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Supervising Police Commissioner speaks out against kwaso

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SUPERVISING Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga has again called on public to refrain from selling kwaso to earn a living.

Speaking at the Commissioner’s weekly media conference yesterday, Ms Matanga said that there are many ways people can earn an income for living and resorting to kwaso should not be one of them.

She said that this week police raided two venues in relation to Kwaso production; one at Namoruka West Honiara and at the Fishing village Central Honiara.

A total of five suspects were arrested.

Matanga said everybody must stand together to speak out against kwaso, this sort of behaviour must be prevented.

“I want to make this call in support of the PPC Honiara City that we must all stand as one people in discouraging such behaviour in our communities.

“If communities and families work together such behaviour will be prevented.”

Matanga strongly urges people not to wait on things to happen before reacting, everybody must act now before it is late to discourage kwaso brewing and consumption.

She said that some reports reaching police on incidents of assaults and disorders in the communities was as a result of kwaso and people must be responsible as police cannot fight alone to end kwaso in this country.

Search for rape suspect on Goodwood incident still on

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE are still searching for the suspect in the alleged rape incident which occurred at the Goodwood area.

Supervising Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga urgeS the people who reside at the area to report to the police if they have any information regarding the incident.

She said a five-year-old was raped at the Goodwood area and police are yet to identify the suspect on the case.

“If someone saw that someone has been leading the five year-old last week at the Goodwood area must report to the police.”

Matanga condemned the incident and said that in the past weeks there were many cases of alleged rape on very young children from ages four to six, and ‘this is very serious’.

She said that everybody in the community should respect each other especially children and girls, and sexual abuse is sickening the Solomon Island’s community and must be stopped.

Police yet to confirm status of Renbel suspect

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

SUPERVISING Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga says that police is yet to confirm on whether or not the suspect arrested in the recent gruesome machete attack is mentally or not.

Responding to questions asked during a press conference on, Ms Matanga said there were speculations that the suspect is mentally ill, however she says those speculations will have to be proven by a psychiatrist.

Matanga said that the accused was arrested by police and was transported to Honiara with the assistance of the Australian Defence Force and is currently remanded in custody.

Matanga said investigation is continuing.

She also said that the suspect also is injured himself during the incident.

She also acknowledges the support made by the HMAS Australia for their resources used during the operation to transport the suspect and also the victims of the incidents.

Teacher absenteeism on the rise in Western province

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

TEACHER absenteeism is becoming a problem in the Western province, it is reported.

Speaking to Island Sun on Thursday, a group of parents affected by the problem say their children attend some of the schools in the province, and each of them face the same problem.

Spokesperson for the group, Mr Benson from Kolombangara, says it is worrying that teacher absenteeism is experienced in all the schools that their children are in.

This he says is a reflection of how serious the problem is in the province.

They are calling on education authorities, both national and provincial, to seriously look into the matter and address it.

“It doesn’t make sense in keeping teachers that cannot perform in higher academic level but hold on to teaching posts as secured source of income earning while the students leaning continue to be victimized at their home soil.

“I would like to call on teachers around Kolombangara Island who cannot be able to uphold the integrity of the teaching profession with poor working attitude to resign and giving replacement spaces for other potential teachers who can do better to teach our children.

“I would like to urges Western Education Authorities and Church include school administration to monitor and visit schools within Kolombangara Island to see some weakness that continue to abuse leaning of our children in communities.”

Why waste $20M?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Parliament

Gov’t called on to justify $20M Terminal Grant against low Development Budget

 

THE Solomon Islands Social Accountability Coalition (SISAC) is calling on the Government to rationalize its commitment of the Terminal Grant to MPs at the end of parliament term that will be charged against tax income.

SISAC members feel that such a huge payout is an excessive benefit for Members of Parliament who are already enjoying luxurious benefits and tax free salaries despite continued financial struggles in the public sector and a National Budget that is heavily dependent on donor money.

In the 2018 Development Budget only $9 million was allocated for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, $18 million for the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development while the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family affairs suffered the biggest cut with a budget of just $500,000.

The $20 million terminal grants is an unreasonable allocation and undermines all the development priorities and the commitment of the government towards its citizens.

Joe Oge, SISAC member and Chief Commissioner of the Solomon Islands Scout Association, says youth developments have been totally ignored.

“While 400,000 young people in Solomon Islands are allocated only $500,000 as a development budget, our MPs are getting $400,000 each,” says Mr Oge.

“SISAC understands that the Terminal Grant is a constitutional obligation, however our leaders and our government must put the interest of the citizens first.”

General Secretary of the Development Services Exchange (DSE), Jennifer Wate says the entitlements act needs to be revisited and the credibility of the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission (PEC) must be put into question.

