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EDITORIAL: Gov’t must clarify Mamara payment request

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THE Government needs to come clean on its involvement in the Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd.

It needs to honestly tell the nation the arrangements, if any, it has with the developer, Metropolis Pacific.

This is necessary in light of the leaked letter Metropolis Pacific wrote to the Government this week, requesting the payment of $21,945,000 for 30 houses, which it expects to complete by the end of June.

The houses include:

  1. Type A: 3 bedroom and 2-bathroom costs $997,000 each. So, the 5 houses will cost $4,987,500.
  2. Type B: 3 bedroom and 1 bathroom cost $798,000 each. So, the 10 houses will cost $7,980,000.
  3. Type C: 2 bedroom and 1 bathroom cost $598,500 each. So, the 15 houses will cost $8,977,500.

Government never tells the nation it is going to buy houses from the developer.

All it says was the developer is going to build houses which can be sold to public servants.

But how can a public servant afford a two-bedroom house – the cheapest of the three types of houses – for almost $600,000?

And is the Government going to buy off the houses and give it public servants?

If so, how is this going to work out?

In this year’s budget, there is no allocation for purchases of house. So where is the Government going to get the $22 million to buy off the houses?

Here is another concern.

The person who wrote the letter, Hii Yii Ging, who is a director of Metropolis Pacific, is also the Malaysian Honorary Consul-General in Solomon Islands.

Ging is a known logger, who has lived in Solomon Islands for many years.

He was heavily involved in the country’s logging industry.

Now we know he was also one of the directors of Metropolis Pacific, which is developing the Mamara Project.

From what has transpired, it appears the Mamara Development is a collaboration between the government and loggers.

It also appeared the project was built purposely for the Government to use tax-payers money to purchase the houses.

It’s even more intriguing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, who is the government’s front-man in the project, does not even know about the letter that was address to his minister this week.

This is not how a Government facilitates a project that promises so much for the nation.

What the people expect is a transparent process so that they know the benefits the country is going to derive from this so-called investment.

The Government’s silence over this issue was quite unbelievable.

This is a serious matter that the Government needs to clarify to the people of this country.

Sinopharm vaccine launched

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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DPM Maelanga ready to receive the vaccine with PM Sogavare and Ambassador LI Ming stands beside. Photos by MAVIS PODOKOLO

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

SINOPHARM COVID-19 vaccine has been officially launched and rolled out with the first shot of this vaccine received by Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga.

The official launch of this vaccine marks another key milestone in our fight against COVID-19 and the current ongoing work to vaccinate all eligible persons in our beloved country, Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare during the launch of the vaccine said he expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation to the President of China Xi Jing Ping, the people and government of China for positively responding to Solomon Islands request with the allocation of 50,000 Sinopharm doses for people.

Rollen Seleso Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening

“Speaking of roll out, Sinopharm roll out will also be in line with the COVID-19 Vaccine National Deployment and Roll- Out Plan that was also used in the roll out of AstraZeneca. We will continue to prioritize remaining COVID-19 operations frontline workers and support staff in Honiara and the provinces, including essential workers.

Chief of Staff to Prime Minister’s office Robson Djokovic receiving the Sinopharm vaccine

There are also some of our students who plan to return to China for study including other Chinese nationals who plan to travel to China, thus will be offered the Sinopharm Vaccines. People above 40 years of age and those with co-existing other diseases will also be included in the roll out following the first group to be covered. We will also take into consideration other factors such as operational and logistic issues in the roll out of this and other vaccines so as to provide most benefit to our populations,” Sogavare said.

He said the 50,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine will be administered to 25,000 people because it requires two doses to be administered at an interval of 4 weeks. Meaning those who receive their first dose of Sinopharm will in less than four weeks receive their second dose to complete their COVID-19 vaccination.

DPM Maelanga waiting for his vaccination card whilst guests and senior officials look on

“We will continue to monitor any adverse events that may follow the administration of vaccine and will regularly share this information with you

“I join the Minister of Health to call on all those who have and will be receiving the COVID-19 vaccines to share their testimonies and stories of vaccination to their friends and family members so that when their time comes, they too can willingly come forward to receive their COVID-19 jab,” Sogavare said.

From (L-R) Mr Ming, PS McNeill, PM Sogavare and Simon from WHO

LI Ming Ambassador to China’s Embassy in Solomon Islands said on 11 April 2021, 50000 vaccines arrive in Honiara safe and sound.

