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Country pays tribute to Sir Michael Somare

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Wreaths being laid infront of the PNG Chancery office in Honiara

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE Papua New Guinea / Solomon Islands community joined the Pacific in remembering the life of one of the most iconic leaders in the region, Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare in Honiara yesterday.

Members of the community joined hands in remembering the first Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea as a march was organized under the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force escort from the Art Gallery to the Papua New Guinea Chancery building

PNG high commissioner to Solomon Islands His Excellency Moses Kaul speaking on behalf of his government and the immediate family of late Somare said the remembrance programme thanked all those who turned up to remember this Pacific icon. 

 “We join together in unity and in solidarity to commemorate and farewell our fallen champion, our icon of the pacific, late Grand Chief Sir. Michael Thomas Somare.

He said the walk to remember Sir Michael symbolises what our countries can do together as a community, family and together as Melanesians.

Part of the crowd that turned up for the Sir Michael Somare memorial walk yesterday.

 “This is the song of unity, this is the song of the person we have, and this is the demonstration of the love we have for our countries.

Kaul adds that both Solomon Islands and PNG share reference in the spirit of Melanesians and thanked those who took the time to join them.

“I would like to make special mention and thank the RSIPF to us and support us for our programme this morning to support us.

“Thank you very much to half of the PNG community in the Solomon Islands,” he said.

“I believe our Grand Chief has demonstrated to us the path he took as being the best example of being a leader.

The PNG community also thanked the Solomon Islands community and the RSIPF for providing police escort during the tribute walk.

Apart from the Solomon Islands, Fiji also organized a memorial service on Friday to honour Sir Michael Somare. Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, parliamentarians and members of the Diplomatic corps in Suva were in attendance.

Tens of thousands of people attended a funeral procession for the late Sir Michael Somare at a stadium in Port Moresby on Friday.

The “Grand Chief” died of pancreatic cancer on February 26 aged 84, with the government declaring two weeks of mourning, ending with Friday’s four-hour service at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.

Disaster inclusive workshop held for People living with Disability

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Participants who joined the inclusive disaster reporting workshop on Friday.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

More than 10 persons living with disabilities in Honiara have for the first time participated in an inclusive three days workshop which ended on Friday.

This workshop on media and Disability Inclusion was held at the SIBC conference room and featured the attendance of by representatives of people living with disabilities, those from Disaster Management organisations, Media and Humanitarian emergency response stakeholders in the Solomon Islands.

It was organized and funded by Oxfam in the Solomon Islands in partnership with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation International Development (ABC ID).

Workshop trainer was Dorothy Wickham and staff of Oxam who conducted a workshop on disaster preparedness.

Trainer, Ms Wickham highlighted the Oxfam AHP Disaster Ready plan aims to promote timely, accurate, inclusive disaster messaging by understanding the communication needs of people with disabilities and improving linkages and interactions between disabled persons’ organisations, media, government and other local stakeholders.

She said the goal of the knowledge-sharing workshop is to allow stakeholders to understand each other’s experience, challenges/ constraints, priorities, and needs in disaster reporting, response, and resilience.

Wickham thanked the media, stakeholders participated in the workshop, representatives from the World Vision, Red Cross, the Oxfam in Solomon Islands in partnership with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation International Development (ABC ID) and participants.

“I would like to thank all of you who attended and our core funders who supported this workshop.

“We now understand disaster reporting, understanding disability inclusive messaging, establishing media guidelines and principles and determining best practice terminology for disability-inclusive reporting.

“This training was successful as participants hear direct issues affecting people living with disabilities on their needs and wants in disaster scenarios.

 “As facilitator of this workshop on disaster reporting for people with disabilities, I would like to thank Mr Alex from the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service for being part of this workshop, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) International Development for funding and Oxfam for hosting.

“I have learnt a lot from these amazing Solomon Islanders,” Wickham summed up.

