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USA assures SCALE continues forward

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Brian Lezutuni
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Renbel is among provinces keen to sign up to US Scale programme. Here is a photo of Renbel Executive meeting with US Official last month.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU & IRWIN ANGIKI

The US Embassy in PNG has assured that the SCALE Project is continuing.

This follows reports that SCALE has been “shelved” by the new government of US, under President Joe Biden.

The Port Moresby-based Embassy told Island Sun last week: “[We] can assure you the SCALE project continues to move forward.

“Again, discussions continue between the U.S. and Solomon Islands regarding SCALE.”

Last month, a report circulated which warned that Malaita and other implicated provinces may be riding on false hopes driven by the notion of a continued SCALE programme since the Biden Administration has shelved the project.

The report warns that what is at play now is other US interests in Solomon Islands are pushing to lobby other provinces to show support and interest in SCALE. The more provinces hooked will strengthen the case to push for SCALE to be reactivated by the new Administration.

A search on the US State Department website will show that online SCALE materials have been archived.

On this, the US Embassy in PNG simply shrugs that it is “not sure about the website issue”.

Meanwhile, speaking with the paper this week, Mr Celsius Talifilu, former political advisor to the Malaita provincial government, brushed these reports aside as “propaganda”.

“From those of us close to the programme to the very top have not being informed of such rumours. We suspect that there are those who would like to cause confusing amongst the public.

“But the programmes here in Solo especially Malaita is going on as expected and that is the same right up to the top.

“This is nothing but propaganda.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAET) when asked on the matter this week said MFAET is “not aware of such”.

SCALE (Strengthening Competitiveness, Agriculture, Livelihoods and Environment) is an American USD25million programme which was initially set up, focused on Malaita province, in October last year.

Since then, it has evolved with the offer extended to other provinces. Renbel and Guadalcanal provinces have each undergone orientation and introduction to the programme.

Premier Willie Tuhagega of Renbel province told Island Sun early this week they are yet to sign up after having had talks with Bernard Link, Second Chief in Charge, US Embassy (PNG) in March this year. However, Mr Tuhagega says Renbel is interested.

Premier Willie Sade of Guadalcanal says his province is all in with SCALE, adding that they expect a roll-out in one or two years’ time, after the programme is piloted in Malaita province.

Mr Sade says he has been told that Guadalcanal is “in the pipeline to be part of the SCALE programme and also other provinces as well”.

According to the archived US State of Department “U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Islands: 2020 Pacific Pledge”:

“The SCALE Program will strengthen the enabling environment to unlock economic opportunity and increase trade; improve natural resource management, including forest governance; promote agribusiness and small enterprise development; and expand critical small-scale infrastructure and essential services.”

12,000 yet to get vaccine in Choiseul and Western

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Brian Lezutuni
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Thelma measuring the mils before carrying out an injection. PHOTO BEN BILUA

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

TWELVE thousand people in Choiseul and Western provinces are yet to be vaccinated.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Monday this week said the additional 12,000 vaccinations will be done over the next three weeks.

Sogavare said in Choiseul province there are between eight to nine thousand people that are yet to be vaccinated.

“With this, I urge all adults 18 years old and above who are living among the Western Border communities in the Choiseul to ensure you come forward when the vaccination team comes to your communities to receive your COVID-19 vaccination,” he said.

Sogavare adds, as of Friday last week 10 out of 14 communities for immediate vaccination in the Shortlands have been completed. The remaining four communities will be completed in the next couple of weeks

“My good people am happy to inform you all that by last weekend. We had administered a total of 10899 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine with 7367 vaccinated in Honiara, 496 people in Malaita Outer Islands, 1147 people in Choiseul province and 1890 people in the Western province with 1077 at Shortland Islands, 260 at Gizo, 398 at Noro and 155 at Munda,” Sogavare said.

Premier Maka’a appeals to ministries to revisit MOU

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Brian Lezutuni
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Makira Premier, Julian Maka'a

Makira Ulawa Provincial Premier, Julian Maka’a is appealing to the Ministry of Provincial Governments and Institutional Strengthening to revisit a Memorandum of Understanding it should have discussed with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development to have the provinces to deliver services on its behalf.

He made the appeal at the handover ceremony of a boys’ dormitory and ablution block facilities to the Anglican Church of Melanesia-run Pamua National Secondary School in Makira on May 5, 2021 and attended by the Ministers of the two Ministries.

