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PM echoes MEHRD warning on fake papers

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SOLOMON Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has reiterated call by the education authority in not to be fooled by buying any examination paper sold on the streets.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his ‘Nationwide’ address on Monday this week said the leaked examination papers sold on the streets are ‘fake’ and one will only regret if they fall for such deceitful act by conmen. 

Mr Sogavare is urging parents and students to report to authorities on anyone who is doing this, advising not to be fooled by conmen who are taking advantage of the current situation as it is also an offence to engage in such behaviour.

“My good people, as you are aware, our national examinations have commenced today 9th [Monday] November and will go on until the 19th of this month. Whilst exams have commenced, our education authorities have received reports of leaked examination papers sold by certain individuals here in Honiara. I would like to reiterate the call by our education authority not to be fooled in buying any examination paper sold on the streets,” said Sogavare.

“The leaked examination papers sold on the streets are fake and you will only regret if you fall for such deceitful act by these conmen.  I urge our parents and students to report to authorities anyone who is doing this. Do not be fooled by conmen who are taking advantage of this current situation. It is also an offence to engage in such behaviour.

“The Ministry of Education has also advised that the Examination fees for Form 5 and Form 6 have been cancelled due to COVID-19. So, there are no Examination Fees this year.

“Let us continue to pray for our students. Allow me to convey on behalf of the government, best wishes to our students as they sit for their exams. This year 2020 has been a very tough year for everyone including our children. Please remember them in our prayers.

“I would also like to extend my respect to the parents who have stood by our children during these trying times.  Thank you parents for supporting our children.”

Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development’s (MEHRD) Deputy Secretary (DS), Mr James Bosamata earlier on Sunday during this week’s Covid-19 Talk-Back show assured that they have investigated the report on examination leakage and proven it to be ‘not true’.

Mr Bosamata on behalf of MEHRD and the national government cautions the public to be very careful and not pay for national exams that are sold.

Meanwhile, 2020 school national examinations for Forms Three, Five and Six have commenced this week starting on Monday.

Bmobile up for sale

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

BMOBILE Solomon Islands is up for sale.

Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH) is putting out Expressions of Interest for interested parties to buy off the company.

Bmobile, a mobile service provider since 2010, is the only competitor to Our Telekom.

The company is owned by the Government of Papua New Guinea.

No reason was provided for the sale.

According to Isikela Taureka, Managing Director of KCH, the sale of the business has been approved by the ultimate shareholder, the Papua New Guinea Government, in line with the Government’s State-Owned Enterprise reform policy.

When Island Sun checked with officers in Honiara, they claim they were not aware of the sale.

However, they said any inquiry should be directed to KTH.

Bmobile is a private company registered in the Solomon Islands and is wholly owned by Bmobile PNG, a PNG registered company which is a subsidiary of Kumuls Telikom Holdings (KTH).

It was launched in August 2010 to provide high speed and reliable data voice and SMS across the Solomon Islands.

The company currently operates in the provinces of Guadalcanal, Malaita, Western and Central.

Other covid victims

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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PS of the Ministry of Public Service, Mr Nego Sisiolo

8 nurses suspended as Government continues clamp down following protests

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

EIGHT senior nurses were suspended yesterday for alleged misconduct in office following the sit-in protest recently held over covid-19 allowance claims.

Seven are senior nurses working at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) and one serving at a Honiara City Council (HCC) clinic; they are managers, nursing directors and nurse consultants.

Three are executive members of the suspended Solomon Islands Nursing Association (SINA) and five are ordinary members.

The suspension letter given to the eight nurses by the Permanent Secretary for Public Service Mr Nego Sisiolo highlighted the subject of the letter as ‘suspension of duties for alleged misconduct in office’.

“Reference to the above subject, I write to you being a public officer serving in the Solomon Islands Public Services nursing cadre and that pursuant to your appointment in the said cadre you are a member of the Solomon Islands Nursing Association (SINA) that is currently on suspension.

