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Solomon Islands faces ongoing passport shortages

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PS for MCILI Riley Mesepitu.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

PS for MCILI Riley Mesepitu.

THE demand for ordinary Solomon Islands e-passport is increasing.

Currently there are 5200 e-passport books in stock but this will not be enough to meet the current demand.

Speaking before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last week, Permanent Secretary (PS) Ministry of Commerce, Immigration and Labor (MCIL), Riley Mesepitu says 5,200 will not cater for the demand of travelling citizens of Solomon Islands till 2019.

Mesepitu was making this comment when he brought before the Special Select Committee a request of $900,000 to cater for an additional 1000 copies of e-passport books.

He said since the Government of Solomon Islands had signed an agreement with a supplier in Malaysia, the Ministry have been experiencing blank passport shortages.

“The major reason being that we have not been allocated adequate budget for this very important item under the recurrent budget.”

Mesepitu said for instance in 2017 they applied for additional funding from 2017 supplementary budget while early this year, they have to vie money from other divisional heads within the Ministry to meet the increasing demand while waiting for the budget proper 2018 and this time again through the Supplementary budget 2018.

“And this is another application because we are still encountering this problem and the pressure.”

He said this year they are anticipating an increase towards the end of the year and it will continue to increase.

He said there are a number of reasons that will see the demand of e-passports especially the renewal of expired passports and the applications for new passports that kept flooding their department.

Meanwhile Mesepitu also said this is a revenue earning activity for the government, thus it should be prioritised.

On the whole, he said more than SBD$10m should be generated on passports alone annually as revenue for the government.

This is considering the increase of the price of passport from $400 to $1000.

However the Solomon Islands e-passport can only be used on departure and on arrival at Honiara International airport.

Currently the Solomon Islands e-passport system is not yet compatible with other border systems.

Renbel Premier calls for calm

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Premier Collin Singamoana

By Barnabas Manebona

Premier Collin Singamoana

THE Premier of the Rennell and Bellona province has called for ‘calm and cooperation with police’ from the people of Bellona following last week’s gruesome machete attack which has left one dead and four seriously injured.

Premier Collin Singamoana says the tragic incident has shocked people of Bellona and Rennell, and is regarded as ‘very rare’, with people on the island still trying to come to terms with what had happened.

“But most importantly, at this moment the case is with the police and immediate family members and relatives of the victims I urge you please do not take the law into your own hand and allow police to take it from here and let the law of our country take its course.”

Singamoana, on behalf of the Renbel provincial government, conveys his condolences to the families and relatives of the victims.

According to police media, the attack took place on Friday last week, and has left one young girl dead and four others seriously injured.

The injured victims have been flown by chopper to Honiara and are now receiving treatment thanks to joint operation between the RSIPF and the Australian Defence.

The accused is also in police custody, and police have assured that they are dealing with the case.

Supervising Assistant Commissioner (AC), Provincial, Chief Superintendent Evelyn Thugea says, “I appeal to relatives of the deceased and injured persons not to take the law into their own hands but assist our investigators with information that will help with the investigation.”

A team of police investigators from Honiara are now on Bellona to investigate the fatal incident.

Pick-pocketing at central market bus-stop uncontrollable

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Old bus-stop in front of Honiara central market. Photo from SIBC Online.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THERE was confusion, chasing, yelling and fighting everywhere along the Central Market bus-stop last week Friday evening for more than four hours caused by pick-pocketing.

This huge nuisance experienced daily is worsening being too much now from understanding of citizens seeing even children being younger than their teenage years involving in it.

There seem to be no law or Officers working properly to ensure the safety of citizens from usual thugs commonly known as ‘Beligas’ in the country’s capital over which serious urge is on the table for responsible authorities to address such criminals of this nation that are causing too much nuisance for its general public.

“That evening was one of the worst times at the Central Market bus stop. I mean what was going on or that was experienced?” said a surprised local Henry Tivania among witnesses expressing the scenario of Friday evening as ‘lunatically unimaginable’.

“When people were struggling to get on board public buses to return to their respective homes after a hard day’s effort, here came these unprofitable thieves adding problems by trying to steal in between people going as far as even entering the public transports to do their stealing practice inside.

“While others shouted at another thief inside a public bus, another would be punched near another public transport and so which was too much of a scenario raising the question too in what are such people doing in Honiara. Or what is their purpose of living in the country’s capital.”

