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Crackdown finds shops hoarding expired goods in Auki

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Cartons of expired twisties seized from one of the shop in Auki. Photo by Samie Waikori.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

SHOPS in Auki are reportedly hoarding expired goods for unknown reasons, a crack down by the province’s food safety and hygiene unit found out.

Malaita provincial office through its Food Safety and Hygiene unit is cracking down on expired food products being sold in shops in Auki.

On Monday this week, a load of expired cartons of junk food (twisty) was seized from a shop in Auki.

Food Safety and Hygiene officer, Ms Mercy Nunua said they have been visiting shops in Auki and continue to find expired items being kept.

She said most of the expired goods were found in shop’s cargo storage, and expiry dates go back as far as two years ago.

Nunua said their discovery has led them to be suspicious of the shop-owners’ motives in keeping the expired products.

Nunua appeals to all shop owners to cooperate with her team and to remove and dispose off any expired goods within their shop.

She also calls on shop owners who have goods nearing expiry dates to put the goods on special price to sell before they expire.

Nunua reiterated that her office will continue to monitor status of goods in shops in Auki and wants cooperation from shop owners.

Trapped with old enemies

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Dengue cases increase at NRH as country prepares for possible covid-19 entry

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

WHILE Solomon Islands is mobilising almost all of its resources to keep covid-19 out, diseases which we have worked hard to stamp out are re-emerging in worrying rates.

Dengue, which have had few outbreaks in past years, was successfully silenced by national response, but with all attention now on covid-19 there is an increase in diagnosed dengue cases at the national referral hospital (NRH).

Since April the NRH has been admitting a growing number of dengue patients.

This was revealed yesterday to Island Sun by Dr Jones Gabu, senior consultant physician and head of internal medicine, NRH.

“We are also admitting ceases of dengue in the ward since April to now.

“Dengue is increasing therefore we need to take preventative measures to keep mosquitoes at bay or avoid being bitten by mosquito.

“Clean environment. If develop dengue, drink a lot of coconut juice, four to six coconuts or lots of water per day. Don’t drink juice or sugary drinks,” he said.

Gabu adds the Medical Ward Admission report for first quarter 2020 recorded an increasing number of dengue cases in March and April.

Also, in the month of February 2020 a high number of malaria cases was recorded as well.

He explains that as early as January cases of dengue were reported but at a relatively low rate, not until April before the worrying trend began.

FACE TO FACE

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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MINISTRY of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening will meet with Malaita Province to iron out differences regarding the warning letter issued to Premier Daniel Suidani on April 30.

Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening Rollen Seleso had said in his letter to premier Suidani that Malaita provincial government faces suspension unless the Premier stops contravening the Provincial Government Act 1997 through his actions.

Two Members of Provincial Assembly and Provincial Secretary of Malaita province are booked to travel to Honiara today to join up with Premier Suidani.

Suidani said currently he is not aware of the agenda of the meeting.

However, he said because the invitation comes from the Ministry, he has decided to join the meeting.

Suidani said the issue between both parties are well covered in the media when Island Sun reporter, Alfred Sasako broke the story on Tuesday, May 5 of the warning letter issued by Minister Seleso. Premier Suidani has already responded to Seleso’s letter.

In his letter dated April 30, the Minister accused Premier Suidani of undertaking two overseas trips without the Minister’s knowledge or approval.

As well, Minister Seleso accused Premier Suidani of having “intentionally refused to attend the recent COVID-19 Dialogue in Honiara, which “shows the Malaita Provincial Government is not prepared to work with the National Government in the fight against COVID-19.

“This gives rise to a security issue for Solomon Islands. In light of the above and if in the event that this does not cease, I will be recommending to the Hon Prime Minister to exercise his powers to suspend the Malaita Provincial Government during the State of Public Emergency,” the Minister said.

In a tit-for-tat response, Premier Suidani said “I am obliged to inform you that the claims in the letter are incorrect at its best, and intentionally false and malicious at worst.

Furthermore, the threats that are contained in the letter are of a grave nature, and based on my legal advice, amount to actions planned outside of the law,” Premier Suidani said.

“I can only assume that your letter has benefited from the advice of the Attorney General and has been issued with the blessing of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. I therefore need to assume that this is the position of the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA).

“For this letter, after passing through the Attorney General and the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet, to retain such a degree of misrepresentation of fact and misreading of law leads me to conclude that these inclusions are deliberate,” he said.

