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ADB approves $1.2B for transport network here

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East Malaita Road rehabilitation plan underway.

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved support of almost USD$150 million (SBD1.2 billion) to boost land and maritime connectivity in Solomon Islands.

ADB is providing a grant of $74.5 million (SBD$595.7 million) sourced from the Asian Development Fund and a concessional loan of $74.4 million (SBD$594.9) for the Solomon Islands Land and Maritime Connectivity Project.

A statement from ADB says the national government is contributing the remaining USD$21.8 million (SBD$174.3 million) of the project’s overall cost of almost USD$171 million (SBD$1.4 billion).

The project will provide urgently needed repairs to one-third of the country’s road network and half of the country’s wharves.

“Considering 80% of the population lives in rural areas, this new investment project will have a measurable impact for hundreds of thousands of people in Solomon Islands,” said ADB Transport Specialist for the Pacific Tomoaki Kawabata.

The project will support the rehabilitation and upgrading of about 35 kilometers of roads in and around the capital, Honiara, the construction of two provincial wharves at Ahanga and Kira Kira, and improvements to the old wharf at Honiara International Port.

The project is set to increase access to markets, clinics, and schools, while supporting the disaster resilience of the transport network in Solomon Islands.

Climate proofing will be a key component of all the road and wharf upgrading under the project.

The capacity of the government’s Ministry of Infrastructure Development will be strengthened by the project, through improvements in the transport infrastructure maintenance practices in Solomon Islands.

It will assist the government in planning, project preparation, procurement, and other transport sector institutional reform.

The ADB-supported project will complement the improvement works on road sections of the east–west Guadalcanal corridor financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.

Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

EDITORIAL- Time to pursue long-term solutions

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FOUR bus stops in central Honiara have been closed for use as of yesterday.

The closure will be for an indefinite period of time.

The decision came from a joint meeting held in Honiara last week, attended by the Honiara City Council (HCC) Law Enforcement Division, Traffic Police and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) Road and Transport Unit.

This is part of efforts to address the daily traffic congestion in Honiara as the city prepares itself for the 2023 Pacific Games.

City Mayor Eddie Siapu says the closure of the four bus stops will allow relevant officers to monitor and assess how best traffic congestion can be addressed.

A review, he added, would be carried out once all assessments are done.

Traffic congestion in central Honiara is now a new issue.

It’s been with us for many years.

There were many contributing factors.

Key among them is the increasing number of vehicles in Honiara.

Yes, the number of vehicles running the roads appears to have increased every month.

These include public buses and taxis.

Closing off four bus stops as part of the effort to address the issue may not really address the congestion.

That’s because the number of public buses entering the city centre will remain the same.

When you see the number of public buses coming in from both sides of the city during the day, you can tell the two bus stops at the Central Market simply does not have the space to accommodate them.

This is where the congestion issue really lies.

The most effective step to addressing it is to control the number of buses coming into central Honiara.

This is where zoning the city comes in. Meaning public buses will be required to serve only the zones they are allocated.

Doing that would reduce the number of buses coming into the city centre, thus minimising the congestion.

Solutions like this must be backed with regulations and enforcement to make them work.

The traffic issue has been with us for many years now. Authorities should have come up with long term solutions years back.

They failed to do that so the problem keeps cropping up every year.

Honiara is a rapidly growing city.

City councillors and other stakeholders must be proactive and think ahead when tackling pressing issues affecting the city.

Short-term solutions will not address the issues.

Gaobata elects new youth body

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Ghaobata Youth Association members with provincial member John Lee Saki, sitting left.

THE Ghaobata youth representatives in northeast Guadalcanal selected their Ward Youth Association Executive Board on Sunday.

This was confirmed by the President of Guadalcanal Provincial Youth Council (GPYC), Danny Rasile.

He said the event was attended by the MPA for Ghaobata Ward, John Lee Saki, his WDC chairman, two other WDC members, church leaders, chiefs and other community leaders.

Rasile thanked Saki for his support in helping to establish the youth association in his ward.

“I want to personally thank Saki for taking the lead initiative to establish the Gaobata Ward Youth Association,” he stated.

“Saki sees our need and steps in to salvage the moment. His efforts with the Ghaobata WDC’s help, has result in what we’ve seen today,” Rasile added.