According to the general public, there should be strict law by the Honiara City Council (HCC) to do away with such practices as Officers should always be manning the streets for such people rather than just usually chasing harmless betel-nut vendors who are trying to earn a living.

“We struggle joining the workforce of this country to earn a day’s living as well as trying to make our environment a better place however at times now being common, we become victimised by lazy people who ruin us with their nuisance ways of stealing and creating problems for other people,” said locals within Honiara.

Pick-pocketing (Beliga) practise is not only witnessed daily at the Central Market but all over Honiara City’s corners too in which citizens strongly point that their safety should be a priority under the laws on this nation.

Not only that but how will the world view Solomon Islands if foreigners too apart from locals continue to experience such abnormal practices in the heart of its capital town which is a fact that will cause hiccup to this country’s development from many angles.

SINU cannot accommodate all school leavers, tertiary education sector needs expansion

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

ACCORDING to SINU’s (Solomon Islands National University) acting Vice Chancellor, Dr Prem Rai, there is a need to expand the tertiary education sector in Solomon Islands.

He stressed that all high school leavers cannot come to SINU given the reality that the university cannot accommodate or cope with so many students.

Rai explained that right now, SINU has seven and a half thousand full time students which is the maximum they can actually take in with the resources they have.

On top of that, he said they also have about 1,500 students enrolled in the flexible learning distance education programme.

Rai expressed that the university is promoting distance education for young people who cannot get a scholarship to study overseas or enroll at SINU.

“So don’t lose hope. For those who cannot get into the university or those who cannot get a scholarship to go overseas, you can still pursue education through distance flexible learning,” he said.

The acting Vice Chancellor also mentioned that they are promoting this program.

He emphasised that there is a need for the expansion of the tertiary education sector in Solomon Islands to cater for the high number of school leavers in the country.

“There is a need to expand the tertiary education sector. So all high school leavers can be able to pursue tertiary education which gives the skills and knowledge to emerge as a confident human being, a confident citizen,” said Rai.

Choiseul province demands apology from MEHRD over staff’s unruly actions

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE ministry of education (MEHRD) is being asked to issue a public apology after one of its staff caused a ‘shameful’ ruckus in Taro, Choiseul province.

The MEHRD officer, attending the National Education Conference in Taro, was arrested over the weekend and placed in custody by police in Taro.

It is reported that the MEHRD official arrived in Taro on Saturday from Honiara and was clearly intoxicated (drunk).

It was reported that he drove away in the Premier’s vehicle without consent when the vehicle was parked in front of the Choiseul Province Chamber. The Premier and his executive members were said to be having their official meeting at that time.

They only learnt that the vehicle was missing much later. It was reported that they had no idea on who took the vehicle.

They were only able to locate the vehicle after public told them that a drunk man was using the vehicle of the Premier.

The Premier and another member rushed to where the vehicle was reported to be located and removed the MEHRD staff.

They took him with them and handed him over to Taro Police for further investigation.

John Matapaza, MPA, Minister of Lauru affairs when contacted to verify the incident, commented that MEHRD owes a public apology to the Premier, the provincial government, the general public of Taro and the people of Choiseul province for the incident.

He said this is a shameful incident when a senior post holder in the Public Service acted like ‘Rambo’ in their peaceful province, while the Government and people of Lauru are preparing to welcome and host their guests.

Taro is currently host to a national conference by education authorities from around the provinces. The conference’s official opening is today.

‘Prepare for problem’

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Inside the Lecture Theatre (Working Progress)

Government’s 2018 Budget austerity measures puts SINU at huge risk

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

Inside the Lecture Theatre (Working Progress)

SOLOMON Islands National University (SINU) requests the national government to seriously consider their $40million submission for contractual payments or prepare to face major problems.

It is understood SINU faces the risk of being landed in court if it does not pay its contractors in time.

According to SINU’s Pro Vice Chancellor during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing into the 2018 Supplementary Appropriation Bill at Parliament last week with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) on their Supplementary Budget submission, the ongoing contractual costs for their two projects (The School of Education and Humanity Building Complex project and the school of Natural Resources and Applied Sciences, Research and Teaching Building) for 2018 total to $63M.

And currently, SINU has outstanding payments of $23M with the School of Education and Humanities Building Complex project.

One consequence which is also one of SINU’s big concerns if the national government does not seriously consider SINU’s Supplementary Budget Submission will be the legal implication on SINU for failing to meet its contractual obligation with contractors.

