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Aussie who tried to import cocaine via Solomons jailed

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police seize cocaine in solomon islands

AN Australian will spend at least nine years behind bars for trying to smuggle more than 500 kilogrammes of cocaine into Australia in a yacht via the Solomon Islands.

Police said Zhen Tao Qi, 43, of Wahroonga, New South Wales was a key organiser in the importation plot that was thwarted by an “unprecedented” international investigation.

The cocaine had been loaded into a Belgian-registered, double-masted yacht in South America, before it set off en route to Australia.

It contained 501kg of the drug with a street value of up to AUD$250 million, professionally concealed within the vessel.

But the shipment was being tracked by a multi-nation investigation involving Australian, Solomon Islands and the United States police, as well as the Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

Authorities pounced on the yacht on September 27, 2018, when it was docked in Honiara.

As the search of the vessel was underway, police in Australia launched coordinated raids across Sydney.

Qi and a 41-year-old Bonnyrigg Heights man, Zhen Zhao, were arrested and four search warrants conducted in Wahroonga, Bonnyrigg Heights, Dolls Point and Caringbah.

Earlier this month, Qi, whom police describe as one of the key organisers of the attempted importation, was sentenced to 14 years and five months’ prison for his role.

He will have to serve at least nine years before he is eligible for parole.

He had been charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs and knowingly dealing in money or other property which is an instrument of crime.

Zhao in December 2019 avoided a full-time custodial sentence when he was placed on a two-year intensive correction order.

He was guilty of knowingly dealing in money or property which is an instrument of crime.

In March last year, Australian Federal Police were granted an order by the Supreme Court to have seized items linked to Qi permanently forfeited.

It included more than AUD$130,000 in a bank account, a 2017 Land Rover Discovery registered to his wife, designer watches and AUD$20,000 cash.

AFP Detective Superintendent Ben McQuillan said strong partnerships with international law enforcement were vital to the success of the investigation.

“This was an unprecedented investigation between Australian and Solomon Islands authorities and shows what we can achieve when we work together to slam the brakes on large-scale drug importation by organised crime,” he said.

“The AFP will continue to work tirelessly to outsmart organised crime groups and to halt the importation of illicit drugs into the Australian community.”

Tikopians cast vote in Ward elections

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Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE second chief in Tikopia’s cultural heirarchy was the first to cast his vote when voting for the Tikopia/Anuta ward by-election yesterday morning.

The Chief is among 1,307 registered voters who have participated in the by-election on the remote eastern part of Solomon Islands.

The Ward By-Election for Anuta and Tikopia (ward 16) Island had become necessary after the Member of Provincial Assembly in Temotu province was terminated.

Freelance journalist, Jeremy Gwao, who covers the election process on Tikopia, confirmed that the Chief was very happy to participate in the by-election.

“The Chief encourages his people to exercise their democratic rights to vote in the election,” Gwao said.

There were four chiefs on Tikopia who are ranked hierarchical from first to fourth level.

Tikopia is one of the strong chiefly societies in the country, which is a high island and bigger than Anuta.

The people are of Polynesian descent but have co-existed in the Melanesian society for many years now.

Tikopia has three polling stations and one polling station on Anuta.

Six candidates contested the by-election.

Gwao said it was a smooth by election where many people turned up to cast their votes.

He said six police officers manned the three polling stations on Tikopia and four police officers on Anuta.

In the meantime, by-election for South Choiseul constituency and Kirugela electoral ward in Choiseul also concluded yesterday.

The By-Election in South Choiseul Constituency follows former Member of Parliament, Robertson Galokale losing his seat in an election petition case after the National General Election in April 2019.

The North East Choiseul Kirugela ward by-election follows the passing away of their Member of Provincial Assembly.

Counting and declaration of elections should start over the weekend for Tikopia/Anuta on Lata provincial station and Taro provincial station in Choiseul.

Bail for man facing arson

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Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Court has released a man accused of arson on bail.

John Lesapa is alleged of burning down seven houses in Ghavagha village, Guadalcanal province.

Defence lawyer, Bobby Harunari, applied for bail in the previous occasion to which prosecution objected.

However, yesterday principal magistrate Fatimah Taeburi granted bail, but with strict conditions.

Taeburi also imposed a $500 cash bail to be paid to the court before the accused is released; also, the accused will reside with his sister-in-law at GPPOL 2 and must abide by all bail conditions imposed by the court.

Lesapa is alleged of burning down dwelling houses and kitchen houses of seven different complainants on April 5, 2021.

