POLICE at Taro in the Choiseul province have arrested and charged four Bougainvilleans and a Solomon Islands national with alleged armed robbery in connection with an incident at Supizae Island near Taro Station, Choiseul Province on November 28, 2018.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Choiseul Province, Superintendent Vincent Eria says, “The incident was reported to police by members of the community and my officers attended and made the arrests on the same day.

“A shop keeper and his in law were inside a bottle shop counting the day’s takings when it is alleged that two Bougainvilleans entered the shop whilst the others including the Solomon Islander remained in their boat.

“It is alleged that the two Bougainvilleans gained entry into the bottle shop by hitting the locked door.”

“It is further alleged that one of the two Bougainvilleans held a long screw driver in his hand while he threatened, intimidated and demanded the shop keeper to give them beer and cigarettes.

“The shopkeeper and his in-law feared for their lives so told the Bougainvilleans to help themselves.

“It is alleged the two Bougainvilleans took off with cartons of alcohol and cigarettes.

“The four Bougainvilleans are expected to be deported back to their country under the Solomon Islands Immigration Act if they are found guilty after their Court appearance on December 13, 2018.

“I would like to thank my officers for the good work done as well as members of the community for supporting police with information.”

The four Bougainvilleans and the Solomon Islander are now remanded in custody and will appear in the Gizo Magistrates Court on December 13, 2018 for their trial.

–POLICE MEDIA

THE Central Bank of the Solomon Islands (CBSI) has warned public that individuals or groups involved in deliberately damaging the nation’s currency banknotes and coins, can be penalised.

“Destroying or defacing Solomon Islands currency banknotes and coins amount to vandalism of public property and does have legal repercussions.

“Actions such as knowingly tearing, cutting, burning or squeezing banknotes in public or private areas is strictly prohibited by CBSI.

“Common acts from the public such as writing on the front and/or backside of the different banknote denomination is also illegal,” a press statement said.

This call comes after a recent incident in Honiara where a $2 dollar coin reshaped and re-designed into an ornament piece (finger ring) was obtained.

The ring was confiscated by CBSI after an individual handed it over to the Bank recently.

Under the CBSI Act 2012, “any persons who willfully alters the external appearance of notes and coins…shall be guilty of an offence” (Section 21 [5]). The public therefore must take this reminder seriously and treat all banknotes and coins with respect and care.

CBSI is reiterating its call on the public to view the country’s currency banknotes and coins as a national icon and an important medium of exchange or tool, circulating and exchanging hands in order to facilitate trading within the economy.

Banknotes and coins are also regarded as the ‘Silent Ambassadors’ of any country as they represent the nation through its different designs, artwork and colour themes.

CBSI says rather than fraudulently altering the external appearance of notes and coins, people should ensure their notes and coins are good quality notes and coins.

One way in helping to maintain good quality notes and coins and thereby improving the life span of these banknotes and coins in circulation, is to use wallets, purses or moneybags to store money.

–CBSI PRESS

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE man alleged to have taken people’s money to travel to Australia for seasonal worker will appear again in court today.

The accused Robert Ngengele from Isabel province is facing one count of obtaining money from people by false pretence will be in court today for prosecution to consider the reconciliation made between the defendant and the victim to this case.

Police alleged that on July 20, 2018 the complainant and his wife went up to the accused’s home at Lengakiki to enquire about the seasonal worker’s program.

Police alleged that the defendant was known as one of the recruiting agents in Australia.

Upon their arrival at the accused’s home, they spoke with the accused which he agreed to assist them, but on conditions that they have to fulfil.

Police said that the couple was told that they have to pay the company’s registration fee of SBD$3,000, the passport at the cost of $SBD1,000, Australian Visa at SBD$1085 and airfare of SBD$3,000 in which a total of $SBD8085 for all the documents.

The victim then trusted and believed the accused and so the victim promised to assist his wife in paying her fare and other travel documents, after their discussion the accused agreed and thus the victim gave him $4085 as payment of the requirements needed.

Upon handing the money, the accused assured the victim that his wife’s flight for Australia was confirmed at the end of July 2018. Again the victim believed the defendant so they waited for travel date as promised.

At the end of July, there was no travel arrangement made for the victim’s wife, so he went to see the defendant, to explain why his wife didn’t travel on the date as promised, the accused then told him that the arrangements for the travel was postponed for the second week of August 2018.

But after all those times the accused gave lame excuses to the couple whenever they asked for about the travel dates and due to those excuses made the couple asked for refund to their money.

