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Manelusi hold talks with Gizo inmates

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Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi delivered his remarks for GCC inmates witnessed by GCC Commandant supt Joseph Teraka (left) and his Deputy commandant Inspector Harry Ama(right)

COMMISSIONER of the Correctional Service Solomon Islands, Gabriel Manelusi has held talks with inmates at the Gizo Correctional Service during his official visit to the Western Province recently.

The presentation by Commissioner Manelusi relates to updates on the progression and feedbacks on matters raised to his office during previous visits to the Centre.

“I also encourage all of us, brother inmates your mission and my mission for 2021, is how can you and I change the world to better or change our community or family better, so that you and I enjoy the life and our purpose in this earth and to ensure our country and our community are safe, enjoyable and peaceful”, Manelusi told inmates.

“The key message I like to reinforce and encourage each of us is your mission and my mission on conditions to see God. How can you and I see God, we need to seek God, we need to turn from our old ways and we need to live a Holy life, since all our doings are recorded in the kingdom of God”

Gizo inmates putting on their beautiful song after their skit presentation

He adds that their mission and his is to heal the heart and mind before they can change the world.

“We need to change first in our life before we can change others.

He encouraged every Convict and Remand Inmates of GCC to respect the law, respect the Correctional Centres properties, respect Correctional Officers and respect each other as we progress together for the future of this organization, God bless you and God bless our Nation, Solomon Islands.

Inmates’ representative delivered the message on the topic Repentance and Forgiveness during the Commissioners official visit at Gizo correction

Meanwhile GCC inmates displayed encouragement skits on the topic “Repentance and Forgiveness” and also sounding a wonderful song title “Lord lift me up”

Gizo Correctional Centre said it will continue to strive to achieve its obligations despite challenges faced and will continue to improve, strengthen and implement positive changes as we progress the future of our organization, according to GCC Commandant supt Joseph Teraka.

—CSSI

Guale Noni farmers get tools from MAL

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MAL Guadalcanal Agriculture Extension Officers hands over the tools and wheel barrows to Noni farmers at Tamboko Village.

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) through its Guadalcanal Agriculture Extension Division has delivered farming tools to two farmer groups at Tamboko community in Northwest Guadalcanal recently.

The support included distribution of wheel barrows and pruning tools purposely to support farmers with their harvesting and to manage their noni trees to accessible heights for harvesting and at the same time enhancing increased yield per tree.

Chief Field Officer for Guadalcanal Province Mr. Joseph Wotomaru said the delivery included 10 wheel barrows, 10 loppers and 10 secateurs (pruning scissors).

“17 farmers formed the two farmer groups and actually they are the ones (farmers) that will be benefiting directly from the support as they will be using the tools to improve their farming activities,” Mr. Wotomaru explained.

The distribution was part of MAL’s continuous support under its Sustainable Economic Growth and Export Strengthening (SEGES) programme, a Medium Term Development Programme (MTDP) of the ministry which is being implemented from 2020 to 2024 to boost farmer’s agricultural productivity and to improve their revenue earnings.

The main objectives of the SEGES is to;

  • Make sure farmers, associations, producers, buyers and exporters are empowered to increase productivity and to increase revenue earnings.
  • Enhanced copra productivity through rehabilitation and support to CRB activities
  • Enhance Cocoa Productivity through Rehabilitation and Genetic improvements
  • Support Kava developments to increase productivity in all the Provinces

Wotomaru said the recipients (farmers) are really happy and acknowledged MAL for the assistance which will certainly aid them in their farming undertakings. 

He then thanked MAL Extension Department management for the facilitation and procurement of the farming tools and ensuring they are safely delivered to the farmers.

Eight more farmer groups are yet to be supported under this project support for Guadalcanal Province.

Honey bee farmers told to seek help from World Bank

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Honey farmers on Ulawa

HONEY farmers on Ulawa Island in the Makira /Ulawa province were told to seek assistance from the World bank’s Agriculture for Rural Transformation (ART) programme.

