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Gold Ridge tailings dam rise to dangerous levels

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Gold ridge tailings Dam

THE Environment and Conservation Division with the support from the National Disaster Management Office is continuing to monitor the Gold Ridge tailings Dam after water level rose to dangerous levels following heavy rainfall in recent weeks.

Latest data collected on site showed that on the 1st April 2021 the level of water at the spillway was recorded at 58.0cm (freeboard) below the highest point of the current spillway and on the 6th of April, the level of water rose by 2cm and reduced the freeboard to 56cm as a result of rainfall.

 What is clear is such low freeboard poses an overall elevated risk for the dam, although the spillway is designed to ease water pressure on the main dam wall.

 The generally high rainfall for the month of April is worrying because water level at the dam is very sensitive to rainfall and therefore poses a threat to the main dam wall, and elevates the risk of uncontrolled spillage through the spillway.

Goldridge Mining Limited (GRML) has been in possession of license to discharge water from the dam after treatment.

 However, they have not been able to do that because the treatment plant needs repair.

GRML has also been consulting with downstream communities and their respective associations on their plans for the safety of the dam.

The ministry will continue to monitor the dam, and liaise with GRML to remedy the risk posed by the high level of water in the dam underpinned by environmental safety, and the safety of our downstream communities and stakeholders.

–MECCDMM

WPG overspends $2.6M: Report

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Hon Ramrakha Talasasa.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Provincial Public Account Committee of Western Province found that the province has overspent a total of 2,678,651 as part of its 2020/2021 recurrent expenditure.

According to Chair of PPAC, Ramraka Talasasa, the overspending is due to one reason and that is the mismatch of budget allocations to respective divisional heads.

He said Divisions that were identified for overspending their budget allocations are; Administration – $842,054, Forestry – $742,750, Office of the Premier – $628,036, Works and Transport – $327,534, Development Planning – $138,277.

Talasasa said PPAC found that the huge over spending compared to revised amount, is the Administration division with an excess amount of $ 842,054. (Revised 2020/2021 is 3,629,870 less actual 2020/2021 4,471,924).

“Of the total actual of 4,471,924 an excess of 904,946 was committed on disaster expenditure bringing the total disaster expenditure to 2,046,532. Additional revenue of 730,305 was received from SIG Budget support and is used to supplement this over spending,” he said.

Talasasa further explained that the amount of 2,678,651 is the total amount overspent that needs to be appropriated.

He said PPAC has received a supplementary appropriation of 2,813,324 leaving a difference of 134,673.

On the other hand, Talasasa said PPAC has also found that there are divisions who are under spending their division budget as per revised budget.

He said the divisions that are underspending their budget allocation includes; Lands – $359,479, Finance – $254,642, Assembly Office – $180,542, Education – $158,399, Health – $142,173, Fisheries – $132,520, Agriculture – $117,653, Local Council – $72,469, Tourism – $51,749, Youth – $51, 471, Commerce – $42,293, Environment – $36,790, Women Development – $31,015 and Sports – $25,283.

Talasasa reminds WPG that projections should be as realistic as possible for revenue and expenditures rather than affording token amounts and funding unplanned activities not captured in the budget.

Health praises Premier Gina

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Premier of Western province, David Gina

THE Ministry of Health has applauded the Premier of Western Province David Gina for making the pledge to be the first person to receive the covid vaccine when it is rolled out in the Shortlands.

Gina made the pledge at an extra ordinary Provincial Assembly Meeting this week in Gizo, with the presence of National Health Staff deployed to the Western Province to conduct vaccination training for provincial health staff.

Heexplained that when we feel sick, we run to health for advice and treatment and this should not be any different when it comes to prevention against sickness and diseases, in this case COVID-19.

“As such, to demonstrate my trust in our health authorities I have decided to be the first to receive the vaccine before my good people can follow suit,” stated the Premier.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Pauline McNeil thanked the Premier for demonstrating courage and true spirit of leadership.

