A man who faces four counts of sexual offence has pleaded guilty to all charges yesterday.
Public Prosecutor Dalcy Belapitu who appeared on instruction from prosecutor in carriage of the case told the court that the appearance yesterday was for committal hearing.
The accused initially pleaded guilty to three charges and pleaded not guilty on one count of rape.
However in yesterday’s appearance, the accused changed his plea and pleaded guilty to all counts.
Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga then committed the matter to the High Court for further mention.
This is a case against a man from Hagalu Ngella in the Central Islands province who was charged for incidents he allegedly committed in May this year (2018).
His case will be called at the High Court on February 2019 for further mention.
GOVERNMENT is set to respond to the Lawyers Association. Yesterday Island Sun reported that Government Lawyers will stage a sit in strike on 4th December (Tuesday next week) when their strike notice lapse.
However information reaching Island Sun says government has now made a response to GLA through the Permanent Secretary of Public Service.
The responses made by Government outline what they have to say of the GLA’s demands.
Government Lawyers Association (GLA) has for a long time been pushing for a scheme of service to improve their terms and conditions of service.
Details of government responses to GLA will be known soon.
Minister of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services, Anthony Veke.
CDF should also have regulations, says Veke
BY GEORGINA KEKEA
GUADALCANAL Premier, Anthony Veke is calling on the Members of Parliament to regulate the Rural Constituency Development Funds (RCDF).
Premier Veke is responding to an article in Island Sun on the suggestion made by Wale for Ward Grants to be removed from the Provincial Government level.
In his response, Veke is calling on the MP for Auki/Langalanga, Mathew Wale and the Members of Parliament to be realistic to the people of Solomon Islands
Veke said as of 2019, MPAs will not be accessing Ward Grants as it will be part of capital expenditure. Capital expenditure is money spent on acquiring or maintaining fixed assets such as land, buildings and equipment.
He said this was made possible after the passing of the Financial Management Ordinance (FMO) 2018. The revised FMO has regulated the use of Ward Grants.
“I would also like to ask MP Wale to do the same for RCDF. Where is the RCDF regulations?” Veke questions.
Last week during the PAC hearing, Wale was heard to suggest that the role of support towards Provincial Governments should be given to the Constituencies whose program deal more directly with the people.
However Veke says the RCDF has been with MPs for quite sometimes but there has been very little happening in the provinces despite the huge amount received.
He said the only institution that has proper plan for use of funds is the provincial governments.
“The provinces had revised their FMOs last week in their various assemblies and through the provisions of the FMO we had regulated the use of Ward Grants. When will the MPs regulates the usage of RCDF?” Veke questions.
Veke said the provinces only use 100k annually as Ward Grant but are willing to have it regulated.
“For Guadalcanal, the MPs have gone their own way without caring for the Development plans the province has. It is duplicating and merely for political gain for MPs”, Veke said.
Now with the Ward Grant consolidated in Capital expenditure, Veke said MPAs will not be able to assist rural people in school fees, boat fare and death in family.
He said since this will no longer be entertained, he is calling on his people to step up and start doing things for themselves.
“GP has just passed the revised FMO last week. As soon as the revised FMO goes through the gazette it becomes an ordinance that will have provisions that regulates Ward Grant. So it is better for Wale as an MP to stop and think of how he can convince his colleagues in Parliament about regulating RCDF”, Veke said.
In 2013, Parliament passed the CDF Act to provide for the purpose of developing, supervising and regulating the management and disbursement of Constituency Development Funds in transparent and accountable manner.
The object and responsibility of this Act is to ensure that the management and disbursement of Constituency Development Funds is carried out with integrity and in a prudent manner with a view to safeguarding the interest of potential recipients of the funds.
Funds for constituency development purposes are administered and managed by Constituency Development Officers.
Most Constituency officers are working in isolation from the Provincial governments though they serve the same group of people.
Alan and Joy Maine in Honiara after their visit to Mono to commemorate 75 years since the first New Zealand Forces
arrive in Mono during WW2.
A story about pride and acceptance of history
BY GEORGINA KEKEA
IT was an emotional moment for Allan Maine, 75 years to the day his father landed on Mono Island as part of the New Zealand forces.
Last month (October), Allan and his wife, Joy travelled from New Zealand, purposely to commemorate 75 years since the New Zealand Forces arrived on the shores of Mono. World War Two saw one of the fiercest battles in the Pacific, with Solomon Islands playing a crucial part in its history, especially to what is now known as the Battle of Guadalcanal or the Guadalcanal Campaign.
The trip for Allan and Joy was not an easy one. Now in their 70s, it was quite long especially for someone their age. However it was an emotional one also. Dad’s diary has really inspired the duo to make this trip to Solomon Islands as an ode to Allan’s dad, Kenneth Foster Maine.
