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$35 million supplementary budget prepared for approval

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Alfred Sasako

THE Government will bring down a $35 million supplementary budget during its first 100 days in Office in order to meet a shortfall in annual contribution for the 2023 Pacific Games, its first 100days in Office document shows.

At the same time it will seek confirmation on a K40 million (about SBD120 million) donation for the Games by Papua New Guinea, the document says.

Already Cabinet has agreed on a $110 million-a-year contribution for the Games’ fund, but it appeared there was a shortfall of $35 million in this year’s funding. A supplementary budget for the shortfall would be prepared for Parliament’s approval.

These are among a raft of activities the Government plans to undertake in its first 100 days in Office as it prepares to host the Pacific’s sporting bonanza in 2023.

In terms of legislative and regulatory requirements, the Government plans amend the National Hosting Authority Act (NHA) as well as the Regulations on Duty, GST, foreign contractor tax exemptions, sponsor incentives, trade markings and other protection as well as establishing the Games Procurement Tender Board.

In the area of budget and finance, the government plans to open a Sports Solomon Account, prepare and submit (a) supplementary budget of $35 million to meet the target approved by Cabinet for the SIG annual contribution of $110 million to be incorporated in the Supplementary Appropriation Bill (2019).

The government also hopes to finalise sponsorship and other fundraising plans for the Pacific Games2023 in its first 100 days in Office along with establishing the Games facilities committees.

Other 2023 Pacific Games activities it hopes to conclude in its first 100 days in Office include:

  • Negotiate price for and purchase of the NPF land (former Telekom recreation site) as the location for the new Solomon Islands Sports Leadership/Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports;
  • Finalise plans for renovations and buildings and tender for work to commence; and
  • Finalise discussions on 2, 000 square meter office complex for temporary use for the PG2023 to be the legacy office complex for Sports administration and all sports federations in Solomon Islands.

New Governor General unopposed

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Former Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia, Reverend David Vunagi.

Speaker will announce the new GG today

BY EDDIE OSIFELO

Former Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia, Reverend David Vunagi.

FORMER Archbishop of the Church of Melanesia and Principal of Selwyn College, Reverend David Vunagi is the new 7th Governor General of Solomon Islands.

Rev Vunagi was the only candidate nominated by Minister of Education and Human Resources, John Dean Kuku for the post at the close of nomination at 4pm yesterday.

As such, the clerk or Speaker will announce his victory when Parliament meets this morning.

Clerk to Parliament, David Kusilifu confirmed that Parliament will relay the message to Government House after the announcement this morning.

Rev Vunagi will replace the incumbent Governor General Sir Frank Kabui who had held the post for the last 10 years.

He will become the first Isabelian to hold the post since Solomon Islands gained Independence in July 7 1978.

When Rev Vunagi assumes Office as the Queen’s Representative, he will have become the third Anglican to occupy the Vice Regal Office after Sir John Ini Lapli of Temotu Province and Sir Nathaniel Waena of Makira-Ulawa Province.

Despite an apparent split by the three Isabel Province’s Members of Parliament, the Government vote last Friday had settled the matter.

Solomon Islands has produced six Governors General since independence in 1978. The late Sir Baddeley Devesi who hailed from Guadalcanal Province was the first, followed by Sir George Lepping of Western Province. He too had passed on.

Choiseul Province’s Sir Moses Pitakaka followed. He too had since died.

There are three living Governors General. They are Sir John Ini Lapli of Temotu Province, Sir Nathaniel Waena of Makira/Ulawa Province and Sir Dr Frank Kabui of Malaita Province.

Sir Frank is likely to leave office on July 7.

Government to assess China-Taiwan issue before deciding which to marry

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

THE Democratic Coalition for Government Advancement (DCGA) will carry out a thorough assessment on the question of shifting from Taiwan to mainland China in its foreign policy.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare confirmed this during a press conference with media in Honiara yesterday after recent commentaries that some factions within the government demanded Sogavare to shift diplomatic ties to China or face a motion of no confidence in six months.

They wanted the government to sign up with Beijing’s multi-billion Belt and Road Initiative in order to build infrastructures on Guadalcanal and Malaita to address the high unemployment of their youths.

Sogavare has denied any rift within the government and claimed they are rock solid as ever.

However, he said the government will need to look at the pros and cons of the Taiwan/China issue before making any final decision.

“We have to consider the big players like Australia because it works closely with United States of America that are concern about the security in the Pacific.

