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Wale questions removal of signboard at Taiwan farm

    Written by
    Mike Puia
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    Leader of Opposition Hon. Matthew Wale has expressed concerns over move taken by the government to take down a sign board belonging to the former Taiwanese Technical Mission at the King George Farm, an act he described to be ill and uncalled for.

    Hon. Wale states that the Opposition understands after the controversial switch in diplomatic ties, discussions were held, and an understanding was reached, for a transitional period.

    “Within that transition period, there will be a gradual scale down and closer of the mission office, which is expected to lapse at the end of this month,” the Opposition Leader explained.

    He points out that this is absurd and disrespectful considering the goodness shown by the Taiwanese Government and her people, to the status of our students who were affected by the decision to switch ties.

    The Opposition Leader goes on to add that, “despite the manner in which the Solomon Islands government dealt with the switch, the government of the Republic of China took the initiative to meet whatever costs that would allow our students to continue their studies up to the end of this academic year”.

    “The action taken by the Government according to information received, was made following requests and direction from Beijing in what the Opposition leader referred to as China first not Solomon Islands first,” the Opposition Leader further added.

    He said it is unfortunate that this government through direct influence by China, chose to show insensitivity to a former friend and long-time ally.

    He further points out that this is a bad reflection on the government’s part who boasts so much about its policy, stressing a “Friends to All, and Enemies to none”.

    The Opposition Leader is calling on the Prime Minister to explain what he reiterated as a disrespectful act, and why it was such a bigger deal.

    “You have got to be kidding, that is only a sign board. What’s the big deal, or unless if there is something already on the table for China regarding this property?”

    Lea’i on fire: 10 goals from four matches

    Written by
    Press Release
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    National U-17 player, Raphael Le’ai is currently in hot scoring form for Henderson Eels FC, as he closes the gap on the golden boot race leaders.

    Currently on a break from the ISPS Honda Premiership in New Zealand with Wellington Phoenix Youth club, following his National campaign in the U17 World Cup in Brazil, the soon to be 18-year-old is proving why he is one of the country’s promising footballers.

    With eleven matches played, Solomon Warriors Vanuatu import, Tony Kaltack is leading the tally with fifteen goals. But young Le’ai is not far behind Kaltack and is sticking to his word of continuing scoring in Eels color.

    With just four matches played, the young scoring machine now has ten goals to his name, just five short of Kaltack, since joining Eels for round 2 of the TSL competition.

    Raphael found the back of the net four times, during their 9-2 thrashing of Malaita Kings on Tuesday to see him with take his goals tally to ten and see Eels return to the top of the table with 31 points.

    “I was told to play support which I did at times, but I always wanted to score goals and win matches,” Lea’i had told SunSPORTS after his goalless debut match for Eels a forth night ago.

    “I’m excited to score goals for the club, and I’m looking forward to continue maintaining my form throughout the league.

    Eels head coach, Eddie Marahare had said the club is excited to have the quality of the young players on board as they continue their campaign for a first ever TSL title.

    Alongside Eel’s striking partner, Joses Nawo both players are in the top three spots vying for the golden boot award, Nawo with 11 goals to his name.

    Meanwhile, Raphael and co. will face an uphill battle this Saturday when the take on title contenders, Isabel FC in a nail-biting encounter at the Lawson Tama Stadium.

    The current TSL golden boot tally;

    15 Goals
    Tony Kaltack (Solomon Warriors)

    11 Goals
    Joses NAWO (Henderson Eels FC)

    10 Goals
    Raphael LEA’I (Henderson Eels FC)
    Edward HUNIUEHU (Malaita Kingz FC)

    9 Goals
    Bently KELOBI (FC Isabel United)
    Atkin KAUA (Laugu United FC)

    8 Goals
    Tuti Zama TANITO (Henderson Eels FC)
    Molea TIGI (Solomon Warriors)

    7 Goals
    Jerry DONGA (Solomon Warriors)Lore FONAOTA (Kossa FC)
    Emmanuel SIMON (Malaita Kingz FC)

    BIRD MAINTAINS FORM

    Written by
    Taromane Martin
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    Under 16 female lawn tennis player Ms Prudence Bird, has maintained her winning form at the 2019 Vanuatu Junior Regional Championship in Port Villa.

