BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE Commissioner Matthew Varley says cybercrime is one main focus in the recent Police Chiefs meeting held in Nauru.

He said 21 Police chiefs around the Pacific attended the meeting.

He said during the meeting they looked at major crime threats and trends that affect the Pacific and how they can work together to tackle them, and this year’s focus on cybercrime was the important one.

“We look closely at the cybercrimes trends that are affecting the pacific countries and we were given some very good briefing on that as well as immerging threats around the areas of online sexual exploitation of children including things such as the online spreading of child abuse material which is something affecting a lot of countries around the region,” Varley said.

Also part of their discussions they also looked on how they can improve their cooperation on investigation and prosecution of online offending and also they looked at a recent study that was done with the support of the Australian Attorney General’s department and the Pacific Islands Law Officers Network PILON.

Varley said it was a study of the legislation gaps across the pacific in relation to Cybercrime and it is something that we need to look at very closely as compared to some countries we do have gaps in our legislations to address cybercrime.

Though have good coverage for offences against children but there are things we can learn from this field of expertise around the Pacific to make sure our legislation and procedures are up to date.

However the good news is the RSIPF are already preparing for increased exposure to cybercrime in the future with couple of cybercrime trainings already conducted for our officers with the support from Australian colleagues.

DEAR EDITOR, Lauru Land Conference of Tribal Communities is very concerned about the tabling of the Traditional Governance Facilitation Bill that is before the parliament.

Lauru Land Conference of Tribal Community is the biggest Non-Government Organisation in Choiseul. It deals with Traditional Governance.

It is concerned because the government did not include it in their consultation in Lauru, but very selective and involved just a few chiefs that have been lured to hear just one side of what this bill is about but the implication of this bill on the power structure and traditional governance of Lauru.

In Lauru there are just over 300 tribes/clans a record that was compiled in early 1980’s.

This means that there are more than 3000 Chiefs of Tribal/Clan Heads Province.

These 300 Tribal/Clan heads must be consulted. Those heads consulted are not representative of all the heads of these Tribes/Clan but of themselves and very questionable their tribes.

Lauru Land Conference objects to this top down superimposed foreign structure.

Lauru Land Conference of Tribal Community has been working on this for 38 years and therefore the authority on Traditional Governance in Lauru has not been consulted but it is a must that it is consulted.

Lauru Land Conference strongly believes that the area of Traditional Governance should be left to the people of each province to decide.

For Lauru as may be the case for other provinces, in practice traditional governance are further divided into tribes, clans, sub-clans, villages and communities.

Lauru does not have anything in its structure that equates to the word chief. These concepts are foreign concepts and not traditional.

As we advance each clan, province, must work out what is best for them and not be imposed upon by what is in the Bill.

LLCTC asks the government to pay due respect to clans, tribes, families etc. to decide.

LLCTC asks that the bill be withdrawn, and further inclusive consultation must be carried out first, especially when the bill targets customary land.

Improving of Traditional Governance in Lauru Custom is more than what this bill is targeting Customary Land, using improving traditional governance to hide this fact.

A new nationwide structure of “chiefs” in place, will make it so easy to go around existing processes whenever that is convenient, especially for development activities on customary land.

Already the logging companies are corrupting the Chiefs that will be empowered here over the ownership of tribal land and properties, something foreign and not traditional.

The Tribes own the land and not the Chiefs. The bill needs scrutiny by the people.

LLCTC agrees with our learned lawyers’ views that rushing this bill through the parliament is very irresponsible and is bad law making legislatures of this country.

As President of Lauru Land Conference of Tribal Community I call on the Prime Minister to delay the tabling of this bill and take it back to the people for more wider inclusive consultation.

Lauru Land Conferences theme song is based on the equal participation of men and women of Lauru and this bill is the opposite and lack gender sensitivity.

Finally, in the final draft of the Federal Constitution which is now in the Office of the Constitutional Reform Unit, ready to be officially handed to the Prime Minister at its proposed ceremonial and historical event in Auki, Malaita Province, there is an authentic provision in the framework of a Community Government in every State Government.

In summary, Traditional Governance has its time, place, and customary authority in the Community Government, and to be rashly influenced by foreign interests as currently manipulated, is not only pre-empted the values of Lauru custom but is undermining the foundation of Lauru Land Conference of Tribal Community.

Rev Graham Mark

President LLCTC

THE Office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) has warned intending candidates or their agents from influencing the Voter Registration process.

In a press statement, SIEC said the BVR update exercise must be carried out freely without influence.

“People must register freely base on their legitimate area of residence,” the statement said.

SIEC said intending candidates or candidate agents found to be influencing the Voter Registration process such as encouraging people to register in constituencies where they do not reside, will face consequential punishments in accordance with the new electoral laws.

SIEC also appeals to eligible registrants to do the right thing by registering where they reside.

“Do not be influenced by anyone, because you risk being removed from the electoral roll if caught.”

SIEC calls on intending candidates and voters to do the right thing.

“Let’s allow the process to be executed freely and smoothly. Do not influence the process and do not be influenced.”

SIEC warned that during the displaying of the provisional list, people will check for names that appear in constituencies or VRCs.

“Therefore if your name appears in a VRC or under a polling station but you do not reside in that area, your name will be objected to during the process of Omission and Objection.

“It is therefore safe for people to register where they reside to avoid missing out in the upcoming National General Election.

The Nation-wide BVR update started today September 3rd, 2018 and ends on September 27th.

SIEC urges eligible voters to look out for registration teams in their respective constituencies in order to register to vote.

–SIEC PRESS

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE Ministry of Fishery and Marine Resources will hand over a Community Fishery Centre to the people of Aoke Langa Langa today.

The fishery centre located in Auki is one among five other CFCs in Malaita province which will also be handed to the people by the government.

Principal Fisheries Officer of Malaita Province Fishery office, Mr Martin Jasper said the CFC will be hand over to the people and to be administered by them.

He explained that the programme came under the national government through MFMR aiming at contributing to the enhancement of the livelihood of rural people through fishery.

Jasper said the establishment of CFCs throughout the country will encourage local fishermen and women to fish and sell the product at the fishery centre.

He said under the programme for Malaita province there were five CFCs namely, Honoa, (East Are Are), Hauhui, (West Are Are), Auki (Aoke Langa Langa), Malu’u (North Malaita) and Foufo (Baegu Asifoloa).

Jasper said the CFCs were equipped with solar, refrigerators and two 40hrs OBM and boat were also given to two among the mentioned CFCs as it will also roll to others.

He said after the handing over of the CFC project to the people of Aoke Langa Langa the team will go down to Malu’u on Wednesday for handover of a similar project to the people.

Jasper said under the programme there were 16 CFCs built in Guadalcanal, Malaita, Makira, Central Islands and Choiseul provinces.

The programme was funded by New Zealand Government through Making Solomon Strong in Fishier (MSSIF) in partnership with the Solomon Islands Government.