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PPC Eria calls for good behavior

Written by
Ben Bilua
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PPC Vincent Eria

BY BEN BILUA
Choiseul

PROVINCIAL Police Commander of Choiseul is calling on the general public to behave and respect the counting process to continue peacefully.

Vincent Eria made the call as voter numbers at the counting center continues to increase since today morning.

“I call on our good people of Choiseul to continue with the good behavior displayed since the Election Day and day two of counting.

“Please keep up the good spirit and allow our counting officials to do their job.

“I want all of us to walk around freely while respecting others,” he said.

Eria told journalists that three person has been arrested and put in custody last night on minor public nuisance offences.

He said police will not hesitate to do what is necessary to make sure peace and security of the electoral process is upheld.

Eria said Police Officers are patrolling the station as part of the safety and security protocols during the counting.

Counting continues

FIGHT BACK

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

AN appeal currently before the Court of Appeal will have some impact on current charges against the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Robson Djokovic.

Djokovic’s lawyer Wilson Rano relayed this to deputy chief magistrate Ricky Iomea when his client appeared in court yesterday.

Rano is appealing a High Court ruling that declared Djokovic a non-citizen because he currently holds an Australian passport.

The High Court ruled although Djokovic is an indigenous Solomon Islander by birth, he was not a citizen.

Rano is challenging that ruling, arguing since Djokovic is an indigenous Solomon Islander by birth, he becomes a citizen.

Djokovic’s mother is from Choiseul, while his father is an Australian.

Rano told the Magistrate Court yesterday if the Court of Appeal ruling goes in favour of his client, it will have some impacts on the charges against Djokovic.

He requested a 28-day adjournment while the Court of Appeal deals with the case this week. Iomea granted the adjournment to June 16.

A direction hearing of the appeal case was conducted yesterday, and Rano said he would update the court on the progress of the hearing.

Rano also confirmed receiving the disclosures from prosecution, adding he will advise the crown on their position regarding the charges.

He also requested that his client be excused from appearing in person in court on the next appearance date.

Meanwhile, Deputy Public Prosecutor Andrew Kelesi informed the court that full disclosures have been served to the defence on Tuesday afternoon.

Djokovic is facing three counts under the Electoral Act 2018 and the Political Party Integrity Act.

They are:

  1. Obtaining registration by false pretense Contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code.
  2. Fraudulent Voting Contrary to Section 120 (c) of the Electoral Act 2018.
  3. Prohibition of a non-citizen from membership of a Political Party Contrary to section 41 (1) of the Political Parties Integrity Act 2014.

Prior to the current case, Djokovic was President of Our Party.

He was accused of having registered to vote, and actually voted in the last election.

LCC clears Irofia, allegations remain

Written by
Charles Kadamana
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By CHARLES KADAMANA

Controversial HCC Councillor, Mrs Dora Huapii Irofia, has complied with the national leadership code.

Chairman to the Leadership Code Commission (LCC), Mr Solomon Kalu, yesterday said Councillor Irofia “had correctly complied with her duties and responsibilities under the Leadership Code”.

In a media statement yesterday, Kalu said:

“Councilor Irofia had duly disclosed to the Commission her interest in DODs General Supplies (BN2014191) in accordance with Part II of the Leadership Code (Further Provisions) Act 1999.

“She is part owner of this private business prior to her becoming a leader.

“Besides the timely disclosure of her private business interest, the Leader had also sought and obtained the Commission’s approval as required of her under section 15 of the Leadership Code (Further Provisions) Act 1999.

“Beside disclosing and obtaining the Commission’s approval, the Leader also sought and obtained permission from the Commission for her business – DODs General Services to enter into a contract with the HCC as required of her under section 14 of the Leadership Code (Further Provisions) Act 1999,” the chairman said.

He said DODs General Services is amongst six other private businesses in Honiara that are listed as preferred suppliers for the HCC.

The Commission granted her applications for approval and permission at its 73rd meeting convened in November 2019.

Meanwhile, while LCC has cleared Irofia of having declared her business with the Commission, questions remain over ethical issues regarding Councillor Irofia’s company being awarded Council contracts as a ‘preferred supplier’.

