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Schools to remain closed: Rodie

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

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SCHOOLS in the country will still remain closed as the emergency period is extended another four months.

This was revealed to Island Sun on Tuesday 14th April by Franco Rodie, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Education and Human Resources (MEHRD).

Mr Rodie said classes will remain closed due to the extension of state of public emergency which limits the ministry to not make any decisions alone but to liaise with the Prime Minister’s Office on when academic classes for this year will resume.

However, he said April 27, 2020 was the date they had marked for classes to resume but this depends on a number of things.

“Number one, it depends on the assessment of the current situation on ground and secondly the ministry will listen out for orders from PMO. This order is to resume classes or schools to remain close.

“However, one week before classes will resume, the ministry will notify education Authorities, schools, teachers and of when is the exact time for classes to begin for this year,” said Rodie.

Moreover, ministry when issuing its recent statement before the extension of the emergency period has declared all schools throughout the country closed in response to the coronavirus threat.

The statement said “all students should return to their villages and homes and to remain with their parents and guardians till further advice is received from the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development.

“Teachers are advised to return to their homes if they feel that where they are residing now is not safe, they must seek, as advised by the Prime Minister, to use the transport available to their homes.”  

The country on April 7, 2020 had its Public Emergency motion passed for a period of four months.

SICCI facilitates lockdown exemption for businesses

Written by
Press Release
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THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) is facilitating the exemption process for companies and businesses providing essential services, to remain operational during a potential lockdown once imposed by the Government.

In the event the Solomon Islands Government declares the country’s first confirmed case of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the capital City, Honiara will face a lockdown. As a result, all activities will stop for a period of 7-14 days except for essential services.

SICCI, as the peak body representing private sector in Solomon Islands, has developed an exemption application form and a form for vehicle and employee passes.

This was approved by the Prime Minister’s Office last week and is now being made available for businesses and companies who wish to operate through a lockdown.

This followed the meeting between businesses and PMO on Tuesday 31st March 2020.

Business and industry operating in the Emergency Zone can obtain the forms from the Chamber office. They can come from, as well as outside of, the SICCI membership.

In a statement today (Tuesday 14 April 2020), SICCI said all applications for exemption will be forwarded to the COVID-19 Oversight Committee and the Prime Minister’s Office for approval.

“All applications will be considered for exemption passes to business who will need to continue with limited activities to avoid emergency breakdowns in their systems or who will provide essential services such as food, medical supplies and services including automated banking, money transfer services for Honiara residents.

“To qualify for an exemption, a strong case needs to be made including the provision of Standard Operating Procedures appropriate to COVID-19,” the SICCI statement said.

The statement added that the approval is not automatic, and that in their application, business and industry applying for exemption have to consider the development of Standard Operating Procedures relevant to COVID-19 preparation and response.

SICCI also highlighted that it does not receive money or donations for this service and discourages companies from offering it.

On the same note, SICCI reiterates the warning made by Director of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Mr Loti Yates that certain individuals are claiming to represent the NDMO in arranging such exemption, which is false.

“As clarified by Director Yates, demanding money or goods in return for exemption during a lockdown is not only false but is also against the law, and so businesses are reminded not to trust any individual or group that might want to take advantage of this current situation we are faced with,” SICCI said.

Application forms for exemption and vehicle/employees pass can be obtained via email [email protected] or by calling the SICCI office on 39542.

–SICCI MEDIA

Govt to repatriate nationals when QPCR machine is ready for testing

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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This is what a QPCR machine looks like. Photo courtesy: NanoMed Fab.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Government will start repatriate Solomon Islands nationals living overseas when the quantitative PCR instrument (QPCR) machine is ready to do testing on the coronavirus (COVID-19) samples at National Referral Hospital.

The QPCR is a machine that amplifies and detects DNA.

Chairman of the Oversight Committee James Remobatu said the QPCR machine is already in the country.

Remobatu said the government cannot repatriate any national because the blood samples are currently being tested in Melbourne, Australia, which is a slow and costly exercise.

However, he said with the arrival of the QPCR machine, the government can start repatriating nationals overseas, so they can get tests in Honiara.

