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New road upgrade for Honiara settlements

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Press Release
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One of the road worked on under the CAUSE Project

PEOPLE living in Kombivatu, Feraladoa, Ferakusia, and Matariu will no longer face hiccups when travelling to town to access services like markets, schools, and clinics through the completion of their road upgrade by CAUSE Project.

It took Island Kori, the local contractor, 14 months to complete the rehabilitation work.

The total length of the road is 820 meters, of which 294 meters are sealed with concrete, and 526 meters are unsealed.

It is estimated that more than 400plus households will benefit from the road upgrade.

The road upgrade costs $2.238 million. Funding for the road project comes from World Bank. 

A statement from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary Stephen Maesiola said now that the road is completed, beneficiaries need to look after it well for the years to come.

He emphasized the involvement of the woman contractor who undertook this contract and the equivalent SBD 400 thousand dollars labors given to the community.

PS Maesiola also stated that MID is on its plan to implement the same road rehabilitation in urban towns of Western and Malaita provinces.

—CAUSE PROJECT MEDIA

EDITORIAL- Where’s the explanation on Mamara?

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Admin
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A WEEK on and we are yet to hear a Government explanation over the more than $21 million request it received from Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd.

The request was made in a letter that was leaked on social media last Thursday.

Developer Metropolis Pacific asked the Government to pay $21,945,000 for 30 houses, which it expects to complete by the end of June.

This request indicates a behind-the-scene arrangement between the Government and Metropolis that was never made public.

Early this week, the Government’s Communication Unit said it is working on a clarification that will be issued shortly.

The public is still waiting for that.

Yesterday, Opposition leader Mathew Wale weigh into the debate.

He urged the Government to explain the $21 million claim.

He’s what Wale has to say:

“This twist now takes the debate on this project to new heights,” Wale said in a statement.

“For all we know, the agreement was ratified by an Act of the same name passed by Parliament and gazetted around 1st March 1996.

“This year makes it 27 years after signing and one cannot help but wonder whether the agreement is still valid.

“The current investor is probably the second to take up the project in the last four years and the original agreement was with Metropolis Pacific PTE Ltd, a company registered in Singapore.

“The letter of demand on the other hand was issued for Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd, a locally registered company. 

“Are these the same company or not?

“If they are, has the time that has passed affected the agreement at all or not?

“If they are not the same company and given the time lapse, have the terms of the agreement ever been repudiated and what steps had been taken to contextualise the terms?

“Section 2 (2) of the Act requires any amendment to the agreement to be met by appropriate amendments to the Act also.

“Clause 27 of the agreement further requires any changes made to be placed before Parliament.

“This is a safety net providing opportunity for Parliament to review matters such as prices, budgetary constraints and changes in laws amongst others.

“Someone must explain what is going on. Thus it is very important that answers be provided.

“Looking at the claimed figure and the planned total number of houses, this project is going to cost the government big time and this clearly runs contrary to Government promises to focus our limited resources on protecting our country from Covid 19, and growing our resource sector.

“This deal signals a major hole which is going to drain our limited finances if anything.

“I therefore call on the Prime Minister to come out clear and explain the situation.”

This newspaper too joins Wale to call for an urgent explanation.

Air Traffic Service trainees graduate

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Elizabeth Meleuto, left and Brenda Watehau filled with great excitement to finally receives their certificates yesterday after successfully completed a basic Air Traffic Service course from 19th August 2019 to 24 February, 2020 at Honiara Henderson International Airport.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

A total of 15 Air Traffic Service (ATS) trainees have graduated and equipped with additional knowledge to enable them to contribute to the safety of everyone using the Solomon Islands airspace.

The graduation ceremony involved individuals who are recruited in 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2019 and were awarded with certificates by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation yesterday.

Minister for Communication and Aviation Peter Shannel Agovaka said the graduation involves 15 ATS trainees since 2011- 2019 recruitments and some of the trainees graduating have already done their advance trainings in Air Traffic Control Trainings in the Singapore Aviation Academy in 2015 and 2016.

Agovaka said as Minister it is important to have these trainings so trainees can manage and administer the air spaces, especially dealing with the Automatic Depend Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS –B).

He said some of the above-mentioned trainings were done here in Honiara and some trainings were done by ICAO recognised Institutions within the region.