“There remains quite significant amount of fear and anxiety amongst the public for the uptake of the vaccine and our leaders need to come out publicly and support the vaccination campaign as this is one of the most effective ways in which we can prevent being sick, hospitalized and die from the COVID-19 pandemic,” McNeil said.

“It does not take us to see beyond our region the impact of COVID-19, it is just a mile or two beyond our western border thus, health is working very hard to make all necessary preparations and will swiftly move to vaccinate all persons 18 years and above along our western border communities,” she added.

McNeil said that the major concern is with these eligible people not coming forward to receive the vaccine once it is rolled out.

“So, we are trying our very best with our teams already down at the border conducting vaccine awareness and mobilizing support from chiefs, community elders, church leaders, women and youth groups.

“In this endeavour, we deeply appreciate every single encouragement and support of our leaders towards the uptake and roll out of the vaccines. “

–MHMS

WPG urged to be strategic with its expenditure

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WESTERN Provincial Government has been urged to be cautious with its expenditures when implementing the 2021/2022 budget.

Chair of Provincial Public Accounts Committee, Ramrakha Talasasa made the statement during WPG’s recent extra-ordinary meeting.

Talasasa said the issue of financial overruns and value underspent in respective heads is a concern that must be addressed.

He adds that the practice of spending more than budget allocations must also be addressed as such practice affects other subheads’ ability to implement their programs.

Talasasa said unnecessary virements should be cautioned as it is difficult to balance the budget though virements are the only means to support government services throughout the financial year.

He said raising of virement must follow due processes as stipulated by provincial regulations so that balancing of spending can be practical.  

“We must not confine ourselves to revenues and expenses for progress but consider a wider scope whereby we can influence growth either through the reduction of certain rates, empower of the workforce and building investors’ confidence by having a reputable investment arm,” Talasasa said.

He said the government needs to have in place a fiscal policy to administer deficits, surplus and balance budget.

Talasasa stressed that such intervention can direct the province towards other aspects of its economy such as liquidity, unemployment rates and inflation rates to fuel economic growth that would trigger improvement in revenue collection.

“Revenue projection in 2019/2020 fell short by 5 million. For the year 2020/2021 revenue collection improved but was cancelled by huge overrun that could have been easily avoided should there be in place, serious consideration for compliance with relevant instructions,” he said.

Talasasa adds that the global health scar of COVID-19 is a high risk to public health and is bound to affect the country’s financial strength therefore Western Provincial government must be mindful and strategic of its expenditures.

“COVID-19 knows no devolved or non-devolved function as a barrier but the Western Provincial assembly has an obligation towards the health and safety of the people, he said.

Ziata tribe against water closure

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Alfred Pagepitu
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Noro Port.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

A LANDOWNING group has responded to Rex Biku’s threat to close the Ziata water source near the Noro township.

The response was made by a representative of one of the three landholding groups that have signed the lease agreement with the Solomon Islands government over the water source.

 Appointed Lessor for the Zinihite party, Shirley S Zinihite said the Acquisition determination on the Ziata Water Source has identified three landholding groups to sign the lease agreement with the SIG.

Mrs Zinihite said Rex Biku is one of those persons identified as a lessor for the Biku, Gumi, Gemu and Veo groups. 

She explained that in 2008, the three parties signed with the SIG a Memorandum of Agreement, [MOA] to allow continuous access for the sourcing of water to supply the Noro township whilst the process to conclude the acquisition towards a vesting order is underway.

“In signing this Agreement, Rex Biku has his hands tied and he cannot now threaten closure of the water supply.”

“In exchange for signing the MOA, the three parties were paid SBD$1M.

“Rex Biku or the GUMI, GEMU and VEO ASSOCIATION or anyone else seeking monetary benefits have no right to issue 14 days’ notice to shut down the Ziata Water Source.”

Mrs Zinihite adds that the move by Rex Biku is a breach of the 2008 MOA and should not be entertained by the government.