Another is the allegations of ‘fishy’ payments raised in a report compiled by former HCC deputy treasurer as part of investigations into how the former council executive allegedly mismanaged the affairs of the council.

When spoken to earlier this week, Irofia did not directly address these allegations, rather basing her comments on having satisfied LCC’s requirements.

The report said within just three months in 2020 Councillor Irofia and DODs collected almost $1 million in highly questionable payments for supplying basic furniture, stationeries and office equipment to the council.

It was not just the amount of money paid out within three months that got the attention of the former deputy treasurer, but also the frequency at which it was paid.

For instance, on January 20, 2020, DODs received a cheque for $122,400 in the morning and another cheque for $34,600 in the afternoon.

The following month on February 19, DODs was paid two other separate cheques on the same day – one for $34,460 and another for $53,000.

Five days later on February 25, DODs collected two further payments – the first for $43,900 and the second for $141,600.

And on March 25, DODs received two more cheques for $70,000 and $45,000 to cap off its spoil for the first quarter of 2020.

The report showed for the month of January, DODs collected three payments totaling $231,500.

For February, it received nine cheques worth $588,960.

And in March, DODs collected $115,000 to bring the total amount it got paid, to $935,460.

The report was critical of two particular payments.

The first was an $85,000 cheque paid to Cruz Women’s Group on February 6, while the second was a $70,000 cheque raised in the name of Cr Irofia on February 14 instead of DODs General Supplier.

The report pointed out that the $85,000 cheque to Cruz Women’s Group was highly suspicious and needs to be investigated.

The $70,000 paid to Cr Irofia, the report added, should be raised in the name of DODs as the supplier and not to a councilor.

The report also questioned the way in which payments are made to suppliers within the Honiara City Council.

“In the financial instruction there are clear guidelines on how procurement process should take its course.

“However, within the Honiara City Council cheque payments that supposed to be raised and paid to suppliers are raised under the name of council officers, cashed by the officers and later paid to suppliers.

“A clear example is on the 13/01/2020 chq payment was raised under the name of Honiara City Council finance Officer June Qae and was cashed and later spend the money for Fuel & lubricants (chq # 101771).

“On another occasion another chq payment was raised on the 30/01/2020 chq # 101862 and paid to Kadiba Alu, Media officer within the Honiara City Council, for printing of finance staff.

“The question again is why can’t these payouts be made straight to the suppliers?

“Honiara City Council adopted all procurement instruction in the Supplier Chain Management under Financial Instruction however, the act of cashing cheques and later procure items conflicted with clear guidelines set out in the Financial Instruction.

“The act of the officers put their integrity at question.”

In his final report before he was sacked from the council, former Clerk, Rence Sore highlighted the poor procurement practices within the council.

He said these include insufficient planning, lack of documentation and non-consideration for value for money.

“These arise mainly because of the confusion that exists between the lines of governance and management of the council,” Sore said in his report.

He added the confusion is evident in the current council on matters like the allocation of market lock up shops, administration of vehicle tenders and the Kukum Market project.

“Good procurement practices will never be achieved in the life of this current house of the city council,” Sore said.

Vaccination trials below 18-yrs ongoing: MHMS

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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AstraZeneca vaccine. Photo by NDTV.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

COMPANIES producing covid-19 vaccines globally are still processing trials to include jabbing of children below 18 years of age.

The only two approved covid-19 vaccines introduced so far in Solomon Islands are Sinopharm, manufactured in China, and AstraZeneca, manufactured in India.

Dr Choudhri Yogesh, advisor to Ministry of Health and Medical Services, said according to clinical guideline, people less below 18 years of age are not included to receive vaccines.

“That is why the safety and efficacy in people and children less than 18 years is not proven.

“However companies dealing with the World Health Organisation approved vaccines are now starting trials to include children. Once the efficacy and safety of these vaccines in terms of data they will get will provide necessary recommendation for children to use,” Yogesh said.

He said the only vaccine that has already been approved under the EU Authorisation the US to be given to children between the age of 12 and 15 years of age is the Pfizer vaccine.

“I would say the things are moving on but we need more data on the efficacy and safety amongst the children for use of these vaccines,” said Choudhri.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has set the official launch of Sinopharm covid-19 vaccine for this Friday.  

