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Come forward with evidence

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, this is a response to the media statement by the acting police commissioner titled ‘come forward with evidence’. Relatives of the person that burnt the police ray-boat and 40Hp engine at Karie village, East Wainoni, San Cristobal on June 6 will present evidences of reckless harming and physical abuse in due course at timing convenient to us.

The impartiality of your Police Professional Standard and Internal Investigation is doubtful after RAMSI left, seeing your aggressive media cover up of mistreatments on suspects.

How independent and neutral will the Police Professional and Internal Investigation you laughably recommended us to forward our evidences to, when this case involves burning of your ray-boat and engine? However, it will be handed to your good office once it is ready.

We respect the police’s duty to arrest suspects and bring them to court, that’s the job you are being entrusted and paid to do from public purse.

The suspect cannot just burn police properties like that, he has his own reasons.

Case one. The suspect was not happy with Kirakira Police because they failed to carry out a court decision for the people who killed his pigs pay him compensation if not police to confiscate their properties to sell to cover the cost of his pigs.

Kirakira police failed to carry out that order. He made all attempts by writing letters to the PPC, sending verbal request about that case and appeared in person at Kirakira police but with no respond.

Case two. The suspect was so concerned about one of his relatives who went missing in a canoe trip from Waimapuru to Kirakira station in February 2018.

The incident happened on a fine day at about 11am to 12 midday.

Surprisingly the two persons who travelled with the missing person were never questioned by the police because the driver come from the PPC’s village.

In fact the case needs further investigation because the other two person had some land issues with the missing person regarding logging operations in our area.

The most complex issue was the announcement by the PPC when the elders gathered in Kirakira that the Solomon Islands government is responsible to meet the life of that missing person.

Case three. This is the recent case which triggered the suspect to react since he is known for his psychiatric illness.

The unprofessionalism of the PPC and Kirakira police who confiscated their 070 STIHL chain saw, worsened the situation and increased distrust.

The chain saw is owned by the suspect’s brother and he is the custodian of the saw.

The chainsaw was hired by the Seventh Day Adventist Church to cut their logs for their church building at Naokeke village.

Mr Samson Weao collected the saw from the suspect and left with the saw to Maniono village.

Kirakira police received a report that someone stole chain saws from Nana logging camp.

Namuga police went to Samson and forcedly took the saw from him even though he was trying to explain the ownership of the saw which he is using.

Namuga police took that saw to the logging camp to prove that the saw is one of the stolen ones from the camp.

The camp manager told Namuga police that it was not theirs, the serial number was different.

However, police instead of returning that chain saw to the suspect, they returned to Kirakira police station with it.

After numerous attempts by the suspect’s brother Josiah Gapu Hasi and Samson Weao begging police to return that saw they kept it in kirakira without any good reasons at all.

The Nana logging camp’s stolen chain saws were collected from Harry Weape of Wetate village on June 6, 2018.

The thieves who actually stole Nana logging chainsaws were arrested and kept in Kirakira police cellar.

The suspect told police that they should return his chain saw since they have arrested the thieves who stole the logging company’s chainsaws, PPC failed to return that saw and kept it unnecessarily at Kirakira police station.

Kirakira police should be blamed for the burning of their OBM and rayboat because they are ones who intimidated the suspect.

The above incidences have forced the suspect to act in that way by burning the police OBM and rayboat.

The PPC Kirakira and his officers should not excuse themselves because they knew very well that he is a psychiatric patient.

It is worth mentioning that whenever logging companies report incidences of stolen or damages done to their properties, police always act promptly compared to when ordinary citizens of Makira Ulawa province reporting theirs to police.

Furthermore, relatives have the right to question police on the disproportionate force applied, brutality, reckless harming and abuses that followed upon and after arrest.

The denial to immediate medical attention after arrest for wounds inflicted during police arrest is violation of Human rights.

He was refused medical attention even though a medical vehicle was waiting outside the police station for about 45 minutes.

The doctor and eye specialist waited all day for the suspect. He was released for medical check after 11 days.

Did police acted within the law? Relatives have the constitutional right to question police and bring their side of the arrest story to light.

This is what made both acting Police Commissioner and acting Makira Ulawa PPC irritated – the truth from our point of view.

The truth must be revealed so that such ill treatments to suspects destroying or damaging police properties be dealt with fairly, according to law, Human rights must be uphold and respected at all time.

We do not want to see police force acting like a mob of undisciplined gang manning the country’s law and order.

Law abiding citizens must not remain silent because silence breeds corruption in RSIPF and all government institutions, if left unchecked.

