THE Government has yesterday announced that the voter registration list that will be compiled after this month’s voter registration process will be used for both the upcoming 2019 National General Election and all other upcoming Provincial Assembly elections.
The voter registration process began early this week and will conclude on September 27.
The Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) has issued a statement reminding the national population of this arrangement.
Under Secretary of MPGIS, Eric George said that any person wishing to contest as a candidate in any upcoming provincial elections must register in the province they intend to contest in as specified by section 14(c) of the Provincial Government Act 1997.
“This is an important reminder especially because many who reside in Honiara who do not register as a voter in their own province will not be eligible to stand as a candidate in upcoming provincial elections,” Mr George said.
The MPGIS urges any person who intends to contest in upcoming provincial elections to ensure they are registered in the register for their intended province.
A man in his 30s has been arrested and charged on September 3, 2018 for the alleged rape of a 19-year-old woman at the Henderson Plantation area east of Honiara.
The man has been remanded and is due to re-appear in court 14 days’ time of his remand date.
It is alleged the man raped the19-year-old woman at an area called Henderson Plantation, east of Honiara between 3 and 4pm on August 31, 2018.
The matter was reported to the Henderson Police Station on the same date of the incident.
The suspect was arrested by police on the same day and appeared in the Honiara Magistrates Court.
The accused is facing one count of rape codified to section 136F of the Penal Code Amended Sexual Offence Act 2016.
Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Guadalcanal Province Superintendent Nixson Manetoga says, “The alleged rape of the 19-year-old woman must be condemned in the strongest term. It is unacceptable act.
“Investigation into this matter is continuing and I appeal to members of the public in the Henderson Plantation area where the incident happen to come forward with more information to assist my officers with their enquiries.
“I want to acknowledge the support provided by members of the community so far and at the same time thank my hard working officers involved in the investigation resulting in the successful arrest of the accused,” says Manetoga.
Information can be passed anonymously to Henderson Police Station on phone number 36200.
THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is monitoring the registration of voters for the Solomon Islands National General Election 2019, since it started on September 3, 2018 in Honiara and throughout the country.
RSIPF Supervising Deputy Commissioner (DC) Operation, Joseph Manelugu says, “Officers of the RSIPF in Honiara and throughout the provinces are monitoring the registration process as part of their normal duties with people travelling to their registration centres scattered throughout the communities.
“The role of the police is to provide a safe, secure and peaceful environment to allow people to register their names to vote in next year’s National Elections.
“Any complaints about the registration process should be directed to the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission.
“Police officers will do regular patrols to the registration venues to ensure law and order is maintained.
“Unfortunately we are not able to be deployed to some of our most remote communities but if any situation arise police will respond accordingly.
“I appeal to the law abiding citizens across the country including visitors to refrain from unlawful acts and respect authorities during the period of registration of voters, the campaign period, the actual election, the counting of votes and declaration of the winning candidates.”
PRE-trial conference into the case against the former Member of Parliament for Central Makira Constituency, Hypolite Taremae, will be heard today at the Honiara Magistrate Court.
Mr Taremae had pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and a PTC was set.
He was arrested for allegation of misappropriation of fund in 2011 and 2013.
The allegation said Taremae had 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.
CHIEF Justice Sir Albert Palmer will today deliver the judgment on the two accused alleged of killing a Chinese business couple at their Town Ground shop, west Honiara, in April last year.
According to the Judge’s secretary the judgment has been listed for today 10am.
A trial was conducted last month in which the footage of the killing was shown in court during the trial.
This is the case against Raymond Keota and Jimson Goufi who face two counts of murder each in relation to the incident which occurred on April 15 of last year.
Police alleged that the incident was a pre-planned incident in which one of the accused on the matter was a security guard of the two deceased.
The allegation said that the accused Keota turned up at about 8.30pm on April 15 at the LGZ shop as was planned with Goufi the security guard.
Police alleged that Goufi shut up all windows before he walked to the main door facing the road and from inside wind down the door.
The allegation further said that the accused Keota when he entered the shop waste no time but attacked the male deceased who was busy with business papers.
