THREE male persons have been sentenced to four months in prison after they were found guilty by the Honiara Central Magistrates court on July 23, 2018 for causing disturbances at Lengakiki in West Honiara on July 22, 2018.
The trio was playing very loud music from the booth of their car causing disturbances to the nearby residents that night.
“The defendants were warned twice by a member of the community to turn their music down, but did not comply,” says Provincial Police Commander Honiara City, Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga.
“Police officers were notified of this report and the trio was arrested and charged for the offence of Common Nuisance contrary to Section 172 as read with Section 21 (a) of the Penal Code and were brought to court and found guilty of the charge.”
They were all sentenced to four months in prison.
“Common nuisance is an offence that is commonly committed by many especially at night time causing disturbances to community members.
“I urge members of our communities to continue to work together with the police to curb such unwanted practices,” says Uiga.
PEOPLE who will be involved in or will choose to report matters of corruption to the Anti-Corruption Commission or Integrity officers have been reminded to take note of procedures and requirements that come with the new Anti-Corruption Legislation.
Deputy Prime Minister and the MP who had championed the AC Bill to its realistion, and now passed, Manasseh Sogavare made this reminder, following questions of anonymity raised in parliament yesterday, in relation to the AC Bill.
The DPM and Finance Minister reminded that people who will make complaints must be prepared to face it, and therefore take heed of the fact that their identity will at some point along the investigation, be revealed.
In his contribution on the area of anonymity, the Member of Parliament for Aoke Langalanga, Matthew Wale suggested for the identity of the complainant so that the accused know who their accusers are.
Also sharing similar sentiments, the Leader of Opposition and Member of Parliament for East Malaita, Manasseh Maelanga highlighted that the issue of revealing the identity of accusers should be well spelt in the bill because the accused has the right to sue people for what might be seen as defamation of characters.
He said so many have used similar opportunities to tarnish others only because of jealousy and personal grudges, as well as petty issues.
“That is why this issue needs clear indications as to how the clauses are laid in the proposed legislation regarding the issue of anonymity.”
In addition, Member of Parliament for Shortlands, Chris Laore questioned whether people with special needs especially, those who can’t speak for themselves, if the bill has captured the recognition of usage of sign languages for their reporting of complaints.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General, James Apaniai in support the Deputy Prime Minister’s explanations, referred to clause 57 in the Act, as a defence for officers to disclose identity of complainants in the process of the investigation of reported cases if required.
The Attorney General added that in the case where officers of the commission tempered with the information or secrecy of complainants without approval or being required, those who wish to take legal actions due to damages felt, the subjected persons can camouflage the AC Commission in it.
Therefore, people who feel their rights have been abused and images been tarnish, can take action against the commission in general and not the officers.
This is similar in nature in the case where information to protect both the anonymity and the matter against the accused are leaked through lower ranked officers, take for example, by a cleaner, the Prime Minister said it is the officer who carelessly left the documents exposed, will be held responsible.
THE National Referral Hospital (NRH) is still without blood analyser machines, despite government assurances that the storm over drugs shortage has blown over, it was revealed this week.
“The NRH is without blood analyser machines. Clinicians are now relying on a private laboratory and manual analysis, which takes a lot longer for the result to come through,” sources told Island Sun.
Despite the urgency to get the machines, the procurement requirements by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury in buying the machines are adding delays to these life-saving machines to Honiara, NRH Chief Executive Officer, Steve Aumanu, told Island Sun from Fiji on Wednesday night.
“For reasons of wear and tear over prolonged heavy usage, three laboratory analysers broke down at different times during the last 6 months. This is unusual and very unfortunate,” Dr Aumanu said.
“These analysers are: 1 Haematology 2. Biochemistry and 3. Electrolyte,” Dr Aumanu who is on annual leave told Island in an email from Suva.
“NRH Laboratory services are affected and tests are being done manually or are being sent to VanuLab (private lab) for analysis whilst steps were taken to find funding to procure new replacement analysers,” he said.
“Other tests not at all done here have always been sent to Australia.”
“The services provided to NRH by the VanuLab are at times irregular and costly but they are analysing patient blood tests in the meantime and supporting the NRH Clinicians,” Dr Aumanu said.
He blamed reduced funding for what is what is happening at the NRH, which he said was allocated only $3 million in our Development Budget for 2018 which has been used for other priorities at the beginning of 2018.
“This is the budget line for such capital Medical equipments,” he said.
“Faced with this no-funds problem, I sought direct consultation with the Prime Minister’s Officials to source direct funding approval to purchase these three life-saving analysers.
“In less than a week, through a cabinet paper; Cabinet approved funding under Contingency Warrant (CW) of about NZ$238,200.00 to purchase the three analysers.
