THE Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale, has labelled the Sino Capital logging company saga a can of worms, now that the lid has been opened, there is no telling what worms will crawl out.

Mr Wale has described the explanation by the forestry office as totally unacceptable.

“Firstly, who is the officer that made this statement on behalf of the forestry ministry? These kinds of defensive statements lead the public to lose trust in government to protect the interests of indigenous Solomon Islanders,” says Wale.

Further, Wale has called for a publication of all the lands covered by the Sino Capital felling license, so that landholding groups can verify whether proper timber rights processes were in fact carried out prior to the license being issued.

“Documents revealing that Kuma, the Finance Minister approved tax remissions to Sino Capital is the latest of these worms to crawl out of this rotten can. The media are right to question the wisdom and integrity of this decision, given the current dire government cash flows and the record of non-compliance by Sino Capital with tax laws since 2010.

“A serial non-complaint tax-payer, who has deliberately neglected over many years to pay Guadalcanal province for a business license for logging operations on lands for which timber rights hearings were not conducted, is given tax remission by the Finance Minister – how are Solomon Islanders supposed to view such a decision?

“It appears this is a company that flouts the laws of the country and gets away with it, because it enjoys the protection of key leaders in government. Of course the other side to this question is – what do the owner and company do to enjoy such close protection by the government?

“The public knows that the owner of Sino Capital, who is also the Chairman of Pan Oceanic Bank (POB) is a supporter of key politicians and the government. This very close relationship and these kinds of decisions are grounds for concern by the people of Solomon Islands,” the Opposition Leader added.

–OPPOSITION PRESS

Solomon Islands government receives World Bank support for covid-19

THE Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MOFT), the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the World Bank (WB) have concluded negotiations on a WB funded project worth USD 5 million (over SBD40 million) to support Solomon Island covid-19 ongoing preparedness and current response.

The project components and activities under each component are designed to support critical gaps identified through the 2020 Consolidated National Preparedness and Response Plan for Covid-19.

Sealed on Tuesday this week, the project will complement activities that have already been committed by other development partners including the Australian government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project coverage will be national in scale and will also include specific support to selected provinces.

WB Task Team Leader for the project, Mr Netsanet Walelign Workie who is based in Washington, said that the Bank was ready to support the country with its covid-19 preparedness and response efforts.

“We are pleased to assist the Solomon Islands Government in their sustained efforts to respond to the covid-19 pandemic.

“Solomon Islands is among few countries that were covid-19 free for long since the first positive case was confirmed in early October the government managed effective quarantine and tracking system to keep the cases low.

“As we speak all covid-19, cases are imported with no community transmission and no death. This is remarkable.”

Meanwhile MOFT Permanent Secretary Mr Dentana McKinnie highlighted “the Ministry of Finance is very pleased to have co-led with the Ministry of Health the successful negotiations with the World Bank on the project and very much looking forward towards the implementation of the project that is geared towards enhancing health’s capacity and capability to tackle COVID-19. In the long run it will preserve and improve the health of our people”.

He explained that for our country’s economy that is characterized, as labor intensive, it is critical that we continue to ensure that the health of our population is well protected, preserved and enhanced.

“As such thank you World Bank for the provision of funds and looking forward towards continued cooperation with the Ministry of Health in the implementation of the project.”

MHMS Permanent Secretary Mrs Pauline McNeil also echoed similar sentiments in acknowledging WB for provision of funds towards the project while highlighting that the project will further bolster our ongoing preparedness and current responses to COVID-19, as well as ensure that the country continuous with routine services and its commitment towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

“While most development assistance received was in preparedness and response to COVID-19, these investments also contributed to long-term health system strengthening initiatives that further advanced our goals towards UHC. So therefore, the Ministry is not only just preparing and responding to the current pandemic, but simultaneously we were also strengthening our health system. This funding support is yet another milestone in this regard.”

Permanent Secretary McNeil also revealed that the facility will also assist the Ministry towards the nation-wide rollout of the Covid-19 Vaccine in 2021.

Project implementation is proposed for early January 2021 once the Christmas and New Year holidays are over. A project management unit will be mobilized and established within the Ministry to ensure the successful implementation of the WB supported project”.

–MHMS PRESS

The negotiation team led by PS-MOFT and PS-Health holding the signed and agreed Project Appraisal Document.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare pay ‘homage’ to everyone in the country for patience and ongoing support to the work government is doing to protect Solomon Islands from Coronavirus (Covid-19), and to drive its economic engine.

The Prime Minster during his nationwide address yesterday said Covid-19 Pandemic has constrained the country, however, it has also inadvertently unified the nation to fight a ‘common enemy’.

Mr Sogavare salute all front-liners, Churches, members of the Media, and also pay tribute to all development partners and donors for their tremendous support in helping the government combat Covid-19 in Solomon Islands.

“As we prepare to celebrate the Birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, let us lift our Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving to our Great God, who has been our Captain and our Guide throughout this year,” said Sogavare.

“He alone granted us all the knowledge and wisdom we needed, to push on, to persevere and to protect our people and our country from COVID-19.

“Let me once again pay homage, to all citizens of Solomon Islands, and to all those that live in this country, for your patience, and your ongoing support to the work the government has been doing to protect this country from COVID-19 and to drive its economic engine.

“I salute all our front-liners, for putting your lives on the line, as you protect our country. I salute and thank all your families, for the sacrifices they have been making in allowing you to serve the people of our country.

“To our churches, thank you for uplifting the hopes of our people through your continued prayers, praise, and worship.

“To members of the media, thank you for disseminating the voices and the messages from the churches, the government and others that contributed to the fight against COVID-19 in Solomon Islands.

“Let me also pay tribute to all our development partners, and donors for your tremendous support in helping my government combat COVID-19 in Solomon Islands. Without your help, our fight against COVID-19 would have been found wanting.”

The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the ‘Oversight Committee’ and thank members of the Cabinet and the Government Caucus for the political cohesion that has allowed their government to continue serve and protect the country and people.

“Let me pay tribute to a small group of people, now commonly known as the ‘Oversight Committee’ for your steadfast work to keep this nation on the front-foot in our fight against COVID-19. Your steadfast work, often in the face of negative criticisms, only strengthened your collective resolve to protect our country,” said Sogavare.

“To members of my Cabinet, and the Government Caucus, thank you for the political cohesion that has allowed our government to continue to serve and protect our country and our people. We have been put here by the Almighty God, to lead our nation, during these unprecedented and challenging times.

“To all our families, thank you for all your enduring support and prayers in our service to our nation.

“Fellow citizens, we must continue to seek God’s guidance, and protection, over our beloved country, and our people, during this festive season.”