“Today (yesterday) marks the biggest achievement for my Ministry in three folds, firstly our human resources development and training for staff. Secondly the ADS-B advance training for staff for the use of ADS-B equipment in Solomon Islands and official commission of the ADS-B for the users- Airlines and Operators that flies into Solomon Islands to be monitored by the ADS-B,”Agovaka said.

Permanent Secretary to MCA Moses Virivolomo said the ministry is now equipped with the new graduands who have successfully completed their trainings starting way back in 2011.

“I take this opportunity to congratulate you all for the passion, commitment and perseverance that you have gone through to be able to come through this far,” Virivolomo said.

He said the Ministry depends on people to carry out work. Having these additional trainees will make us have a safe air space.

Virivolomo said the new graduands will contribute in making Honiara and Munda safe airports to operate with the ADS-B equipment in Solomon Islands.

“I commended those who have done the training for the ADS-B use and also the people behind them who have supported them and provided necessary technical assistance,” he said.

Tony Telford representative from Solomon Islands Road Aviation Program also congratulated trainees for their achievement and their contribution to improve the safety of every-one using the Solomon Islands airspace.

A SICK HEALTH BILL

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Bills and Legislative Committee (BLC) has questioned the Public Health and Emergency Bill 2021, suggesting it may lead to political ‘manipulation’.

That’s because the Secretary to Cabinet is the chairperson of the National Health Emergency Council as stipulated in Section 27 of the Bill.

BLC members including chairman, Mathew Wale raised this issue when Ministry of Health and Medical Service officials appeared before them in Parliament yesterday.

The Committee is scrutinising the Bill, which aims to provide suitable and urgent responses to public health emergencies and circumstances that threaten 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.

Member of Parliament for Small Malaita and former Prime Minister, Rick Hou believed the Chairperson of the NHEC should be a medical expert to provide scientific evidence to the government to make decision.

Hou said with due respect, it is unnecessary to appoint an administrator to lead a health-related issue.

He warns there is likely political tendency and consideration to overtake it.

Independent Leader, John Dean Kuku said it seems the Ministry of Health and Medical Services is giving away the Bill rather than taking control of it.

East Are Are MP, Peter Kenilorea Junior said the purpose of the Bill naturally should be health driven.

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Pauline McNeil has taken note of the crucial role health will play in the Bill and the need for the ownership as the Ministry is the custodian and leadership of the Bill.

Mrs McNeil said the NHEC replicates the function of the Oversight Committee instead of the Health.

Incident Controller, Nemia Bainivalu said the idea of NHEC involves a whole government approach to drive the health issue.

The hearing continues today.

Wale concerned with democracy in SI

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale

By EDDIE OSIFELO

OPPOSITION Leader, Matthew Wale has raised concerns on the government’s action to remove public servants who stood their ground during the covid-19 State of Public Emergency last year.

These include former president of the Solomon Islands Medical Association, Dr Claude Posala and eight members of Solomon Islands Nurses Association (SINA) who were terminated by the government for allegedly spreading false information and staged a sit in protest respectively.

Wale raised the issue when the Ministry of Health and Medical Service officials appeared before the Bills and Legislative Committee in Parliament yesterday.

BLC is scrutinising the Public Health Emergency Bill 2021 which aims 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.

Under section 38 (2) of the Bill, it states an authorised officer, or person employed or engaged to carry out functions, duties or responsibilities in an essential service, commits an offence if the authorised officer or person takes part in industrial action while Declaration is in force or there exists a circumstance that threatens public health.

Under section 40 of the Bill, a person commits an offence if, while a Declaration is in force or there exists a circumstance that threatens public health, the person

  1. Maliciously fabricates or knowingly disseminates or publishes, whether by writing or by word of mouth, online or otherwise, any false news or report that is likely to create or foster public alarm, public anxiety or disaffection or to produce public detriment; or

Wale said there should be a process internally to deal with professionals and resolve the issues rather than removing them.

“We should not follow a communist state to shut down information,” he said.

Wale claimed the nature of the governance is not an open government.

He said the government wants to shut down and operate in secrecy.

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Pauline McNeil said Dr Posala was removed for spreading false information on social media.

She said the only the health ministry is the right body under the Public Service General order to release information to the public.

Mrs McNeil said the information are vetted before releasing to the public media.

Furthermore, Mrs McNeil said SINA sit in protest has breached the Essential Act because they have not gotten approval from Honiara City Council and Emergency Powers Act.

However, Wale said the law is quite militant to shut down workers because they aired their grievances.

