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TESTING 1, 2, 3

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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DCGA to table a $4 billion ‘superficial’ budget

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Democratic Coalition for Government Advancement is going to table a $4 billion ‘superficial’ budget in this sitting of Parliament.

The 2021 estimate of the budget is not based on 2020 actuals but on 2019’s.

A professional accountant, who wished not to be name, said there is a big flaw in the estimate of the budget.

“Why is the government using the 2019 actuals?

“This 2019 actuals is already stalled or no longer relevant,” accountant said.

The accountant said the government should not have any problem to generate the 2020 actual especially in this computerised world where payments at Ministry of Finance and Treasury is done digitally.

The accountant believes there are two possible reasons for the government to use the 2019 actuals:

  1. The 2020 actuals are still not finalised or summarised; and
  2. The expenses from last year have not been legalised.

Island Sun understands the Government tabled two Supplementary bills.

The government could not table the 2021 Appropriation Bill 2021 last December because of the covid-19.

As such, the accountant believes the government is likely to bring Supplementary Appropriation Bills in this financial year to cover the 2020 actuals.

In the meantime, Solomon Star investigation found a huge ‘mismatch’ in the budget that appears to exist between the Budget estimates and the Government’s Redirection Policy.

At the same time, Solomon Star claimed what has been suspected all along that figures presented in the budget were rubbery and “misleading”.

The revelation comes at a time when one major donor has reportedly distanced itself from claims that it (the donor) is supporting the government’s development funding.

“Nothing in the Redirection Policy is reflected in the allocations in the estimates in terms of funding the cost of the Redirection Policy. It is a huge mismatch between reality and assumptions,” those in the corridors of power told Solomon Star.

“The government is saying one thing but in reality is doing completely the opposite,” they said.

For example, the DCGA government recently introduced a comprehensive review officially known as the Redirection Policy which is intended to focus on the growth sector of the economy.

“But when you look at the Budget and the Redirection Policy, they have nothing in common. In other words, there is nothing in the Budget estimates to reflect the cost of the Redirection policy. There is a huge mismatch,” they said.

Solomon Star has obtained a Draft Copy of the 96-page Redirection Policy, which outlined key priorities in the different sectors, which the government has identified in its Redirection Policy.

It has divided key priorities into four (4) main sectors – the Fundamental, Social, Resources, and the Productive Sectors.

According to the Draft Redirection Policy, five Ministries have been identified for the Fundamental Reform Sector. They are the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination, Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, and the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

In the growth sector, it envisages increased investment in Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, and Tourism.

“The Rollout of the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) in supporting the agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and tourism is a manifestation of our drive to support (the) growth sector,” the Draft Redirection Policy said.

The government spent $306 million on the ESP, according to leaked Budget Summary papers, which Solomon Star has obtained.

According to the papers, the government expected a $12 million return this year on the ESP payout, a forecast described as “impossible” by economists.

“Even if you invest the entire ESP money buying stocks, it is impossible to get a $12 million return in just 12 months,” they said.

No court visit for Tikopia & Ontong Java, 16 years

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Ontong Java and Tikopia have not had any court visit for the last 16 years.

Chief Magistrate Emma Garo revealed this during the Public Accounts Committee hearing last week.

She said they have not managed to visit the two outliers due to funding.

“We haven’t visited the Malaita Outer Islands, Sikaiana, Lordhowe, Tikopia and Anuta for almost 16 years now.

“It would be fair for them to say is the Justice system only for those in Honiara, we have not managed to do that because of lack of funding, so it’s a challenge for us to organise and visit these areas.”

Ms Garo said the Magistracy have visited almost all the centres throughout the country and in terms of its performance in 2020 all courts from Western, Makira, Auki and Honiara hit more than 100 percent disposal rate for all cases civil, criminal and customary land appeal court.

She said they have brought those courts to a manageable level and want the government to maintain the effective performing level of the court to avoid going back to backlog of cases, because the challenge faced is funding to maintain the courts.

Garo said in this year’s budget they have been allocated with only $915,711 for the court circuits and CLAC and compared to 2020 budget this year’s budget has been reduced to 142 percent of last year’s budget.

She also said that their budget for this year was around $2million, calculated by their office managers, however that budget was reduced and she also posed a question whether those who do the budget-cut know better than those office managers who are based in the field.

$55m pumped into DBSI in six months

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNMENT has injected a total of $55 million in six months towards the Development Bank of Solomon Islands (DBSI).

Interim Chief Executive Officer, Tukana Bovoro told Public Accounts Committee in Parliament last week.