What acting Police Commissioner and acting Makira Ulawa PPC were not smart enough and could not hide from the world was when the suspect arrived at Kirakira Seafront Landing Area, hundreds of people from within Kirakira Township and nearby villages; present, witnessed his swollen blackened face, bruises on forehead, red eyes and torn trousers – that appearance to his sister was heartbreaking and the reason she was using the media to protest against the police.

This is what the two most senior policemen could not and will never be able to censor from the world.

The truth is always painful and will remain rock solid no matter what happens.

It is shameful, worrying and irresponsible for these two most senior policemen to behave and act the way they do, trying desperately to deceive the world.

Thank God, the suspect was taken to Kirakira during broad daylight otherwise police will be successful in suppressing the truth from the world.

They must be reminded that the truth will hold and will prevail no matter what, to God’s judgement day. Surprisingly, people taking photos at Kirakira seafront area then, using mobile phones had their mobile phones confiscated by police, an action that prevents free press and pushes to limit our freedom of expression through photography.

Were these “Australian trained and equipped RSIPF” taught to hide the truth?

His two relatives that visited him on the day of his arrest referred to by the acting Police Commissioner were his two sisters.

They made their complaints through SIBC world blo iu mi dated 06/07/2018 and Solomon star dated 11/07/2018 because they knew raising their complaints to Kirakira police would fall on deaf ears and unfortunately is also paralysed.

Stagnancy resulting from being too long in Makira Ulawa province is an urgent agenda for your postings in 2019, so that the reputation of police is respected and trusted once again in Makira Ulawa Province.

Our intent was to stand up strong and bring the dark side of their “good story” to light so that readers, listeners and followers have a fair presentation that, during execution of their duty to arrest and bring to justice our relative, police committed atrocities that were unlawful.

They must be prepared to hold those responsible for tainting police reputation answer for their dirty actions.

In doing so, we relatives hope to have a more HONEST, accountable, impartial, transparent, responsible, respectable and dignified RSIPF, carrying out national security, law and order duties for our country – Solomon Islands.

 

Wesley Heramate,

Nakuhu Village, East Wainoni,

Makira Ulawa Province

‘Technical audit’ will deal with flaws in health ministry: PM Hou

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela with the FSII executives at the meeting on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela with the FSII executives at the meeting on Wednesday.

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has met with the Executive of the Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) at the Paul Tovua Complex, Parliament, on wednesday.

The meeting was in response to a letter sent by FSII to the Prime Minister last week concerning the medical drug shortage in the country.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister has acknowledged the concerns raised by FSII in the letter, with the Prime Minister agreeing that “the shortage of medicines in the country is an indication of a Ministry performing well below par”.

The Prime Minister informed the FSII Executive that as a result of the seriousness of the issue, he convened an Urgent Meeting of Caucus on Sunday, July 15, to initiate a plan of action that has now seen the stabilisation of the situation.

An ‘action plan’ was put in place to address 5 objectives and that is to:

  1. Urgently quantify the size of the drug shortage situation;
  2. Put in place processes to locate, procure, mobilise essential and life-saving drugs into the country with utmost priority, using all avenues available to government;

iii.            Stabilise the drug shortage problem;

  1. Identify the causes of the problem and take appropriate action;
  2. Ensure this incident never repeats itself

“The drug shortage situation has now stabilised, and the country should be back to full supply by September. This full stock will last us until June / July 2019,” he said.

The Prime Minister assured FSII and the country that the drug shortage situation will not happen again under his watch.

“Our procurement process for 2019 is already well advanced, and our tender will be put out to pre-qualified suppliers by September this year, meaning our full stock will arrive by March / April 2019 – 3 months before our drugs stock are expected to run out,” Prime Minister Hou said.

The Prime Minister also informed the FSII Executive that he has directed an urgent enquiry, by way of a ‘Technical Audit’ on the whole drug procurement system.

“This situation must never happen again and that is why I have directed a technical audit. A Commission of Enquiry is likely to take a much longer process so as a matter of urgency I have directed an urgent ‘Technical Audit’ instead, on the whole drug procurement system with a critical assessment of the various steps in the procurement process for 2018 essential drugs and consumables,” he said.

This audit will assess:

  1. the whole procurement system and the process followed for this year’s supplies – from beginning to end;
  2. the people involved in the process within and outside of MMHS – their roles, responsibilities, acts of omissions and commissions;
  3. other factors that may have contributed to the problem; and
  4. Make recommendations for appropriate actions and interventions that will need to be taken to hold people responsible accountable, and ensure this event is never repeated in future;

Prime Minister Houenipwela also expressed his gratitude to FSII for raising the issues of national concern with him.