    Ranked third in the U-16 girl’s category Ms Bird, who is currently undertaking a tennis scholarship in Vanuatu, has won two of her matches in convincing fashion so far.

    She is the only U-16 player who is part of the Solomon Islands Tennis Association (SITA) junior tennis team who are currently in Port Villa competing in the championship.

    She defeated New Caledonia’s Amandine Mestre by two sets (6-1:6-0) on Monday and followed that up on Tuesday with another convincing win over Fiji’s Fareen Fazneen, defeating her 2-0 (6-0:6-0).

    VJRC match three actions yesterday were forced to be abandoned following the current low depression affecting the eastern parts of the Solomon Islands which is close to Vanuatu.

    If the weather permits, Prudence Bird will take on Sipiti Naomi for the U-16 girls singles 10 am today at the Korman tennis courts.

    Important Bill For low income earners in Parliament

    Written by
    Press Release
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    THE Government is expecting to debate either to impose tax exemption on low income earners or leave the tax threshold as it is.

    The Income Tax Amendment Bill 2019 which was put to Second Reading on Wednesday will be a lifeline for low income earner if the bill earns more support and passed in parliament.

    Minister of Finance and Treasury Hon. Harry Kuma said the amendment will increases the personal tax exemption also known as the tax free threshold from SBD$15,080 to SBD$30,080.

    He said the increase in PAYE threshold will not only benefit those who earn up to SBD$30,080 annually or up to SBD$1156.92 per fortnight but it will also reduce the tax burden on the high income earners as the increase in the threshold will raise the level of which the various tax rates takes effect.

    “This bill if pass will sees approximately 2,334 low paid employees become exempt from Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Tax.

    “It will also make life much easier for all low income earners to pay personal income tax at their disposal.

    “This single tax amendment is the most direct way of translating economic growth the ordinary wage earners and their families as it will exempt low earning individuals from paying PAYE tax and enable them to meet their basic needs.

    “It makes no sense to continue imposing tax on low income earners as doing so it will eventually lead them to poverty,” Hon. Kuma said.

    He said the issue of minimum personal tax exemption is overdue and has recently become more pressing with the recent increase of the minimum wages.

    Hon Kuma told parliament that the Minimum Personal Tax Exception for Solomon Islands has remained unchanged for almost a decade and it has been the lowest in comparison to other tax jurisdictions in the pacific region.

    “Mr Speaker, an important commitment of any good government is to ensure that lower income earning individuals are able to support themselves and their families.

    “By raising the Personal Tax threshold the government will improve incentives for Solomon Islanders to work, serve and invest.

    “Reforms such as this create cost for the government by reducing the amount of revenue that can be collected.

    “The government considers, however that meeting these cost is justified as the multiply effect will give birth to based tax to increase in 2020,” he said.

    Hon Kuma said the government is ambitious to enforce the piece of legislation if passed as of 1st January 2020.

    He said officials within his Ministry are ready to assist businesses in Solomon Islands to implement changes.

    Plastic agent claims ‘payment after weighing’

    Written by
    Mike Puia
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    A local who claimed to be working as agent for a plastic buyer has insisted that they will buy plastic after they completed weighing and data recording of plastic bottles brought to them.

    Joseph Douglas said currently they are taking weights of plastic.

    Douglas said as soon as they completed weighing and recording, they will proceed to do payment.

    The agent is probably the first to openly talk about this operation but he did not provide further details when pursued.

    Douglas also mention that they are also doing grading which some think plastic buying do not require grading.

    A local who also has an interest in this business is Dr. Reginald Aipia.

    Aipia said he is making contact with an interested plastic buyer from South Korea.

    He said the buyer who wanted to buy plastic wanted plastic to be in crushed, pelleted or grinded form which means there is no grading.

    Aipia said plastic scraps did not need to be graded as they are only required to be crushed, pelleted or grinded.

    “Plastic can be paid in kilo or tonnes,” Aipia said.

