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Stealing is a crime: Court

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRINCIPAL Magistrate Augustine Aulanga has reiterated taking another person’s property without consent is a crime and it will always have punitive consequences.

He made the statements when sentencing a 17-year-old at the Honiara Magistrate Court earlier this week.

The 17-year-old female juvenile was charged with two charges of simply larceny contrary to section 261(1) of the Penal Code.

The first charge relates to the theft of 61,288 Philippine currency known as “peso”, and the complainant is the grandmother of the accused.

Whilst the second charge relates to the theft of an external hard drive, a portable charger and a Wi-Fi modem. She committed this offence by cutting the suitcase of the complainant and then removed the stolen items. This occurred on December 8, 2019 and at the same Townground area in Honiara. All the stolen items have already been retrieved and recovered.

Aulanga said in his sentence the accused is a young person of 17 years old and therefore, a juvenile. The law of Solomon Islands and even abroad have always strive to ensure that a juvenile be treated differently and leniently by the court during sentencing, compared to an adult offender.

“This is because a juvenile does not fully understand the consequence that will follow when committing an offence. This is attributed to the fact that a juvenile is immature and is prone of making mistakes compared to an adult or matured person,” Aulanga said. 

However, the offender should know that stealing is a crime. It is the taking of another person’s property without consent. Since it is a crime, it will always have punitive consequences. Therefore, as a 15 year old girl at the time of the offending, common sense should tell her to keep her fingers off from other people’s personal items.

“I understand she is related to the complainants so I don’t see any reason why she should have asked them first before taking their properties,” Aulanga said.   

He also said since the two charges do not involve violent offending, he considers rehabilitation as the paramount consideration for the sentence for the accused.

Aulanga also said the situation of Solomon Islands is always prone to juvenile recidivism or the risk of a juvenile returning into the bad or vicious cycle of reoffending because of the lack of government supervisory or support programs to monitor the behavior of a juvenile offender following release from imprisonment.

Facilitating rehabilitative sentencing mechanisms and at the same time, ensuring a juvenile is held accountable for the crime committed, is the appropriate and preferred conventional approach in dealing with a juvenile offender, Aulanga said.

Therefore, Aulanga sentenced the accused on the first count, one year imprisonment but was substituted with a compensation order for her to pay $9,840 (SBD), an amount equivalent to 61,288 pesos, to the complainant before or by 31st July 2021. Breach of which, the offender will be arrested and brought to court to serve the 1 year term with immediate effect.

Whilst for the second charge that involves the theft of the external hard drive, the portable charger and the Wi-Fi modern, the court imposes six months but fully suspended for 12 months on the condition that she is to be of good behavior and will not commit any new offence during this operational period, the reason for imposing this suspended term is that all the stolen items had been recovered.

Man, evaded police since 2018, arrested

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Police have arrested a man who had been evading them since 2018.

He was apprehended on April 24, this year.

Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Vaevaso said the alleged suspect had been on the run since 2018 following an alleged murder incident at Afeala village, East Kwaio, Malaita Province.

Vaevaso said the man had a co-accused who had already been arrested during investigations.

Last week police were alerted to reports that the wanted man was onboard the ship, LC Gulatatae, heading for Honiara from west Kwaio.

Central Police station in Honiara were alerted and they arrested the man on arrival at Pt Cruz wharf. He was placed in custody awaiting further dealing and remand application.

Vaevaso thanks the communities for working together with police leading to the arrest.

“This kind of working together is something that police expects from our communities and for police to be successful in there is for public and community collaboration,” Vaevaso said.

Meanwhile police said the suspect has been charged with murder contrary to section 200 of the Penal Code.

Last day for jab

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Staff-of-National-Public-Health-Laboratory-with-the-V-sign-indicating-their-done-with-first-Covid-19-vaccine-jab

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE first phase of the AstraZeneca vaccination rollout in Honiara is expected to complete today, says Pauline McNeil permanent secretary to Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

According to McNeil, 7000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine were allocated for Honiara to be administered.

“Hopefully vaccination rollout will be completed today Friday, April 30, 2021,” she said.