Winrock holds session with Malaita Public Accounts Committee

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Deputy Chief of Party for Winrock Solomon Islands, Dr Morgan Wairiu

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under the Malaita Provincial Assembly held an information sharing session with Winrock SCALE-NRM Deputy Chief of Party, Dr Morgan Wairiu last week in Auki.

PAC chairman, and MPA for Ward three, Martin Fini said the session was held upon invitation by PAC for Dr Morgan Wairiu to share with them information on the USAID Scale programme in the province.

He said during the session, they were happy to get first hand information on the USAID Scale programme and five different entities/components which will implement the programme on Malaita province.

Fini said Winrock International as heard is one of the five bodies who will execute the USAID US$25 million on various sectors of development in the province.

He said the entities have their specific areas like agriculture, environment, livelihood and other areas that they will implement programmes on Malaita.

Fini said members of PAC have lauded Dr Wairiu for the session as it gave them the direction on how MPAs will work with people in their respective wards to prepare for the programme.

He called for cooperation from colleague leaders, community leaders, resource owners and implementing partners to support the execution of the scale programme.

In a statement from MPG following a recent information session with Dr Wairiu’s, he said the programme is designed to achieve the overarching Restorative Economy policy of the MPG.

He said the Malaita Provincial Government Restorative Economy policy is the anchor for the SCALE programme.

It stated that the different components are responding to this overarching policy direction which is to restore the economy of Malaita that in a way has been destroyed through very destructive development models. 

Therefore, it will be the priorities of MPG that the Implementing Partners (IPs) will be working in line with it. 

Under the SCALE programme, IPs are also expected to engage with a variety of stakeholders including communities, NGOs, business houses, provincial authorities, national authorities and international actors in the implementation of the programme.

MPYC supports Orea youths from Are’are

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Rep from Orea youth group receives bags of kava stalk from president of MPYC, Mr Philip Subu (right) this week in Auki

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA Provincial Youth Council (MPYC) has yet again donated seven 20kg bags of kava stalks this time to Orea youth group last week in Auki.

The support is part of Malaita Youth’s Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) assistance, especially for the kava sector and the assistance will only be received by one youth group in the 12 constituencies of the province.

President of MPYC, Philip Subu said MPYC is very happy to support the youth group as they are one among seven youth groups that have already received the MPYC ESP assistance.

He said Orea youth group is from the highlands of East Are Are and their determination to reach Auki to receive the support shows their seriousness towards the kava programme.

Subu acknowledged the youth group for their effort and urged them to make great use of the programme for their benefit.

He said MPYC is eager to cooperate with youths in the province to empower them and become self-reliance to support the development of their communities, province and country.

He said the assistance comes in the form of kava tools and kava stalks.

“Now we are left with only five youth groups to receive their support under the programme as they have already been identified, and we are waiting for them to get their assistance,” Subu said.

He said MPYC is facilitating the programme with the $10k they applied and received under the national ESP.

MFMR Conducts Awareness on Fisheries Regulations

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Press Release
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Fisheries Officer Priscilla Pitakaka explaining the fisheries regulations during one of their visits to the famous cooking star restaurant at Rove

THE Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), Inshore Fisheries Division team have successfully completed a two-weeks awareness on the Fisheries Management (Prohibited activities) Regulations 2018 in Honiara.

The team conducted an awareness program at the Honiara Central Market, followed by distribution of regulation flyers to restaurants, hotels, shops and fish markets outlets from Henderson area in the east to White River in the west of the city.

The Fisheries Regulations sets out prohibited activities for targeted marine products which include certain finfish, shells, crustaceans, mammals, reptiles and fishing gears.

The species in the regulations are regulated because of their dwindling stock status in the wild due to unsustainable harvesting for subsistence and commercial use. Restrictions are placed on certain activities and also size for harvesting, selling and buying.

The awareness aims to educate fish vendors, restaurants, hotels and fish shops who normally buy and sell marine animals and fishing equipment.   Enforcement of the Fisheries Regulations is expected to happen after the awareness program.