“We are small player in this situation, therefore, we need to analyse the pros and cons of it before making the decision,” he said.

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Prime Minister Sogavare had a long discussion on the Taiwan/China issue during their bilateral meeting in Honiara on Monday.

Sogavare said Morrison had made it clear to him that Australia only wants to see a stable, peaceful and independent Solomon Islands.

“He (Morrison) was also grateful that Australia made it clear that any decisions they make regarding their foreign policy is an independent and sovereign decision, which only we can decide on, noting that such relationships should not undermine our country’s independence and sovereignty,” Sogavare.

Sogavare said the Australia government had spent about $2.3 billion towards the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to restore law and order.

Morrison on Monday announced a $1.5 billion grant for infrastructure projects across the country for the next 10 years.

Sogavare said there were questions in the past that most of the aid money did not spent in Solomon Islands but through technical advisors.

However, he said Australia is also concern about their money and has a system to manage their funds.

“I think the end product of the aid is what we should interest in.

“At least the Australia government is willing to help us fund some of the infrastructures projects in the country,” he said.

New Mayor to re-enforce litter bylaw

Written by
Charles Kadamana
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Guadalcanal Premier Peter Araunisaka, left and new City Mayor Wilson Maemae pose for photo.

BY CHARLES KADAMANA

Guadalcanal Premier Peter Araunisaka, left and new City Mayor Wilson Maemae pose for photo.

NEW elected City Mayor William Maemae will re-enforce the Litter bylaw as his top priority to keep Honiara a clean city.

He said to achieve that he will strengthen the Council’s Law Enforcement team to be tough to enforce the Litter bylaw.

He was responding to a question on what he thought about many countries having described Honiara as one of the dirtiest towns in the South Pacific.

Maemae said Honiara will not be clean unless its citizens change their attitudes and start taking ownership and responsibility for the city.

He said his executives will create new steps to make Honiara a clean city and one of the step is to take a tough measure.

“We will reinforce the Law enforcement and they must be tough to do their duties,” he said

“My message to the people in Honiara is Honiara is our city and we must put our hands together.

“Nobody is to blame if we want to keep our environment clean,” he said.

The Honiara City Council (Litter) Bill 2009(the Litter Ordinance) was passed on November 24, 2009 assented to the Minister for Home Affairs on the same date and gazetted on March 12, 2010 under Legal Notice No. 16.

Litter Ordinance was created to keep Honiara City clean.

There are different categories, one is called “Minor Litter” this is when you throw a cigarette but, small plastics or a tin can on the street, the other category is ‘Major Litter’ this is when there’s too much rubbish in a bin and the bin can’t handle it.

The penalties for minor litter is $1000 while the penalty for major litter is $10,000.

It’s over 10 years and there seems little action has been taken to implement the bylaw.

Mamae, new Mayor

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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Honiara City Clerk Charles Kelly, left declares the new Honiara City Mayor Wilson Maemae to the members of the public yesterday. He won with 13 votes.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

Honiara City Clerk Charles Kelly, left declares the new Honiara City Mayor Wilson Maemae to the members of
the public on Monday. He won with 13 votes.

OUR new City Mayor is Wilson Mamae, Councillor for Ngossi Ward.

He polled 13 votes against Reginald Ngati, Councillor for Vura Ward who got six votes.

Those who casted their votes were 12 councillors, including four appointed councillors and three ex-officio.

Speaking at his brief declaration the City Mayor thanked all the people of Honiara City for having the trust in voting the 12 councillors for HCC.

He assured a good number of people waiting outside the Honiara City office that as councillors they will as a team fulfil the aims, objectives and the goals they have promised during their campaigns.

City Mayor Cr Wilson Mamae also assures Honiara residents that they will revisit all the functions and structures of the council in their four-year term.

He said details of what they will be doing will be discussed soon after his new executive is finalised and set for the first meeting.

Mamae is not new to the Honiara City as he has been a two-time councillor for Ngossi Ward in 1986 and 1988.

He is a teacher by profession who has been building his leadership as councillor and political appointee since 1993 until last year.

Meanwhile the appointed councillors sworn in yesterday are Speaker of Guadalcanal province Abel Arambola, Chief Charles Lesimoama, John Szetu and Nina Davis.

For the ex-officio attending, they are Douglas Ete (MP for East Honiara), Moffat Fugui (MP for Central Honiara) and Peter Araonisaka (Premier of Guadalcanal Province).

One of the ex-officio who was absent is Namson Tran the MP for West Honiara.

