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Kuma commits to ‘credible budget’

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Minister Hurry Kuma

GOVERNMENT says it is committed to implementing a credible fiscal plan budget for 2021.

Finance Minister Harry Kuma highlighted this when delivering his 2021 Budget Speech in Parliament, Tuesday this week.

Minister Kuma said the National Government is also committed in ensuring adequate resources are allocated to legitimate contractual commitments and policy priorities.

He said the 2021 Budget would be the necessary vehicle to stimulate growth again, investment opportunities and better service delivery outcomes for all.

“As usual, all ministries and agencies are required to put together comprehensive procurement plans and documentations as soon as possible, so that implementation of the 2021 budget, especially the development spending is not unnecessarily delayed,” he said.

Minister Kuma said the Ministry of Finance & Treasury will continue to monitor the implementation of the 2021 budget and ensure public resources are used prudently and for the approved purposes.

“It is the responsibility of all accounting and accountable officers, Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Financial Controllers, Human Resource Managers and Directors to uphold the PFM Act 2013 and also Financial Circulars which will be issued to ministries after this Appropriation bill is passed,” he said.

Furthermore, the Finance Minister strongly reminded government ministries not to commit the government into contractual commitments without securing funding. 

He said this is to avoid rolling over arrears into 2022.

Minister Kuma said in order to facilitate the smooth operation and delivery of government services to the people, all ministries are urged to provide revised costed work plans; procurement plans and to ensure spending is in line with those plans.

“As we lay out our plans for our economy, we must ensure these plans are fiscally sustainable, so that we have the resources to deal with future needs and challenges.  We must continue to plan our finances based on long-term structural drivers,” he said.

—OPMC PRESS

Patrol boat base talks continuing

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Jennifer Kusapa
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Patrol boat patrolling in the Shortland Islands.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

The proposed patrol boat outpost in the Shortlands is still being discussed between stakeholders and landowners.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Service Karen Galokale revealed this during the recent Public Accounts Committee hearing.

Ms Galokale said they started the discussion last year with the landowners about the outpost base, which will be a multi-agency facility as it will accommodate all law enforcement agencies.

She said the landowners supported the idea, but there are more talks to be done before any deal can be sealed.

Galokale also said the donor who will be constructing the project is ready and awaiting on the finalisation of discussions with LOs.

She also said while awaiting that project to be constructed currently they are trying to get all the law enforcement agencies to review their existing framework and their standard operating procedures, this is for them to tide up their existing systems as that facility at the border will be a combined multi-agency facility to mann the border.

Sentencing on water tank case adjourned

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Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Sentencing for two Isabel men convicted for stealing 36 water tanks belonging to the Rural Water Supplies and Sanitation Hygiene in 2017 has adjourned to April 12.

Their sentence was supposed to have been made on Tuesday this week but the presiding Magistrate moved it for next week.

Wilson Innie Hiro and Hilly Manasseh faced 28 counts of simple larceny and were found guilty after a trial was conducted in the Honiara Magistrate Court.

The only pending issue is for the court to deliver its sentence on both men.

The two men were found guilty by the court for collecting 36 water tanks on different dates at Island Tanks Ltd and selling them to other people.

The court heard during the trial that in April 2016, two payments totaling up to $194,600 were made for two projects, one for Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited (GPPOL) and the other for Renbel.

It was also heard that the two payments, $99,340 for the GPPOL Project and $95,260 for the Kanaba project in Renbel were paid to Island Tanks.

Those tanks were however never delivered to the Rural Water Supplies and Sanitation Hygiene (RWASH)/Ministry of Health and Medical Services warehouse.

The two were earlier entered not guilty pleas and a trial was conducted on their which they were found guilty of their actions.

Public Solicitor’s lawyers Rodney Manebosa and Daniel Kwalai represent the two accused while the Office of the Director Public Prosecutions appears for the crown.

The two are currently on bail awaiting their sentence.