Police alleged that Keota landed the knife twice on the victim before Goufi intervened and got hold of the same bush knife and repeatedly strike it on the victim, which subsequently landed him on the floor laying in a prone helpless condition
It was also alleged that Yuegui (wife), who was busy with her cooking heard something unusual at the shop and rushed to check.
When Keota saw her, he allegedly went straight at her at the Kaibar and attacked her with a kitchen knife.
It was the following morning when Goufi and the other female workers of the shop went to work that they discovered the couple were dead.
Police alleged it was Goufi who climbed the fence and went into the building and upon his return informed the female workers the couples were lying dead inside the shop.
Lawyers from the Public Solicitor’s Office represent the two accused.
Members of the frustrated group of Fataleka Electors at the Registration venue who staged the block protest against those who are believed to be part of a cross-border practice that continued to
affect the chances of genuine FK voters, to experience development and essential services
Frustrated electors protest for the registration of indigenous Fataleka constituents
By Gary Hatigeva
A group of frustrated Fataleka electors have staged a protest against their current Member of Parliament, in the form of screening or blockade, on people who attended to register under the Fataleka Constituency Registration booth at Town Ground.
The group led by a few chiefs from the Eastern Malaita region told Island Sun yesterday that what’s witnessed, which they call a blocking or screening protest, was done with intentions to ensure that only the indigenous people of Fataleka constituency are registered.
A Chief, Charles Uimauri, explained that this protest is staged in response to the cross border voting practice, which they alleged the current MP has been capitalising on in the last three elections.
Mr Uimauri said the original people of Fataleka have been denied public service benefits for far too long and this, they blame it on the issue of cross border voting, which had sucked out all that should have gone down to the indigenous people of the constituency.
The group admittedly said they have turned away a good number of people whom they know or suspected to be of no connection to the constituency either through marriage or blood.
The frustrated electors have vowed to see that the practice of getting people from other constituencies to vote in Fataleka, is put up with, for the sake of their marginalised people in the region who felt, have missed out heavily on all essential government services, which includes proper health services, education and infrastructure developments.
“It is like, the rest of the Solomon’s is moving into a new era in the development cycle while we remained in the early independence era,” Uimauri suggested.
Members of the frustrated group of Fataleka Electors at the Registration venue who staged the block protest against those who are believed to be part of a cross-border practice that continued to affect the chances of genuine FK voters, to experience development and essential services
Meanwhile, upon hearing the group’s activities, the office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) in a notice, called for the group to evacuate the venue.
The notice titled “Intending Candidates to remove tents within the OCC compound with immediate effect” that was sent through the Registration Officer, copied to the Registration Manager of Honiara, and the Police operations of Honiara City Council, stressed that the Electoral Commission had received complaints over the setting up of camps by intending candidates at the registration centre.
The SIEC Letter explained that it was never an intention of the commission to see that such activities happen within any of its premises, and is also subjected offences under the electoral act.
“Additionally, the OCC is national undertaking that provides services for forty seven (47) other constituencies across the country, and by having these tents/camps within the area, there causes for possible intimidating of eligible registrants that needs to be able to feel freely to register and not to be intimidated in any way,” the letter states.
The Letter however alleged that some of those in the highlighted groups, have notably went to the extent of directing and controlling queues to respective booths allocated for registration of certain constituencies.
The letter then reiterates that group’s presence at the venue has become a public concern for the past few days since BVR programme started, and have been told again to remove tents or camps from within the fenced premises, while at the same time enforced a prohibition of similar activities from repeating, but clarified that all these activities will not be an issue to the Commission if they are done outside the designated venue.
However, the frustrated group said the Commission has got its information wrong as they are not candidates nor are they members of any intending, but are basically frustrated electors who have for the last 12 years, along with most or the rest of the Fataleka constituency, being lied to and denied the benefits of developments and services that are deemed to have been given to the indigenous people of the region.
They warned that their concerns must be taken on seriously by both the Commission and those involved in matters they raised, and ensure they are dealt with, so to avoid any future issues that could worsened things.