Premier Suidani said the letter was a “political attack rather than a good faith expression” in promoting constitutional governance and genuine desire for public order.
“I will respond to your claims point by point, but in summary I wish to state that they lack basis.”

“It is a very unfortunate attack on your part, especially given our respective cultural identities and the history of our peoples.

The Premier said:

“This is an attack that appears to amount to an attempt at incitement between our peoples. If indeed this attack is a position of DCGA then we are facing a grave situation in which the national government DCGA is promoting political attacks in such a way as to attempt to incite conflict between the different peoples of Solomon Islands.

“As such, I do view your letter itself as undermining public law order and the integrity of our dear nation Solomon Islands,” he warned.

The Premier dismissed claims of unauthorized, unsanctioned or unapproved travel against him, saying he was not a public servant to be held to account for any travels he had undertaken.

“The regulation cited in your letter, Order 14 of the Provincial Assembly Members (Salaries and Allowances) Determination 2015 concerns entitlement for allowance if a provincial member travels overseas. In other words, it applies to a provincial member including a premier only when they wish to receive an overseas travel allowance. In such circumstances the Order applies and the Minister’s permission to travel must be obtained.

“Therefore, to say in your letter that my overseas travel breached Order 14 is not only misleading but a clear misinterpretation of this Order. I did not receive travel allowance for these travels,” Premier Suidani said.
He claimed his office has informed the Ministry as a courtesy of the two foreign trips he undertook last December and again in March this year.

Premier Suidani also defended his absence from the recent Premiers’ Dialogue on the COVID-19 pandemic in Honiara, rejecting accusations that his absence was “an act of insubordination.”

“In fact, the decision to send the Deputy Premier was an integral part of my shared leadership style. The Malaita Provincial Government will continue to share leadership responsibility like this in the future as appropriate,” he said.

Behaving a bit like President Trump in saying one thing today and quite the opposite the next day, Premier Suidani said his stance on the fight against the intrusion of the coronavirus “has been consistently about protecting the people of Malaita from the virus.”

“I would go so far as to say that I have been more pro-active and constructive in leading a response than many other provincial and parliamentary leaders.

“Even my statements regarding caution about imported PPE from (the) People’s Republic of China have been clearly made to support public health, not to undermine it,” he said.

On the State of Public Emergency, Premier Suidani said it must be made clear that the powers of the Prime Minister under the COVID-19 Regulation are specific to COVID-19 circumstances, which does not include suspending or terminating an elected provincial government.

Golden chance

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Admin
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French team eyes rugby league talents from Solomon Islands in its bid for Queensland Cup

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

SOLOMON Islands Rugby League (SIRL) players are in the scope to join Pacifique Treize, a French team in a bid to compete at the Intrust Super Cup (Queensland Cup).

With the growing popularity of rugby league in the Pacific region, Solomon Islands is among Vanuatu and New Caledonia players that may eventually get the chance to play at the elite competition.

Pacifique Treize has identified Solomon Islands as a key development market of talents, a host destination for the development and creating opportunities in the rugby code.

“We look forward to working with the Solomon Island Rugby League and the broader Solomon Islands community as we develop this bid. Creating opportunities for players to aspire to become professional rugby league players with Pacifique Treize is our goal, but through creating high performance programs will also assist the Solomon Islands national rugby league team into the future,” Communications Director Laurent Garnier commented.

It will be a breaking wave for the sport in the country as the intention is that Pacifique Treize will establish a Centre de Formation (Academy) in Honiara to further develop young rugby league players that may eventually get the chance to play for the Pacifique Treize Intrust Super Cup should the bid be successful.

Pacifique Treize literally means Pacific 13 in French reference to the territory and the number of players in a rugby league team.

The bid seeks to establish a close relationship with the Solomon Islands Rugby League, given the geographical, historical and cultural ties between New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands the official released statement added.

“Solomon Islands represents a very important part of the Pacifique Treize ambitions, with Solomon Islands to be seen as a key development market for playing talent and also a host destination for junior touring teams into the future,” Garnier commented

Pacifique Treize has taken inspiration from the success of PNG Hunters who have participated in the Intrust Super Cup since 2014 and also the rise of the Toronto Wolfpack from a non-rugby league city in Canada to the European Super League in a very short space of time. The bid will be keeping a close eye on the progression of the Kaiviti Silktails from Fiji, who embarks on their own similar journey of playing in Australia from 2020 onwards.