“Since we only have 50,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine we can only vaccinate 25000 people because it requires two doses to be administered at an interval of four weeks,” Sogavare said.

Seaport, SI weak link: PS McNeil

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands seaport as point of entry into the country is Solomon Islands’ weakest link when it comes to covid-19.

This was highlighted by Pauline McNeil, permanent secretary to Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

“Basically, the country’s sea port as point of entry is our weakest link when it comes to covid-19,” McNeil said.

She said monitoring on sea port and airport is still ongoing following the covid-19 cases detected amongst a crewmember of the Cargo vessel, MV Chefoo.

McNeil said the vessels exemption committee chaired by Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Jimmy Rodgers have been working hard in analysing and assessing vessels that come in.

“I acknowledge SPM who despite his well-deserved leave that he should have taken, he still doing his job in assessing the vessels that coming into the country.

“Also acknowledging the joint partnership with frontline ministries, Customs , Biosecurity and Immigration and Health team that potential risk from the vessel is quite high and so the teams are working very closely and working hard in ensuring that the risk is minimal or zero potential risk coming into  the country,” she said.

Dr Yogesh Choudhri, advisor to Ministry of Health said necessary measures have been put by the government to detect the cases of covid-19 at Ports and it has been exemplified by the cases detected last week.

“We do take testing of the people base on the risk assessment and if there is an element of doubt of there is a risk we test the people.

“And if it happened a case was detected the ship or cargo will be decontaminated upon off loading,” Choudhri said.

He said necessary precautions have been put in terms of testing, monitoring IPC, social distancing and disinfection of the cargo so there is no risk of covid-19 into Solomon Islands.

Inquiry into emergency health bill postponed

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By EDDIE OSIFELO

CHAIRMAN of Bills and Legislative Committee (BLC), Matthew Wale has postponed the inquiry into the Public Health and Emergency Bill 2021 to Friday.

This was after the Oversight Committee failed to present the consultation report on the Bill to the BLC yesterday.

Ministry of Health and Medical Service permanent secretary, Pauline McNeil said an officer is still consolidating the report.

As such, Wale postponed the inquiry to tomorrow morning to allow the Committee to serve the consultation report.

The objectives of the bill are to provide suitable and urgent responses to public health emergencies and circumstances that threatens the health of the persons and communities of Solomon Islands.

The bill aims to enable a range of operational capabilities and activities that will be able to quickly respond to such emergencies and circumstances and prevent, mitigate, eliminate the contamination, disease or other occurrence causing the emergencies and circumstances, and recover from them.

According to Parliament media, the BLC has started its inquiry process into the Public Health Emergency Bill 2021 which was tabled in Parliament on 12 March this year.

The Committee is mandated under Standing Orders 71 of the National Parliament to review all draft legislation before Parliament.

The inquiry process involves; calls for written submissions from a wide range of people and groups that have an interest in the bill, and conducting public hearings to gather evidences from key witnesses who will be invited to the hearings.

Since early April, the Committee had held a series of deliberative meetings on the bill with support from the UNDP providing an external technical expert.

On the 13th of May, the Committee resolved to begin with the Public Hearings at the National Parliament which will take place from 17 to 27 May, before it adjourns to conduct further hearings in the provinces.

However, due to delays, the inquiry proper starts tomorrow.

The hearings will invite key witnesses from the government officials, NGOs, CSOs, communities, and individuals to provide evidences to the Committee in its examination of the bill.

The Committee is currently calling for written submissions from the general public on matters relating to the bill, particularly in areas relating to:

• Interaction with the Constitution;

• Declaration of Public Health Emergencies (including Emergency Zones);

• Circumstances that threatens public health;

• Roles and Responsibilities;

• Offences and Penalties;

• Matters relating to Subsidiary legislation;

• Protection of persons with powers and functions under the bill;

• Provisions against misinformation;

• Establishment of the Special Fund – Public Health Emergency Fund; and

• Other relevant matters for consideration such as government policy, administration, implementation, and human rights.

During this inquiry, the Committee aims to gather as much evidence as possible on all aspects of the bill so that the Committee can report its findings and recommendations to Parliament before the bill goes through the second reading stage in the Committee of the Whole House.