Lockdown if covid-19 case at border: PM

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Alfred Pagepitu
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Police officers patrolling the Western border with Bougainville. PHOTO ABC

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

If there is any covid-19 case detected in the border communities, the country will head into Lockdown.

This is according to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

In his nation wide address on Tuesday he said, “This will restrict people movements in-order to prevent any further spread of the virus beyond where it may have been identified.”

He said the best way to prevent a lock-down, is to prevent its entry into the border communities in the first place.

“My good people of Solomon Islands, the Western Border continues to be a great cause of concern to us in relation to covid-19 security.

“With the rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases in PNG, it is highly likely that numbers of COVID-19 in Bougainville are also increasing although it is difficult to know the numbers.

“As of today, PNG has reported a total of 7,406 cases with an average daily increase of around 300 new cases per day.”

PM strongly reminds people at the border communities that no one from Solomon Islands is allowed to cross the border to Bougainville.

He also added that no one from the Bougainville side is allowed to enter into Solomon Islands.

Sogavare explained that this is no longer just a legal matter. It is a matter of protecting and safeguarding life. Protecting our families and children who live in our border communities from covid-19.

“Most people infected by COVID-19 do not have symptoms. They are not sick. If they are infected and are not sick, they can transmit the COVID-19 virus to anyone they meet without knowing about it.

“This is why the best policy is not to allow anyone to come across the border and no one from our side goes across the border.

“Our joint border force is also steeping up its patrol at the border zone. However. this is not a policing matter. It is simply a matter of individual responsibility to care for each other’s health and wellbeing.”

Legal advocates fine-tune skills

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TWELVE Community Legal Advocates (CLAs) who are based in the provinces of Malaita (North and South), Western (Seghe, Shortlands, Vella la Vella and Kolombangara) and Temotu (Santa Cruz and Lomlom) have now fine-tuned their skills in basic law, legal rights, awareness raising, mediation and problem solving following the conclusion of their nine-day refresher training this week.

 The work of the CLAs has benefitted over 9000 individuals whose access to the formal legal system is limited by their physical access, awareness and high costs borne by both individuals in accessing services and by government in supplying sufficient quantity and quality of service delivery to the outlying provinces.

In their community awareness programmes, the CLAs provide information on the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO).

The PSO is the equivalent of Legal Aid Office in other countries and provides free legal representation and advice to those that need it.

 Some of the usual questions asked by community members in remote locations include, can we report a crime to the PSO? Does the Police have the same responsibilities as the PSO? Does the PSO represent both parties (the offender and the victim) in any issues?

 The training which ended on Tuesday 30 March, was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Access Justice Project, which is supported by the Australian Government in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs through the PSO.

“By definition, CLAs are grassroot advocates who use the knowledge and skills built from training such as this to seek concrete solutions from formal justice institutions,” said Access to Justice Project Manager, Grace Kiernan.

 “As part of their primary role, the CLAs provide a PSO presence at the rural community level, linking the community to the formal justice system which benefits those most marginalized.”

 She added, “Depending on a given case, they apply tools and skills which include mediation, education, advocacy and referrals, to justice providers and the PSO as a public facing justice institution of the Solomon Islands Government.”

 “The result of their work so far, has highlighted their practical effectiveness in remote locations underscoring the equality of all persons and the respect for human dignity, regardless of location, family, economic and/or social circumstances,” said Kiernan.

 The work of the CLAs addresses specific gaps highlighted in the 2019 Access to Justice Study, which confirmed that justice in the Solomon Islands is largely characterized by the parallel existence of formal and customary systems. In addition to being relatively inaccessible for those outside urban centres, unsurprisingly much of the formal justice system is also poorly understood by most Solomon Islanders.

 “I decided to be a CLA because I felt the need for awareness on the formal option for justice,” said Temotu Province CLA, Mark Liko. Temotu province is more than 600km from Honiara making it the most remote province in Solomon Islands.

 “Through our work, people now have greater clarity on the range of services that the PSO provides and thus are now more confident to submit any issues of legal concern to the relevant authorities.”

The CLA for Western Province, Francesca O’Grady also involves her family to assist in her awareness sessions.