A six-member steering committee, which has representation in New Caledonia and Australia and comprises French, Australian and Vanuatu nationalities, has been working for the past 12 months researching the feasibility of this bold bid.

A six-member steering committee, which has representation in New Caledonia and Australia and comprises French, Australian and Vanuatu nationalities, has been working for the past 12 months researching the feasibility of this bold bid.

MAL clarifies $2.7m funding partnership with Sape farm

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Press Release
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Dr. Paul Bosawai Popora of SAPE Farm, MAL Permanent Secretary Ethel Tebengi Frances and MAL Undersecretary Technical Michael Ho’ota signing the partnership agreement.

THE COVID-19 pandemic is putting the world on a crisis footing with unprecedented actions to restrict movements causing disruptions to productions affecting, amongst other things, food supply around the globe. And as countries braced themselves to protect their citizens from the deadly disease they are now faced with imminent recession and a global famine is predicted by the World Food Organisation (WFO) of the United Nation and the countries that depend on imported food are the most vulnerable. And so given the status of global food suppliers, export restrictions are unwarranted and will hurt food security in importing dependent countries.

 As Solomon Island is highly depended on imported food, the Government fear the potential food shortage impacting lives of urban and rural population who depend on rice and now has as one of its priority preparations plan the production of local production food, especially root crops for this looming food shortage.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) therefore is taking no chances and are working very hard to ensure this country increase its local food stock with plans to invest on mass production of root crops.

Recently MAL Permanent Secretary Ethel Tebengi Frances and Undersecretary Michael Ho’ota signed an SBD 2.7 Million funding agreement with the management of SAPE Farm representative Dr Paul Bosawai Popora as the first partner to support the government with this objective.

“While funding may be an important factor, finding the right partner who can deliver is the key to achieving this government targets,” Mrs Frances said. In such times it is an important decision because we cannot afford to be making mistakes with how we as a government agency direct government investments through our people. Mrs Frances went on to explain that “the government want to ensure we have local food stock ready and so it is our duty to ensure that happens yet production is not the role of MAL; it only facilitate and support production through our people in the country”. The Permanent Secretary is very confident that Dr Paul and his team will deliver.

Dr Paul vision is to farm root crops so he can ensure we have access to local fresh food as a way of fighting Non Communicable Diseases that is killing our people every week. The Permanent Secretary said that “she was impressed with Dr Paul visions which is reflected in the amount of investment he already put into his cassava and potato farming”. Sape Farm started in 2018 and right now they have a tractor and already planted 2 hectares of cassava and 4 hectares of potatoes and had been selling to the Hospital, SINU and JQY (for his animal feed). The family has 200 hectares of registered land with 160 hectares available for cultivation.




From right to left: MAL Undersecretary Technical Michael Ho’ota, MAL Permanent Secretary Ethel Tebengi Frances, Dr. Paul Bosawai Popora of SAPE Farm, Andrew Melanolu Director MAL Extension and Peter Trena Director MAL Planning after signing of the partnership agreement.

‘Sape Farm was identified by MAL last year for support to develop their farm to commercial cassava production and discussions were along the lines of cassava production for export. With the need to increase local food stock, it is just good timing”, said Mrs Frances.

The Permanent Secretary said that supporting our own people to participate in economic activities and improve their lives and those around them is the role of the government and MAL is happy to do that on behave of the Government. The Permanent Secretary said that it is her vision to support our own Solomon Islanders who have the potential do commercial agriculture so we take control of our own economic growth.

The Support Agreement signed between MAL and Sape Farm is a supply and value add package that will ensure Sape Farm are able to do mass farming of cassava and potato, process, package, store and distribute to outlets around in Honiara and also for export.  Agreement with Sape Farm also is for them to support farmers it can feasibly reach through contract farming so other family household have the chance to earn money for themselves.

The Permanent Secretary explained that funding support will cater for farming machineries and tools, processing and refrigeration machines and working capital.

Meanwhile Dr. Bosawai Popora on behalf of SAPE farm thank the government through the MAL for recognizing them through the partnership.

“I am excited indeed. This is the beginning of a milestone investment from the government through the ministry of agriculture supporting us SAPE farmers to shift from the normal subsistence farming into a more commercial way of food production.”

“I am very happy after signing this contract and very much looking forward for better results.”

Dr. Bosawai Popora highlighted that SAPE farm already have 200 hectares of registered land.

