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No coronavirus case in SI: MHMS

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Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Pauline McNeil.

THE ministry of Health (MHMS) has confirmed that there is no coronavirus case in the country.

In a media statement on Thursday 12th March, the ministry said, “The Ministry of Health and Medical Services wishes to reassure the public that as of today’s [Thursday 12th March] date there are no confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country.

The Permanent Secretary of the MHMS Mrs Pauline McNeil says as to date the country has no confirmed cases and would like to inform the public that MHMS and its Partners continues to work together in the COVID-19 preparedness and response plans.

“The PS would also like to acknowledge other Government Ministries and stakeholders for the collaborative efforts in the preparedness and responses so far.”

McNeil appeals to the public to seek correct and accurate information through the MHMS to avoid unnecessary and misleading information.

“Furthermore, McNeil calls upon the general public to remain vigilant and continue to practice good hygiene practices such as; covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, wash your hands often with water and soap or use hand sanitizer, keep your distance from others at least one metre away.

“The public can call 23650 or 7522202 should they need update information on the COVID-19.”

–MHMS PRESS

Coronavirus outbreak in Manila, SIG students in fear

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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Drug supplies and food are getting out of stock currently in Philippines supermarkets, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak in Philippines. Photo supplied by SISAP students

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

CORONAVIRUS outbreak has been reported in Manila, Philippines, and Solomon Islands Government Sponsored students studying there are in fear wanting to return home.

According to report by SISAP students, now all schools in metro Manila are closed down as the numbers of confirmed cases continue to increase everyday having around 49 as of yesterday with fatalities.

Prevention gears like face masks, alcohol hand sanitiser and other stuffs are said to be running out of stock in drug stores and supermarkets as well as food, seeing people are now rushing to stock their house foods due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

With the current experience on food, SISAP students fear that there will be a food shortage situation soon.

“Most confirm cases are from Quezon City and Cavite City where most students are studying, being only a few meters away from our apartments,” said SISAP students reporting.

“Now we students are really worried because the outbreak might get out of control seeing our student President exchange emails with the National Scholarship Division for further advice and what is needed to be done as we are now waiting for response from our government.

“It’s better for us to return home when there are still no students being infected with the virus. With the current situation looks bad, as from observation, we will be facing food shortage.”

In response to SISAP students situation having them ask for repatriation, an email sent by the NSD Director, Curtis Kalu, through the SISAP President yesterday has advised all students to remain vigilant and attentive to instructions and information given, as are addressing the issue.

 “Since information about the outbreak and spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Philippines was received from the Solomon Islands Students Association President, the National Scholarship Division (NSD) has this week informed the MEHRD senior management team to deliberate on the request of the students to be evacuated.

“The Senior management team has decided to seek approval from Cabinet and a paper was prepared for the Minister of Education, Honourable Commins Aston Mewa, to table it to Cabinet today (Thursday 12 March). The decision of the Cabinet will be conveyed to the students as soon as NSD is informed of the decision.

“In the meanwhile, the NSD/NTU wishes to inform all Philippine based students to be calm, vigilant and to be attentive to instructions given by Health Authorities in Philippines.

“The situation of our students in the Philippines institutions are being closely monitored by the Ministry through the senior management team and the National Disaster Operation Committee –Education.

“As a responsible authority, the MEHRD senior management team through the National Scholarship Division has established a direct contact line with the Solomon Islands students President in the Philippines. This is vital so that the students are encouraged to remain calm. Also so that the students can be informed of essential health promotion or hygiene practises they could apply to avoid contracting the coronavirus.

“Students are encouraged to apply essential health promotion practises, including regular hand washing, use of clean face towels when sneezing, and to use clean eating utensils. All students are encouraged to remain in their residences and not to wonder around places or to avoid getting close to large crowds to avoid getting the coronavirus.

“Finally students are reminded to await further instructions from NSD and to be assured that we care about your health and life and will continue to do our best to support you.

“Once again, all students are reminded to follow instructions from Philippines responsible authorities or to update yourselves with information released by the World Health Organization and Health Authorities,” said the NSD Director.

On another email exchange concerning the current issue, MEHRD’s Permanent Secretary (PS) informed the SISAP President saying “Cabinet will make a decision to repatriate students and so a paper will be tabled to Cabinet this morning [yesterday] for its decision.

“Will inform you the outcome as soon as Cabinet has deliberated on the subject.”

In response to the emails received, SISAP students said the sooner authorities deal with this issue the better, because the situation is getting worse and they are worried.

A ‘state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines’, has been declared on this week Monday by the President of Philippines.

Why silent?