“It was alleged that you being one of the nurses spokesperson strongly and participated in the well planned yet unauthorized sit-down protest that occurred from Friday 30th October to Sunday 1st November 2020.Given the seriousness of this allegations against you, it is prudent that you be relieved from duties to enable free investigations into allegations.

“I therefore in exercise of the Public Service Commission delegated disciplinary power pursuit to LN no.76/2008 decided that you be suspended from your duties with immediate effect.

“While on suspension, you will be paid 50 percent salary. The MPS PSU will pursue investigation to ascertain the allegations and where appropriate issue you charge (s) of misconduct for which you will be given opportunity to respond pursuit PSC Regulations 48.

“If investigations report suggest there are no evidence to support allegations, than you will be advised to resume duty and have your full salary reinstated and backdated accordingly.

“Furthermore, while on suspension, in accordance to PSC Regulations 64, you must not leave your duty station. i.e. Honiara unless you have a written permission from the Secretary from Public Service.

“You are restricted from entering Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) headquarters premises unless authorized by the reasonable officer in the said Ministry,” said the letter from PS Siosilo.

Nurses staged a sit-in protest from October 30 to November 1 this year following government refusal to pay them covid-19 allowance.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare responded by exercising the absolute power placed on him under the state of emergency and suspending the legal body representing nurses, SINA.

This dictatorial government move has left nurses without a legal body to channel their concerns and welfare issues through – Nurses are handicapped and voiceless.

Now it is clear that government is not only content on just suspending SINA, but is hell-bent on tracking and prosecuting individuals in SINA.

Virus delays Federal

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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PM Manasseh Sogavare

Constitution: PM

By EDDIE OSIFELO

WORK on the long awaited draft Federal Constitution has come to a standstill because of the coronavirus pandemic that prevents an expert from Commonwealth Secretariat from making an economic analysis on it.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare explained in response to question asked by Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale in Parliament yesterday.

Sogavare said the expert could not come because of the coronavirus.

However if the expert comes, then that person needs to go through the quarantine protocol, Sogavare said.

He said the Government needs to be very clear on the economic analysis of the Federal Constitution.

He said one of the questions is how the Federal Constitution is going to be funded.

However, Sogavare asked officials if it is important to engage a foreigner to do the economic analysis.

Sogavare said if the government cannot get experts outside, then it can engage chartered accountants and local economists to look at it.

Apart from that, Sogavare said three reports need to be furnished before the government in order to chart the direction of where the country is heading.

The reports are draft Federal Constitution, financial and economic report and peer review report.

Sogavare said under the Federal Constitution there will be three layers of governments.

They are the National Federal Government, State Government (nine provinces) and Community Government.

He said the Traditional Governance Bill which is in progress will help strengthen the Community Government.

He said when the provinces become states, they will have their own constitutions.

The Constitutional Reform Unit (CRU) in the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has been assigned to oversee the lengthy process of nationwide consultations together with the drafting process over the past 10 years.

On 12th July 2018, the Joint Constitution Congress (CC) and Eminent Persons Advisory Council (EPAC) have handed the draft Federal Constitution to the government.

Most premiers in the country and people have seen the need for the country to move out from the unitary system adopted from the British Government in 1978 to the Federal system.

Guadalcanal and Malaita Province have also threatened to break away from the National Government and achieved self-autonomy.

Island Sun understands about $150 million have been so far spent in the consultation and administration of setting up the draft Federal Constitution.

Lack of funding delays state of Forestry report

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister Commins Mewa

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Forestry and Research is facing set back to update the State of the Forestry Report due to funding delay and coronavirus pandemic.

Minister Commins Mewa explained when answering the question asked by Member of Parliament for West Kwara’ae, Sam Iduri in Parliament yesterday.

Mewa said the ministry is still progressing the work to update the state of our Forest.

He said the report on the forest cover and land use will be presented to Cabinet and eventually to Parliament.

Independent Leader, John Dean Kuku asked a supplementary question on what percentage of the report was completed.

Mewa in response said it was 80 percent completed.

Furthermore, the ministry is ready to roll out an inventory exercise which cost around $3 million across the country to do drone on the satellite imagery assessment and to update a state of forest data.

