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Reports of dead fish near Tulagi

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Tulagi township, Central Province

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THERE have been sightings of dead fish washing up along the shorelines of Haleta and Tulagi in the Central Islands Province.

Villagers in the area are shocked to find dead fish washed ashore since last week. 

A team made up of officers from the Central provincial government fisheries and environment is warning people living along the area not to collect any dead fish found.

They have been advising Tulagi residents and surrounding communities that the dead fish issue is still not over.

Report reaching Island Sun yesterday local fishermen said dead fish are still floating around the sea outside of Tulagi and Haleta village.

According to Robert Manebona from Tulagi, fishermen in the area have discovered dead fish floating along the Haleta and Tulagi area.

“I would like to call on members of the public in Tulagi to be careful before buying fish at the market.”

“The cause of the dead fish is still unknown and it is not clear as of yet if those fish are good for human consumption,” he said.

“Dead fish was seen washed ashore and floating up shore this (yesterday) morning.

“We don’t know why this has happened.

“This is the first time this has happened,” he said.

Manebona said fishermen have alerted Central province fisheries office to raise the alarm to authorities concerned, including the Ministry of Health, Fisheries and authorities to find the cause of dead fish in the area.   

It is understood that CIP fisheries division sent a team into the area to assess the situation and have taken samples to relevant authorities for laboratory testing.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries officials, until results are received then it will be known as to what was the cause of fish to die in the area.

The tests will find out how the fish died. In the meantime, locals have been urged to keep children away from the shoreline where the dead fish were found.

Malaita a green province: Mai-Maasina

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Reforestation of Kauri tree species in the highlands of Central Kwara’ae

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MAI-MAASINA Green Belt (MMGB) has thanked the Malaita provincial government for helping promote green development in the province.

Malaita Alliance for Rural Advancement (MARA) government is one of MMGB’s regulatory partners.

Solomon Islands Rangers-General Secretary and MMGB Vice Chairman, Mr Eddie Huitarau said MARA is one of their partners and they’ve been working cooperatively since beginning their relationship.

He told this paper yesterday that one of their collaborative successes was passing an ordinance by MARA government to stop logging activities above 400 metres altitude in Malaita province.

Huitarau said the ordinance is an advantage that will pave way for MMGB’s programmes under the Sky Island project as other partners are also working on similar projects in the country.

He said under the Sky island project, MMGB and MARA Gov’t had worked together to make sure a piece of legislation is eventuated in the province to protect the project.

In this effort, Huitarau said a Malaita Moratorium Memorandum (MMM) was gazetted in February this year as an ordinance to stop logging operation above 400m in the province.

He said next month, MMGB will roll out four projects in the province and one of them is Sky Island project as advertisements for people to carry out the project already issued.

Huitarau said this is part of MMGB’s development to support conservation initiative with its affiliated members in Are Are and Kwaio regions in the province and the whole province.

Meanwhile, he thanked MPG and its regulatory partners, aid donors and other partners for cooperation and supporting MMGB to move forward with its work to promote conservation in the province.

Journalists play vital role during the pandemic: PM

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

JOURNALISTS in the country have played an essential role of information dissemination in keeping the public informed since the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.

This was echoed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare at the World Press Freedom Day celebration hosted by Media Association in Solomon Islands and its partners.

“Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, journalists continue to play the vital role of disseminating important information to the public.

“As a public good, information plays an important role in helping people to gather facts and be informed on issues that affects their lives, and therefore, information must be accessible to every citizen of this country.

“As a public good with potential for universal reach, information allows us to know our rights and privileges. It also allows us to contribute to good governance and nation building,” Sogavare said.

He encouraged the press and media to do their duty with the utmost professionalism.

“Your credibility depends very much on the confidence and the trust that the public has in you. The government will always support you, and we expect the press and media to discharge their duties in a professional and ethical manner. At the end of the day, it is the people that we serve. As we mark this day, I call on everyone to ensure the information continues to remain a public good,” Sogavare said.

He said media persons as disseminators of information also have the responsibility to make sure information released for public good are not harmful or cause hatred to the society.

“I must also say that the government is grateful to the media outlets who finds the time and space to publish these updates in their papers,” Sogavare said.

EDITORIAL- A project worthy of our unwavering support

Written by
Admin
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islandsun logo square

WORK on the multimillion dollars Pacific Games stadium official started yesterday.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, who was instrumental in bringing the Games here during the bidding process in 2016, was at hand yesterday to officiate in the ground-breaking ceremony.