PM Sogavare promises to do away with ‘business as usual’ approach to development

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare delivering his speech at the parade.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare delivering his speech at the parade.

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has highlighted three key areas that his government must address as a nation together with Solomon Islands’ genuine partners.

He voiced this at a banquet lunch at Mendana yesterday in which Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison was the main guest.

The three areas include:

Firstly, they cannot continue the ‘business-as-usual’ approach to development.

“We must invest in and unlock the key development constraints of all our provinces – but especially in our larger provinces such as Malaita, Guadalcanal and Western that cover about 70 [percent] of our population and 37 of our constituencies, and ultimately all 50 constituencies.

“Addressing these key priorities holds the key to future peace and security of this nation. It will set the foundation that will help our people to not revert to the kinds of challenges that led to the unrest that needed the intervention of RAMSI to get us out of,” he said.

Secondly, Sogavare said to achieve the vision embodied in the first point which aims to achieve a holistic development of the country, Solomon Islands must embark on an innovative economic development paradigm that can transform the economic development potential in their provinces by unlocking the key development constraints through bold and innovative investments aimed at linking the totality of all their constituencies, all their provinces and all their population together and with the outside world;

Thirdly, Sogavare said it follows that to achieve the above, Solomon Islands must look to establish new genuine, durable and transformative relationship with their key partners that go beyond what is possible or is provided for under current relationships.

Sogavare said in other words, they are not simply looking for more of the same, nor are they looking at incremental approaches.

“We are looking at long-term transformative partnership that will unlock multiple development constraints on the one hand, but more importantly, an investment paradigm that provides the foundation for long-term peace and security in the country that embodies a more balanced development paradigm among our provinces.

“The developmental and geopolitical challenges facing small island countries and in particular the Solomon Islands require some ‘out-of-the-box thinking on strategic investments’ that will help my government demonstrate to our rural people, our constituencies and our provinces that their long-held development priorities are finally being addressed, and at a pace that will transform economic participation and growth,” he said.

“My government must focus on unlocking investment opportunities in all our provinces through better roads infrastructure around the main islands.

These include more reliable and affordable ‘virtual sea-highways’ that link their main trading ports; strategic investments on major economic infrastructure such as the country’s 3rd international seaport in Malaita – the Bina Harbour inclusive of the new Bina Harbour fish processing facility; the unlocking of a potential major oil-palm development project at Malaita’s Aluta basin through an improved road extension to Bina harbour international seaport for export; the extension of the road around Guadalcanal to drive greater economic participation of Guadalcanal people; the extension of the Noro-Munda road to Seghe, New Georgia; the relocation of the commercial international seaport in Honiara to a location more suited to cater for the future growth in Honiara; the relocation of the oil terminals to more appropriate locations; the transformation of the country’s capital city and provincial capitals.

The government realised this after the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has restored law and order in 2003 following the conflict on Guadalcanal.

MSG observer group gives 14 recommendations to improve elections

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Head of the MSG Observer Group, Ratu Inoke, and SIEC Chairman, Patterson Oti, (front center). Looking on are members of the MSG and SIEC.

By Mike Puia

Head of the MSG Observer Group, Ratu Inoke, and SIEC Chairman, Patterson Oti, (front center). Looking on are members of the MSG and SIEC.

THE Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) observer group has provided Solomon Islands with 14 recommendations on how the country’s elections could be improved.

These are contained its report of the country’s recent National General Elections to the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC).

There is no detail provided about this report. However, Fiji’s retired diplomat and politician, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, indicated there are 14 commendations inside this report.

Kubuabola, Fiji’s former Defense Minister, was the head of the MSG observer group.

The group arrived in the country on the invitation of the government prior to polling day on April 3.

Kubuabola and the MSG Director General, Ambassador Amena Yauvoli, presented the report to the SIEC chairman Patterson Oti last Friday.

The SIEC’s Chief Electoral Officer, Mose Saitala, also witness the handing over of the report.

This is the first MSG observer group to observe the country’s national elections. MSG has been sending observer group to observe elections in other MSG member countries.

Beside the MSG, there were other international, regional and national groups that observed the country’s elections. Over 200 observers from different observation groups observed the country’s elections.

Observation groups are independent. Their observations are important as it help to improve how elections are conducted.

The MSG observer group comprises of highly respected citizens from MSG member countries.

SIEC chairman and speaker of parliament, Oti, thanked the MSG observer group for the “job well done”.

Kubuabola thanked the government for giving his group the opportunity to observe its elections.