He also expressed that he hopes other Guadalcanal MPAs would do the same in the wards.

“We hope other MPAs will follow suit to organize and facilitate the formation of youths in their wards.”

Rasile said only three wards in Guadalcanal have since established their youth associations. These are Avuavu, Tandai and Ghaobata.

The other 18 wards are yet to come up with their youth representatives before establishing their youth associations.

Rasile stated that Savulei Ward is expected to have their youth association established by the end of this month.

In addition, the president also lamented that despite the fact that Guadalcanal youths make up about 80% of the province’s population, they are rarely included in the provincial government budget until this year where about $280,000 was allocated for the 2021-2022 financial year.

Rasile said so far these three wards were established without any support from the financial budget.

Despite the self-sufficient mindset, Rasile expressed that they can’t continue to be ignored.

The Ghaobata Ward Youth Association Board Members are:

1: Jane Saronga – Chairlady

2: Dickson Maeke – Vice Chaiman

3: Cathy Roxy – Treasurer

4: Graeme J Tolugu – Secretary

5: Joseph Pei

6: John Rocky

7: Francis Garimane

8: Ben Turasi

St Dominic’s RTC gets new classroom building

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Representatives posed in-front of the newly launched building.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

ST Dominic’s Vocational Rural Training Centre in Gizo has officially received a new double-story classroom building worth SBD$621,000.

The building was donated to the school by the Embassy of Japan in Solomon Islands with the focus to provide more effective technical and vocational education to local youth.

Fr Steven Tee, principal of Dominic’s Centre, said the newly erected double story building marked a milestone for the staff and students of St Dominic’s with the great support from the people of Japan.

New double story classroom building.

“The building will always remind us with our relationship to the people of Japan and St Dominic’s RTC in the future or years to come.

“Therefore, I on behalf of the staff and students of St  Dominic’s RTC highly appreciate you his excellency the embassy, your hard working coordinator and the government of Japan for this great need of RTC project class room,” Tee said.

Ambassador Yasuhiro Morimoto said the success of this project whether it works well or not depends highly on the recipients manage it, being aware of the responsibilities for good management and maintenance to succeed to the next new generation.

Warriors welcoming Ambassador Morimoto

“I hope that the new classroom building will benefit many youth people, and be remembered as a symbol of the friendship between the two peoples of Japan and Solomon Islands for many years to come,” Morimoto said.

He said Japan is willing to continue their efforts in assistance for the educational field including vocational schools to see more happy faces in many places of Solomon Islands and to cultivate cordial relationship between the two countries, Japan and Solomon Islands.

GEF 7 project design kicks off

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Workshop Participants in session on May 26

AN inception workshop to begin the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 7 Project Initiation Planning Stage gathering representatives from the UNDP Solomon Islands, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livelihood was held on May 26.

The Workshop is begin the process of developing an action plan for the project of safeguarding Solomon Islands Endemic and Global Threatened Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services from key threats, particularly invasive alien species and unsustainable land-use practices.

More than 20 representatives from UNDP, partner ministries and civil-society organizations gathered to launch the project development process for the GEF 7 Multifocal Area, which focuses on biodiversity and land degradation thematic areas.

The project’s broader objective is that Solomon Islands indigenous plants, animals, and ecosystems are at a reduced risk from invasive alien species, land degradation and unsustainable resource use with effective government enabling frameworks and capacity, community participation and resilient blue/green livelihoods.

Speaking at the Workshop, Chanel Iroi, Deputy Secretary Technical for MECDM and GEF Operational Focal Point in Solomon Islands, acknowledged the project team and stressed that this workshop initiated a significant process that should be completed by December this year.

Workshop participants

According to MECDM, Solomon Islands is an important biodiversity hotspot across the globe and in the Asia-Pacific region. Solomon Islands has rich species biodiversity on both land and waters. In terms of iconic coastal and marine animals, the country hosts the saltwater crocodile, eight species of whales, nine species of dolphin, dugongs, five species of turtles (Eretmochelys imbricate (CE), Chelonia mydas (EN), Dermochelys coriacea and Lepidochelys olivacea (VU) and Caretta (EN), plus many species of sharks and large pelagic fish. They highlighted that there remains key threats to this wealth of biodiversity, which includes invasive alien species, habitat destruction and land degradation, overharvesting and exploitation of species, and climate change.