But SIEC officials calls on the group to discourage any negative intentions, and reminded that the registration process is still in its first phases, and suggested for the frustrated electors to wait for the right time allowed under the law, the part of the process where names can be objected and omitted or removed if proven in public hearings to be held at the time.
“And if you think or can prove that certain persons or names are not of the Fataleka constituency, then they will be legally removed, and that is provided for under the Act.”
THE newly-elected president of Solomon Islands National Paralympic Committee (SINPC) will leave the country today to attend the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) 2018 Membership Gathering in Madrid, Spain.
President-elect Nihal Seneviratne is attending the gathering on behalf of the SINPC in his other capacity as the Solomon Islands Paralympic Chef De Mission for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan.
Mr. Seneviratne was accepted for the role after satisfying certain criteria as required by the IPC and the Oceania Paralympic Committee (OPC) and that led to his invitation for the trip.
The event in Madrid will be held this weekend – on Saturday and Sunday.
The objective of this meeting is to provide an interactive platform for all IPC members worldwide for strategic discussions and to exchange views on the IPC’s long-term development and so as discuss the upcoming international competitions.
“From now and onwards until the Tokyo 2020 Games, my focus is on three big events happening next year. They are the Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia from April 26 to 4th May 2019; Oceania Athletics Championship – Townsville, Australia from June 25th to 28th June, 2019 and the World Para athletics championship in Doha, Qatar from September 28th to October 6th 2019.
“All events are important ones on the calendar leading up to the Tokyo showdown.
“We are faced with a very big task of preparing our athletes to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Event. We are aiming to send a big team to Tokyo.
“Our entries have already been sent and athletes will represent Archery, Table Tennis, Athletics, Judo, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Swimming and Powerlifting,” Mr. Seneviratne said.
The new executive members of the Solomon Islands National Paralympic Committee.
BY ROMULUS HUTA
The new executive members of the Solomon Islands National Paralympic Committee.
THE newly elected president of the Solomon Islands National Paralympic Committee (SINPC) has vowed to take the organisation to new heights.
Nihal Seneviratne was elected as SINPC’s new president during Sunday’s meeting held at SIRUF conference room at Town Ground.
Speaking to SunSPORTS yesterday, Mr. Seneviratne promised to uphold the main pillars mandatory to the administration of the Paralympic body which includes good governance, accountability and diversity.
“I will also make sure that this organisation will also uphold the core values at the heart of the Paralympic movement – determination, inspiration, courage and equality.
“I’m humbled by this opportunity and look forward to work with the Paralympic movement in Solomon Islands where I wish to see more people living with disability are encouraged to get involve in sport and physical activity for the positive impact it can have on their lives.
“The Paralympic movement in Solomon Islands represents those unheard ones who also want to take part in sport. This organisation promotes positive values and we have a vision and strategy to help maximise our growth so that our people in Solomon Islands can be aware of the importance of the Paralympic movement here.
“Over the years, we have Para athletes who have represented Solomon Islands in international sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games and the Pacific Games and some have managed to come out with success by winning medals for the country, like any other athlete. On that note, I would like to see more of that in the coming years,” Mr. Seneviratne expressed.
“We expect the ride ahead to be tough and challenging where we would need a lot of support from the community, especially our main stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health and other agencies such as the National Sports Council and National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands plus other respectful sporting bodies in the country to move the Solomon Islands Paralympic body forward,” he added.
Meanwhile, following Sunday’s election, the other officials who were voted in to assist Mr. Seneviratne are Fa’amoana Topue (Vice- President), Casper Pule (General Secretary), Nina Davis (Treasurer), George Tapo (Executive Member), Nathan Siofa (Executive Member) and Hellen Teioli (Athletes’ Representative Executive).
Ms Polline happy with her corn-shell souvenir bought from one of the local carver from Marovo.
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO
WESTERN Provincial Capital Town was flocked on Sunday with tourists on board the biggest cruise boats from Carnival Australia to the Island Capital in Western Province.
A number Tourists visited World famous Kennedy Island, Saeragi Village, Oravae Cottage, Fat Boys Resort, Sanbis Resort, Epanga Island, Gizo Market, Imagination Island Resort, West Gizo and within Gizo Island.