China is funding the project at a cost of around $2.5 billion.

Constructor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has exactly two years to complete the stadium before the Games kick off in July 2023.

This is a huge project of considerable proportion.

It will occupy 26,000 square meters of land, spanning from the King George Sixth School to the lower Panatina campus in east Honiara.

More than 110 Chinese engineers and other technical people are already here to work on the project.

CCECC is expected to recruit up to 300 locals – both skilled and unskilled – to work on the project.

The stadium project will include seven separate sporting infrastructures.

They are:

  1. A 10,000-seat national stadium which includes 1,000 VIP seats,
  2. An Aquatic centre hosting a 50-meter competition pool, and a 25-meter training pool,
  3. A six-court tennis centre
  4. A full-sized training track and field with a full-sized soccer/ rugby field
  5. A 90 meters by 50 meters multi-purpose hall
  6. A 5-aside competition hockey field
  7. A double story food court and office space building for the Games Organising Committee

When completed, the stadium is set to transform the eastern side of the capital.

It therefore is only appropriate that it be called the Sports City.

The project will allow us to own a modern sports stadium for the first time since independence.

The benefits the facilities will bring to the nation – financially, socially and physically – will also be many.

It’s a project that is worthy of our thanks and unwavering support.

And so we thank China and its people for funding it.

For it will help the country to finally host the region’s biggest sporting event – the Pacific Games.

Support programme for women and girls in Isabel launched

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A programme that will support Isabel’s women and girls’ rights to participation in community-based peacebuilding process and dialogue was launched yesterday.

Minister of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs Samuel Manetoali, in launching the programme, said the gender responsive peacebuilding in extractive industries programme will provide Isabel province with the needed platform and space through which these socially-oriented dynamics and undercurrents that affects women and young girls in the province are to be addressed.

This programme of gender responsive peacebuilding in extractive industries coupled with its objectives, aims and outcomes, have in fact endeavors for a realistic and balanced relationship to equitable socio-economic development on the one-hand and the importance of leaving no one behind, Manetoali said.

He said affected women and girls in this regard will be significantly empowered with their skills and capacity developed in enabling them to participate in avenues of decision-making on matters that holds dear to their plights and with the ability to mobilise and network amongst women as the critical mass for raising of awareness purposes in the provinces.

Manetoali said that the programme is an institutional opportunity for women and girls in Isabel to access to various means of dispute resolution and also to capacitate them as drivers of changes within their communities.

“I sought to impress to all of us that the contributions and inputs that this gender responsive peacebuilding programme will provides in Isabel province, is notably significant as it embraces and recognizes the key importance and fundamentals of humanity.

“And enables the bridging of common understanding and collaboration amongst the women and young girls of the provinces, as critical mass, in order for them to be continuously persistent and persuasive in the address of their plights from now and into the future,” Manetoali said.

He also urges the partners and implementers of the programme to put all efforts and commitments in the implementation of the programme so that the purposes and goals are achievable.

Platform launch to strengthen SAFENET in Isabel

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Group photo of all attendees on the launching event of Gender Responsive Peacebuilding Extractive Industries in Isabel province.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE launch of the Gender Responsive Peacebuilding in Extractive Industries Isabel Province will directly support the establishment of provincial SAFENET referral network in Isabel.

Thompson Araia, women development division training co-ordinator Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs, said the establishment of the SAFENET referral network in Isabel was established through ministry, the Isabel Provincial Government and its stakeholders in 2018.

“The project will directly strengthen the efforts of ministry, Isabel provincial government and stakeholders in the establishment of the provincial SAFENET referral network,” Araia said.

He said the Isabel Provincial SAFENET is a network of government ministries and agencies, CSOs, Community groups and leaders including chiefs that will ensure that victims and survivors of gender-based violence have access to essential services including access to justice.

The project aims to create an enabling environment support women’s human right and participation of women in community based peace-building process, ensuring women and young women are able to drive change within their communities through peace building dialogues and to improve the quality of services provision to women who faces violates in terms of programming the services between CSOs and government to community based women.    

The project was launched yesterday at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara.

Platform shows govt pledge to gender equality: MWYCFA

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Thompson Aria from Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE launch ofGender Responsive Peacebuilding in Extractive Industries in Isabel Province marks significant progress in national government’s commitment to advancing gender equality.