She said the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force should be alerted to make arrest of persons who attempt to disturb the water source and the supply of water.

“One party cannot act alone to close the water supply. The move by Rex Biku is strongly opposed by the principal landowning groups,” she said.

Mrs Zinihite said the landowners were recently given an audience by the Commissioner of Lands and his staff to address the Ziata water source issue.

She said Rex Biku and his Kava Bar nephew boycotted the meeting.

“They left the conference room and missed out on the chance to address their grievances to the Commissioner of Lands and to hear  the position of the government. They have lost that golden opportunity.”

Mrs Zinihite said the SIG should be reserved not to deal with the $400,000 claim by Rex Biku.

“There is a legal case on this by a member of their own tribe.

“He should follow the law and sort matters out with his own tribe instead of threatening closure of the water because of his own inadequacies and failures to look after his own tribal members.

Minister wants Education infrastructure prioritised

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Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

EDUCATION Minister wants education infrastructures in the country given top priority due to the increasing population growth it is facing.

Minister of Education and Human Resources, Lannelle Tanangada told Parliament this week that the development budget for the education infrastructure has declined over the years and with the compounded population growth of 2.3%, it is becoming an important matter to be considered as a high priority. 

She said population growth has become an overarching factor  that all sectors of the government needs to address. 

“The allocation of only $4,750,000 for the education infrastructure is not adequate to support the required additional infrastructure development of schools in order to accommodate the country’s population growth. 

“The MEHRD senior management team has discussed this with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and Ministry of National Planning and Development officials and a general consensus has been reached, to gradually increase the development budget provided to MEHRD,” she said.

Minister Tanangada said to accommodate the additional places especially at the senior secondary school level, her ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and the Ministry of National Planning and Coordination is working on a senior secondary education expansion project proposal, to seek financial support from an international financial institution for Government considerations. 

“Subject to the interest and approval of government to invest in the education sector, a new project called Senior Secondary School Improvement Program will be designed and developed through support from the financial institution identified and to be completed around June/July this year,” she said.

In the meantime, the Ministry’s Development Budget (472) has increased from $24 million in 2020 to $34,750,000 this year. 

This is an increase of 21.9% from $28,500,000 in 2020. 

However, only $4,750,000 has been allocated for the education infrastructure (school infrastructure projects), while $30,000,000 is allocated to the Solomon Islands National University. 

Due to budget cuts, the Ministry will implement school infrastructure projects with the budget made available.

Min of Education gets recurrent budget cut

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Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Education and Human Resources has experienced a budget cut in is recurrent budget.

A total of $1.2 billion of the $4 billion national budget was allocated to Education this year.

Minister, Lannelle Tanangada told Parliament on Tuesday that the recurrent budget for her Ministry was reduced by $147,459,510, which is a 12.2% reduction for 2021 compared to the 2020 recurrent budget. 

She said this decrease is primarily due to the revenue pressures experienced as stated in the Ministry of Finance and Treasury 2021 Budget Strategy paper (and which the Minister of Finance and Treasury has alluded to in his speech).

“It should also be noted that my Ministry always received the highest recurrent budget from the overall Government Budget over the past years – from 24% to 35% since 2016, which is above the international bench mark of 10% to 15% of budget that governments are requested to spend on education.

“However, the analysis by subsector for administrative costs across ECE, Primary, Secondary, TVET and Tertiary shows that the scholarship budget continues to receive the highest budget allocation over the years, and for 2021, it is 58% followed by the Primary (21%) and Secondary (12%) of MEHRD budget,” she said.

Minister Tanangada said the ECE and TVET have the lowest share of 3% and 2% respectively in the 2021 budget, however these last two sectors have the smallest number of students.

Guale chief supports Suidani’s CDF move

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Guadalcanal Premier, Francis Sade has thrown support behind Malaita Premier's move to take the RCDF issue to court.

