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Plots of land given are ‘null and void’, CPG to revisit offers

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

NEW plots of land given to ‘Smoking Residents’ at Tulaghi by the former Central Provincial Government (CPG) last year being reported, are termed ‘null and void’.

This does not mean that the current provincial government of Central Islands Province (CIP) under the leadership of Premier Hon Stanley Manetiva will be displacing residents receiving offer letters but revisiting the offer plots and doing proper remapping for equal sharing of plots.

Premier Hon Stanley Manetiva speaking to Island Sun on Thursday said the offer letters signed and passed on by the former provincial Assembly had no purpose but only for ‘election interests’, on which they will be revisiting the offers.

“This does not mean that the provincial government of CIP will be forgetting long serving residents (Smoking Residents) from different provinces that have remained choosing to earn a living and spend the rest of their days in the province. They are now part of CIP’s people,” said Hon Manetiva.

According to Hon Manetiva, the idea is they will be waiting for a mapping to take place by a surveyor before relooking into plots.

He said to note, no one will be taking a big or small share but they will be receiving equal shares of plots.

“The way the plots were offered earlier was only for election purpose, our purpose now is to do proper mapping so that everyone will have an equal share of plots and to address the generation to come as well concerning the availability of land areas to be planned,” said Hon Manetiva.

Last year, the former Premier of CIP Mr Patrick Vasuni said that the plots of land allocated for Smoking residents is being done because a new domestic wharf development is planned to be built at Smoking’s seaside. The plan was said to start develop two months ago.

From different perspectives too being earlier targeted to him over this issue’s move, he said it is not of political interest and apart from the domestic wharf planned, the relocation of residents from Smoking area at Tulaghi is part of sympathy that the province has for the people.

“Residents at Smoking area have always been effective participants in the province activities so they deserve to be relocated in a suitable environment for their livelihood.

“Many amongst the elders there have lived almost throughout their entire lives at Tulaghi seeing them being no stranger to the province and as already part of CIP’s family and citizens,” said the former Premier.

Many families settling at Smoking area are islanders from different provinces such as from Temotu, Makira, Malaita and Isabel who went to work at Tulaghi during when Solomon Taiyo and the National Fisheries Development (NFD) were operating in CIP.

The islanders ever since then to this present living amongst indigenous Ngella people call CIP as their very own home, choosing to dwell there. They continue to live and generate at Tulaghi amongst the former fishing companies’ areas after they were being relocated to Western Province.

It is understood that CIP’s former Premier and Executive Government had already met and passed the area (plots of lands) for relocation just inland (upper hill) of Smoking area, however, the offers are now ‘null and void’ according to the current CPG on which they will revisit offers.

Police to enquire on allegation of police vehicle sold in Renbel

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE Commissioner Matthew Varley has ordered an immediate investigation to enquire into the allegation relating to a police vehicle at Renbel alleged to have been sold out.

Mr Varley responding to an article published by this paper said if that report is true it will be very much disappointed.

He said when he received the report on Thursday he was quite concerned about the police vehicle allegedly been sold by Police at Renbel.

“if that report is correct then obviously I would be very disappointed on that, I can tell you that as part of a vehicle evaluation exercise last year I ordered that review of the entire fleet and number of vehicles across the RSIPF were identified as being unserviceable, or not worthy of maintenance or repair because of their age or condition”, Mr Varley said.

He confirmed that the vehicle at Renbel was one of those vehicles that were determined to be unserviceable and therefore was intended for disposal and that was the process that was going thru with MID at the moment.

“So to the best of our knowledge the vehicle was due for destruction and that was the tender and the allegation that the vehicle was dispose or sold is concerning and I have ordered immediate investigation to be led by my Assistant Commissioner Provincial to make enquires and report back to me as soon as possible”, Mr Varley said.

Mr Varley said it always a concern to him when hearing complains about RSIPF service anywhere across the country including the provinces and sometimes it’s difficult for them to maintain a close eye on what is happening around the provinces and that is why police are relying heavily communities feedback.

Mr Varley said when reports of officers not doing the right thing then that are where enquiries and investigation established to get facts before appropriate actions taken.

Undersized logs

Written by
Mike Puia
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Vanikoro-island

Logging in Vanikoro harvests trees below legal requirements

By Mike Puia

 

UNDERSIZE trees are reportedly logged on Vanikoro in Temotu Province.

An eyewitness confirms to Island Sun that the trees are logged by Gallego Resource Limited, an Asian logging company.