“My family has really supported me in this role, especially my husband who travels with me to communities and assists with logistical matters,” said O’Grady.

She added, “I found the refresher training useful for me because I continue to pick up tips on how to better communicate with communities and provide clarity on the different roles of the justice stakeholders.”

The CLAs now return to their respective communities with an enhanced appreciation for their role to reach the furthest behind first.

Vura begins talks on UNDP Climate Adaptation Project

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City Councillor for Vura ward Reginald Ngati

Following the signing ofa Climate Change and Adaptation Project with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) under United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in February 2021, Vura Ward has proceeded on with consultations to get the ball rolling.

The Climate Change and Adaptation Project focuses on waste and pollution reduction, and back yard farming targeting Vura Ward.

About 42 community representatives from the 12 communities of the Vura ward attended the Ward’s first development project awareness meeting held at the Kukum SDA School, yesterday.

According to the Vura Ward Project Officer, Francis Paulsen the meeting was to inform all community representatives to be aware of the UNDP funded projects that are proposed for the Vura ward.

“This is the first phase of the funding assistance from the UNDP. The second part will be community consultations and awareness which is going to happen after this meeting,” Mr Paulsen said.

Honiara City Councillor for Vura Ward, Reginald Ngati said after the first meeting, the 42 community representatives will return to their communities and choose 20 participants to assist in carrying out the task to organise a series of awareness within the 12 communities.

“The 20 people from each community must be gender balanced, including women, men, and youths.

“So the 240 people will meet as of next week, to participate in a wider awareness to inform all Vura Ward residents of the UNDP funded projects and how we as a Ward will utilise the money for the benefit of all residents within the ward.  

“After the awareness, we will then prepare a report and then present it to UNDP and inform them of the proposed plan for the funding assistance,” Ngati said.

Ngati sees the funding assistance as a blessing for the Vura Ward, knowing very well that the Honiara City Council (HCC) is not in a good state at this time.

“All along the focus of HCC towards the 12 Wards in Honiara is not about ownership, not about calling on citizens to take responsibility in their own environment and own ward.

“So when we want to carry out our plans in the communities, it will not work out as expected,” Ngati said.

In terms of waste management in Honiara City, the Councillor said it is obvious that the HCC is collecting rubbish but it is not enforcing control on people and how they dispose their wastes. Therefore, what Vura Ward is going to do with the opportunity through the funding is to educate people to care for their surroundings and environment, to be responsible for what they dispose as rubbish.

“That is one of the reasons why I see this funding as a blessing to Vura Ward. It will really connect the vision of the HCC to make Honiara City a clean city by strengthening waste management in the communities and I am ready to work with the representatives of the 12 communities in my ward,” the Vura Ward Councillor said.

Meanwhile, senior Honiara resident and Vura Ward elder, Tom Nanau said the opportunity provided by the UNDP is a breakthrough where the ward will continue to aspire to further advancement to achieve the goals for each community.

“For us Vura Ward, we want our environment to be clean but we do not have the resources to support us. With this funding now available, we will have the resources needed to translate our ideas to the ground level and into households,” Mr Nanau said.

He added that the UNDP assistance will pave the way for Vura Ward communities to become model site which all the other wards within Honiara City can learn from and look up to.

“With this funding coming in, Vura Ward will be going very far out into the future. It will also hit the national government’s target to make Honiara City clean and a green city.”

–VURA WARD MEDIA

SICAN builds on media skills to boost Climate Change work

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SICAN group photo after the media training

MEMBERS of the Solomon Islands Climate Action Network (SICAN) have completed a one-day workshop on the basics of media and communications work.

The training was conducted on 31 March at the Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation building at Town Ground and attended by 13 partner members.

The event involved presentation sessions and group activities that aims to train participants on how to identify, construct and amplify stories of SICAN’s work in the country.

The workshop which was conducted and facilitated under the Pacific Climate Change Collaboration, Influencing & Learning (PACCCIL) project by Oxfam in the Pacific.