He said the country’s 2019 general election has been a smooth and peaceful elections.

Kubuabola said the country’s general elections have been calm and there were no issues observed on polling day.

He said it was obvious electoral officials were well trained and they know what they were doing.

Kubuabola commended the 24-hour campaign blackout and the alcohol ban.

He said the campaign blackout and liquor ban have helped make the polling day peaceful.

The MSG observer group was split into three teams. One teams observed elections in and around Honiara, another team was deployed to Kirakira in Makira Province and the other to Gizo in the Western Province.

“Our teams were impressed with what they saw,” Kubuabola said.

Ambassador Yauvoli suggested the need to increase the size of MSG observer groups.

He said the presence of observers in everywhere makes people excited and feel they are being cared about.

On receiving the report, Oti said this is the first report from an observer group to reach the commission.

He said he hope other groups would present their report to the Commission so that the Commission works on a summary report.

Oti, a former diplomat and politician, said the Commission would want to understand the recent general elections in its entirety.

He said there are common and there are standalone issues noted by other groups and teams.

He said the Commission would understand issues pertaining to the recent national elections once it viewed all the reports from the various observer groups and teams.

Oti indicated that the Commission has identified a number of issues to improve on come the next general elections.

One of which is the issue of disable voters.

Oti said the Commission is of the view that disable people should come under a special arrangement like pre-polling so as not to rush them to polling stations during polling day.

The SIEC’s CEO, Saitala, said they have completed their lesson learn evaluation of the elections and they have identified areas that need improvement.

He indicated the SIEC would do away with the registration period.

Saitala said registration of voters might become a yearly activity.

$1.4 BILLION GIFT

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Australia’s PM leaves behind 10-year bilateral infrastructure programme for Solomon Islands

 

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands will receive a bilateral infrastructure programme, worth up to $1.425 billion (AUD$250 million) in grant financing over 10 years.

The programme will support key national and economic infrastructure and will complement the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific.

This was confirmed in the joint statement by Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare released yesterday.

Both prime ministers met yesterday in Honiara to celebrate Australia and Solomon Islands’ partnership as ‘true wantoks’.

As two proud sovereign nations in the Pacific family, Australia and Solomon Islands enjoy a close friendship and a shared history that was further strengthened by our partnership in the 14-year Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

As Solomon Islands celebrates the success of its first democratic election since RAMSI, Australia stands proudly as a partner and a friend.

Consistent with the Australian Government’s enhanced Pacific engagement, Australia and Solomon Islands will continue to work closely together to boost our engagement by strengthening community bonds and tackling common challenges.

“We will work together to enhance economic growth and development in Solomon Islands,” the statement said.

Further to that, Australia will partner with Solomon Islands to commission a scoping and cost-benefit assessment of the national transport core (NTC) initiative, which would connect 74 percent of the population and 37 constituencies in its first 10-year phase and ultimately link all 50 constituencies and 100 percent of the population by 2035.

As part of the funding, Australia will also support the building of a new Prime Minister’s Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade complex.

Australia will work on an initial design for a new, modern building to meet Solomon Islands vision of a transformed Honiara CBD.

“Solomon Islands recognised the crucial importance to the country’s economic future of sound management of its mineral wealth and to that end committed to enacting reforms that will ensure global best practice in the governance and regulation of the mining sector.

“Working together to enhance opportunities for labour mobility delivers benefits for both Australia and Solomon Islands,” the statement said.

Labour mobility helps fill labour shortages in rural and regional Australia while helping Pacific workers develop valuable skills and take up work opportunities.

To ensure that the opportunity to work in Australia is available to all Solomon Islanders – including those in remote provinces and rural areas – Australia will provide $15.39 million (A$2.7 million) over three years to deliver additional support for recruitment and mobilisation of Solomon Islands workers to Australia.

PM Morrison and wife Jenny left Honiara yesterday afternoon, on the way to London to meet British economic and security officials before representing Australia at the 75th-anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings in Portsmouth on June 5.

SOLO U-17 NAMED FOR FIFA World Cup

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The national under-16 soccer side during the recent OFC Under-16 Championship in Honiara.

By Taromane Martin

SOLOMON Islands have been official named by FIFA as one of the 23 nations confirmed to take part in this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.

According to FIFA.com only 23 nations from the 24 countries have been confirmed for the youth world cup including representatives for Oceania Football confederation, New Zealand and Solomon Islands.

