SOMATA Village in the Russell Islands, Central province has become the latest village on the island to set up rules to prevent crime from happening in their community.

The Somata Village rules were launched during an awareness talk at Somata Village conducted by police officers from Yandina Police Station on July 22, 2018.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Central Province Superintendent Patricia Leta says, “The Village Chiefs and Crime Prevention Committee (CPC) Members of Somata village came up with their Village rules.

“The rules are to discourage youth from playing loud music after late hours, using abusive words and unnecessary disturbances in the village while under the influence of liquor.

“These are the main issues happening in their communities. A fine will be imposed on those breaching the rules.

“A village Chief, Mark Rangilaoi decided to come up with the village rules to resolve minor cases within their communities. Any fines paid for breaching the rules will assist the community to meet the expenses as members of the Crime Prevention Committee move from place to place to resolve issues.

“I would like to thank the members of the CPC and Village chiefs for this great initiative and I to appeal to all the good people of Central Province to follow this great example. It is a high time that we make changes within our own communities. We don’t wait for changes to come. We should initiate changes ourselves.”

So far three communities within the Russell Islands already have their village rules. They are Losioleni, Sifola and Somata.

Speaking during the launch of the Somata Village rules, Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Yandina, Staff Sergeant Thomas Fakatonu says, “I would like to thank you for taking such initiative so that you have control over anti-social behavior happening within your community. I urge you all to adhere to these rules.”

Fakatonu also spoke about law and order and the expectation of the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIPF) for members of the community to assist police prevent crime.

–POLICE MEDIA

MEDIA Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) commends the government for passing the Anti-Corruption Bill (ACB) 2017.

The bill now an act of parliament was debated this week and finally passed by the members of parliament on Wednesday.

“The passing of the ACB is a positive step for the country towards the elimination of the corruption and therefore on behalf of the media in Solomon Islands we acknowledge the government for its commitment in ensuring that the bill becomes an act of parliament,” said President of MASI Charles Kadamana.

He added that corruption is a great impediment towards our country achieving its development goals and tackling it does not happen overnight but the passage itself shows the first important step therefore the Media would also like to commend the government.

Kadamana however calls on the government on the need for the act to be gazetted, operational and enforced as soon as possible. It is not until then that we are truly on the road to fighting corruption.

The media plays a crucial role in the fight against corruption in brining allegations of corruption to light and fighting against impunity and MASI is working closely with its partners and members to ensure that capacity of journalists in investigative journalism is enhanced.

The President however highlighted that whilst MASI is working on this, it is also aware that reporting on corruption is often risky when laws to protect journalists and the media are not in place.

“Hence we will be working closely with relevant authorities to ensure greater protection for journalists and the media overall in reporting corruption however this is the first big step that we have achieved. Let us continue to work together to fight corruption.”

–MASI PRESS

By Mike Puia

THE World Heritage Committee has noted serious concern over a threat issued by one of the landowning tribes in East Rennell, on Rennell Island, Renbel province.

In a letter purported to represent Tuhunui tribe that was send to the World Heritage Council, the tribe threatened to walk out of the East Rennell World Heritage Programme by withdrawing all its lands.

According to a map annexed to the letter, the tribe marked their customary land which comprises a significant percentage of the lands within East Rennell.

The letter claimed the tribe had held a meeting and reached a decision to withdraw all its customary land from the World Heritage Programme in East Rennell.

The letter also stated that all previous negotiations regarding the nomination of East Rennell and subsequently its World Heritage status were made by community elected groups and not tribes who owned the many land areas.

It further noted that it also opposed the proposal by the Solomon Islands government to declare East Rennell as protected area under the Protected Area Act 2010.

Other members of the tribe openly expressed that they were not aware of this letter.

The World Heritage Centre responded by sending a letter to the government for comments. The government has yet to respond.

This is the second time the government has failed to respond.

Earlier, the World Heritage Committee requested the government to submit its report on the state of conservation of East Rennell World Heritage property. The government did not get back with the requested report.

The World Heritage Committee stated that since the government failed to submit a report, it is unable to identify any corrective measure in getting the East Rennell World Heritage property out of the World Heritage Site Danger list.

East Rennell, which hosts the largest inland fresh water lake in the Pacific insular, was scripted on the World Heritage List in 1998. In 2013, the site (which is customary owned) was listed on the World Heritage in Danger list.

Reasons attributed to the site being put under the World Heritage in Danger list are logging, invasive species, over-exploitation of coconut crab and other marine resources, climate change and legislation, management planning and administration of the property.

