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Siapu chairs first Executive meeting

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Brian Lezutuni
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NEW MAYOR: Edmond Siapu after being elected.

New City Mayor Eddie Siapu has chaired his first Executive meeting since taking over the Mayor’s position.

In his remarks, Mr Siapu said he is overwhelmed by the confidence vested upon him to assume the leading role as the Head of HCC Governance.

“Despite all odds, this is the beginning of a new error as you have rightly chosen this pathway for us the new Executive to govern the affairs of the Council.”

Siapu said it will not be a smooth beginning given the challenges ahead in the first few months knowing already the cash flow situation at stake.

“But I trust our capabilities as elected official entrusted by our people to represent them in this honourable house.

“My leadership approach is simply working together and not the adverse, hence my reciprocation in your confidence and trust in me is the new appointments of your portfolios,” he said.

Following the Gazette of the appointment of members of Honiara City Council standing committees by the Minister of Home Affairs Christopher Laore, Mayor Siapu introduces his new Executive.

Councillor for Mataniko Clement Terewauri – Chairperson for Education.

Councillor for Kola Francis Idu – Chairperson for Finance.

Councillor for Naha ward Charles Chekah Aiwosuga – Chairperson for Health.

Councillor for Vuhokesa Luciano Sade – Chairperson for Lands and Planning.

Appointed Councillor Charles Lesimaoma – Chairperson for Law Enforcement.

Councillor for Cruz ward Dorah Huapii Irofia – Chairlady of Trade, Industry and Commerce.

Councillor for Panatina Leonard Saii – Chairperson for Works and Transport.

Councillor for Ngosi Wilson Mamae – Chairperson for Youth, Women and Sport.

Councillor for Mbuburu Mostyn Saferio – Chairperson for Culture and Tourism.

Councillor for Kukum Robert Oge – Chairperson for Waste Management.

Appointed Coucnillor Nina Davis – Chairlady for the Pacific Games 2023 Ad-Hoc Committee

Appointed Councillor Abel Arabola – Chairperson for City Boundary, Landfill and Cemetary Ad-Hoc Committee.

The Executive further approved that the Ministry of Home Affairs will administer the recruitment process of the new City Clerk and Treasurer.

Recommendations for the posts will then be submitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the HCC Executive for final the decision and appointment.

–HCC PRESS

Delay to AstraZeneca vaccine from India: PM

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Brian Lezutuni
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AstraZeneca vaccine. Photo by NDTV.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

ASTRAZENECA covid-19 vaccine supply from India to Solomon Islands could potentially be delayed due to India’s covid-19 situation, says Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

Sogavare echoed this earlier this week in his national address.

“As COVID-19 situation in India affects the global supply from India that could potentially delay the supply of AstraZeneca vaccines from India whether through the COVAX facility or from the 600 000 doses that the government of India had indicated it would consider supply it to Solomon Islands,” he said.

Sogavare said despite the delay of AstraZeneca vaccines supply from India he is pleased that Australia has stepped in to ensure Solomon Islands received the regular supply of AstraZeneca vaccines in the next couple of months.

“I am also extremely pleased to inform you that the government of Australia had indicated it can provide more doses of CSL AstraZeneca vaccine to Solomon Islands over and above the initially allocation of 60 000 doses it would start delivering from this week,” he said.

Sogavare said he had directed the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) to expedite the analysis and recommendation on the total number of additional doses of CSL AstraZeneca vaccines the government will request from Australian government in the next few days.

He said this request will incorporate the country’s intentions to fully vaccinate the total eligible population in Solomon Islands by December this year.

“I am grateful confident the between the COVAX facility, Australia, India and China together with support from other partners my government will secure the prerequisite number of vaccines to cover the whole country by December this year,” Sogavare said.