Currently the five quarantine sites in Honiara are empty after the 61 nationals having been released to the society over the weekend after they completed their 14-day period.

From the statistic provided by National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), 38 people are living at Guadalcanal Beach Resort; 12 at National Hosting Authority, eight at VIMO Apartments, three at Pacific Casino and none at King George Six national secondary school.

However, KGVI which opened its quarantine site last Saturday after completion of maintenance has the highest number of rooms with 150 and bed capacity of 300.

Remobatu said when the nationals are repatriate, they will go straight to the quarantine sites before discharging to the society.

He said at least the country has quarantine sites to keep nationals arriving in the country.

“We will do away with the quarantine sites when the coronavirus is over,” he said.

Island Sun understands a number of Solomon Islands nationals are currently stranded in Fiji as a result of cancellation of international flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

High Commissioner in Suva, William Soaki said the High Commission has reached out to the stranded nationals to get their details and liaise closely with relevant authorities in Honiara on arrangements to repatriate them.

Soaki said the High Commission is trying to get their individual visa status to determine the type of assistance that they will need prior to their repatriation.

He said at this stage, there is still no confirmation on any repatriation flight confirm for next week.

“The government’s plan for repatriation is based around key factors in Solomon Islands and also the host country (Fiji).

“Currently, we cannot undertake any repatriation since most of our stranded passengers are residing in the lock-down city of Suva,” he said.      

Soaki said at the moment, the High Commission is working with Honiara to look at options to provide basic support to the passengers while they are still in Fiji.

“As of 9th April, the High Commission starts providing limited humanitarian support in kind to the passengers,” he said.

CSSI Commissioner summoned

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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CSSI Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

COMMISSIONER of Correctional Service Solomon Islands (CSSI) was been summoned to appear in court on Tuesday 14th April.

Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi was summoned by the Chief Magistrate to explain why Correctional Service did not remand five suspects who had reportedly breached the weekend’s curfew orders.

The five accused appeared in court on Saturday and were ordered to be remanded in custody by the court.

However when their cases were called out yesterday the CSSI officers did not bring forth the accused since they were not remanded.

As a result, Chief Magistrate Emma Garo summoned the CSSI Commissioner to appear in court and explain why CSSI did not remand the five accused.

Mr Manelusi told the court that he was not aware because he was not informed.

Manelusi then told the court that he will make an internal enquiry within the CSSI about the issue.

Magistrate Garo then made orders that she expects the report from the CSSI by today regarding the issue of not remanding the five accused in Rove custody.

The five accused were charged for breaching curfew orders on Friday night, this include one female and four males while 58 others are yet to be charged by police.

Police on the first night of curfew arrested 53 suspects and detained five vehicles for alleged breaching of the curfew under the State of Public Emergency which was enforced from 8pm April 10 to 5am April 11, 2020 within the Emergency Zone in Honiara.

Government appoints three-man committee for the MV Taimareho tragedy

Written by
Alfred Sasako
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27 lives were lost on the MV Taimareho in April 2020 when the ship sailed through rough weather.

By Alfred Sasako

THE Government is believed to have appointed a three-man committee, which will take the next stage of the inquiry into the MV Taimareho tragedy forward, it was revealed last night.

Twenty-seven people, mostly high school students perished in the tragedy which occurred early on Friday morning 03rd April this year. The deceased allegedly fell overboard when the passenger ferry reportedly carrying more than 700 passengers was hit by rough seas in the crossing between Guadalcanal and Malaita Provinces.

Only six bodies were recovered.

Relatives and friends attended a Memorial Service in honor of those who lost their lives at the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Honiara last night.

Island Sun was unable to get the names of the three-man committee owing to a media blackout imposed by the board of the Solomon Islands Maritime and Safety Authority (SIMSA) last week.

At the time of the news blackout, Island Sun was told two parallel investigations were underway – one by SIMSA and the other by police. The investigation by SIMSA is intended to establish whether maritime rules were breached. The investigation by police on the other hand is to establish whether or not there was criminal negligence.

The two parallel investigations formed the preliminary inquiry into the tragedy. The report from the preliminary investigation is due to be completed by Friday 17th April.