 “We have committed in the contract to farm 40 hectares, 20 hectares for cassava and 20 hectares for patato but that is only for the contract. We have 160 hectares of land available for further expansions.”

The Ministry is now progressing discussions with St.Martin, Don Bosco, Tenaru and Selwyn as part of its local food production program and is hoping to sign contracts soon. The Permanent Secretary said that they are focusing on schools as partners because they each have large portion of land registered under their authorities so easier to deal with such investment now with those already have land available for mass production

The ministry is hoping to create up to 300 jobs or more through this program and will be expecting more jobs as it roll out similar program to the provinces.

Further work on meat production is being progressed as well and contracts will be signed soon.

–MAL PRESS

Solomon Islands boosted with $71 m from Australia

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Foreign Minister the Hon Jeremiah Manele and the Australian High Commissioner Dr Lachlan Strahan sign the funding agreement documents

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands’ effort to remain a covid-19 free nation has been boosted with $71 million assistance from the Australian government.

This was made possible after Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele and Australia High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Dr Lachlan Strahan signed a funding agreement in Cabinet yesterday.

Minister Manele said the budget support provided by Australia we have witnessed today will greatly assist the Solomon Islands Government to meet some of its COVID-19 preparedness and response activities, and assist with managing the social and economic impact faced by Solomon Islands due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He said the Health Sector COVID-19 response, with amount equivalent to AUD8 million (approximately SBD43.7 million), this will include support the isolation and quarantine infrastructure requirements, logistics, medical equipment, personal protection equipment, laboratory equipment including COVID testing kits, water and sanitation projects, surge personal or technical assistance in Honiara and throughout the provinces.

Manele said for the government’s Economic Stimulus COVID-19 Response Plan, with an amount equivalent to AUD 5 million (approximately SBD27.3 million), this will support the government’s Economic stimulus package launched this week.

“We would like to see labour mobility support be boosted and invest in equipping Solomon Islands National University to train semi-skilled workers to enter the Pacific Labour scheme.

“More projects labour intensive infrastructure projects in the rural areas and people centred economic activities in the provinces would be targeted,” he said.

Manele said Australia’s SBD $71 million COVID-19 Assistance package to Solomon Islands symbolises our two countries strong friendship and mutually beneficial relationship that both our two countries and peoples have enjoyed over the years.

“Though the support provided is specifically in response to COVID-19, I understand Australia’s ongoing support and commitment to assist us in meeting our national development goals under its bilateral programme remain.

“For this, I want to register my deep appreciation to Australia for its unwavering support,” he said.

“Excellency, rest assured, your government’s budget support towards our COVID-19 response will towards the two areas mention earlier and as agreed by our countries.

“I would also like to reiterate that we are committed in ensuring good governance practices are in place as well as adhering to the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness principles,” he added.

Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma, Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dickson Mua, their permanent secretaries, McKinnie Dentana, Pauline McNeil, Collin Beck of Foreign Affairs, Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr Jimmy Rodgers and officials have witnessed the signing.

Premier Suidani condemns offensive video

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Premier of Malaita province Daniel Suidani

PREMIER Daniel Suidani of Malaita province on Thursday 7th May held an online press conference to condemn an insulting Facebook video which had circulated in recent days.

Premier Suidani categorically condemns the video making it clear that the offensive content does not represent Malaita province or its people.

Suidani said that he made the press conference as soon as he viewed the video on Thursday 7th May, and on the advice on his team. 

The Premier said in his statement that the video was “Deeply wrong and does not reflect value of respect embodied in our cultural traditions and Christian ethics. I therefore condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

“I make this condemnation as Premier of Malaita Province and on behalf of my people and government.”

Secondly he went on to say that these statements by the individual in the video do not in any way represent the people or government of Malaita province.

The Premier also made it clear that this was an individual’s action not done on behalf of anyone else.

Premier Suidani pointed out that the person needs to face the consequences of such a terrible action himself, and that his actions do not represent the values or the views of the people of Malaita province nor of its provincial government.

In his statement the Premier completely disassociated the people and government of Malaita province from the video and its content.

Premier Suidani reaffirmed that the people and government of Malaita Province value and respect the relationships with Solomon Islanders from other provinces.

In closing, he asked for fellow Solomon Islanders and wantoks to share this message in their families, networks and communities.