SIPA denies claims of missing items at Ports

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CHIEF Executive Officer of the Solomon Islands Ports Authority Eranda Kotelawala

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

CHIEF Executive Officer of the Solomon Islands Ports Authority has refuted claims made on social media claiming that some imported items went missing at the Ports storage.

CEO Eranda Kotelawala responded to a query made by this paper saying he cannot comment on allegations that were not made directly to his office.

He said it is a common practice by people claiming that their imported items were stolen by Ports.

“Without a direct complaint coming to me, I cannot comment on such allegations. If there is a complaint it should come to me then I will investigate and take necessary actions. 

“This is a common practice of some consignees making false claims for items lost in transit saying it’s stolen by ports. We have CCTV surveillance to trace any culprits if it happened in the ports”, Kotelawala said. 

Last week there were complaints and concerns raised in the social media of missing car parts/accessories from imported cars and vehicles.

A concerned man posted on social-media that they experienced their ordered items not fully delivered to them but went missing when it arrived at the Port.

The concerned man said such happening has been a practice for some time and call on the employees and the management to stop and handle ordered items properly.

Ruling on electoral case adjourned

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Brian Lezutuni
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Verdict on an electoral fraud case will be made when it is heard on May 14.

Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison will deliver his ruling on the case of a man alleged to have provided false information to a Solomon Islands Electoral Official in June 2018 during the voter registration period.

Hollison made the adjournment when the case was mentioned yesterday before court.

He said that he will deliver the ruling on May 14, 2021.

The accused of this case is Alif Vai who was accused for multiple registrations in 2018 for the National General Election.

He is charged with seven counts of Misleading Information under section 113 (2) of the Electoral Act which carries a maximum penalty of $50,000 – or five-years imprisonment or both.

Prosecution alleged that after the registration period was over electoral officials found him registering several times with different names and reported him to the police for investigation.

It is alleged that the accused registered to vote on seven separate occasions, using different names, dates of birth and other details on each occasion.

Prosecution also said that only one of the seven registrations allegedly included his correct details.

Office of the Director Public Prosecutions appears for the crown on the case

Judgment on sexual offence case moved to May 18

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In-court

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

CHIEF Justice Sir Albert Palmer will deliver his verdict on the case of a man, who is alleged to have raped his daughter in 2016, next week.

The verdict was supposed to have been made yesterday afternoon at the High Court but was deferred to May 18, 2021.

This is the case where prosecution allege that an accused had sexual intercourse with the victim without her consent.

Prosecution said the accused man is the victim’s father.

The allegation said the first incident occurred on August 25, 2016 when the victim went to her father’s house to have some food during school break-time; and the second incident occurred after the class prep at night in September of that same year.

Prosecution alleged that the man had sexual intercourse with his daughter twice in 2016 on different dates, at that time.

The case was reported to police in which the accused was arrested and charged with two counts of rape relating to the incident.

The accused is being represented by a lawyer from the Public Solicitor’s office.

Closing submission on traffic case soon

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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a man alleged to have caused the death of another man at the Foxwood area last year is set for closing submissions at the Honiara Central Magistrate Court.

Lawyers in charge of the case will file their submissions before the court can decide on the verdict.

This is the case against Simon Peter Sonithagea, who is charged by police with one count of causing death by reckless and dangerous driving under the traffic offences Act.

The allegation says a bounty brand vehicle white in colour was driving from the eastern side to westerly direction, by a male person.

It is alleged that some witnesses to the incident said that the vehicle seemed to be travelling at a high speed by hearing how it sounded and when it approached the labour line bus stop fox-wood area, the vehicle did hit something with a loud blast sound as they could hear the sound of scratching tyres against the road, as the vehicle did fell off the road into the nearby road side drain.

Police also said the deceased man was alleged to have been drunk and incapably laid asleep on the road; unfortunately the approaching vehicle did not see him to escape the hit.

It is alleged that the accused took the forehead of the deceased as he quickly turned unexpectedly without expected movement. As a result of the unexpected twist and turn, the accused vehicle then hit the deceased’s head and actually stitched into the road side drain.

