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Police investigates its ‘Wild Cop’

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

POLICE say it will investigate reports that one of its officers at the Henderson police station led a mob which destroyed properties and terrorised a family on January 1, 2020.

In a statement yesterday, Police media reports that Commissioner Mangau admits that the police officer was drunk and had led some boys to attack the family.

Commissioner Mangau however fails to condemn the incident and the despicable action by his officer.

Police media statement says: Officers of the Professional Standard and Internal Investigation (PSII) of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) are investigating a police officer who had involved in an unlawful act at Henderson area on January 1, 2021.

Commissioner of Police Mr Mostyn Mangau says, “The officer and other three boys who resided with him were drunk at that time. The police officer later had an argument with the complainant’s nephew resulted in the complainant nephew assaulted the officer on his forehead.”

Commissioner of Police Mr Mostyn Mangau says, “In retaliation to the assault the police officer and his boys entered the complainant residence and damage properties including their dwelling house.”

Commissioner Mangau says, “For a police officer being involved in such unlawful action, you can lodge a complaint at PSII office so that they can deal with the officers involved instead of going to the media.”

“I call on members of the community at Henderson area who may have any information about the matter to come forward and report it to the PSII to assist them with their investigation,” says Commissioner Mangau.

The matter was reported to PSII and investigation continuing on the allegation. PSII can be contacted on phone 24107.

Bilikiki, Kurukuru on SIFF priorities

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Admin
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BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

THE Solomon Island Football Federation (SIFF) beach soccer and futsal development desk are prioritizing the preparations of the national beach soccer team (Bilikiki) and futsal team (Kurukuru) entering the year 2021.

This was according to SIFF Beach soccer and futsal Development Officer, Dickson Kadau in an interview told SunSPORTS the teams’ preparations for respective competitions this year is paramount.

“As soon we settle down, we will prioritize preparing the teams this year. Their preparations since last year has been in a limbo, thus this year my department will put extra effort to have them back in serious training for competitions this year,” Kadau said.

Bilikiki will compete at the Oceania Beach Soccer Championship while Kurukuru for the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year.

For Bilikiki, the current 24-man provisional squad will be trimmed since they have been into first two weeks of camping in December last year, and were released during the festive break.

“We will be awaiting OFC programs that are expected by end of this month, and our office meetings on our calendar of events this year will be like,” he adds.

“We will cut off the squad and involve them into educational development programs within the team.

With the SIFF headquarters being relocated Mr. Kadau says his department will have to settle down to continue its administrative work, also the hunt for a suitable training venue for the national futsal team.

“We are still to locate a venue for Kurukuru to resume training and since last year it has been a challenge for us especially with venue because of the global pandemic,” Kadau said.

“Most of the players are now been inactive which is one of our concern, some have been playing in the eleven a-side code so we hope they’ll maintain their form. They players must be active.

Kadau however, says that they are waiting on the completion of the Honiara City Council (HCC) futsal court the only option left for the reigning Oceania kings.

Not ‘That house’?

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Permanent Secretary Stephen Maesiola

MID ‘not aware’ of development believed to be related to PM’s residence

By EDDIE OSIFELO        

THE Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) says it is not aware of the development above Lawson Tama stadium believed to be the construction of the official residence of the Prime Minister.

MID Permanent Secretary Stephen Maesiola, who is currently in Ulawa, Makira province, told Island Sun that the site for PM residence is on top of the hill next to the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) headquarters.

Maesiola said currently the ministry is still waiting for the ‘plan’ for the Architectural Design group and Survey team to deal with.

He said the current development on the hillside is not related to the PM’s official residence project.

In 2018, Under Secretary Jimmy Nuake said the Government through MID had approved the plan to build a new official residence for the Prime Minister.

Nuake said the move was based on Government’s policy initiated in 2016.

Prior to that, the Prime Minister is normally accommodated at the Red House at Vavaya Ridge.

MID had already demolished the Red House and late last year fire engulfed the Guard House.

PS Maesiola said the old PM residence at Red House, Vavaya Ridge is earmarked for Speaker’s residence because it is closer to Parliament.

He said currently the project is under government programe where the ministry waits for money to start it.

Previously, former Prime Minister Danny Philip decided not to reside at Red House due to deteriorating condition of the building after Dr Derek Sikua left.