Kenneth Maine is a member of the New Zealand Force that served his country in the Pacific during World War II.
A little more than 30 at that time, Kenneth left behind his wife and children to join the New Zealand army. As is known, during war, one can never know whether they will live to see the end of it, or die fighting for their country.
Kenneth survived the war, but kept records of this part of his life in a personal diary.
“Dad wrote this diary, some of which are personal accounts of his life and he also kept letters he wrote to mum when he was in the army”, Allan Maine told Island Sun.
Mono plays a significant part in the history of New Zealand in the Pacific war. It is a place where the first opposed amphibious landing by New Zealand forces took place, since Gallipoli (World War 1).
The New Zealand forces successfully took the island from Japanese defenders. Known as the battle of Treasury Islands, Ken Maine described in his diary the events as he saw through his own eyes. The battle of Treasury Islands took place between the 27th of October and 12 November 1943.
Alan and Joy Maine in Honiara after their visit to Mono to commemorate 75 years since the first New Zealand Forces arrive in Mono during WW2.
It was recorded that during that time, the Japanese were caught by surprise and were unable to scramble aircraft to attack the assault craft until after the troops had landed.
‘WEDNESDAY 27 OCTOBER’, this was what was written by Kenneth Foster Maine in his diary 75 years ago.
“We were all on deck early to see the scene of our first action against the enemy. A and B Companies who left after us where all ready waiting to go ashore as soon as the naval barrage lifted. We landed half an hour after zero and advanced to our position without sighting the enemy. B Company landed right in a machine gun nest and two or three suffered minor injuries. We landed too far away and as our boat neared the shore it opened up on B Company who were crossing our front.
Charlie Biddle was wounded in the ‘plums’ while another chap was killed. The two guns on the island were silenced by A Company. Before it was silenced it damaged a landing craft and blew up an ammunition dump. We had no air raids during the day, as we more than had air superiority, but last night will be a nightmare for years to come.
No bombs fell near us, but we were close enough for my liking. During the night, Shorty Wilkins who had shown signs of panic left his fox hole and on trying to reach another was shot and killed instantly. The casualties so far are 4 killed. The Japs infiltrated through A Company area into C’s and they knifed three men killing two. For the time the Japs have appeared to have gone. Certainly we have not accounted for the number that is supposed to be here”.
“It was an emotional time for me”, Allan says as he struggled to hold back his tears and regain his composure.
“The events dad wrote in his diary and his description of the events that occurred then was far from what is being felt now. So when I stood there at the exact place that dad was 75 years ago, it was very emotional”, Allan said.
As reported in history books, a force of 25 dive bombers attacked two US destroyers, USS Cony and Philip. In the ensuing melee, 12 Japanese aircrafts were shot down. Cony was hit twice, resulting in the death of eight of her crew, while 10 others were wounded.
Group portrait of unidentified World War 2 NZEF IP (in the Pacific) Engineers standing on Saveke Bridge, which they built on Mono Island, Solomon Islands.
The New Zealand Forces were subsequently supported by the Allied Forces in the battle of Treasury Islands.
“We came on our own just to mark the 75 years anniversary to remember ‘dad’ but were fortunate enough to be part of the New Zealand government’s dignitaries to mark the anniversary in Mono. We didn’t know they will be there but the New Zealand High Commissioner was there so we took part in their program and Alan laid a wreath on behalf of the New Zealand forces as well”, Joy Maine said.
Alan and Joy has since returned to New Zealand. In five years’ time, it will be 80 years since the Battle of the Treasury Islands.
“I reckon the 80 years anniversary will be a big one. By then we will be very old to travel to Mono”, Joy laughingly say.
Allan and Joy Maine, returned to Thames in New Zealand feeling satisfied that they have been able to full fill, what they’ve always wanted to see, ever since they read ‘dad’s diary’.
Allan said he was quite small to remember what had happened, or how life was for mum back then. However he said, he is quite pleased that his dad’s legacy and his account of the war, remain through this diary. He hoped ‘dad’s diary’ will help future generations in their research and understanding on the War and how it had affected everyone.
Kenneth Foster Maine’s dairy has been transcribed and stored in the Alexander Turnbull digital library in New Zealand. The Maine family has decided to share their ‘dad’s diary’ for people to read and learn about what has happened during the war. Most of the transcript is open for public to access while only a few articles that were deemed personal and private, has restrictions.
Kenneth Foster Maine was born in 1910. He died at the age of 76 in 1986. During the war, he was in his early 30s.
MEMBER of Parliament for Auki/Langalanga, Matthew Wale has suggested for the removal of Ward Grants from the Provincial Government level. He said it is a duplication of the Rural Constituency Development Funds (RCDF), with very little impact.
The Auki/Langalanga MP made this suggestion to the delegation from the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) at the Public Accounts Committee hearing this week.