“So far the contractors have been tolerating the delays in payments but SINU Management has been told recently during the site visit to the School of Education and Humanities Building Complex project that their patience is running out. SINU need’s to meet its obligation in the contract,” said SINU’s Pro Vice Chancellor.

“Other consequences will be the problem of not enough classrooms and Office space that continues to exist seeing the enrolment numbers being expected to increase in 2019. Currently, hostels being used as Offices and classrooms create shortage of bed spaces.

“The next is SINU will not be able to achieve the results expected from the 2016-20 Strategic Plans and this is not good for the reputation of the university and the National Government as the only National University in the country.

“Finally there will be further delay on other important development projects that have been already planned and are now deferred due to lack of funding.”

From report, the School of Education and Humanities Building Complex project and the School of Natural Resources and Applied Sciences, Research and Teaching Building are two ongoing projects that SINU started in 2016 as part of its Strategic Plan.

The School of Natural Resources and Applied Sciences, Research and Teaching Building Project is expected to finish this year being at its finishing stage while the School of Education and Humanities Building Complex is expected to finish in the first half of 2019.

Submission for the $40M under the Supplementary Budget is to meet the ongoing contractual payments for these two major projects in particular the School of Education and Humanities Building Complex project.

The enrolment for SINU has increased by 65 percent since 2015 and to complete these two major projects within the expected time frame is very crucial as this is also to address the big problem of classroom space currently faced by these two schools.

SINU currently implements major infrastructure projects as part of the SINU Transitional Development programme which are now carried forward and implemented under the SINU Strategic Plan 2016-20 to support SINU implementing the Transitional Development Programme.

The government has made commitment to allocate funds for the development budget to meet the cost for these development projects.

In 2013 SINU was allocated $75M for the development budget and this amount was reduced to about $50M per year after 2013. Based on the commitment and understanding from the national government, SINU committed to implement some of the key infrastructure projects to meet the goals and developments of its Strategic Plan 2016-2020.

Reduction of the development grant budget raised the problem for SINU in not being able to meet its contractual obligations under these two projects.

“It not the end”: Fa’arodo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Solomon Islands U-19 players bow their heads in sorrow after their 3-1 loss to Tahiti on Thursday. Photo OFC.

U-19 squad out of World Cup dream

By Taromane Martin

Solomon Islands U-19 players bow their heads in sorrow after their 3-1 loss to Tahiti on Thursday. Photo OFC.

FORMER Solomon Islands national men’s soccer team captain Henry Fa’arodo Junior has sent words of encouragement to the national Under 19 players.

The national U-19 men’s soccer team were eliminated in the semi-final of the 2018 OFC U-19 Championship after losing 3-1 to host nations Tahiti at the Stade Pater yesterday.

“To my fellow countrymen – U19s Solomon Team. It’s another one that got away. I know how you feel, getting so close yet falling short. I guess out of every situation, there is always a lesson to be learnt,” Fa’arodo said.

“I hope you all learn something out of this experience and situation. May this experience give you a clear picture of who you are and what you really want to become as a footballer and as a person.

“Today it shows that the team who competed, the team that put in the effort eventually won the game. Apart from the loss, and the heartbreak, it’s not the end of it all.

“Its situations like this that can bring the best out of any one man that is if he uses this situation to motivate him to be a better player, a better person.

“In every situation, there is a lesson to be taken from. Whether it be in your group, in your team, or personally – there is a lesson.

“And it’s from these lessons that will make you become a better person, who the group, the team and you yourself can benefit from.

“Boys, you get to live through another day. Do not forget “you live, you learn”.

“I’m still proud of you all. From the coaching staff and management, to the playing staff. You still have my support. Go Solo Go,” the former Solomon’s international said.

Fiji girls too strong for Solomons

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Solomon Islands women’s captain Esmie Belo and Rowena Manu tussles for the ball against the Fijian.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

In Port Vila, Vanuatu

THE Solomon Islands national women hockey side succumbed to an 8-1 loss against Fiji in the World Hockey Series Oceania Qualifier currently underway in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The result marks an improvement from their previous outing two years ago where Solomon Islands lost by 9-0.

Fiji led scoring from the start leading by four goals to nil.

At the start of the second period Solomon Islands got its close through Hilda Kabini when she stretched her stick to meet a long range drive sent from Mary Usua inside the goal area.

Fiji added four more goals later in the final period to seal the victory.