However, incoming PM, Gordon Darcy Lilo decided to move in the Red House after small renovation was carried out on it.

After that, Rick Hou and Manasseh Sogavare decided to reside at their private residences at Lunga, East Honiara, rather than moving into Red House.

Their decision attracted public criticisms because they decided to reside at their own residence rather than in a government residence.

2000-plus tests in December

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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A man in Wuhan is being tested for body temperature, similar tests being carried out by MHMS at our airport and ports. Photo from CNA

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE country had run more than 2,000 covid-19 tests for December alone and likely a similar number of tests will be done for January and February this year.

This was highlighted by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare yesterday when delivering his first national address for the new year 2021.

Sogavare said so far more than 6,000 tests have been done since ‘we have the capacity to do testing in country to date’.

“They have done more than 6,000 tests to date. More than 2,000 tests were done in December alone. In all likelihood they will be doing similar numbers in January and February 2021.

“Our Molecular laboratory staff had been performing an incredible amount of work conducting thousands of COVID-19 tests since the second phase of mass repatriation commenced in December 2020.

“We have now established COVID-19 testing capabilities in Gizo and the Public Health Laboratory in Honiara. We expect the Kilu’ufi Hospital COVID-19 testing capability to be operational very soon.

“I also commend our laboratory staff for their continued dedication in our fight to protect our country from Covid-19.

“I also thank our partners that have supplied us with the equipment and test kits and reagents to enable our staff to do the tests that allow us to protect our country,” he said.

On the same regard he commends the governments of Australia, People’s Republic of China, New Zealand, United States of America, and institutions such as the World Health Organisation and the Global Fund Against Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Malaria that supplied the GeneXpert machines that are being used to test for Covid-19 in Gizo, Kilu’ufi and the Public Health Laboratory.

Education Bill to be tabled this year: PM

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Solomon Islands National Parliament

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

The Solomon Islands new Education Bill will be tabled in Parliament later this year, according to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

In his first nationwide address yesterday he said the National Education Board has considered and provided advice on the draft of the new Education Bill.

“My Government anticipates, the new Education Bill which was developed since 2013 to be tabled in Parliament later this year.”

He said the new Education Bill is designed to lead the country’s Education System into the future, providing a contemporary Solomon Islands education apparatus.  

“This will be another history created by my government as the current Education Act is more than 40 years old,” Sogavare said.

This paper understands that the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) is anticipating a new Education bill to go before Parliament this year.

This is historic as the current Education Act has been law for over 40 years.

The National Education Board (NEB) has considered and provided advice on matters relating to the draft Education Bill in December 2020.

The new Education Bill is designed to lead our education system into the future to provide a contemporary Solomon Islands framework for our system.

It has been under development since 2013, after a high-level task force was formed to consult widely and prepare an advice paper.

Since that date, significant consultation has been undertaken to ensure views and opinions are considered throughout the country.  

Orion queries decision of Registrar of Companies

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Logging in Solomon Islands. Photo supplied

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ORION Limited Managing Director, Chan Chee Min has questioned the integrity of Registrar of Companies in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration.

This was after the Registrar of Companies decided not to intervene in the dispute between Orion Limited and Linear Perspective Ltd with Solomon Forest Association (SFA).

SFA, a powerful association looking after logging companies in the country, has cancelled the registrations of Orion and Linear Perspective Ltd.

As a result, both companies have stopped operation and losing out in business.

Chan Chee Min said that the primary responsibilities of the Office of the Registrar of Companies is to keep records of registered entities, to monitor activities of registered entities, to ensure compliance to the “Constitutions of Solomon Islands”, the various “Statutes”, Rules and Regulations and the various applicable laws of Solomon Islands, among other responsibilities.

He said that the Deputy Registrar of Companies letter of respond to Orion Limited implies:

(a) That the Deputy Registrar of Companies is exercising and executing the “Constitution” of Solomon Forest Association.

Chan Chee Min said that the “Constitution” of Solomon Forest Association is not above the “Constitutions of Solomon Islands” and cannot be above the laws of Solomon Islands.

(b) That the Office of the Registrar of Companies will be acting in “Ultra Vires” if the Office of the Registrar of Companies were to carry out their “Statutory Obligation” and “Fiduciary Duty” to cancel the registration of Solomon Forest Association.