Currently, a ‘calls for submissions’ is ongoing and the general public and other agencies and entities are encouraged to make written submissions to the Committee or they can request to appear as witnesses during the hearings by way of request to the Committee Chair or through the Committee Secretariat of the National Parliament. The Public Health Emergency Bill 2021 can be accessed on the National Parliament website.

The Committee is comprised of:

  1. Hon. John Maneniaru (Chairman);
  2. Hon. Stanley F. Sofu;
  3. Hon. Matthew C. Wale;
  4. Hon. John D. Kuku;
  5. Hon. Rick N. Houenipwela;
  6. Hon. Sam S. Iduri;
  7. Hon. Lilly Maefai;
  8. Hon. Derrick Manuari;
  9. Hon. Peter Kenilorea Jnr.

Aussie who tried to import cocaine via Solomons jailed

Written by
Admin
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police seize cocaine in solomon islands

AN Australian will spend at least nine years behind bars for trying to smuggle more than 500 kilogrammes of cocaine into Australia in a yacht via the Solomon Islands.

Police said Zhen Tao Qi, 43, of Wahroonga, New South Wales was a key organiser in the importation plot that was thwarted by an “unprecedented” international investigation.

The cocaine had been loaded into a Belgian-registered, double-masted yacht in South America, before it set off en route to Australia.

It contained 501kg of the drug with a street value of up to AUD$250 million, professionally concealed within the vessel.

But the shipment was being tracked by a multi-nation investigation involving Australian, Solomon Islands and the United States police, as well as the Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

Authorities pounced on the yacht on September 27, 2018, when it was docked in Honiara.

As the search of the vessel was underway, police in Australia launched coordinated raids across Sydney.

Qi and a 41-year-old Bonnyrigg Heights man, Zhen Zhao, were arrested and four search warrants conducted in Wahroonga, Bonnyrigg Heights, Dolls Point and Caringbah.

Earlier this month, Qi, whom police describe as one of the key organisers of the attempted importation, was sentenced to 14 years and five months’ prison for his role.

He will have to serve at least nine years before he is eligible for parole.

He had been charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs and knowingly dealing in money or other property which is an instrument of crime.

Zhao in December 2019 avoided a full-time custodial sentence when he was placed on a two-year intensive correction order.

He was guilty of knowingly dealing in money or property which is an instrument of crime.

In March last year, Australian Federal Police were granted an order by the Supreme Court to have seized items linked to Qi permanently forfeited.

It included more than AUD$130,000 in a bank account, a 2017 Land Rover Discovery registered to his wife, designer watches and AUD$20,000 cash.

AFP Detective Superintendent Ben McQuillan said strong partnerships with international law enforcement were vital to the success of the investigation.

“This was an unprecedented investigation between Australian and Solomon Islands authorities and shows what we can achieve when we work together to slam the brakes on large-scale drug importation by organised crime,” he said.

“The AFP will continue to work tirelessly to outsmart organised crime groups and to halt the importation of illicit drugs into the Australian community.”

Tikopians cast vote in Ward elections

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE second chief in Tikopia’s cultural heirarchy was the first to cast his vote when voting for the Tikopia/Anuta ward by-election yesterday morning.

The Chief is among 1,307 registered voters who have participated in the by-election on the remote eastern part of Solomon Islands.

The Ward By-Election for Anuta and Tikopia (ward 16) Island had become necessary after the Member of Provincial Assembly in Temotu province was terminated.

Freelance journalist, Jeremy Gwao, who covers the election process on Tikopia, confirmed that the Chief was very happy to participate in the by-election.

“The Chief encourages his people to exercise their democratic rights to vote in the election,” Gwao said.

There were four chiefs on Tikopia who are ranked hierarchical from first to fourth level.

Tikopia is one of the strong chiefly societies in the country, which is a high island and bigger than Anuta.

The people are of Polynesian descent but have co-existed in the Melanesian society for many years now.

Tikopia has three polling stations and one polling station on Anuta.

Six candidates contested the by-election.

Gwao said it was a smooth by election where many people turned up to cast their votes.

He said six police officers manned the three polling stations on Tikopia and four police officers on Anuta.

In the meantime, by-election for South Choiseul constituency and Kirugela electoral ward in Choiseul also concluded yesterday.

