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Sol-Air flying on $23m loss

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Airlines airbus

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Airlines is expecting an estimated cash flow loss of $23 million this year due to the impact of covid-19.

As such, the company is looking to the government to assist its operation and activities.

Chief Executive Officer, Brett Gebers told the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament this week the loss comes about because international operations is not picking up.

Financial Controller, Vincent Misi said the Government has assisted the company with $20 million under the Economic Stimulus Package.

He said $15 million comes as loan while $5m as grant.

“In terms of finance is very challenging, we are in the survival mood.

“We really need support from government. How long the pandemic continue is a big challenge for airlines,” he said.

Misi said Airlines has leased out one twin outer to Air Kiribati to help them with financial difficulty.

He said A320 airline is still currently operating.

“The lease cost is fixed and hard for renegotiate at the moment with leasing company.

“We pay $1.5 million ($195,000 US per month on the lease cost,” he said.

Currently, the government is working with Solomon Airlines to introduce the ‘domestic bubble’ where passengers can travel two destinations around the country on affordable package.

Ministry of Communication and Aviation permanent secretary, Moses Virivolomo said a study is carried out on Solomon Airlines to help the government to privatised it or not in future.

Runway works halted

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Honiara International Airport

By EDDIE OSIFELO

Government has halted overlay of existing runway at Honiara International Airport under the Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Project due to high cost.

Ministry of Communication and Aviation permanent secretary, Moses Virivolomo confirmed this before the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament this week.

Virivolomo said the project is on hold because they found the amount available for the project is not enough after the initial costing.

He said the project is shifted to overlay the Munda international airport and construction of the terminal.

Furthermore, Virivolomo said under SIRAP, the road sealing will be done at Auki township road and Fiu Bridge.

He said the Honiara International airport upgrade funded by Japanese International Cooperation Agency is reaching 15 percent progress.

Virivolomo said there will be a site visit on April 16.

The SIRAP project is financed by a US$30.5 million credit and a US$20.5 million grant by the World Bank, together with US$3.6 million (SB$29 million) from the Solomon Islands government.

The launch of the project represents a significant achievement for Malaita, which will see an upgrade and maintenance to the 232-kilometre main road network.

This will include resealing 17 kms of the provinces sealed roads, upgrading four bridges, improving vulnerable spots for better road safety and ensuring increased routine maintenance and support.

Rubbish trucks for Gizo soon

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Western Provincial capital Gizo

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

GIZO Town Council (GTC) is expecting five vehicles to improve its operation and services.

Council Clerk Charles Keli confirmed to Island Sun Gizo office in an interview earlier this week.

He explained that donors will donate two two-tonne tipper-trucks, one waste water truck, one three-tonne pick-up truck and a garbage compactor truck.

“Currently GTC has one garbage compactor truck and the vehicle is designed for soft rubbish or residential rubbish but it’s not working at the moment due to mechanical problems,” Keli said.

He said the two tipper trucks will be used for collecting hard rubbish which includes timbers and also other solid wastes while the waste water truck will be used to pump waste water on residence within Gizo town.

 “I received green light to get a three-tonne Waste Water truck. An application has been submitted and from conversations, the outcome of the application looks positive.

“GTC has never owned such truck and it will be a huge bonus for Gizo to get one.

“Gizo town has been and continues to grow with lots residential buildings erected within the town. This justify the need to get one waste water truck,” Keli said.

“This vehicle can also be used to deliver fresh water to residences if leaders decide to change its function,” he added.

Keli said the three-tonne pickup truck will be donated by UN Women under the Market for Change Project.

He said focus will be on rubbish collection at the Gizo Market.

“Rubbish at the market are different from residential rubbish. Rubbish at the market are left behind by vendors who brought their products from the surrounding communities as such the truck will focus on picking up and disposing of the rubbish.

“We encourage vendor to sell their products to get income to support their needs but our problem is to collect the rubbish. This is where the need comes in,” Keli said.

He said negotiation had been made and UN Women through the Market for Change Project has confirmed to donate.

Keli said his office is optimistic that a kind hearted donor will donate a garbage compactor for rubbish collection vehicle.