$71m to be kept in separate account: Kuma

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE $71 million funding assistance provided by Australia Government will be kept in a separate account, says Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma.

The budget support will see $44 million go toward the Health sector covid-19 response and $27 million for the Government’s Economic Stimulus Covid-19 Response Plan.

Media raised the question in the press conference following Australia’s support towards the health sector in the past were misused by public officers through inflated contracts.

One good example was the $10 million ($1.5 million AUD) scandal in the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in 2013 where eight public servants were charged for fraud.

The $10 million funding came under the Health Sector Support Programme funded by AusAID.

The Solomon Star has alleged that the irregularities were detected in transactions relating to the funding during routine risk assessment activities undertaken by the country’s Ministry of Finance.

It is alleged that contractors grossly inflated freight service charges and shipping charters for the project.

The contractors were allegedly from middle-man companies and charged around three to four times the normal price.

Minister Kuma said the ministry is setting up a separate bank account to keep COVID-19 related funding including the Australia funding.

Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dickson Mua said the $44 million will support the isolation and quarantine infrastructure requirements, logistics, medical equipment, personal protection equipment, laboratory equipment including COVID testing kits, water and sanitation projects, surge personal or technical assistance in Honiara and throughout the provinces.

Mua said the ministry want to improve the capacity of the provincial hospitals and church hospital to prepare for the COVID-19.

Multi-agency base to be established at Kulitana Bay

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Australia High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Dr Lachlan Strahan

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A multi-million dollar base will be established at Kulitana Bay in Shortland Islands to accommodate police, health, customs and immigration officers.

This is part of the effort to monitor the international border between Bougainville and Solomon Islands from illegal crossings.

Australia High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Dr Lachlan Strahan confirmed this in a press conference after the signing of a funding agreement yesterday.

A total of $71 million is given by Australia government to Solomon Islands where, $44 million goes towards Health Sector to reinforce preparation for the coronavirus and $27 million to the recent launched Economic Stimulus Package.

Dr Strahan said Australia Defence Force engineers in Canberra are working on the design of the base already.

He said the budget for the base is a separate funding.

Island Sun reporter, Alfred Sasako stated in his article in August 7 2019 that a Naval Base proposal was first mooted by the Danny Philip Administration in 2010/2011.

Sasako said Canberra rejected the proposal after the head of a political party in the then Philip coalition government suggested the Sterling Island facility should be turned into a refugee processing centre.

Insiders told Island Sun China’s growing influence in the Pacific has forced Canberra’s hands to reconsider its initial position.

On June 3, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Solomon Islands counterpart, Manasseh Sogavare said:

“In line with our bilateral security treaty, we commit to deeper cooperation on defence and security. Australia is providing technical assistance to help Solomon Islands develop a border security strategy, which will be used to inform possible future collaboration in this area.

“Australia is also pleased to provide infrastructure and communications upgrades to existing police outposts in the western border region.

“This support will be provided in accordance with the Solomon Islands’ three-phased approach to strengthening surveillance, response capability and protection of the country’s western border.”

Honiara back to class

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Permanent Secretary for MEHRD, Dr Franco Rodie.

Education ministry gives greenlight for schools in capital to resume this month

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

ALL schools in Honiara are to resume classes this month, says Dr Franco Rodie, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Education Human Resources Development (MEHRD).

Mr Rodie confirmed this yesterday in a joint press conference with Police and Health officials in Honiara.

“All examination schools in Honiara to resume classes on May 18 and the rest of the schools a week later which is on 25th of May,” he said.

Rodie said the examination classes; forms three, five, six and seven are expected to resume classes on May 18, 2020 and Early Childhood Education (ECE), the primary classes grade one up to six and non-exam secondary classes which are forms one, two and four to start academic classes on May 25.

He said the decision to begin academic classes for Honiara schools was announced after a ‘wider consultation’ with all stakeholders was carried out.

Rodie said the assessment was based on the endorsed capacity assessment and risk analysis of schools in Honiara.

He said the ministry of education and its partners have conducted a survey in 72 schools out of the 82 schools between Poha river and Tenaru.

Rodie adds, Tenaru schools and Selwyn College will also resume classes on May 18 with the rest of the schools.

He said with these announcements the ministry has established other pre-conditions to ensure students are protected on their return to their respective schools.

Moreover, a workshop is currently being organised by the ministry of education with principals, education authorities and education mangers to prepare them on their covid-19 preparedness, response and recovery plans.

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