THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) reaffirms its support towards the Government’s proposed plans to develop existing airports including supporting infrastructure around the country.

At the same time SICCI urges the Solomon Islands Government to remain committed in seeing these projects come to fruition as it will link people and markets, create more economic activities and eventually lead to growth in outer parts of the country.

Prime Minister Hon Rick Hou officially re-opened the Parasi airport in the Southern region of Malaita Province last week accompanied by the Acting Minister for Communication and Aviation, Hon Jeremiah Manele who used the occasion to outline some of the airport development projects the ministry plans to implement in the next couple of years.

Once successfully completed, SICCI is of the view that these projects will open the door for investment and businesses not only in the capital Honiara, but throughout our provinces. It will also link us to our people in the rural communities.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dennis Meone said improved infrastructure and reliable means of transportation creates a good environment for businesses to prosper and welcomes the proposed airport development projects.

“The transport sector is an important element of the economy and a conduit for development. Our islands are geographically spread and remote and it will always be an issue to reach outer parts of the country but the airport projects will provide alternative means of travel. This is great news for the country and we acknowledge the government for taking lead and our donor community in making it a reality.

“I fully concur with the statement made by the Prime Minister last week that there is a need to enhance infrastructure development to connect other sectors such as tourism, medical, commerce, education and maritime,” Mr Meone said.

The CEO further applaud the work of the Airport Taskforce setup under the Ministry for Communication and Aviation for their tireless efforts in leading negotiations and the landowning groups for having foresight to visualize and look beyond today and opening up their land for airport operations to resume.

Under the Provincial Airport Upgrade, the New Zealand and the Solomon Islands Governments will design new airports for Lata, Temotu Province; Seghe, Western Province; Suavanao, Isabel Province; and Taro, Choiseul Province.

There is also the Honiara International Airport Improvement Project, funded by JICA and co-financed by SIG which will deliver, a new Departure Terminal, an additional new taxi-way, a new Control Tower, the expansion of Apron to the east and refurbishment to the International Terminal.

–SICCI PRESS

By Alfred Sasako

THE Board of Directors of Levers Solomon Ltd [LSL] and Russell Islands Plantation Estates Ltd (RIPEL) have warned unsuspecting land buyers in the Lungga area in east Honiara, to watch out for “unauthorised” vendors selling land and issuing receipts which they say are suspects.

“Do not be fooled, do not be cheated, do not be coned,” Directors John Kapentana, Maurice Mae, Augustine Rose, Oliver Salopuka, Marion Wong and Patrick Wong, said in a full page advertisement published on Page 5 in today’s newspaper.

The directors said they were informed last week that someone was issuing sales receipts similar to the one shown in the photo below.

“This photo is an unauthorised receipt and is a fake. It is forgery and is potentially Fraudulent. This is now being investigated by RSIP,” the advertisement said.

It said someone was last week arrested by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) on matters relating to this. “Police are now trying to retrieve monies paid,” the public announcement said.

“There may also be other fake Documents, including documents like Land Transfer forms, Sales Agreement and request for Consent from Commissioner of Lands and so on.

“Be warned that LSL has not issued any such receipts in the last 18-24 months. This includes any receipts or other documents, including Land Transfer form, issued by unauthorized persons, and which could be back-dated; showing a date 18-24 months ago,” the warning said.

“The public is warned that this is a common trick to backdate receipts and documents. It is highly advisable, if you have such a document, showing a date 18-24 months ago to come forward and get a fresh document signed by current directors,” adding LSL would not honor any dealings unless money was paid to genuine LSL bank account or paid to an authorised director.

“On the contrary of honouring such dealing, the Company (LSL) may instead seek to rectify it, and you could potentially lose your hard sweat.

The Directors named the “unauthorized persons” as Wim Van Vlymen, John Whiteside, Clement Natei (or his servant), David Iro (or his servant) and others.

“These unauthorized people, still believe that they hold authority and are meeting with Government Department (Lands, Company Haus, Registrar General, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Members of Parliament as well as the Office of the Prime Minister.

“The Company says you should seek proper advice, as you are likely to be wasting your time dealing with unauthorized individuals,” the public announcement said.

“To avoid any harm to yourself, deal only with the appointed Directors, who are: Oliver Salopuka, Maurice Mae, John Kapentana, Patrick Wong, Augustine Rose or Marion Wong.”

The directors also claimed “some people are forging the signatures for the above Directors.”

“LSL will be pushing for these people to be Criminally Charged, including their accomplices. As mentioned above Whiteside, Van Vlymen and others are unauthorised.

“It is wise and prudent that anyone doing any Land Dealing, to demand from the person signing receipts and documents to show some form of identification, example Drivers Licence or Passport.

“There are staka (lots of) fake people pretending to be someone else.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE trial date on the case against the former premier of Guadalcanal province is yet to be set as the defence counsel has issues with the tentative trial date that has been set by the court.

Appeared before the Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea the Public Prosecutor told the court that a tentative date was already set and the appearance on Monday was for counsels to confirm the date.

Meanwhile DCM Iomea said that from the record in the file the Magistrate who presides over the case already set a tentative date but that date will not be convenient for the defence lawyer.

Magistrate Iomea also said the presiding Magistrate refuses to change the date and asked to re-allocate the case to another lawyer.

A lawyer from the Public Solicitor’s Office Lazarus Waroka who appeared in court then said that the accused did not want another lawyer to represent him therefore Panga’s case has not been re-allocated.

Mr Waroka also told the court that from instruction obtained from Panga’s lawyer September 10 will not be convenient but he wants the trial date to be fixed for April next year.

Magistrate Iomea then adjourned the case to Friday to allow Mr Panga’s lawyer and the prosecution sort out the trial date with the Magistrate who will preside over the case for trial.

This is the case of Stephen Panga who was charged with one count of abuse of office in relation to incident occurred when he was a premier.

Police alleged that Mr Panga allegedly misappropriated the sum of around $10,000 of money received as part of his duties.

It was alleged that he received the money as a false rate payments from a local member of the community.

Police recently said that Panga’s case was a historical case as it happened way back when he was the Premier of Guadalcanal Province.

Public Prosecutor Bradley Dalipanda is appearing for the crown.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE man convicted for one count of grievous harm has been sentenced to two and half years yesterday for assaulting another man at Rauni village, North east Guadalcanal.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea in sentencing the accused said the maximum penalty for grievous harm offence is 14 years imprisonment and that reflects how serious the legislators view this type of offending.

Magistrate Iomea said having had the opportunity to consider the sentences that the courts have imposed in past cases where accused person had pleaded guilty to this same offence, he believes they serve as useful sentencing guidelines in considering the sentence to be imposed in the current case.

He also said that no two cases are the same so each case must be treated on its own unique set of facts, when deciding the appropriate sentence to be imposed.

He then told the accused that in deciding the sentence to be imposed in the case, he will be mindful of the court’s duty to continue to send a deterrent message to the Public that the kind of offending is totally unacceptable.

Therefore he imposed a sentence of three years and considering the accused’s guilty plea he then deducted six months and the accused will serve two years and six months in custody and his total sentence will be back dated to the time he was placed in custody.

This is the case against Reginald Eloga who was charged in relation to the incident occurred in April this year at Rauni village.