Bovoro said the total bank asserts (subject to finalisation of audit until December 31, 2020) is $79 million.

He said $54 million comprise of loan book and net assets of $49 million.

Bovoro said bulk of the loan is $48 million; that goes towards livelihood and investment.

He said this targets people to invest in small business to help them after retirement.

Further to that, Bovoro said about 37 applications were done for $11 million in the Small and Medium Enterprises.

Bovoro said the Bank expects to start making profits in 2023.

“We are just six months, we want grow steady.

“We still need capital,” he said.

Bovoro said the Bank can start a foreign exchange component but need experts and markets.

However, Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale has questioned the composition of the DBSI Board which has four political appointees in the government.

Wale said these people need to be removed to give way for competent and neutral people who have experienced in this industry.

The revitalization of DBSI is a priority of the National Government that has received bipartisan support because of the need for an institution to provide financial services that caters for the needs of all Solomon Islanders.

Government and serving members of parliament realize that the country as a whole has not progressed economically and socially as it could have because of the absence of financial institutions that will look at the needs of Solomon Islanders in a more holistic and at the same time financially viable manner.

Parliament passed the DBSI Act 2018, in November 2018, paving the way for the re-establishment of the DBSI.

Ngedea’s case returns to court

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a man accused of lying to a retired doctor for money will appear again in court for mention.

45-year-old Sam Ngedea was accused of obtaining more than $40,000 from a retired doctor in 2018 and 2019.

He is faced with 25 counts of false pretence and 21 counts of demanding with menace.

This is regarding the allegations between December 3, 2018 and July 20, 2019 where he lied to an elderly doctor and obtained more than $40,000.

Prosecution said the accused collected the money from the victim on various occasions as compensation, accusing the victim trying to have sex with a woman claimed was his mother.

Prosecution also alleged Ngedea during those times appeared using aliases such as George Ben, John Lake and Peter.

It was also alleged that the incident was made up by the accused making prior arrangements with that woman to meet the victim on the case.

Steward Tonowane is appearing for the Crown while Lazarus Waroka from the Public Solicitor’s office is representing the accused.

Easter market for women

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Magic hands members showcasing their products during the Easter market organized for women at the Pacific Casino Hotel yesterday. More than 40 women took advantage of the opportunity to promote and sell their local products. Photo: Alfred Pagepitu

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

FORTY-plus venders turned up at the Paradise Hall, Pacific Casino Hotel to set up their stalls and sell their produce.

The Easter market is all about different companies, business houses and local vendors coming together to sell their products.

Esther Dede, Food and Beverage Manager of the Pacific Casino Hotel told Island Sun yesterday the aim of hosting a one-day Easter market for Women is to promote domestic tourism in the country.

Ms Dede said that most women, especially vendors, local business operators are affected due to covid-19.


Millicent Barty selling the Solomon Islands made Romana Condiments at the Pacific Casino Hotel Paradise hall marketplace yesterday

“Thus, we are planning to organise an Easter market for women to showcase and sell their products together with other women.

“We love supporting our local businesses to set up our stalls to sell all our products together.

“I would like to thank those who join us and support us too to promote our local foods, carvings, Arts and crafts, clothes etc,” Dede said.

She said that with the support of the Hotel management to allow local vendors to sell their products at the venue. To host such events for women here at the hotel is a good place to do marketing. At least some earn a few extra monies to keep their business and family going.




Locally made Ngali nut products of SolAgro products being displayed during the Easter market at the Pacific Casino Hotel.

Dede said this is their first time to host such an event and hope to host bigger ones in the future with other women.

Ms Magaret Bilau says, “It was an opportunity to sell my products here for the first time with other women.

“We do not have a permanent place to sell our products so we usually do sales at home or side road.”

“I sell vegetables, fruits and tomatoes from my own garden.


.       Two members of JayJay’s Baby & Fashio

“We are housewives and as much as we can, we help our husbands to cater for our children.

“During this covid-19, I earned about $300 after all the items were sold out daily. This was compared before the covid-19.”

She thanked the organisers for hosting such an event through which local business women can come together and network through their passion for business.

Muaki: gov’t has no right to threaten public servants

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE Government’s statement on Covid-19 vaccination is unhelpful and an unfortunate threat to the employment of public servants.

That’s according to former Special Secretary to three prime ministers, Andrew Donua Muaki,

Muaki was reacting to earlier comments made by the government in which the Attorney General stated to the effect that public servants either get vaccinated or resign.

In an interview with Island Sun yesterday, Muaki said such comments not only amount to employer intimidation, but might be legally wrong and politically unwise for the government to do so.