Mewa said a delay was because a proposal that they submitted to FAO is yet to be accepted for funding.

However, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) has shown interest to assist on the ground truthing.

Mewa said currently, training and capacity building is ongoing using various technologies like drones and computers software to enhance the satellite imagery assessment report.

He said the software that is currently being used to train their officers include using iPad built with inventory software to assist the forest and enter data in the forest that will automatically update the main database in headquarters, Honiara.

“Our plan is to begin rolling out trial inventories in some parts of the country in 2020 is affected by this COVID 19 issue and the budget given to the Ministry was not enough to support the programme.

“This inventory is very likely going to be delayed as funds will be very likely be unavailable in 2021, but I trust my Ministry will continue the negotiation with our Development Partners to support us in that endeavour to know the truth of the Status of our Forest as currently, logging which has higher contributions to our economy, employment, infrastructure development, additional services and SIG revenue is exploiting our natural forests at an unsustainable rate,” he said.

Mewa said they are dealing with the unsustainable harvesting through the Sustainable Logging Policy as of this year as round logs export is proposed to be reduced compared to 2019.

“And I want to assure you all that, our forest is a renewable resource and our National Forest Policy is addressing the utilisation, sustainability, protection, governance and restoration of the forest,” he added.

The Ministry of Forestry and Research had started the work on updating the State of the Forest since 2018 using the Satellite imagery and other updated technology through the assistance of JICA and FAO. 

On that exercise, the Ministry used 2km x 2km and 4km x 4km scale to determine the forest cover and land use across our country.

A report developed from that assessment had been submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as our Forest Reference Level (FRL) which has been requested  as a REDD+ requirement to report on our Carbon emissions and Carbon sequestrations, capturing the forest degradation and deforestation and our determination to know carbon emissions and sequestrations difference and the balance for the management of the Carbon emissions through forest management and restoration.

This report was accepted and published last year and we will submit or present it before the Cabinet and later a Parliament paper.

Malaita enquires missing $15m support fund from New Zealand

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Premier of Malaita province Daniel Suidani

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA premier Daniel Suidani is enquiring after a $15 million support fund which New Zealand had given for covid-19 upgrades for Kiluufi and Gizo hospitals.

Mr Suidani said eight months ago the national government announced the $15 million covid-19 aid from New Zealand for the two hospitals, one of which is in Malaita.

The Premier said since then they have not seen, heard or received anything on this aid.

Suidani said he had approached New Zealand’s High Commissioner Georgina Roberts enquiring the matter and she told him that her government had already handed the funds over to the DCGA Government.

Given this long period of silence, the Malaita provincial government suspect that the DCGA government has diverted the funds to “other things”, something which the New Zealand government ought to take note of, Suidani said.

“We heard so much about some assistance to come, like the $15 million support from NZ government announced by SI government for Gizo and Kilu’ufi hospitals.

“But as of that time until today, nothing of that support from New Zealand reached the province as announced.

“Taking with New Zealand High Commissioner, Ms Georgina Roberts in Auki, I posed question on the matter and she said SI government already receive the aid under the stimulus package.

“Under the stimulus package that the national government announced the allocating the $15m among Kilu’ufi and Gizo hospitals,” he said.

Suidani said funds coming from donor partners especially under the current covid-19 are channelled through MPs or other non intended platforms.

“I didn’t see reasons for channeling the fund through MPs and others, because it won’t directly serve its intended purpose,” he said.  

Suidani said Kilu’ufi hospital is still waiting for its share of the funds and if government holds it for some reasons, the people of Malaita province are still waiting for the support.

Frigates soar in G-Cup 2020

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Admin
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East Guadalcanal Firgates celebrating Paul Francis opening goal coming in the second stanza. Picture Peter Zoleveke II

An undefeated feat

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

EAST GUADALCANAL Frigates was crowned 2020 Guadalcanal Cup undefeated winners following a thrilling grand final 3-0 showdown against North/West Guadalcanal Noni yesterday at the Lawson Tama stadium.

Both finalists came in the competition as underdogs to set a new record in the major provincial event.