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Health authorities refused to reveal number of people quarantined over coronavirus, until social media did

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO AND BARNABAS MANEBONA

RESPONSBILE authorities dealing with coronavirus (COVID-19) had earlier refused to announce that a certain number of people had been placed under quarantine, it is reported.

However, thanks to social media, we now know that 16 people are being quarantined.

Why health authorities refused to reveal this interesting piece of information to public is anybody’s guess because they further declined to comment when contacted by the paper yesterday for comment.

Sympathetic members of public have brushed the health ministry’s silence aside, suggesting that “maybe MHMS does not want to cause unnecessary panic”.

But, others have not been so forgiving, reminding the ministry of health that this is a crucial time where public are anxious to know what ever is available to be known “with regards to the status of the country on coronavirus”.

From report, 16 people are quarantined at different locations in Honiara as they have been to restricted countries or countries that have confirmed coronavirus cases.

Out of the 16 quarantined people, nine are being monitored at a quarantine site near Henderson known as VIMO, and seven others are home quarantined. They are being checked daily and are well monitored.

For clarification, MHMS through its Communications Unit clarifies on misleading understanding that the quarantine process currently is on ‘healthy people’ and not people being infected with COVID-19. Because these people travelled through countries where COVID-19 is reported is why they are being monitored at the quarantine sites.

“Just for clarity, there are no suspected cases to date. Quarantine is for healthy people and it is because we have a procedure to follow, this has to be done by our government.

“Isolation is for suspected cases, however there are no suspected case so far. Please let the public know. Quarantine is a site where healthy people who travel through affected countries are monitored,” said MHMS.

Meanwhile, the numbers of seven (7) passengers who had been turned back and denied entry into the country by Immigration Officers  because of travelling through countries where coronavirus-19 (COVID) are being reported remain the same.

This is according to the Immigration Division under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration yesterday.

On the list received from the Immigration Division, the nationalities of the seven passengers denied entry were from Kenya, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, USA, and Germany.

SI hears China’s response on COVID-19

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Islands Delegates
Photo: The Solomon Islands delegation that attended the video conference at China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) compound at Lunga

SOLOMON Islands joined other Pacific Islands countries to get feedbacks on the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the measures China took to deal with the virus since its outbreak in December 27, 2019.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China organised a video conference on Tuesday 5pm (2pm Beijing) to allow its 10 diplomatic allies in the Pacific to watch the live presentation of:

  1. Dr Wu Zunyou, Chief Epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and
  2. Dr Wang Guiqiang, Chief Physician, Department of infectious diseases, Peking University First Hospital.

Solomon Islands watched at the video conference at China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) compound at Lunga.

The other allies that watched the video in their offices were Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga, Federate States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue and Kiribati.

After the presentation, PNG was given the opportunity to make a statement on the virus before the rest of the Pacific Islands Countries have asked questions on the presenters.

Dr Wu said about 69 percent (5938) have related exposure to the virus in Wuhan, 15 percent (1316) contact with confirmed cases and 16 percent (1402) no known exposure history.

These statistics are based on the 8656 confirmed cases.

He said China has applied community level responses strategy to counter the virus.

They divided the communities into three categories namely community with no confirmed cases, communities with confirmed cases and communities with spreading of the epidemic.

Dr Wu said 1.4 billion people nationwide underwent 10 days of at home isolation.

He said in Hubei province where Wuhan is, 59.2 million people were subjected to cordon sanitaire or prevented from leaving the area.

Dr Wu said 50,000 hospital beds were opened for COVID-19 patients (including 3 new hospitals plus 16 temporary module hospitals).

He said 40,000 health workers were deployed to Hubei.
“Majority of cases arise from close contacts of symptomatic cases; 1.5 percent of 38000 close contacts developed COVID-19 in 3 areas.

“Transmission is driven by family clusters (i.e. 75-85 percent of clusters),” he said.

Dr Wu said two percent households attack rate were 10 percent early in the outbreak and fell to three percent in with faster isolation.

He said transmission in close settings is happening but is not a major driver in China (e.g. health facilities, nursing homes and prisons).

“Transmission in schools has been observed- this may simply be because of the closure of schools during most of the outbreaks,” he said.

Solomon Islands was represented by Ministry of Health and Medical Services officials, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Jimmy Rodgers and media.

Undersecretary for Public Health Dr Nemia Bainivalu said the video conference was very informative.

“I will certainly share this response with my team on some of the things to apply in Solomon Islands case for preparation,” he said.

Like other Pacific Islands countries, Solomon Islands has also come up with preventative measures to deal with the coronavirus.

Catholic archbishop announces temporary measures for coronavirus

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Archbishop
Archbishop

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

THE Catholic Archbishop of Honiara Archdiocese, His Grace Archbishop Christopher M Cardone OP has announced some measures for Catholic communities to take to prevent the spread of coronavirus, starting on Saturday, March 15.

