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Gov’t doing utmost best to support rural communities: Minister Seleso

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Press Release
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Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Rollen Seleso

MINISTER for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) Hon Rollen Seloso says that the Government is doing its utmost best to bring changes to the lives of our people.

Minister Seloso highlighted this during his 2021 Appropriation Bill 2021 debate speech in Parliament this week.

Mr Seloso was responding to statements expressed by the Leader of Opposition that the Government is not doing enough in rural communities in the provinces.

Minister Seloso said this statement is unfair and not good enough especially when the Government had allocated millions of dollars through the MPGIS towards infrastructure development in rural communities.

“The CDF for instance is a funding purposely allocated for our people. It is a Government funding for our people. Therefore, if we do not see tangible changes in our respective constituencies and communities then maybe we (leaders) are the ones not doing enough to help our own people,” Mr Seloso said.

Minister Seloso further enlightened that the allocation for his Ministry in terms of its development budget is $ 31.5 Million for the course of this year 2021.

He said from this amount, an amount of $30 Million is allocated purposely for the Provincial Capacity Development Fund or the PCDF. 

The Provincial Government Minister said the PCDF is now operational in our Provinces and its impact is undeniably felt stronger in our provincial communities.

He said that since the inception of the programme in 2008, our communities have enjoyed more than 1,300 infrastructure projects, creating employment of than 8,000 jobs.

“With the annual support of $30M from the Solomon Islands Government, more than $300M have already been spent on the project since 2008, with a majority of infrastructure investments in the health, education and Administration sector,” he said.

 Therefore, Minister Seloso said the statement expressed that the Government is not doing anything is total biased.

—PMO

Partnership for cheaper power

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Press Release
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THE National Government and the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA) are committed in progressing more affordable electricity and continuing the development of the country’s energy infrastructure.

A statement from the Ministry of Mines, Energy & Rural Electrification (MMERE) said the Ministry will soon gazette the Electricity Tariff Regulations 2021 that will see reductions in the non-fuel tariff of electricity, which is expected to be further reduced when the Tina Hydro Project is commissioned.

The statement said this tariff reduction is part of the DCGA policy to lessen the expenditure burden for our consumers amidst this pandemic and so that they could save or spend more to drive consumption activities, and help our economy to grow.

“The Ministry expects the average power bills to fall by an average 18%. Depending on your consumption level, households are likely to see a fall of 22%. Commercial customers, a reduction of 27% and industrial customers, a fall of around 5%,” he said.

The statement said while the tariffs are decreasing, the SIEA through MMERE is actively developing the rural areas with its mission of emerging Solomon Islands.

“It is improving existing outstations, while at the same time opening and planning new mini power stations in almost all provinces. This is why one of the key aims of the MMERE and the SIEA this year is to commission the various solar hybrid projects that are completed or near complete last year but due to Covid-19, the contractors had to leave the country.”

The hybrid sites include Tulagi, Kirakira, Malu’u, Munda and Lata.

“We are discussing with the funder ADB how we can progress the commissioning of these important infrastructures later this year,” the statement said.

The statement said while Covid-related delays continue to hamper some of the work, other key projects that MMERE and SIEA are striving to progress this year includes;

  1. The New Zealand funded Hybrid generation systems that are in the design and contract stage for Hauhui on Malaita, Namugha on Makira, Sasamunga on Choiseul and Vonunu in the Western Province.
  2. World Bank funded Solar-Hybrids that are also in the early design stages for Dala and Bina in Malaita, Baolo in Isabel, Tingoa in Rennel, and Visale on Guadalcanal.

The statement said the Ministry together with SIEA are progressing major plans over the next couple of years to bring power to the nation, and electricity to our rural areas.

The statement adds the DCGA Government through the MMERE and SIEA have an ambitious plan to energize every province in Solomon Islands with a capital budget of around $900 million between 2021 and 2026 funded internally from reinvested earnings, as well as supported by our development partners.

—PMO

SILENT TAKEOVER

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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-Loggers move into shipping

-Wale urges gov’t to act

By EDDIE OSIFELO

Loggers are reportedly moving into the shipping industry. And, this is raising eye brows.