The defendant then gave SBD$1085 and then promised to give the remaining SBD$3,000 later. However the refund was not forthcoming and the couple reported the matter to the police.

The accused was arrested and during interview with police he made admissions of committing the offence.

He then was bailed to appear before the court.

The police prosecution service prosecutes the case in court.

By Alfred Sasako

DECEMBER is often regarded in the Christian calendar as the month which ushers in the festive season and spirit.

While the festive spirit is no doubt there, the beginning of the month is being overshadowed by accidents, some with reported fatalities.

There have been ugly road accidents since December 1, when a truck allegedly carrying timber overturned on Snake Hill in West Guadalcanal. There are conflicting reports about the number of deaths. The driver was allegedly under the influence of liquor.

Some say that as many as twenty people lost their lives in the accident. Others say there were 10 deaths. Still others say there were three deaths.

On the same day, a family waiting to catch a bus from Rove escaped by the skin of their teeth when a three-ton truck ploughed into a brick wall just outside the Outback building opposite the Police Headquarters.

A young driver was reportedly trapped inside the truck for some time before he was freed. The accident caused delays of west-bound traffic for at least an hour. Again, the driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.

A few days earlier a man was killed when he was hit by a truck in Honiara on Thursday last week. Police were said to be still hunting down the vehicle and its driver.

On Malaita, a logging dump truck plunged into the Dala South River when it was crossing the wooden bridge. Luckily, there were no reported fatalities.

One can only hope that the English idiom still holds true: A bad beginning makes a good ending.

Perhaps with less alcohol consumption during the festive season, we can hope for a good ending this Christmas/New Year festive season.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

THE Education Bill for Solomon Islands is in its final stage, it is reported.

Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development is working on finalising the Education Bill which aims at transforming education system in Solomon Islands.

Overall, the new legislation relates to education – basically ECE, Primary and Secondary sector, tertiary and vocational education.

The Strategic Support Division through the National Education Board Secretariat took the lead in facilitating the process with consultation already done with relevant stakeholders and Provincial Executive in nine provinces, it said.

The education ministry said the draft has been forwarded to the National Education Board for scrutiny.

It said the Bill will assist them in their endeavours as well as defining relationships between MEHRD and its key partners in provincial executive, churches and NGOs.

Meanwhile, the Bill aims to clarify responsibility and relationships of all those who share responsibility for early childhood, primary and secondary education.

It covers Early Childhood Education (3-4 years old), Primary Education (pre-primary for five years), Primary Education (Years one to six) and Secondary Education (currently years seven to 12).

Following the Bill it confers powers on the Permanent Secretary to facilitate administration of the law and provides a review mechanism for certain decisions of the Permanent Secretary.

The Bill also clarifies that the managing authorities (Education Authorities) of Government, provincial and non-government schools and early childhood education centres are responsible for employment and management of staff.

Furthermore, sets out responsibilities for the operation of schools and centres, including the submission of budgets.

Besides, the bill also stipulated needs for compulsory education in specific areas deemed by MEHRD particularly to ensure access early childhood education, primary and secondary education.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

ALARMING rate of water shortage across the country has forced authorities to produce a national water resources and sanitation policy to address this matter.

Speaking at the launch of the policy last week, Minister of Mines and Energy Mr Bradley Tovosia said the increasing plea for clean and safe water is evident across the country hence responsible authorities have liaised in compiling the policy to deal with the issue.

Tovosia said the government also recognises sustainable and reliable water supply and appropriate sanitation systems as the foundation to providing enabling environment to stimulate economic growth in the rural areas.

He said in response to this anxiety the government and its partners have created a policy with some important key objectives to handle the matter.

The set objectives include providing leadership in this essential sector and developing opportunities to health and wellbeing of Solomon Islanders.

Also safeguarding water sources and its receiving environment, answerable to widespread rural and urban settlers who have the need to access safe, adequacy and reliability water and sanitation services, identifying areas and issues which require government interventions, providing plans on how to adapt to global change including climate change, providing monitoring policy and fulfilling the countries intentional and regional duties in the sector.

United Nation Country Manager Azusa Kubota congratulated the government for the launch of Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) policy.

Kubota said this is an inclusive approach to the water and sanitation issue in both urban and rural settings across Solomon Islands.

She said this is because it has goes beyond the norm by covering water resource management issues at taking a whole of the government and multi-partnership approach.

“It is perhaps one of the most progressive policies — probably the first of its kind in the region,” said Kubota.

The launching event of the policy was held last week at the country’s capital, Honiara.