“We want to question the government on their stand on this issue. What are their priorities and how significant does the entitlements stand over national issues?”

Ms Wate says SISAC supports the call made by Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) who last week called for the government to tax MPs.

TSI, who is also a member of the SISAC alliance, is concerned that the Terminal Grant will forego government revenue worth millions and is simply unfair for Solomon Islanders who are struggling to make ends meet with huge PAYE tax cuts.

SISAC insists that $20 million can be better spent on pressing development needs such as improving education, health facilities, addressing unemployment of young people and essential service provision to citizens of Solomon Islands.

SISAC raised three major issues;

  • Government spending tax payer’s money in an irresponsible manner and prioritising self-serving grants to MPs over development need must be rationalised by the government to its citizens.
  • Having members of parliament in the PEC is a clear conflict of interest. The entitlement’s commission for MPs needs to be an independent body to make transparent and accountable decision on the entitlements of MPs. PEC is not independent from MPs and the government.
  • Twenty million dollars of terminal grants to MPs in addition to all other benefits is contrary to the prevailing economic situation of the country. SISAC urges constitutional revision around the entitlement of MPs.

SISAC will put forward a written submission to the Constitutional Review Committee calling for amendments to the entitlements of MPs.

SISAC is made up of members; Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI), Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT), Development Services Exchange (DSE), Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII), Young Women’s Parliamentary Group (YWPG), Solomon Islands National Scouts Association (SINSA), Honiara Youth Council (HYC), National Youth Congress (NYC) and Oxfam in Solomon Islands (OiSI).

The aim of the coalition to promote inclusive development and enhance democratic governance and accountability among government and civil society institution in Solomon Islands.

–SISAC PRESS

Implementation of MWYCFA polices and Act hindered

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MWYCFA group photo

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

MWYCFA group photo

THE implementation process of the Women’s division policies and Act under the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) have been hindered by some ‘bumps’.

This was reported by Freda Tuki Soriocomua, Minister of the MWYCFA at the recent opening occasion of the Solomon Islands National Women’s Leadership programme in Honiara.

Tuki voiced the encountered challenges in implementing these policies and act rises from different aspects.

“These including having few staffs working at the women’s division, geography of our islands – scattered, transportations difficulties, not enough funds to implement women’s activities, traditional and cultural perception on women as a leader, not enough support to family care centre, not enough support to Christian care centre,” she said.

However if these challenges are being addressed there wouldn’t be any delay in fulfilling them (policies and ACT).

The delayed implemented policies and Act are the National gender equality and women’s development policy 2016- 2030 (GWED 2016- 2020). It is an overarching policy frame work achieving gender equality and women’s right in Solomon Islands IT have seen (7) policy outcomes.

Also the Solomon Islands Women, Peace and security National action plan 2017- 2021, National Policy to eliminate Violence against women and girls 2016 to 2020 and the Family protection act 2014.

Exclusion of women from the political domain a challenge to political engagement  

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Dr Alice Pollard

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

Dr Alice Pollard

EXCLUSION of women from political and decision making positions has been a challenge to active political engagement in Solomon Islands, says Dr Alice Pollard.

Mrs Pollard said the exclusion of women from political leadership and decision making positions is a serious and critical matter for all.

“Our absence at the key Political leadership speaks volumes, it is our core business and that is why we are sitting here today,” she said.

Pollard said the story of the Solomon Islands Political history shows that women’s political journey is one struggle, yet of persistence and remaining hopeful.

She said figures have shown that women’s political participation is low, it stated that we have only had four successful female candidates in our story and currently four successful female provincial members of three different assemblies.

“Our absence at these key political leadership positing means that our voices cannot be heard and therefore we are not involved in any debate on issue that affect our lives, issues that are dear to us women will not be placed are priority issues on any governments agenda and also indicates that the budget of attending to women’s issues receives low priority and low resourcing,” said Pollard.

She said it also means that women are ill-informed about government service’s and its program in which sometimes women become recipients of second hand information and poor power sharing and unequal decision-making which is thus pro males.

Pollard adds, the way forward to address these challenges is women must first deal with their ‘selves’.

“Change must first begin with us, we need to change our lenses. Change your lenses and put on a new pair of lenses. The way we see only men to be fit for the public domain or public space and we see women to be for the private domain needs to be changed today.

“Because our discriminatory perspective of women and men affects our choice of candidates and voting patterns,” she said.

Pollard said women are also fearful to participate due to the way they see their selves as unfit, uneducated, don not have funds or bring negative of their selves.

“Therefore I encourage us to work together and support each other in a new way with a new vision and rally together, actively participating together on issues that deeply concerned about women and get involved,” said Pollard.