Taeburi said the Crown objected on the grounds that the accused resides at Ghavagha Village where other suspects also reside.

Therefore, there will be a risk of interference and also compensation has not been paid and the risk of retaliation by the complainants is high.

Taeburi said there will be no interference as Lesapa will not reside at his home village but will reside at GIPPOL 2; and, regarding the safety of the applicant, if there is anyone who faces a risk of retaliation, it is the applicant himself, as he himself is the better person to assess the risks and dangers involved if he is released on bail.

Makira women form unique council of women

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Brian Lezutuni
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West Wainoni women

The women of West Wainoni in East Makira Constituency of Makira Ulawa Province have formed what can be described as a unique Council of Women.

They have registered as the West Wainoni Council of Women, a Charitable, Non-Profitable Organization.

It is unique because its members are both women and men and the ages of its affiliates range between one day old infants and 80 years old women.

The Treasurer of the West Wainoni Council of Women, Evalyn Kahia says it is also unique because both women and men members are allowed to talk in meetings, but only 15 women councilors can vote for final decisions.

She says there are 252 women members and 147 men associate members, adding businesses in West Wainoni also contribute and outsiders wishing to help can do so.

Ms Kahia says the West Wainoni Council of Women which was formed on 14 September 2019 agreed to have men associate members to enable them to understand its activities better.


2nd photo: Prudence Katawea and Evalyn Kahia pose for a photo with the office equipment and RDP team leader, Annie Rafeasi sitting on the right, CAO Alfonse Punia standing behind, health representatives also standing behind and an agriculture officer sitting on the left.

She says the West Wainoni Council of Women as a Charitable Non-Profit Organization has received support from the Government through the Rural Development Program and three donor partners namely the Australian Government, the European Union and the World Bank.

Ms Kahia says her organization registers its gratitude to the Government through RDP Management and staff in Component Two of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the three donor partners for seeing the importance to fund “our request originally for training.

“However, additional administrative support will really boost our efforts to reach out and help develop family units, communities, Wards and the Province and Solomon Islands as a whole”.

And on May 17, 2021, the efforts and endeavors of the West Wainoni Council of Women paid off when the RDP Team Leader, Annie Rafeasi handed over a Laptop, a Printer, a Dongle, Accessories and Stationeries to the unique West Wainoni Council of Women’s Vice President, Prudence Katawea and Treasurer, Ms Kahia at the Makira Women’s Resources Centre in Kira Kira.

On receiving the office equipment and accessories and stationeries, Ms Kahia described them as an enabling gigantic step in “our efforts and endeavors to serve the development needs and aspirations of our members.

“They will also empower and enable our women to take part in the socio-economic sector to improve their rural communities’ livelihoods and well-beings.

“And they will be used to improve and enhance the administrative capacity and capability of our Council of Women when serving rural women and the communities they reside”.

Meanwhile, Ms Kahia says the time, effort and money in particular “we spend will be sliced by half, as we will now work at home instead of going do our work in Kira Kira.

“At this juncture, I take the chance to commend Our Telekom for installing the Arohane 3-G Communications Network because we can now send and receive documents and reports to and from the development partners, stakeholders and the government”.

By George Atkin

Kira Kira

Planned Taelo-Ata’a road under question

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Leaders of landowning tribes from West Fataleka and West Baegu

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

LEADERS in parts of Fataleka and Baegu regions in Malaita province have questioned the proposed Taelo/Ata’a road in North Malaita.

In a statement from PARU office, the leaders raised the question in show of their solidarity with MARA government cautioning those engaged in architecting the proposed road development.

The leaders raised the concern following information received within their communities in West Fataleka and West Baegu regions that several individuals claiming to be representatives of tribes within the region held discussions with the MP for Baegu Asifola and his advisers. 

The statement revealed that the dialogue was said to be on the proposed Taelo to Ata’a road development.

“Responding to the information, the tribal representatives of the concern tribal lands had a virtual meeting with the Premier of Malaita Province currently in Brisbane, Australia on medical grounds.

“In the meeting the land owning tribal representatives strongly assured the premier that they will not allow their tribal lands for such development.

“The land owning leaders said they do not know how the proposed development came about and as such we will not allow our land for the road development to go through.”

Mr Paul Ratu of Lagwaeiano tribal land stated “we will support and continue to work with the provincial government of Malaita and those that work with the province.

“We will not work or allow our tribal lands to anyone that is not willing to work with the MARA government in the development of Malaita,” he said.