Thompson Araia, women development division training co-ordinator, Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs echoed this on behalf of the ministry.

“Today’s launching of the project Gender Responsive Peacebuilding in Extractive Industries in Isabel Province marks a significant progress in the Solomon Islands Government’s commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly for women and girls in the rural areas of Isabel Province,” Araia said.

He adds by thanking the Isabel Provincial Government and Isabel Council of Chiefs for recognising the importance of addressing the issue of human violations related to the logging companies operating in the province.

Araia stressed the ministry is looking forward to this partnership including with the other line ministries and Civil Society Organizations.

“I cannot overemphasise the importance of this project’s aim and objectives. Women are proven peace builders, evident in the critical role they played in bringing back peace to the Solomon Islands during our dark history of the social unrest, sadly they were not involved or any engaged in any of the peace procedures and processes that followed,” he said.

On the note the Ministry sincerely thanked and commend UN Agency International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Fund (UNFPA), UN Women through UN peacebuilding fund for support to government in promoting human rights and women empowerment.

The project aims to create an enabling environment support women’s human right and participation of women in community-based peace-building process, ensuring women and young women are able to drive change within their communities through peace building dialogues and to improve the quality of services provision to women who faces violates in terms of programming the services between CSOs and government to community-based women.  

The project was launched yesterday at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara.

Violence against women an obstacle to sustainable development: MWYCFA

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Cutting of cake to mark the official launch of the project

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

VIOLENCE against women and girls in all its forms is a key obstacle to the sustainable development of Solomon Islands and most horrific human rights violation, says Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs.

Thompson Araia, women development division training co-ordinator,Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs, echoed the above sentiment on behalf of the ministry.

“Violence against women and girls in all its forms is one pf the most horrific human rights violations that not only affects women and girls in Solomon Islands but also our families, societies and our nation. It is a key obstacle to the sustainable development of Solomon Islands,” Araia said.

He said according to the study commissioned by the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs – the 2019 Community Health and Mobility in the Pacific report provided the much-needed evidence that human rights violations are strongly linked to the presence of logging operations in Isabel province.

Araia said the human right violations ranging form sex work, increased rates of gender-based violence, early and forced marriage and sexual exploitation.

He said with the launch of the Gender Responsive Peacebuilding in Extractive Industries in Isabel province projects marks a significant progress in the Solomon Islands governments commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Araia said the Ministry sincerely thanked and commend UN Agency International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Fund (UNFPA), UN Women through UN peacebuilding fund for support to government in promoting human rights and women empowerment.

TSI- PM respond to CDF concerns is unacceptable

Written by
Press Release
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TSI

TRANSPARENCY Solomon Islands (TSI) is very disappointed to hear the Prime Minister (PM) Manasseh Sogavare responding to many concerns raised on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) by challenging the premiers of Malaita and Guadalcanal Province to take the matter to court.

The disbursement and use of the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) have been a controversial issue since the introduction of CDF and this continues to be the case till today.

It is no surprise that these provincial leaders are taking the initiative to challenge this.

The premiers of Malaita and Guadalcanal are not the only citizens of this country who are concerned about CDF.

Most citizens of this country are equally concerned about the use and disbursement of CDF.

Through the advocacy work carried out by TSI in all our provinces, CDF remains to be a concern to the people.

Although the ‘term’ CDF is something that people know and heard about from campaigns to seeing constituency officers and supporters benefiting from CDF, the actual information pertinent to the purpose of CDF is lacking or rather is a well-kept secret.

For a start, it is unclear when the CDF Act actually commenced pursuant to section 1 of the CDF Act.

Section 1 requires the Minister responsible to appoint when the Act shall come into operation by notice in the Gazette.

The citizens of this country need to be informed whether or not the Minister responsible at the time, in the exercise of the power conferred by section 1 of the CDF Act appointed a date in which the CDF Act come into operation.

Additionally, our legislators’ have miserably failed the citizens of this nation by deliberately choosing not to gazette the CDF Regulations since 2013 till today, why the delay?

Certainly, any concerned citizen of this country should be alarmed about the use and disbursement of CDF especially when the CDF Act permit millions of public funds to be channeled through members of Parliament, each MP receiving up to $7 million a year.

MPs are directly benefiting from this CDF Act whilst at the same time MPs are not transparent and accountable with the use of CDF and they fail to gazette the CDF Regulations.