He said his connection during his term as the Clerk of Honiara City plays a vital role in bringing the equipment to Gizo.

Biula School maps out business for this year

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Biula School Board members

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

BIULA Provincial School Board met on Wednesday this week at Noro to discuss and map out the school’s business for this year.

Five agendas which includes 2020 Financial Report, School Development Plans and School Policy were brought before the board for deliberation.

Two reports which includes a disciplinary case and assistance towards the school was also presented under Any Other Business (AOB) session.

Presenting the Financial Report, Biula School Accountant (Busser) Peter Chanel told the board that the school was operating without a budget in 2020 adding the impact of COVID-19 was challenging for the school to stick to business.

However, he stressed that the school managed to pull through the academic year with great success.

Chanel said the school recorded surplus though poor turnover of revenue collection and unaccounted payments.

He explained that the surplus will be factored to the school’s development aspiration this year.

School Principal, Frank Nagu said Biula School has a number of development aspirations earmarked for this year.

“We are looking at repairing our staff houses, fencing our girls’ dormitory, construction of beds on boys’ dormitory, improvement of shower and ablution blocks and farming.

“On farming, we are planning to go into piggery, poultry, root crops and vegetable farming.

“Our major development is our hydro power to which consultations are underway,” he said.

Nagu adds that the school’s long term plan is looking at venturing into reforestation – planting local trees, kava and betel nut farming.

He continues to say that the School has established and also strengthened its policies in terms of discipline and respect of school properties.

Nagu said some of the priority policy is reinvigorating teachers and students arrival on school after long holidays so as returning school properties before leaving schools on holidays.

“We realised that teachers and student’s arrival has been very poor beginning of year and this must be improved.

“School properties such as laptops have also been removed by former teachers and this must also be stopped by way of strengthening the school’s policies,” he said.

In his speech, Chairperson of Biula School Board, John Hopa acknowledges the principal and school treasurer for the tremendous job.

He said the welfare of the school and its development aspiration can be achieved through greater cooperation.

Hopa said the Board will continue to join force to help the school in its business.

Principal Officer of Western Province Education Authority, Freedom Tozaka said school policies and regulations must be respected.

He said parents and guidance must also respect the school’s policy and regulation.

Tozaka also acknowledged the school principal and school treasurer for the job well done in 2020.

He said Western Province Education Authority is looking forward to work closely with Biula School in its endeavors this year.

Biula Provincial Secondary School is owned by Western Provincial Government and has been providing education opportunities to thousands of students since its establishment.

Quarantine centres fail those with disabilities

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Government has not prioritised facilities for People Living With Disability (PLWD) in the quarantine centres during the coronavirus pandemic.

These include pathways for people on wheel chairs and rest rooms facilities for them to access.

Unlike most quarantine centres in Honiara, only the bottom floors are accessible to them but not the top floors because of no lifts and pathways.

A member of People With Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI), Naomi Tai said the Government response to people like them is not a priority and inclusive despite a policy in place for them.

She said most infrastructures in Honiara are no disability accessible.

“If there is a covid-19 outbreak and some of them test positive, where will they be quarantine?

“This is something the government need to look at when selecting quarantine centres,” she said.

Special Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr Jimmy Rodgers told a public forum at National Museum and

Auditorium yesterday that the government prioritised people living with disability.

Dr Rodgers said the field hospital at Multipurpose hall caters for people living with disabilities.

About 163 people living with disability are living in Honiara.

Fifty are under the Solomon Islands Deaf Association, 33 under the Blind Association of Solomon

Islands and 80 in Physical Impairment.

A study carried out by Save the Children Fund (SCF) Australia and the Ministry of Health and Medical

Services in 1991-92 found that there were approximately 10,000 people with disabilities in the

Solomon Islands. 

However, the number should be increase now as the country’s population surpasses 700,000.

According to a review report, past and present governments have come up with policies to recognise

people living with disability in social, education and all sectors of the society.

The Government signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in September

2008; its optional protocol in September 2009.

The then National Coalition for Rural Advancement (NCRA) Government has reviewed the Solomon

Islands National Disability Policy 2005-20101.