Similar sentiment was also shared by other leaders who attended the virtual meeting with the premier.

According to PARU the proposed road development will be carried out by MP for Baegu Asifola with the support of the MP for Fataleka. 

“It is highly likely that the road development would be conducted under the Baefola Investment a business entity registered under the Baegu Asifola Constituency.

“Such attitude is not new the two MPs in the past also brought a high level delegation from the Chinese Embassy in Honiara to their constituencies. 

“Despite knowing that the MARA Government under the Auki Communique made it clear that they will not allow any businesses that have direct connections to PRC to come into Malaita province and to operate business in the province,” it said.

Taro for a ‘safer Pacific Ocean’

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Robert Sisilo speaking at the Handover Ceremony of the RSIPV Taro on 7 May 2021 in Perth, Western Australia

“OUR two countries have worked together over many years in support of our collective regional security goals and values.

“I am sure RSIPV Taro will also help make our Pacific Ocean safer and more secure.  And in so doing, fulfill an international responsibility because the Pacific Ocean is critical to our and the world’s future.”

Those were the words of the Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia Robert Sisilo, as he, on behalf of the Government and people of Solomon Islands, took possession of the Patrol Boat Taro which the Government and people of Australia gave at a colourful handover ceremony at the Henderson Shipyard in Perth, Western Australia, on 7 May.

“It is the world’s largest ocean, providing 60 percent of the world’s fish and home to the world’s largest tuna fishery,” Sisilo said.

“Much of the ocean is still waiting to be explored but human activities like illegal fishing, oil spills, ocean pollution, deep-seabed mining and fossil-fuel burning are already changing it big time,” he lamented.

“Because of climate change the world’s marine life are increasingly put under severe stress with tsunamis and cyclones getting more frequent and more intense with too many stories to count and tell of havoc, displacement and misery. 

“And if that was not enough, then sea-level rise to drown shorelines and landmarks creating land shortages resulting in land incursions and disputes particularly on the outlying atolls.

“We can only prosper when our ocean and seas are safe and secure.  We have seen the tragedy of tsunamis and cyclones. 

“And bore the brunt of the impact of sea-level rise on our Islands and coastlines. 

“We have also seen and felt the profound impact of civil unrest on security on the seas.”

Sisilo continued:

“This is perhaps our greatest collective security. For even in this changing world, the oceans still hold the key to its fortunes.

“Solomon Islands is all for a secure and sustainable future for the Pacific Ocean and is proud to be your partner. 

“A partnership that has stood the test of time.”

Australian Member of Parliament Vince Connelly represented the Australian Government at the ceremony.

Connelly served as a Company Second-in-Command in Solomon Islands during the RAMSI days.

Aust helps timber growers on Kolombangara

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(L to R): Kolombangara Forest Products Limited General Manager, Dan Raymond; the Australian High Commissioner, Dr Lachlan Strahan; Australian High Commission Counselor Economics, Andrew Schloeffel; and the Honourable Minister and Member of Parliament for Gizo/Kolombangara, Lanelle Tanandaga, touring the Kolombangara timber plantations last year.

AUSTRALIA’S Strongnim Bisnis is working with Kolombangara Forest Products Limited (KFPL) to support small timber growers (out-growers) on Kolombangara in Western Province, boosting the sustainable forestry sector and providing local communities with new jobs and more income.

The Australian High Commissioner, Dr Lachlan Strahan, and the Minister for Education and Human Resources Development, Lanelle Tanangada, toured KFPL’s operations and met several out-growers on 11 May.

Minister Tanangada is also the member for Gizo-Kolombangara.

KFPL started an out-grower program in 2013, helping small timber growers to sell their commercial-age plantation logs to the market. 


KFPL employees showed the Honourable Minister and Member of Parliament for Gizo/Kolombangara, Lanelle Tanandaga and The Australian High Commissioner, Dr Lachlan Strahan the plant nurseries used by local out-growers.
 

KFPL General Manager, Dan Raymond, said “The KFPL out-grower program has returned more than SBD 11 million to 481 growers who have sold their trees. Out-growers know that they can gain a profit from growing plantations, and as a result they continue to plant around Kolombangara”.

MP Tanandaga said “A new dawn of opportunities is provided by the Australian Government supported partnership between Strongim Bisnis and KFPL and I encourage my good people of Gizo/Kolombangara to embrace this opportunity. In support of this partnership, Gizo/Kolombangara Constituency will continue to support out growers and provide partnership arrangements for planting of at least 20,000 trees as out grower project in 2021. Let us plant trees for today’s generation and beyond.”