The eyewitness, speaking on condition of anonymity, who is a resource owner, questions authorities to confirm the size required by law to be harvested and exported.

He said what he saw on Vanikoro recently makes him worry about the future of the tiny islands’ forest.

Vanikoro is a group of islands surrounded by a single belt of coral reef. The total area of the Vanikoro group is about 170 square kilometres.

Only two islands (Banie and Teanu) are inhabited. Logging operation took place at Banie Island- the main island. This group of island belongs to the Temotu Vatud constituency.

Gallego Resource Limited commenced operation on Banie Island about three years ago. It has been issue a licence to harvest the entire island.

The company is reportedly moving to its third camp.

The resource owner said he visited a site where logs harvested on the island are piled and took photos of the logs harvested.

He said many logs are undersize.

The former logging worker said based on what he understands the required log size should have a log-head diameter of 50cm.

He said log-head size of most logs harvested at Banie Island have a diameter of 30cm.

“This size is very small. They’re almost like firewood,” the resource owner said.

He appealed to the Ministry of Forestry to clarify the harvest size of logs.

He also appealed to the Ministry and the Temotu provincial government to visit Gallego Resource Limited operation on Banie Island to confirm his report.

He said the rate and size of harvest going on at Banie Island represent a threat to the livelihood and resources of his people- especially their children.

This paper made several call to Gallego Resource Limited office in Honiara after 4pm yesterday but there were no answer.

There was no answer to calls made to the Ministry to confirm the size required in logging operation.

This report brings the question of sustainable harvesting of the country’s forest.

Reports noted, the rate of harvest to the country’s logs is more than 19 times higher than sustainable levels and if continued could denude the country and soon exhaust the single biggest contributor to the country’s economic growth.

Though the Ministry has previously said it had toughened regulations to address issues in the logging sector, there remains lack of enforcement capacity.

Allowances received

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SOLOMON Islands students studying in Philippines have now received second Semester allowances, but not all them yet, it is reported last night.

Some are still to receive theirs according to report reaching Island Sun and are hoping to receive them as early as today.

SISAP students last week raised concern as to why there was very much delay in second Semester allowances.

On Wednesday this week when Solomon Islands National Training Unit (NTU) Director and team were said to hold a meeting with SISAP students at AMA Quezon to address students welfare and other school areas of concern, they were reported questioned much by students as to why there was such delay.

“This goes for reinstate allowances. And the NTU Director responded by saying that they will be discussing our discussions when returning to administration, “said SISAP students.

Other SISAP students finally relieved for receiving second Semester allowances yesterday said now they will be able to pay debts, bills, rentals and visas too.

More than 300 students are studying under SISAP.

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

OPERATIONS at the National Referral Hospital Operating Theatre will scale down due to shortage of Terumo blood bag supplies.

Terumo blood bags are high quality, high-value blood bags designed for the collection, processing and storage of whole blood and blood components.

The Blood bank management on Tuesday issued a notice they are temporary closing down due to shortage of Terumo blood bags.

Director of Medical Laboratory at NRH, Alfred Dofai, said they are facing a tough situation at the moment but assured public that the supplies will arrive next month.

He said they are communicating with the supplier to airlift emergency order as well requesting the Provincial Health centres in the provinces to return some Terumo blood bags to subsidise the shortages.

He said they were supposed to receive 85 cartons of blood bags in July to stock up the laboratory but they only received 25.

“I think the supplier must have run short of supply that is why we only received 25 cartons,’’ he said.

Dofai said 55 cartons of blood bags are still on the way, in the next shipment.

“The situation will affect other sectors and so we have to put priority on emergency cases,” Dofai said.

He assures the general public that they are working with the supplier and the medical store to airlift emergency supplies by this weekend.

He explains the order is bit confusing on the part of the supplier.

He said order should arrive on July and they should encounter this situation.

He said due to the situation they will scale down operation and give top priorities to emergency cases.

Angry Isabel landowners ask government to cancel Axiom mining lease on San Jorge over non-payment  

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Alfred Sasako

 

ANGRY San Jorge landowners on Isabel have formally asked the Government to “suspend or cancel” Axiom KB Ltd’s Mining Licence, accusing the Company of failing to fulfil terms of the Surface Access Agreement (SAA) it signed with landowners last year.

Private law firm, Whitlam K Togamae Lawyers took out a full page paid advertisement on behalf of the landowners in both newspapers yesterday. The advert appeared in the form of an open letter to the Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Bradley Tovosia, and Chairman of the Mines and Minerals Board, Nicholas Biliki. It was copied to Attorney General John Muria jnr and the Provincial Secretary, Isabel Province.