–MFMR MEDIA

More awareness paramount: Justice Bird

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Hon Justice Bird enjoying the Women in Law Breakfast last week

BY BEN BILUA

JUSTICE Maelyn Bird says there is a great need to educate women of their rights and freedom from violence.

She made the statement during the Women in Law Breakfast which was held at Heritage Park last week.

“I lament the lack of awareness by many women to this day of their rights to freedom from violence, and their rights to protection from violence. 

“I see the need for much more work to be done in this area.

“This awareness must meet women where they are, not just those of us lucky to have an education,” Justice Bird said.

She said most violence cases are family related and it demonstrates that more awareness will help more women and girls to know their rights and at the same time willing to bring perpetrators to court.

“As a judge on the High Court, I have become increasingly aware of and concerned by cases of sexual assault, many of them perpetrated by family members against children. 

“The fact that people are coming forward to report the cases is really important, as is their willingness to testify in court,” Justice Bird said. 

She said collective support is needed to address violence against women and girls as police and courts cannot address the issue alone.

Justice Bird said more focus should be on preventing the crimes with necessary actions.

“As a lawyer, I have also been confronted by the prevalence of domestic violence, and the needs of women who seek protection from domestic violence.

“And in fact, it has not been just the experience of my clients, but also me.  I stand before you as someone who has survived domestic violence.

“With these personal and professional experiences, I was so pleased to see the elected leaders of our country take the important step in 2014 to pass the Family Protection Act. 

“This is a very welcome and important reform.  But, as I am sure many of you in this room will agree, enacting a law does not automatically lead to the effective implementation and enforcement,” she said.

Justice Bird calls on stakeholders to work closely with the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, including the Justice Sector Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Strategy, and the review of the Family Protection Act. 

Record of interview was fair: Court

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court has ruled that the record of interview on a man accused of faking his own death to obtain thousands of dollars from a local pharmacy was carried out fairly.

The accused, Peter Fakaia recently challenged the record of interview done on him, claiming it was conducted unfairly and the copy of Record of Interview (ROI) as not the one he signed.

During the trial, the crown called two police officers who conducted the ROI and found the evidence given by the crown witnesses were consistent.  

The court then ruled that the crown had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and the officers conducted the ROI fairly.

Therefore, the record of Interview was admitted as part of the Crown evidence for trial proper with the case adjourned to 30 March 2021 for setting of a new trial date.

Mr Fakaia was accused of faking his own death and obtaining $76,000 from a local pharmacist in Honiara in 2019.

He is facing trial on three counts of false pretences relating to the allegations that occurred between 21 and 26 September 2019 in Honiara.

The Prosecution said the accused sought medication from the People’s Pharmacy at the Kwaimani building in Kukum.

 After taking his medication he then left, however on the next day he returned to the pharmacy complaining he had allergies with the medication.

He was then given another medication and was advised to see a doctor.

On 23 September at about 8 am, the complainant received a call through his office phone by a person who allegedly purported himself as the accused’s brother-in-law.

The complainant was informed by the accused’s brother-law that the accused he diagnosed died at the National Referral Hospital and is at the morgue.

The accused’s brother-in-law then allegedly demanded a compensation of $10, 000 for the cause of the death.

The complainant in total allegedly gave $76,000 to the so-called relatives of the accused for his alleged death.

It was on 26 September that police were alerted about the incident and arrested a person who came to collect the last portion of money requested for the accused’s death.

Using the alleged associates; police finally arrested the accused after halting him in his vehicle at the Ranadi Roundabout.

Private lawyer Ben Etomea represents Fakaia, while the Public Prosecutor Jonathan Auga is prosecuting the case in court.

WOMEN SHORTFALL

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Hon Justice Bird enjoying the Women in Law Breakfast last week

Call for more women in Justice Sector

BY BEN BILUA

JUSTICE Maelyn Bird has encouraged women and girls to pursue judicial path as part of promoting gender quality in the country.