Police said at the crime scene witnesses and police came across a male person by the name of Simon Peter Sonithagea, in which he confirmed that he was the owner of the vehicle and was the driver of the vehicle at the time of accident.

Sonithagea was then brought to Henderson police station, questioned and then later charged by police for that incident.

Fresh cassava export set

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Frozen Yellow cassava and grated packages

BY CHARLES KADAMANA

A community based leading exporter Varivao Holdings Limited is set to export 14.480Metric tons of frozen yellow cassava worth more than SBD $110,000 to Melbourne Australia.

The consignment of yellow cassava has been scheduled to be shipped to Australia yesterday or today.

General Manager of Varivao Holdings Limited, Mr Benjamin Hageria confirmed the 14Mtons container consists of 14.02Mtons of not grated frozen yellow cassava and 460kg grated cassava.

He said the refreeze container has been loaded with frozen yellow cassava with the accepted temperature as required by the Australia Biosecurity standard requirements and already at the Port care ready for shipment to Australia.


Hageria explains that only cassava from Guadalcanal plain and forest land zone are eligible to export to over sea market at the moment due to restriction on cyanide concentration, processing restriction and access of shipment to over sea market.


He also wants to inform all cassava farmers in Guadalcanal that the buyer and distributer in Melbourne Australia only accepted yellow cassava for a while until further advises from the buyer in Melbourne Australia.

He said the best supply of quality yellow cassava to Varivao Holdings processing factory at Ranadi are Sapefarm at G.I.P.O.L-1 and Kakake/Sopapera farm at Fox wood area.


He said they are expecting to process one or two containers of yellow cassava June next month.

He said the demand for yellow cassava in the overseas market is very high because of the better quality compared to Fiji yellow cassava and other pacific countries.

He said at this stage they are focusing to export 3-4 containers a month throughout the years.


He said once they able to export 3 containers from July to December this year it will bring a total value of $SBD681,323.23 that will contribute to the economy of the country.

He encourages all cassava farmers that have large plot or hectors of yellow cassava to come forward to Varivao Holdings head office at Ranadi to registered their name and their yellow cassava farm with further advises during processing.

He acknowledges Dr Paulson Popora the Managing Director of Sapefarm with his hard-working staffs and Mr Ben Pogula of Kakake/Sopapera Outgrower and family for supplying quality yellow cassava for export to Varivao Holdings.


He also extends his appreciation to Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and National Implementing Unit (NIU) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and Ministry of Finance and treasury for quickly releasing the allocated funds.

 “My company quickly boost the processing of the products at the processing factory at Ranadi.



Mr Ben Pogula of Kakake/Sopapera yellow cassava out grower received the total amount of $8,876.62 from his family cassava farm at Fox wood from the Company Assist Account Mrs Mary.


“I would like to thank the Director Extension of Agriculture and Ministry of Agriculture & Livestocks and its Department to work collaboratively with Sapefarm and my company had fully completely on harvested the farm and finally completed the container with the Kakake/Sopapera farm.


He said Varivao Holdings Limited is looking forward to export 3 to 4 containers per Months of frozen yellow cassava to over sea International Market if the allocated Ministries and National Solomon Island Government quickly addresses the Cooling room for Varivao Holdings and Sapefarm.


He said the exporting of one container at a time is very expensive and not really meet the required profit margin also to meet lots of operational cost.

He said the only way forward to make profit margin is to export more that 3 to 4 Containers per Month.

“So, I would like to urge the National Solomon Island Government to quickly look on these very quickly.

Mr Hageria also confirmed that the exporting of yellow cassava would extend to Kiribati, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and also to promote our local frozen goods and target for South Pacific Games in 2023.

He said the immediate need of the company is to have its own cooling room or the blast as promised by the Ministry.