Opposition Leader, Matthew Wale, raised this concern in parliament last week, urging government to act on this, protecting interests of Solomon Islands.

This invasion by the loggers is predicted to have bad impacts on the industry, local ship operators and people of Solomon Islands.

Delivering his speech on the $4-billion budget in Parliament last week, Wale said the local shipping industry is being killed by predatory practices by foreign logging companies.

“I recently received a copy of a letter by the Solomon Islands Maritime Transportation Association addressed to the Minister for Infrastructure complaining of predatory practices by logging companies who have entered into commercial shipping.

“It is not clear if they have FIB approval to enter into this industry,” he said.

Wale said these predatory practices are meant to kill off “our local ship owners and operators, and when that happens we will expect shipping rates to increase”.

He said the result will likely be no locals in the shipping industry in the mid to long term.

“This would be a terrible situation indeed.

“There should be protection for Solomon Islanders in the shipping industry,” he said.

New covid-19 case

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Corona

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

Solomon Islands has recorded a new case of covid-19.

The overall number of covid-19 cases so far is now at 20.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his nationwide address this yesterday, announced this.

“Fellow citizen I am duty bound to informed you all that we have diagnose one new positive case of Covid-19.”

“He is a 56-year-old male that arrived from the flight from PNG on Friday 9th of April.

“This individual fulfilled our pre-departure Covid-19 requirements, he tested negative for covid-19 four times in the 21 days prior to travel, his re-assessment form did not raise any issues.

“As required by our testing policy, we test every person that arrived from a high-risk country on arrival.

“This is how we picked up this individual, he is now in isolation and does not pose any risk to the public.

“This new diagnosis has taken the total registered number of covid-19 cases in Solomon Islands to 20, to put the number of positive cases into context.

“We have repatriated and brought into the country more than three thousand five hundred people since we started allowing people to enter the country,” said Sogavare.

Sogavare said that in that time, they have picked 20 cases that slipped trough the pre-departure screening only to be picked up in the border quarantine stations.

“This shows that our systems is working and is a testimony to the hard work by our over site committee and front liners.”

Sinopharm vaccine arrives

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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SINOPHARM VACCINE

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

Fifty thousand doses of Sinopharm vaccines arrived around midnight Monday from China.

The airbus left for China on Saturday and returned around 11.45 pm, Monday night.

Present at the Honiara International Airport on Monday night were PRC Ambassador His Excellency Li Ming, Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga, Minister of Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana, and other health officials, to welcome the vaccine.

Solomon Islands is the first in the Pacific region to received the Chinese-made vaccine.

Speaking at the midnight ceremony, Ambassador Li Ming said that it is a significant moment in relations between China and Solomon Islands.

He said the SinoPharm vaccine, which were donated by the government of People’s Republic of China, arrived in Honiara safe and sound.

“The shipment brought about good will and friendship of the China people towards the Solomon Islands people.

“It bodes well for Solomon Islands’ stronger anti-Covid-19 effects to beat the pandemic and protect human lives and well-beings,” he said.

He said the Covid-19 pandemic is still ravaging around the World, with more than 130 million infection cases and nearly three million deaths.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sogavare, Solomon Islands has made considerable progress in preventing and controlling the Covid-19 virus, without community transmission so far.”

Ambassador Li said China and Solomon Islands have rendered valuable support to each other in the battle against the pandemic.

“Chines President Xi Jinping said that, the Chinese vaccine, once being well developed and  put into use, will be made a global public good and contribute to the vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries.

“China played its due role as a responsible major country. The safety, efficacy and effectiveness of vaccines made in China have been fully tested in and outside of clinical trials.”

Yes, we need strong leadership, says Wale

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Opposition Leader Matthew C Wale.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

OPPOSITION Leader, Mathew Wale has supported the call for a strong leadership in the country.

Wale reiterated this call in support to Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma who said “if Solomon Islands are to grow and develop into a society that is economically vibrant, sustainable and prosperous, then we must ensure there is political and economic stability and strong ethical leadership”. 

