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GRML assists in fight against covid

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GRML Office Manager Tony Lin handing over the donated items to NHEOC Incidence Controller Dr Gregory Jilini. Photo by MHMS

GOLD Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) donated 15,000 facial masks and 1008 of 75 percent alcohol hand sanitisers to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) National Medical Store yesterday to support efforts against covid-19.

In his brief remarks at the hand over, Benjamin Afuga, one of the GRML directors highlighted that GRML is pleased to join other firms within the private sector in supporting national efforts against covid-19.

“Like many other firms that have come forward to support the government in its fight against COVID-19 global pandemic, GRML also wanted to support these efforts thus the donation made today,” Afuga said.

He explained, “the impact of COVID-19 is felt not only by the Ministry of Health nor the government alone but across sectors thus it is only fitting that we all come out to support each other in this difficult time”.

“We hope that our donation today will enable frontline and support staff of health and other government ministries and agencies to discharge their duties safely,” stated Afuga.

In his response, National Health Emergency Operation Centre (NHEOC) Incidence Controller Dr Gregory Jilini acknowledged GRML for the support.

“It is always our priority to ensure that health and other government officers engaged in COVID-19 frontline operations including support staff are able to discharge their duties safely and the donation today will greatly help us in that regard.

“As such the Ministry is very grateful and appreciative towards the GRML directors, management and staff for taking the decision to support health in its COVID-19 operations with the items donated today.”

Dr Jilini also added that while COVID-19 may have impacted everyone including all sectors, one thing is for sure, only through our combined efforts, cooperation such as this, we will be able to triumph over the impacts of COVID-19 and the COVID-19 global pandemic itself.

–MHMS PRESS

PNG men remanded for illegal entry here

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Pelau police post on the atoll island of Pelau in the Malaita Outer Islands.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

FOUR Papua New Guineans from Tasman island have been remanded in custody for illegal entry into the country via Pelau in the Malaita Outer Islands on 26 December 2020.

The four accused are Thomas Poraka, Lester Kapua, Frensly Keapu and Steven Atoka.

They faced with one count each of illegal entry into Solomon Islands under the covid-19 regulation.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution successfully applied to the court to remand all four accused yesterday.

The men will appear again in court for mention on 4 February 2021 at the Honiara Magistrate Court.

The incident occurred on 26 December 2020 at Pelau and nine others from Pelau came in contact with them.

However, this week the Ministry of Health and Medical Services said that the four persons who illegally entered the Solomon Islands border from Tasman Island to Pelau (MOI) on the 26th December 2020 and 9 others who came into close contact with them, returned negative.

Last week a team of three health workers under the lead of Dr Jackson Rakei were deployed to the MOI with the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIPF) and support from the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) in a joint operation.

The deployment was a follow up to an initial deployment on the 27th of December where contact tracing, initial swabbing, community engagement and risk communication was conducted due to the incidence.

Help the parents

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Opposition Leader Matthew C Wale.

GOV’T needs to do more to help ease school fee pressure: Wale

The Leader of Opposition, Mr Matthew Wale, has called on the government to take steps to alleviate the burden of school fees on fee-payers for all levels of our education system.

Wale said families are struggling under the very hard economic times, adding that these hardships are made worse by the consequences of Covid-19 on our economy.

He said it simply is not right that any student should miss out on attending school because of the current situation.

“It is therefore essential that the government formulate a policy and quickly implement it to alleviate the school fee burden and ensure that school enrolments are not severely affected in 2021,” says the Opposition Leader.

Wale said that there are many ways or combination of ways that the government can approach this challenge.

“Perhaps it could look at a cocktail comprising school grants increase along with per student subsidies at the various levels of the education system. This must also include SINU and skills training institutions.

“We are in extraordinary times, facing difficult choices. However, the future of our society and country demand that we prioritize education. The lack of priority given to education will further add to the negative pressures from Covid-19 which will hold the country down,” Wale added.