Chan Chee Min says that in SFA legal counsel, James Apaniai Law Chamber’s letter dated 4th November 2011 to the Registrar of Companies, it was explicitly admitted, quote “you certainly have the statutory powers to cancel the registration of charitable association”.

Chan Chee Min said the Deputy Registrar of Companies must take cognizance that the “Constitution” of Solomon Forest Association cannot override or rise above the “Constitutions of Solomon Islands”

He said the Deputy Registrar of Companies must respect himself and the “integrity” of the Office of the Registrar of Companies.

He said yes, Orion Limited will sue and Orion Limited will be diligent to know who to sue.

Last week, Deputy Registrar of Companies, Tobit Taravu said the executive of SFA has the ultimate right to deal with any internal matter or disagreement that occurred within the association.

Taravu said the cessation of membership, the rightful body to receive, hear and responsible for register or remove of association’s membership is SFA executive, because such organisation or corporate body is one that has and keep records of all association’s members.

Furthermore, Taravu said it is not right a member to request for the cancellation of the association (SFA) when the organisaton still exists.

“Thus, any person or a member cannot deduce it not functioning or inactive, unless the executive confirms by a resolution that the said association is dissolve,” he said.

Taravu said the “Statutory Obligations” and the “Fiduciary Duty” you (Chan) has made mention cannot be applied in both situations mention above as you thought or highlighted.

“Our action would be viewed ultra vires if we step in to solve the dispute, because the issue you have raised is stirred up as a result of an internal or private discrepancy.

“In that regard, we are well aware that the purported removal of both companies membership from the Association register is the prior role of Solomon Forest Association.

“Thus, our office will not invade the powers of Solomon Forest Association Registered Trustees,” he said.

SI to benefit from ‘COVAX Facility’

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SOLOMON Islands is among the countries that will benefit from a new Coronavirus (Covid-19) Vaccination initiative called the ‘COVAX Facility’.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his first 2021 ‘National Address’ yesterday updating on ‘Vaccines’ said his government submitted the country’s request to GAVI – the Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunisation, which is the global health agency that co-leads the COVAX Facility on December 7, 2020.

Through the ‘COVAX facility’, participating eligible countries such as Solomon Islands will receive an initial Covid-19 vaccine to cover 20 percent of its population free. Countries are then able to co-finance the remaining doses with GAVI.

Mr Sogavare said his government has agreed to increase the vaccine coverage through the COVAX Facility to ‘50 percent’ of the population through a co-financing arrangement.

“We will secure the balance of the other 50% of the population through bilateral and other multi-lateral arrangements with our development partners,” said Sogavare.

“Fellow citizens, in-order to qualify under the COVAX Facility, the government has established a high-level National Coordinating Committee required for the COVAX Facility. It is jointly chaired by the Permanent Secretaries of Health and Finance to drive the development and deployment of a COVID-19 vaccination plan in Solomon Islands.

“The National Coordinating Committee is supported by a Technical Working Group for COVAX which also co-chaired by the Ministries of Health and Finance with membership including our development partners – namely Australia, New Zealand, Peoples Republic of China, WHO, UNICEF, and the World Bank.

“Fellow citizens, I am happy to inform you that the Technical Working Group has developed the ‘Draft National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines’ which will be further deliberated by the national coordinating committee and the oversight committee before presentation to my Cabinet for approval. We anticipate receiving this plan by the end of January 2021.

“The Technical working group is currently reviewing available scientific information on the leading vaccines that have been certified by WHO, or used by countries under Emergency Use Authorisation, or are currently in Phase-3 development, including those that are likely to come through the COVAX Facility.

“Based on their assessment the working group will recommend which vaccines Solomon Islands might consider for its implementation. We also anticipate receiving this recommendation by the end of January 2021.

“Fellow citizens, we have also received advice that the COVAX Facility is planning to deploy enough doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines to cover 0.25% of the population of its eligible countries in the first quarter of 2021. For Solomon Islands this equates to approximately 1,700 people.

“The government will be submitting its proposal to secure this allocation by the closing date of 18 January [next week Monday] 2021.

“We anticipate a decision on the approval of vaccines to be conveyed to us by end of January with a likely deployment date for the first batch of vaccines in February or March 2021.