“Today (yesterday) we gather to put all our efforts on the ground implement and the launch the Sinopharm vaccine rollout plan. That means the people of Solomon Islands will have access to more vaccine to protect themselves and their families,” Ming said

One of the Chinese national receiving his jab

He said having the DPM to become the first to receive this vaccine shows confidence in the vaccine.

“I take this opportunity to again congratulate the honorable Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on the successful launch of the Sinopharm vaccine,” Ming said.

He said it is highlight appreciated that DPM Maelanga and Minister for Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Dr Culwick Togamana welcomed the arrival of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine at the Honiara International airport.

Vials of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine

The official launch was held yesterday at the Central Field Hospital, Multipurpose Hall.

Mamara demands $22m from Gov’t, leaked letter shows

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Work on the Mamara City project last year.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A LETTER carrying a $22 million request from the controversial Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd to the Government was leaked on social media yesterday.

Addressed to Fredrick Kologeto, the Minister for Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration, it revealed what could have been a “behind-the-scene” arrangement between the developer and the Government.

Director of Metro Pacific, Hii Yii Ging, wrote the letter, dated May 17, 2021.

He requested Minister Kologeto to prepare $21,945,000 payment for the first 30 houses at Mamara, which the developer expects to be complete and ready by end of June 2021.

“Appreciate if the Government could ready the above payment upon the handover of the 30 units of houses,” the letter reads.

It added, the balance of the remaining 20 houses shall be open for sale to general public due to the high demand.

When contacted, Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Mr Riley Mesepitu said he was not aware of the letter.

“I am not aware of the letter. I’ll have to see it before I can comment on it,” Mesepitu told Island Sun yesterday.

The Government never disclosed to the public that it would pay the houses off from the developer.

The houses were built of imported pre-fabricated materials from China.

According to the letter, the costs and type of the houses are as follows:

  1. Type A: 3 bedroom and two-bathroom costs $997,000 each. So, the five houses will cost $4,987,500.
  2. Type B: 3 bedroom and one bathroom cost $798,000 each. So, the 10 houses will cost $7,980,000.
  3. Type C: 2 bedroom and one bathroom cost $598,500 each. So, the 15 houses will cost $8,977,500.

At the launch of the project early this month, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the Mamara Township Development Project is a “historic milestone to be proud of”.

“This is the moment we have been looking forward to for the last 25 years.

“It is the culmination of a journey strategically taken in the way projects of this magnitude is nurtured through a system that is fraught with challenges ranging from land issues, to development concepts and varying interests,” Sogavare said.

Police yet to produce bomb explosion report

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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RSIPF officers investigating the scene of the incident last year.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE are yet to finalise their report into last September’s bomb explosion at Tasahe, west Honiara, that claimed the lives of two expat workers.

Australian Trent Lee and Briton Stephen “Luke” Atkinson died when an unexploded ordnance detonated in their rented property.

They were employees of Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), engaged by the United States Government to map out munitions across the country.

The project was suspended after the incident, awaiting police investigation into the explosion.

Eight months on, police say they are yet to finalise their report.

As a result, the US Government says their project with Norwegian People’s Aid remained suspended.

“We still have a contract with NPA to survey unexploded ordnance in Solomon Islands,” Chad Morris, Public Affairs and Economic Officer at the US Embassy in Port Moresby, told Island Sun.

“However, all work were halted after two NPA workers died when a bomb they were handling exploded,” he added.

“We are waiting for the final report from the Solomon Islands Police Force before restarting work.”

Police did not indicate when their report will be ready.

“This was not an easy investigation,” Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau told Island Sun yesterday.

“That’s because it requires technical expertise,” he added.

“We are now looking at finalizing our report, which will be then presented to the UXO technical committee.

“The committee will deal with the report before liaising with NPA.

“And it’s the committee that will decide on the future engagement of NPA.”

Meanwhile, Moris said the NPA project is the only program they are funding in Solomon Islands to deal with the issue of unexploded World War II bombs.

And he added they are ready to re-engage in their work in Solomon Islands as soon as they have the final report from the Solomon Islands police.

“Until then, our work must remain suspended.

“That said, we continue to explore other avenues to assist with the removal of unexploded bombs.”

Moris said over the past decade, they have invested more than USD$6 million (SBD$48 million) in support of the Solomon Islands government’s effort to survey and clear UXO under the U.S. Conventional Weapons Destruction program.   

