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EDITORIAL- Local interest must protected above all

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GOVERNMENT has a responsibility to protect the interest of Solomon Islanders.

This should be foremost in every decision it makes.

That local interest should always come first before that of outsiders.

If current laws do not address that, leaders are obligated to devise legislations that will ensure local interests are protected, and that the resources of this nation benefit the people.

As it is now, we have allowed so much of our country for outsiders.

So much so that soon, Solomon Islanders may become spectators in their own country.

Already, we have seen the retail industry, a reserved business sector for locals, given away to foreigners.

Despite repeated protests and Government promises to address the issue, authorities and leaders failed miserably to stop outsiders intruding into this sector.

While local canteens and shops are closing down, foreign-owned shops are thriving.

We saw Bangladesh nationals coming in and opening up retail shops in as far as Visale in west Guadalcanal, and Ngalimbiu in the north.

Lately, we saw logging companies venturing into the shipping industry.

Okay, the shipping industry may not be in the reserved business list, but it’s one of the sectors that locals are at the helm.

Any government that keeps the interest of its people at heart should ensure the interest and survival of local ship operators are protected at all times.

But sad to note, a number of logging companies have already been allowed to enter and compete in the industry.

These logging companies have lots of money – money they generated from our forests.

They are capable of purchasing big and new brand ships.

Financially, our struggling ship operators cannot compete with them.

This is why the Government must help and protect their businesses.

It can do that by protecting the industry and supporting their businesses to grow and expand so that they can purchase big and fast crafts.

And instead of MPs competing directly with private ship operators using tax-payers’ funded ships, that funding should be used to assist s local operators.

The Government is urged to look into the issue and quickly address it.

As Opposition leader Mathew Wale rightly stated, there should be protection for Solomon Islanders in the shipping industry.

If more logging companies are allowed into the industry, the sector will easily fall into foreign hands.

It would be a terrible situation for the country if this happens.

Huge boost for Arabala School farming program

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School management, students and MAL officials and UNDP rep witnesses the handing over ceremony

ARABALA Community High School in Malaita Province will now be able to improve its farming program with the handover of new agricultural machineries and manual farming tools from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) at the school last month.

The ministry (MAL) officially handed over input’s worth over $50,000 to the High School in the Central Kwara’ae constituency at a brief ceremony on Wednesday, 31 March 2021.

The inputs included a walking tractor power tiller procured in partnership with the UNDP Markets for Change (M4C) Project via the UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Multi Partner Trust Fund last year. 

Parent Teacher Association head, Edward Sui described the handover as a joyous occasion for the school.

“We look forward to our future cooperation after this handover to ensure the school’s agricultural development,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the school’s primary division, Dick Diko said the agriculture machines is a new technology and a milestone achievement for the school.

“This machine will help us also achieve the government’s goal to alleviate poverty in our areas and assist us to improve our livelihoods and standard of living,” he said.

Arabala Community High School students.

School Principal Michael Gwaro said with the agriculture machineries and inputs, Arabala School are now partners with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

“The school is now truly partnering in the aims and goals of MAL,” Gwaro said.

“The agriculture machines will improve our farming program and ensure we are able to address food security in our community and catchment areas,” he added.

Chief Field Officer of MAL, also National Agriculture Livelihoods Improvement & Export Based Expansion, MacDonnell Hiva said the objective of these machines is to support Solomon Islands farming families and communities increase food production and improve food security and nutrition.

“To help achieve improved food security, we need input machines that would improve labor efficiency,” Hiva said.

“For instance, one machine can do the labor of one hundred students in one hour,” he added.

“Our productivity and garden harvest will increase and increased production in our farms means more nutritious food is readily available for families and communities.

“The Ministry expects the school to fully utilize the machines in the farm to achieve its purpose.”

Field demonstration

Arabala Community High School serves 14 catchment communities in the Central Kwara’ae Constituency and estimates over 5,000 people benefits from its farming program.

The school was selected as a beneficiary under the Ministry’s National Food security and Enhancement program – an ongoing initiative addressing food security and nutrition insufficiencies in families and communities.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in partnership with UNDP Markets for Change Project procured agricultural inputs via the UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Multi Partner Trust Fund in 2020.

These included walking tractor power tillers, base power tillers, chainsaws and grass cutters all sourced from agricultural machinery suppliers in Honiara.

MAL beneficiaries were identified under its National Food security and Enhancement program (Model Farm Project).

Markets for Change Project beneficiaries are the Auki Market Vendors Association, Gizo Market Vendors Association and the Honiara Market Vendors Association.

–MAL

Climate team back from Reef Islands

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SIIVA Assessment – Community discussion at Matema

A TEAM from the Climate Change Division (CCD) of the Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) have just returned after completing a two-week-long Integrated Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment in the Reef Islands of the Temotu Province.

The primary objective of the SIIVA assessment is to determine the vulnerability and risks to climate variability and change of the communities in Temotu Pele.

