BY GEORGINA KEKEA

LABOUR mobility has been occurring in the Pacific since the 19th and 20th century. Except that time, Pacific Islanders were tricked or stolen to work in plantations in Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Samoa and Peru as slaves.

This time however, times have changed. The current labour mobility scheme is no way near the black birding days. Pacific island countries together with Australia and New Zealand including other countries that have labour mobility programs with the pacific are collaborating more in how they can address the regional labour priorities together.

This week the third annual labour mobility meeting brings together employers, workers, government officials and stakeholders to discuss these issues together.

As part of their participation in this meeting, both New Zealand and Australia are bringing to the table issues of concern from all parties involved.

For New Zealand, while they share the same optimism as Solomon Islands and other pacific countries in providing employment, they are also wary in how this program is being carried out.

From 5000 in 2007, slowly the number has increased over the past decade. To date, there are 11,000 pacific seasonal workers in the scheme. Of this number 682 are Solomon Islanders. In comparison to Vanuatu’s more than 4000 workers, this number is very small.

Prime Minister, Rick Hou says, this number reflects the country’s inability to meet the standard expected.

“Why we have not been able to send more workers under the labour mobility scheme is that we are very dis-organized. I think a lesson everyone should learn is, don’t be disorganized”, Hou said.

He admitted that the government has to be on top of the labour mobility scheme. He said Solomon Islands lack the information needed to better the program. Hou said government should work on having a good database system so to help understand the human resources and the set of skills they have.

He said Solomon Islands population is growing at an alarming rate and he is concerned.

“I am looking at big numbers. I want within the next 10 years, I want 10,000 young people of Solomon Islands going out of the country to work”, Hou said.

At the same time, this annual meeting held in Honiara is looking at ways in which this labour mobility scheme can enhance the existing scheme and be a win-win situation for all.

Matt Hoskin from New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and New Zealand Government and Industry Panel said, “For argument sake, if you got 40 really good carpenters in the Solomon Islands and we came and took them to New Zealand. You are trying to rebuild your country. What will happen then?”

In a press conference Hoskin says they would like to see a better data of the labour market. This will help New Zealand understand the market better when they do recruitment. He admits this will be a big challenge for all the Pacific countries.

He said New Zealand prefer quality over quantity thus the recruitment process is an important component of the program. They currently recruit seasonal workers from Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

 THOUGH it might seem like ancient history, the CDF audit report of 2009 to 2012 is still said to be relevant. In his foreword address in the CDF audit report, Auditor General Peter Lokay says he appreciates the report though it might be out of date.

In his comments in the report, he said it is clear from audit work undertaken that transparency, accountability and governance of the RCDF falls well short of that expected with regards to public finances.

“I have decided to issue this report as I am convinced that the range of problems raised in this work still applies today”.

The report also shared by the Office of the Auditor General’s website summarises the results of the audit of the Rural Constituency Development Funds (RCDF) for the years 2010 to 2012 and also for 18 constituencies, from 2009 to 2011.

For the 18 constituencies audited from 2009 to 2011, it was found that of the total possible claim of SBD 109,080,000 only payment vouchers relating to SBD62,730,000 were sighted during the audit; 57.5 percent of the possible total.

Of the SBD62,730,000; only acquittals valued at SBD 53,474,417 (85 percent) were sighted at the ministry.

Thus, SBD 9,265,583 was not accounted for. A summarized detail of the 18 constituencies audited from 2009 to 2011 are as follows.

The CDF report states that transparency, accountability and governance of the RCDF falls well short of that expected with regards to public finances and that significant changes are required.

Another table in the CDF report consists of the audited reports of 32 constituencies from the years of 2010 to 2012. It will be published in another article at a later date.

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) strongly remind sea travelers in the country to always think safety first when travelling in our waters.

This comes after Police at Yandina received a report about a boat which sank on 6 October 2018.

Director Police Maritime, Chief Superintendent Charles Fox Sau says, “On Friday 5 October 2018 a boat powered by a 40 Horse power Suzuki out boat motor engine, was travelling from Honiara to the Russell Islands when they encountered bad weather and capsized. There were three people on board including a female and two male persons.

Chief Superintendent Sau adds: “When the boat sank, one male and the female person swam to an island using floaters whilst the other male remained floating with the sunken boat.”

He adds: “The other two reached the island at night and the next morning they saw a boat travelling towards Guadalcanal when they waved for help. The boat assisted them to Yandina where they reported the incident to Police.”