However, she hints that the priority is to fully utilise the 7000 doses, which may mean extending the days if supplies are not exhausted by today’s end.

McNeil said the ministry of health will continue vaccination until they fully utilise the 7000 allocated AstraZeneca does for Honiara.

With this she called on those who have not yet been vaccinated to come forward and get their jab today.

McNeil said those who are to be vaccinated include frontlines, those who are above 40 years of age, public figure, 18 years old above, Parliament Members, public figures, Members of the diplomats, former Governor General, Church leaders and community leaders, sporting groups and others.

Illegal beche-de-mer harvesting hinders vaccination in Luaniua

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Vaccination roll-out program at Luaniua in Ontong java last year.....Photo supplied

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

Current illegal harvesting of beche-de-mer in Luaniua, Ontong Java, has reportedly hindered successful vaccination of all eligible people there.

A government health team which recently toured the Malaitan outliers, Ontong Java and Sikaiana, released a report saying this led to only 50 percent of Luaniua’s eligible population being vaccinated.

The health team also stressed the continued high risk in Luaniua due to this low vaccination turnout.

Only 270 people out of the estimated 1000 eligible 18-years-old and above from Luaniua community and nearby settlements were vaccinated.

The report elaborates that other contributing factors could include myths about the AstraZeneca vaccine and associated fears among the islanders.

But, regarding myths, the health team is adamant that it had debunked the false rumours attached to the vaccine before the vaccination programme ran.

The report also took into account the fact that the vaccination is not compulsory, which is taken as another possible factor contributing to the low turnout in Luaniua. In other words, some simply chose not to be jabbed.

However, the health team reported receiving information that a large portion of Luaniua’s population were scattered throughout the lagoon atolls on beche-de-mer fishing expeditions.

These people did not turn up for jabs, it is reported.

The report meanwhile said that the vaccination program was also conducted in Pelau (the other main island in Ontong Java) with an overwhelming turnout.

More than 400 people were vaccinated, equivalent to 80 percent of the small population on the island.

The report said the remaining 20 percent are those who recently left the island to Honiara.

Rolling out SafeNet to provinces a learning process for MWYCFA: Ngai

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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supervising director for the Women's Development Division (WDD) within the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, Vaela Ngai said the rate of Domestic violence has increased over the years.

BY MAVIS PODOKOLO

DIRECTOR to Ministry of Women, Youth Children and Family Affairs Vaela Ngai says SafeNet rollout process to the provinces has been one of great learning for the country.

“The SafeNet roll out process to the provinces has been one of great learning for us in the Solomons,” Ngai said

She said for the past years SafeNet has been mainly established at the national level around the capital, Honiara until more recently beginning in 2018 they began the process of rolling out to the provinces.  

“We have rolled out SafeNet to four of the nine provinces and will continue to the remining five provinces this year,” Ngai said.

She stressed while there are standards and principles that govern SafeNet work regardless whether it is at the national or provincial level, they have tailored the safe net model to fit the context of four provinces.

Ngai added for instance, the need to expand the provincial SafeNet members to include community groups and leaders including chiefs as an entry point into the referral system for victims and survivors of GBV.

“This was to provide that link between victims and survivors from rural and remote areas to the Gender Based Violence services and referral system,” she said.

SI shares initiatives to fight GBV with Pacific women

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Solomon Islands women attending the online 14th Triennial conference.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Government through the Ministry of Women this week in the 14th Triennial conference shared home-grown initiatives to address Gender Based Violence.

Director for Women Development Division, Vaela Ngai speaking in one of the plenary sessions at the conference for Pacific Women said Solomon Islands uses two of its home-grown initiatives to address Gender Based Violence.

Ngai said the two home-grown initiatives are SafeNet referral network and domestic violence counselling guideline.

“These initiatives are particularly there roll out to the provincial areas for us is still very much in the early days and still very much focused on the setting up and strengthening of the governing structures including the development of coordination and reporting tools for each of the provinces that we are rolling out to,” she said.

Ngai said SafeNet referral network consists of government ministries and agencies, CSOs and NGOs.