“The technical working group and national coordinating committee are finalising the specific execution plan for the first 1,700 vaccines to be included in our proposal to be submitted on 18th January 2021.”

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare assure that work to benefit fully from Covid-19 vaccines is on track as the country look forward to receiving the first doses of vaccines to cover 0.25% of its population in the next couple of months.

“While we await the advice from our technical working group and the national coordinating committee on the mass roll out of COVID-19 vaccines in the country, it is my hope that we will be able to vaccinate the whole of our population by the end of 2021,” said Sogavare.

On ‘health update’, the number of Covid-19 cases registered in Solomon Islands remains at 17.

Guangzhou flight delayed

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE flight for Guangzhou scheduled for January 24 will be delayed as Solomon Airlines still has not received approval from relevant authorities for the flight.

This was confirmed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare yesterday in his nationwide address.

“The flight scheduled for Guangzhou on 24th January will also be delayed as Solomon Airlines still had not received approval from the relevant authorities for the flight.

“We are also watching the COVID-19 situation in China closely. Our health team will advise on the best possible time to reschedule based on quarantine spaces available and their assessment of COVID-19 risk to the country,” said Sogavare.

He said repatriation flight scheduled for February 7 from Auckland is still on track

“We anticipate a total of 600-700 people entering the country on these flights in the January – February period,” said Sogavare.

He said the third phase of Solomon Islands Governments repatriation plan has commenced with the 3rd and final flight to Fiji having arrived on Sunday night. This flight also brought in nine citizens from Kiribati.

“We have another repatriation flight arriving from Auckland on January 17, 2021.

“The 3rd and final repatriation flight from the Philippines had been delayed to 21st January because the final paperwork for about 30 of the students were not ready for the original date of January 11, 2020,” said Sogavare.

Two covid-19 cases remain positive

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

‘TWO’ Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases of the 17 registered in Solomon Islands remain positive.

The two remaining positive cases are soccer players returning from England on October 2020, confirmed Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his first 2021 Covid-19 ‘Nationwide Address’ yesterday.

Prime Minister Sogavare expressed that the latest Covid-19 update in the country ‘is nothing short of a miracle’ given that in the month of December 2020 alone, 821 people were brought into the country.

“Good people of Solomon Islands, I am very happy to inform you all that the number of COVID-19 cases registered in Solomon Islands remain at 17,” said Sogavare.

“This is nothing short of a miracle, given that in the month of December alone, we brought 821 people into the country. More than 90 percent [%] of these people are our citizens we repatriated from Vanuatu, Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Fiji.

“One of the students that arrived from the Philippines and who was positive from COVID-19 while in the Philippines and turned negative for almost two months before his repatriation, reactivated after arrival to be transiently positive and has now turned negative again.

“Under international protocol, this case had been recorded against the Philippines, and therefore it does not increase our count. This is the reason our domestic cases remain at 17 cases registered against Solomon Islands.

“Fellow citizens, before we went for the Christmas break, I informed you all that we had 5 positive cases of COVID-19.

“I am extremely happy to inform you all, that as of this morning [yesterday], we now only have 2 positive cases of COVID-19.

“Of the 17 recorded cases 15 have turned negative. Of these, 11 have been released after completing 3 consecutive negative tests after their last positive tests. 10 were released over the past two months, and 1 last week.

“The two remaining positive cases are soccer players that returned from England on 25th October 2020. This is a concern for us. These two have been positive now for 79 days.

“In-fact, the other 8 positive cases that returned from the United Kingdom, and the one case that returned from Indonesia, were all positive for well over a month each.

“These prolonged positive cases are telling us that the COVID-19 virus does not just disappear from infected individuals at 10 or 14 days after their symptoms subside – especially from those that do not have any symptoms.

“Without repeated testing it is more than likely that many COVID-19 positive people could be still positive and infective when they are released back into communities.

“This is why in Solomon Islands we only release previously positive people after 3 consecutive negative tests to ensure we are 100 percent sure they are negative before they are released into the communities.”

Police queried over suspected log export

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Logging in Solomon Islands. Photo supplied

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ORION Limited Managing Director, Chan Chee Min is questioning the integrity of police after no answers and actions were taken since Bulacan International Limited exported 7,000 cubic metres of logs in South Choiseul onboard MV Ocean Star in 2018.