 “We desperately need it both at the political and administrative levels of government,” Wale said when contributing to the budget debate.

 “However, there is a disconnect between the rhetoric and reality,” he added.

“Our people do not trust government because of poor decision making that is perceived, rightly or wrongly, as compromised because of personal vested interests.

“We do need strong ethical leadership that is not afraid to do the right thing, as was pointed out by the Minister.

“We need such ethical leadership so that there is meaningful reform of the forestry sector, the minerals sector, and so on.”

Wale said national interests in these sectors have been compromised by our own government for other interests.

“So I agree wholeheartedly with the Minister that we need ethical leadership.

“We need ethical leadership to ensure that the determined value for logs is equal to the international market price.

“We need ethical leadership to ensure the determined price for bauxite ore is equal to the international market price.

“We need ethical leadership to ensure the meagre resources of the government are shared equitably, not on political affiliations and cold calculations,” he said.

“We need ethical leadership to not accept money from loggers and thereby be beholden to their whims and interests,” he added.

Kuku queries use of terms in Kuma’s budget speech

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Hon. John Dean Kuku

By EDDIE OSIFELO

INDEPENDENT Leader John Dean Kuku has questioned the two terms ‘Policy Redirection’ and ‘Redirection Policy’ used in the Minister of Finance Speech on the $4 billion budget last week.

On page 1 of his budget speech, the Finance Minister Harry Kuma said. “this budget launches the process of implementing the Government’s Redirection Policy program.”

On page 15, the Minister Kuma said “…. Governments Policy Redirection is to prioritize budget spending on specific targeted objectives in all sectors, with specific focus on the productive and resource sectors…”

Kuma continued to say, “…government had decided to redirect its policy after thoroughly reflecting on our past drawbacks…”

On page 18, the Minister said… “the DCGA Policy Redirection is also committed to redirect resources towards the productive and resources sectors…” whilst on page 26 the Minister said…. “the DCGA Redirection Policy budget allocations towards the resource sectors has been increased…”

Kuku said in his address from the Throne on the 15th March 2021, his Excellency quoted a statement by the Prime Minister on the Redirection Policy.

He said Policy Redirection and Redirection Policy are two different matters and concepts.

“Policy Redirection refers to the prioritization of EXISTING POLICIES and allocating sufficient funds to meet those priorities, example the prioritization of adequate resources to the productive and resource sectors. 

“Policy Redirection is about making choices. In doing so, you would have eliminated the choices that are difficult to implement in which the government will redirect its resources,” he said.

Further to that, Kuku said Redirection Policy refers to the CREATION OF NEW POLICIES, which when implemented, will have major impacts on the economy in key selected areas, example the response to Covid 19 pandemic and the Economic Stimulus Package.

“In case of infrastructure development pertaining to the 2023 Pacific Games, I had expected the redirection policy will ensure that there is a quota in place to ensure that Solomon Islanders take a significant pie of the construction work.

“In forestry, I had expected a redirection policy that seeks to ensure the export of more value added timber products,” he said.

“With DBSI, I expected to see that it genuinely targets the productive sector in ways that make it not appear to be a scheme for refinancing of bad loans.

“What are we talking about in this budget, Mr Speaker Sir: policy redirection or redirection policy or a combination of the two?” he asked.

Kuku said here lies the inconsistency and confusion.

The budget debate continues today.

Warrant of arrest for school chaplain

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court has issued a warrant of arrest on the School Chaplain for Holau Vocational Christian Academy in West Honiara.

This followed the chaplain’s failure to turn up in court yesterday.

Police Prosecutor Watson Akwai applied for the warrant.

This is the case of Martin Pola Nehemiah who faces three counts of obtaining credit by false pretence from Smart Technology shop at Chinatown in 2019.

The allegation said on February 5, 2019 the accused met with the owner of the shop and introduce himself as the president of the Accelerate Christian Education Schools of Solomon Islands.

Upon their discussion the shop owner at Smart Technology was convinced and agreed for the accused to collect the items discussed and to be re-paid when the school grants were ready.