At the meeting, the Ministry of Agriculture Deputy Secretary, Michael Ho’ota, highlighted the impacts to the environment that can be caused by no proper farm management practices, this can result in soil degradation, nutrient leaching and depletion causing low soil fertility, as a result, low crop productivity, contamination of water catchment, deforestation and the introduction of invasive fauna & flora species. These are threats to the Agriculture sector in Solomon Islands, which hopefully can be addressed by this project.

MAL is grateful to be a stakeholder in this important project and looks forward to its successful development and implementation.

The workshop ended with UNDP, MECDM and MAL agreeing on steps forward and a plan to deliver the project document by December 2021. The next steps will also involve visiting the targeted sites and Provinces under the proposed Project.

LOGGER FACE CONSEQUENCES

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Logging in Solomon Islands. Photo supplied

Sino FID certificate cancelled

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MALAYSIAN logger Sino Capital Solomon Islands Ltd have found themselves again at the receiving end of the law.

After Guadalcanal Province cancelled their business licence last year, and accused them of operating illegally in the province since 2009, the logging company now faces the prospect of closing down its entire operation across the country.

This was after the Foreign Investment Division (FID) issued Sino a notice to cancel their foreign investment registration certificate because of alleged breaches the company had committed.

Registrar of Foreign Investment Lynette daWheya outlined the breaches in the show-cause notice she wrote to the logging company on 6 May 2021.

These include:

  1. SINO has failed to comply to the 15 Annual Survey Notifications reminders issued to the company in 2017 – January, February, March; 2018 – January, February, March; 2019 – January, February, March, 2020 – January, February, March; 2021 – January, February, March.
  2. The company failed to respond or redress the breaches stated in the Show cause notice issued against the company in January 2021 for violations of approvals following the Business Monitoring Joint Agencies Committee (BMJAC) compliance inspections on Guadalcanal Province and Vanikoro – Temotu Province 30 November 2020 – January 2021.
  3. The company has failed to comply with its foreign approval conditions as stated below:
  4. By operating a reserved business activity – a canteen less than 200 square meters on Aola site.
  5. That they have failed to notify Registrar on Tax registrations, obligations and remittances;
  6. That they have failed to notify the Registrar on NPF Registrations, obligations and remittances; there have been inconsistencies in paying SINO Capital SI Ltd employee’s contributions to the SINPF;
  7. Failed to pay for relevant Provincial Business Licences for Aola Camp for years 2004-2021, Guadalcanal Province for total of $5.1 million. Failed to pay for relevant Provincial Business License for Vanikoro, Temotu Province, from 2016-2021 totaling $1,500.00
  8. Failed to pay for relevant resource owners at Guadalcanal Province.
  9. Failed to pay for relevant Resource owners at Vanikoro, Temotu Province.
  10. Failed to pay the penalty issued against the company, $125,000 for non-compliance as per the FI Act 2005 as amended 2009, section 29 (C) (I). Guadalcanal Province.
  11. Failed to pay the penalty issued against the company, $125,000 for non-compliance as per the FI Act 2005 as amended 2009, section 29 (C) (I). Temotu Province.
  12.  

deWheya told Sino that if they wish not to have their certificate of registration cancelled, they must present to her office in written form within 10 working days as of the date her letter, reasons why their certificate should not be cancelled.

Island Sun understands the 10-day notice has lapsed.

When contacted, Sino lawyer Wilson Rano told the Island Sun he has appealed against deWheya’s letter to the Minister of Commerce.

He further claimed the minister has directed FID to withdraw the letter.

Ngati wants Councillors entitlement reviewed in HCC Act

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Honiara City Councillor, Reginald Ngati

AS the review of the Honiara City Council (HCC) Act 1999 is now underway, Councillor for Vura Ward, Reginald Ngati has called for an amendment in the entitlements of Ward Councillors’.

Cr Ngati said the amendment of the Councillors’ entitlements is important because Honiara city is now expanding, so as the increase of demands for services by residents in the city.

He stated that “just like the national members of parliament, we as ward Councillors too are experiencing the pressure of rising demands by residents’ of the city. We have received requests from voters and ward residents on a daily basis – a normal culture in the local politics.”

