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$21M MYSTERY EXPOSED

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Alfred Sasako

GOVERNMENT officials are said to have uncovered the mystery surrounding the disappearance of millions of dollars the High Court ordered to be paid into Trust Accounts.

Sources familiar with the matter told Island Sun yesterday they were aware of at least four log shipments totalling 20,000 cubic metres, which the State had confiscated through proceedings in the High Court.

These shipments are valued at well over SBD$ 21 million, the sources said.

It is the money the High Court has ordered to be paid into Trust Account, but it has not happened.

“These date back to 2016,” one source said.

“What the guilty party simply did was to change its identity by creating new companies which are then used to export the logs. These new companies are largely owned or connected to the guilty party. But because they are new entities they believe they are not bound by the High Court ruling to deposit the proceeds from the sale into trust account.

“It is a very clever tactic,” the sources said.

Take the High Court Civil Case (HCCC) 496 of 2016 for example. This case involved a concession in south west Choiseul where some 3,000cm3 valued at $3 million was confiscated by the State.

A new entity created after the High Court ruling exported the shipment, but since then no funds are said to have been paid into the Trust Account.

The same happened to 4,000cm3, which was awarded to the State in HCCC 246 in 2018. Again, newly-created companies connected to the guilty party had exported the shipment, but to date no funds have been paid into the Trust Account as ordered by the High Court. This shipment was valued at $4 million.

A similar thing happened to a shipment of 7, 000 cm3, said to be valued at $8 million went through the same process. But despite the High Court Order that proceeds from the sale of the log shipment be paid into a Trust Account, no funds have been deposited, according to those familiar with the matter.

The 7,000cm3 shipment is also part of the HCCC 246 of 2018.

The third and final case involving HCCC 246 was the sale of 6,000cm3 of round logs last year. Despite the sale, no funds have been deposited in the Trust Account as ordered by the High Court.

It is not clear whether the Ministry of Forest and Research are taking steps to address the situation. It is believed that no export tax was paid on the shipments.

EDUCATION FIRST

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Raphael Lea’i

Scots college told Lea’i to focus on school

SCOTS College Dean International Students Marc Capstick says Solomon Islands national U-17 player Raphael Lea’i need to focus on his education despite the recent interest from national team coach Wim Rijsbergen for the three-week camp in the Netherlands this month.

Lea’i is by far is the most exciting football young talent in the country after his impressive performances with both age group teams in futsal and the outdoor code.

However, recently this year both Lea’i and compatriot Leon Kofana enrolled at Scots College on a two-year scholarship and an opportunity to train with the Wellington Phoenix.

Mr. Capstick explains that both students arrived late after the start of the academic year in New Zealand.

“Both Raphael and Leon were late getting to Scots College and started behind the rest of their classmates in the new academic year,” he said.

“They have learning deficits and we have put in place support to assist them and they have begun to make huge improvements.”

National team coach Rijsbergen insisted to fast-tracked the young lad into the senior team after another eye-catching outing at the recent UEFA development tournament in Belarus.

“In addition, the recent trip to Belarus has led to them missing school and falling further behind, needing to catch up.

“If Raphael were to attend this training camp he would miss another 4 weeks of key education which would be very unsettling for them.

“In our opinion, they need routine and academic focus for the remainder of this year to continue their academic development.

“We have a plan for both of these boys for the next 2 years to gain an educational qualification from New Zealand, therefore our preference is no further disruption to their learning this year,” Capstick added.

In spite of education commitment, Capstick stressed that both young players’ football development is also a priority under the partnership with New Zealand’s only professional outfit Wellington Phoenix.

“In terms of their football development, both Rafa and Leon are training once a week with the Wellington Phoenix and 3 further times per week with our Scots College 1st XI and academy.

“We are looking to provide them with an additional Wellington Phoenix training session per week later this term. They will be well prepared for the U17 FIFA World Cup later in the year.

“I have also spoken with Rafa and his father who also support the school’s stance that he should focus on his education for 2019,” the Scots College dean for international students stated.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has respected Scots College stand and wish both Lea’i and Kofana all the best in their studies at the same time their football development with Wellington Phoenix.