While congratulating the Ministry in its Revenue Sharing Scheme initiative, Wale stressed that there is too much wastage and mishandle of funds at the provincial level through these form of grants, which are channelled to them through the Central Government basket.
He thought the ward grants is creating a duplicative role in what has been widely debated regarding the Constituency Rural Development Funds (RCDF), in both its negative and positive aspects.
He agreed that though small, sourcing of the ward grant down to the provincial levels are almost unlimited, while it is only for political slash fund.
Wale also suggested that the role of support towards wards through Provincial Governments should be given to the Constituencies whose programs deal more directly with the people.
He also warned that government should try and limit this fund or totally remove it.
He argued that it is pointless when there is struggle with the RCDF at the national level as it continues to be criticised.
“There is this continued entertainment of the gap in the provincial level, which is also on the same concern”, Wale said.
“This should give these governments the time to really focus on province wide service delivery, but if they think it is important, they must make a case”.
He further suggested that legislations dealing with these grants should also be shut down, and expenditures as such should go to the RCD Funds.
He said the RCDF is unlikely to go away from constituencies, but would likely be move at an arms-length from MPs, who will still be involved in directing and giving it overall planning budgeting direction, “but not running around trying to get invoices and things like that”.
This according to the Auki MP is also another example of the burden in which the RCDF is placing on MPs to serve only the narrow interests of the constituencies above the interest of the nation, looking at matters of national interests.
Wale said the practice under RCDF has prostituted the role of members of parliament to a large extent, and so the country must learn and also discourage such at the lower level of governance.
“Even the City Council is also practicing the same, which needs to be stopped”, Wale said.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry, Stanley Pirione when responding to the suggestions, explained that the Ministry has also seen this issue, and has countered it through the establishment of Ward development committees, who now deal directly with the grants.
Pirione explained that there are two forms of Ward grants, one is for MPA’s Ward tours, which is paid by the Province, and the other is the development grant, which is paid by the Central government.
He said the development grant is what was supposed to go down for development programs and activities of the Wards. He however adds that over the years, so much have not been accounted for. Which is why the Ministry decided to establish these Ward development committees, Pirione said.
He further adds that at this current stage, funds are channelled down to MPAs and then to the accounts of these development committees, who will then carryout the programs, and are now responsible for putting together reports on these grants.
Pirione said so far, the approach has worked and grants sourced down to Wards through this approach are slowly making an impact.
He revealed that some resistances were received from MPAs over this new approach, but the Ministry has seen that it is more transparent and funds would be used more wisely as intended.
THE Tong-Ill Moo-Do martial arts school has successfully hosted their third grading in the country for their 20 faithful practitioners over the weekend.
The grading was held at the New Hope Kidney Academy hall next to the Rita Eleven building at Bahai on Saturday.
Tong-Ill Moo-Do President Mr Alick Pinihimae described Tong-Ill Moo-Do as a well organised martial arts which is modernized and blends all the martial arts to form the art itself which is practiced in a systematically way.
He congratulated and thanked each of the 20 students for their committement adding he hopes to set up their management more properly now that it is a hundred percent locally owned.
“The art is unique. The name Tong-Ill Moo-Do means unified. It not only teaches kicking and punching but also teaches grappling and ground game,” Mr Pinihimae said.
“This is the third time to host our grading in the country. Since last year we want to set up more properly.
“There are no more foreigners in the management that is why we want to set it up more properly so as to promote Tong-Ill Moo-Do in the country.
“We plan to start our programs on the second week of January 2019. We will be promoting 20 students who have been committed throughout the whole year.
“This year we will promote two up to blue belts who will be the senior students, others to green belts who will assist the senior students, yellow belts and the new students will be white belts,” he said.
Tigi Molea scored the winning goal for Solomon Warriors in Saturday's match against Henderson Eels FC
Warriors back in top spot while KOSSA close in to leaders
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Tigi Molea scored the winning goal for Solomon Warriors in Saturday’s match against Henderson Eels FC
SOLOMON Warriors have reclaimed the top spot in the Telekom S-League (TSL) after defeating Henderson Eels 1-0 on Saturday while KOSSA closes the gap on the table’s two leaders following their 3-0 thrashing of Western United yesterday at Lawson Tama.
With two matches to go in the 2018/19 season league competition, the race for the top spot is expected to go down to the wire before a winner can be decided and that will be determined in two weeks’ time.
With the vital win on Saturday, thanks to a 38th minute lone goal by Tigi Molea, Warriors are now in front with 26 points from 12 matches.
Eels, who are the previous leader, had slipped to the second spot on the table with 24 points.
KOSSA continues to narrow the gap between them and the two leaders and the win over the weekend helped them to hold onto the third place with 22 points.
