BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SMALL-SCALE commercial fisheries has provided important income cash for Solomon Islanders despite the value being low compared to substance and tuna fisheries, it is reported.

The National Marine Ecosystem Service Valuation report stated fisheries creates employment opportunities for an estimated 30,000 Solomon Islanders compared to the 5,000 in formal employment.

Small-scale fisheries local involved in comprises of reef fish and invertebrates, beche-de-mer, trochus and aquarium trade.

Reef fish and some invertebrates are sold locally and beche-de-mer, trochus and aquarium products are harvested for export.

It said, although value of such activities is low compared to subsistence and tuna fisheries, they provide important cash income for Solomon Islanders.

The report highlights fish and invertebrates sold in local markets account for a total economic value of SBD$70.3 million per year (US$9.4 million), which corresponds to SBD$156/year/person and 0.8 percent of the total nominal GDP of Solomon Islands.

The economic value is much less than the substance fishery because of the costs of bringing fish to market.

The sustainability of subsistence and small-scale commercial fishing are interrelated.

The challenge is fisheries are threatened where population is most dense, it said.

On the other hand, Beche-de-mer and trochus the report stated as highly valued product on international markets.

Catches and export from 1999 to 2010 have accounted for an average annual gross export value of SBD$3.3 million (USD$446,000) and SBD$2.1 million (USD$284,000) respectively.

These values have been decreasing steadily for past 40 years.

Trochus is also valuable locally, so the figure above underestimates the total economic value of the ecosystem service, it said.

Despite periodic export moratoriums, both fisheries are overexploited and not sustainably manage.

In terms of the Aquarium trade exports from 1999 to 2010 have accounted for on average SBD$1.2 million per year (USD$163,000).

Although magnitude of this ecosystem service is small, it appears sustainable.

With this, it is important for control measures over use of destructive fishing practices should be strengthened as it may impose negative impact other fisheries.

Government management efforts are focused primarily on export industries, despite the fact that net benefits to communities and household are much larger for substance and local market fisheries, it said.

POLICE in Central province have arrested a 22-year-old man who is now facing three counts of intimidation contrary to section 231 of the Penal code.

It is alleged that the male person on three separate occasions from August 14 to 15, 2018, at Haroro Village threatened to harm three victims, while armed with a bush knife, bow and arrow.

The matter was reported to the Tulagi Police Station on September 7, 2018, of which the suspect was brought to the Station by his brothers. He was formally arrested and placed in in police custody.

The suspect has been charged and released on a principal bail of $500 to appear before Honiara Central Magistrates Court on October 22, 2018.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province, Superintendent Patricia Leta says, “Intimidation is a serious offence which carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment if found guilty.

“I would like to remind families and good people of Central province not to resort to violence if you have any disagreement between each other.

“All of us need to stay in harmony with each other so that we build a peaceful society.

“I would like to thank the suspect’s brothers for handing him over to my officers at the Tulagi Police Station.

“This shows community members working together with the police to deal with any alleged crime, as part of the Crime Prevention Strategy.”

–POLICE MEDIA

POLICE officers in Honiara City have arrested a 28-year-old man in relation to a robbery incident that occurred at Ranadi in East Honiara on Friday, September 7, 2018.

Provincial Police Commander Honiara City, Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga says, “It is alleged that on Friday, September 7, two armed men entered a Chinese shop at Ranadi in East Honiara armed with a bush knife.

“It is alleged that upon entering the shop one of the suspects pulled out a long bush knife and threatened to kill the shop owner and his employees. The shop owner and his employees all escaped from the shop.

“It is alleged that the suspects then went over to where the cash box was located and stole all the money and later escaped in a waiting car.

“The same night the shop owner reported the matter to the police and an investigation was carried out leading to the arrest of the first accused in the early hours of the next day [September 8, 2018].

“The accused will be dealt with accordingly and taken to court for remand applications.

“The second suspect is currently on the run. I want to appeal to those who might have any knowledge about the incident to come forward and assist the police with its investigation into the matter.

“I would also want to thank my hard working officers for the job well done resulting in the quick arrest of the one of the suspects. Let us continue to work together with our communities for a safer and peaceful Honiara,” says PPC Uiga.

–POLICE MEDIA

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE trial into the case against men alleged of counts of intimidation and false pretence is continuing at the Honiara Magistrate Court.

Yesterday the police officer who was the victim of intimidation was scrutinised by the lawyers representing the three accused men.

Serah Karani a lawyer representing the accused, Nelson Maeta, questioned the officer saying that on occasions prior to the investigation and arrest of Mr Maeta the police officer had made contact and visits to the accused at a house at Sun Valley.

Ms Karani also puts to the officer that he calls and asks for money from Maeta to buy beer.

The police officer responded that at no time did he asked for money to buy beer from the accused but he visits him at a house in Sun Valley because there was an investigation already established.

The police officer also told the court that he never received any money from the accused persons.

It is alleged that between November 1 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 that the men went to see the alleged victim with the intention to obtained money through false pretence and also lure him into believing their made-up stories.

The men and others allegedly told Mr 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 received $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 fakes.

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

It was also alleged that the men threatened the case officer who was investigating their case that 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.

By Mike Puia

JAPAN has indicated its eagerness to recruit more locals to work in Japan.

In a press conference yesterday, Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela said he had a meeting with Japan’s parliamentary vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Iwao Horii, and they discussed a new bilateral agreement on labour mobility.

Prime Minister Hou has just returned from the 49th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting in Nauru.

He called the conference to provide an update on the meetings he had whilst attending the PIF meeting.

Hou said Japan is in shortage of labour and it is keen to get locals to work in its construction and hospitality sector.

He said currently they are working on an agreement that would pave the way for this to happen.

“The new agreement on labour mobility with Japan will be ready in the coming weeks for signing,” the Prime Minister said.

He said Japan is interested to recruit people who already undergo training in tertiary learning centres like Rural Training Centres (RTCs), the Solomon Islands National University and Don Bosco.

PM Hou said locals who are selected will not train in Japan but work.

He said companies in Japan that are interested to recruit locals will request the number of workers it needed and those selected based on criteria will go straight and do internship and language before they commenced work.

“In fact, Japan plead to get people in thousands and thousands,” Prime Minister Hou said.

He said youths who missed out in secondary schools will have the chance when this program took off the ground.

PM Hou said it is clear from the labour mobility agreement this country signed with Australia that this country is disorganised.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade has been tasked to ensure this country is organised to take advantage of these agreements.

Hou confirmed part of the government’s effort to get this country organised is an expansion to be done to the MFAET.

He said a Technical Advisor from New Zealand is putting a framework on what needs to be done.

Part of the country’s preparation is a plan to host a labour mobility conference in Honiara next month.

Prime Minister Hou said all preparations should be completed this year so that by next year the country reaped the benefits of the labour mobility schemes it has with other countries.

It is going to be a huge conference and first of its kind. Pacific leaders are expected to attend this conference.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case against the former Member of Parliament for Central Makira Constituency Hypolite Taremae will be heard again today at the Honiara Magistrate Court.

This is the case against the former MP who has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and a PTC has been set he was arrested for allegation of misappropriation of fund in 2011 and 2013.

The allegation said Mr Taremae has misappropriated more than $200,000 for reafforestation project for Central Makira Constituency.

He was arrested and charged with conversion late in May this year.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for crown while Anderson Kesaka is representing the accused.