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Airlines announce new domestic enhancement flights

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Solomon Airlines has announced domestic schedule enhancements with the national carrier’s newest Twin Otter, registered H4-SIC now in full service, enabling more direct flights, new flight options and greater frequency on selected routes.

 The new aircraft is now deployed to operate a full weekly schedule, between Honiara and Marau, Fera, Suavanao, Seghe, Santa Ana, Arona, Kirakira, Santa Cruz, Lomlom and Rennell.

The schedule changes which have been loaded into Solomon Airlines flight booking system, are effective from Monday 28 June 2021.

A summary of the main changes include:

HONIARA TO MARAU – NEW DIRECT FLIGHTS

• New direct services will operate between Honiara and Marau on Monday and Friday to support demand for long weekend stays under the Iumi Tugeda Holidays programme.

PARASI TO HONIARA – NEW DIRECT FLIGHT

• A new direct flight option from Parasi to Honiara will now operate on Fridays (services were previously operated via Marau).

MORE FLIGHTS THROUGH AUKI

• Auki has been established as an additional transit port for both Solomon Airlines Dash 8 and Twin Otter aircraft services. The airline’s Kirakira to Honiara flight on Mondays and the Honiara to Manaoba service on Tuesdays will now travel via Auki.

• Services between Honiara and Atoifi will change from Tuesdays to Wednesdays, and also travel via Auki, offering new routes from Malaita’s provincial capital.

AIRCRAFT SWAP AT SANTA CRUZ

• Due to the current runway deterioration at Santa Cruz Airport, Solomon Airlines has temporarily suspended De Havilland Dash 8-100 aircraft operations replacing the heavier aircraft with Twin Otter services and introducing a new 4th frequency on Saturdays. Solomon Airlines continues to fly to all 23 domestic destinations in the Solomon Islands domestic network.

Under the new schedule departure times may change slightly on some domestic flights. Colin Sigimanu, Commercial Manager for Solomon Airlines reviews its domestic schedule quarterly to improve services based on demand, seasonality and operating environments.

“We take many factors into account when we review our seasonal schedules, most importantly we strive to provide the services that our customers need,” he said.

“Demand for domestic travel has been steady and now with the addition of our latest Twin Otter we are able to make improvements we have been considering for some time,” he added.

 “We try always to provide the most convenient services we can between our islands, operating direct routes where possible and making sure we fly on days of the week that suit demand.

 “Our new direct flights between Honiara and Marau on Fridays and Mondays are an example of that, providing a schedule that works well with the increasing demand for weekend packages under our Iumi Tugeda Holidays,” he added.

“Unfortunately, other factors which can drive schedule changes can be outside of our control, such as the current damage and deterioration of Lata airstrip runway as well as land ownership disputes that cause runways to be closed.

“We cannot currently safely land the Dash-8 aircraft at Santa Cruz and so have no choice other than suspending Dash-8 operations until that issue is addressed,” he said

—SOLOMON AIRLINES

Reconciliation over Kwaibala river death

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The vehicle that was involved in the fatal incident at the Kwaibala river earlier this month. PICTURE: Ted Abana (Aoke Langalanga Constituency Facebook Page)

POLICE Officers at Auki, witnessed a reconciliation ceremony in relation to a fatal accident at the Kwaibala River that claimed the life of a male person earlier this month.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) National Security and Operation Support Ian Vaevaso said relatives of the deceased came to police and discussed the matter of their brother’s death after it was alleged the vehicle which plunged into the river was driven by another person.

They had asked that the driver and relatives of the passengers to reconcile in their cultural way.

 “Police in Auki then organized a reconciliation between the relatives of the deceased and the driver including the passengers on 18 June 2021,”, DC Vaevaso said.

Mr Vaevaso said Police introduced the purpose of the reconciliation and the Police position in this case.

 Police were able to highlight the importance of having reconciliation to ensure peace remains amongst us, as one people in the community and province as a whole.

“The relatives accepted three shell money, they shook hands and received the shell money. A closing prayer was said at the end. They were satisfied as the situation was calm after the reconciliation,” DC Vaevaso stated.

Even though the reconciliation has happened between both parties, police will still continue with its investigation into the traffic case and ensure it is brought before the court.

—RSIPF

SOGAVARE HIGHLIGHTS BENEFITS OF BORDER OUTPOST

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The new border outpost

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has assured the people of Shortland Islands that Border and Patrol Boat Outpost to be built at Lofung will bring many benefits to the communities along the western border region.

Apart from improved security benefits, Sogavare said the project once completed will bring economic and cultural benefits that come from living at the border.

People living along the border region share a border with a country that they are culturally connected to which cannot be stopped by relations purely because of international rules.