On February 28, 2019 around 10am the accused came and collected one mobile phone at a cost of $2,250 as according to the agreement and walked out with a proforma invoice.

On March 15, 2019 he collected one notebook laptop 14 inches and 1X 8c Honour brand mobile.

Later, on March 28, 2019, he again went to the Smart technology shop and collected two Redmi mobile handsets.

The total cost of all items collected was $12,150.

Couple of months later the shop owner made several attempts to call the accused to settle his credits but was unsuccessful.

The shop owner gave him enough time, but up to March this year the accused never turned up to settle his credits.

The matter was reported to the police in which Nehemiah was arrested and charged.

He was released on bail to appear yesterday.

The court then adjourned the case to April 19 to review the warrant of arrest.

Police Prosecutor Watson Akwai prosecutes the case in court.

No time for blame game: Wale

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale

By EDDIE OSIFELO

LEADER of Opposition, Mathew Wale says he was impressed with Government stand not to blame our founding fathers for the socio-economic problems the country has faced since independence.

Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma stated the Government stand when he delivered the $4 billion budget in Parliament last week.

Wale said this is the first time he had heard this from the government.

He said this is a sign of growing maturity.

“The Hansard is full of finger pointing and the blame game, as recent as last year.

“Blaming our founding fathers does nothing to address our problems and challenges,” he said.

“If they were here and allowed to compare their situation to ours and permitted to play the blame game – I wonder what our found fathers would say about what we have been able to do, or not do, or destroy during our time in leadership.

“But it is a sign of maturity to accept that we must make the best of the challenges and opportunities we face when we are in leadership,” he said.

Wale said blaming others does not fix anything, it only portrays immaturity.

“As leaders we must accept our responsibility to lead and build a Solomon Islands that we are proud to bequeath to future generations of Solomon Islanders,” he said.

Noro water tribes request audience with government

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Noro Port.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

Landowning tribes of Noro town’s water source are pleading to have an audience with the government over outstanding payments.

The tribes claim government owes them more than 10-years goodwill payment, stretching back to the Lilo-government.

Spokesman for the four tribes, Rex Biku, told Island Sun over the weekend this.

“We would like to bring back to the Government’s attention a long and outstanding Goodwill Payment over the Ziata Water Source that continues to supply water to Noro Township in West New Georgia, Western Province.

“Ziata Water Source is located between Noro and Munda and is situated on Hiagore Customary Land known as the Kazukuru Land.

“The land had gone through many legal entanglement disputes by various tribal groups and held several Acquisition Proceedings appointed by the various Commissioner of Lands.

“Ziata Water Source is located in our customary land and the process of appointing a new Acquisition Officer, a Surveyor and a Valuer is gradually progressing well, to quickly pursue and acquire the land for important development infrastructure.

“There were various High Court cases that dealt with the acquisition of the Ziata water source but fortunately, a final pending decision was finally made on March 13, 2017 at the Gizo Magistrate Court, which ruled in favour of our party against the Appellants.

“January 2014 and May 2015, I, on behalf of the above four tribes, submitted petition letter to the Lilo-led Government to pay up the Goodwill Payment of $400,000, to the rightful Land-owners of Ziata, to avoid being disrupted of closing down the water source.

“During that particular period, the Prime Minister’s delegation led by former SPM: Mr. Jeffery Wickham went to Munda and met with the chiefs and leaders of the tribes.

“Former Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo met with the GGMV delegation in Honiara but was informed that Goodwill Payment would only be issued once the appeal court decision over the Ziata water source is heard.

“As a result, my tribal members were aggrieved and unsatisfied. Fortunately, the final decision was made three years later in 2017.

“We humbly request government authority to revisit this issue with the DCGA Government if there is any possibility of discussing this issue and to seek your wisdom and understanding in resolving this issue with your likely approach.

“It is our humble request and appeal to the current DCGA Government to resolve this issue amicably, with a fair resolution.

“We are confident that raising the issue in a round table discussion with your Executive Government is very vital in order to give us some hope. Our aim is for the Noro Town infrastructures and economic developments must be left undisturbed.”

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