Chief Superintendent Sau says, “A Police Maritime stabicraft and other marine vessels within the area were notified and a search was conducted by my officers. It was not until 7 October 2018 that the man was found holding onto the boat and was picked up by a pole and line vessel Soltai 105, 13.6 nautical miles from Langalau light, Russell Islands.

Chief Superintendent Sau emphasizes: “I would like to remind our sea travelers across the country to always think safety first when travelling on our waters. The most important thing is to ensure that you check the weather forecast issued by the Meteorology office broadcast by the SIBC daily. Ensure that your OBM works properly. Carry extra paddles water and fuel. And boat owners and skippers make sure you have proper life jackets in your boats.”

–RSIPF MEDIA

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE Commissioner Mathew Varley has confirmed during the police conference on Thursday that the suspect into the alleged murder and rape of a girl on Tikopia Island will be brought to Honiara.

Commissioner Varley said it is a very tragic and gruesome incident and police are condemning the incident.

“This is a very sad and tragic incident where a young girl innocent life has been gruesomely and tragically taken away”, Varley said.

He said police investigation has progressed very well and further updates on the case will be issued when the officers arrive back today.

The alleged murder and rape incident occurred in Tikopia on October 4 2018. Due to the seriousness of the issue, police have been deployed to Tikopia via the Police Patrol Boat with police officers investigating the case.

The young girl aged between10-12 was allegedly raped and subsequently murdered, her body found floating the next day in a lake near her village.

“This is a very tragic and confronting case once we heard the case last week we immediately dispatch the officers to travel down onboard the police patrol boat”, Varley said.

He said post mortem was also conducted on the deceased this week.

Varley said the suspect in this case was taken into custody by the village chief soon after the incident and was handed over to police before inquiry and investigations continued from there.

“As we said before, the rate of violence against women and girls in this country is high and needs to stop. And we will do everything in our power to continue investigate trace down and prosecute those who destroy women’s life this way”, Varley added.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE severe shortage of age care workers in New Zealand and Australia could be solved by welcoming more skilled employees from neighboring Pacific Islands Countries.

This was reported by David Curtain in accordance to the World Bank new released report presented at the opening ceremony of Pacific Labour Mobility Annual General Meeting PLMAM on Wednesday this week.

Curtain said according to the World Bank’s report it stated that there has been shortage of age care workers in Australia and New Zealand and it could solved by welcoming more skilled workers form Pacific Island Countries.

He said according to the expanding pathways for Pacific Islanders in the Australia and New Zealand aged care sector the report it line that expected requirement of age care providers in which it determines the steps required for Pacific Island countries to supply the relevant skills sets;

And also suggests a model that uses both new and existing migration pathways to deliver more skilled worker.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case against three men allegedly charged for false pretence will be mentioned in court today.

This is the case against accused men Gordon Mark, Nelson Maeta and John Nelson Ross. The trio were charged in relation to an incident that occurred in 2011 in Honiara.

This case has been on trial and then adjourned due to other issues that needs to be sorted out.

The allegation provided in court said, between November one and 30, 2011, the two accused and other men obtained more than $300,000 by selling the victim fake gold bars.

Police alleged the men approached the victim, Hypolite Taremae, who is the former Minister of Truth Reconciliation and Peace, at his office at Anthony Saru Building.

Police said the men went to see the alleged victim with the intention to obtain money through false pretence and also to lure him into believing their made up stories.

The men and others allegedly told Taremae that they were from Weather-coast in Guadalcanal. And in the coming days a reconciliation ceremony will take place in their village but they did not have enough money.

It was at that time they showed a picture of a gold bar to Taremae which they claimed to be in their possession, Police said.

They allegedly said they have some gold bars which were stolen by the former Guadalcanal war-lord Harold Keke that was taken from the former Ross Mining during the height of the ethnic tension.

The men also allegedly showed Taremae a certification letter from the Director of Mines that confirmed that the gold bars were gold and worth six million dollars.

Having heard from the accused and seen all the documents, Taremae was convinced.

Then on various occasions between July and November 2011, the accused men allegedly handed Taremae three gold bars. In return they receive $300,000.

The victim however, later found that the men lied to him and he took the “gold bars” to a dealer who confirmed they were fake.

The bars were made from lead metal and painted with gold colour paint.

It was also alleged that the men threatened the officer who was investigating their case. It was alleged that the men say they will shoot him with a gun.

The allegation further said that the men claimed that they still have guns and will hunt for the case officer everywhere and will kill him.