President of FSII, Mr John Kwaita also thanked Prime Minister Houenipwela for the opportunity to meet with them and listen to their concerns.

–OPMC PRESS

Two-4-One gives cash to HBA towards NRH

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Two4One Band Leader Mr Donald Bato with members on the background hands over $5000 to HBA Chairman Mr Benjamin Afuga on Wednesday.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Two4One Band Leader Mr Donald Bato with members on the background hands over $5000 to HBA Chairman Mr Benjamin Afuga on Wednesday.

THE Two4One band donated $5000 cash to the Honiara Band Association (HBA) on Wednesday towards the National Referral Hospital’s drug shortage crisis.

The donation was officially handed over to the HBA’s Chairman Mr Benjamin Afuga and the handover ceremony convened the band members and supporters.

The donation came after Two4one participated in a live band performance to raise funds towards the NRH’s drug shortage which was held recently at Rove Police ground.

Band leader Mr Donald Bato said after they participated in two shows at Rove the band decided to look more seriously to providing more support.

He said the donation is what the band had agreed for to support NRH to help sick patients in response to the situation.

“Band members are excited about the initiative HBA take the lead of which we involved in, and we are happy to pledge $5000 towards the hospital.

“We show our support because the hospital belongs to us and our brothers, sisters and children access the facilities and currently NRH is facing drug shortage, at least we do something.”

HBA’s Chairman Afuga thanked the Two4One band for the donation, which he said will go towards the charity concert in aid of NRH’s medical drug shortage.

“We hope this donation will put together and paid the much needed medicine hospital need to save life and I believe the medicine will safe life someone really need medicine.

“This is the beginning of many more charity work we will do and as musician we have big influence to raise funds, not only in Solomon, everywhere in the world musicians can use their talent to raise funds for charity.”

Meanwhile, the Two4One band comprises of eight members.

Their first come back live performance was during the Melanesian Art and Festival recently and this is their first donation – plans are underway to do more as part of giving back to the community.

Bus short routes still continues

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Buses

By Ezekiel Talatau

EIGHT months on since the implementation of the new bus routes by the Honiara City Council, and we still see a few wayward bus drivers running short routes.

Honiara City Council (HCC) city mayor Andrew Mua had announced earlier this year that any bus that fails to follow the bus route will be fined a penalty of $20,000.

Mr Mua also said an interim task force will be monitoring the short bus route and report to the town council executive.

“Commuters will also monitoring the bus as part of to enforce the new bus route,” he said.

Meanwhile, some concerned citizens believe that the HCC is weak to enforce its laws.

Sharing via social media, members of public say that short bus routes are still being run every day from Kola Ridge to Kukum SDA church, and others from Lungga to Kukum.

One person, who wanted to remain anonymous, tells Island Sun that HCC needs to re enforce and take strategic action to those bus owners and bus drivers who breach HCC laws.

He added that HCC’s interim taskforce needs to step up in their monitoring of the short bus routes issue.

“The public also need to address any issue related to short bus route and report to HCC monitoring team so that they can do something about it,” he said.

TSI lauds PM for passage of whistle blowers bill

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

TRANSPARENCY Solomon Islands (TSI) congratulated Prime Minister Rick Hounipwela for the passage of the Whistleblowers Protection bill 2016 through the parliamentary processes into an Act.

Parliament passed the Whistleblowers Protection bill 2016 into an Act on Tuesday afternoon.

Transparency Solomon Islands says the passage of the bill is a clear demonstration of Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (SIDCCG) government to roll back corruption in Solomon Islands. “Thank you for listening to the cries of the people of Solomon Islands.”

It is encouraging to note that the new Act was passed with amendments to clauses relating to Interpretation and Protection from Liability and ‘Victimisation’ after a long of deliberation at the Committee of the Whole House and Third Reading.

During the bill’s debate this week, the country’s only two female MPs were quite vocal in supporting it.

They told Parliament that maladministration and misconduct will be reduced when the Whistleblowers policy is passed and enforced.

The Whistleblowers Protection bill 2016 aims to protect people who come forward with information on corruption.

–TSI PRESS

Isabel premier lauds PM Hou’s leadership

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela (right) and Premier of Isabel Province, James Habu after their meeting at the Paul Tovua Complex. Photo from PM Press Secretariat.
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela (right) and Premier of Isabel Province, James Habu after their meeting at the Paul Tovua Complex. Photo from PM Press Secretariat.