“The key purpose of the workshop is to train SICAN members on the basic media covering, content gathering, media writing, local media knowledge and safeguarding media ethics,” participants concluded in a press release exercise.

“I’m very pleased to see how members of SICAN are eager to learn about the work of the media and how to be involved in media work,” says Oxfam PACCCIL Project Coordinator Gareth Quity.

“PACCCIL will continue to support SICAN’s work and will definitely bring maybe something more in-depth for our next media training.”

SICAN is a newly established National Climate Change Network which brings together Civil Society Organisations, Community Based Organisations, Academics and Activists to raise the voices of the marginalized Women, Men, Youths and People living with disability on Climate Change issues, actions, implementations and to help build a resilient Solomon Islands.

SICAN is supported by PACCCIL. PACCCIL is a four-year project funded by DFAT’s Australian NGO Corporation Program (ANCP), its goal is “action to build climate change and disaster resilience in the Pacific Region and beyond, is more effective, inclusive and collaborative”.

EDITORIAL- When will this stop?

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KUKUM Highway went under the water again yesterday.

This came after the heavy downpour on Tuesday night. Honiara woke up to a road that virtually disappeared under the water.

This is not the first time the Kukum area has been flooded.

It’s an old story. And a sad one, too!

Sad because the problem was not due to poor drainage, but our bad attitude and neglect by the government.

The road’s drainage was designed to cater for run-off from the rain.

But as we again witnessed yesterday, the drainage was blocked by plastic bags and other wastes our people carelessly threw around.

Most of these wastes are from residents living further up the Kukum area.

And because the Ministry of Infrastructure Development hardly clean up the drains, we continue to have the highway flooded.

If the situation is not addressed, the surface of the road will be compromised.

People need to know that their litter will end up in the drain, consequently blocking it.

And with lack of regular and scheduled maintenance on the road, the problem will persist.

Japanese engineers who built the road designed its surface to last up to 20 years.

The road was barely three years after the Japanese Government handed over the facility in 2018.

Yet, it appeared we are incapable of looking after it.

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

It was a fine product when Japan handed it over to the Government.

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

When will the flooding stop?

And where is the minister for MID?

Fish covid away

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Kingfish caught being displayed during the PCYC Charity Fishing Competition held over the Easter weekend.

PCYC charity Easter fishing competition ends on a high note

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

The Point Cruz Yacht Club Easter fishing competition was successfully held over the weekend, with proceeds heading for the national referral hospital’s (NRH) covid-19 response.

More than 200 qualifying fish weighing a total of 723kg were caught.

Billy Emmet, skipper of the boat ‘Milani’ brought home the prized catch of the day with a two-metre-plus Sailfish weighing a whopping 34.6kg.

From left, Billy Emmet of the Milani, being awarded a prize for the heaviest Reef fish (5.9kg) during the easter fishing competition.

Fishing started at 3pm on Friday, April 2 in the afternoon; all lines had to be out of the water by 3pm Sunday.

A total of 13 boats registered for the competition with both club members and non-members all participating. 

Sharing the turnout of the day with Island Sun, Mr Mark Johnston said “Over the 2-day competition 225 qualifying fish weighing a total of 723kg were caught.

“The prize catch of the competition was a 34.6kg Sailfish caught by Billy Emmet the skipper of the Boat Milani which also won the heaviest fish of the competition.

Fishermen weighing their catch upon arrival at the PCYC competition over the weekend

He said Milani was the champion boat catching the most fish with a total of 163kg of fish during the competition.

“Milani also took out the prize for the most different species caught catching 15 different types of fish.

“Billy Emmet took out the best male angler award catching 55.9kg of fish and Jan on Red Kokosu took out the best female angler award catching 15.6kg of fish.