–SIFF

Senior statesman questions why top public servant is allowed to indulge in politics

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Former Prime Minister Snyder Rini

By Alfred Sasako

VETERAN politician, Snyder Rini, has questioned why the head of the Prime Minister’s department was allowed to indulge openly in politics, when he has not even resigned as a public servant.

Mr Rini was commenting on Dr Jimmy Rodgers, who on Sunday launched his Solomon Islands People First Party. Dr Rodgers is the founder of his party. At the same time he is the Special Secretary to the Prime Minister.

“He (Dr Rodgers) is the top public servant in the land. Why was he allowed to indulge in politics? It is not fair.” Mr Rini said.

Mr Rini said the Prime Minister should explain to the nation if he was going to make Dr Rodgers’ case an exception.

“In law no one is an exception. One law applies to all,” he said.

It is understood that Dr Rodgers is not contesting in the 2019 National General Election. Instead, businessman Chacha Bule will lead the party into the election.

Meanwhile Mr Rini has appealed to other political parties not to use the multi-million Undersea Cable Project as their project.

“For the record, the Undersea Cable Project is the brainchild of the United Democratic Party (UDP). When potential funders pulled out at the last minute it was the UDP government that rescued the project through a $150 million domestic bond from the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund,” Mr Rini said.

“It is our project and we will see to it that it is completed and that the people of Solomon Islands benefit from its low cost internet service. But I think political parties ought to be honest about their involvement in the project.

“Just because you are part of a government coalition that was responsible for the project does not give you the right to claim it is your project.”

A Chinese New Year story

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, in the late 50’s I was a young soldier serving in the New Territories in Hong Kong and I have been busy putting together my memories of those earlier years into a chapter of a new novel, I am writing called ‘Plum Blossom.’

A very vivid recollection at the time was looking out over the miles and miles of low lying rice paddy fields across the border into China’s Guangdong Province and the sub-provincial area known as Shenzhen.

One could see rivers and streams with deep drains within the paddy fields and the name Shenzhen literally means “deep drains.”

Today, the same area is referred to as China’s ‘Sillicon Valley’ and I could never have dreamed that I would live to see such a remarkable transformation.

Shenzhen was singled out to be the first of the five Special Economic Zones in May 1980. Initially, the SEZ comprised an area of only 327.5 km2 (126.4 sq mi) of southern Shenzhen. The SEZ was created to be an experimental ground for the practice of market capitalism.

Shenzhen, today, has became one of the largest cities in the Pearl River Delta region, which itself is an economic hub of China, as well as the largest manufacturing base in the world.

By 2001, as a result of Shenzhen’s increasing economic prospects, increasing numbers of migrants from Mainland China chose to go to Shenzhen and stay there instead of trying to illegally cross into Hong Kong. There were 9,000 captured border-crossers in 2000, while the same figure was 16,000 in 1991.

On 1 July 2010, the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone was expanded to include all districts, a five-fold increase over its pre-expansion size.

Setting aside politics, I am amazed by the fact that, in 1978, 90 percent of the total Chinese population of 1 billion lived below the poverty line (set at US$1.9 per day by the World Bank). However, the pyramid had been turned upside down, so that, by 2014, only 1 percent of its total population was in such dire straits.

China, through its rapid reform and opening up policy that has now lasted 40 years, has been able to lift more than 700 million people out of extreme poverty. This figure is more than the combined population of the United States, Russia, Japan, and Germany. It also accounts for almost 70 percent of the global poverty reduction figures.

Additionally, China has also contributed immensely to fulfilling the United Nations millennium development goals (MDGs) set by the Millennium Summit in 2000. The MDGs are eight international development goals with targets ranging from eradicating extreme poverty to combating the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, achieving universal primary education to reducing child mortality by 2015.

According to the 2015 UNDP report, the MDGs had produced the most successful anti-poverty movement in history. The report also recognized that, between 1990 and 2005 alone, more than 470 million people in China were lifted out of extreme poverty.

It also stressed that the direction of China’s future development endeavors and the degree of its commitment to global public goods would have a significant impact on the entire international community.

Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking at the Imperial Springs International Forum held in Guangzhou last Dec. 18, said: “China’s reforms and opening up has lifted at least 500 million people out of poverty, bringing benefits to not only Chinese people but also those in other countries.

By way of an ending to this story, I will mention what happened when I went to my local bank the other day to replace my debit card with a new one.

I entered the bank and sat waiting to be served. There were several Chinese people waiting also and one man, sitting next to me, saw my passport (which I needed to prove my identity in order to obtain a new debit card). The man spoke to me in broken English after noticing several immigration stamps in my passport from Hong Kong. He said, “You know Hong Kong?” I replied I had worked there and visited many times.

He seemed keen to ask me more questions but struggled with his English pronunciation. I then spoke to him in Cantonese, much to his surprise, but that opened the ‘flood gates,’ so to say.

The man then handed me his I-Phone on which I saw several very, very expensive properties for sale in London. He said, “You think I should buy one now?” I explained, as best I could drawing on my late “rusty” use of Cantonese that I was no property expert but I felt sure buying one of those luxury properties in London would be worthwhile.

The man shook my hand firmly and thanked me, saying he would fly to London the next day and buy one.

My new “friend” told me he was from Shenzhen and a factory worker.

“Defer not till to-morrow what may be done to-day.” (Chinese Proverb)

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

Blocking the devil

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

Major changes introduced in effort to reduce devil’s night syndrome

 

By CHARLES KADAMANA

IN an effort to do away with the Devil’s Night before election day, major changes have been introduced in the new electoral Act.

One of the changes will see Integrity officers and observers deployed to reduce the ‘Devils Night’ before the Election Day.

This was highlighted by Dr Jimmy Rodgers, founder of the Solomon Islands People First Party (SIPFP) and Special Secretary to Caretaker Prime Minister, during the party’s convention on Sunday at the National Museum Auditorium.

Speaking on the major changes, he said the deployment of integrity officers and observers is one of the important changes.

He said this change will “reduce the devil’s night”. Devil’s night is the night before Election Day, and is usually a night of misdeeds, when candidates’ support teams visit electorates, buying votes.

Another measure to reduce devil’s night activities is campaigning activities must cease 24 hours before Election Day.

According to the new Electoral Act 2018 section 62, the campaign period for an election begins on the date of publication of the election date and ends 24 hours before the election date.

This means campaign activities will begin after the Governor General by Proclamation appoints the date for election and close 24 hours before the Election Day.

In the old electoral act, candidates are allowed to campaign even on Election Day, but that during Election Day candidates or supporters must be 100 metres away from the polling station.

Meanwhile, regarding campaigning activities, Mr Rodgers said candidates can now spend up to $500,000 (half-a-million dollars). In the old act, candidates were only allowed to spend up to $50,000.

“The maximum each candidate can spend in the context of their campaign was SBD$50,000 which means more than this amount was illegal.

“I think people know that in 2014 National General Election almost 100 percent of the candidates spent more than that but no one was prosecuted.

“It is an expensive affair so there is a change now from that amount being lifted up to SBD$500,000.

“It is common sense that with the $50,000 one cannot buy petrol to cover one constituency,” he said.

Rodger said these are some of the major changes included in the new act.

He said these changes are trying to promote behaviour that can make us proud as a nation.

He said in terms of political parties, no party in this country established itself because they can do it all.

“Every party see areas and gap that need to be addressed and they are like-thinking people that come together and say let us address this but this is the way we want to address it,” he said.

Rodgers said most political parties have similar ideas of the whole gap of development challenges but the reason why different parties formed was because the approaches of their ideologies are different, little bit, but in the bigger picture it remained the same.

“All political parties want to have a share in moving the country forward,” he said.

He said that would only be made known after the election.

“It is after the election that we will know who goes in and this is where political parties with similar ideologies can talk together to form coalition and have a share to put the country forward.”

He said political parties have an important role in the formation of the government and it is likely that more party will win smaller seats.

Man alleged to have lied to people to appear again on Feb 1

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man from Isabel alleged to have been lying to people and obtaining money from them will appear again in court on February 1.

Chief Magistrate Emma Garo adjourned the case yesterday when it was called for mention.