Having said that, Cr Ngati said the current entitlements for Councillors is really unfair in their leadership.

For instance, under the current HCC Act, the entitlements of Councillors together with the deputy mayor are only the fortnight allowances, no more no less.

“Unless if there are some other entitlements that was hidden from us that I did not know about. This excludes the City Mayor, as his entitlements are stipulated for under the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission (PEC).

“For those of us ordinary Councillors or non-executive Councillors, our fortnightly allowance is just $1,325 tax-free. Those that holds Chairmanship roles gets more than $1,500, while Deputy Mayor gets $1,900 plus.

“That is the current allowance we are entitled to. We are lucky that the allowances are not taxed,” the Vura Ward Councillor said.

“There is no housing entitlements, no education entitlement, no health allowance, no transportation or ward touring entitlements,” Cr Ngati added.

Under the leadership of Wilson Mamae, Mr Ngati was Chairman for what was referred to as the Councillors Entitlements Committee (CEC) – an ad hoc committee that was formed to look into the entitlements of Councillors.

“When I was with CEC, we have come up with figures and possible entitlements in a report and forwarded it to the Minister for Home Affairs. I wish to see the ministry refer to the report we submitted when reviewing the Act.

“I strongly call on the ministry to seriously consider the review of the Councillors’ entitlements,” Cr Ngati said.

He went on to state that the review of the entitlements is important, because a lot of complaints have been received by members of the public, accusing certain Councillors of owning expensive vehicles, houses, and huge properties when their allowances is very petty.

“However, whether they purchased the items before or during the time they are elected is not the issue here. The issue here is that when a Councillor has no other entitlement and is owning properties and making wealth, that is the problem.

“The point here is that the entitlements does not qualify a councillor to have expensive properties, or look outstanding in this leadership role. You only have your allowance that is paid fortnightly. And also at the end of each Councillor’s term, there is no grands paid – it will just be a return home with no allowances given,” Ngati stated.

Having said that, he is concerned that the fear of Councillors getting off track is either created by those that are creating or revising the Act as there are no provisions that gives Councillors the opportunity and privilege so that when they work and serve their people, they at least have something to count on.

“Therefore, considering the amendement of Councillors’ entitlements in the revised HCC Act is a must. It must be done,” the Vura Ward Councillor strongly stated.

Work on Good Samaritan Hospital Lab progressing

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Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

WORK on the Good Samaritan hospital laboratory is progressing according to Dr Gregory Jilini under Secretary to Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).

But he explained the hospital will be used for testing of different diseases and not for COVID-19 testing.

“Work on the Good Samaritan Lab is still in progress. It will be a hospital lab. Due to its close proximity to National Referral Hospital NRH etc, COVID testing will still be done at the NRH Molecular Lab,” he said.

Jilini said an official opening will be organized once it is completed.

Dr Yogesh Choudhri Senior technical advisor to MHMS also confirmed that the Hospital laboratory is for haematological and biochemistry tests for the patients of other diseases.

“It is not going to be a COVID testing laboratory. It is for other haematological and biochemistry tests for the patients of other diseases,” said Choudhri.

Pauline McNeil Permanent Secretary to Health Ministry on one of the recent COVID-19 talk back show said the ministry of health are in the process to establishing a laboratory for the Good Samaritan Hospital

McNeil said the laboratory is part of donation from the Solomon Islands Forestry Association.

 “We are thankful for the donation from this private person who have come forward to support Ministry of health,” said McNeil.

BSP extends services to Ulawa

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L- R. MPA, Hon. Joe Takeli, BSP's officer, Stanley Jnr. Siapu and MUP's deputy Premier, Hon. Davis Maemae standing in front of the Bsp agency building

Bank South Pacific has successfully launched its branch- less agency on Ulawa island in the Makira Ulawa Province.

The launching ceremony took place last Wednesday at the Suholo village.

 It was witnessed by the Makira Ulawa provincial Deputy Premier, Davis Maemae, the Minister for Trade and commerce, Brook Wa’o and the Minister of Health and medical services, Benson Piringi as well as other public servants at Ulawa island.