    Despite repeated question for evidence to prove that buyers or agents are actually giving out cash to locals who provided plastics, the agent failed to provide.

    The agent however insisted buying of plastic will come after weighing is completed.

    Gov’t urged to work on re-settlement program

    Written by
    Mike Puia
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    The government has been urged to start planning and working on re-settlement programs in preparation for the threats climate change will brings.

    A concern man, George Kosui, send a message to Island Sun to personally express his concern over the issue of climate change.

    Kosui said during His Royal Highness address in parliament, he spoke about Climate Change and its effects on locals.

    He said he has witnessed firsthand the impacts of climate change.

    Kosui said he was born and raised on the tiny island of Ngoliana in the Lau Lagoon in Malaita Province.

    He said during his upbringing, they saw the direct impact of Climate Change.

    Kosui said this is a major issue that needs to be address to protect their artificial islands from submerging.

    “The island I came from is still there today but the challenge to protect it from rising sea levels remains a question,” Kosui said.

    “I only hope the rising sea levels will not destroy the place I was born, bred and grown as a man,” he said.

    He said the government should focus more on planning and to work on re-settlement programs for people living on atolls that will become victims of climate change.

    He applauded the Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDMM) for its work despite little funding provided by the government.

    “It is time the government see climate change as a very important issue that should not be ignored,”

    “The Ministry needs to pursue planning and implementation of resettlement programs,”

    “This should be supported by a comprehensive plan that is highly prioritized by government with serious budgetary support and commitment,” Kosui said.

    He said the government must actively seek financial assistance from donors, access assistance from funding sources such as the Climate Change Fund, LDC Fund and Global Environment Fund to assist in the implementation of resettlement and mitigation programs.

    Currently, this country has no national re-settlement plan.

    The MEDCCMM’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Melchior Mataki, confirmed this is something his Ministry and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS) will work on as part of the current government’s policy priorities.

    Director of Climate Change, Hudson Kauhiona, said they will sit with the MLHS to see how best to tackle this issue next year.

    Reduction in logging put pressure on Government

    Written by
    Press Release
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    THE reduction in logging activities will put pressure on the government’s ability to earn sufficient foreign exchange to pay for the current levels of imports.

    This requires the government to focus on developing and strengthening alternative export sectors.

    The fall of logging industry will not only affect the economy but will also lead to around 5000 Solomon Islanders jobless.

    Minister of Finance and Treasury Honourable Harry Kuma said logging industry is the second largest formal-sector that provides employment in the Solomon Islands.

    He said reduction in logging activities will lead to loss of employment.

    Hon Kuma adds that loss of these jobs will have flow-on impacts throughout the economy.

    He said logging sector contracted -12.5 per cent in annual growths between 2018 and 2019.

    “It is estimated to further contract on average at -7 per cent until 2024.

    “Sixty (60) percent of exports and 32 percent of total foreign exchange receipts comes from log export,” Hon Kuma said.
    He said logging export duties are key source of revenue with 20 percent contribution towards the domestic revenue at the moment.

    Voting in Honiara turned out well: Official

    Written by
    Alfred Pagepitu
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    VOTING for the Bougainville Referendum outside Bougainville went smoothly in Honiara, the official says.

    “Hundred and fifty plus turned up for the first polling day in Honiara at the PNG High Commission in Solomon Islands yesterday.

    “Unfortunately we had to turn away those people who didn’t register to vote,” the official said.

    The officials said polling will resume today.

    Polling in the Solomon Islands (Honiara and Gizo) and Australia (Cairns and Brisbane) started yesterday.

    Meanwhile, President of the Bougainville and Solomon Association Mr Demas Parou describes yesterday as a historical day for the people of Bougainville.

    “Today (yesterday) is very important day and historical day for the people of Bougainville for so many years.

    “We have been looking forward for this day to cast our vote for independent.

    “It was an emotional day for most Bougainvilleans living in Honiara, Gizo and Australia as they joined other Bougainvilleans across the country to casts their vote and we are all excited,” Parou said.

    He said that most the people from Bougainville in Honiara usually carry the Bougainville flag around for the love of their island home and the people.