Speaking to Ulawa honey farmers during an assessment visit, Moses Suifasia told bee farmers that they need to organise themselves, form a small organisation so they can sought assistance from the World Bank through its new programme, ART.

Mr Suifasia and Matilda Tabura who are from the SIRDP ( Solomon Islands Rural Development Program) component two are doing an assessment survey with farmers on Ulawa, involved in the SIRDP’s partnership programme, Agri-Business Partnership Program through Wings and the Solomon Islands Small Business Enterprise Center (SISBEC).

Suifasia told farmers that the survey is an important assessment as it will draw out a baseline for farmers on Ulawa.

“This assesment we are doing is very important for  farmers on Ulawa as it will form a baseline report in preparation for the World bank’s agriculture programme, Agriculture for Rural Transformation (ART) that is soon to be implemented”, he said.

 “We will also forward this report to relevant authorities so they can have background information about farmers on Ulawa”, he adds.

He also informed farmers that the SIRDP component two (SIRDP C2) programme will soon close and will be taken over by the World bank and will be known as Agriculture for Rural Transformation programme ( ART).

“The Solomon Islands Rural Development Program ( SIRDP) will dissolve soon and the World Bank will carry on with the SIRDP Component two programme under its new program,” he further added.

 He said this will be an advantage for rural farmers, especially honey farmers on Ulawa to apply for funding assistance to boost bee keeping on the island, one of Ulawa’s potential agriculture product along side copra.

He further told farmers that the World Bank’s Agriculture for Rural Transformation programme will only be implemented in three provinces, namely; Malaita, Guadalcanal and Makira Ulawa province.

“you are very lucky as the World Bank has identified only three provinces for their Agriculture for Rural Transformation programme unlike the SJRDP’s partnership program, Agri-Business Partnership Program where many provinces are involved”, he said.

“This gives you the opportunity to access funding from this programme so I recommend that you should start preparing for this new Programme and make good use of this opportunity.

– By LIONEL TAORAO in Ulawa

New road upgrade for Honiara settlements

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One of the road worked on under the CAUSE Project

PEOPLE living in Kombivatu, Feraladoa, Ferakusia, and Matariu will no longer face hiccups when travelling to town to access services like markets, schools, and clinics through the completion of their road upgrade by CAUSE Project.

It took Island Kori, the local contractor, 14 months to complete the rehabilitation work.

The total length of the road is 820 meters, of which 294 meters are sealed with concrete, and 526 meters are unsealed.

It is estimated that more than 400plus households will benefit from the road upgrade.

The road upgrade costs $2.238 million. Funding for the road project comes from World Bank. 

A statement from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary Stephen Maesiola said now that the road is completed, beneficiaries need to look after it well for the years to come.

He emphasized the involvement of the woman contractor who undertook this contract and the equivalent SBD 400 thousand dollars labors given to the community.

PS Maesiola also stated that MID is on its plan to implement the same road rehabilitation in urban towns of Western and Malaita provinces.

—CAUSE PROJECT MEDIA

EDITORIAL- Where’s the explanation on Mamara?

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A WEEK on and we are yet to hear a Government explanation over the more than $21 million request it received from Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd.

The request was made in a letter that was leaked on social media last Thursday.

Developer Metropolis Pacific asked the Government to pay $21,945,000 for 30 houses, which it expects to complete by the end of June.

This request indicates a behind-the-scene arrangement between the Government and Metropolis that was never made public.

Early this week, the Government’s Communication Unit said it is working on a clarification that will be issued shortly.

The public is still waiting for that.

Yesterday, Opposition leader Mathew Wale weigh into the debate.

He urged the Government to explain the $21 million claim.

He’s what Wale has to say:

“This twist now takes the debate on this project to new heights,” Wale said in a statement.