Speaking on behalf of the people of Ulawa, Arthur Halu, a school teacher thanked those who have worked hard to see such development established on Ulawa.

“I would like to convey on behalf of the Chiefs and the people of Ulawa Island our sincere appreciation to the one behind this initiative, the MPA for Ward two, Joe Takeli for the vision and hard work to ensure that such services are accessible here at the rural areas”, Mr Halu said.

“On the same note I also want to thank Bank South Pacific as well as the Makira Ulawa provincial government for their support in seeing this as it also comes in line with the government’s rural development policies to ensure that such development is established here on Ulawa Island”, he further said.

The Deputy Premier of Makira Ulawa province was very happy to see this big achievement for the people of Ulawa as well as the province as a whole.

“I am very happy to be present today for this occasion and I want to applaud the initiator of bringing BSP on Ulawa Island, Joe Takeli for his courage and vision in bringing this into reality, as well as chiefs of Suholo to allow such development established in their village”, Mr Maemae remarked.

He further encouraged Ulawans to make good use of the services that can now be easily accessible.

Mr Takeli said he is humbled and that it is from past experiences that he decided to make this happen.

“All this comes from my past experience as a former education officer, where I find that teachers travelled to Kirakira during paydays and this has resulted in teacher’s absenteeism, making parents and communities complain” He adds.

“Some of our people have lost their lives at sea going to Kirakira for the sake of accessing banking services and with this mentioned, I come up with this initiative to address this issue by bringing this service to Ulawa Island so both teachers and nurses as well as visitors to Ulawa can easily access banking services whenever they want.

BSP officer Stanley Junior Siapu said Ulawa is fortunate to have a BSP agent on the Island.

“The people of Ulawa are very lucky now that you have this service brought right down to you in the rural level. With this agency now here, people will no longer spend large amount of money or risk their lives travelling by boat to Kirakira or Honiara to do banking as in the past”, he said.

“Those who are formally employed such as teachers, nurses and the police can now make withdrawals here at this agent. Customers can now send money through deposits, customers can now check their account balance here if they do not access mobile banking and also too you save members can also make deposits here making it easier for the people here”, Mr. Siapu added

Mr. Siapu further adds that the service provided by the branch less banking agent will be convenient, faster and much cheaper for BSP customers on Ulawa.

The Ulawa BSP banking agent is established under the bank’s digital banking, a new department of Bsp with the aim of bringing basic banking services to the rural areas.

By LIONEL TAORAO

In Ulawa

Taro needs govt support to turn it into tourist destination

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Taro pothole road to Airport Terminal.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

Choiseul MPA for Tavula Ward Clement Kengava says the Choiseul Province’s provincial capital Taro needs direct National Government support in terms of infrastructures to turn it into a tourist destination.

Kengava in an interview with this paper yesterday said the provincial authorities should request the Ministry of Infrastructures Development (MID) to assess Taro roads for better alignment and tar sealed surfacing.

He said Taro soil is mainly that of sand and with about ten vehicles using the sandy road, it has it’s fair share of potholes.

Taro wharf.

Kengava said the road improvement should be in line with Taro Airport upgrading to be funded by the New Zealand Government.

He added that the State-Owned Enterprises like Solomon Water Authority – Solwater to consider assess and provide reliable water supply to Taro as part of it’s social obligation.

“A salination plant or water from Choiseul Bay mainland could be solutions to seriously looked into.

“Also, Solpower (SIEA) is now becoming a main player by providing electricity in Taro and now extending to Supizae Island, just less than 100 metres from Taro Fisheries point,” he added.

“As part of it’s social obligation some lightings be provided at Taro Wharf and Taro Market for safety and security,” Kengava said.

Kengava said the Ministry of Culture and Tourism be invited by the provincial government to assess the island capital and plan for the province on how it can turn Taro into a tourist destination in this ‘top end’ province of Solomon Islands.

He said the local tourist operators and accommodation owners need to work together and form an organisation with the support of provincial government to pursue their cause for fundings, or joint venture with a hotel owner to build a hotel-resort in Choiseul Bay as collecting point for tour groups.

However, Kengava pointed out that to co-ordinate ‘Tourism Destination for Taro’, the provincial government should come up with a paper for the Assembly to adopt to specifically turn Taro into a ‘Tourist Destination’.

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