The Prime Minister however, cautioned that it is equally important that as a sovereign nation, our relationship is monitored and done, in such a way that our safety and wellbeing is being protected and not compromised.

“This border outpost is NOT here to stop the traditional border relations between Bougainville and Solomon Islands., “he said.

The Traditional Border Crossing Agreement between SIG and PNG still remains, is intact and respected.

Sogavare said the border outpost is established to ensure that everyone enjoy our border relations with PNG in a safe, regulated and peaceful manner.

The Prime Minister further assured border dwellers that this Patrol Boat Outpost is just the beginning of the good things ahead.

He said programs that may promote economic prosperity, social interaction and community partnership can be promoted as well.

This site could very well be the catalyst for FAMOA, to start planning on greater expansion for development. I hope that once completed, this project will provide the necessary enabler for other development opportunities in tourism and small to medium business ventures.

He encouraged people to see this project not only from a security lens, but also from a development aspect as well.

“We must be reminded that all things are connected, and if we view them in isolation, we may lose out on a lot of possibilities,” He said.

Currently, due to COVID -19, the border relationship is suspended, but will eventually return to a new normal.

The border outpost will serve to ensure that activities are done in a manner that does not put the security and welfare of Solomon Islanders at risk.

–GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT

“SECURITY PARAMOUNT TO WELFARE OF BORDER COMMUNITIES” SOGAVARE

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Police officers patrolling the Western border with Bougainville. PHOTO ABC

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has highlighted the significance of security for the welfare of communities along the Solomon Islands and PNG border at a historic groundbreaking ceremony at Lofang in the Shortland Islands on Wednesday.

The ceremony, according to Sogavare marks an exceptional day for both the people of Shortlands and Solomon Islands.

“I trust that we all appreciate and agree that the security and welfare of communities along the Solomon Island and PNG border is of paramount importance,” he said.

As such, the Prime Minister expressed his desire to see everyone continue to strengthen the security and welfare of our people along our borders.

“This project will go a long way in achieving this, and will ensure that our communities continue to prosper in an environment where we co-exist peacefully with our brothers and sisters across the border,” he said.

Hundreds of people including Chiefs, Elders, Women and Children of the Shortland Islands converge at Lofang and Nila to witness the event on Wednesday.

Their presence, according to the Prime Minister signify how important the project is to their families.

“I am excited and happy to be part of this occasion and it is heartening to see communities around these islands turning up in numbers as well,”

The project once completed will improve border security services in the Western border region by supporting social and economic growth by strengthening border management, surveillance, response capability and protection from illegal activities.

Importantly, the project also aligns well with the Solomon Islands Government’s National Security Strategy and the National Border Security Strategy for better management of our borders.

—GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT

PM WANTS ROBUST BORDER SECURITY MANAGEMENT APPROACH

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Premier of Western Province David Gina, Chairman of FAMOA Trust Board Chief Lawrence Hotomo, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands His Excellency Dr Lachlan Strahan, Minister for Police, National Security & Correctional Services Anthony Veke and Member for Shortland Islands Christopher Laore at the ground-breaking ceremony for the western border & patrol boat outpost in Honiara.

The Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) is moving towards setting up a more robust and structured border security management approach.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced this during Wednesday’s Border and Patrol Boat Outpost groundbreaking ceremony at Lofung in the Shortland Island, Western Province.

The Multi-million-dollar Australian funded project provides much needed facilities to implement the Government’s national border security policy.

Communities living along the Solomon Islands-PNG maritime border including the shortland Islands, Choiseul and Malaita Outer Islands have been wishing for a proper border management approach in past years, which Prime Minister Sogavare said past Governments have tried to address.

“My fellow people of the Shortland Islands, I am aware that your cry for a strong border security is not a new call, and your call is the same as those resonated by Choiseul and Malaita Outer Islands”.

“It is a call that has not gone unnoticed, and for so many governments past, we have tried to see what we could do to address this call,” he said.

The Prime Minister explained that Solomon Islands as a developing country with finite financial resources have to prioritize its policy and development needs, however, the need to secure our borders was always a main issue of concern.

Sogavare announced that the DCGA is tackling that concern head on with the projects once completed and will no longer rely heavily on border police posts.

”With the establishment of the Border and Patrol Boat Outpost, I am pleased to announce that we are now moving towards a more robust, structured and established border security management approach, he said at Nila.

The Prime Minister participated at the Groundbreaking ceremony alongside the Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Dr, Lachlan Strahan, the MP for the Shortland Constituency Hon, Christopher Laore, Police Minister Anthony Veke, Western Premier David Gina and Chairman of the FAMOA Council of Chiefs and Trust Board Lawrence Hotomo at a ceremony at Lofung on Wednesday 23 June in the presence of people from all over the Shortland Islands.

–GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT.