The Honourable Minister and Member of Parliament for Gizo/Kolombangara, Lanelle Tanandaga and the Australian High Commissioner, Dr Lachlan Strahan toured Kolombangara’s plant nurseries.

Strongim Bisnis will assist KFPL’s out-grower program by mapping existing smallholder lots, supporting out-growers to access accurate market information so they may manage their plantations more effectively, and helping out-growers to sell larger quantities of their logs.

Australian High Commissioner Strahan, said “The forestry sector plays a vital role in the Solomon Islands economy.


The Honourable Minister and Member of Parliament for Gizo/Kolombangara, Lanelle Tanandaga and the Australian High Commissioner, Dr Lachlan Strahan thanked the team from KFPL for hosting their visit.
 

“But it is essential that it does so in a sustainable and socially conscious manner, protecting the environment and ensuring that its economic benefits are shared with people at village level.

“KFPL is making an important contribution locally and nationally, producing timber in a sustainable way, paying taxes, employing several thousand people and working with local communities in partnership.

“Small-scale timber growers in Kolombangara have already proved that they can profit from KFPL’s out-grower program,”  said Dr Strahan.

“This Strongim Bisnis initiative will help KFPL to extend the reach of its out-grower program, enabling more local producers to harvest and sell their timber,” he said.


Strongim Bisnis Business Partnerships Director, Tim Lawther, signed a year-long partnership with Kolombangara Forest Products Limited (KFPL) General Manager, Dan Raymond, to support KFPL’s timber out-growers program.
 

Dr Strahan visited Kolombangara Island as part of his travel to Western Province. KFPL is one of only two large plantation growers generating considerable revenue and jobs through planted areas totalling approximately 30,000 hectares.

Strongim Bisnis works in the cocoa, coconut, tourism, financial services, timber, horticulture and waste management sectors, with a strong focus on women, youth and people with disability.

Strengthening people’s with disability right for inclusive and resilient communities

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Group picture of community dialogue participants. Photo: UNDP/ Anastasiia Tiurmenko

The UN Development Programme Solomon Islands, under the Outstanding Women initiative, has launched a series of dialogues to discuss community priority issues, including women’s empowerment and social inclusion, climate change and environment.

On May 18, about 80 community members including local leaders, church representatives, and educators participated in the first dialogue which centered around people with disability rights and how to enhance social inclusiveness. It also looked at how they would benefit from their active participation.

Reflecting on the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the panelists and audience debated on the significance of enhancing the participation of people with disabilities in community institutions and advocated for the ratification of the Convention.

The topic was analyzed by a panel comprised of Choiseul Provincial Government representatives from the Health Department, the Women’s Development Division and the administration. Other panelists included a Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) female officer, a Save the Children volunteer and the President of the Provincial Council of Women.

The discussion was facilitated Florence Vasaro, elected in 2020 as the Outstanding Woman for Choiseul Province.

Mrs Vasaro stated the importance of valuing and respecting people with disabilities and how communities will benefit from their positive contributions and their leadership values.

“Overall, people with disabilities, including women, continue to face multiple discrimination and significant barriers to equal political participation.

“A community dialogue like this, helps us to go deeper into these issues and evaluate what gaps and challenges have to be addressed.”

The dialogue provided an opportunity to learn about the community-based rehabilitation programme, to stress the importance of access to education for all and to discuss how to respect and protect the rights of people with disabilities.

Vasaro noted, “People with disabilities and other vulnerable groups must enjoy their right to participate in decisions which directly impact their livelihoods and, most importantly, their future.

“We appreciate UNDP’s support, to make sure that everyone is involved in this conversation.”

This community dialogue was organised by the Outstanding Women (OW) of Solomon Islands in collaboration with the Choiseul Provincial Government and the Provincial Council of Women.

The OW is an initiative of the Strengthening the Electoral Cycle in Solomon Islands Project (SECSIP). SECSIP is implemented by UNDP Solomon Islands and has received financial assistance of the Australian Government, the European Union and UNDP.

–UNDP PRESS

EDITORIAL- Where’s the road maintenance plan?

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WORK to upgrade the 9.3 kilometre road from Kukum to Henderson domestic terminal has already started.

Japan is funding the project, continuing on from the first phase that starts from the Honiara City Council round-about to Kukum.

