The Choiseul provincial government is querying the delay in works on the Taro airport.
The terminal and runway are reportedly in run-down state.
And, the province’s government is seeking answers from the national government.
An upgrade project was proposed to start last year but never got the chance to get off ground due to covid-19, it is reported.
Speaking to the paper from Taro, Choiseul, Deputy premier Nerio Ulemiki says, “Government of New Zealand promised to upgrade the Taro airfield in Choiseul Province, but nothing has been heard so far since 2020.
“Every day, this small airport is always busy with travellers of different classes.
“Most are general public, government workers, NGOs, and tourists from provinces.
“We understand that Taro was one of the airport to be upgraded and Seghe respectively,” he said.
Ulemiki said the New Zealand Government had allocated NZD20 million and the Solomon Islands Government NZD7million for the upgrade.
However, he said due to unknown reasons, the upgrade has been delayed.
He said the design of the Taro airfield has already been completed and the appointment of the Community Advisory Committee made. The project implementation timeframe is for one and half year.
A concerned traveller Mr John Pitamama said the people of Choiseul deserve a better airport and infrastructures that meet required standards in order to provide better and quality services.
He called on the New Zealand government to quickly respond and update the provincial government regarding the delay in the Taro airfield upgrade project.
SEVEN thousand doses of AstraZeneca vaccine will be used in Honiara while 17,000 doses will be sent to the Western border.
This is the roll-out plan for the 24,000 vaccines received on Friday last week.
Dr Yogesh Choudhri technical advisor to Health Ministry, confirming this last week, said:
“The vaccine will be rolled out on Wednesday at the Central Field hospital which was the identified location for roll out of the vaccine in Honiara.
“Currently a total of 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Solomon Islands and they are being kept right now at the National Medical stores in proper storage conditions that the vaccine requires.
“The priority population are the front liners because there is a likelyhood they will be exposed to covid-19 patients so that includes our health workers, the police, the securities, the customs, immigration officers and the people who working on the ports.
“The Western province will roll out the vaccine to all those people who are 18 years and above because of the risk of importing covid-19 cases directly into the community,” he said.
Choudhri said vaccination is an important public health measure to prevent further community transmission incase the virus finds its way in the community.
“So, we are the second country in the Pacific to have received the vaccine through COVAX facility.
“As we receive more vaccine and we are likely to receive 84,000 doses of the vaccine from the COVAX by the end of June we will be rolling out the vaccine to other priority groups,” he said.
THE Engineering department of Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) was forced to leave its office at Hyundai Mall last week due to rental arrears since last year.
The Ministry has already secured Melanesian Haus close to Iron Bottom Sound to accommodate these government offices.
Island Sun tried to contract MID permanent secretary Stephen Maesiola but his mobile was switched off last night.
However, a senior officer in MID said the ministry was behind payments of rental because the budget is still to be passed.
MID is allocated fifty four million, eight hundred and sixty four million, five hundred and fifteen thousand ($54,864,515) under the Recurrent Budget of the 2021 Appropriation Bill 2021 to meet its expenses.
While one hundred million ($100,000,000) in the Development Budget estimate.
Attempts to talk with owner of Hyundai Mall was unsuccessful.
ORION Limited is reportedly set to sue the Solomon Forest Association (SFA) over loss of business.
It is understood the lawsuit will be for $403,011,350.20 (USD50,674,441.50).
Report reaching this paper says Orion has satisfied its legal team with all the facts and can commence compliance procedures and preparation for the legal battle against SFA.
SFA de-registered Orion Ltd in March 2017 due to alleged non-active status and also no machinery as required by the act.
As a result, Orion Ltd stopped carrying out logging operation and exporting in compliance with Legal Notice 114.
Under Legal Notice 114 of 2007, only members of SFA are allowed to hold felling licences and to export round logs out of Solomon Islands.
This is to combat illegal logging practices and to ensure the monitoring of active logging companies in Solomon Islands.
Managing Director of Orion Ltd, Chan Chee Min said they shall see and hear all the truth in the days to come.
In the meantime, SFA held an Extraordinary General Meeting on Friday, March 19.
Sources told the paper that SFA members discussed the issue raised by Orion Ltd in the media against them.
Rector of Don Bosco, New Principal of Bishop Epalle, Principal of St. Mary Tanagai, a retired Teacher and Education Sec cutting of cake.
The Catholic Teachers Sodality for this year was held with powerful words of advice given by the church to the educators.
The event was held at the Holy Cross Cathedral on Sunday, along with a thanksgiving Mass.
Catholic Teachers Sodality is a structure under the Catholic Education Office that was established to animate teachers’ calling as educators.
The Mass was led by His Grace Bishop of Gizo Diocese Bishop Luciano Capeli FMA, co-celebrated with Rev Archbishop Christopher Cardone OP with a dynamic Liturgy led by the St Joseph National Catholic Secondary School Form-3 and teachers.
