launch the Kira Kira Ramp.

But the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Honiara will confirm at a later date whether or not Mr Sogavare will launch the Kira Kira Ramp, or his Deputy, Manasseh Maelanga.

Meanwhile, the wife of the Construction Manager of Trades Transformation Company Limited, Aillsha Saru who spoke on her husband’s behalf July 5, 2021 said work on the Kira Kira Ramp has been completed and is ready for launching.

She said TTC will finish building wave-breakers on the seafront next to the ramp this week, adding maintenance work on the roads at the eastern and western outskirts of Kira Kira, the Provincial Capital has also been completed.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Premier of Makira Ulawa Province, Julian Maka’a has described the completion of the Kira Kira Ramp as great news indeed.

He then expressed deep gratitude to the Australian Government through the National Government, “my Executive as well as the landowners and TTC, the contractor, for the concerted effort, which has resulted in the milestone achievement”.

In other news, the Provincial Planning Office says it is planning to include the official opening of Karie Clinic by the Prime Minister. 

By George Atkin

Kira Kira

Relationship between Kira Kira Hospital and SINU intact

Written by
Press Release
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Kirakira station, in Makira/Ulawa Province

The Makira Ulawa Provincial Health Minister, Benson Piringi has denied media report about a rift in relationship between the Kira Kira Hospital and the Solomon Islands National University’s School of Nursing in Honiara.

He said in an interview on July 5, 2021 in Kira Kira, the Provincial Capital, that he was disappointed with the report because it had spoiled the hospital’s good image.

Mr Piringi added the Health Division of the Provincial Ministry of Health and Medical Services which had carried out an investigation had found no elements of truth in the media reports.

“I had reported that the SINU School of Nursing would no longer be sending its students to Kira Kira Hospital to get practical experiences in the future.

“And the decision to black-list Kira Kira Hospital as training avenue for nurses, were based on credible reports that senior male hospital nurses had involved some of the recent group of SINU female student nurses on alcohol drinking sprees and were engaged in un-ethical behaviours at work place”.

Piringi said, however as the Health Division had found no elements of truth in its investigation, the relationship between SINU and Kira Kira Hospital stays intact.

By George Atkin

Kira Kira

Selwyn College alumni and students to clean up Honiara

Written by
Press Release
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MEMBERS of the Selwyn Old Scholars Association (SOSA) along with current staff and students of Selwyn College Secondary School will be engaging in a general clean-up of Honiara city.

The clean-up will be held on Saturday 17 July starting 7am.

The clean-up is organised by SOSA executive and the Selwyn College Golden Jubilee Committee chaired by Mr Robert Iroga.

Iroga said SOSA members, students and teachers will be cleaning up Honiara city in their divisional groups and allocated zones.

He said Masi Division will be cleaning up the areas between the Saint Barnabas Cathedral to the Honiara City Council (HCC) and Kirio Division from HCC to Centre Point Underpass, opposite the Solomon Airlines Office.

“Noabu Division will clean up from Centre Point Underpass to YWCA or Chinese Embassy Office and Tahula Division from YWCA to Rove Bulk Shop.

“Kirio you are to pick-up rubbish and walk towards the Masi ground which will be coming from St. Barnabas and down to HCC. Noabu you are to collect rubbish and walk towards Tahula who will walk from Rove and head up to towards the city.

“All divisions are responsible for their members and each division is to provide water but we also encourage division members to bring own water as well.

“Transport is being arranged with HCC and others to pick up the rubbish soon after the collection is done,” Iroga explained.

He said Chengs Company who had always engaged in the cleaning up of Honiara city will donate rubbish bags and SOSA will provide hand gloves for rubbish collection.

All four divisions have been urged to come in their divisional colours which is white for Masi, blue for Kirio, gold or yellow for Noabu and green for Tahula.

All SOSA members, teachers and students will gather at the SMI grounds for a barbecue after the clean-up.

“This is an important event for SOSA and Selwyn College,” Iroga said.

Selwyn College is celebrating its 50thyears later this year, since the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) introduced secondary co-education at Najilagu in the Guadalcanal Plains in 1970.

Selwyn College which currently provides secondary education from Year 7 (Form 1) to Year 12 (Form 6) plus University of the South Pacific (USP) Foundation Programme (Form 7) is located at Maravovo in West Guadalcanal.

It had moved from its original location at the Guadalcanal Plains in the early 1990s to its current site after the 1986 Tropical Cyclone Namu which caused destruction to the school.

Vax for MOI begins July 23

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Vaccination roll-out program at Luaniua in Ontong java last year.....Photo supplied

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

The second dose of covid-19 vaccination for Ontong Java has been set for July 23.

Sikaiana is next after Ontong Java.

Malaita’s health director, Dr Rex Maukera confirms to Island Sun that the national ministry of Health has informed his office of this date.

“On July 23 a team comprising medical staff from Honiara and Auki will leave via patrol boat to Lord Howe and then Sikaiana in the Malaita Outer Islands.

“The team will first deploy to communities in Lord Howe for the second roll-out of the covid-19 vaccination programme and to Sikaiana for their first covid-19 vaccination programme,” he said.

Maukera said preparation is well underway for this visit to the Malaitan Polynesian outliers.

He calls on eligible 18-years-and-above people on both (Ontong Java and Sikaiana) to cooperate and avail themselves to be vaccinated.

New partnership against covid-19

Written by
Press Release
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UNICEF and the United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) yesterday announced a new US$1.5 million partnership to support governments around the region, including Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Marshall Islands, with their preparedness and response plans for COVID-19.

 The Unites States Chargé d’Affaires, Tony Greubel, said:

“The United States is proud to be a partner to governments across the Pacific, including the Ministry of Health in Fiji, to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

“Strong partnerships and collaboration are critical in our efforts to stop the spread of this virus.

“This is a unique moment in history, and it requires leadership.

“We will continue to do all we can to build a world that is safer and more secure against the threat of infectious disease.”

This partnership will support the readiness, delivery, and post-delivery monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines in these Pacific island countries as well as supporting training on the effective management of the vaccines.

 UNICEF, through this funding, will provide technical support to and work closely with the ministries of health to strengthen immunisation campaigns and develop effective public health messaging through several platforms to reach people with life-saving information and address misinformation or rumours surrounding vaccines.

 Additional support will also be provided to track progress, results, as well as the impacts of the programmes supported through this partnership.

“Children and their communities in every corner of the world are at risk from this pandemic,” said UNICEF Pacific Representative, Sheldon Yett.

“We thank the United States Government for its continued and strengthened partnership with UNICEF to ensure that Pacific island countries are able to mount an effective public health response to this crisis.”

 This one-year UNICEF and United States Government partnership plays a key part in supporting the ongoing planning and recovery activities in the seven Pacific Island countries.

It will strengthen the national capacity and resilience of healthcare systems, families, and communities to cope with COVID-19 and the risks of transmission.

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