Wale calls on the Ministry of Education to collaborate with Education Authorities to pursue this school fees alleviation goal. And he further calls on all schools to take a more lenient and compassionate approach toward fee-payers in difficulties in 2021.

–OPPOSITION PRESS

Stop delays and unnecessary adjournment of court cases: chief justice

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Jennifer Kusapa
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Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer. Photo by RNZ

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

CHIEF Justice Sir Albert Palmer has again raised concern over the delay and continuous adjournment of cases before the court.

He said such delays should be avoided at all costs as these may lead to a miscarriage of justice.

Sir Albert said delays are incompatible with a society founded on the rule of law and on embedded constitutional rights.

“I spoke to this issue on several occasions last year and so suffice to say that the plight of the high number of remandees awaiting trial needs to be aggressively addressed this year by the Court.

“High priority must be given by all stakeholders and the court in the listing of trials that are ready for hearing”, Sir Albert said. 

He said ongoing delays are an affront to the rights of an accused to have his case heard within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court and puts unnecessary pressure on the police and Correctional Service apart from the extra cost and burden to society. 

He said victims and the community are entitled to know that complaints will be attended to in good time and justice dispensed promptly.

“There is no short cut to the issue of delay and hearing of cases, the Court and Counsel in the DPP’s office and the PSO should rise to the challenge and ensure that cases involving those in remand are given priority for hearing”, Sir Albert added.

Media attacks on judges unacceptable: Soma

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Jennifer Kusapa
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In-court

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRESIDENT of the Solomon Islands Bar Association (SIBA) Eran Soma has raised disappointment over reports published in the media attacking judges over particular decisions.

Soma said such personal attacks are unacceptable and uncalled for because they undermine the independence of the judiciary, which is crucial to democratic government on which we all rely for our individual and collective freedoms.

The SIBA president was speaking at the opening of the 2021 Legal Year, Tuesday.

He said judges have a sworn and difficult duty to administer justice according to law and they should be allowed to perform that duty unhindered by personal attacks in the media or elsewhere.

“If it is thought that a particular decision is wrong, then in most cases, there is an avenue of appeal available to disappointed litigants,” Soma said.

“If it is thought that the law is wrong, then it is open to Parliament to change it,” he added.

“Further, if it is alleged that the conduct of a judge in performance of his or her duties was illegal or goes to his or her fitness for office, then there is a remedy under s.80 of the Constitution.

“Therefore, it is very important for journalists, reporters and the public to understand that there are legal processes in place to deal with one’s disappointment.

“Media insinuation is not one of them.

“I wish to emphasise the Bar Association’s commitment and support for our judiciary which has a longstanding reputation for independence and impartiality.”

Chief Justice Sir Albert Rocky Palmer also highlighted that in 2020, the Judiciary experienced some negative publicity in the media, in the disposal of election petitions.

“Instead of appreciating the court in disposing of all election petitions save one, timely within the 12 months’ time limit, the court continued to be barraged with bad reporting,” Sir Albert said.

“The judges however continued to remain firm and true to their oaths ‘… to do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill-will’ and to discharge their onerous duties to determine disputes that come before them,” he added.

He said maintaining that independence is central to the trust and the public confidence of the community in the work of the courts. 

“Decisions of the courts bind the parties in a case and are enforceable by process of law. 

“They are therefore to be respected by the Government and citizen alike.

“The judiciary is governed by legal and ethical obligations. 

“It determines cases according to law, rules and regulations and the facts that are before it. 

“It does not go beyond what is put before it in court and what the law permits or not permits for it to consider.

“The judiciary is impartial and determines cases according to law, outcomes are legally driven.”

Sir Albert explained that the legislature and the executive in contrast are more open and flexible to the receipt of ideas and may be subject to public opinion and popularity, especially the views of their electorate.

The legislature necessarily focuses on policies and outcomes supported by the executive arm. 

The judiciary on the other hand, focuses on the facts of a case and decides the result on the basis of applying legal principles.

Therefore, he said Judges are required to decide cases in an impartial, fair and independent way. 