Sources last night confirmed that a three-man committee had been appointed to take the matter forward.

“This committee will go through the preliminary report and will forward recommendations that may warrant further police investigation with a view to laying charges against those who allowed the boat to leave that night, given that a cyclone warning was in force at the time of the ship’s departure,” the sources said.

A spokesman for one of the relatives who perished in the sea tragedy said relatives “are looking forward to the release of the report, given that so many innocent lives were lost.”

“People responsible must be brought to account,” Charles Karaori told Island Sun on Tuesday night.

Covid-19 emergency orders begin to bite at the village level

Written by
Alfred Sasako
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Police patrol

By Alfred Sasako

AS the impact of the state of emergency measures introduced by the Government since March 27 begins to bite, ordinary people living in and outside the Honiara City boundary areas are asking questions about last weekend’s curfew.

New measures, which included an 8pm-5am curfew over two days, were introduced last week. The nine-hour curfew began on Friday night and ended early last Sunday morning.

A total of 63 people, including four women, were arrested. Legal issues involving their arrests are being heard in Court this week.

But the broader community is asking what the curfew in particular was all about. According to police the curfew was part of the measures the government had introduced to restrict people’s movement to ensure the deadly virus does not enter into Solomon Islands.

“What is the curfew supposed to mean,” some told Island Sun on Tuesday 14th April.

“How does the government know the virus only comes out on Friday and Saturday nights,” one said.

“The real problem the government should be dealing with is the suffering people are beginning to feel. They have no food, many have been told to withdraw their savings from the Solomon Islands National Provident, when it is the responsibility of government to care for its citizens,” they said.

“Are there other reasons for the curfew? If so, the Prime Minister should explain that to the people of this country.”

Under the emergency orders, Honiara is an emergency zone. This zone extends from Alligator Creek area in the east to Poha River in the west. The emergency orders remain in place for the next four months.

At Kakabona yesterday, village women who were doing roadside sales of bettelnuts and other fruits were told by police to remove their stalls as this was in breach of the emergency orders.

“This is not fair for us,” one woman said.

“What we sell is the only source of income which we use to provide for our family. If the government wants us to stop, they must provide us with some help such as food or money so we can help our families,” the woman said.

“What is happening is unfair and very hard on us the ordinary people in the communities between Alligator Creek and Poha River,” they said.

“We are sure the people who were evacuated to their villages in other provinces are also finding it hard to cope.”

MHMS team in Malaita province to assess quarantine sites and isolation facilities

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Minister for Forestry and Research Dickson Panakitasi Mua.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

MINISTRY of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has sent a team to Malaita province to assess quarantine sites and isolation facilities there.

This was confirmed by the Minister for MHMS, Dickson Mua.

Mr Mua said, “a team is now is now in Malaita Province to asses potential quarantine sites and isolations facilities and storage warehouse in Auki.”

He said visits to other hospitals in provinces have also been planned for.

“Similar provincial visits are also being planned for Gizo, Buala, Helena Goldie Hospital, Atoifi, Tulagi, Lata, Tingoa, Kirakira and Taro,” said Mua.

He expressed the above sentiments at the recent parliament meeting.

SIFF DC meets?

Written by
Taromane Martin
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Solomon Warriors FC Tigi Molea slides in for the challenge on FC Isabel United's Nathaniel Mosese during their friendly match on Thursday 30th January 2020.

No decisions yet

By Taromane Martin

THE Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) is yet to release any official decision regarding disciplinary cases from the last season of the Telekom Soccer League.

A number of disciplinary cases are said to be heard by the SIFF Disciplinary Committee who one source said have had already met a fortnight ago.

Outspoken Royals Football Academy Founder, Joel Moffat Konofilia last month had called out SIFF to stop covering their lies for the sake of football fans in the country, questioning why it has taken the SIFF DC this long to make a decision.

SIFF last month had released a statement to counter Mr Konofilia’s call, saying SIFF takes all disciplinary matters seriously and ensures that all disciplinary cases are assessed and submitted on a timely basis to the DC for determination.