Bishop Capeli shared three bible readings. The first reading taken from the book of 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23, while the second reading taken from Eph 2:4-10 and the Gospel Reading from John 3:14-21
During the Homily, Capeli reflected upon the Gospel and the two readings.
He mentioned that the second reading spoke about grace, that there is no other way anyone can go back to God except through the grace of God.
He questioned the teachers and the families gathered during that Holy mass.
“What is the problem today?
“And told them that a lot of youths today are still confused when being asked what is their purpose in life.
“Every single person in this life has to have mission and vision.”
The word education is an English word that come from a Latin word “Educere”.
“Meaning to lead out,” he stressed.
“Therefore a teacher is not a teacher of subject but rather educate students with also values and morals.
“And as parents and teachers all have missions to educate a child with values and virtues so that they can become the person they were meant to be.”
He then encouraged the teachers to continue seeking God even though it seemed like every year is the same.
The Holy mass ended with commissioning of teachers sodality, where they stood in front of alter and the two bishops blessed them for another year of teaching and educating the children.
St Joseph Tenaru form 3 student and teacher led the liturgy
Apart from the thanksgiving Mass the teachers sodality also gathered at the Holy cross Cathedral Hall for a short Catholic teachers sodality meeting, new members registrations, welcome remarks from the Catholic Education Secretary followed by entertainments and a welcome feasting.
Catholic Education Secretary Ms Modesta Hasiau in her welcome remarks, acknowledged the two bishops for their graceful sermon and presence with all the teachers.
Hasiau welcomed both old and new members of the Catholic Teachers Sodality including Sunday school and Education teachers.
[Center R-L]His Grace Archbishop Christopher Cardone OP and Bishop of Gizo Diocese Bishop Luciano Capeli FMA with alter servers
“We were call to serve, inspire and to educate the young God given citizens with a holistic approach to produce quality and productive leaders for our country.
“This is third year of leity and the call to holiness, therefore, this theme requires us to evangelize in our classrooms.”
She further spoke of the theme for this year’s sodality, which is “Thy will be done”.
“The theme reflects the word of the Blessed Virgin Mary the mother of Jesus,” she said.
She told everyone to always reflect upon this theme daily before starting off their work.
Teachers Sodality commissioning from the two Bishops infront of the alter
Moreover, she acknowledged the school teachers and principals for all their help and support throughout the past years and encouraged them to continue living the Christian faith in their classrooms.
She concluded by thanking Archbishop Cardone for his full support in the education mission inside the archdiocese.
The gathering ended with feasting and entertainment from Bishop Epalle School, St Joseph Tenaru, St Vincent Burnscreek School and San Isidro Care Centre.
THE National government has asked the Malaita Provincial Government to forgo portion of the service grant and Provincial Capacity Development Fund totaling up to $SBD6.5 million due to lack of finance at the national treasury.
The funds were to be received by the Provincial government for the 2020/2021 financial year.
Premier Daniel Suidani said this is a setback for his government as there was no assurance made, they were only asked to forgo the remainder of the funding for the 2020/2021 financial year which will lapse at the end of this month.
He said although the national government had explained their side on the issue, it has really affected service delivery in the province.
Suidani said the matter is in relation to the slow release of service grants by the national government to Malaita province.
He said during the final quarter of 2020 (October, November and December) his government had to operate with funds collected from local revenue. This is due to the slow release of the service grant.
“On top of that, the remaining $SBD2.8 million, that is part of the service for 2020/2021 financial year was yet to be paid to Malaita province by the national government.
“Later on, we were advised to forgone the remaining grants, as there is lack of finance available at the national treasury.
“In addition, and in terms of the capital budget, my government was also advised last month to forget about the remaining capital funds of $SBD3.7 million yet to be paid by national government to Malaita province.
“These are serious issues that continue to affect my government,” Suidani said.
He said it’s obvious that the national government’s support for the new budget has been reduced. Reason was due to low revenue collection from the national government sources.
Suidani said that shows that Solomon Islands will continue to depend on donor funding until such time the country is able to recover from the negative impacts of covid-19.
“Therefore, it is important that we think strategically and make good use of the little funding support that we have access to in serving our people.
“With that the way forward for Malaita province and the MARA government is to expand the scope of its engagement with private sector actors aligned with the province’s development.
“As a government, our key direction should be on creating an environment that can encourage more private sector participation. This calls for more private sector confidence building,” he said.
Meanwhile, Suidani said as the theme of last year’s 2nd appointed day celebration states, “Malaita Province Resilience in the face of Adversity” MPG must live and show for the theme.
He said it was on this basis that MARA government has to continue to perform amidst those challenges.
Suidani said it is obvious that there is a huge reduction of government support that will impinge on the new financial year’s budget, and no doubt it will affect the policy objectives and directions of MARA government.
He said it’s important to take appropriate actions and measures to deal with the matter by using alternative development approaches to ensure MARA government’s policy is not greatly affected.
THE Isabel Provincial Government has denied granting any business licence to the Sunshine Mineral Company limited.