SHOPS CLOSED IN AUKI

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Malaita govt responds to matter ‘undermining’ its authority

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA provincial government (MPG) has shut down two retail shops in Auki owned by Chinese businessmen.

Reason behind the closures, according to MPG, is “dubious means” by the Chinese businesses in obtaining their provincial business licences.

Apparently, this issue is being seen as MPG responding to a matter which it says had undermined its authority.

Speaking to the paper yesterday, acting Premier Mr Nelson Lenty, said the business closures last week has nothing to do with geopolitics, rather it is simply MPG applying the law.

Lenty said the MPG had learnt that the businesses had obtained their licences from an officer from the province’s admin team, who issued them without approval by the MPG executive. And, Lenty says this was the wrong channel to obtain a provincial business licence, therefore illegal.

He explains that the Malaita for Rural Advancement Alliance (MARA) government since coming into power had adopted the provincial Financial Management Ordinance (FMO), which says a provincial business licence must first be approved by the provincial government executive before being granted to the investor or applicant.

In the case of the closed businesses, Lenty said their licences were granted without the knowledge and approval of the MPG executive.

While Lenty does not say exactly which provincial officer is implicated in the “dubious process”, he adds that the FMO draws a boundary on the roles and duties of the provincial secretary (PS) and the deputy provincial secretary (DPS).

Meanwhile, Lenty clarifies that last week’s closure does not mean that it is the end of the road for the two businesses.

He encourages them to re-apply and to follow the proper channel for a legal provincial business licence.

“The shop-owners must not assume that the closed down of the shops is to prevent them from business operation or services in Auki.

“The grant of their business license is seen partly illegal or incomplete and they got punished for it.

“My advice to them is to reapply and allow the applications take complete process until reaching executive decision,” he said.    

Lenty said an executive meeting is being proposed for early next month and if the shop-owners are considering reapplying for business licences, they (MPG executive) might look at the applications during the meeting.

On this note, Lenty clamped down on comments made by a senior Malaita province admin staff earlier, which described MPG executive meetings as “expensive to convene just to look at business license applications, and that applications must process even without executive”.

Lenty said these comments reflect the person’s lack of respect for protocol, processes and law.

He said ordinances, channels and processes are parts of the fabric of good governance, and are established in every provincial government.

Regarding executive meetings, he says it is an ‘integral part’ of that good governance.

“Executive meetings held after every three months and there are also extra-ordinary executive meetings that should not use as excuse.

“What happened had undermined the executive government of the province and they will ensure it won’t happen again.”

Why people get missing at sea, SIMA explains

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY JARED KOLI

Reports of people going missing at sea in the country is getting frequent.

And, this is due to many of these victims travelling at sea without prior preparations.

This is according to the Director of Solomon Island Maritime Authority (SIMA) Thierry Nervale in an interview with Island Sun this week.

“It happens too often and when this happens, authorities have to deploy a lot of resource to find them and bring them back to land,” Mr Nervale said.

Nervale said before people go to sea, boat drivers and passengers should check the weather forecast, check that they have lifesaving equipment to be able to signal their position if they are missing.

“They need to inform people at their destination when they leave and their expected time of arrival beforehand,” Nervale said.

He said boat drivers need to prepare their boat and engine well, making sure that it is perfectly suited and worked well before travel.

On Monday it was reported that a 40-horse powered Outboard motor boat went missing three people on board.

Information obtained by Island Sun had it that they were part of the Point Cruz Yacht Club (PCYC) fishing competition held last weekend.

PCYC confirmed this when called.

They later went ashore at Moe island in the Russell Islands from Mere Island after it was believed they experienced a mechanical problem.

Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services on Tuesday issued a fifth strong wind warning.

It said a strong wind warning is current for waters of Rennell & Bellona, Makira and Temotu provinces and southern waters of Western, Russell and Guadalcanal.

“Seas will be moderate to rough and moderate (2.0 to 2.5 meters) southeast swells, and people in the areas above must take precautionary measures as such strong winds have the potential to impact lives and properties.

“Sea travelers are urged to consider safety actions as such winds can produce dangerous wave conditions which are hazardous to small boats. Expect poor visibility in shower and thunderstorm areas,” it says.

The MET service said a general easterly trade wind flow persists over Solomon Islands.

It earlier explains that a strong wind warning means that winds of 20 to 25 knots which may gust up to 30 knots are expected to produce hazardous sea wave conditions to small crafts.

“Decision as to the degree of hazard will be left up to the boatman, based on his experience and size and type of boat.

“Be aware that these wave forecasts are an average. The height of some individual wave can be expected to be much as two times greater,” it said.

Gov’t dialogue on quality education

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Senior Government Officials with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Education and Human Resources Department and Senior Ministry Officials.

GOVERNMENT officials have successfully completed their round of dialogues to enhance quality education and training needs in the country.