The By-Election in South Choiseul Constituency follows former Member of Parliament, Robertson Galokale losing his seat in an election petition case after the National General Election in April 2019.

The North East Choiseul Kirugela ward by-election follows the passing away of their Member of Provincial Assembly.

Counting and declaration of elections should start over the weekend for Tikopia/Anuta on Lata provincial station and Taro provincial station in Choiseul.

Bail for man facing arson

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Court has released a man accused of arson on bail.

John Lesapa is alleged of burning down seven houses in Ghavagha village, Guadalcanal province.

Defence lawyer, Bobby Harunari, applied for bail in the previous occasion to which prosecution objected.

However, yesterday principal magistrate Fatimah Taeburi granted bail, but with strict conditions.

Taeburi also imposed a $500 cash bail to be paid to the court before the accused is released; also, the accused will reside with his sister-in-law at GPPOL 2 and must abide by all bail conditions imposed by the court.

Lesapa is alleged of burning down dwelling houses and kitchen houses of seven different complainants on April 5, 2021.

Taeburi said the Crown objected on the grounds that the accused resides at Ghavagha Village where other suspects also reside.

Therefore, there will be a risk of interference and also compensation has not been paid and the risk of retaliation by the complainants is high.

Taeburi said there will be no interference as Lesapa will not reside at his home village but will reside at GIPPOL 2; and, regarding the safety of the applicant, if there is anyone who faces a risk of retaliation, it is the applicant himself, as he himself is the better person to assess the risks and dangers involved if he is released on bail.

Makira women form unique council of women

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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West Wainoni women

The women of West Wainoni in East Makira Constituency of Makira Ulawa Province have formed what can be described as a unique Council of Women.

They have registered as the West Wainoni Council of Women, a Charitable, Non-Profitable Organization.

It is unique because its members are both women and men and the ages of its affiliates range between one day old infants and 80 years old women.

The Treasurer of the West Wainoni Council of Women, Evalyn Kahia says it is also unique because both women and men members are allowed to talk in meetings, but only 15 women councilors can vote for final decisions.

She says there are 252 women members and 147 men associate members, adding businesses in West Wainoni also contribute and outsiders wishing to help can do so.

Ms Kahia says the West Wainoni Council of Women which was formed on 14 September 2019 agreed to have men associate members to enable them to understand its activities better.


2nd photo: Prudence Katawea and Evalyn Kahia pose for a photo with the office equipment and RDP team leader, Annie Rafeasi sitting on the right, CAO Alfonse Punia standing behind, health representatives also standing behind and an agriculture officer sitting on the left.

She says the West Wainoni Council of Women as a Charitable Non-Profit Organization has received support from the Government through the Rural Development Program and three donor partners namely the Australian Government, the European Union and the World Bank.

Ms Kahia says her organization registers its gratitude to the Government through RDP Management and staff in Component Two of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the three donor partners for seeing the importance to fund “our request originally for training.

“However, additional administrative support will really boost our efforts to reach out and help develop family units, communities, Wards and the Province and Solomon Islands as a whole”.

And on May 17, 2021, the efforts and endeavors of the West Wainoni Council of Women paid off when the RDP Team Leader, Annie Rafeasi handed over a Laptop, a Printer, a Dongle, Accessories and Stationeries to the unique West Wainoni Council of Women’s Vice President, Prudence Katawea and Treasurer, Ms Kahia at the Makira Women’s Resources Centre in Kira Kira.

On receiving the office equipment and accessories and stationeries, Ms Kahia described them as an enabling gigantic step in “our efforts and endeavors to serve the development needs and aspirations of our members.

“They will also empower and enable our women to take part in the socio-economic sector to improve their rural communities’ livelihoods and well-beings.

“And they will be used to improve and enhance the administrative capacity and capability of our Council of Women when serving rural women and the communities they reside”.

Meanwhile, Ms Kahia says the time, effort and money in particular “we spend will be sliced by half, as we will now work at home instead of going do our work in Kira Kira.

“At this juncture, I take the chance to commend Our Telekom for installing the Arohane 3-G Communications Network because we can now send and receive documents and reports to and from the development partners, stakeholders and the government”.

By George Atkin

Kira Kira

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