This is the case against an accused, Robert Ngengele, from Isabel province who police have charged with one count of obtaining money from people by false pretence.

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 programme.

Police alleged that the defendant was known as one of the recruiting agents for 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 were 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 – a total of $8,085 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.

Leprosy alert

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

Honiara tops ‘most settlements with reported cases’, 3 provinces top list across country

 

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THREE provinces have reported the most cases of leprosy, and the nation’s capital Honiara sits on top as having the most number of settlements with reported cases.

This was confirmed to Island Sun by Ben Riki, supervising director health promotion department of the Ministry of Health Medical Services (MHMS).

Mr Riki said the three provinces are Guadalcanal, Malaita and Honiara City, and this is according to the country’s national leprosy data.

He said most of these reported cases come from mountainous areas, particularly central Guadalcanal and North-East Guadalcanal.

Riki said Honiara City Council (HCC) is recorded with most settlement reported cases and these affected areas are Kua hill, Mbokonavera, Fishing Village, Lord Howe settlement, Jericho and Matariu.

With that, the other provinces are reported in small portions.

He further adds that the country’s total number of recorded cases from 2014 to 2018 is 231 cases. This is 0.65 -0.75 per 10,000 population.

Riki said with regards to the detection rate it is 5.80 to 6.75 per 100,000 population.

He stressed that the increasing rate of leprosy situation has further reinforced the TB leprosy unit in the MHMS to strategically come up with a five-years plan, 2018 to 2025, to help eliminate the disease.

The plan is to advocate discrimination, stigma and prejudice associated with leprosy and reviewing of the leprosy guideline for the eradication strategy.

Also to conduct an annual endless leprosy campaign and special action project for eradication in hotspot areas across the provinces and having continuous training for medical officers and CBR staffs to help them conduct annual disability assessment among those with disability.

Riki stressed that four other provinces are also with reported leprosy cases; Western, Choiseul, Central and Temotu.

Big promise

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DAP launches manifesto, vows to rid grass hopping politicians

 

By Alfred Sasako

CARETAKER Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela on Tuesday launched the Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) Manifesto, paving the way for other political parties to launch their party platforms for the 2019 National General Election.

In doing so, Mr Houenipwela had some hard-hitting words for those intending to contest this year’s election under the DAP banner.

Houenipwela told some 200 faithfuls at the St Barnabas Cathedral Hall in Honiara yesterday that DAP would stop affiliations of loose groupings in Parliament, describing their leadership style as “political prostitution”.

At the same time, he has hit out at what he called “grass hopping politicians”, saying the country had suffered enough from the actions of such politicians.

“On the matter of political affiliations, I cannot overstate the importance for intending candidates to be registered under a political party – for three basic reasons:

“First, if you are looking to be part of the ruling government, then the chances of your getting there are better with a political party; and especially one that is stable and strong. Secondly, by registering with a political party, intending candidates are showing they want to get rid of political instability.

“Our people and this country have suffered enough under grass hopping politicians,” he said.

“Ladies & gentlemen, this is one of practices that DAP undertakes to change. So a DAP–led government will bring legislations that will stop affiliations of loose groupings in Parliament whose leadership style is akin to what I call political prostitution.

“We, the Democratic Alliance Party, oppose this kind of leadership conduct in its entirety. So those intending candidates who register with DAP [must] show they are willing to take this same stand,” Mr Houenipwela said.

He also appealed to intending candidates to join DAP.

DAP Parliamentary Wing Leader, Jeremiah Manele echoed similar sentiments, saying … it is important that we actively take part or have an interest in politics.”

“The best way of doing this I guess is to join a political party since all of us cannot be members of Parliament as there are only 50 seats in Parliament. By joining a political party, we will be in a position to influence government policy once our party becomes a coalition partner in any ruling government,” he said.

Mr Manele said the Foreword and Introduction to the Manifesto “captures what DAP is all about. In a nutshell, DAP’s vision, mission and core principle are outlined in Chapter 6 of the Manifesto.