She said over the past years they have progressively worked to ensure the availability and accessibility of quality and essential services ranging from safe accommodation, legal advice, medical services, protection and counselling.

Ngai said for years SafeNet has been mainly established at the national level around the capital, Honiara until more recently beginning in 2018 they began rolling out to the nine provinces.  

“We have rolled out SafeNet to four of the nine provinces and will continue to the remining five provinces this year. The SafeNet roll out process to the provinces has been one of great learning for us in the Solomons.

“So, while there are standard and principals that governs our SafeNet work regardless whether it is at the National or Provincial level we have to tailor the safe net model to fit the context of four provinces,” she said.

Ngai said for domestic violence counselling guideline was developed as a requirement under The Family Protection Act 2014.

She said this act aims to provide protection for the public and particularly GBV victims and survivors by establishing a registry of domestic violence counsellors in all 10 provinces of Solomon Islands including Honiara.

Ngai stressed the guideline outline process and procedures to identify domestic violence councilors who are competent and trustworthy through meeting registration criteria, signing up to code of Ethics and minimum practice standard, governance system including a complaint mechanism, monitoring standards and also processes for de-registration if practice standards are not met.

“We are currently in its prepatory phase. Prior to its roll out to nine provinces and in Honiara and we have just completed one key activity as of last week where we had pre-tested our GBV counselling training manual,” said Ngai.

ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION ROLLS OUT RECRUITMENT PLAN

Written by
Press Release
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THE newly established Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC) office is now rolling out its recruitment Plan.

The recruitment exercise is part of the activities taken after the appointment of the Director General of SIICAC at the end of October 2020.

The first phase of the recruitment involves officers in the Corporate and Support Services Division.

The rationale for recruiting officers for its Corporate and Support Services division is to set up the administrative cadre of the office in preparation for the second phase of recruitment for the Corruption Prevention, Legal/Prosecution, and Investigation divisions.

According to Director General, John Hugani Kouni, if everything goes according to plan, we should be able to fill up all the vacant positions within the Corporate and Support Services division by the end of the second quarter of this year.

Mr Kouni added that, after recruitment of the officers in the Corporate and Support Services division, the next recruitment exercise would focus on the Heads of Divisions (HODs) positions for the other divisions, which include corruption Prevention, Legal/Prosecution and Investigation Divisions.

Mr Kouni is also taking the opportunity to express his appreciation to the commitment and support by the National Government for allowing SIICAC to undertake its recruitment exercise despite the recruitment freeze.

This shows the seriousness of our Government to address corruption and its effects in our country. He added that, the recruitment would ensure that SIICAC has the necessary work force and capacity to enable it to properly discharge is functions as mandated by the Anti-Corruption Act 2018.

“As the Director General, I really appreciate the Democratic Coalition for Change Government (DCCG) for its commitment and political will to ensure that the SIICAC is becoming fully operational to carry out its statutory functions,” Kouni stated.

It is understood that since taking up the role as Director General, one of Mr Kouni’s priority task, among others, was to carry out the needs assessment analysis and work of the 2021 Annual Work Plan. Working on the Strategic Plan is also another priority area. The recruitment exercise that is progressing now is part of implementation of the 2021 Annual Work Plan.

While carrying out the recruitment exercise, SIICAC will continue to carry out its corruption prevention roles and anti-corruption awareness programmes using the existing avenues. That includes participating in in organised training programs like the Public Service IPAM training and through the SIBC Justice Sector programme.

More recently and with the support and facilitation by the SIG – UNDP Transparency Accountability Project and the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project, SIICAC is progressing on to forge new relationships in its efforts to cooperate and collaborate through sharing of information, among others, with other sister Anti-Corruption bodies within and outside of the region.

—GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT

More than 4000 vaccinated so far: PM

Written by
Press Release
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AstraZeneca vaccine. Photo by NDTV.

A total of 4289 persons have been vaccinated in Honiara.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said this in his nationwide address Monday this week.

The Prime Minister said this represents 61 percent of the total doses allocated for Honiara.