A statement from the Catholic church in Honiara yesterday said these measures will be temporary directives in Cathedral of Holy Cross and other Catholic churches.

The Archbishop expressed that while there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Solomon Islands, it is good that measures are taken to help prevent a possible spread of the sickness.

These measures are; that all ministers of holy communion to wash their hands before distributing holy communion and it is to be distributed only on the hands to avoid the spread of saliva on the tongue, only the priest is to receive the precious blood, no exchange of the Sign of Peace by shaking hands which can be replaced by the Japanese custom of bowing your head to your neighbour.

“Holy Water fronts at the entrance of our Churches are also not to be used as it could spread sickness.”

Archbishop Cardone said the directives are temporary until there is some control or lessening of the virus.

He also recommends that people stop the spitting of betel-nut in public places, sharing of smoke and lime and using each other’s cups, spoons or towels to prevent the virus.

“We pray for healing for thousands of people around the world who are suffering from this sickness and we ask God to bless scientists and doctors that they may soon find a cure for Coronavirus,” he said.

The Archbishop said it seems that most people who have gotten sick are of old ages, both men and women who have some type of existing sickness.

He strongly encourages the public to care and look after them and keep them away from anyone who is coughing or spitting.

“God bless all people of good will in the Archdiocese and God bless Solomon Islands,” he said.

MHMS plan to establish quarantine facilities at provinces

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Corona

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

MINISTRY of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) plans to establish quarantine facilities at the provinces as part of their preparedness effort to prevent Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19).

This was confirmed by Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dickson Mua, during a recent joint press conference on Coronavirus-19.

“We are also looking at establishing quarantine facilities at the provinces in the near future,” Mua said.

He said for Honiara the identified quarantine facilities are at the Henderson Airfield to enable prompt and safe quarantine of passengers should they need to be quarantines.

“In addition to quarantine, patient isolation facilities are being set up at the National Referral Hospital to accommodate and care for suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19, should they arise,” said Mua.

According to the Ministry of Health’s statement focusing on the quarantine site it stressed, as part of MHMS, other government ministries and partners preparedness effort to prevent potential importation of COVID-19 into the country they have identified a site for quarantine.

“The quarantine site is a place to monitor people who are not sick, however, may have been exposed or have been to restricted and affected countries. The World Health Organization has provided and will providing technical and financial support to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for the set up and furbishing of the quarantine site.

“Any person who becomes ill while being quarantined will be immediately transferred to the Isolation Center, for appropriate medical care by trained health workers.

“There is no evidence to suggest that surroundings communities nearby to the quarantine site are at risk of being infected of COVID-19, since those quarantines are healthy persons.

“People living around the quarantine site(s) are kindly reminded to remain vigilant by practicing good personal hygiene behaviors and respect the quarantine sites at all times by not going near the quarantine(s),” the statement stated.

Work on mobile coverage commence in East Rennell

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Mike Puia
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Machines moved to East Rennell

By Mike Puia

WORK on a telecommunication tower in East Rennell, Renbel Province, is expected to have started on Monday 9th March.

Reports reaching Island Sun confirmed machineries have been moved to the site earmarked in East Rennell for the Our Telekom network tower.

The machineries, which belong to commercial companies that are currently operating in West Rennell, will do tower basement excavation, site clearance and road maintenance.

East Rennell has missed out couple of opportunities to have a mobile coverage tower due to land dispute.

The only communication mode available to the people in East Rennell is an internet café. Not many afford it.

The current provincial government, led by premier Willie Tuhagenga, has been instrumental in getting ground work on the site to start.

‎The deputy provincial secretary, Mr Aubrey Saueha confirmed machineries have been moved to the site last Friday.

Sau’eha has appealed to communities in East Rennell to support work on the telecommunication tower.

Communities in East Rennell have welcomed the proposed communication tower.

A local from East Rennell, Mr Kevin Sau’eha, said having a communication system available is everything to them in terms of emergency, safety, convince, time and more given the fact it gives direct access to the world.

Sau’eha, who is the owner Motumahi lodge, said in terms of business, having an effective communication is very critical.

“Tourists are people who make bookings and move according to schedules because their schedules connect to each other and a lack of communication can break such linkage,” Sau’eha said.

He said having telecommunication coverage will boost tourists’ confidence, security and emergency and any last-minute changes

“Expense and time wise, this is a win-win for operators and guests,” Sau’eha added.

A barge, loaded with materials for the tower, has left for Rennell over the weekend.