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has been applauded for his leadership in preparing the way forward and beyond.

Premier of Isabel province, James Habu applauded the dedication and commitment in leading the country when he paid a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister Wednesday morning.

“I wish to congratulate you [Prime Minister] for your hard work and commitment during your short time since elected into office. I also wish to congratulate you for restoring confidence to the people of this nation,” he said.

Habu during the meeting also raised issues relating to the 2019 Budget, telecommunication, infrastructure and health and resources sectors with the Prime Minister.

The Premier encouraged the Government to make sure the 2019 National Budget is reflective of the development and inspirations of his province.

Habu also raised the issue of the shortage of health personnel’s in his province.

He said the province has been experiencing this problem for years which has led to the closure of some provincial clinics.

He said improving the current state of the provincial health sector can help to reduce the number of referral cases and cut expenses for the responsible authorities.

Habu also raised concerns regarding the implementation of the Provincial Government Strengthening Program (PGSP) that is coordinated by the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS).

Prime Minister Hou in response has acknowledged the issues raised by Premier Habu stating that most issues raised have been taken note of by the Government.

Hou also acknowledged that telecommunications and infrastructure development remains a challenge for successive Governments.

“With the ongoing progress of the undersea cable project, there is hope that it will improve telecommunications in the country in the near future,” he said.

Moreover, he said infrastructure remains a vital sector and that the government is working on assessments to address the infrastructure needs of each province.

Hou also acknowledged the need for the government to address the resources sector within the provinces.

He said that sectors like the minerals sector needs strong regulations and compliance measures to be in place.

“It is important to have strong regulations and compliance measures in place to attract good reputable investors,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister thanked Premier Habu for raising issues of national interest with him urging him to continue to work closely with the Government.

–OPMC PRESS

Police warn communities of bomb blasting in Alligator Creek

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team will conduct a live demolition of bombs at Hells Point, in the Alligator Creek East of Honiara today.

Officer In-charge (OIC) of EOD, Inspector Clifford Tunuki says, “The Hells Point Demolition Range in Central Guadalcanal area will be active from 8am to 2pm on August 2, 2018.

“Fishermen, farmers, hunters and the general public in the Henderson area, Alligator Creek and Tenaru School areas are kindly warned to keep out from Hells Point while the Operation is in progress.

“This is a normal EOD task aimed to reduce the amount of Unexploded Ordnances stored at the site to a minimum level.

“The Air Traffic Control Tower at Honiara International Airport will coordinate the firing of each serial. No serial is to be fired without specific air clearance and permission from Honiara Air Traffic Control Tower.

“An EOD Operator/Technician from the RSIPF EOD Team will be posted at the control tower during this operation from the actual times of the Demolition and completion time.”

–POLICE MEDIA

3 felling licences issued in two years: Manetoali

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Member of Parliament for Gao/Bughotu, Samuel Manetoali

By Gary Hatigeva

A total of three felling licences were revealed to have been approved and issued under the basis of agro-forestry in the country, between 2017 and this year.

This the Minister of Forestry and Member of Parliament for Gao/Bughotu, Samuel Manetoali revealed when questioned on the total number of felling licenses issued with grant of profit, by the Member of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga, Matthew Wale.

In his response, Minister Manetoali explained that no records are indicated for the grant of profits, but clarified that licences were mostly for felling, which includes harvesting of tubi trees for commercial purposes and clearance of sites for development programmes.

The Minister further explained that in 2017, the ministry issued one for the purpose of harvesting of Teak trees on Rendova Island, which was issued to Teak growers of Rendova and Sunway Company limited.

He added that the other two were within 2018, where one was for the tourism development on Basakana Island on North Malaita constituency, while the other was for the economic growth centre development for Gao/Bugotu constituency in Isabel province.

In the term of growth centre, Manetoali said this license can be issued for the clear felling of trees on proposed sites for the purpose of developments.

He then highlighted that following the felling of trees, they should not be allowed to lay idol to rot, but should be used to earn money that would help meet some of the demands that are factored in the costing of these developments.

He however reminded and warned that those lands that are under the status for developments and people are applying for felling licences, must be clear from legal issues and are in steady nature, otherwise, any licences for clearance of sites will be questionable, and might not get approvals.

The grant of licences according to the Forestry Minister, were issued under section 4 of the Forest Timber Utilisation Act.