A CHIEF on North Guadalcanal, Benedict Garimane has welcomed the move by Malaita Province to mount a judicial review in court on the infamous RCDF or CDF Scheme.

Premier Daniel Suidani is looking at seeking the High Court for a judicial review on this subject matter, in an effort to determine the Constitutionality of this scheme. 

Garimane said it was long overdue and a move that would help to put things right.

He said for many decades, millions were disbursed under the CDF to Members of Parliament but with little to show for in development.

Garimane said many people are living under poverty with no proper education and infrastructure, despite millions under the RCDF.

Premier Suidani pointed out that under the Constitution of Solomon Islands there are the three arms of the Government, the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. 

The three arms have powers and functions that are separated but support each other making sure there are checks and balances in the governing of the country.

The RCDF or CDF Scheme is a scheme where elected members of parliament who are legislators were allocated funds to carry out activities in the name of development in their constituencies. 

The scheme is administered and managed by the Ministry of Rural Development with the Constituency Development Office.

Similar court cases on CDF were conducted in places like Kenya and elsewhere. As leaders, the premier said he is duty bound to ensure the court makes determination on the legality of this scheme.

It is well known amongst Solomon Islanders and beyond that the RCDF Scheme is a controversial one and has had its fair share of criticisms. 

Many even believed that one of the biggest negative effects of the scheme is that it perpetuated a dependency syndrome and creates a handout mentality in many quarters of Solomon Islands communities.

The Premier said once he had a good picture on how to proceed with the matter, he will make a public statement and a call for support from those who feel they shared the same view.

EDITORIAL- Siapu must serve the people, not cronies

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COUNCILLOR Eddie Siapu is our new city mayor.

He was elected yesterday following the recent ousting of Wilson Mamae, whose leadership was tainted with numerous allegations of mismanagement.

Fourteen councilors threw their support behind Siapu against the six that backed contender Reginald Ngati.

This is a welcome development after all that the council had been through since last year.

At least there’s now a new captain at the helm.

But here’s the thing.

Siapu is very much part of the Mamae leadership that was responsible for the mess.

So that question is: what difference is he bringing to the council and the people of Honiara?

Perhaps that’s the challenge Siapu has to deal with if his leadership is going to be different from Mamae.

As rate-payers, the people of Honiara want a city council that is responsive and councilors who take their responsibilities seriously.

Observations have it that some of the current councilors are basically in there for the meeting allowances and ward grants.

They hardly bring any good to the city council.

Councillors should be the ones driving change at the council.

They should be the ones coming up with policies and by-laws that will strengthen the operations of the council.

They must be the ones leading and directing the council.

This is an opportunity for Siapu, a two-term councilor, to prove his worth.

 He must show to the residents of Honiara that he’s different from Mamae.

Interest of the people of Honiara must be always at the forefront of any decisions he and his executive make.

He must stand for the people, not his cronies and business friends.

Honiara is now overcrowded.

And people tend to do things as they wish, giving no regard to existing by-laws.

The council must be steadfast in the application and monitoring of its bylaws.

Illegal betel nut stalls and sellers must be removed from the road-sides and along the streets.

There is urgent need for order to be restored in Honiara.

Siapu knows this too well.

Now is his turn to show leadership and address the pressing issues confronting the city.

China vaccine needs certification before roll out

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TSI

TRANSPARENCY Solomon Islands (TSI) commends the responsible decision of the Executive Government for the recently arrived vaccine from People’s Republic of China (PRC) – that it be certified by World Health Organization (WHO) before any roll out in the country.

Concerns now raised about the AstraZeneca make this decision a wise and responsible one. There is very little information available on the China Sinopharm.

It is people’s right to have as much information as they can get on the vaccines, be it from China or other countries and sources to enable them to make their own decision and ask the questions that must be asked of the medical profession.

TSI understands that WHO is yet to certify Sinopharm like it did with the other vaccines.

It is also important that WHO representative in Solomon Islands must explain to the people of Solomon Islands the reason for not certifying Sinopharm.