“For all we know, the agreement was ratified by an Act of the same name passed by Parliament and gazetted around 1st March 1996.

“This year makes it 27 years after signing and one cannot help but wonder whether the agreement is still valid.

“The current investor is probably the second to take up the project in the last four years and the original agreement was with Metropolis Pacific PTE Ltd, a company registered in Singapore.

“The letter of demand on the other hand was issued for Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd, a locally registered company. 

“Are these the same company or not?

“If they are, has the time that has passed affected the agreement at all or not?

“If they are not the same company and given the time lapse, have the terms of the agreement ever been repudiated and what steps had been taken to contextualise the terms?

“Section 2 (2) of the Act requires any amendment to the agreement to be met by appropriate amendments to the Act also.

“Clause 27 of the agreement further requires any changes made to be placed before Parliament.

“This is a safety net providing opportunity for Parliament to review matters such as prices, budgetary constraints and changes in laws amongst others.

“Someone must explain what is going on. Thus it is very important that answers be provided.

“Looking at the claimed figure and the planned total number of houses, this project is going to cost the government big time and this clearly runs contrary to Government promises to focus our limited resources on protecting our country from Covid 19, and growing our resource sector.

“This deal signals a major hole which is going to drain our limited finances if anything.

“I therefore call on the Prime Minister to come out clear and explain the situation.”

This newspaper too joins Wale to call for an urgent explanation.

Air Traffic Service trainees graduate

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Mavis Podokolo
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Elizabeth Meleuto, left and Brenda Watehau filled with great excitement to finally receives their certificates yesterday after successfully completed a basic Air Traffic Service course from 19th August 2019 to 24 February, 2020 at Honiara Henderson International Airport.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

A total of 15 Air Traffic Service (ATS) trainees have graduated and equipped with additional knowledge to enable them to contribute to the safety of everyone using the Solomon Islands airspace.

The graduation ceremony involved individuals who are recruited in 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2019 and were awarded with certificates by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation yesterday.

Minister for Communication and Aviation Peter Shannel Agovaka said the graduation involves 15 ATS trainees since 2011- 2019 recruitments and some of the trainees graduating have already done their advance trainings in Air Traffic Control Trainings in the Singapore Aviation Academy in 2015 and 2016.

Agovaka said as Minister it is important to have these trainings so trainees can manage and administer the air spaces, especially dealing with the Automatic Depend Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS –B).

He said some of the above-mentioned trainings were done here in Honiara and some trainings were done by ICAO recognised Institutions within the region.

“Today (yesterday) marks the biggest achievement for my Ministry in three folds, firstly our human resources development and training for staff. Secondly the ADS-B advance training for staff for the use of ADS-B equipment in Solomon Islands and official commission of the ADS-B for the users- Airlines and Operators that flies into Solomon Islands to be monitored by the ADS-B,”Agovaka said.

Permanent Secretary to MCA Moses Virivolomo said the ministry is now equipped with the new graduands who have successfully completed their trainings starting way back in 2011.

“I take this opportunity to congratulate you all for the passion, commitment and perseverance that you have gone through to be able to come through this far,” Virivolomo said.

He said the Ministry depends on people to carry out work. Having these additional trainees will make us have a safe air space.

Virivolomo said the new graduands will contribute in making Honiara and Munda safe airports to operate with the ADS-B equipment in Solomon Islands.

“I commended those who have done the training for the ADS-B use and also the people behind them who have supported them and provided necessary technical assistance,” he said.

Tony Telford representative from Solomon Islands Road Aviation Program also congratulated trainees for their achievement and their contribution to improve the safety of every-one using the Solomon Islands airspace.

A SICK HEALTH BILL

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Bills and Legislative Committee (BLC) has questioned the Public Health and Emergency Bill 2021, suggesting it may lead to political ‘manipulation’.

That’s because the Secretary to Cabinet is the chairperson of the National Health Emergency Council as stipulated in Section 27 of the Bill.

