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New MAL relocation land secured

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Press Release
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Chairman for PG sub-commitee presenting Chupu to Paramount Chief1

PRESS RELEASE

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has secured a 37.5 hectare of land at Tenaru for the establishment of the National Agriculture Project known as the “Tenaru Field Experimental Station”.

The new land bought from the Catholic Church will replace the former Republic Of China (Taiwan) farm that the National Hosting Authority (NHA) has taken charge of and are planning to build a new SIFF academy for the football community in the country.

On Monday, the Tenaru Land sub-committee on behalf of National Hosting Authority (NHA) and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) presented a Chupu (traditional food gift) to the community and owners of the Tenaru land.

Deputy PS MAL presenting Chupu to Catholic Mission1

Present at the occasion were; the Catholic Church representatives, Malango House of Chief Representatives and Tenaru community members Representatives for the Guadalcanal Province and Senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

Government through MAL previously used to lease the land but abandoned it at the height of the ethnic crisis in the year 2000.

The presentation of the Chupu is to mark the re-entry of the Government in the land and to strengthen relationship with the community.

PS for MAL presenting Chupu to traditional landowners1

The Chair of NHA and Permanent Secretary of MAL signed an MOU in February that established the understanding between the two authorities for MAL to surrender the MAL farm to NHA and for NHA to support MAL’s relocation to the Catholic Church owned plot at Tenaru.

Other crops from the farm will be relocated to another National Agricultural Field Experimental Station at Garanga on Santa Isabel.

The government through MAL and the Church will sign a MOU after a survey of the land is completed in the next two weeks.

This ceremony will put everyone on the same understanding for NHA and MAL to commence work immediately and for the community to welcome the government workers on the Tenaru Field experimental site for the government.

NHA Communications Unit   

Nothing fishy about my business: Irofia hits back

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY CHARLES KADAMANA

Councillor Dorah Huapii Irofia has hit back at reports alleging her company received ‘questionable payments’.

She retorts that she had declared her business interests with the Leadership Code Commission.

She clarifies that before she became a councillor her company, Dods General Services, had been supplying cleaning detergents, stationeries, furniture and general goods to government and Honiara City Council.

She said when she was elected as councillor in 2019 the City Council was looking for a preferred supplier and her company was awarded the contract.

“When my company was awarded the contract, I applied to the Leadership Code Commission for permission for a Leader’s Private Business to hold a government (HCC) contract,” she said.

Irofia said her application was granted on November 19, 2019 and valid for a period of one year.

She said with the approval from the Leadership Code Commission her company has complied with the requirements so there is no fishy payment.

According to report leaked to the media, councillor Irofia collected almost $1 million in highly questionable payment for the first three months of 2020 for supplies; basic furniture, stationeries and office equipment to the council.

The report alleged that Dods General Supplier was one of the council’s “Preferred Suppliers” and the contract was awarded directly to DOD without any tender process.

But council Irofia clarifies that she has no influence over decision making for which company is chosen as a “Preferred supplier”.

She said she even sought advice from the Ministry of Home Affairs on this matter to protect her business.

When asked why her company’s contract did not go through the tender process, she said her company is a supplier and she had declared her business interest with the Leadership Code Commission.

When contacted yesterday, the Leadership Code Commission said, “with regards to leaders owning a private business, the duty and responsibility of leader is to disclosed their business interest”.

Island Sun published last week, a report which revealed the conflict of interest surrounding Councillor Irofia and her company getting a direct HCC contract as a ‘preferred supplier’.

Irofia, who is councilor for Cruz Ward, is the director of Dods General Supplier, which the report stated is one of the council’s “Preferred Suppliers”.

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

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

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

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

And on 25 March, DOD 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, DOD collected three payments totaling $231,500.

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

And in March, DOD 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 6 February, while the second was a $70,000 cheque raised in the name of Cr. Dorah Huapii Irofia on 14 February instead to DOD 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. Dorah Huapii Irofia, the report added, should be raised in the name of DOD as the supplier and not to a councilor.

Although the only female councilor in the current executive, the report stated Councillor Dorah is one of the leading and highly influential figures in the council’s politics.