One-link update

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Central Bank of Solomon Islands. Photo by CBSI

CBSI maintains that the scheme is unlicensed, risky and has no funds in the bank

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE Central Bank of the Solomon Islands is sticking to its verdict that One Link Pacifica is an unlicensed investment scheme.

The Central Bank also clarifies that One Link does not have any funds deposited in CBSI accounts.

In a media statement yesterday, CBSI says, “The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) wish to clearly state that its position on the ONE LINK PACIFICA (OLP) issue remains unchanged and that people should refrain from investing in the scheme.

“CBSI wishes to further correct latest rumours circulating in Honiara and in provinces around the country about OLP having its funds deposited in CBSI accounts, as false and misleading information.

“Such false and misleading information are meant to create confusion among the general banking public, instil confidence to the current members of OLP, and to entice new individuals into joining the OLP.      

“CBSI does not hold any funds of this nature, and by law, CBSI cannot accept deposits of money from any Pyramid/Ponzi schemes, let alone the mentors of OLP or from the OLP itself.    

“Section 10(2) of the CBSI Act 2012 prohibits CBSI from opening accounts on its books for any natural persons or private enterprises.

“Therefore, the claim that CBSI holds money for OLP is not true.

“CBSI and the Solomon Islands Financial Intelligence Unit (SIFIU) have clarified all these issues in its recent press conference about OLP, and will continue to provide any advice or information to the people of Solomon Islands regarding these types of get-rich-quick schemes or activities.”

CBSI last month came out publicly labelling One Link as an illegal money investment scheme which is unlicensed. CBSI is the national authority which issues out banking licence, and it has not given One Link any.

Since then, Honiara City Council has reinforced the barrage on One Link by publicly announcing that it has not granted the scheme a business licence to operate in Honiara.

One Link has hit back via media statements describing itself as neither a bank nor a pyramid scheme, but something which “helps” its members financially.

Several members of One Link speaking to Island Sun explain that they invest a principal amount which they received back in 30 days quadrupled.

They say One Link may be facing problems with the legal side of the scheme, but “on the ground, it is definitely helping struggling people financially”.

On the question of why authorities have not arrested or closed down the scheme since they deem it illegal, HCC last week explained that they cannot simply close it down for the sake of the more-than-60,000 members.

HCC says instead that it would stand by and watch what ever happens to One Link.

Heavy machinery a threat to Ranadi coastline

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Remains of heavy machines dump close to the Earth Movers workshop are posing a threat on the environment in Ranadi industrial area. PHOTO PAGEPITU ALFRED

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE remains of heavy machines dumped close to the Earth Movers workshop is posing a threat on the environment at the Ranadi industrial area.

Ranadi is regarded as the country’s industrial site where remains of heavy machines, iron, empty drums, plastics, wastes, cylinder is a normal sight.

Island Sun visited the graveyard for machines yesterday and witnessed the enormity of the problem.

The Solomon Islands Government Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology MECCDMM) are being asked to assess and monitor those sites to stop companies who continue to dump heavy machines.

A senior officer from the Ministry said companies which own areas there have been urged to stop the practice of dumping their dead machines close to the shore.

“They should dispose them properly to avoid environmental effect to marine ecosystem or our coastline where marine lives breed.”

He said that this will certainly need a collective effort from various relevant organisations, companies, ministries and government to discuss and closely monitor those site to stop the environmental pollution. 

Customised mystery

Written by
Alfred Sasako
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Solomon Islands Ports Authority

Government ‘owed millions’ in uncollected non-resident withholding tax

By Alfred Sasako

WHILE the Government is trying to make ends meet, it is being revealed that it is ‘owed millions’ in uncollected non-resident withholding tax, sources familiar with the matter told Island Sun last night.

The sources said the failure to realise this is on the part of the staff of the Customs and Excise Division of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury. It is not clear why Customs staff appear to have ignored the non-resident withholding tax in terms of collection.

Non-resident withholding tax is a charge on in-bound and out-bound consignments levied against foreign vessels engaged in trading activities with Solomon Islands.

“They’ve just got to pay it. Why Customs is not collecting it is a mystery,” one source told Island Sun on the weekend.

The sources said the non-collection of this huge revenue windfall for the government has gone back five years from last year, during which period the amount outstanding is now estimated at about $260 million.

This figure represents 10 per cent of export receipts for two million cubic metres exported last year. The value of last year’s log export was USD80 million (SBD520 million), which attracts the non-resident withholding tax.

“This amount is just for the logging industry. It does not cover in-bound and out-bound cargo from the private wharf at Ranadi. If you include non-resident withholding tax from those using the Ranadi wharf, the government is owed potentially $300 million in non-resident withholding tax for the last five years,” the sources said.

“Customs have a lot of explaining to do on this matter,” they said.

No comments could be obtained from Customs last night.

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