Pari shocked by lands chief’s breach of faith

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

PARI development company says it is shocked by Lands Commissioner’s move to publish a notice in media over land parcels which they were discussing in ‘good faith’.

Commissioner Allan McNeil published a forfeiture notice on Solomon Star last Friday relating to different parcels of land on Noro Western province.

In the notice, the Commissioner of Land re-entered and took possession of FTE owned by Pari Development Company Ltd in relation to parcels 098-009-052, 098-009-054, 098-011-145, 098-012-545, 098-016-001, 098-011-0169 and 098-009-065 in Noro.

The notice states that in effect, the company no longer owns FTE over any remainder parcels in Noro.

McNeil said any money paid to the company for land in Noro is a matter between the Company and any people paying such money to the company, and is not recognised by the Commissioner of Lands.

He said members of public are strongly advised not to make any further payments to Pari Development Company Ltd for land in Noro as the company no longer owns this land.

However, PARI Director Donald Bato said an agreement was reached with McNeil to deal with these parcels of land through an email conversation on April 26, 2021.

Bato is surprised why McNeil agreed to their discussions but then took to the media with the notice.

Island Sun cited the email conversation between McNeil and Pari’s Bato regarding the parcels on the notice.

In the email they agreed that:

  1. 098-009-052 – COL will retain this land; PDCL will drop its demand for this parcel;
  2. 098-009-054 – COL will drop the forfeiture of this Fixed Term Estate and give PDCL an additional 18 months to develop the land;
  3. 098-011-145 – COL will drop the forfeiture of this FTE in exchange for PDCL committing to a subdivision to divide this parcel into equal halves with the boundary line to be mutually agreed by both parties, and PDCL surrendering the agreed upon half to the COL. COL to give PDCL an additional 18 months to develop the land, by which time the subdivision should have been registered and half the land surrendered to COL.
  4. 098-012-545 – PDCL will create a subdivision of this parcel to create a new parcel alone the southern boundary, including all the land west of the new logging road adjacent to the small Baru subdivision, and will surrender this parcel to the COL within 18 months. COL will drop the forfeiture of this FTE and give PDCL an additional 36 months to develop the land.
  5. 098-011-169 – COL will drop the forfeiture of this FTE and give PDCL an additional 36 months to develop the land. PDCL will apply for subdivision and COL will consent to this subdivision to create a 5-hectare parcel near the Noro-Munda road specifically for waste dump site, and PDCL will surrender this parcel to COL within 18 months.
  6. 098-009-065 – COL will drop the forfeiture of this FTE and give PDCL an additional 36 months to develop the land. In addition, PDCL will build and complete a road alone and inside the north- western boundary of this parcel. COL will consent to the subdivision of this parcel and allow resulting parcels to be transferred, in exchange for PDCL surrendering the road parcel free of charge to SIG.

Nurse absenteeism a chronic issue: McNeil

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

NURSE absenteeism at the National Referral hospital in Honiara is a chronic issue that started before the covid-19 pandemic.

Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary, Pauline McNeil revealed this during the Bills and Legislative Committee hearing of the Public Health and Emergency Bill 2021 in Parliament yesterday.

The Committee is scrutinising the Bill which aims 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.

Furthermore, Chief Executive Officer of NRH, Dr George Wilson Malefoasi said a mechanism was put in place to deal with absenteeism.

Chairman of BLC, Matthew Wale raised the issue of fatigue experienced by nurses who work long hours at NRH.

Malefoasi said the hospital has put in place a shift mechanism to address it.

He said one nurse can work for eight hours and take a few days break in order to deal with burn outs.

Malefoasi said it is bit more organised now compared to the initial stage.

“Now we have five teams of five who work around two weeks,” he said.

Communities benefit from bylaws in Malaita province

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

A total of 34 communities in five wards in Malaita province have launched and enforced their community bylaws as are now benefiting from them.

The launching of these community bylaws came as a result of great work done under the Community Governance and Grievance Management Project (CGGMP), supported by MPGIS through MPG and donor partners for Malaita province. 

Coordinator for CGGMP in Malaita, Mr Emmanuel Maesua said in 2019, his office prepared a bylaw draft after consultation with other responsible stakeholders and issued the draft to communities in the province through CLOS.

He said the whole idea is to create a roadmap through the bylaw template for communities to contribute by way of contextualising the draft to their situation and adopt it.

Maesua said this is what had happened and positive feedbacks have been received from communities on the initiative on achievements made so far.