The project has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Japan hopes to get it ready before the Pacific Games scheduled to take place in Honiara in July 2023.

But while it’s good to see the project started, it’s sad to note the obvious lack of maintenance to phase one of this road project.

When Japan completed phase one and handed it over to the Government in 2018, it was a fine product.

The road was built to the highest level of civil engineering one could find anywhere in the world.

Engineers gave the road a 20-year life-span. That is if we keep maintaining it.

However, two years on, lack of maintenance and negligence on the part of the Government was already evident.

First up was the disappearance of the painted lines that separated the lanes.

Those painted lines are important.

They not only separate the lanes, but also beautify the road surface.

They should be regularly repainted. Unfortunately, this was not done.

Now they’re all gone.

And that once beautiful road has lost its image.

Then the roadside drainage.

These were rarely cleared of debris and plastics that were carelessly dumped by certain inconsiderate individuals.

It’s no wonder when it rains, the roads are always flooded.

Here’s another issue.

Owners of concrete mixers that spilled their contents on the road have been getting away with it because authorities are not doing their work.

The same could be said of gravel-loading vehicles.

Spilled concrete and gravel are causing damages to the road surface, yet authorities are turning a blind eye to this.

While we look forward to phase two of the project, let’s not forget that phase one needs our continuous attention.

Can the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) tell us their maintenance plan for the road?

VIEW POINT- A way forward for resolving the HCC saga

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PETER FORAU

Honiara

A LOT has been said about the HCC saga, so let’s now urge the authorities to act appropriately, to bring normalcy to the situation. 

It would seem, judging from the reactions in the social media, that a majority of Honiara residents (and they have a right to demand it) wish to see the current Council dissolved, to pave the way for the HCC to be led by new councillors. 

TSI has suggested, a new election takes place to elect new councillors.

While the suggestion is appreciated, given the population dynamics in the city, a new election based on the current electoral system, could potentially waste every-ones’ time and good efforts.

Why do I say this? Well, electing new councillors based on the current electoral system could return the same people again, and we won’t get what we are looking for – which is to change and get new people in.

Because of this, a new election held on the basis of the current electoral system will not yield the desired change that is being sought.

Instead, may I suggest that, there in Mathew Wale’s counsel to change the system lie what may inherently inspire the accomplishment of the desired change that all residents in Honiara are looking for. 

To stabilize Governance of the HCC, may I suggest that the Minister of Home Affairs dissolve the current Council, and in their place he should appoint interim Councillors who would go in and work to improve HCC Governance, strengthen management, and develop a modernization plan for Honiara. 

The appointed Councillors will also work on changing the electoral system ahead of the conduct of a new election to elect new Councillors. 

May I further suggest that the new system must return councillors who are representative of the diversity of the different cultural groups that call Honiara home. 

This would imply that universal suffrage won’t work, as we have seen.

Instead, the ballot will be based on segregated suffrage which would allow councillors to be elected on the basis of their cultural origins.

So the new electoral system will be based on the usual election requirements, except the actual voting, which will, in the new system occur on cultural lines (hence the name segregated voting). 

So for example, the Chinese community will have a rep and only members of the Chinese community will elect their representative. 

The other expat community will also have their rep, and only them will be able to vote for their rep, no one else. 

All communities in Honiara, Temotu, Makira/Ulawa, Malaita, Central, Isabel, Western, Choiseul, Renbel, will have their reps in the Honiara City Council, but only members of their own respective community will vote for their specific representative. 

All will have one rep each except for Guadalcanal, which in recognition of her special status, shall have two reps in the HCC. 

So in total the Council will have 12 councillors. 

The results of the new change of course are that all communities (including our Chinese and other expat wantoks) in Honiara will be represented in the Council and that all councillors will be focused on developing Honiara as the capital, and not on the wards as currently is the case. 

The wards of course will not lose out as these will be incorporated in the development programs of the three constituencies in Honiara.

In this way, the MPs will actually become involved with the development of Honiara in a more elaborate and concerted fashion than the current selective and disconcerted approach.

Finally, may I venture to even suggest that this new change will yield a durable solution that will motivate all Solomon Islanders living and working in Honiara feeling included in the governance of our capital city, and who knows may be the city will have a different outlook and fell  to it – well planned, clean, modern and well governed, and respected capital city. 

A far cry from what Honiara is today, a dirty, corrupted and unplanned urban sprawl of settlements and shanty suburbs.

Since Honiara is our capital city, it deserves better!

So it’s worth pursuing the proposed changes.

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