BLC members including chairman, Mathew Wale raised this issue when Ministry of Health and Medical Service officials appeared before them in Parliament yesterday.

The Committee is scrutinising the Bill, which aims to provide suitable and urgent responses to public health emergencies and circumstances that threaten the health of the persons and communities of Solomon Islands.

The bill aims to enable a range of operational capabilities and activities that will be able to quickly respond to such emergencies and circumstances and prevent, mitigate, eliminate the contamination, disease or other occurrence causing the emergencies and circumstances, and recover from them.

Member of Parliament for Small Malaita and former Prime Minister, Rick Hou believed the Chairperson of the NHEC should be a medical expert to provide scientific evidence to the government to make decision.

Hou said with due respect, it is unnecessary to appoint an administrator to lead a health-related issue.

He warns there is likely political tendency and consideration to overtake it.

Independent Leader, John Dean Kuku said it seems the Ministry of Health and Medical Services is giving away the Bill rather than taking control of it.

East Are Are MP, Peter Kenilorea Junior said the purpose of the Bill naturally should be health driven.

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Pauline McNeil has taken note of the crucial role health will play in the Bill and the need for the ownership as the Ministry is the custodian and leadership of the Bill.

Mrs McNeil said the NHEC replicates the function of the Oversight Committee instead of the Health.

Incident Controller, Nemia Bainivalu said the idea of NHEC involves a whole government approach to drive the health issue.

The hearing continues today.

Wale concerned with democracy in SI

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Eddie Osifelo
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Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale

By EDDIE OSIFELO

OPPOSITION Leader, Matthew Wale has raised concerns on the government’s action to remove public servants who stood their ground during the covid-19 State of Public Emergency last year.

These include former president of the Solomon Islands Medical Association, Dr Claude Posala and eight members of Solomon Islands Nurses Association (SINA) who were terminated by the government for allegedly spreading false information and staged a sit in protest respectively.

Wale raised the issue when the Ministry of Health and Medical Service officials appeared before the Bills and Legislative Committee in Parliament yesterday.

BLC is scrutinising the Public Health Emergency Bill 2021 which aims to provide suitable and urgent responses to public health emergencies and circumstances that threatens the health of the persons and communities of Solomon Islands.

The bill aims to enable a range of operational capabilities and activities that will be able to quickly respond to such emergencies and circumstances and prevent, mitigate, eliminate the contamination, disease or other occurrence causing the emergencies and circumstances, and recover from them.

Under section 38 (2) of the Bill, it states an authorised officer, or person employed or engaged to carry out functions, duties or responsibilities in an essential service, commits an offence if the authorised officer or person takes part in industrial action while Declaration is in force or there exists a circumstance that threatens public health.

Under section 40 of the Bill, a person commits an offence if, while a Declaration is in force or there exists a circumstance that threatens public health, the person

  1. Maliciously fabricates or knowingly disseminates or publishes, whether by writing or by word of mouth, online or otherwise, any false news or report that is likely to create or foster public alarm, public anxiety or disaffection or to produce public detriment; or

Wale said there should be a process internally to deal with professionals and resolve the issues rather than removing them.

“We should not follow a communist state to shut down information,” he said.

Wale claimed the nature of the governance is not an open government.

He said the government wants to shut down and operate in secrecy.

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Pauline McNeil said Dr Posala was removed for spreading false information on social media.

She said the only the health ministry is the right body under the Public Service General order to release information to the public.

Mrs McNeil said the information are vetted before releasing to the public media.

Furthermore, Mrs McNeil said SINA sit in protest has breached the Essential Act because they have not gotten approval from Honiara City Council and Emergency Powers Act.

However, Wale said the law is quite militant to shut down workers because they aired their grievances.

Pari shocked by lands chief’s breach of faith

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

PARI development company says it is shocked by Lands Commissioner’s move to publish a notice in media over land parcels which they were discussing in ‘good faith’.