Mr Maka’a said his Makira Ulawa Provincial Government had been made aware of the MOU and as such “I would appeal to the Minister of Education and Humans Resources Development, Lanelle Ollandea Tanangada to try and revisit the MOU.

“The MOU would allow the Province to support the Education Sector to modernize education services and facilities to and in our schools within a record time.”

He said the delivery of facilities was a clear testimony that “we now have the in-house technical capability to deliver on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development and for cheaper costs.

“The fact that the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government has qualified engineers and a technical team shows we have the capacity to support the sector’s service delivery.

“And you can be rest assured that anything you put through the PCDF mechanism for school infrastructure would be timely delivered on your behalf.”

By George Atkin,

Kira Kira

Win Win hits back

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Brian Lezutuni
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Turarana river, where the WinWin mining company is operating.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

WIN Win Mining company has rebuffed claims that it hid its gold export from landowners of its tenement in Central Guadalcanal.

This follows claims by a Joel Jackson, a landowner in the Turarana lands which make up part of Win Win’s tenement, that the company had hidden its gold exports of 2019-2020 from them.

Jackson said Win Win company had lied to them about not being able to export gold from 2019-2020, and were stockpiling the gold it mined.

He said they only found out from Customs that the company had exported 78.47kg of alluvial gold from 2019-2020. This he said was done without the knowledge of landowners.

As such he said Turarana landowners are demanding that Winwin pays $2million in compensation.

However, responding to these claims, Managing Director of Win Win, Dan Shi said firstly, Jackson is not a landowner or member of Koehoto Landowners Association (KLA).

Shi said Jackson never attended any meeting held by KLA.

Therefore, he said Jackson has no legal standing to talk on behalf of KLA.

Further to that, Shi said the company has followed all requirements stipulated under the Mines and Mineral Act to do mining on the tenement.

He said the company has submitted a monthly report to the Director of Mines regarding the mining operation.

As part of sorting out the issue, he said the company is open to meet with Jackson rather than debating it in the media.

However, Jackson said he was an elected representative of his tribe, Garavu, in KLA.

He said KLA removed him because he was very outspoken against Win Win’s operation on the land.

Island Sun yesterday contacted the private Custom’s clearance firm which Win Win had reportedly engaged to declare its gold export, but the owner declined to comment, citing confidentiality of customer details.

Winwin mining company had last year made headlines when its camp was robbed by men disguised as police officers and made away with gold bars, $140,000 cash and 15 mobile phones from holed up workers.

Police have arrested the men and the case is currently before the courts.

RSIPF’s captured drone still with Bougainville police.

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Brian Lezutuni
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE say that their drone captured by the Bougainvillean fisherman in February this year is yet to be returned by the Bougainville police.

Responding to this paper’s query regarding the captured drone, police say that the drone will be handed back through diplomatic channels.

They said after the drone was captured, Buin Police retrieved the drone and it is with them awaiting arrangements to return it to the RSIPF.

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau in March this year told the media that the drone is still in a good state.

And, they are working closely with their partners in Bougainville through their police channels, as Police around the Pacific have their ways on how to solve and discuss issues and that is what they are going to do with the drone.

The RSIPF drone was captured by the Bougainville fisherman after an argument with RSIPF officers at the border on February 24, 2021.

One Link case adjourned

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Brian Lezutuni
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case against a former director of the defunct money scheme One Link has been adjourned for May 14 for pre-trial conference (PTC).

Gerard Tauohu’s case was mentioned before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea yesterday, however PTC was not conducted since prosecution did not state clearly the issue for trial regarding one of the charges against the accused.

Tauohu was earlier faced with 33 counts of false pretence under the penal code, and one count of unlicensed financial institution under the Financial Institutions Act 1998.

However, after prosecution further assessed the charges they amended the initial charges of false pretence charges to simple larceny charges.

Prosecution then charged Tauohu with seven counts of simple larceny and one count of unlicensed financial institution under the Financial Institutions Act 1998.

He however, entered not guilty pleas on all charges.

Tauohu was arrested by police after receiving complaints from One Link mentors and customers who had not received their payments from the director as promised.

Allegation said that Tauohu obtained more than $400,000 from the six mentors between December 2019 and February 2020 and failed to pay them their promised interests.

He then allegedly escaped to Malaita and was arrested after police received complaints from the scheme’s mentors and customers who had invested in the scheme last year but are yet to receive their payments.

Jonathan Auga of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown while Ronald Dive represents the accused.

Wenda calls for Yeimo’s release

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Brian Lezutuni
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West Papuan Flag

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

The chairman of ULMWP, Benny Wenda, has called on the government of Indonesia to release Victor Yeimo, a political activist.