“If the government cares to look up relevant regulations on the discipline of public servants, it would realise termination is only one of five penalties for breaches of public service rules, regulations or Code after a lengthy due process,” Muaki said.

“here is no power to summarily dismiss a public servant under the public service regulations,” he added.

“And I really doubt the courts will agree with the government that insubordination to take the Covid-19 vaccination is a good ground for termination of public servants.

“It appears to me insubordination should only attract less punishment short of termination.”

Muaki said forced resignation would be politically unpopular for the government.

He said the government would basically increased unemployment during a pandemic and the government would find it difficult to fill up vacancies left behind by those who either resigned or forced to terminate.

“Instead of addressing covid-19 vaccination issue, the government would spend time filling up vacancies.

“When governments throughout the world are trying to ensure their citizens stay employed during an international pandemic, here we have a government that tries to have an employment war with its own public servants over its vaccination efforts.

“Whoever advises the government to utter such non-sense needs to look into the mirror and get back to reality.”

He said threat of termination or forced resignations advanced by the government only goes to show the government does not appreciate the contribution of public servants.

“I know of many public servants who dedicate their service to our nation in the service of the government.

“Is the government now saying, ‘oh well your stella public service record is no good to us since you refuse to take Covid-19 vaccination’”? 

Muaki also takes a shot at the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service.

“I must say I find the so-called directive from the PS of MPS, quoted in the local media, directing public servants to be vacinated as a very disturbing piece of directive,” Muaki said.

He said any directives or orders must have legal basis to begin with.

“After reading the so-called ‘directive’ from the PS/MPS, I asked myself this question: which legal authority was the learned PS used to direct every public servant to have Covid-19 vaccination?

“You can’t just issue directives or orders. Only dictators and tyrants issue decree without legal basis.

“The PS never quoted the source for his directive,” Muaki said.

He reminded the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Public Service to ensure he has authority to issue such Directives.

“My guess is that the learned PS might not have the authority to issue such directives in the first place,” he told Island Sun from his home in Brisbane, where he is currently undertaking graduate studies in cybersecurity.

Western Provincial Gov’t to revisit 2021 budget

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Admin
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David Gina

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WESTERN Provincial Government will go through its 2021 budget once again this week following advice from the National Government.

Sources familiar with the report said the executive will meet to re-scrutinize the budget due to some shortfalls.

The Executive has passed the $26, 536, 622 million budget after going through debate last week.

Budget figures show $20,718, 857.00) for recurrent costs while $5.8 million was for development expenditure.

Premier David Gina said in his budget speech his government is optimistic that the budget will have an impact on the development and service delivery of the province.

He urges provincial members to continue to perform their legislative mandates in deliberating on the important requirements for the continuous operations and progress of Western Province.

New partnership to address COVID livelihood response

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Press Release
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A group photo after the successful partnership agreement signed between Oxfam and KGA on Thursday will enable Kastom Gaden Association to take lead in AHP’s livelihood and food security response that aims to increase diversification and productivity of current livelihood activities. Photos: Earnest Ta’asi

OXFAM in the Pacific and Kastom Gaden Association on Thursday signed a formal partnership that will support Australia’s humanitarian response to livelihood and economic shocks of COVID-19.

Established under the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP), it will enable Kastom Gaden Association to take lead in AHP’s livelihood and food security response that aims to increase diversification and productivity of current livelihood activities.

The project will support targeted communities across the country by December 2021 to cope with the increased pressure on local food systems by providing tools and farming essentials, promote saving schemes and support small businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 effects.

Oxfam Solomon Islands Country Coordinator, Richard Sakiri at the signing event acknowledged the Kastom Gaden Association as a very reputable organisation in the agriculture sector.


The signing of the partnership between Kastom Garden Association (KGA) and Oxfam is part of the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) COVID-19 response. Pictured are Oxfam Solomon Islands Country Coordinator Richard Sakiri (left), Oxfam Humanitarian Coordinator Nicholas Suava (centre) and KGA Chairman Frank Tabai.

“We have great confidence in Kastom Gaden and their capabilities to achieve their objectives. Kastom Gaden, as a local organisation, is an expert in their field of work with many years of experience and we will work very closely with our new partner.”

The Country Coordinator also thanked the Australian Government’s continued commitment in the COVID-19 response under the existing AHP Disaster READY Program.

“Under this partnership with Oxfam, Kastom Gaden Association is very pleased with DFAT & Oxfam to strengthen and enhanced Kastom Gaden’s current work in reaching out to farmers during this critical period of the COVID 19 pandemic that has added additional strains on the agriculture food and health systems affecting our people’s lives,” said Kastom Gaden Association General Manger Tikai Pitakia.    