Bulacan is own by President of Solomons Forest Association, Jonny Sy, who is currently overseas.

Chan asks these following questions:

1.         Where are the proceeds from the shipment per MV Ocean Star held in virtues of High Court Injunctive Orders on HCCC 496 of 2016 and HCCC 246 of 2018?

2.         It was understood that the proceeds held in virtues of HCCC 496 of 2016 and HCCC 246 of 2018 was released by “Consent Order”.

3.         Kubobangara Customary Land Trustees Board, Kubongava Customary Land Trustees Board and Billy Qaqara Tudubatu is the Applicant/Claimant, is not aware and not a signatory to the said “Consent Order”.

He raised these questions in order to expose the corruption allegedly practised by Commissioner of Forest and Bulacan, a member of SFA.

Chan said on November 14, 2011, Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited held Timber Rights Acquisition over Subavalu Customary Land.

He said there was objections to the Choiseul Province Executives determinations.

“The Western Customary Land Appeal Court sat and Judgment was delivered on Western CLAC No. 03, 04 and o5 of 2012.

“In the Judgment, one of the orders, quote “The determination made by the Choiseul Provincial Executives on 14 November 2011 is set aside,” he said.

Chan asked if Ministry of Forestry and Research can shed light on how and why Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited was issued with Felling Licence A10820 when the Western Customary Land Appeal Court has set aside the determination of the Choiseul Province Executives.

As a result, Chan said Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited and its contractor Metro Team landed logging equipment and entered Kubobangara Customary Land and Kubongava Customary Land with an illegal Felling License A10820, fraudulently obtained.

This was in defiance of Billy Qaqara Tudubatu, Secretary to the Kububangara Customary Land Trustees Board, who has obtained from the High Court of Solomon Islands an Injunctive Orders in HCCC 496 or 2016.

Furthermore, Chan alleged that Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited in conjunction with ES Suba Enterprises Limited, acquired a Grant of Profit over lot 32 (adjoining to Subavalu Customary Land) fraudulently and felling license Number A101639 was issued.

However, he said relations between ES Suba Enterprises Limited and Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited turned sour.

Chan said ES Suba Enterprises Limited terminated their arrangement with Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited and entered into a new arrangement with FR Resources and its financial backers (Glengrow (SI) Limited).

He said they continued their logging operations in defiant of the High Court Injunctive Orders on HCCC 496 of 2016.

Chan said Tudubatu, Secretary to the Kubongava Customary Land Trustees Board again has obtained another Injunctive Orders from the High Court of Solomon Islands in HCCC 246 of 2018.

Meanwhile, FR Resources entered into deals to acquire PWP Limited, a SFA membership company.

FR resources acquired PWP Limited, to continue their logging operations and exporting logs in defiance of High Court Injunctive Orders on HCCC, 496 of 2016 and HCCC 246 of 2018.

He said on November 30, 2018, the Commissioner of Forest issued a Seizure Order on ES Suba Enterprises Limited and a Sale Order to Bulacan International Limited.

He said a shipment of 7,000 cubic metres was exported under FD#1047/2018 dated 07 December 2018 per MV Ocean Star.

Moreover, Subavalu Community Investment Limited was issued a Felling Licence Number A101851 covering Subavalu Customary Land.

This is the same Subavalu Customary Land under felling Licence Number A10820, held by Bulacan Integrated Wood Industries (SI) Company Limited) without going through the Timbers Rights Acquisition procedures.

Chan said PWP Limited is currently operating and exporting round logs under the Felling License of Subavalu Community Investment Limited, Felling License Number A101851

He said Solomon Forest Association, its president, executive and member continued with their unorthodox practices.

Chan said that Orion Limited, Kubobangara Customary Land Trustees Board, and Kubongava Customary Land Trustees Board has reported these matters to the Royal Solomon Islands Police, Fraud Squad and even JANUS as they believe that Forestry Officer/s and certain Choiseul Provincial Executives are responsible.

“Sadly, to date, we did not hear any action taken.

“Can it be true that the SFA tentacles has a hold on Solomon Islands governance?” he asked.

Police Media said when outcomes are not available show the investigation is pending.

“It is not easy to investigate cases dealing with transaction and high profile cases.

“Investigators will need time to collect all information before proceeding with it,” Police Media said.

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