The advertised highlighted specific SAA clauses, which the lawyer representing the landowners, said Axiom KB Ltd had breached.

It was signed by William K Togamae on behalf of 21 Chiefs who “are the accepted landowners of part of San Jorge Island, Isabel Province, and parties to the Surface Access Agreement with Axiom KB Limited (Axiom), dated 6 March 2018 (Surface Access Agreement)

“We are instructed to advise as follows:

  1. It is a term of the Surface Access Agreement that:
  • In accordance with clause 9.2(a), Axiom shall make payments to our clients in accordance with Appendix 2 of the Surface Access Agreement for the right to access the land;
  • In accordance with clause 9.3, Axiom shall make milestone payments to our client in accordance with Appendix 3 of the Surface Access Agreement for the right to access the land;
  • In accordance with clause 9.4, our clients shall be entitled to hold 20 per cent of the shares of Axiom and Axiom KB Mining Limited, along with other landowners; and
  • In accordance with clause 10, all payments are to be made to the nominated account of our client by Axiom within 15 working days after the end of each quarter,” the open letter advertisement said.

The advertisement said Axiom has breached the terms of the SAA by failing to make payments as well as to transfer 20 per cent of the company shares to the landowners as stipulated under clause 9.3.

The advertisement said landowners are calling on Minister Tovosia and the Mines and Minerals Board to direct Axiom to comply with the terms of the SAA or to say why its Mining Licence should not be suspended or cancelled.

“While it is entirely a matter for you, and the Board, in our view the matters warrant:

  • A direction pursuant to s.6(e) of the Mines and Minerals Act to Axiom to comply with the terms and conditions of the Mining Lease by paying our clients the monies due and issuing them the shares that they are entitled to under the Surface Access Agreement;
  • A show cause notice pursuant to s.71 of the Mines and Minerals Act to Axiom demonstrate why the Mining Lease should not be suspended or cancelled, pending the performance of Axiom’s obligation under the Surface Access Agreement.”

An employee said recently the Company could not meet landowners’ demand for payment because it has been blocked from exporting its shipment of nickel.

“How can the company pay when it has not even exported anything?”, the employee said.

Call for bosses to step down

Written by
Alfred Sasako
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It is happening at SINU, Our Telekom and …

 

By Alfred Sasako

 

THEY were once seen as “saviour” of institutions they were recruited to administer. These institutions are national icons, but none is headed by a local Solomon Islander – Solomon Islanders who possess the equivalent in qualifications, exposure and experience foreign nationals hold.

Now it seems the tide is slowly but surely turning against the experts recruited from overseas. And as the level of undercurrent rises, no one seems to know which institution will be next.

At least two national institutions – Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and Our Telekom – are reportedly feeling the heat as most, if not all, staff turn against their boss.

At SINU, staff are turning against their new Vice Chancellor (VC), Dr Ganesh Chand for alleged “abuse of recruitment process, speedy appointment and hand-picked TA from Fiji to work for SINU” while turning ignoring local TA and qualified academic staff.

“(The) VC abused the recruitment process and appointed his friends and former colleagues of Fiji National University,” staff said.

They gave an example of the recent appointment of an Internal Auditor from Fiji. He used to work as Manager Audit for Fiji National University and was terminated in 2015 for alleged abuse of process related to tender.

“The VC forced HR (Human Resources) to give an offer to (a) Fijian National for the post of Executive Officer without follow(ing) the due process of recruitment, and this is very clear conflict of interest,” according to information obtained by Island Sun last night.

The staff also accused the Vice Chancellor of “bullying and intimidation of local staff.”

Now the staff association is said to be planning a protest march to have the VC removed, they said.

The association is understood to be seeking the views of the SINU Council before making a final decision on the proposed protest march.

At Our Telekom similar undercurrents are brewing over the recruitment of its Chief Executive Officer from Fiji. Staff are reportedly unhappy and may be pushing for his exit.

There is one other State-Owned Enterprise whose Chief Executive Officer has been accused of recruiting his “wantoks”. It is not clear whether staff are doing anything about this

Island Sun was unable to get comments from individuals featured in this story.

Bad tender?

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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Landcruiser being tendered by MID already sold by Tingoa police officers months ago

 

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

A landcruiser which is being tendered by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) is reportedly “already sold by officers of Tingoa police station”.

The AB1530 Toyota Landcruiser 78 Series, tendered as Item No. 1, at Tingoa station, and described as ‘idle’ was sold months ago for $15,000 by a senior constable of Tingoa police station.