The courts are open to the public (“open justice concept”) and judges are required to give reasons for their decisions. 

This requirement is fundamental to the judicial method. 

Counselling sought for quarantine graduates

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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Chengs Quarantine Station

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

Coronavirus (Covid-19) quarantine graduates, especially from Chengs facility are seeking for the possibility of ‘counselling service’ to be provided.

According to some graduates, staying in quarantine for a long period has been challenging for them and they struggle to readjust when they return to their homes and families.

Because of such experience, quarantine graduates during early this week’s first 2021 ‘Talk-Back Show’ raise question to the national government, seeking for the possibility to be provided with counselling service.

In response to question, Dr. Gregory Jilini from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) assure those graduating and facing such experience that they can avail counselling services to those who need it.

“I think what we can say is we can avail counselling services to those who will need it. What I will advise is if they could contact us so that we can reach out to them and provide the counselling services that they will need.

“The hotline toll free is ‘115 and 25256’, so please call any of those numbers so that we can reach out and provide help,” said Jilini.

So close, yet…

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Barnabas Manebona
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Chairman of the Oversight Committee Dr Jimmie Rodgers

-Bougainvilleans stranded on this side of border since last year

-Government blames PNG

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

A NUMBER of Bougainville people have been stranded at the western border since the state of public emergency began in March 2020.

And they want to return to their homes.

They have sent requests to the Government to make an arrangement where they can be transported across the border with the help of police from both countries.

The Bougainvilleans say although they are just a boat ride away, they could not travel across because the border has been secured by police from both sides.

Secretary to Prime Minister (SPM) Dr Jimmie Rodgers in response to this issue explained that the problem at this stage is PNG’s requirements.

“We sympathise with the people of Bougainville wanting to go back and our people wanting to come across,” Rodgers said.

“From the government side we have been looking for ways to help them go back,” he added.

“But the problem lies with the requirements the PNG government has imposed.

“There are two requirements.

“One is that the ‘incident controller’ at PNG must give approval before we can send someone across.

“And the second part is once approval comes, PNG requires Covid tests using PCR machines. They do not use what we have at Gizo.

“It is three days before they go. So where the Foreign Affairs now is to try and seek approval from PNG so that they can approve for their citizens to return.

“As soon as we get approval, we will sort out their testing, because the swab has to be collected, sent up to Honiara, tested here, result goes back and by the time results is done, within three days they will go.

“The process for how to do it is what they are talking about.

“Once approval comes and test is ready then we will activate our immigration and theirs, our police and their police to do the actual transfer.

“But before we can go to the operational side, this policy side must happen first. 

“We are expecting the new High Commissioner of PNG to arrive towards the end of this month.

“Once he gets here, communication with PNG might be easier so that we can quickly get approval from the other side.”

Rodgers assures the Bougainvilleans that the Government is doing its part to help them return home.

No home for football

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Lawson Tama Stadium. Photo supplied.

SIFF handed short term lease

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

THE iconic Lawson Tama Stadium will likely no longer be termed as the Home of Football in the Solomon Islands.

This was after negotiations between the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) and the Honiara City Council to renew the federations’ lease on the stadium did not work out in football’s favor.

According to SIFF reports, the Lawson Tama will no longer be called the ‘home of football’ because of the council’s lease termination end of last year.

While the HCC, the Solomon Islands Football Federation’s and TSL board had met twice early this month, the only agreement the parties have reached was for SIFF and the TSL Board to complete matches for Round 2 of the 2020-2021 seasons of the premier league.

Parties involved have already drafted a short term Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), an agreement between HCC and SIFF’s TSL board to regulate football and continue to use the iconic ground to complete the TSL matches, which resumes this weekend.

The short term Lawson Tama proposed deal settlement has left SIFF with limited options but to seek compensation from HCC for the developments done at the stadium over the years.

A SIFF well-informed insider revealed to SunSPORTS that the football governing body will no longer challenge the contract on legal grounds.

However said SIFF will be seeking compensation from the HCC for previous development the federation had done at the stadium.