Through TSI’s continuous advocacy work in our various communities, it’s obvious why CDF continues to be a huge concern to our citizens.

There is little to no information shared with the people who are supposed to be benefiting from these funds.

For example, the CDF Act requires each constituency to have a constituency development plan with regards how each MP plan to develop his/her constituency, yet constituents do not know what their development plans are.

How can they benefit from such plans if they do not know what areas they are supposedly developing?

The Act requires all 50 constituencies to establish constituency development offices in the 50 constituencies however all CDOs, Project officers, finance officers are based in Honiara.

Apart from the 3 Honiara constituencies, how can constituents in the 47 constituencies access their constituency officers? Some MPs even have their spouse as CDOs, isn’t this a conflict?

These constituency officers are public servants yet most seem to be immune to public service rules and regulations, why?

Some MPs have lists of supporters only who are eligible to benefit from CDF contrary to the purpose of having CDF.

There is an overwhelming abuse of CDF in this country yet nothing is done about this by citizens, why?

MPs fail to provide information pertaining to the use and disbursement of CDF to their constituents. MPs continue to use CDF to maintain voter support through the supporting and benefiting ‘voters only’.

It is common to hear in all communities that MPs support their voters only.

This can easily be rectified is MPs inform their constituents about development plans and most importantly the retirement of these millions of dollars.

Who knows, maybe the reports with regards the use and disbursement of CDF looks good and genuine on paper but does it reflect the situation on the ground in each communities?

Why would MPs hide their CDF retirement reports from the constituents?  

Obviously, there are issues surrounding CDF that needs to be rectified, hence these two provincial leaders taking such initiative to challenge CDF.

The PM’s defensive response will not benefit this country, more public funds will be lost in defending this if it goes to Court.

Such a response is unacceptable and it shows a leader who does not have the citizens wellbeing at heart.

TSI is concerned to see the huge increase again given to the Constituency Development Fund that allocated each MP the sum of $6.8 million a year whilst out health sector is in dire need of much needed help and support.

Clinics in poor states.

Very little or nothing to be seen in the constituency as evidence of CDF contribution to development over the past years. 

This is the second highest CDF allocation for the Constituencies through their MPs.

To allocate this amount of money for the Constituencies at a time when the country is going through an economic crisis and health crisis is very irresponsible of the MPs, regardless of which side of the house they are in.

And to allocate such an amount to go through this failed and very corrupt scheme at a time when the country needs to address the health crisis by way of doing something about the delipidated state of health and medical infrastructures is beyond understanding, common sense and is not a sign of good and strong leadership.

Transparency Solomon Islands agrees with Hon Harry Kuma who said, “if Solomon Islands is to grow and develop into a society that is economically vibrant, sustainable and prosperous then we must ensure there is political and economic stability and strong ethical leadership.”

But allocation or commitment of $330 million for CDF is most certainly not a sign of strong ethical political leadership nor will it bring about a society that is economically vibrant, sustainable, and prosperous. 

This is especially so when our debt stands at $1.5billion as government borrows. The Constituency Development Fund Scheme is the most corrupt funding scheme there is. 

It corrupts elections, it corrupts public officials, it corrupts people, it corrupts government systems, it hijacks the constitutionally assigned roles of the provincial governments and the Ministries. 

For all these millions nothing much happens for the majority of Solomon Islanders.

The executive government must understand that the intended legal challenge on the legality of the CDF is not an issue to do with the PM or the MPs, but a matter to be tested in court, to see whether CDF is constitutional or unconstitutional. Since CDF was introduced to MPs who are elected representatives from the constituencies as legislators in parliament, citizens see and feel very little impact on their lives from CDF.

Over a decade now CDF has total up to billions but yet citizens haven’t seen any tangible development from the fund.

The PM instead of suggesting ways to improve the management and disbursement of CDF to meet its intended purpose, he however challenges the premier to take the matter to court.

This does reflect well of an elected leader who is supposed to be collaborating with the provincial government as his agents to deliver services to the people.

TSI believes that given the abuse, lack of transparency and accountability surrounding CDF, the Legislators (MPs) must gazette the CDF Regulation and come up with ways to improve the funding mechanism.

But to defend its current status and ignoring citizens’ concern over its high prevalence to breed corruption does not reflect well of the leadership of the executive government.

 TSI further reiterated the call on MPs and Constituency Officers to inform your constituents about how their CDF have been used over the years to supposedly develop their constituencies.