This Policy is now known as the Solomon Islands National Policy on Disability Inclusive Development

Policy.

However, Cabinet is still to endorse the policy to allow Ministry of Health and Medical Services to

allocate budget for disability programmes in the country.

Further to that, the Government has developed an Inclusive Education Policy to recognise people

with disability in the education system.

The Government has also presented its initial, second and third report to the Convention on the

Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Committee in 2014.

The Family Protection Act was passed by Parliament in 2014, which recognises PLWD as well.

The current Democratic Coalition for Change Government (DCCG) came into power in December

2014 and has prioritised disability in its policy.

Consequently, the Government has not review and endorsement of Persons With Disability (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Bill 2006.

MASI urges journos to take the vaccine

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Press Release
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MEDIA Association Solomon Islands Vice-President Douglas Marau has taken the lead in encouraging journalists around the country to be vaccinated when their time comes.

Mr Marau was one of the first group of people that were vaccinated during the Vaccine Launch on Wednesday last week.

The MASI vice president said journalists should also be categorized as front liners as they always have to be at ground zero whenever something happens.

“Media people play an important role in Solomon Islands covering events and incidents day in and day out and it is no different in the work they are currently undertaking during this pandemic,” he said.

That said, Marau encouraged journalists to also take the vaccination when their time comes.

“This is to protect yourself, your colleagues, your families and our nation as a whole,” he said.

Marau said there are incidents in other countries that journalists have also contracted Covid-19 in the line of duty.

Moreover, the MASI vice president also requested that health authorities also consider our journalists to be amongst frontliners that are on the list to be vaccinated.

Marau said ensuring our reporters’ safety also ensures that Solomon Islands can also stay informed.

Meanwhile, Marau has also acknowledged the important role media continue to play during the pandemic.

He said journalists including media personnel in the country have been at the forefront in ensuring our people are kept well informed.

“Keep up the good work,” the MASI vice president said.

–MASI PRESS

CUT, CUT, CUT

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Permanent Secretary of Forestry, Vaeno Vigulu

Government issued 435 licences to logging companies

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Forest and Research has issued a total of 435 licences to logging companies operating throughout the country.

These include 281 valid licences and 154 operation licences.

Permanent Secretary, Vaeno Vigulu confirmed this when asked by Chairman of Public Accounts Committee, Douglas Ete in Parliament this week.

However, PS Vigulu said the ministry only has 135 officers to monitor all the logging operations in the country.

He said this is a ratio of one officer per five operating logging companies.

Chairman Ete urged the PS to take up a business case to Cabinet so that the ministry can recruit more operation officers to impose the compliance measures on the logging companies.

Ete said this is important to avoid logging companies robbing the government when exporting logs overseas.

He said many logging companies have taken advantage of lack of monitoring by Forestry officers.

Vigulu said the ministry is taking steps to fill the gap in management.

He said the ministry will fill positions left by retirees and deceased officers.

After the exercise, Vigulu said he will take a paper to cabinet to allow more recruitment in the operation division.

The logging industry is the biggest contributor of revenue to the government.

However, industry is slowly declining due to overharvesting of the trees in recent years up to now.

‘Vaccine or resign’

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Attorney General John Muria Jnr

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Frontliners have been told to take the vaccine or resign.

Attorney General John Muria Jnr uttered this warning on Sunday following the low turnout of frontliners to be vaccinated in the first three days after last week’s launch of the country’s covid-19 vaccination programme, in which leaders including prime minister Manasseh Sogavare took the jab to prove their confidence in the vaccine’s safety.

Attorney General’s ironic statement may put government in a tight spot, insiders say.

Government does not want to have to force frontline workers into taking the jab, banking on the mutual understanding that being vaccinated is an essential requirement for frontliners going forward.

But after last week’s hesitancy by the frontliners, early this week prime minister Sogavare ordered permanent secretaries of the public service ministry and health ministry to circulate emails instructing their staff to be jabbed before close of business yesterday, Wednesday, March 31.

This directive left no choice for frontliners. Beginning Monday this week, huge queues marked the central field hospital up to yesterday.

Attorney General John Muria Junior during the latest radio talkback show on Sunday described last week’s low turnout as a show of ‘insubordination’.