With a new threat coming from landowners, the Committee appealed to the government to seek technical and financial support to address this issue.

The Committee calls on the international donor community to support the government’s effort in this regard.

The Committee recommended that the government invites a joint World Heritage Centre and International Union for Conservation of Nature reactive monitoring mission to visit the property.

The Committee wanted this mission to visit the site and understand the complex interplay of customary rights within the property, take a facilitating role in dialogue between different stakeholders and communities and evaluate how the concerns expressed by landowners in the area can be addressed, whilst fully respecting their right to self-determination.

The Committee stated the mission should be able to provide timely advice to the government on possible measures regarding the property in that to help the property achieve State of Conservation for Removal.

The Committee stated the mission would also hold consultations with landowners and follow-up with international partners and ministries regarding the development of alternative livelihoods.

The Committee stated it wants this mission to assess the current state of conservation of the property and the progress achieved in addressing threats identified in previous state of conservation reports, including invasive species, bauxite mining and logging.

The Committee confirms there has not been any update on the results of the national Round Table meeting, organized by the government in August 2017. The meeting was to discuss future strategies for the property with customary owners, land users and other stakeholders.

The Committee stated the letter submitted by the Tuhunui tribe is a serious concern on the practical modalities of customary ownership, management and decision-making.

One of the main concerns landowners and land users in East Rennell repeatedly raised was that few tangible socio-economic benefits have emerged from the 20-year World Heritage programme.

The Committee stated that the development of livelihoods for the local communities that derive benefits from the conservation of the property should be a priority.

The government, through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), did not get back to this paper when contacted for information on this matter.

By Gary Hatigeva

PARLIAMENT has adjourned its debates into the Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2016 after Prime Minister Rick Hounipwela moved a motion of adjournment of the house.

Following its second reading with moves to have it debated and placed for its third reading, members of the other side of the House requested for any debates into the bill to be suspended for a suitable timeframe.

The request according to the group, was to give them the ample time to thoroughly go through the bill, so to stir and bring about constructive debates and scrutiny especially when going into the committee’s proceedings of it (bill).

The Prime Minister, then accepted the group’s request and moved a motion of special adjournment with anticipation for a well debated proposed legislation.

The motion was voted on and got the support of members from both the government and opposition including the independent group, who suggested the bill was a crucial one as it will accompany the recently passed Anti-Corruption Act.

In accepting the special motion’s votes, Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for South Guadalcanal, David Day Pacha adjourned Parliament to today, but the Bill is unlikely to be set down for debates because Fridays according to Parliamentary Standing Orders and Proceedings, is a Private Members Motion day, and the Bill can only be debated if the Committee of the Whole House permits.

On Monday, Prime Minister Hounipwela brought the Whistleblowers legislation, which was tabled in Parliament, and was put up for its second reading yesterday with hopes for it to be debated and possibly passed, but it will have to wait for another sitting date.

The whistleblowers protection bill aims to protect people who come forward with information on corruption.

The proposed legislation also covers people who report misconduct and maladministration.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister explained that the bill is expected to contribute to the effectiveness of the proposed anti-corruption law which the prime minister is also seeking to have enacted.

By Alfred Sasako

AT first they kept their distance. On Wednesday the distance vanished into thin air as North West Guadalcanal MP, Hon Bodo Dettke, drove the Noni farming message home.

And who could be better than Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela, his Deputy Manasseh Sogavare and other key ministers to be in your audience? Inside the Sir Paul Tovua complex at Vavaya Ridge was a captured audience of the powers that be?

It is here that the National Parliament House, often referred to as the Roundhouse, sits. It is here, the seat of power, was where North West Guadalcanal Constituency MP, Hon Dettke, had a congregation of sorts.

“I am very, very pleased about the outcome of our meeting,” Hon Dettke told Island Sun later.

“The meeting went very well and it seems even government ministers were all onboard,” he said.

Hon Dettke was on Wednesday night finalising a “thank you” letter to Prime Minister Houenipwela.

“That letter will list all the salient points made in the presentation, which explains the huge economic benefits that Noni farming could produce for individual farmers, families and indeed the nation,

“I simply told the Hon Prime Minister, his Deputy and others that the 140 plots we signed off earlier this week would produce $7 million a month, once we have started harvesting only after 18 months.

“Once we’ve signed up the remaining 160 others, we’ll be reaping $14 million a month. So tell me, is this no good for the country?

“It was a very good meeting and I thank the Prime Minister and his Deputy and other ministers for their time,” Hon Dettke said.