Commissioner Allan McNeil published a forfeiture notice on Solomon Star last Friday relating to different parcels of land on Noro Western province.

In the notice, the Commissioner of Land re-entered and took possession of FTE owned by Pari Development Company Ltd in relation to parcels 098-009-052, 098-009-054, 098-011-145, 098-012-545, 098-016-001, 098-011-0169 and 098-009-065 in Noro.

The notice states that in effect, the company no longer owns FTE over any remainder parcels in Noro.

McNeil said any money paid to the company for land in Noro is a matter between the Company and any people paying such money to the company, and is not recognised by the Commissioner of Lands.

He said members of public are strongly advised not to make any further payments to Pari Development Company Ltd for land in Noro as the company no longer owns this land.

However, PARI Director Donald Bato said an agreement was reached with McNeil to deal with these parcels of land through an email conversation on April 26, 2021.

Bato is surprised why McNeil agreed to their discussions but then took to the media with the notice.

Island Sun cited the email conversation between McNeil and Pari’s Bato regarding the parcels on the notice.

In the email they agreed that:

  1. 098-009-052 – COL will retain this land; PDCL will drop its demand for this parcel;
  2. 098-009-054 – COL will drop the forfeiture of this Fixed Term Estate and give PDCL an additional 18 months to develop the land;
  3. 098-011-145 – COL will drop the forfeiture of this FTE in exchange for PDCL committing to a subdivision to divide this parcel into equal halves with the boundary line to be mutually agreed by both parties, and PDCL surrendering the agreed upon half to the COL. COL to give PDCL an additional 18 months to develop the land, by which time the subdivision should have been registered and half the land surrendered to COL.
  4. 098-012-545 – PDCL will create a subdivision of this parcel to create a new parcel alone the southern boundary, including all the land west of the new logging road adjacent to the small Baru subdivision, and will surrender this parcel to the COL within 18 months. COL will drop the forfeiture of this FTE and give PDCL an additional 36 months to develop the land.
  5. 098-011-169 – COL will drop the forfeiture of this FTE and give PDCL an additional 36 months to develop the land. PDCL will apply for subdivision and COL will consent to this subdivision to create a 5-hectare parcel near the Noro-Munda road specifically for waste dump site, and PDCL will surrender this parcel to COL within 18 months.
  6. 098-009-065 – COL will drop the forfeiture of this FTE and give PDCL an additional 36 months to develop the land. In addition, PDCL will build and complete a road alone and inside the north- western boundary of this parcel. COL will consent to the subdivision of this parcel and allow resulting parcels to be transferred, in exchange for PDCL surrendering the road parcel free of charge to SIG.

Nurse absenteeism a chronic issue: McNeil

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

NURSE absenteeism at the National Referral hospital in Honiara is a chronic issue that started before the covid-19 pandemic.

Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary, Pauline McNeil revealed this during the Bills and Legislative Committee hearing of the Public Health and Emergency Bill 2021 in Parliament yesterday.

The Committee is scrutinising the Bill which aims to provide suitable and urgent responses to public health emergencies and circumstances that threatens the health of the persons and communities of Solomon Islands.

The bill aims to enable a range of operational capabilities and activities that will be able to quickly respond to such emergencies and circumstances and prevent, mitigate, eliminate the contamination, disease or other occurrence causing the emergencies and circumstances, and recover from them.

Furthermore, Chief Executive Officer of NRH, Dr George Wilson Malefoasi said a mechanism was put in place to deal with absenteeism.

Chairman of BLC, Matthew Wale raised the issue of fatigue experienced by nurses who work long hours at NRH.

Malefoasi said the hospital has put in place a shift mechanism to address it.

He said one nurse can work for eight hours and take a few days break in order to deal with burn outs.

Malefoasi said it is bit more organised now compared to the initial stage.

“Now we have five teams of five who work around two weeks,” he said.

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