“The vision, (and) I quote is, “All Solomon Islanders (are entitled to) enjoy equal socio-economic opportunities for a prosperous, vibrant, secure and resilient nation where citizens are confident, peaceful, spiritually and socially well, and proud of their diversity and cultural heritage, respected as a sovereign nation, and actively engaged with the international community to address national, regional and global challenges,” Mr Manele said.

Parties can finalise their candidates

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of SIEC, Moses Saitala

By CHARLES KADAMANA

POLITICAL parties can finalise their candidates by January 30 and submit their list to the Registrar of the Political Party Commission (PPC).

Chief Electoral Commission Mose Saitala told Island Sun in light of the proclamation date of the National General Election expected to be announced by Governor General on February 5.

Mr Saitala said the political parties can finalise their candidates before the proclamation date.

“But they have to summit to the PPC then it would be the registrar to give us the confirmation of the political party candidates.

“We do not accept political parties to come direct to the electoral commission; it has to come from the commission,” he said.

He said for the independent candidates they can register with the Returning officers on the constituency they are contesting on.

Currently there are 15 registered political parties set to contest for the 2019 National Election, set for April 3 or April 10.

People Alliance Party has confirmed that it would contest after it held its convention last Saturday.

They are only waiting for the proclamation of the Election date by the Governor General.

Another Political party, Democratic Alliance Party, is set to launch its Manifesto today at the St Barnabas Cathedral.

Caretaker Prime Minister Rick Hou will deliver the keynote address before blessing of the Party Manifesto.

Recently new political party, United Party, led by Peter Kenilorea Jnr was given the registration certificates allowing them to contest for the 2019 National General election.

The party is set to hold its Convention on February 6 to finalise its Manifesto.

Other political parties are expected to come into effect when the Governor General formally announces the election date.

Shipping grant, Cabinet’s approval in 2013: Former PS MID

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE former Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) who is the current Permanent Secretary for Aviation and Communication, Moses Virivolomo, has told the court that shipping grants were cabinet’s approval inserted in the MID budget of 2013.

Mr Virivolomo was the PS of the MID from 2011 to 2015.

He testified in court on the case against the outgoing MP for Savo/Russell Dickson Panakitasi Mua yesterday.

Virivolomo confirmed that Mr Mua received a $3million shipping grant on December 31, 2013 during the dying days of former PM Gordon Darcy Lilo’s government.

He said others already received the shipping on the second and third quarter and the shipping grant money was exhausted.

Virivolomo said the shipping grant was approved by cabinet and it was only ‘them’ who knew how the monies were allocated; the MID on the other hand only facilitated the payments.

He confirmed that $3million was paid to Savo/Russells constituency on December 31, 2013 for the purchase of new ship.

Defence Lawyer Leslie Kwaiga also put questions to the witness in relation to the payments and the list of recipients of how many and how much fund were allocated.

Virivolomo in response said that he couldn’t remember and also other documents were not disclosed to him like the cabinet’s minutes, only the conclusion part of it was disclosed to the ministry and it was for facilitating what the cabinet has approved.

Mua was arrested and charged by police in relation to the offence of conversion.

Prosecution will be calling 12 witnesses during the trial.

The incident occurred in 2013 in which Mua is being accused of converting $3m shipping grants for other purposes.

The allegation relates to an application that was submitted to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development by Mua, and according to the proposal document, the MP was seeking $3m from the SIG through the NTF in 2013 to purchase a ship for Savo Russells Constituency.

The proposal was processed and approved by the MID and the funds were paid on the December 30, 2013.

It was alleged that on January 2 2014 the Constituency Development Officer of Savo/Russells collected the cheque from the Finance and deposited to the Savo Russell constituency bank account.

Police further alleged that the MP started to make series of withdrawals from the account when the money was deposited until that money was completely withdrawn on the February 4, 2014.

Investigation revealed that instead of using the $3m to purchase the ship as its intended purpose, the MP allegedly paid $2.8m to a local company for the purpose of items such as OBMs and other equipment for distribution to his supporters in Savo Russell constituency.

It also further alleged that $200,000 of the money was withdrawn as cash and use for other expenses and not related to the purposes of the shipping grant.

Sirepu Ngava of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown while Leslie Kwaiga represents the accused in court.

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