“The government has put a rule for frontline workers to be vaccinated and when a person breaches the rule it is called insubordination. Hence, if you do not want to comply with government rules then submit your resignation letter.

“The other thing is that if you do not want to receive the vaccine and want to receive to be part of the frontline workers and you after happened to contract the virus should the government be responsible to care for you after disobeying its rules, I don’t think so. Therefore, if you want to work for government adhere to what the government says by get vaccinated and continue serving this country,” he said.

Permanent secretary Public Services Nego Sisiolo in an urgent circular memorandum on March 29, said:

“I hereby issued a vital instruction to all front-line and immediate support personnel following SIG ,ministries and agencies(i) MHMS – ministry HQ, and NRH and Guadalcanal Province; (ii) MHA- Honiara City Council (HCC); (iii) MPNSCS- Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and the Correctional Services of Solomon Islands; (iv) MCILI- Immigrations, (v) MoFT -Customs; (vi) MAL -Biosecurity (vii) MCA -Civil aviation and (viii) MFMT-fisheries observers to immediately get vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than the close of business on Wednesday 31 March 2021.

“Furthermore, based on the same directives, I issued instruction to rest of us public servants to also get our vaccinations in accordance to the vaccination schedules that will be advised to us soon by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.”

Permanent Secretary Health and Medical Services Pauline McNeil in her circular to all MHMS staff, National Referral Hospital staff and Provincial Directors made a plea for her staff to go forward and get vaccinated.

Mrs McNeil said health frontline workers have sacrificed much care for the country and people in fighting against covid-19 skillfully, bravely and tirelessly in more than 12 months ago.

She made example of the country’s nearest Melanesian neighbour, PNG, “they have recorded deaths and new COVID-19 cases with hospital and health services already closed down and some on verge of collapsing as more health workers and citizens become infected.

“This makes this call even urgent and I am therefore pleading to all of you to please make time today to be screened and encouraged to take the AstraZeneca vaccine. For Provincial colleagues, be on standby and be ready when your turn comes.

“Thanking each every one of you for your co-operation and for adhering to this urgent call,” said McNeil.

Councilors’ case today

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE two Honiara City Councilors Reginald Sanau Ngati and Billy Abae will appear again in court today after their case was adjourned yesterday.

The appearance yesterday was for lawyers to update court on issues regarding trial but since the presiding magistrate attended to other commitments, court clerks informed parties that the case was adjourned for today.

This is relating to the intimidation charge regarding allegations of an incident which occurred at the Council’s headquarter on June 13, 2020.

Prosecution said the two councilors threatened the Honiara City Clerk at the Council’s Headquarter; the city clerk due to fear reported the matter to police.

Abae and Ngati were then arrested.

Ngati is the current Councilor for Vura ward and Abae is the Councilor for Vavaya Ward.

In the last occasion both of them denied the charge and entered not guilty pleas.

Private Lawyer Allan Hou is representing both accused.

‘Bring on the TRC Report’

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Opposition Leader Matthew C Wale.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

OPPOSITION Leader, Matthew Wale wants to see Government table the long awaited Truth and Reconciliation report in Parliament.

Wale made the call toward Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs (MTGP&EA) when its officials appeared before the Public Accounts Committee this week.

He said it was a surprise to see TRC has not been brought to Parliament to deal with.

“The way Government handles it may breach the TRC Act,” he said.

Permanent Secretary Peter Mae said he will come up with a policy to look into the TRC report.

The five volume report has many recommendations on how Solomon Islands can heal from the trauma of the ethnic conflict between 1999-2003.

Previous governments were reluctant to table the report which saw the author leaked it on media for public viewing.

The author’s action has breached the TRC Act because the report has to be tabled in Parliament first before releasing to public.

In 2015, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told Radio New Zealand that issues relating to the conflicts will continue to surface, it is his government’s intention to table the report.

He said for the government to settle all the outstanding issues of the ethnic crisis, it would need six budgetary allocations of its annual budget to finance them.

However, former ex-combatants of Malaita and Guadalcanal are already calling on the government to address outstanding claims in the Townsville Peace Agreement 2000.

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