The assessment took place from the 17th to 31st of March.

The Climate Change Division is the responsible technical division that informs and coordinates the implementation effort of the SIG in areas of Mitigation, Adaptation and Geographic Information System (GIS) for Climate Change activities in the country.

The assessment is carried out using the Solomon Islands Integrated, Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment (SIIVA) tool.

SIIVA assesses the exposure of communities to the onset impacts of both climate and non-climate factors to determine the level of vulnerability.

Assessing; water security, watershed health, community health, coastal health, energy security, income security, security of place, forest health, and food security.

It identifies key challenges under each sector and pays attention to measures taken to address these challenges by the vulnerable communities and the adaptation options and interventions that SIG and its partners can embark on to help the vulnerable communities in the country.

The SIIVA team comprises of six Officers from the Climate Change Office, three trained SIIVA surveyors, and two Media Officials from Homegrown Studio.

The team assessed 14 different communities in the Pele Constituency, namely; Tanga, Nifiloli, Pileni, Otelo, Ngawa/Nola, Nenubo, Nyivale, Nopali, Ngadeli, Lakoa (Nyibanga Temoa), Matema, Lipe, Nupani, and Nukapu. The identified pressing issues common in the Reef Islands are Food Security, Water security, and the threats posed by sea-level rise as the three most negatively impacted sectors by changing climate.

The Reef Islands compose of all atoll islands and islets, have been experiencing fast receding shorelines, saltwater intrusion affecting food and water quality and quantity, continuous destruction of properties due to high exposure to strong winds and strong wave impacts.

The aforementioned sectors are priority areas that will need urgent and immediate action.

Since climate change has and will have adverse consequences and challenges across all essential sectors with negative impacts on people’s livelihood, the Government is embarking on its long-term strategic plan to develop a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and resilient framework for all provinces to address the issue of climate change and disaster-related risks.

To inform these plans and carry out relevant climate actions, it is vital to carry out IVA through a cross-section of the country.

To further add value to the SIIVA, coastal profiling was also done for these communities, to map out high watermarks, key landmarks, and the elevation of these islands and islets.

The data gathered and the GPS coordinates recorded from coastal profiling provides evidence-based projections on the sea level rise rate to the specific communities and the likely impacts in the near future.

Baseline data collected is stored for the communities on the Geographic Information System (GIS) Server in the Climate Change Office.

The overall data collected from the communities will be used by the community, Provincial, and National Government to plan and prepare its people to positively respond to the changing climate. Data collected will also be presented at international meetings to raise awareness of Climate Change Impacts in the Solomon Islands.

Moreover, it will contribute to advancing the urgency for Climate Change Action and Ambition. 

This assessment trip is co-funded by the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) and the U.S Agency for Development (USAID).

The team acknowledges SIG and USAID for their financial support, Temotu Provincial Government for endorsing the SIIVA for the Reef Islands as the starting point for SIIVA in Temotu Province, and to the 14 communities for their hospitality, time, and contributions towards the SIIVA team.

—MECCDMM

CHINESE WOMAN SLAIN

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Royal Solomon Islands Police Force recovering the body of the Chinese shopowner found dead in her shop last year. PHOTO CHARLES KADAMANA

Police yet to I.D any suspect

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A Chinese woman was killed yesterday morning in her shop at the White Angel building, Pt Cruz.

The incident occurred reportedly after 8am in one of town’s busiest areas.

Police are scrambling to identify any suspect, with no arrest reported so far.

A Chinese man, owner of an adjacent shop told Island Sun the deceased had entered her shop using the back-door and was attacked inside.

“Deceased and family reside at the Ranadi area, and she had come to open the shop after dropping off her children at school. The husband was at home at the time.

“The deceased had entered the building by using the back-door, and it was around this time that she was attacked, said the Chinese man.

According to Police, the deceased left her house in the Ranadi area, east Honiara to drop off her twin sons at school in the morning and then went down to her shop inside the White Angel Building in Point Cruz to open it as normal.

“While the shopkeepers were waiting outside for the deceased to open the shop, the husband of the deceased arrived and sought assistance from a nearby shop to open their shop as the doors were locked from inside. When the husband finally entered their shop just before 9am, he discovered his wife (deceased) lying on the floor with blood all over her body.” Police statement says.

Assistant Commissioner for Crime and Intelligence Patricia Leta says, “The matter was reported to police and officers from the Forensic Unit, National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), Fire and Rescue, Police Response Team (PRT) and Central Response Unit (CRU) attended the incident and cordoned off the scene of the crime while investigations began.

“The body of the deceased is now at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) morgue for further examination and post mortem.

“Our sincere condolences to the family and relatives of the deceased for the loss of their loved one.

“So far no suspect has been identified as the investigation continues. I call on members of the general public who may have been around the White Angel building in Point Cruz early this morning and may have noticed anything suspicious to come forward to police with any information that may assist the investigation into this very sad incident in our capital city.”

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

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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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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

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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.

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