Land dispute in Malaita

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, I disagree with the statement made by the Prime minister in public media on land issue in Malaita province.

The land dispute issue should be treated as part and partial of the policy and strategy of development for Malaita province because development cannot happen without land.

And so for any Malaitian leaders to isolate land dispute away from the development in that province only reflect poorly on the mindset that are ignorance and reluctant to address economic development in that province.

It is not right to compare Malaita with other sister provinces in the nation because of the huge population and patrilineal customary land ownership that has been practice and experience in that province that create favourable environment for more land dispute issues.

It is childish for our national leaders to blame the people in the provinces for land dispute issue because as elected leaders people are entrusted us to play our roles in addressing issues of concern that affect livelihood.

It is sad to say that for the last 35 years none of the effort and commitment from the provincial and national MPs from Malaita has been shown towards the land dispute related issues mounted to development in the province through establishment of right policies and financial assistance in addressing the issue.

While the billions of dollars of development funds as CDF has been poured into the province through the discretions of the 14 MPs, nothing tangible had seen happening, not single tiny percentage of those funding has been gears towards the land related issues within the province.

The customary chiefs and land owners are left alone struggling without funding and directive policies from the government dealing with the land dispute issue with lengthy and costly land court system practice currently in the nation.

There has been a poor working relationship with the national MPs and the provincial leaders when sharing ideas and priorities for the future welfare and development aspiration of the Malaita province is concern.

The people of Malaita have the legal right to ask and take into court their 14 MPs as where are the development funds such as CDF that provide purposely to develop Malaita province for the last 10 to 20 years has been used?

Our national leaders must be mindful when making public statement on the development related issues or else we are barking on the issue that we failed to address.

If the elected leaders failed to uphold their roles and obligations what are leaders for?

God bless the struggling people of Malaita province.

 

Jacob Ofasia

Talise market

Reply to Kahui

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, please allow me space in your paper to respond to Mr Henry Kahui’s comment labelled against me, the Ward Counsellor for Ward 7 (Mataniko) through SIBC from my duties and how I distributed my ward development grant, Christmas fund, and Social fund and Independence fund.

Mr Kahui, got the right to say but we have ways to deal with matters and problems. He comes out from nowhere and talks about issues within ward 7.

He is not registered in ward 7 but registered in West Are’are. Mr Kahui might be blind as he could not see what I’m doing and also he fails to turn up in my office as requested to see my records.

Mr Kahui if you are intended to contest in ward 7 in this coming HCC election that is your democratic right but make sure don’t use dirty politics to discriminate someone to gain support.

The yearly fun distributions are as follows;

  • Ward development grant $70,000 x 4= $28,000 ($50,000 from 2010-2017, now changed to $70,000 in 2018)
  • Christmas fund $30,000
  • Solomon Islands Independence fund $10,000

Expenditure for 2018 Ward Development Grant (WDG)

  • Primary School $70,000
  • Secondary School $83,000
  • SINU $53,000
  • Small project $44,000 to $250,000
  • Yet to pay $90,000 including Christmas and WDG

Mr Eric Tema

Ward 7 Counsellor

Third female PS

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, as a person who has great concern for development aspiration to heart, I wish to share my concern on the recent media releases both from Island Sun newspaper No 2985 on Friday 17th and media release from Government Communication Unit, of the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet dated 16.08.2018.

This is regarding the recent appointment of the third female Permanent Secretary to lead the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

The concern is in the light of the process involved in the processes undertaken in the appointment.

Whilst the general public appreciates the appointment, both media releases failed to highlight the fundamental issues required for a suitable candidate to fill such an important post.

The important issues are the relevant qualifications required for this technical post.

This is a technical ministry (MAL) an incumbent of this post requires the followings as the bench mark.

  • A pre-requisite qualification requires for the candidate must be a BSC degree and Master Degree in Agriculture and rural development from a metro-polythene University.
  • A required minimum of 10 years or more working in the field of Agriculture, which special emphasis in either, extension, research, livestock or quarantine with colossal experiences with local, regional and international connections.
  • Other management qualifications example, human resources management and other extra areas of interventions.

These qualification requirements are essential for the candidate to provide a sound and appropriate advice to the Hon. Minister Agriculture and Livestock.

This is important when the Hon. Minister is due to make contributions to important issues raised during Parliament debate from time to time and more importantly, during budget sessions.

I am of the view that the process involved in the recruitment is doubtful and the process is being influenced by politics.

This will result in under performance and will somewhat create low productivity in the agriculture sector for the next five years down the road.

And when it happens, responsible authorities must be answerable for such a stake of affairs in the agriculture sector.

John Harunari

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