Mr Yeimo was arrested on Sunday, May 9. His arrest comes as Indonesia cracks down on what it claims were escalating rebel activities in the West Papua.

Indonesia late last month deployed thousands of troops to the region including 400 of its elite unit, the Infantry Battalion 315, which Indonesians nickname ‘demon troops’ or ‘satan’s forces’ (pasukan setan in Indonesian), a unit reportedly trained on genocide methods and tactics.

This increased military activity followed the killing of Indonesia’s head of military intelligence, General Gusti Nugraha, on April 26.

However, ULMWP’s Mr Wenda warned Pacific and world leaders not to be fooled by Indonesia’s smokescreen on its real intentions in West Papua, which the incumbent says is nothing less than genocidal.

Wenda, in the wake of Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s announced crack-down, had called for help from the international community, world and Pacific leaders.

Since then there has been nothing forthcoming from any. Not even a word from Solomon Islands, which was once known as a staunch supporter of its Melanesian brothers of West Papua under the leadership of current prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

Issuing his call on Monday this week, Benda said:

“I demand that President Jokowi and the Indonesian police release Mr Yeimo immediately. International governments and organisations must put immediate pressure on the Indonesian authorities to halt this sham prosecution.

“What is Victor Yeimo’s crime? To resist the Indonesian occupation through peacefully mobilising the people to defend their right to self-determination. He is accused of ‘masterminding’ the 2019 West Papua Uprising, which was started by Indonesian racism and violence, and ended in a bloodbath caused by Indonesian troops. Indonesia constantly creates violence and uses propaganda – and the fact that international journalists continue to be barred from entering – to blame it West Papuans.

“Jakarta has used many labels to try and delegitimise resistance to its genocidal project: ‘armed criminal group’ (KKB), ‘Wild Terrorist Gang’, ‘separatist’. Indonesia has lost the political, moral and legal argument, and has nothing left but brute force and stigmatising labels.

“It is clear that Indonesia is trying to distract attention from the huge military operations it is launching in Nduga, Intan Jaya and Puncak Jaya. Around 700 people from 19 villages have already been displaced over the past two weeks. Indonesia is using its ‘Satan Troops’, trained in the genocide in East Timor, to attempt to wipe out the entire Indigenous population. From the 1965 military operations to the 1977 Operasi Koteka, we carry the trauma of Indonesian military operations. What is beginning now is a 21st century version of this. Jakarta has no interest in pursuing a peaceful solution to this crisis.

“Yeimo is the Spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat, KNPB), a peaceful civil disobedience organisation on the ground. Any West Papuans who speak out about injustice – church leaders, local politicians, journalists – are now at risk of being labelled a ‘criminal’ or ‘terrorist’ and arrested or killed.

“This is a sign that all West Papuans must unite to resist this repression and achieve independence through peaceful means. We have our Provisional Government, constitution, and newly formed cabinet. We must come together and show the Indonesian government and the world that we are ready to take over the administration of our country.”

Ulawa Island has a new RTC at Lopo

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Brian Lezutuni
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Wharf in Ulawa.

The people of Ulawa Island of the Makira Ulawa Province now have a new Rural Training Centre at Lopo, East Ulawa.

Reports that have reached our Kira Kira Correspondent say the first intakes include secondary school dropouts and those needing further training on their various walks of life such as electrical, construction, agriculture, furniture and life styles (home economic).

The reports say the people are happy with their new RTC because it means school drop-out youths who had been indulging in undesirable social activities are now taught fields that will enable them to secure jobs or become self-employed in the future.

No other details are available when this report was put together, but Lopo RTC is an additional to the Province’s current RTCs at Pamua, West Bauro, Nawote, Wainoni, Nana, Star Harbor and Boro’oni in Arosi 1, all on the mainland Makira.

By George Atkin  Kira Kira Correspondent

Malaita PAC visits PMO

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Brian Lezutuni
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OPMC and MPG-PAC Officials at the Prime Minister’s Office

A MALAITA Provincial Government (MPG) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Delegation met with Senior Officials of the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) last Friday.

Chairperson of the MPG PAC, Martin Fini led the delegation, which included other Provincial Members.

Fini said the purpose of the visit to Honiara is to see how the different branches of Government and Ministries work regarding their roles and responsibilities and how Government finances are managed. While in Honiara, the Delegation has met with a number of stakeholders, including the National Parliament.

Secretary to Cabinet, James Remobatu thanked Hon Fini and Members of the MPG PAC for visiting OPMC.

