By Alfred Sasako

HONIARA City Council Mayor Wilson Mamae yesterday warned that accusations against the Council’s governance and administration being repeatedly published by Solomon Star newspaper could have repercussions.

“They know the accusations they are repeating are false. And they know that repeating false accusations against someone could have repercussions because we live in a tightly-knit community,” Mayor Mamae said.

His comments follow yet another article published in yesterday’s Solomon Star newspaper calling for the removal of Mayor Mamae and the Clerk, Rence Sore

According to the paper, the call was made by a Honiara citizen named Elward Hiru.

But Mayor Mamae has hit back saying false and baseless accusations does not add anything to the image of the newspaper, adding those using Solomon Star could be using false names to hide their real identity.

“Whether Mr. Hiru exists or not I do not know. What I do know is that the information that Mr. Hiru has provided is all misleading, wrong and baseless. For example, he questioned the legality of the 4Cs – a body set up to coordinate all Honiara City Council infrastructure development activities.

“The 4Cs is a legal entity, endorsed by the full Council and subsequently gazetted. It is a legal body. The Chair of each of the Committees in the Council are Members of the 4Cs,” he said.

“The second matter which I wish to clarify is the figure $1.8 million, which the Council has been accused of paying to an individual businessman without tender. Again, this is misleading, false and baseless.

“The Council did put out a restricted tender for the vehicles in question. Four companies, including Ela Motors, JQy and Golden Pacific Motors Co Limited, put in bids for the supply of the vehicles. Ela Motors won the tender at $1.9 million, not $1.8 million as reported by Solomon Star newspaper,” Mayor Mamae said.

“Unfortunately, the supplier insisted that the amount of $1.5 million be paid as a down payment. Our problem then was that the Council did not have that kind of money and this is where Appointed Councilor John Szetu came in,” the Mayor said.

“He offered and paid Ela Motors $1 million and the Council paid $500, 000. This is because the company demanded the payment of $1.5 million on the spot before releasing the vehicles. The good news is that the Council has since fully repaid Councilor Szetu the $1 million.

“We also paid direct to Ela Motors $500, 000. So the total payment made to Ela Motors is $1.5 million. What is owing to Ela Motors is $400, 000 after we have made a part payment,” the Mayor said.

Mayor Mamae said rushing into conclusion as the Solomon Star has done in the false and misleading accusations against the Honiara City Council simply tarnishes the image of the newspaper.

“It is my hope the newspaper thinks twice before engaging in such futile exercise in the future,” he said.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands government will continue its reparation flights, says Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

“This government will continue to repatriate our stranded citizens under strictest of conditions,” said Mr Sogavare.

He said lately a flight was allowed to fly into the country from Papua New Guinea and this flight flew in with covid-19 supplies that will assist the country in its fight against covid-19.

On this matter Special Secretary to Prime Minister,Mr Albert Kabui reiterated, “In terms of reparation the government will continue to repatriate our citizens overseas.

“Since we have in country testing capacity so we able to repatriate our citizens of course under the health protocols.”

Meanwhile, two repatriated flights have been successfully executed by the Solomon Islands governments.

These flights included one for nationals and foreigners stranded in New Zealand and Australia and one flight for Fiji and Vanuatu.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE government’s Covid-19 Oversight committee is prepared to now get all businesses to slowly reopen and provide services for people.

Jimmy Rodgers Secretary to Prime Minister said the oversight committee is prepared to get all businesses and sports to reopen.

“For the Oversight committee it is prepared to now get all the business and sports to slowly comeback towards normal.

“The important thing is to not forget the principals on cleaning hands, social distancing and so forth those must be continued and if we have any serious suspect or positive case we will go back into that action.              

“So the committee has discussed these matters and I think we be going back to normal soon,” said Rodgers

He said this idea of reopening of businesses had come up because the Oversight Committee had been receiving requests for reopening of other businesses that have been closed down due to the pandemic.

Rodgers said receives requests for reopening have been received from businesses like, sports especially for soccer and as well as for meetings.

“What we want is a plan on how they will address crowds, social distancing and so forth.

“If that one comes in and if the committee is happy with it then there could be an area for what time we can look at starting or reopening the number of businesses that have been closed.

“We have also ask them to give us the update on what happens in other countries in the pacific and also internationally.

“This is because we don’t want to make decisions out of vacuum,” said Rodgers.

He said for sports especially it is done in all pacific countries so Solomon Islands as a country don’t want to get behind in terms of sporting activities.

Rodgers said for businesses, most businesses in Honiara have already been reactivated except may be for night clubs.

“For nights I think the issues we need assurance is on how they can deal with areas on numbers allowed, also to do with social distancing kind of principles,” he said.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTER of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma has highlighted the three guiding principles behind the revitalization of the Development Bank of Solomon Islands (DBSI).

Speaking at the launching of the bank at Anthony Saru building, Point Cruz on Monday, Kuma said first and central on the policy development towards the revitalization of DBSI is ensuring that the problem experienced by the previous operation of DBSI must not be repeated. 

He said high on this guiding principle is the reform of the old DBSI legislation. 

“This is to ensure that issues surrounding the governance of the bank are addressed, and to give a clear order of priorities to encompass the operation of the Bank,” he said.

Kuma said the second guiding principle explains how DBSI will succeed in the market place by filling the areas that are not being serviced by existing commercial financial institutions. 

He said this guiding principle clearly articulate two complimentary business model that DBSI will introduce in the market.

“The first stream of DBSI business model will focus on commercial Development Banking, and the second stream focuses on the full range of rural banking services,” he said. 

“I wish to also make it clear that although DBSI is a State Owned Development Bank, Government expects it to operate in a commercially viable manner and will not subsidise any of its normal activities unless it is a government directed initiative.  

“As to do this (to provide subsidies) would reduce consumer choices available to all Solomon Islanders,” he said.

Kuma said the Government wants increase access to financial services and increase the amount of innovation occurring in target markets.

He said the underlying policy objective of DBSI is that it will help to bridge the unattended gap.

Thirdly, Kuma said it is essential that measures are put in place to create the right environment for DBSI and as well as other commercial banks to take hold, as this will be critical in making all banks sustainable on a long-term basis. 

He said financial institutions in particular need good regulatory and legal infrastructure to work effectively.

“Am pleased to announce a package of financial reforms to accompany the opening of DBSI and to ensure financial sustainability of all banks is the commitment of the Government to progress. 

“This will include critical financial services reform such as the Credit Union Reform, NPF Legislative Reform, Insurance Act Reform, Financial Services Act Reform and the National Payment System Reform.,” he said.

Kuma said these reforms are critical to the long term financial operation of the banking sector including DBSI.