The report said while the council has a lot of outstanding bills to settle, (then) city clerk Rence Sore appeared to have given priority to paying DOD bills.

“This may be a reflection of how (then) city mayor Wilson Mamae, Sore and Cr. Dorah run the council.

“Obviously by studying the flow of payment to DOD’s General Supplier one can conclude that Sore prioritises payments that benefits himself through commissions.

“As a result lots of payments paid to DOD’s General Supplier were signed and released,” the report said.

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, 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.

Lands Commissioner halts fishy land deal at Henderson

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

COMMISSIONER of Lands, Allan McNeil has refused to grant a Fixed Term Estate title to Chengs Construction Ltd for a land at Henderson.

This was after Levers Solomons Ltd Board Director, Patrick Wong reportedly requested former Commissioner of Lands (COL), Nelson No’oapu to give consent to transfer FTE to Chengs on November 30, 2018.

As a result, No’oapu granted LSL to transfer FTE to Chengs.

Robert Mani, who owns a consulting firm and engaged by Chengs to follow up on the FTE transfer, said the current COL, McNeil has refused to grant the title.

Mani said this is not right because Chengs had already paid $450,000 including a hilux for LSL in 2019.

“Why did McNeil turn down the grant when both former Commissioner and LSL has agreed on the transfer already?” he asked.

“Who will change the money Chengs paid to LSL?”

Mani said McNeil needs to sort this out otherwise he is not fit for that position.

However, McNeil says the consent letter was forged.

“Take a close look at the parcel number.

“Transfer instrument forged, Wong’s signature is photocopied and no company seal,” he said.

McNeil said Levers has no intention of selling to Chengs.

“I’ve reported this to Police last week,” he said.

Island Sun checked with Chengs and the company confirmed that Mani represents them in pursuing the transfer of the FTE title from Levers to the company.

‘Detainees kept in vehicles or officers’ homes in Atori’

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MINISTRY of Police, National Security and Correctional Service is being urged to seriously look into equipping police stations in the provinces with necessary facilities.

The call follows the current practice in Atori police station, East Malaita, in which detainees are remanded, locked inside police vehicles, or kept in the homes of police officers.

Senior Administration Officer (SAO) for Eastern Region, Malaita province, Mr Nick Martin Atu raised the concern in social media saying the practice is very risky for the officers and their families and residents of Atori.

“The police station has no any cell room to keep suspects or convicted people.

“Most of the time police use their vehicle and residential houses as cell room to custody (detain) suspects and convicts which is very risky for them and their families.

“This is very important concern and ministry or authority responsible should not take it light, but to act and seriously so something before risk might happen in future,” Atu said.

On that note, he raised concern regarding the condition of Atori Court House which has been neglected for years.

Atu pointed out the matter calling for the rebuilding of Atori court house.

Atu said Atori court house “is very old and in a deteriorated stage” that needs to be demolished and rebuilt.

Meanwhile, Atu acknowledged Auki magistrate for facilitating the court circuit to Atori to deal with cases within East Region to support Atori police in their work.

PM warns companies over COVID charters

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Photo supplied.

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has warned that private or commercial companies that undermine the safety and security of this country will be dealt with.

Sogavare made this statement during his nationwide address yesterday following reports that several private and commercial companies are coordinating chartered flights and shipping vessels without the approval of the Oversight Committee.

Prime Minister Sogavare said whilst the Government and people of Solomon Islands have worked tirelessly in preventing the further entry of COVID-19 into the country, several companies are more interested about their businesses than the safety of the people of this country from COVID-19.

“I am extremely disappointed,” the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Sogavare said last week, the Oversight Committee rejected an application for a privately chartered commercial passenger flight that had already been arranged by several private and commercial companies to bring in their employees from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea into Solomon Islands.

He said these three countries are listed as extremely high-risk countries for COVID-19 that Solomon Islands had put travel restrictions on.

In another incident, last Thursday 13th May, Prime Minister Sogavare said a PNG registered Landing Craft, MV Kopi Chief arrived from Lae, chartered by a private company in Honiara.

He said the Oversight Committee Vessel Exemption Committee identified a serious COVID-19 risk and directed that all the 14-crew members must be tested for COVID-19.