He said OPMC is the key Government Ministry responsible for coordinating Government Policies with all Ministries and monitoring and evaluation of policy implementation.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has three main Divisions including the Cabinet Division, Prime Minister’s Division and the Political Office, which consist of the Policy Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Caucus and Prime Minister’s Private Office.

The OPMC also briefed and updated the MPG PAC on a number of Government Projects and programmes on Malaita under the DCGA and stressed the importance of working together and coordinating with the National Government for the successful implementation of its projects.

On foreign development assistance to the provinces, the OPMC reminded the Delegation that there are internal Government protocols and procedures to follow to ensure that laws are respected and adhered too while implementing Donor programmes in the province.

Fini on behalf of his delegation thanked Secretary to Cabinet and OPMC for the opportunity to meet and discuss issues of common interests.

The OPMC delegation in the meeting include the Special Secretary to Prime Minister, Albert Kabui, Deputy Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr Derick Mane Policy Secretary Dr Samson Viulu and National Consultants, Bernard Bataanisia and Hubert Walter Rheins from the Policy Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (PIMEU) in the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

–-GCU

West welcomes Chinese officials with open arms

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Brian Lezutuni
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Counsellor Rui shook hand with kids at Marava before departing for Kolomali

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

CHINESE officials accompanied by official from the Prime Minister office and officials from the Ministry of Rural Development were welcomed by communities in Ranongga Island, Western Province.

The officials visited Marava village, Kolomali village and Koriovuku village to see the impact of water and sanitation projects which were funded by the People’s Republic of China through the Constituency Rural Development Fund.

Member of Parliament for Ranonga-Simbo, Charles Sigoto joined the visiting delegation at Marava village.

The visit was fruitful as the communities expressed their gratitude towards the People’s Republic of China for the support.

Speaking on behalf of Kolomali community, Mezi Hiva said Kolomali community was honoured to receive such a visit from high dignitaries especially officials from the Chinese Embassy which was led by Counsellor Rui Gong.

Student at Kolomali with Officials from Chinese Embassy pose for a photo

“This is a first of its kind and a record breaking history for us to witness this unbelievable event with highly respected diplomatic missions.

“We are excited because you come and see is personally so as to prove and promote clean and healthy environment, lifestyle through the water and sanitation project,” she said.

Visiting delegates with Marava Community

Similar sentiments were echoed at Marava and Koriovuku community.

In her speech Counsellor Rui said China is a true friend of Solomon Islands and will continue to provide necessary support to bring tangible development to rural communities.

She said China is providing 25 percent of its 1.8 million contribution towards the Rural Development projects to enhance community modelling especially in Water and Sanitation.

Rui said her team is impressed with the ground work and changes that the water and sanitation made to the communities in Ranongga Island.

She said China stands ready to add value to its existing projects with other development areas such as agriculture, health and education.

Officials join Hon Sigoto and his community at Koriovuku village

“We will support you with infrastructure development in the areas of agriculture, health and also education.

“China has been assisting people of Solomon Islands in the past two years since the establishment of bilateral agreements between Solomon Islands and China.

“Additionally, we have reached out to communities with our development within the past two years.

“Some of the major assistance is the development of sports facilities for the South Pacific Games, medical equipment in respond to COVID-19, donating the Chinese made COVID-19 vaccine and also we are looking at upgrading the airport at Vella Island.

“We have achieved a lot in a very short time and we will continue to look at ways to help Solomon Islands,” she said.

She said China will continue to learn from its existing projects and roll out other major projects in the coming years.

Director of the Ministry of Rural Development, Milfred Delemane the water and sanitation seen on the communities are impressive.

“It is encouraging to see the projects rolling out successfully,” he said.

Delemane told the communities that greater partnership is important to execute projects for the betterment of community livelihood and at the same time enhance personal hygiene.

He explained that the Ministry of Rural Development Planning is the institution established by the government to make sure projects are rolling out successfully.

“Our presence is to see first-hand what has been done with the fund provided for by the government through assistance from donor partners; for example, the 25 percent of water and sanitation assistance from the People’s Republic of China,” Delemane said.

He said the government continues to help communities by facilitating projects and other assistance.

Government officials include; Dr Samson Viulu from the Prime Minister’s Office, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Planning Technical Hugo Hebala, Director of RDP Milfred Delemane and RDP Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Gabriel Manetiva.

Embassy of China officials include; Counsellor Rui Gong, Wang Xuan who is the Economic and Commercial Officer and Puan Qilin.

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