He said first launching of the bylaw under the CGGMP was made in ward-five which is a “ward bylaw” governing 27 communities within the ward which is represented by Premier Daniel Suidani.

Maesua said other community bylaws included three in ward 28, two in ward 29 and one each for ward 10 and nine in the province.

He said at the moment his office has 47 community bylaws which are at a draft stage.

Maesua said so far his office continues to receive requests for the programme and he expects more communities to take onboard the initiative for the good of their communities.

He said the programme was one of the major components under the CGGMP that try to address and manage grievances through the governing structures in communities.

Maesua said the bylaw component however support the project through its strive to keep law and order in communities that can also allow the governing system in the community to prosper.

Malaita’s CLO interviews next week

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Coordinator of CGGM Programme for Malaita province, Mr Emmanuel Maesua.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

Malaita provincial government will short-list candidates for its community liaisons officer (CLO) programme starting next week.

This will be done through the Community Governance Grievance Management Project (CGGMP).

Coordinator for CGGMP in Malaita province, Mr Emmanuel Maesua confirmed to this paper yesterday preparation is underway for the interviews which will begin on Tuesday, June 1.

Maesua said Ward Development Committees (WDC) had spent the past weeks sifting through all the applications and now his office has received the final short-listed candidates for interview.

He said also in regards to the short listing process, WDCs for 11 wards in the province had made direct appointment of CLOs for their wards while another 22 wards short listed candidates for interview.

“For these 22 wards, two teams, one will cover northern and eastern regions and another team will cover central and southern regions for the interview on Tuesday next week.

“The interview process will take us two weeks as it involve logistic and other efforts to facilitate interviews in provincial substations and hope to complete it and notify selected candidates week later,” Maesua said.

He said for phase II of the CGGM project, MPG has agreed to recruit 63 candidates, two CLOs per ward for 30 wards on mainland Malaita and three CLOs for three wards in Malaita Outer Islands (MOI).

However, Maesua explained that for now, MPG will only support 33 CLOs despite their recommendation for 63 CLOs, so the project will take onboard 33 CLOs for the start.

He said MPG has asked CGGMP to support them with the remaining 30 CLOs, so the project will identify them during the interview and reserve them until when funds are available for the project.

Maesua said this is the phase II of the CGGM Project in the province after phase I has expired around October 2020.

Since then the project was held until a five months extension has begun on December 2020 – April 2021 which already lapsed last months and extended for another two months until June 2021.

Lab inconclusive over dead fish mystery in Tulagi water

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Tulagi township, Central Province

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) in Honiara has not found what caused the dead fishes found in waters near Tulagi early this month.

However, the local lab has ruled out the possibility of the fishes dying from poisoning.

The first report issued by NPHL said it does not have HPLC machines (specialised) equipment for fish testing as this issue.

This machines, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a form of column chromatography that pumps a sample mixture or analyte in a solvent (known as the mobile phase) at high pressure through a column with chromatographic packing material (stationary phase).

The advantages of using HPLC is that it requires a small sample size, testing can be modified depending on the level of quantification needed, and it produces reliable results.

Central Islands Province, Environmental Health Division Health Inspector Julienne Leinga said that tests were done on Microbiology but the test does not give precise results because the fish were already decomposed and had high concentration of bacteria in the flesh.

“NPHL has done Microbiology Test Result, Chemical Test Result and Physical Test Result.

“Microbiology Test Result shows that a high micro count on enterococci which is common since most communities along the coastline uses mangroves as their disposal site (sanitation). Except Boboro stream because there is no one living there for quite a while thus no human activities around that area as well. The family had moved to Tulagi for some time now.

“Chemical Test Result refers to the tests shown, according to the WHO standard the chemicals present and were tested are not hazardous as to kill a large amount of marine lives over a long period of time.

“Physical Test Result refers to the test results shown, and interesting findings were seen in the dissolved oxygen (DO).

“This means when the amount of oxygen in water decreases it causes the fish to suffocate which in this context during the interview the villagers confirmed such occurrence. However, often climate change can also be the cause of death for the fish such as the algae bloom.

“There is no confirmation from the test as to what causes the water to have a very low DO,” said Leinga.

Meanwhile, Leinga on behalf of the division, acknowledged the National Public Health Lab Team for their effort in taking the samples and having them tested.

“We look forward to the collaborative effort with other line ministries to solve this issue and hope for a better solution,” she said.

Leinga reminded the people to practise good hygiene at all times as Tulagi area including surrounding communities are being reported dead fish.

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