She said the justice sector has been a male dominated profession until recently when few women broke the deadlock.

“The justice system has traditionally been seen as a male dominated area. 

“However, we are seeing more and more women coming to the justice sector, in a range of different roles, including lawyers, administrators, and judicial officers,” Justice Bird said. 

She said the justice system has a fundamental role to play in our country’s efforts to promote gender equality and putting more women in the job will make a difference.

“Increasing the participation of women in the justice sector, including at senior levels can make an important contribution to the goal of gender equality.

“I see the justice sector as having a fundamental role to play in addressing one of the key impediments to gender equality, and that is the prevalence of sexual and family violence,” Justice Bird said.

On that note, she calls on the people of Solomon Islands to recognise and acknowledge women’s contribution to the operation of the justice sector at all levels, and across all the different arms of the justice sector, whether it be prosecutions, legal aid, law reform, legislative drafting, as well as the critical services provided by the police, corrections, and front-line service providers for victims of sexual and family violence.

“I see so many sisters in the legal profession showing, on a daily basis, in the course of their work the discipline, commitment and ability to manage multiple complex matters that are fundamental skills to those on the bench,” Justice Bird said.

Investigations into Taimareho tragedy still on

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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27 lives were lost on the MV Taimareho in April 2020 when the ship sailed through rough weather.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE are still working with stakeholders in regards to investigations into the tragedy behind the MV Taimareho sea incident last year.

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said investigations into the case is progressing very well, and they are working closely together with relevant authorities, the Solomon Island Maritime and the office of the Director Public Prosecution for possible charges to be laid on those who are actually involved.

He said given the sensitivity of the investigation and the incident, police will not work alone but will consult the relevant stakeholders about the tragedy.

Mangau also said there needs to be proper legal opinion on that.

He also said consultation is underway and cannot comment further and further adding that charges will be laid upon the DPP’s advice.

When asked who are the people likely to be charged by Police, Mangau said that will depend very much on the consultation with the stakeholders.

On his previous response on the issue, Mangau said investigators have compiled the file and have forwarded it to the DPP’s office for viewing and once anything is needed to be patched up then the DPP’s office will recommend to the Police what action will be taken.

NOTHING TO HIDE?

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The MAL land at Ranadi that was sold of by the HCC to a Malaysian logger. Picture supplied

MAYOR WELCOMES INVESTIGATION ON THE TRANSFER OF HCC LAND.

THE Honiara City Mayor has welcomed investigations into the sell of the Honiara City Council owned land used by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock at Ranadi, east of Honiara.

The issue has been making headlines this week after news of the sale drew condemnation and calls for investigation over the dealings of the council which continues to find itself on the wrong end of public scrutiny.

City Mayor Wilson Mamae in a statement confirmed that investigation is being carried out into the sale of Council Land at Ranadi.

He welcomed any investigation on the matter of transfer of the land used by the Bio-security Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.

“Following what has been published in the media, I would like to inform the public that investigation now has been carried out through responsible body,” he said.

“In the meantime, I would like to urge all parties, whether it be public or private stakeholders who currently occupy HCC land to come forward and show your continuance interest of using HCC land,” the Mayor added.

HCC will be conducting valuation of all the land it owns and is expected to be concluded by the end of this quarter.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Ethel Tebengi Frances said she is very disappointed about the action taken by HCC to sell off the land without consulting her ministry.

That piece of land houses the Biosecurity incinerator at Ranadi, east of Honiara.

“The land is used for destruction of all garbage remove from international vessels and aircraft coming into Solomon Islands,” Director of Biosecurity of MAL, Francis Tsatsia said in a strongly-worded statement.

“It’s a requirement that garbage of this sort must be offloaded and incinerated as biosecurity risk is very high,” Tsatsia added.

-HCC MEDIA

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