Island Sun Gizo had a chance to interview tourists as they shared their experiences saying they were excited to visit Gizo Island and surrounding resorts for the first time.
Tourists wander through the market at the MSG building and see all the fresh produce on display and they enjoyed the warm welcome of the people so much along the street.
Tourists enjoying their visit at Gizo.
When tourists walk around, the streets is empty and they surprised at what they see because a number of shop were closed, no public traffic along the road and not majority people seen around street, but only few people included carvers only.
It is a beautiful and enjoyable day for the people as they welcome the cruise ship Pacific Eden to the Island Capital Town after the ship skipped Gizo last month.
Australian tourist Mr Mc Scott said he enjoyed and amazed at how clean and tidy the town was and enjoyed the amazing items on display at the market stalls, especially the wood and stone carvings.
He said the sandy island atoll where we went for a swim and snorkel was a paradise on earth. Western Province people are so lucky to have such natural beauty on their doorstep. The waters so warm and crystal clear, teeming with fish and coral was just so beautiful and paradise on earth.
Ms Polline happy with her corn-shell souvenir bought from one of the local carver from Marovo.
“I love to look at market venders because to our life in Australia where we can go to the local supermarket and get all our food.
“It was the most amazing place I have ever seen, but next time hopefully I will get to spend more time at Gizo discover the surrounding and the World War Two sites and cultural villages,” he added.
“My friends had a great day and we truly appreciated the highlights of Gizo. Lovely Island! The hidden Paradise on earth!”
Scott said he is hoping that one day will visit Gizo and other surrounding Islands to see the beautiful and coloUrful lagoons, reefs and Islands with different culture, believes and identities.
Tour guide distributing maps to visiting tourists.
Tourists have enjoyed the day with no public traffic, Empty Street with no visitors from surrounding Islands in Town as they enjoyed wander through Gizo town and surrounding tourism destination within Gizo.
The mega cruise boat, Pacific Eden which carries 2200 passengers for the eight times grace the shores of Gizo with passengers visited Gizo Island and other venues near Gizo during the ship’s eight hour stopover.
Visiting tourists discovering Gizo Market stalls upon their arrival.Carvers displaying their stone and wood carving along the road opposite Gizo Hotel.Tourists on their way to famous Kennedy Island.Kids enjoying their day in Gizo.
Chairman of Aoke Bay Fishermen Association, Mr Joe Taeanimoli.
BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI
Chairman of Aoke Bay Fishermen Association, Mr Joe Taeanimoli.
THE chairman of the Aoke Bay Fishermen Association has applauded the national government through MFMR for newly constructed Constituency Fishery Centre handed over to his association yesterday.
Chairman Joe Taeanimoli also acknowledged their MP, Matthew Wale for his support, the fisheries office under Malaita province and other stakeholders who helped towards establishing the fisheries centre.
He said fishing is the lifeline of the communities in the whole of Aoke Langa Langa, hence the role of then association is important if the coastal fishing industry is to benefit both members and the public.
Taeanimoli said as they’re operating a small fisheries centre at Lilisiana village with the help of Aoke Langa Langa constituency, this centre will add more values to the assistances.
He said having this fishery centre will make a difference in our conditioning of fish and importantly, ensuring that fish will meet public’s expectation and demand.
Taeanimoli said the daily estimated cash that spend by the public on fish in Auki ranges from $20,000 to $60,000.
He said the centre will increase the service not only for fishermen and women, but to those who sell fish and chips, motels in Auki and even to customers in Honiara.
Taeanimoli assured the MFMR that they will take great care of the centre with good use for service it will provide for the benefit of the public.
He appealed upon the MFMR that there are other areas of assistances on fish catching, fish handling, rafters and management they need for the boost of the centre.
Chairman of ABFA, Mr Joe Taeanimoli sign the handing over MOU as assisted by Deputy Director of Fishery (offshore), Francis Tofuakalo (right) and consultant Carlos Haikau (left) and look on at the back is Hon Matthew Wale.