An elder of Tingoa community, requesting anonymity, confirmed this to Island Sun, saying the vehicle was sold to a member of his family.

This means MID is tendering out vehicles which are not available, hence interested bidders will be fooled into applying to buy it.

An MID official answering enquiries on condition of anonymity, says MID is innocent in this issue, since they have been assured by the RSIPF that the landcruiser in question was sitting idle in Tingoa police station.

“RSIPF did not tell us that that particular vehicle has already been sold. It maybe that the Rove HQ are not aware of what their own officers are doing out there in Renbel province.

“MID has no fault in this issue … we simply put in the items which various government offices submit in for tendering. Check with RSIPF, they are answerable for their own mess.”

And, questions are being asked where that purported $15,000 has gone to; has it gone to the police, national treasury or to that constable’s pockets?

“When I saw the advertisement on the Island Sun Newspaper last week, I recognised that particular vehicle because it had been sold to a cousin brother of mine for $15,000,” says the Tingoa community chief.

Island Sun has been following up with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) regarding a list of allegations against corrupt policing in Rennell and Bellona province, an issue which has been ongoing for more than two years.

Police Media Unit reacted by questioning Island Sun’s source of information, rather than being concerned about the issue at hand.

“I see you did not have the name of the complainant. How can I be sure that the allegations came from someone in Renbel and not just some disgruntled police officer who had served in Renbel but got removed because of disciplinary issues. I am just making sure that Island Sun is not being used in this instance.”

A day later, Police Media released a blunt response saying they will investigate the allegations.

“RSIPF welcomes any criticism of how it delivers its services to the people of this nation. However, the criticism must be substantiated with evidence.

“For this reason the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Provincial has been tasked to investigate the allegations of abuse of office, misuse of assets and lack of policing in Renbel Province made by the unnamed person to the Island Sun newspaper. The ACP will report to the Commissioner of Police as soon as possible.”

New tax on white rice

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PUBLIC are expected to dig deeper into their own pockets when the new import duty of 20 cent per kilogram of rice and a good tax of five percent added as of September 1.

At the moment the price of 20kg white rice varies from shop to shop at the minimum price of $155 while the minimum price of 10kg rice is $82.

If the new import duty on white rice comes into effect on September 1, it means the new import duty for 20kg will be $4 and the goods tax will be $7.75 which is total up to $11.75.

This means the new price of 20kg white rice our main staple food will increase to $166.75 while 10kg will increase to $93.75.

If the shop owner don’t control the price with their mark-up prices the price will be skyrocketing.

For rural villages the price will even go higher.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury in a letter issued on 22 August advice that the cabinet during its meeting held on 22 July 2019 has approved the proposal to implement a new tax on white rice commencing 1st of September.

This will introduce a levy of $0.20 per kg as import duty and goods tax of 5 percent.

This policy is part of the ongoing fiscal measures to help target better health outcomes in the country, particularly aimed at reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases which are evidently increasing as should by our national records.

While it is good for our health the price of rice, a staple part of the diet in the country will increase dramatically.

This will affect all communities as we know people are struggling to meet costs to feed their family.

Govt imposes 20 cents per kg on white rice

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNMENT has approved the proposal to implement a new tax on white rice commencing September 1.

According to a letter from McKinnie Dentana, permanent secretary of Ministry of Finance and Treasury, cabinet agreed in their meeting on July 22 to introduce a levy of $0.20 per Kg as import duty and goods tax of five percent.

Dentana said this policy is part of the opening fiscal measures to help target better health outcomes in the country, particularly aimed at reducing prevalence of non-communicable diseases which are evidently increasing as shown by our national health records.

Further to that, former Minister of Finance and now Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare told media last year that the longer term strategy is to shift the country’s population to the alternatives and chose brown rice instead of white rice.

Sogavare said a bag of brown rice costs about $600 compared to a bag of 30kg white rice which costs only $200.

However he said the easiest option is for the people to shift to local dietaries so that they need not to buy rice.

Island Sun contacted Solraise Ltd to get their bosses to comment on the new import tax but they left the office to attend another engagement.

Solomon Islands has become one of the highest rice consuming country in the region.

Statistics in 2014 shows that one person consumed 100 kg of rice.

The country rice imports stood at approximately 51,888 tonnes at the end of 2013, 31 percent higher than 2012 imported volumes of 39,467 tonnes.

In terms of value, rice import value amounted to around SBD$270 million at the end of 2013 compared to SBD $222 million in 2012.

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