“The instruction to test the crews was taken despite all 14 crew members having tested negative for COVID-19 at Lae, on 7th May 2021, the day the vessel departed from Lae to travel to Honiara,” he said.

The Prime Minister said because of the decision to re-test all the crew members here, authorities have established that two of the 14-crew members on board tested positive for COVID-19.

“This vessel has been put into immediate quarantine. No one is allowed to board the vessel without the permission of the Incident Controller, and no one from the vessel is allowed to disembark,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the two positive cases are currently isolated on the vessel, while our health team for execution develops a vessel and cargo containment and decontamination plan.

Prime Minister Sogavare said he has already given instructions to the Oversight Committee to identify the companies that have coordinated these charters so that they can be told about their duty to protect this country instead of undermining our national security.

“To all private and commercial companies working in Solomon Islands. This country welcomes you all to work in partnership with us to grow our economy and in doing so you also benefit.

“However, each of you have a duty of care not to engage in activities that undermine the safety and security of this country and its people from COVID-19,” the Prime Minister said.

Sogavare said effective as of yesterday, no private or commercial company shall organise its own commercial airline charter arrangements to bring their employees from countries that are listed as high-risk by Solomon Islands, without first seeking the advice, guidance, and explicit approval of the Oversight Committee before even planning any such flight.

“Also effective from today, no private or commercial company shall charter a vessel to bring people of cargo from countries that are listed as high-risk by Solomon Islands without first seeking the advice, guidance, and explicit approval of the Oversight Committee before even planning any such charter,” he added.

A disappointed Prime Minister Sogavare said COVID-19 is not a joke.

“The safety and security of my people is paramount,” he said.

He added any action taken by any company that undermines the safety and security of this country as aptly demonstrated by the rejected charter flight, and the chartered ‘landing craft that has brought two COVID-19 positive cases to our doorstep’ will not be tolerated.

“Any private or commercial company that go against these instructions will be taken to task,” he said.

First things first – Cassava

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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Robert Sisilo, left, and V. Reddy talks cassava & taro

MELBOURNE-BASED Vinay Reddy, Managing Director of Vinay’s Food, has been buying cassava from Varivao Holdings Ltd since 2019 and has so far received seven containers of yellow cassava from Solomon Islands.

 And he wants more.

So much so that when the Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia, Robert Sisilo, visited Reddy at his Foods storage warehouse last month to thank him for partnering with Varivao and buy SI cassava, he also asked why not taro?

“One thing at a time bro!  I want SI to give me 100 tons of cassava every year and when we are able to meet our target then we will start buying taro,” Reddy said.

“So please help me with cassava. I need a lot!”  Reddy, originally from Fiji and also interested in buying fresh fish from SI, pleaded as his cassava stock has long run out because of the very high demand in Australia.

The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) project of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade has supported Varivao Holdings Ltd with their Cassava export to Australia for the past year. 

The project is now promoting other local businesses and farmers to grow more taro for export.

Since his posting to Canberra, Sisilo has put labour mobility and trade with Australia as his number one priority. 

In December last year he visited Kokonut Pacific Australia (KPA), based in New South Wales, and thanked the owners for partnering with Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands (KPSI) since 2004.

In March Sisilo met Clive Carrol, Founder of C-Corp which buys Solomon Islands cocoa, process and export it and at the same time provides many farmers with technical advice and financial support to improve the quality of their cocoa and lives. 

It’s now the no. 2 exporter of cocoa in Solomon Islands.

Sisilo also met Sol-tuna’s agent in Brisbane and was told the first container of canned tuna from Noro will land in Sydney during the second quarter of 2021. 

He will reach out to others already investing and those interested in investing in the Solomon Islands during the course of the year.

‘China-bound? Sinopharm it is’

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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SINOPHARM VACCINE

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Chinese nationals and Solomon Islanders planning to travel to China will be offered Sinopharm vaccine.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare confirmed this yesterday in his nation-wide address.

“To front liners and essential workers in Honiara and other provinces and special groups including our students that plan to return to China for their studies and Chinese nationals who plan to travel to China will be offered Sinopharm vaccine,” he said.