Prime Minister Sogavare said the people vaccinated in Honiara so far include:

  • front-liners,
  • persons above 40 years of age
  • persons 18 years and above with underlying health condition
  • public figures including church leaders,
  • members of the diplomatic core and staff,
  • sporting groups who are scheduled for international games.

“I call on people in Honiara that come under the above categories to turn up this week for your vaccination at the Central Field Hospital,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the Honiara vaccination rollout will close this Friday.

He said all remaining doses of vaccines will be added to the allocation for the border zone.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sogavare said more than 400 people aged 18 years and over had been vaccinated in Malaita Outer Islands in the past week.

He said the vaccination team had arrived back in Honiara and data analysis to provide coverage percentage has started.

“Let me thank community chiefs, elders, church leaders and members of the Malaita Outer Island communities that supported the vaccination drive and came out to be vaccinated,” he said.

Sogavare said for those that have missed out, another visit will be made when the second tranche of AstraZeneca vaccines arrive in the coming months.

–OPMC PRESS

SI average growth rate at 2.7: Census

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Solomon Islands 2019 national census showed average annual population growth since 2009 at 2.7 percent.

This is one of the fastest rates in the Pacific.

Honiara, the capital, grew by 5.8 percent, taking population density to 5,950 people per square kilometer, higher than any other urban area in the Pacific.

Asian Development Bank’s Solomon Islands Country Office Unit Head Elmar Elbling stated this when he presented the Asian Development Outlook (ADB) 2021 at Heritage Park Hotel yesterday.

Elbling said rapid population growth and urbanization have brought myriad social and economic challenges such as unplanned settlements, heavy traffic, and inadequate infrastructure and public services.

He said combined with habits such as sharing betel nut, urban congestion can speed the transmission of disease.

“Risk from COVID-19 prompted the authorities to try to ease decongestion in Honiara in the early months of the pandemic by encouraging people to return to their provinces.

“Urban agglomerations can catalyze growth and innovation, creating synergies across sectors, industries, and social groups,” he said.

Elbling said with proper planning, they facilitate economies of scale, in the delivery of public services.

He said achieving this requires human capital development, especially through education and health care, and expansion of infrastructure to support mobility and delivery of food, energy, and water supply and sanitation services.

“These issues are partly addressed in the 2018 Greater Honiara Urban Development Strategy and Action Plan.

“With support from development partners, large infrastructure projects are under way, though delayed by the pandemic,” he said.

Elbling said tremendous challenges outside the main urban areas through improved agricultural productivity.

He said higher investments in transport and communications are also needed.

“However, real impact and benefits to people will depend on fiscal strengthening, budget prioritization, and enhancing implementation capacity,” he said.

EDITORIAL- A new city in the making

Written by
Admin
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THE Mamara New City project west of Honiara will be officially unveiled this morning.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare will be the guest of honour at the ground-breaking ceremony.

Details of the project and what it entails will be outlined at the event.

But in a nutshell, we are talking about a new city here.

Called the Mamara Spring Villas project, this new development will be undertaken by a company called Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd.

This is a foreign company comprised of a number of investors across Asia.

Metropolis says it will build residential houses, shops, warehouses, school, sport facilities and tourism facilities.

Already, 15 houses have been constructed to date and are 80% complete. The company intends to build more than 1,000 houses before 2023.

And it promises to employ up to 800 locals – both skilled and unskilled.

Under the Mamara-Tasivarongo-Mavo Development Agreement Act 1997, the company Metropolis has been allocated approximately 100 hectares of alienated land, more than enough to cater for its proposed city.

This development will be overseen by a Council established under the Act.

This is a huge project that is much needed at this time to create job opportunities and generate income for the country.

But while it is a welcomed development, the Government must ensure the developer operates according to our laws and within the ambit of the Mamara-Tasivarongo-Mavo Development Agreement Act 1997.

This is important to ensure it brings benefits to our people and country.

Furthermore, while the development will take place on alienated land, surrounding landowning groups must be kept informed of every stage of the process.

In fact, a mass awareness should be carried out within the surrounding communities ahead of the construction stage.

This is vital to avoid misunderstanding that may lead to hostility and lawlessness.

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