The export of yellow cassava amidst the Coronavirus pandemic was made possible through the support of the Ministry of Foreign and External Trade under the Enhance Integrated Framework.




14Mtons, filled of frozen yellow cassava was off loaded to the ports 7 Friday last week’s ready for shipped this week.

Enhance Integrated Framework is a multi-donor programme which supports Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in their effort of promoting economic growth and sustainable development by addressing their trade and trade-related constrains in order to build their capacity to trade and take advantage of global trade.

Forestry’s 2021 redirection priority highlighted

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Brian Lezutuni
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Participants at the 7th Forest Sector Technical Working Group one day meeting held at Heritage Park, Honiara.​

Forestry Sector’s 2021 redirection priority policies under the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) has been shared with partner donors, stakeholders and friends of forest at a one-day meeting, the 7th Forestry Sector Technical Working Group (FSTWG) meeting in Honiara.

FSTWG is a platform for reporting of various forest stakeholders’, donor partners and friends of forest activities simultaneously executed through single and various collaborations.

It also presents another opportunity to strengthen collaborations with broader base applications of the principle of sustainable management of forest resources across the country through various undertakings.

 Thanks to the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) Sustainable Forest Resource Management (SFRM) Project with the Ministry of Forestry and Research for creating such avenue and progressively enabling the flatform through continuous financial support.

Forestry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Vaeno Vigulu says despite of the downside of COVID 19 that the country is currently facing with health risk, the government had to put in place measures to combat it but also needs to keep our economy afloat at the same time.

 In that regard, the Ministry of Forestry and Research (MoFR) has two mandated redirection policies, he says.

“The redirection priority policies of DCGA for 2021 encompassed promotion of downstream processing activities and sustainable development of logging programme to ensure and promote principles of sustainable forest management, good practice, monitoring, governance.

“Secondly, is to work on alternative forest timber and non-timber products, ecosystem services through agroforestry systems, reforestation, enrichment and regeneration management on the logged over islands degraded and deforested landscapes.

 “These measures taken indicated the seriousness of the DCGA Government in reviewing and developing measures to sustainably manage the forest resources as we continue to harvest and benefit from them,” he adds.

PS Dr Vigulu then acknowledged past years collaborations with stakeholders, donor partners and friends of forest on various strategies and activities, that helps contribute to addressing and enhancing these ongoing priority area objectives for 2020 and 2021.

 Urging all present at the 7th FSTWG meeting that it is proper that updated information’s are shared and discussed with each other so donor partners and stakeholders know what policy areas the Ministry implements using the government budget.

Similarly, it is also proper that you all share with us the potential supports to the government policies or your work programme areas where we can align to mutually benefit communities and resource owners through government policies.

 In doing so, your support will assist and support the government initiatives to sustain and reduce the exploitation and reliance on forest timber products with other alternatives including carbon trading, hence, promoting sustainable forest management, emphasizes the Permanent Secretary.

 Dr. Vigulu reiterates that with the established platform under the FSTWG for sharing of information by all stakeholders, donor partners and friends of forest, it is expected that you all discuss and contribute in strategizing the way forward.

“By having every stakeholder in this forum today, and under this roof, allows for a quick consultation and contributions from everybody and Organisations to avoid re-inventing wheels, especially in research for development, production and added value products.

“We should be working hand in hand to enhance mandated policies, programmes and objectives to achieve anticipated outcomes.”

Those in attendance at the 7th FSTWG meeting are representatives from the forest industry, various donor organisations and school institutions, government line ministries including international and national partners.

– MoFR Pres

US pays tribute to bomb victims

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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Erin Elizabeth McKee has expressed her condolences following the bomb incident over the weekend that has already claimed a life.

On Sunday, three people were seriously injured after a bomb exploded as they were cooking out in the open in the residential areas of Lengakiki. One of those injured passed away a short time later.