Malaita Kingz has made an unpredictable climb into the fourth spot with 17 points following their 4-0 thrashing of FC Guadalcanal on Saturday.
United had slipped down to the fifth place on 16 points while Real Kakamora occupies the sixth spot with 15 points.
Marist earned a 1-0 win over Real Kakamora yesterday but that did not greatly made an effect on their movement on the table as they remain at the seventh spot with 15 points.
FC Guadalcanal remains at the bottom with one point.
The TSL league competition for this season has two more weekends of matches to be played before it is wrapped up on December 9.
Meanwhile, the top two teams of the TSL will earn the right to represent Solomon Islands in the next season of the Oceania Club Champions League.
Winning the league comes with a reward of hosting the OFC Champions League Group D at home while the runner-up will join teams in Group B which will be hosted at Lautoka in Fiji.
Assistant Bishop and Diocesan Bishop joining the staff of CE Fox during the parade.
BY GEORGINA KEKEA
Assistant Bishop and Diocesan Bishop joining the staff of CE Fox during the parade.
LAND disputes have greatly affected Charles Elliot Fox Memorial School in Sa’a, Small Malaita.
Students’ performance were said to be affected over the last eighteen years. However, it is not all doom and gloom for the Anglican Church of Melanesia’s Secondary School in the Diocese of Malaita (DOM).
In DOM’s Newsletter, it was reported that land owners finally reached an agreement to allow the school to continue with its development plans.
In recent months, all school projects were put on hold because of disputes over the land where the school is located.
Speaking during the school’s graduation ceremony, School Principal, Solomon Liumae, said despite the challenges, the school was able to complete the academic year successfully.
“Thanks be to God”.
At the same time, Bishop Rickson Maomaoru Chairman of the School Board, in his speech had expressed the importance of the school striving to achieve quality education for students’ wellbeing and future.
This year’s graduation theme was ‘Resources, Reformation for Quality Education’.
“No doubt the school is blessed with wealth of resources such as trees and land. When properly utilized and managed, CE Fox can be able to implement its school development plans as well as enhancing students’ learning now and into the future”, Bishop Maomaoru was reported to say.
CE Fox Memorial School is the only ACOM School in the Diocese of Malaita and currently the diocese is trying to establish another school in Central Malaita.
DOM reports through its Newsletter that it is quite a challenge to deal with land issues in Malaita.
“But we believe through persistent prayers and faith, we can achieve what we set ourselves to achieve”.
During the Diocesan team’s participation in the graduation ceremony, one of the outstanding features of Anglican education, based on Bishop Selwyn’s education philosophy, ‘True Religion, Sound Learning and Useful Industry’ was truly evident in the life of the staff and students at CE Fox Memorial School.
CE Fox Memorial School celebrated the feast of Saint Simon and Saint Jude, the patron saint of the school recently together with its graduation ceremony.
The graduation ceremony took place following the church service to commemorate the Saints day.
Hundreds of parents and family members of students from Sa’a and surrounding communities in Small Malaita attended the significant events.
THE Solomon Islands Government (SIG) is prioritizing conflict prevention and management. The SIG is doing this by strengthening community and traditional structures of government, building unity and addressing the physical, relational and psychosocial rehabilitation of people affected by the ethnic tension in the country.
To empower Honiara city and provincial community leaders in the areas of peacebuilding, understanding conflict, trauma and healing, counseling and mediation, the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF) project, jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Women, is supporting the Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace in convening a peacebuilding, trauma healing and mediation workshop.
The workshop will bring together Community leaders from Guadalcanal, Malaita, Western and Choiseul provinces; NGOs; church leaders; Honiara city urban leaders; youth and women leaders; representatives of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs and the Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace.
The workshop commences today and ends on Thursday.
The initial construction of the Care and Counseling Center.
The initial construction of the Care and Counseling Center.
THE Diocese of Malaita along with the Community of the Sisters of the Church (CSC) is opening up a Care and Counseling Center for victims of domestic violence and child sexual abuse in Auki soon.
Apparently this is the first of its kind to be established in the province and already people have expressed their gratefulness for such initiative by the Church.
Child sexual abuse and domestic violence are alarmingly high in Malaita and Temotu Provinces.
Since arriving in Auki, Sr. Doreen had been busy dealing with cases of child abuse and domestic violence. A number of cases had already been reported to the Police for legal action.
It is anticipated that full operation of the center will begin in 2019. The center will not only provide counselling services but it will also become the province’s peace center.
Peace- building is an essential part of enhancing happy and stable communities in our province and nation.
The absence of peace among husbands and wives or parents and children is a major contributing factor to increased cases of violence in our rural communities.
At the moment the diocese is looking at partnering with other social service providers working to address domestic violence and child sexual abuse.
“We believe it is through partnership and networking that we would be able to effective address these issues in our communities”.
