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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.

Giro highlights steps to maximise tuna benefits

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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THE Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Nestor Giro has highlighted a number of strategic approaches his ministry is taking to ensure the country receives maximum benefits from Tuna fisheries.

Minister Giro and his senior officials were in Noro over the weekend to support and commemorate World Tuna Day in the Tuna Capital.

He said the National Government through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources would continue to assist Tuna companies in Noro, to ensure that they too get maximum benefits.

“I wish assure you that the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, as the responsible Ministry for the development and management of the tuna fishery had taken strategic approaches to ensure our tuna resources are well managed to ensure Solomon Islands receives maximum economic and social benefits,” Giro said.

Among these steps is the Ministry’s mission to create and consolidate job opportunities from existing tuna fishing and processing industries.

The other is the to create new jobs and economic opportunities for wider cross-section of the population through new policy initiatives while at the same time support Infrastructure developments – through new investments for onshore facilities – in this regard the Ministry is taking lead in the Bina Harbour project.

Also on the list of approaches is the mission to support and consolidate the PNA Vessel Day scheme for both Purse seine and longline fisheries while beefing up collaboration with Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) partners to leverage additional income streams and benefits from certification of shared tuna resources.

The other two approaches include reviewing legislations and legal frameworks to accommodate recent changes within the tuna fisheries and Dedication of staff to ensure tuna fisheries are promoted towards a “National Priced Asset” where the Government want to drive the future of our Tuna towards.

This year’s World Tuna Day was celebrated on the Theme “TUNA OUR PRICED NATIONAL ASSET” to reflect and acknowledged the importance of Tuna to Solomon Islands.

The Ministry of Fisheries had generated an annual revenue of more than $300 million dollars from tuna resources for the national budget in the last few years.

“This is something we are proud of since our contribution to our Treasury is the second highest after the Ministry of Finance’s IRD and Customs.

“This revenue is collected from Access fees and sales of fishing days (VDS) to both local and foreign companies,” Giro said.

Regardless of the uncertainties and challenges from the COVID 19 pandemic, the Ministry of Fisheries is working in collaboration with PNA and FFA Secretariats in trying to manage the risks and impacts of this pandemic.

For instance, the Ministry continues to maintain observer placements on our domestic vessels to ensure domestic fleets maintain their Monitoring, Surveillance and Control (MSC) requirements and status in light of the suspension of the Regional observer programme as a direct result of covid-19.

Minister Giro also highlighted the need to support efforts towards managing these important tuna resources.

“Our tuna stocks are currently healthy, but cannot be taken for granted. My Ministry will always work with other FFA and PNA members to ensure this important tuna resource is properly managed, so that our future generations can still access this important resource,” he said.

Gela villagers want new constituency

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

PEOPLE of Sandfly/Buenavista in Central Islands are asking for a separate constituency.

This was after the ward has seen an increase in its population numbers, while at the same time experienced lack of support from Central Islands province Member of Parliament for Gela, Bartholomew Paropolo.

A ward member, who asked not to be named, said the Constituency Boundaries Commission needs to give additional constituency to Sandfly/Buenavista.

“I think it is time we have our own constituency to run our affairs,” he said.

“Leaders who represent CIP in the past up until now always come from Gela and Sandfly/Buenavista,” he added.

There are about 26,051 people in Central Islands province covering the Russell Islands, Gela Islands (Florida Islands) and Savo Island.

In 2009, the Constituency Boundaries Commission has recommended a total of 17 additional constituencies in its report to be tabled in Parliament.

The Commission recommended four additional constituencies for Malaita province, whilst Guadalcanal and Western provinces each get three additional constituencies.

All the other provinces including Honiara will each get an additional constituency.

The most recent redrawing of constituency boundaries occurred in 1997 (increasing the number of constituencies from 47 to 50).

 In 2009 the Parliament rejected a recommendation from the Commission to increase the number of constituencies to 67.

Fisheries minister highlights importance of tuna

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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0

FISHERIES Minister Nestor Giro was the official guest at the World Tuna Day celebrations at Tuna Town of Noro in the Western Province, Friday.

His delegation comprising Deputy Secretaries Patterson Lusi, Rosalie Masu, and Director of Fisheries Edward Honiwala flew into Munda in the afternoon flight and had only about an hour to make it to the official opening ceremony.

Last Thursday, the Ministry of Fisheries, Honiara–based industry members and Forum Fisheries Agency joined hands together to celebrate the day in Honiara.

The celebrations included a parade through Honiara’s Central Business Districts, speeches, canned tuna label draws, quizzes and Tuna dish competition with a radio talk back show on Sunday.

Following on from the excitement of that celebration, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources delegation converged on the Tuna town with the same Tuna Message, which Minister Giro highlighted in his speech.

He reiterated the importance of Tuna to the economy of Solomon Islands and livelihoods of the people saying it is “our priced asset”.

“As the Minister responsible for Fisheries, I am happy once again, to announce our Theme for this years’ World Tuna Day; ‘TUNA…OUR PRICED NATIONAL ASSET’,” Giro said.

“The theme reflects the importance of Tuna to our National Economy and to our livelihood.   Tuna is our national asset with high value,” he added.

He told those that had gathered for the occasion which include the Western Province’s Provincial Secretary, Jeffery Wickham, Industry representatives and residents of the town, Tuna fisheries continue to grow and contributes significantly to our national GDP.

“In Noro, the fisheries and infrastructure developments are increasingly growing. Thanks to NFD Ltd and Soltuna, our two leading TIASI players in this sector,” he said.

 The Fisheries Minister also revealed that there has been a significant increase in employment in the tuna sector in the last 2 years.

He said more than 2,700 local people are employed, which from his Ministry’s record, shows more than 75% are employed in the processing sector and 25% in the fishing sector.

“We understand that, many more are employed indirectly through this sector,” he added. Meanwhile all activities organised for the celebrations ended on Sunday.

Source: MFMR

EDITORIAL- Let’s keep our guard on….

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
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0

TWO of 14-crew members of a vessel that arrived in Honiara last week have been tested positive for COVID-19.

The PNG-registered landing craft sailed from Lae under a private charter arrangement.

The COVID-19 Oversighted Committee vessel exemption committee was only aware of the arrangement when the vessel sailed into Point Cruz Harbour.

Immediately, and due to a serious threat, it ordered the crew members to undergo covid-19 tests.

Although all crew were tested negative before boarding in Lae, two returned with positive tests, prompting authorities to put the vessel into immediate quarantine.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said in his nation-wide address yesterday:

“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.

“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.”

This is a quite a shocking incident and one that could have resulted in the spread of the pandemic had the two crews were not detected.

It therefore calls for more stringent measures when it comes to foreign vessel arrivals.

Interestingly, this particular landing craft, MV Kopi Chief, came under a private charter that was arranged without the knowledge and approval of the Oversight Committee.

How could they do this?

Did the local charterer realize the risks it put on the country when they make the arrangement?

The threat from COVID-10 remains high. We just cannot let our guards down yet.

Government must continue to employ stricter and stringent measures at our borders to protect us all from COVID-19.

Any companies or individuals putting our country at risk must be dealt with promptly and severely.

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