Rowena Manu of Solomon Islands going past the Fijian.

The victory lifts Fiji into the top spot of the women’s competition table ahead of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga, respectively.

Solomon Islands team manager Winki Yee congratulated Fiji for the victory.

“Fiji played a better game and won. They deserved the result.

“Our girls lost their concentration and we got punished,” he said.

Fiji women coach Ana Finau said a win is important for their campaign.

“I’m happy with the result as it puts us in a good position to fight for the top position.

“Solomon Islands played well against us and I must congratulate them as well.”

Solomon Islands, having already recorded two losses, will play Tonga in their final round robin match today.

Hilda Kabini tries to go past the Fijian player.
Jeremie Oliver contesting for the ball
Mary Usua clears the ball.
Solomon Islands women’s captain Esmie Belo and Rowena Manu tussles for the ball against the Fijian.

Solo boys defeat Vanuatu U-18

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Junior Suimae keeps his opponent in check as he sets up defence.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

In Port Vila, Vanuatu

THE Solomon Islands men’s hockey team defeated the Vanuatu Under-18 side by a goal to nil in yesterday morning’s encounter of the World Hockey Series Round One championship currently underway in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

A goal by Leslie Satu earned the win for the national representatives.

The Vanuatu Under-18 both boys and girls are participating in this regional event as part of their preparation for the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina come October.

According to the official tournament fixtures, Solomon Islands had a bye yesterday. Their next match is against Fiji today.

With an opening 6-1 win against Tonga and followed by an 8-3 loss against the Vanuatu senior side yesterday evening, Solomon Islands trails in third place on the ladder behind Fiji and Vanuatu, respectively.

Ralph Masae tussles for the ball against the Vanuatu player.

Solomon Islands coach Winki Yee said the narrow win snatched against the Vanuatu under-18 side will reinstate a good team spirit for the boys as they regroup for a crucial encounter against the competition’s best team today.

“The boys put in a good fight. We have many chances but they could only afford one goal. A win is a win and I’m very happy.”

Speaking ahead of the encounter against Fiji, Yee said they are ready and will throw in everything against the mighty Fijians.

“We played only match today (yesterday) and we are having 24 hours of rest before our next match.

“No injuries in camp at the moment and this is good news for us,” Yee added.

Junior Suimae keeps his opponent in check as he sets up defence.

The round robin matches of the competition will be completed by today and teams will enter into the final play-offs tomorrow.

The fixtures for the play-offs will be determined by the official standing after all round robin matches are completed and that is, the first placed will play the second, while the third will get a go against the fourth.

The competition concludes tomorrow evening with the presentation at the Wan Smolbag Stadium.

From left – Solomon Islands hockey manager and coach Winki Yee, Samson Auga, Jack Donga and Patteson Akipu.
Masae reaches for the ball in yesterday’s match against Vanuatu.
Paul Luiramo controls the ball against Vanuatu.

South Vella Soccer and Netball comp postponed for next year, date to be confirm

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MP for South East Vella la Vella Constituency Hon. Alex Lionel

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

MP for South East Vella la Vella Constituency Hon. Alex Lionel

THE return of the South East Vella Constituency Cup and Netball tournament program at Maravari Village has been put on pause for next year.

Member of Parliament (MP) for South East Vella la Vella Constituency Hon. Alex Lionel Gora said the postponement comes due to abrupt changes with the committee members, forcing the games to be postponed for next year.

“I tried really hard to make sure the tournament kick off on June to July this year,” he said.

“However due to unseen circumstances occurring in such a short span of time we have agreed and decided to move the tournament for next year.

“In the meantime I would like my committee members to take a step forward and regroup to make sure we make the tournament the best one and give our young local talented and skilful players living in rural area the opportunity to play come the New Year,” said Hon. Alex.

He said a number of football clubs are now preparing for the upcoming tournament to improve their sport club status for 2019 with the hopes of competing in various football clubs on the Island.

Hon. Alex hopes the competition will help the sports men and women in the South East Vella la Vella Constituency to stay committed to football and netball.

“I apologies to all the sports men and women in the South East Vella La Vella Constituency for the cancellation of the games.

“However I would like to call on young football club to continue with your preparations for this upcoming tournament on the Island,” Hon. Alex said.

Sambora Sky team are the reigning soccer champions of the South East Vella games. They were crowned champions for a second time in 2017 after defeating Eleoteve Hornets 2-1 in the grand final match.

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