Sogavare said the official launch of the Sinopharm covid-19 vaccine is set for this Friday in Honiara.

“I am pleased to announce that the Sinopharm covid-19 vaccine will be launched this Friday; the roll out will commence in Honiara.

“Since we only have 50,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine we can only vaccinate 25,000 people because it requires two doses to be administered at an interval of four weeks,” Sogavare said.

Gov’t, Allied Forces urged to deal with bombs here

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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EOD Operator remove the UXOs.

OPPOSITION leader Matthew Wale calls on the government to review its WWII wrecks law and to step up protection levels against the risks posed by unexploded bombs to civilians.    

The call was made in light of the recent incident in Honiara where a WWII bomb was ignited during a social gathering, killing two persons and injuring others. 

The Opposition Leader points out that this is truly a regrettable incident but one that must now serve as a reminder that the long neglect in adequately addressing the threat has just brought the problem right to our door steps.

“It is incumbent on the government therefore to raise the concern with Japan and governments of the allied forces to develop a comprehensive plan to remove all unexploded bombs from all affected areas in the country,” Wale said.

“Our own bomb disposal experts need to be properly equipped and resourced, and a thorough mapping exercise should now be carried out to pin point hot spot areas, while at the same time, to talk about how best the threats can be minimised,” he added.

He said the recent incident confirms there is no line or proper database as to where the threats exist and so it is important that the government takes steps now.

“I also call on the government to explore the possibility of applying a Coroners inquiry if this option can be used in such circumstances.

“We are dealing with an unknown situation where the deaths occurred from the actions of foreign states and so proper post-mortem and recommendations from a professional authority must be sought if we are to properly address ensuing issues.

“The incidents are not isolated and so should not be taken lightly by the government,” Wale further added.

The Opposition Leader meanwhile expresses his sincere and deepest condolences to the immediate families of both men who lost their lives in the tragic incident.

Landing craft ran aground in Isabel

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A landing craft belonging to a logging company ran aground at the Haevo reef in Isabel province last week.

Isabel Provincial Secretary John Lokumana confirmed to this paper that the province has been made aware of the incident, but adds that there has been no complaint raised to the province on the matter.

He said the craft had later been towed to Buala, where it is anchored.

He said the province understands that the Landing Craft belongs to a logging company with interests on the Haevo area, but is without a timber-right approval for operations there.

Lokumana said there was a Timber Right Hearing held for that particular area, but was rejected due to the reason that the area is a conservation area.

Lokumana said landowners appealed this to the Customary Land Appeal Court (CLAC), but CLAC upheld the Provincial Government’s decision and dismissed the appeal made by the landowners and the company.

“However, the people there are saying that they are the landowners and it was the people who wanted the logging company to enter,” Lokumana said.

Lokumana said the province was not aware about the logging company entering Isabel, only learning of it when the landing craft ran aground.

Lokumana said they are still waiting on any formal complaint from the communities and surrounding areas about that incident before the province can act.

He also said another application for Timber Right hearing from the same party has just been submitted to the province regarding that area and the province is yet to set a date for hearing.

Warrant of arrest out for Nehemiah

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Court has issued a warrant of arrest for a man who did not turn up in court for his case yesterday.

Principal Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi issued the warrant of arrest on accused, Martin Nehemiah Pola, for not turning up in court.

Taeburi adjourned the case to May 24. Mr Nehemiah must also explain to the court why he skipped yesterday’s session.

Nehemiah is facing three counts of obtaining credit by false pretence from Smart Technology shop at Chinatown in 2019.

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

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

Later, on February 28, 2019 around 10am the accused came and collected one mobile phone at a cost of $2, 250 as according to the agreement and walked out with a proforma invoice.

Again, on March 15, 2019 he collected one notebook laptop14 inches and 1X 8c Honour brand mobile; later on March 28, 2019, he again went to the Smart technology shop and collected two Redmi mobile handsets.

The total cost of all items collected was $12, 150. Couple of months later the shop owner made several attempts to call the accused to settle his credits but was unsuccessful.

The shop owner gave him enough time, till this year March 2021 the accused never turned up to settle his credit and the matter was reported to the police in which Nehemiah was arrested and charged.

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