The Eddie Marahare coached side waited till early in the second half to find the back of the net.

“I had to encourage the boys during the breather that they still have the opportunity to prove themselves in the next 45’ minutes and we won, undefeated throughout the tournament,” Marahare expressed in a post-match interview.

“What we did was pack up our fronts with high press in our attack to capitalize and avoid mistakes. I’m impressed with the response the boys have shown.

An awarded free kick just outside of the 18 yard box broke the deadlock, through a Paul Francis well-placed far post shot.

“We respect our opponents, we played them in our Pool game which we won 3-2 and I think the convenience disturbed our play in the first half,” Marahare said.

 N/W Guadalcanal Noni had clear chances to secure a point gap had if their chances were rightly executed as head coach Barnabas Loloito blamed finishing was their weakness.

“Actually the first half the boys were contained with the game plan and strategy we are working on. Just finishing is our problem and the second half we try to re-strategize but you know the players are home boys they are merely adapted to the modern standard so they just go back to the typical style of football,” Loloito said.

 Francis had a brace to his name before called off for injuries.

East Guale captain Youngstorm Hetia put the icing on the cake from a counter attacking play for a neat cross that picked him unmarked to seal victory.

NWG remained with 10 players for the reminder of the second match after a defender was shown the dressing room for a dangerous tackle.

The third and fourth playoff saw North Guadalcanal thump South Guadalcanal 3-0 to secure the second runners up place.

TEAM AWARDS;

WINNERS – EAST GUADALCANAL FRIGATES

FIRST RUNNERS UP- NORTH WEST GUADALCANAL NONI

SECOND RUNNERS UP – NORTH GUADALCANAL

THIRD RUNNERS UP – SOUTH GUADALCANAL

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS;

Fair Play – West Guadalcanal

Golden Glove – Cornelius Juniro (East Guadalcanal)

Golden boot – Simon Sagi (North Guadalcanal)

Player of the tournament – Francis Paul (East Guadalcanal)

Govt to discuss budget and state of public emergency

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Parliament

By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNMENT will discuss a re-direction and come up with a resolution to spend money until the expiry of four months since the 2019 budget is not ready.

It will also deliberate on whether to extend the State of Public Emergency for the next four months when it ends on November 25.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare moved a special adjournment motion in Parliament yesterday to move the sitting to Thursday, November 19, 2020 in order to allow the government to deliberate on both issues.

Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale supported the motion moved by the Prime Minister.

However, Wale decided to raise some issues in order for the Government to provide answers and details when Parliament resumes in the next sitting.

He asked the government to provide list of the Economic Stimulus Package and explain why some Members of Parliament received more than $600,000 than other MPs.

Further to that, Wale asked for Government to explain the cash flow problem in the Treasury and performance of the economy in this trying time.

“The house should be informed on the number of jobs lost due to covid 19, noting the jobs lost that are not covid-19 related, new jobs created, or projected to be created, by the various government interventions through ESP and projects, especially the Pacific Games construction projects,” he said.

He said government will see how the information will be presented in Parliament when discussing the resolution here.

However, Sogavare said jobs creation is very important in any economy and country which government will try to address.

3 more cases

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SOLOMON Islands has recorded three more positive covid-19 cases.

Of the three new cases, one is a student repatriated from the Philippines while the other two cases are footballers who returned from the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his ‘nationwide address’ yesterday on the covid-19 situation said this now brings to 16, the total number of positive cases registered in Solomon Islands.

“Fellow citizens, I am saddened to inform the nation that we have recorded a further three cases of covid-19 since my last announcement. This now brings to 16, the total number of covid-19 cases registered in Solomon Islands,” said Sogavare.

“Of the three new cases, one is from the original group from the Philippines. This brings to five the total number of cases from the Philippines.

“The good news is that this 5th case has now converted to negative. This means that all five cases from the Philippines are now negative.

“The other two cases are footballers that returned from the United Kingdom. This brings to 10 the total number of footballers that have covid-19. Only six of the 16 footballers are still not infected.