“We need to work collectively and in partnership,” Tikai encouraged.

“We need to continue to strengthen our local food systems and empower stakeholders and communities to enhance their responsiveness to any future challenges of food security as a result of COVID-19.”

The Australian Humanitarian Partnership is supporting Australia’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic through the networks of Australian NGOs and local partners. Through the AHP, partners aim to save lives, alleviate suffering and enhance human dignity in the face of conflict, disasters and other humanitarian crises.

-OXFAM MEDIA

SAFETY FROM MONSTERS

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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supervising director for the Women's Development Division (WDD) within the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, Vaela Ngai said the rate of Domestic violence has increased over the years.

-Increase in domestic violence, trafficking

-Gov’t urged to invest up to $20m in safe houses

By EDDIE OSIFELO

OPPOSITION Leader, Matthew Wale is urging government to invest $10-20million over the next five years to establish safe houses for victims and survivors of violence.

This was after Vaela Ngai, supervising director for the Women’s Development Division (WDD) within the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs highlighted the prevalence of violence to the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament last week.

Ngai said from data collected from the Safenets, Christian Care Centre at Tenaru recorded 10-15 percent in 2020.

She said Family Support Centre recorded 10-11 percent in the first quarter of this year.

“While in the past they usually deal with four clients, now double to eight clients per day with only five counsellors,” she said.

Ngai said while the centres focus on victims or survivors of domestic violence, now they are receiving other victims and clients trafficking and People Living With Disability and children.

She said in recent years children were mainly girls, but now boys as well.

Further to that, Ngai said the six rooms at Christian Care Centre in Auki, Malaita province are always full to accommodate victims or survivors of violence.

She said the centre has extended to nine rooms and currently functioning as well to accommodate more clients.

This revelation got Wale off his feet as he urged the ministry to pursue the strong case with the government to get more funding compared to its budget cut this year.

“You need to persuade this case very forcefully to touch their hearts.

“Unfortunately problems over many years. But perhaps this is the greatest need in our society, marginalised and neglected in our society, really it is up to you to make the advocacy to make sure they get the response,” he told the ministry.

He said a society is only as good as its weakest and this is a reflection of our Solomon Islands society.

“It is not a very good reflection, we pretend we better than we really are.

MWYCFA Permanent Secretary, Dr Cedrick Alependava said the ministry had asked for more budgets in the past but it was always slashed.

However, he said other stakeholders and donors like UNICEF, UNDP, UN Women, DFAT and NZ Government are working with the ministry to address these issues as well.

PS Alependava said this maybe the reason the government normally slashed their budget.

However, he said it is very try that some mothers come into the safe places with 2-5 children.

“If we can help provide safe house for women, we are helping the children,” he said.

Furthermore, Ngai said the ministry plans to roll out safenet for victims and survivors to Malaita, Western, Temotu and Isabel.

She said the ministry is open to roll out to the provinces if they welcome the safenets.

China’s requirement on RCDF spending

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Islands Parliamentarians are mandated to spend $360,000 of their $1.8 million in RCDF on Sanitation and water projects.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE 50 members of Parliament are mandated to spend $360,000 of their $1.8 million on water and sanitation projects.

This was the requirement of Peoples Republic of China on its $90 million provided to all the MPs under the Rural Constituency Funds allocation.

Ministry of Rural Development permanent secretary, Allan Daonga related this to members of Public Accounts Committee in Parliament last week.

Daonga said they have also informed Caucus on the expectation in terms of the priorities.

He said the other priorities of PRC’s funding focus on income generating projects and social infrastructures in education and health.

Further to that, Daonga said in terms of water projects, MPs have to pay water tanks and build platforms on existing buildings or new buildings and put taps on them.

He said not merely put water tanks and leave on unexpected people to put gutter, they like complete package.

“When you apply, give costs involved.

“Those are priorities PRC indicates for use of their funds,” he said.

Chairman of PAC, Douglas Ete asked Daonga on any discussion between the Government and PRC on the post 2021 funding after PRC agreed to stop giving cash and replace with projects.

Doanga said he understand in the government level, there were prior discussion taking place.

“And hopefully we meet with PRC soon to flag thinking of government on post 2021,” he added.

Moreover, Ete said he was happy to see PRC funding captured in the budget unlike other donors that provided funding to government.

He said how the budget was drafted was different to previous years where unappropriated funds also appeared on the budget.

Ete said this was same for all other ministries where donors have provided assistance to the government.

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