Provincial Secretary of Isabel Province John Lokumana told Island Sun that the company entered Isabel without any business licence and they are illegally setting up things at the Katova District.
The province also said that they will not grant any business licence to Sunshine Mineral company as a result of their illegal behaviour, by entering Isabel without acquiring proper licence to operate in the province.
PS Lokumana said he will not further comment on the matter but confirmed that Sunshine mineral company limited has no business licence to operate on Isabel.
Meanwhile, communities on Katova are still in dispute over the proposed prospecting areas and are also calling on the company to stop doing any operation.
One of the community leaders said that they have advised the directors of the company that they should not land in Nuha – Isabel until the land issues are sorted out since the Jejevo tenement is currently under dispute but that advice has fallen on deaf ears.
MALAITA Provincial Government is looking forward to more funding support from the people and government of the United State of America.
Premier of Malaita province, Daniel Suidani in his Full Assembly speech made the statement as the first funding support was already visualizing in the province.
He said that under the USAID funding of USD$25 million ($SBD204 million) for Malaita province, Winrock International is already in Auki.
Suidani added that the other four US agencies which will also participate in the implementation of programmes under the funding are expected to set up office in Auki in the coming months.
And as part of this funding, he said the MARA government has made it compulsory for these agencies to establish offices in Auki.
On that note, Suidani said his government is also aware that the US government will support Climate Change and Resilience programme on Malaita.
“This programme will be targeting the northern and Langa Langa wards, those that are more vulnerable to climate change,” he said.
Suidani said a funding support of USD$8 million will also go towards similar activities and will be implemented by World Vision Solomon Islands.
He said still under the US government funding support to Malaita province, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has announced a USD$23 million funding for Solomon Islands towards the end of last year, 2020.
Suidani said the funding will focus mainly on the conservation of natural resources which include forestry and carbon trading.
“While this funding support will cover Guadalcanal, Western and Isabel provinces, my government was informed that half of the funding will be committed to MCC’s programmes for Malaita province.
“Under these various US government funding support to Malaita province, it’s my government’s aim to ensure people of the province fully benefit from the projects and programmes.
THE 28 days strike notice issued by the Workers Union of Solomon Islands (WUSI) to the Malaita Provincial government on behalf of the provincial government direct employees has been withdrawn.
The matter was in relation to an agreement that WUSI had with the previous provincial government on the pay structure of provincial direct employees.
Malaita Premier, Daniel Suidani said the issue has been dealt with, resulting in the withdrawal and the agreement by the employees to the public service unified salary pay structure.
He said an issue that his MARA government dealt with was the high salary given to MPG direct employees, where from level four to level 10, direct employees were paid higher compared to public servants.
Suidani said this is an issue they looked at as they depend on the national government’s funding to pay for direct employees’ salaries.
“So why should we pay higher salaries than the one who gives to us? For the past couple of years our direct employees have been enjoying high pay rise at the expense of little or no service delivery as seen during past administrations,” he said.
On that note, Suidani said having to decide and reverse an existing practice is not an easy thing.
He however said with the guidance of law, regulations and ordinance this was possible.
“The governing rule for Malaita province becomes crucial, where important decisions that will incur huge financial commitment on the provincial government must be endorsed by the executive and passed by the full assembly.
“In absence of this, my government has established that the basis on which the direct employees pay rise was committed us was illegal.
“To implement this decision, we have to work closely with the salary department of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury as well as to explain to our employees the reason for this executive decision,” he said.
Suidani said that upon MARA government’s stand not to entertain this high salary and other claims that were not clear, WUSI colluded with its members who are direct employees under Malaita province and the union issued his government with a 28 days Strike Notice.
He said the administration of MPG has responded to the notice with a series of actions already taken including meeting with direct employees and the union to clarify and put right matters that have become the subject of the strike notice.
“This resulted in the strike notice being withdrawn and direct employees accepting the decision that their salaries will now be paid according to the Solomon Islands public service Unified Salary Pay Structure,” Suidani said.
POLICE Commissioner Mostyn Mangau says that the Professional Standard Internal Investigation into allegations against a female officer for taking part in a recent arson incident is still ongoing.
He said once the PSII completes their investigations further action will be taken from there.
It was alleged that a female police officer working at the Crime portfolio of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force at the Rove Police Headquarters was involved in the recent arson incident at Tetupa village, North East Guadalcanal.
The allegations were that the female officer provided beers for the nine boys, who caused the incident at Tetupa village.
This is in relation to the arson and looting incident that occurred on March 8 this year where some drunkard men from Tau village armed with bush-knives and axe, went inside Tetupa village, threatening and chasing the villagers and as result burnt some houses causing damages to properties.
Mangau said no further arrests have been made so far after police arrested one male suspect and police are calling on communities in the surrounding villages to support police in their investigation.
Police said some five houses and two semi-permanent kitchens were burned down and the group of nine men also caused damages to a vehicle, water pump, water supplies and church furniture, with 070 chainsaws removed during that time of burning and looting in that village.