A statement from the Government Communications Unit (GCU) of the Prime Minister and Cabinet says that officials representing the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination, Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, Finance and Treasury and Ministry of Public Service, held successful and fruitful discussions with the MEHRD  Senior Management.

This meeting is to wrap up the series of dialogues with the two leading institutions University of the South Pacific Solomon Islands Center (USPSI) and the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) since early this month. 

The Officials briefed MEHRD on the Government’s Redirection Policy, future training opportunities for SI Students, and academic performance of our students at the tertiary institutions.

The meeting noted the successful cooperation between Government and the USP and SINU over the years and the keen interest of these institutions to support the Government, with its manpower training and Human Resources Development of the Country.

The meeting was also briefed on the SIG students’ enrollment at the academic two institutions as well as the various courses and programmes offered, and the keen interest to take on more students in the future.

Officials were later briefed on a number of Post Graduate Courses as well as Research Opportunities offered at both USP and SINU and commended these Institutions for these initiatives, which will help the country.

One of the issues highlighted in their discussions with MEHRD officials was the importance of undertaking programme audit and monitoring of all SIG sponsored students at both USP and SINU to ensure compliance and that they complete their programmes and training on time and according to their scholarship awards.

The meeting welcomes the opportunity to hold future dialogue and meetings with the Ministry and both USPSI Center and SINU, to enhance their cooperative efforts and collaboration.

—Government Communication Unit

Temotu man wants TSI to set up there

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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BY JARED KOLI

A Temotu man wants the Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) to extend its office to Temotu Province to monitor corrupt activities taking place there.

This sentiment follows the Opposition Leader’s call on the Commissioner of Forests to suspend Xian Ling Timber (SI) Ltd’s logging licence for the damage the company is causing to the Lata airstrip runway; and to direct the company to repair the damage immediately.

Jason Moi thanked Opposition Leader Matthew Wale for his concern on the issue. He said it was sad to see a different person from different constituency concern about Temotu and question Temotu leaders for being tightlipped on the issue.

“That is why we want TSI to extend its office to Lata in Temotu province to monitor corrupt and illegal activities taking place in Temotu province,” said Mr Moi.

Speaking as a member of the Nende Resources Development Association (NRDA), Moi said he supported the call by Wale for the Commissioner of Forest to act on the issue and suspend the logging company’s felling licence.

He urged the premier of Temotu to act on the logging issue which he alleged as illegal.

 “The provincial leaders know well that what the logging company has been doing in the province is illegal but they have done nothing about it,” Moi claimed.

The Opposition Leader’s call follows a recent report that the company’s ongoing use of the runway as a logging road is destroying the condition of the runway making it unsafe for planes to land.

Wale described this as ‘reckless attitude’ and posed safety concerns on the resulting in Solomon Airlines raising safety concerns over the company’s activities.

 Wale said it is mandatory under Solomon Islands laws for logging companies to build their own operation related roads and to respect public and private property.  

The issue was widely debated in social media. However, several commentators termed the report as ‘misleading’ saying there is no logging operation near Lata airport.

“This is news to me. Are log trucks really using Lata Airport? If so for what reason as there is no logging’s concession area within 20km vicinity of airport. Wasn’t this referring XL Landcruiser?

“If so then they are just like the rest vehicle owners using the airport runway as access to adjacent settlements. And for the latter, best solution upgrade the Airport and fence it,” a Lata resident commented in a local Facebook forum.

Xiang Lin (SI) Limited has also strongly denied any damages caused in the Lata airstrip runway.

In a statement to Island Sun, the company demanded an immediate apology from the Parliamentary Opposition Leader and editors of Solomon Star and Island Sun newspaper for publishing the story which they say is “false and misleading.”

Naha birthing centre on hold

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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The proposed Naha birthing facility

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Building of the Naha birth centre and urban health clinic project has been put on hold.

This is due to concerns raised over the design of the facility.

Redesigning of this Australia-funded project is however ongoing, says Pauline McNeil, permanent secretary to the ministry of Health (MHMS).

She uttered this during a press conference this week on addressing bed problems at the national referral hospital (NRH).

MHMS and DFAT in a joint statement to Island Sun yesterday said the redesigning process is near completion.

“With the redesign process near completion we are committed to the project’s recommencement in the coming month.

“Construction commenced in January 2020, however, was put on hold when concerns with the design were identified,” the statement said.

MHMS and DFAT said during these times of continued health challenges and constrained health resources, the project continues to be a priority for both the Australian and Solomon Islands governments.

It further stressed this project will provide quality and safe birthing services and reduce the strain on the overcrowded maternity ward at NRH.

“DFAT and MHMS took decisive action to ensure the quality and safety of this important project and commissioned an Independent Technical Review,” the joint statement said.

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