Big bill, careful

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
The Aoke/Langalanga MP, Matthew Wale

Strata titles bill not carefully scrutinised, Wale requests more time

By Gary Hatigeva

MEMBER of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga and Chairman of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC), Matthew Wale, has called on the government to give Parliament especially, the Committee of the Whole House, more time for the thorough scrutiny of the strata titles bill.

The Aoke/Langalanga MP stressed this in fear over what he deemed, as a weak review of the bill in its initial stages before it was brought into parliament.

He said this bill is so technical and even those who will bare primary responsibility for its implementation have expressed a lack of technical knowledge in it, which he stressed as an additional worry.

The BLC Chair further stressed that this alone cannot stand against it but it points to the areas of need to ensure that the bill if it is enacted, can be implemented smoothly, and the recommendations of the bills committee mostly point in the same direction.

“Sir as you alluded to earlier that the bill is a big one, and so I ask that the Prime Minister allocate more days than usual, for the committee stage, maybe all of next week, so that we can do justice to the parliamentary mandate for supervision, oversight and scrutiny of legislations.

“This is because, I am not sure if this bill has received a detailed review in both caucus and cabinet including the bills committee,” Wale added.

Therefore, he suggested that there is a risk anticipated, because the bill has too many clauses and schedules, but more so, because it is both too technical and complex, it will not receive the proper due parliamentary scrutiny the constitution expects of members as legislatures.

“So please, allocate good amount of time so we can deal with it properly, and as you can see, from yesterday [Tuesday], only 10 clauses were in the whistle-blowers bill, and these 10 clauses had taken us to scrutinise it almost or all of yesterday, which it shouldn’t have happened because it is a straight forward bill,” the Aoke/Langalanga MP added.

The government had earlier announced that they are anticipating the debates of the bill yesterday, put down for scrutiny in the committee stage today and have passed, but the BLC Chairman thought that with the nature of its size, any passage of it will likely be an unjust to the bill.

But Wale however reiterated that parliament needs to do justice and not take the call into consideration for what he termed as, a very important bill.

It is understood that the Strata Titles Bill 2017 has a total of 171 clauses, with a good number of subclauses that come with it.

Strata title according to the Bill’s objective, is intended to facilitate higher density development in Solomon Islands while protecting the interest of persons who buy units in such developments.

It was also initiated to help address the issue of shortage of affordable residential accommodation in Honiara.

On an international view, it is a form of ownership devised for multi-level apartment blocks and horizontal subdivisions with shared areas, and the ‘strata’ part of the term refers to apartments being on different levels, or “strata”.

Strata title was first introduced in 1961 in the state of New South Wales, Australia, to better cope with their legal ownership of apartment blocks. Previously, the only adequate method of dividing ownership was company title, which had a number of defects, such as the difficulty of instituting mortgages. This term also applies to house-type strata title units in Australia.

Other countries that have adopted the Australian system (or a similar variant) of apartment ownership include, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia), Singapore, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Fiji, Philippines, India, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and neighbouring Vanuatu.

Other countries have legislation based on similar principles but with different definitions and using different mechanisms in their administration.

Strata Title Schemes are composed of individual lots and common property. Lots are either apartments, garages or storerooms and each is shown on the title as being owned by a Lot Owner.

Common Property is defined as everything else on the parcel of land that is not comprised in a Lot, such as common stairwells, driveways, roofs, gardens and so on.

Junior Kurukurus to know YOG opponents by Aug 23

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Junior Kurukuru last year

BY ROMULUS HUTA

THE national under-17 futsal side destined for October’s Youth Olympic Games in Argentina will know their pool opponents by August 23.

This follows the announcement made by FIFA regarding the schedule for the men’s and women’s futsal tournaments at the Buenos Aires 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games.

Participating as the sole Oceania representative in the futsal competition, Solomon Islands join Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Costa Rica, Panama, Italy and Russia for the men’s event. The final two teams to make up the total of 10 teams for the men’s are yet to be decided.

The 10 teams will be drawn into two pools of five teams – A and B.

For the women’s, competing teams are Japan, Thailand, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Colombia, Tonga, Portugal and Spain, and they will be drawn into two pools of five each as well.

According to the outline announced by FIFA, the top two in each pool will progress to the semi-finals.

Action will take place across two venues, the Main Futsal Hall and the CeNARD Hall in Buenos Aires.

Football’s world governing body have confirmed that matches will begin the day after the Opening Ceremony on October 7.

There will be seven days of group play, concluding on October 13 before a rest day.

The semi-finals will then be held on October 15, before the second rest day of the schedule.

October 17 will see the women’s gold and bronze medal matches, before the men’s a day later on the day of the Closing Ceremony.

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