Transparency Solomon Islands understands that some country like Indonesia have rolled out the use of China made Sinopharm, and one wonders if WHO is monitoring and working with these countries to collect the data it needs in order to certify or not to certify the China made vaccine-Sinopharm.

Transparency Solomon Islands notes that China is the only country so far who has donated vaccine for the control of coronavirus to Solomon Islands.

An amount of 50,000 doses arrived in the country over the weekend. With its delipidated health and medical infrastructures and very poor health services, Solomon Islands has very little choice but to vaccinate its people preferably before any community transmission occurs.

WHO should therefore provide the reasons for not certifying Sinopharm in real time and if it not for good enough reason then the doses should be rolled out?

For the safety of the general public, it is the right decision from the government not to roll out the Sinopharm vaccine until endorsement by WHO.

Some countries have received the Sinopharm vaccine but with very little information. It is alleged it does not guarantee the safety of people from any side effects of the vaccine once rolled out.

There are also other consideration and must ask questions to be raised as well.

According to information available, Solomon Islands received the first batch of the Sinopharm, the first country to do so amongst Pacific island countries that have diplomatic ties with China.  It received the vaccine [the COVID-19 vaccine] from China through bilateral channels.  

This should raise a number of questions as Solomon Islands diplomatic switch to China is most recent compared to our neighboring countries like PNG, Fiji and Vanuatu who had been with PRC longer than us. 

They are yet to allow Sinopharm on their shores. Have we now become an easy target and a push over for the world-wide testing of Sinopharm? 

With other vaccines available why not ask China to purchase those certified vaccines for Solomon Islands.

It just does not make any sense at all to allow it into the country before it is certified by WHO.

To recap, despite the offer of 100,000 Sinopharm doses from PRC for Papua New Guinea (PNG), the vaccine is yet to gain approval from PNG regulators.

Solomon Islands however could not wait to have the Sinopharm vaccine landed on their shores.

This means extra cost to the Solomon government for storage purposes, since the vaccine requires very low temperature for storage needing more electricity consumption to keep the vaccine safe, pending WHO’s certification.

With frequent power cuts how safe will these vaccines be by the time WHO certifies it.

TSI welcomes the decision from the Solomon government not to use the Sinopharm vaccine at this time, but like to reiterated that the doses should have been kept off-shore waiting since any feedback from WHO on the vaccine will most likely be at the end of this month (April).

And if the vaccine is not certified by WHO it will have been a costly exercise for the government in terms of storage. 

Transparency Solomon Islands urges WHO to quickly provide any feedback and calls on the government to reduce the CDF allocation and use the funds to buy vaccine for our people of the certified ones.

TSI like any other citizens have no problem with the PRC’s Sinopharm, but sees the certification with the rightful international health bodies as a must and this should be a condition for bringing in any vaccine into the country.  It is not as if there is no other vaccine.

It is important that Solomon Islands does not lend itself to Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy for political propaganda.

The Executive Government must not gamble the lives of citizens, using the covid-19 vaccine diplomacy to promote China or the western ideology.

It is the health of Solomon Islands citizens that is paramount and we must ensure the entire nation is safe from the pandemic.

Thus, any covid-19 vaccine shipped into Solomon Islands must have received certification from WHO before arriving in the country or rolling it out.

Transparency Solomon Islands thanks China for supplying the covid-19 vaccines despite it having to wait for WHO certification.

Please provide the information needed by WHO to certify the Sinopharm so that Solomon Island and countries needing assistance can benefit.

For the last two weeks the country has rolled out AstraZeneca vaccine, supplied through Covax facility.

TSI commend the supports from Australia, Solomon Government and WHO for facilitating the shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccines.

In the meantime, TSI reiterates the need and importance of WHO certification of the Sinopharm vaccine before any roll out plan is implemented and for WHO to explain why it has not certified Sinopharm to date as compared to those it did certify.

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