MPs must inform constituents about your Constituency Development plans seeing that whatever development is done in the constituencies as a result of CDF funding, it has to reflect the development plans.

Often citizens wanting to find out more information about their constituency plans and retirement of funds to enable them to align project applications with areas identified in constituency development plans are informed that these information are confidential.

MPs and constituency officers must not misinform constituents to believe that CDF information are confidential information. Constituents must be informed about how their CDF have been spent and about plans to further develop their constituencies (if need be).

MPs and Constituency Officers must inform their constituents about their retirement reports and again TSI calls on the Ministry responsible to verify retirement reports through visits to the communities.

Enough of this secrecy surrounding the use and disbursement of CDF, our people deserve better.

CDF in its use, abuse and misuse is a breeding ground for abuse and misuse of entrusted power by those in power.

TSI earlier commends Hon Silas Vagara for his move to channel CDF through the Provincial Government under ward grant mechanism.

TSI hopes other MPs will do the same. Similarly in Choiseul, the people said they are finally seeing the impact of the ward grants under the current arrangement where CDF is being channeled through ward committees, so why not trial it out.

All members of Parliament know that PCDF and Ward Grants are well structured, tested, monitored, and have proved to be the most effective and productive means of disbursing public funds to deliver projects and achieved the desired outcome.

Sadly, the voices of the people MPs represent have fallen on deaf ears. 

They hear them, they know what needs to be done, but they choose not to do anything about it other than prioritize their own interest first and if there is any crumb left their constituency might get it.

Former Prime Minister Hon Rick Hou as the Governor of the Central Bank was the most vocal about how corrupt this scheme is. Disappointingly it is now business as usual.

PM invited to Isabel 2nd appointed day

Written by
Press Release
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L-R Premier Lesley Kikolo, PM Sogavare (centre) Provincial Secretary John Lokumana

Premier Leslie Kikolo of Isabel province has formally invited Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to the provincial capital Buala early next month for the Provincial Second Appointed Day celebrations.

Mr Kikolo personally delivered the Prime Minister’s invitation yesterday afternoon.  

Handing over the invitation, Premier Kikolo said, “the main reason for my courtesy call is to hand deliver to your good self, our request for you to be our guest of honour and guest speaker in this year’s Second Appointed Day which will be celebrated on Thursday 3rd June, 2021.

“It will be a pride for my executive and the people of Isabel Province to have you as the head of the National Government celebrate with us, should you accept our humble invitation.”

Kikolo requested if the invitation is accepted, travel arrangements are communicated ahead of time so that his people are prepared to meet the Prime Minister.

Premier Kikolo also discussed a number of provincial priorities, seeking support from the national government.

He said the lack of area for expansion of the Buala Provincial Township needs attention. An alternative is to reclaim the Buala seafront to accommodate better and improved development for the Provincial headquarter. This will be done through compulsory acquisition.

Kikolo also handed to the Prime Minister a copy of the Concept Plan for the proposed reclamation.

“Should the process of compulsory acquisition is done, we may need support and financial assistance from the national government,” he stressed.    

The Premier said due to Climate Change, Fera airstrip is starting to experience sea erosion. It would be very expensive to upgrade or maintain the airstrip at its current location.

The only possibility, he adds, is to realign the Airstrip along the Island. Land space is not a problem and can accommodate Dash 8 and other bigger planes.

As the sun sets on the logging sector, tourism is Isabel Province’s new hope. Upgrading the airport will boost the tourism sector.

He said, discussion had started with the Commissioner of Lands to reclaim Fera which is currently under foreign lease.

“After the discussion, nothing much has been heard from the Commissioner of Lands, thus we need the National Government through your office to assist in getting this done quickly, Premier Kikolo told the Prime Minister.

Welcoming the request, Prime Minister Sogavare verbally accepted the invitation to be part of the Isabel provincial Second Appointed day.  

“I look forward to be part of the Isabel Provincial Second Appointed Day celebrations on the 3rd of June,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister is also grateful to the Provincial Government and people of Isabel province for supporting the national government.

“Thank you for the assurance and support from your provincial government and people of Isabel province towards the national government’s endeavour for the betterment of our people and nation especially in this time of COVID 19.

Prime Minister Sogavare assured Premier Kikolo that requests including logistics for the Provincial Second Appointed Day would be channelled through the right Ministry.

–OPMC PRESS

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