“HCC termination of the lease agreement is final. SIFF cannot challenge it, legally it has been reached and by a way of compensating the developments that have already been taking place at the stadium is the forthcoming option for SIFF,” he said.

SIFF President Willie Lai when contacted regarding the issue says they are hoping for the national government to intervene since the country’s number one sport will be without a standard stadium within two years – pending on construction of the new football home at the former ROC Taiwan farm at King George by end of the year 2022.

“We have worked towards everything for Lawson Tama stadium to get things done, and unfortunately our negotiations didn’t work out in football’s favor,” Mr. Lai admits.

“Ultimately, we are seeking the government’s assistance.

This setback means, organized national football competitions apart from TSL, SIFF will have to look for alternatives.

 “Lawson Tama has been a global highlight of Honiara City and it has been a commercial site because of football,” Lai adds.

HCC ceased the lease agreement on 31st December 2020 citing there was no record of MOU backdated to 2017 when the lease has lapsed and also accusing SIFF of not living up to their end of the deal of allowing other sports or activities to take place within the stadium. 

The original agreement between SIFF and HCC was on a four years term, and unlikely there are no plans for its renewal for football as HCC wants it to be a multi-sporting venue.

Government to establish new Bill

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Chairperson for NHA and Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr Jimmie Rodgers.


BY BEN BILUA


THE government is in an initial stage of drafting a new legislation that will provide legal provisions in times of Pandemic.Final consultation will be held on the third week of this month and third week of February since the idea was established late last year.


Speaking during the Talk Back Show over the weekend, Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Jimmy Rogders said the government will bring in provincial leaders to be part of the final consultation and at the same time crafting the Bill.


He also said that the government will present the Bill to Parliamentary Opposition group for inputs so that both parties are on the same page in the development of the Bill.


Dr Jimmy said the final draft will be completed by the end of February before submission to the Parliament Bill’s Committee on first week of March 2021.


He said the Bill will replace the powers and discretion currently exercised under the State Of Public Emergency (SOPE) if passed in parliament.


Dr Jimmy said powers and discretion under SOPE will expire on 24th of March as such supporting the Bill is important to maintain efforts against COVID-19.

HIGH FAIL RATE

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Only 838 pass to Form 7 out of 4,494 students

EIGHTY-ONE percent of form-six students who sat for the 2020 final-year examinations did not make it to form-seven.

This was despite the examination offered at a ‘moderate’ difficulty level, ministry of education says.

John Liliu, manager for National Education Assessment Division (NEAD) Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) in an interview yesterday said this means the transition rate for form-six to seven is 19 percent of the 4494 ‘this means only 19 percent are qualified to form seven’.

“This year’s result revealed that 81 percent of students which is equivalent to 3657 were not be able to get a placement in form seven.

“My advice is we have other options on other organisations and intuitions like the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and of course the University of South Pacific (USP) centre.

“I want to request our good students in the country this is not the end, there is more opportunities out there and I would like to encourage you continue strive.

“We have a lot of organisations who will provide space for you to excel further in your education,” he said.

Mr Liliu said having less students getting into form seven is a ‘long time issue’, even before covid-19.

He adds that for this year’s results it is also believed that covid-19 is an exacerbating factor to this matter.

“However, speaking of coivd-19 situation in terms of preparedness on examination coverage the level of difficulties on examinations this year is moderate.

“We actually scale the difficulty level, I think it is the most easiest examination students and teachers come across, because we actually mapped out in terms of the preparedness of school.

“For instance, some schools have classes only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays so in terms of coverage it will not really in depth.

“Because of those factors we came up with a paper that its difficulty level is just moderate. It is risk to lower it because students would not be able to critical in their thinking,” said Liliu.

He said the ministry has a responsible division who will work to consider the drop-out students as this is an issue the government needs to address for the citizens to avoid causing of social issues in the society.

“As responsible body we make sure to provide the avenue for them for senior secondary expansion the government has its plan,” said Liliu.

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