Friends, relatives and other Solomon Islanders criticised Japan and US for the incident, adding that thousands of tonnes of unexploded World War Two bombs are just under the surface waiting to explode across the Pacific Islands.

Ambassador McKee on Monday issued a media statement stating “We were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic incident in Honiara this past weekend and mourn the loss of a life.

She said the United States government, through their Department of Defense, will continue to support efforts to remove unexploded ordnance from Solomon Islands.

“Among these efforts is our ongoing partnership with Norwegian People’s Aid, which has worked in Solomon Islands since 2019 to identify and dispose of unexploded ordnance.”

It is believed the blast came from an unexploded World War II ordnance (UXO).

The UXO is believed to have been buried not so deep beneath the fireplace where the victims were cooking on.

The incident occurred around 2.45pm yesterday – a group of youths from the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Kukum Church group, Topaz, were cooking for their outreach Ministry work at the residence.

Meanwhile, the government through the Ministry of Aviation and Communication (MCA) is mourning the loss of one of their local qualified aviation engineers who was killed in the bomb blast.

Raziv Hilly, from Vella La Vella and Rannoggah in the Western Province, was one of the four that got injured from the impact of the blast.

The Executive Management and Staff of Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) expressed their sympathies to the families during this difficult time.

Late Raziv Hilly was a highly valuable and respected member, staff and the effects of his passing are already being felt by his fellow colleagues and management.

Raziv was a wonderful employee who understood the meaning of the word “TEAM” He was always more focused on the good of MCA and all MCA Airport Projects than on his own benefit.

 He made many great contributions to the Ministry and helped it move forward in numerous ways. His work here will not be forgotten.

“Please accept our sincere condolences for you, your families and relatives. Raziv was a remarkable man and everyone at MCA especially the Airport Management (APM) is better for having known him.

“For all of us who have had the privilege of calling him “friend” inside and outside of work, we were humbled by his kindness and compassion to everyone around him.

He will be greatly missed and everyone here is saddened by his death. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and families, relatives and friends during this difficult time.

“May the comfort of God help us all during this difficult time and may his soul rest in peace with our Heavenly Father till the resurrection morning.

DSE to promote Citizen Budget Guide 2020/21

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Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Patteson Oti and Vice Chair DSE Board, Mrs. Alice Hou launched the Citizen Budget Guide.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

DEVELOPMENT Service Exchange (DSE) will go out to communities to promote the Citizen Budget Guide 2020/21.

The Guide is a tool that will help DSE and its Member Organizations to assist and enable communities fully participate in the national budget preparation process, advocate and monitor implementation.

Speaking at the launching of the Guide at Honiara Hotel on Monday night, Vice Chair of DSE Board, Alice Hou said the Guide will map the timeframe, actors and overall process of planning, drafting, adopting, executing and reporting/auditing on the national budget.

“From what we have experienced listening to stories and feedback from our members, it is challenging even understanding what is inside the budget.

“Having this simple guide helps us a lot to help our members and especially citizens to have a guide to understand the budget,” she said.

DSE is a member of Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organizations (PIANGO).

They are co-implementing the Public Finance Management (PFM) Small Grant Project.

The PFM Small Grant Project is part of the bigger programme ‘Strengthening Public Financial Management and Governance, supported by European Union and implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

UNDP is partnering with PIANGO in implementing a small grant project with the main focus on ‘Sustainable, Inclusive and Simple Public Finance for All’ in the Pacific.

The PFM Small Grant Project has been successfully implemented in Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Marshall Islands.

Mrs Hou said the partnership between PIANGO and UNDP PFM Unit is an opportunity for innovation and learning drawing on each other’s strengths in ensuring that necessary resource tools are developed to establish capacity and approaches that can be used as the baseline to track learning and practice impact when assessed at the end of each project phase.

She said PIANGO network does not possess the technical expertise on PFM, yet it benefits from an unparalleled network of National Liaison Units in each of the focus countries of PFM project such as DSE in Solomon Islands.

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