    He said that those who turn up yesterday were very excited for casting their vote.

    “We as Bougainvilleans, are so proud to put on the colourful and most treasured AROB flag and cast our vote in this historical Bougainville Referendum,” he said.

    Similar sentiments were expressed by other members of the Bougainvilleans who said it was an emotional day for them.

    “Our thought goes to those who sacrifice their life, people that brokered peace and those involved in restoring peace on Bougainville.

    “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to participate in this unique voting process of referendum,” they said.

    Mr Paro was excited to cast his vote as it was the only chance given to the Bougainvilleans to decide their future political status.

    The vote will continue today at the PNG High Commission in Solomon Island and in Gizo.

    RCDF HITS THE BRICK WALL

    Written by
    Alfred Sasako
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    THE release of China’s funding contribution to the politicians-controlled Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF) grants this year has hit a snag, insiders have revealed.

    China reportedly refused to sign off on the joint escrow account at the Bank South Pacific (BSP) unless its demand for a higher level of accountability is met, the insiders told Island Sun on the weekend.

    Because of Beijing’s hard line, Chinese government representatives in Honiara last week reportedly rejected a submission prepared by the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) – the conduit for making RCDF grants payments – describing it as below standard and hard to reconcile.

    Unlike Taipei which easily accepted loose arrangements, China is demanding a higher level of accountability and transparency before it signs off for the release of some SBD90 million which is sitting in the account,” they said.

    The submission was returned to MRD, the insiders said.

    Beijing’s RCDF grants contribution were to have been disbursed last week, but the position by China has now delayed the payment. Its release of the payment now depends on how fast the MRD has attended to China’s concerns.

    “The demand for higher standard of accountability by China is really good. This is what we need as this is public money we are dealing with. There must be a standard,” one insider told Island Sun.

    Following the switch in diplomatic relations to China last September, Beijing agreed to pay Taiwan’s outstanding portion of the RCDF grants for this year. Beijing has also agreed to continue paying the portion of the RCDF grants that Taiwan contributed each year for the next three years.

    According to records, Taiwan paid 20 per cent of the RCDF grants each year. This means that in an annual budget of $360 million, Taiwan contributed about $72 million while Solomon Islands taxpayers forked out the balance of $288 million a year.

    The joint funding of the RCDF grants will continue until 2022.

    Morning raid

    Written by
    Eddie Osifelo
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    5 injured, houses damaged as armed Samlimsan workers attack community at Henderson

    A group believed to be working with a Malaysian logging company, Samlimsan (S.I) Limited as security have raided Motorpool community at Henderson, Central Guadalcanal on Sunday morning.
    A community member, John Malataovio said the people were under the influence of alcohol and armed with knives, baseball bats and timbers.
    Malataovio said they arrived in a three tonne truck without the knowledge of the community and destroyed more than six houses, injured five people and looted food and belongings in the canteens and homes.
    He said the group attacked the community following an argument between some drunken youths and their company members on Saturday night.
    “The drunkards youths do not stay in the community but normally come to visit their relatives.
    “They exchanged abusive words with the security officers of Samlimsan company. However, some elders in the community intervened and sorted out the issue,” Malataovio said.
    He said the community thought the situation had been resolved but to their shock, a three tonne truck arrived with many people in the morning and destroyed their properties and assaulted people.
    Malataovio said the community was saved from further damage following an intervention by Nine Salachapa People Association.
    “The chairman and board members of the association talked to the group and they calmed down.
    “The dispute was resolved at Henderson police station, awaiting reconciliation,” he said.
    Malataovio said reconciliation is planned for this Thursday to resolve the issue.
    However, he called on police to arrest some workers of Samlimsan who are still at large following the incident.
    Island Sun contacted Samlimsan company yesterday and its officer said they are not aware of the story and cannot make further comments.
    The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) media said police is currently investigating the incident and cannot make further comments as well.
    Meanwhile, in 2018, workers of Samlimsan also destroyed eight houses following a row on a land at Henderson.
    Samlimsan claimed the settlers occupied a land it has a title over.

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