Per H Breivik of NPA told Island Sun they too are still waiting for the competition of the accident investigation report from the police.

The issue of unexploded WWII bombs resurfaced two weeks ago when two young men were killed when a second world war bomb exploded in a residential area at Lengakiki.

Raziv Hilly and Charles Noda were part of a group of Seventh Day Adventists youth who were cooking in the backyard of the house for a fundraiser when the explosion occurred on 9 May.

A 105mm high explosive US projectile was buried 30cm beneath the ground where they were cooking.

Raziv, a civil engineer, took the brunt of the explosion and died shortly afterwards.

Noda, a forensic accountant, died six days after the explosion from his injuries.

Noda’s wife was also injured in the blast and was taken to hospital.

SolAir denies ‘conflict of interest’ report.

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Airlines airbus

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Airlines Ltd has denied any conflict of interest by its Chief Executive Officer, Brett Gebers, in promoting another airline in Australia.

Former Special Secretary to Prime Minister, Andrew Muaki claimed on social media that the CEO is the key adviser to a new airline company starting up in Australia called “Brad”.

Muaki claimed the founding Director of Brad has teamed up with Solomon Airline’s CEO and other experienced aviators, and are planning a revolutionary new way for Australians to travel.

“This is shocking news in the face of all the media news about the Solomon Airline’s CEO losing millions of dollars and driving Solomon Airlines into the verge of liquidation.

“This is definitely a conflict of interest – and it is happening in broad daylight.

“A lot of questions have to be answered honestly. How can a CEO of a National SOE company involve himself with another airline, whilst Solomon Airlines is in a state of bankruptcy?” he asked.

Muaki claimed that recently the Government has had to inject millions of dollars to keep it afloat -and yet the CEO uses his time and energy on another airline, and their venture?

He said this is a conflict of interest in his current role as CEO of Solomon Airlines.

“The CEO must be removed for this is further evidence of his apathy, and shows his little to no interest in Solomon Airlines,” he said.

However, Chairman of Solomon Airlines Board, Frank Wickham said there is no conflict of interest.

“Our CEO’s name was used without his permission. 

“He is not involved with this airline crowdfunding activity, this is misleading and we have asked for his name and profile to be removed,” he said.

“The correct position is that with the awareness of the Solomon Airlines board, on an unpaid basis a long time back, he had provided very limited technical advice to the founder, who he has known personally for many years. 

“He is not a key advisor, and has no formal association with this crowdfunding activity,” Wickham said.

The CEO is currently in Australia after COVID-19 impacts the operation of the airline.

Malaita gov’t to turn to public to decide on Chinese company.

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

The provincial government of Malaita (MPG) will likely leave the decision to its public to allow or prohibit a Chinese firm to construct the Fiu bridge.

The Chinese firm is China Harbour Engineering Company, one with links to the Communist party government of PRC.

This paper was reliably informed the matter was brought to the Malaita executive by Solomon Island Roads and Aviation Project (SIRAP) team on Tuesday this week, but has not been decided on by the Malaita government.

The executive is yet to deliberate on the matter during the current executive meeting; that

It is said the Malaita executive would deliberate on the matter, either today or tomorrow.

It is also reported that deliberations will not be for a decision, rather to look at ways to bring the matter to the Malaitan public – who will make the decision.

Malaita’s government sees this as the right way forward for a government which represents its people and works together with its people.

MPG wants development and is keen to work together with the national government and SIRAP.

However, the Auki Communiqué does not allow Chinese investors or companies in the province, whether or not it is sanctioned by the national government.

A statement issued by Malaita’s political advisory body (PARU) to media on Wednesday alleged that  the permanent secretary to the ministry of Communication and Aviation threatened to pull out the SIRAP project components from Malaita Province.

The PS could not be reached for comments.

It alleged that the PS threatened this in order to force the MPG to accept the Chinese company (CHEC) earmarked to build Fiu Bridge. 

“He will pull out the SIRAP project from Malaita province. He arrogantly said that everything depends on him and he will pull the plug if he wishes,” said the PARU statement.

The statement also said that MPG is monitoring the situation and premier Suidani had written to World Bank for clarifications on its procurement processes that SIG used for the Fiu Bridge.

It said the premier and his executive reserve the right to seek further intervention from the World Bank Inspection Panel should MPG feels that the conduct of implementing the Fiu Bridge has not been satisfactory.