“However, given the nature of the virus, we anticipate more positive among the footballers in the coming days. The saving grace is that all the footballers are quarantine in a separate quarantine station so they cannot infect others.

“Based on these numbers, we now have 11 confirmed covid-19 positive cases from the flight that arrived on October 25 from Auckland. 10 of these are footballers and one from Korea. All these 11 cases are still positive.”

According to the Prime Minister, it is sad that most of the positive cases resulted from dishonesty by Solomon Islands own citizens. He said they lied in their pre-departure assessment forms.

“As a result of the behaviour of few of our citizens that opened our country to this unprecedented increase in numbers of covid-19 cases, my government will hold these people responsible for endangering our people and our country,” said Sogavare.

“At the same time, the government is tightening up the pre-departure assessment form making it a ‘prescribed form’. This simply means that anyone who lies on the form will be prosecuted after their release from quarantine stations.”

Sogavare said the ‘Government’ has tried its best in good faith to bring its people back home but Solomon Islands very own people have not returned the good faith.

“Fellow citizens, as I stated before, covid-19 is not a game. Unfortunately, many of our returning soccer players and some of our returning students from Philippines seem not to realize the gravity of the situation,” said Sogavare.

“By their dishonest actions, they knowingly endangered our citizens and our country. Their selfish actions had increased the cost of our fight against Covid-19 substantially. It has also delayed the repatriation of the many deserving citizens that are still waiting to return home. This is extremely disappointing.

“Fellow Solomon Islanders, contact tracing of the positive cases and their assessments have been completed. I would like to reassure all our good people that your Government remains committed to implementing appropriate and strict measures to prevent the spread of covid-19 into our communities.”

Solomon cocoa products launched in New Zealand

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Press Release
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Customers in New Zealand holding Solomon Islands cocoa products. Photo supplied

SOLOMON Islands cocoa company, Cathliro, achieved international success last month, launching a range of cocoa products in New Zealand. Cathliro was supported in this venture by the Australian Government initiative, Strongim Bisnis.

Cathliro’s products were launched in over 30 speciality and whole food grocery stores throughout New Zealand. The products were made from Solomon Islands grown cocoa. The range included cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, cocoa tea, sun-dried cocoa beans and roasted peeled cocoa beans.

The products were launched under the brand name “Pacifica Raw”. This brand is a collaboration between Cathliro and New Zealand chocolaterie company, She Universe. Strongim Bisnis supported this collaboration by introducing and facilitating the partnership between Cathliro and She Universe.

Australian High Commission, First Secretary Economics, Cailin Lucas, said “Exporting Solomon Islands grown products internationally creates new market opportunities for local businesses and showcases Solomon Islands to other countries. The Australian Government is pleased to help Solomon Islands businesses achieve this success and build resilience against the economic challenges caused by the Coronovirus pandemic.”


Pacifica Raw products, made from cocoa beans grown in Solomon Islands. Photo supplied

To launch Pacifica Raw’s products, tasting events were held at the largest store of the primary Auckland stockist, IE Produce. Customers at this store gave favourable feedback when tasting Solomon Islands’ cocoa. The most popular tastings included cocoa powder sprinkled over coconut yoghurt, and peeled cocoa beans.

Pacifica Raw’s products will be launched in She Universes’ chocolaterie during November. She Universe will host three launch events, present the products at two trade shows in Auckland, and run a tasting event in stores in December.

Pacifica Raw’s cocoa is sourced by Cathliro, from cocoa farmers primarily in Guadalcanal and Isabel provinces. Cathliro is a female-led, Solomon Islands enterprise, operated by Diana Yates. The company works with cocoa farmers and women’s groups to improve cocoa farming practices and teach Solomon Islands communities how to process cocoa into value-added products, such as cocoa nibs and chocolate, within the village.

Strongim Bisnis partners with Cathliro to facilitate its activities, as part of Strongim Bisnis’ efforts to develop COVID-19 resilient businesses. Strongim Bisnis is an Australian Government initiative that supports growth in the tourism, cocoa and coconut sectors with a strong focus on supporting women, youth and people with disability.

–STRONGIM BISNIS

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