SIFF confirmed the news via their social media page over the weekend saying Solomon Islands has been named as one of the 23 teams confirmed to participate in the FIFA U-17 World Cup come October, according to reports from FIFA.Com.

“The official draws have been moved to be held on 11 July in Zurich, Switzerland,” SIFF posted on their social media page.

Solomon Islands whose qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup was marred by the over age controversy is still ongoing after the OFC appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports for an urgent hearing into the matter after Solomon Islands successfully appealed against the OFC Disciplinary Committee decision to forefeet them from the World Cup.

SIFF was expected to make a statement regarding the situation two weeks ago after CEO Leonard Paia told SunSPORTS, SIFF must be ready and prepared to defend the national U-17 team should OFC’s appeal is considered.

But so far nothing has come out yet from SIFF regarding OFC’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports.

“FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 to kick off on 26 October. Following on from a FIFA inspection visit to Brazil and further discussions with the Local Organising Committee (LOC), FIFA can today confirm that the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 will be played from 26 October until 17 November,” FIFA.com reported.

“The venues and the full match schedule will be confirmed ahead of the draw, which has been scheduled for 11 July 2019 at the Home of FIFA in Zurich.

“Throughout the past years, Brazil has successfully hosted a variety of competitions, including the FIFA World Cup™ and the Olympics,” said FIFA Deputy Secretary General Zvonimir Boban. “We are convinced that Brazil’s event expertise, coupled with the unique football passion of their fans, will contribute to the success of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2019. We would like to thank the CBF and all Brazilians who have embraced this tournament, demonstrating once more their unique love for the beautiful game.” It adds.

Meanwhile so far, 23 of the 24 participating teams are also confirmed. Beside hosts Brazil, the following member associations have qualified.

They are:

AFC: Australia, Japan, Korea Republic and Tajikistan

CAF: Angola, Cameroon, Nigeria, TBC*

Concacaf: Canada, Haiti, Mexico and USA

CONMEBOL: Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Paraguay

OFC: New Zealand and the Solomon Islands

UEFA: France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

Morrison arrives in Honiara

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Australian and Solomon Islands Prime Ministers together with RSIPF Commissioner on the dais.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

The Australian and Solomon Islands Prime Ministers together with RSIPF Commissioner on the dais.

AUSTRALIA 30th Prime Minister Scott John Morrison, 51 years old, had arrived in Honiara on board a Royal Australia Air Force plane yesterday.

His less than 24 hour visit comes after his re-election on May 18 this year.

Morrison is the second Australia PM to visit Honiara after Kevin Rudd in 2008.

Scot and his wife, Jenny were welcomed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and his wife, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeremiah Manele, Secretary to Prime Minister, Dr Jimmie Rodgers and Special Secretary to PM, Albert Kabui.

Morrison and Sogavare were escorted to the dice to honour the national anthems of both countries respectively played by the Royal Solomon Islands Police band.

They were then escorted to inspect the RSIP officers on the tarmac.

Morrison spent few minutes listening to the tune of the Wouraha panpipe group of West Are Are before he and his wife boarded an escort vehicle to the hotel down town.

The Liberal MP and conservative who favours businesses is expected to visit the Prime Minister Office, observe a guard of honour by Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIPF) at Rove, Memorial Garden, Solomon Islands Football Federation and a school before he left the country this evening.

However, international media said climate change, China influence in Pacific and security are some of the agendas he will discuss with Sogavare.

The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) states Morrison is expected to make announcements building on the themes of the Pacific step-up: economic development, infrastructure, labour mobility and tackling shared security challenges.

Australia Broadcasting Cooperation (ABC) said the visit of Morrison is more than the China issue because Solomon Islands is facing a lot of development challenges.

According to Lowy Institute Pacific Islands program director Jonathan Pryke, who told ABC this week that the best thing Morrison could do during his meeting with Mr Sogavare is sit and listen.

Andrew Clark Senior Writer of Financial Review wrote that Morrison’s first post-election overseas visit to the troubled Solomon Islands underlines the Morrison government’s promotion of close links with the Pacific neighbourhood, and scarcely concealed agenda of preventing China from converting small island states in the region – like Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga and the Solomon Islands – into, sort of, Beijing-aligned, static aircraft carriers through the establishment of naval bases.

Morrison will visit London to meet British economic and security officials before representing Australia at the 75th-anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings in Portsmouth on June 5.

World leaders including outgoing UK Prime Minister Theresa May, US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are attending the event as well.

Morrison has two daughters and is the first Pentecostal Prime Minister in Australia.

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