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CUTTING UP COSTS

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Government’s expensive rental deal during covid-19 questioned

By EDDIE OSIFELO

An excessive tenancy agreement signed recently between the owner of the Melanesian Haus and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) is being questioned.

The office rental deal is said to house the Infrastructure Development Unit which was previously accommodated at the Hyundai Mall Building.

Questioning the rental deal, Opposition Leader Matthew Wale said that the new tenancy agreement provides for the rental at $280,000, doubling the rental at Hyundai Mall of $140,000.

Mr Wale says this is unnecessary and uncalled for especially when the Government should be cutting down on expenditure, investing more in growing the domestic economy and safeguarding the population from covid-19.

He said the decision to entertain the agreement is a slap on the face of the DCGA Re-direction Policy intentions.

“The decision was said to be an executive one shoved down the throat of the Infrastructure Development Unit to move to Melanesian Haus from Hyundai Mall,” says Wale.

The Opposition Leader described this move as irrational and shrouded by all indications of a corrupt deal, adding that this is suspicious and must be investigated.

Wale says, “Space cannot be a reason because the Public Service Ministry had already cease all recruitments.”

He urged the DCGA to be serious in implementing its policies especially in monitoring government expenditure. 

“Otherwise, the much talked about re-direction plan will only be mere lip service. Given the apparent contradictions between the agreement and policy intentions, the agreement features as one of the most corrupt agreements out there that requires the DCGA government to address,” the Opposition Leader adds.

The Opposition leader therefore warns that brushing it aside will not help in overall efforts in redirecting the country away from corruption and therefore calls on the responsible ministries to investigate it.

Permanent Secretary of MID, Stephen Maesiola, meanwhile refutes Wale’s claimed rental amount of $280,000 saying that it is instead $200,000 per month.

“The rental at Melanesia Haus is $200,000 per month.”

Maesiola said the reason to move to Melanesia Haus was because the landlord at Hyundai Mall was very strict on rental and working hours which really affected the work of the engineers.

“If the ministry doesn’t pay rentals, the landlord would lock the doors from my staffs.

“Also, the landlord only allows my staff to work until 8pm from Monday to Friday and close the office during weekends,” he said.

Maesiola said his engineers were working in a small room at Hyundai compared to Melanesia Haus in which they occupy the whole two-storey building.

“We currently have 50 staff in the Infrastructure Development Unit, therefore they need big space to do their work.

“The staff of JICA and ADB are also working alongside my staff in the building for the upcoming infrastructure projects,” he said.

Maesiola said currently the ministry finds it hard to rent any building in town for his staff.

He said it is important to provide conducive environment for his staff to do their work.

Sacked captain trains SolAir pilots

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Airlines has engaged its sacked former Chief Executive Officer, Ron Sumsum to train two local pilots Steve Aumanu Junior and Alex Takola to handle the new Twin Otter.

A senior officer in the Airlines confirmed this after sources claimed the company employed Sumsum to pilot the new Twin Outer.

However, the Airline Officer confirmed that Captain Ron Sumsum is not employed by Solomon Airlines, rather he works for Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands (CAASI).

“Captain Sumsum is being engaged by Solomon Airlines as a flight trainer, specifically to train our local Pilots on the Garmin 950 avionics equipment that this New Twin Otter has in its flight,” the Airline officer said.

The Airlines officer said Sumsum had been training the two local pilots since last month and they are ready to fly the plane.

Solomon Airlines sacked Captain Sumsum in 2016 over allegations not known to media.

Black-listed logger ordered out of Ngella

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

A sub-contractor linked with a logging company blacklisted for its history of non-compliance with the business licence of the Central Province has been asked to leave its operations in the Mboli passage on Ngella.

 Logging company, Gulf Three Ltd was reported to have conducted illegal operations at Supare, Mboli passage as sub-contractor to Tropical Resources Development Company Limited (TRDCL), a company that has not been in good standing with the Central Provincial government.

Central Province Provincial Secretary (PS) Alan Christian Siale said the province is reminding the company to remove all machines and employees out of the Provincial Jurisdiction for not having the approval of the Executive as there is a logging ban or large-scale felling of trees within the Province.

“They do not have a valid business License to mill or conduct tree felling within the Provincial Jurisdiction,” Siale said.

He states that TRDCL does not have any Provincial Approval to fell large scale volumes of trees within the Province.

“TRDCL application to mill timbers license has been denied by the Provincial Executive due to its unsustainable quota requested for milling of 60,000m3 at a rate of 4,000m3 per month.”

Siale said this is contrary to the Forestry Act, which provides a lesser volume per annum.