But Mr Konofilia, who is still facing a three-year ban from all football related activities for punching a match referee, was not satisfied with the federation’s response questioning why it is taking this long to deal with the disciplinary case involving Solomon Warriors FC midfielder Tigi Molea and Henderson Eels FC defender Derrick Taebo after match brawl, after their title deciding match 2-2 draw with Eels in round two of the TSL season on December 14th.

“Firstly, the question that needs answering is, why did the SIFF office sent me a letter on the same day I assaulted the referee that I was not to participate in any SIFF sanctioned tournament awaiting any decision from the disciplinary committee?” he said.

“Unlike my case, Tigi Molea was free to continue playing whilst awaiting the SIFF DC’s decision on his case? Also, SIFF is now saying that Molea had a temporary suspension imposed on him on the time that SW still had a TSL match at hand.

“The question is why was he not suspended on the same day like me, he was allowed to play many games and only to be suspended before SW’s last game? Again, this is unfair.

“Secondly why did the DC lift the ban on its preliminary hearing? Are you saying that Molea is innocent? Where is Hudson Wakio and Taebo? This case was confirmed to me by Wakio, there is no doubt that Molea led the group and attacked Taebo and the DC lifted the ban on Molea?,” Mr Konofilia had questioned.

SIFF in February had confirmed the matter is with the Disciplinary Committee to handle and is pending a decision. Two months on, it seems a decision from the SIFF DC is yet to be made known to the football fans in the country.

Attempts by SunSPORTS to get comments from responsible people within the federation since last week so far has been unsuccessful.

Court frees 58

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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RSIPF Officer check a vehicle at Lunnga checkpoint during the curfew on Saturday 11th April.

-Magistrate releases most of people arrested during curfew

-Police has no clue what to charge them with

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

FIFTY-EIGHT of the 63 people arrested for breaching the Friday-Saturday night curfew have allowed to walk free by the court.

Chief Magistrate Emma Garo sent them home because there was no charge filed to the court against them by police and prosecution.

Magistrate Garo said since there was no charge filed to the court regarding the accused the court has no power to preside over their case.

She said that she is making the order as the Chief Magistrate in sending the people back, but if police and prosecution file charges to the court, their cases can be called back, because a criminal process can only be triggered when charges are filed and a magistrate’s signature on the charges.

Garo said the accused were around the court premises from 9am to 2.30pm without any charges prepared and filed.

Meanwhile, out of the total 63, only five have been charged.

Three pleaded not guilty to the charges while two entered guilty pleas on Tuesday 14th April.

However sentencing of the two accused who entered guilty pleas will be stayed awaiting the court to decide on the legal issues that was raised in court.

Public Solicitor Horward Lawry raised yesterday some legal issue regarding the validity of the curfew in which court has requested both the prosecution and defence to file submission regarding the issues raised in court.

Hearing of submissions from lawyers regarding the legal issues raised will be made in court today.

The three who entered not guilty pleas were released on bail with principal bail of $500 each and condition that while on bail they must keep the peace.

Public Prosecution Office appears for the crown in court.

Beware of thieves

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THIEVES broke into three houses at Naha 3, East Honiara on the early hours of Monday 13th April and stole mobile, laptops and tablets worth around $10,465.

This happened after the two days curfew ended on Sunday 5am.

Police at Naha confirmed the thieves also stole medicines belong to a sick mother in one of the three houses.

The incident shocked the residents of Naha 3 who did not expect such theft to happen on three houses in the same morning.

Leaders of Naha 3 community warned residents to look after their properties at night following the incident.

Naha Police confirmed the victims have reported the incident and Criminal Investigation Officers are currently investigating it.

Acting Police Commissioner, Mostyn Mangau told a press conference last week that the rate of theft was not high or low but remains the same in the City.

Mangau said this was based on the reports police received on break-in from victims.

However, Island Sun understands the emerging of theft spiralled out of control when the pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19) affected the economy of the country, which saw many employees laid off in government and private sectors.

Thieves are taking advantage of the situation to rob residences as a way of surviving in the city.

Other suburbs in the City have also reported of theft incidences in the recent weeks as well.

Some residents said the rate of theft maybe low in the city but families are victims of it.

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