Billy Emmet the skipper of the Boat “Milani” with other participants. The crew won the heaviest fish of the competition during prize presentations over the weekend

“Other prizes awarded were for the biggest kingfish (13.3kg) was caught by John Matangi on Milani, the biggest snapper (7.7kg) caught by Charles Siosi on the boat Nata, the biggest Barracuda (6.9kg) by Nicky Ausia on Milani, the heaviest Dog tooth Tuna (5.9kg) by Mathias Sake on Nata, the heaviest Travelly (4.6kg) by Joshua on Red Kokosu, the heaviest Wahoo (7.7kg)  by Billy Emmet on Milani, the heaviest Reef fish (5.9kg) by Clement Lagelage on Kulikau and the biggest shark (30.3kg) was caught by Hollings on Beeracuda.

He said the most rare catch was awarded to Clement Balea on Red Kokosu for catching a 3.3kg Remora fish.  The boats, Black Orchid and SOS were awarded hard luck awards for coming back with no fish weighing over 1kg.

“The PCYC fishing competition organisers thank all of the sponsors for their support to make this Easter competition a success particularly as we are still currently in a state of public emergency, we really appreciate the support.

“Partial proceeds from this competition are going to be donated to the NRF COVID-19 response and as we are now in the build up to the major competition in June.

“PCYC Annual June Fishing Competition 2021” *Naming rights for this competition remain available as at 7/04/2021.

“We welcome any business or group whom which would like to participate as a sponsor and or take part in the organising of the competition, they welcome to contact club executives for further information. Donations accepted are both in cash and kind.”

The major sponsors of the competition were South Pacific Oil & Our Telekom – Other sponsors included, TJ Holdings, Iu Mi Kaban, the Teama Family, Origin Energy, Tongs, DH Construction, Cruz Communications, AB Earth Moving, The island Sun Newspaper.

SORE BOOTED

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Alfred Pagepitu
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Former Honiara City Council Clerk Rence Sore. Photo: Charles Kadamana

HCC terminates controversial Clerk’s contract

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE Honiara City Council (HCC) Executive Committee has terminated the contract of Rence Sore as City Clerk.

Deputy Mayor Francis Idu told Island Sun yesterday the decision was reached on Tuesday, with Mr Sore receiving the termination letter yesterday.

Sore is being investigated over allegations of corruption. However, Idu said HCC executive were in one-mind to get rid of him.

Sore did not return phone calls made to him last night for comment.

Deputy Mayor Idu said the executive is doing what former Mayor, Wilson Mamae hesitated to do.

“Seven Councillors have decided to terminated Sore after the Councillors Committee members meeting on Tuesday 6th April 2021 held at the HCC Chamber decide to terminate Sore’s contract as the Clerk.”

Idu said the decision is based on the grounds that there is sufficient evidence to terminate the City Clerk; one of the main reasons is illegal sale of Council land PN. 192010-33.

“HCC Legal team stressed that any decision to terminate the City Clerk must come with good grounds to avoid any repercussion.”

Idu said despite this the executive committee favoured terminating the City Clerk with immediate effect.

“There were two options that were considered, and that is either to suspend the City Clerk and allow for investigations to be carried out or to immediately terminate the Clerk.

“We the executive committee’s decision now is to terminate the appointment of the City Clerk immediately.

“During the discussion on the motion put forward to terminate the Clerk, Cr Eddie Siapu stated that it would be in the best interest of the Council and the public to terminate the City Clerk.

“Most of the councillors who joined the meeting shared the same sentiment that termination of the City Clerk needs to be done immediately to clear way forward for the council.

“The executive committee resolves to terminate the appointment of the City Clerk with the immediate effect based on reasons stated on April 6, 2021 meeting.”

Idu said the executive committee resolved to revoke and remove the City Clerk’s signature from the Council’s Bank Account, and resolution was passed by majority.

Meanwhile, Idu said they have appointed the current Deputy City Clerk to be the acting City Clerk until such time a new Clerk is appointed by the full Council.

Present at the meeting were Councillors Francis Idu, Dorah Huapii, Robert Oge, Mostyn Saferio, Clement Terewauri, Luciano Sade and Eddie Siapu.

Ex-officio present were Paul Inifiri, William Floyd and Vincent Kohata.

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