Police still clueless over missing $300k

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Nearly a year on and the Royal Solomon Islands police force is left biting its nails over the $300,000 evidence cash which went missing under its nose.

Even the police commissioner is scratching his head over it.

In his weekly press conference yesterday, Commissioner Mostyn Mangau admitted that he is yet to get an update on the investigation into the missing $300,000 exhibit money.

Police had announced in an earlier media statement that this case would be one of their priority investigations, especially for its internal affairs unit (PSII).

The cash exhibit went missing while under police custody in October last. However, police only went public with it in February this year.

Since then, it has become a thorn for the force. One police officer is the lead suspect. The officer has chosen to remain silent.

“No update yet on the investigation of the missing money, once I have an update then I will update you on that issue,” Mangau told reporters yesterday.

Previously police said that it was a priority investigation for the Professional Standard Internal Investigation (PSII), thus a thorough investigation would be conducted, looking at all avenues how the money is missing or stolen from the exhibit facility and also at possible recovery of the missing money

Court circuit lands 7 in jail

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Press Release
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In-court

A recent four-day court circuit at Taro in Choiseul Province heard 51 cases resulting in the conviction and imprisonment of seven suspects after being found guilty of various charges.

The court circuit was held by a Magistrate, Police prosecutors from Gizo and Taro, a Court clerk and a lawyer from the Public Solicitor’s Office from May 10-14, 2021.

The seven suspects were convicted and imprisoned for;

  • House breaking Contrary to  Section 300 (a) of the penal code
  • Malicious damage Contrary to  Section 326 (1) of the Penal Code and
  • Common assault  Contrary to  Section 244 of the Penal Code;

All convicted defendants were transported to Gizo Correctional Centre in Western Province where they were served their terms in prison.

The rest of the 51 cases resulted in fines, further adjournments, resummon, and suspended sentence and dismissals.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Choiseul Province, Superintendent Vincent Eria says, “On behalf of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) and people of Choiseul Province I would like to thank the office of the Chief Magistrate for scheduling the court circuits for this year.

“I want to warn all my good people in Choiseul Province not to take the laws into your own hands. Our laws are there to protect us and to ensure we respect one another in our communities.

“I want to thank all my Officers for the hard work rendered towards the court and also the people of Choiseul for their assistances to have this court done successfully.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Police echo call for men to respect women-girls

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Police are echoing the call for men and boys to respect women and girls.

This follows the latest case in which a 39-year-old man is being charged for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl, whom police say the accused is related to.

The incident reportedly took place in the Western province on April 29 this year.

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau, in his weekly press conference yesterday, condemned the incident, calling on men to respect their counter gender of all ages.

He said men should respect women and girls as such incident will affect the victims for the rest of their lives and it is against the law of this country.

He also calls on parents to always look after their children to avoid being sexually harassed by some selfish minded men in the communities.

Mangau said regarding the rape allegation, from reports obtained by police, the suspect was drunk at the time of the incident.

Mangau said police were alerted about the incident and the suspect was arrested and charged with one count of rape contrary to section 136F (1) (a) & (b) of the Penal Code Cap 26 as amended by the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act, 2016.

He also said that investigation is ongoing regarding the incident.

Murder accused without lawyer

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man facing murder charge is without a lawyer, more than a month after being placed in custody.

Principal Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi yesterday made direction for the Public Solicitor’s Office to allocate a defence lawyer for the murder accused, who has been remanded since April 4, 2021.

The accused on the previous occasion told court that he had already made request to the PSO for a lawyer.

Ms Taeburi said the charge against the accused is serious and PSO should prioritise the matter and allocate a lawyer to assist the accused.

Meanwhile prosecution told court that investigations have already completed, once a lawyer has been allocated to represent the accused then disclosures will be served.

Taeburi then adjourned the case for May 26 for mention and made directions for PSO to allocate a lawyer for the accused.

This is the case of Mathew Kosa Manebona who is facing one count of murder in relation to the alleged murder incident of a 25-year-old male person at Halavo on April 5, 2021.

It is alleged that the deceased and the suspect were having an argument and was out of control, as a result the suspect grabbed a knife and cut the victim on the left side of his head and stabbed him on the right side of his stomach.

Police in Tulagi were alerted and officers attended to that report in which he was arrested and charged for the offence committed.

The body of the deceased was then transported to the Tulagi Hospital but later referred to the National Referral Hospital (NRH), where medical authorities confirmed the death of the victim.

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