He said TRDCL has outstanding business licence owed to the Province for its past operations. TRDCL is a black listed company in Central Province.

“TRDCL is not in good standing with the Province for non-compliance with business license.”

Siale said that TRDCL & GULF THREE Company Ltd are operating without an Executive Approval and without a valid License.

“You are reminded to stop work and remove your machines and non-local employees back to your base,” Siale said.

He stressed that a check by the Police and Forestry should confirm that TRDCL and GULF THREE Company Ltd do not have the approval of the Province on milling and logging.

Therefore, Siale said that they do not have business licenses to operate in Central Province jurisdiction hence are operating illegally outside of the legal framework of the Forestry Act of Solomon Islands.

Comments are being sought from TRDCL.

Gov’t told not to ignore bananas

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Admin
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BANANAS are a traditional food crop that must not be ignored in the Government’s efforts to develop agriculture.

That’s according to Makira-Ulawa premier Julian Maka’a.

Speaking in provincial capital Kirakira, Makaa says the Agriculture Sector which is normally referred to as the backbone of the national economy is also that of his province, therefore Government must not ignore “our Makira Ulawa bananas as it continues to improve and increase production of our traditional food crops”.

Maka’a says his Provincial Government expects this would ensure food self-sufficiency as it addresses food security for the rural people while at the same time, it also encourages and promotes value adding through downstream processing.

He adds, work to support the famous cocoa quality improvement program for all small holders to meet export standards is continuing with funds collectively provided by both the National, and the Provincial Governments.

Premier Maka’a says his Government for Unity, Reform and Advancement is vigorously pursuing incorporating into its Policy Translation the alignment to have access to natural resources with the National Level Concept of a National Agricultural 10-year Plan.

By George Atkin Kira Kira Correspondent

Health admits there’ll be delay in vaccine delivery

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Press Release
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Dr Zelalem Taffese, UNICEF Field officer to the Solomon islands shakes and with Minister of Health Dr Culwick Togamana following the arrival of the AstraZeneca vaccine into the country on March.

MINISTRY of Health yesterday admitted the worsening COVID-19 situation in India would delay delivery of the second consignment of vaccines into the country.

The ministry was responding to concerns Opposition leader Mathew Wale raised about the procurement of vaccines due to the situation in India.

In a statement, the ministry said discussions on the matter have been ongoing at this time.

“Discussions with other bilateral partners to secure more COVID-19 vaccines including AstraZeneca vaccines have already commenced and this will be communicated when appropriate,” the statement said.

“The UNICEF and the WHO have been working to make sure that we get at least 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine so that we can immunize the people with their second due dose,” it added.

“A global disruption of COVID-19 vaccine, will however, delay our plans to vaccinate our entire population, hence we will have a guarded approach towards easing the other public health measures such as border restrictions so as to make sure that our populations are protected.”

The statement added the Government had requested 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from India, the world’s largest supplier of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

But the ministry admitted due to unfortunate situation in India it anticipates a delay in delivery of vaccine to Solomon Islands.

Further, it said the situation in India had adversely affected the entire global supply chain of COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine, resulting in anticipated delays in delivery of the vaccine from COVAX facility too and it has been a setback to our plan to roll out the vaccine.

The ministry said it is actively monitoring the global COVID-19 vaccine situation.

Meanwhile, the ministry said Wale’s claim that the local shipping agent of MV Chefoo, boarding the vessel before being cleared by health is incorrect.

“The shipping agent boarded MV Chefoo with a Port Health Quarantine Officer of the Ministry of Health who cleared the vessel after conducting health assessment and review of relevant health documentation provided by the captain,” the statement said.

“Whilst boarding and when on board, both were using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gown, face masks and gloves, and observed all Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) standards of physical distancing of at least 1.5 meters from the crew and the captain and maintained frequent hand washing with hand sanitizers.

“More importantly, both had undergone risk assessment by health’s surveillance team who concluded that the risks level for the two to have contracted the virus from the crew member was zero.

“This risk assessment is a standard practice for all frontline workers upon completion of their duties.

“Boarding of foreign vessels arriving in Solomon Islands by both shipping agent and health port quarantine officer is required because the agent is responsible to receive documentation from captain and provide them to the health port quarantine officer for assessment.

“Thus, it is part of the overall standard operating procedure set in place for clearances of foreign vessels during this COVID-19 pandemic period.

“All shipping agents who boarded ships have also undergone a number of COVID-19 related trainings mainly on PPEs and IPCs and never at any time boarded the ships without an officer from the health port quarantine division of the Ministry of Health.

“There is no special favour granted to any shipping line, the first and foremost objective of clearance of ships is to make sure that it poses no risk to the Solomon Islands.”

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

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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.

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