“This cabinet approval was confirmed in the second week of July.
“I was extremely happy but it is the SIG Procurement process/ Finance instructions that must be complied with and that frustrate everyone. The procurement process is now being progressed through Ministry of Health and Medical Services and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“These analysers will require REAGENTS to function. There is SBD$2M for this sitting with National Medical Stores budget which must also be sourced separately to procure these specific reagents.
“Again, I am doing the right things always with concern and urgency but the normal Finance, Procurement compliance SIG systems are beyond my control,” Dr Aumanu said.
“… if NRH ( CEO) has powers over its own budget; I can react briskly to the regular emergencies occurring at NRH without having to face these delays which are unacceptable for a Hospital.
“There is so much that needs to be done for the NRH ( I can give a whole lecture on these needs) but there is not enough resources allocated to it every year in the budget. In fact NRH Budget continues to be reduced.
“Maybe the recent medicines & supplies ‘commotion’ and the NRH Visit by (the) Prime Minister was an opportunity for the public to demand better resourcing to Health and NRH,” Dr Aumanu said.
Acting City Mayor Eddie Ngava has called on members of Parliament to
provide support towards medical drug shortage.
BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
Acting City Mayor Eddie Ngava has called on members of Parliament to provide support towards medical drug shortage.
ACTING City Mayor Eddie Ngava has called on members of Parliament to step in and render support in the national issue – medical drug shortage.
He expressed this sentiment at the officially handing over of medical supplies by Namson Tran (MP for West Honiara) to three clinics in his constituency.
Ngava said the donations of the medical drugs are from one MP but if the 49 others step in with the same initiative it will lessen the country’s medical crisis.
“Hence I hereby challenge the other Parliamentarians who if on their own way rendered support to our clinics in each of the constituency then we’ll have gone a long way,” he said.
The total cost of the medical drugs is $250,000 and this amount of money came directly from Tran’s personal funds, purposely to help address the country’s drug shortage problem.
The three clinics Tran supported are Mbokona Clinc, Rove Area Health Centre and Whit River Clinic.
The medical drugs supplied to Mbokona Clinic include; Benzathine Penicillin injection 24s, Cloxacillin Capsules 250mg 1000’s, Cloxacillin Susp 125mg/5ml 100ml,Sterile Water for injection, Needle gauze #23, Salbutamol inhaler 5mg 500’s, Crepe Bandage 10cm x 5m, Crepe Bandage 7.5cm x 5m, Crepe Bandage 5m x 1.5m, Procaine Penicillin 24’s, Paracetamol 500mg 1000’s, Paracetamol 100mg 1000’s, Septrin tablet 480mg 1000’s, Cotton Wool roll 50g, Ibuprofen tablet 200mg 1000’s, Magnesium Trisilicate tablet 1000’s, Zinc Oxide plasters 6’s.
A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to two years and nine months in prison after being found guilty in the Honiara Central Magistrates Court on July 23, 2018 for stealing.
The young man was convicted on charges of house breaking and committing felony contrary to Section 300 (a) of the Penal Code for which he was sentenced for two years in prison and a further nine months for a count of simple Larceny contrary to Section 261 (1) of the Penal Code.
Both sentences are to run concurrently which means he will serve two years and nine months in prison.
“On July 20, 2018, the complainant left her home for the Central Market in Honiara. Before she left, she securely locked the door of her home before leaving for the market,” says Provincial Police Commander, Honiara City Chief superintendent Alfred Uiga.
“After she left the accused went to her house and forced the door open and went in and stole $1,600 belonging to the complainant’s sister and bought beers for his friends.
“The victim returned home and found that the door of her home was half opened and it was in a mess.
“She then reported the matter to police. Following investigations, the suspect was arrested, interviewed and taken to court on July 23, 2018 and found guilty of the incident and sentenced to prison.
“I want to remind young people that stealing is an offence that carries serious penalties. Refrain from doing such illegal activities.”
Reporting corruption cases requires physical presence: AG
By Gary Hatigeva
THE government was questioned if the Anti-Corruption Bill 2017 has any provisions that looks at the nature of which complaints on corruption matters are reported, other than the current form.
This was raised as there were concerns over issues of accessibility and distances, which most from both the Opposition and Independent groups share similar sentiments.
According to Clause 35, which looks at how corruption complaints are made, sub section one of it explained that a corruption complaint may be made by any person to the Commission, either directly or through an integrity officer.
But the Aoke/Langalanga Member of Parliament, Matthew Wale questioned whether there were other provisions that provide for other forms of reporting of complaints to be made.
“Especially, for those in the rural areas or where there is lack of accessibility to both the commission and integrity officers,” the Aoke/Langalanga MP said.
Wale further asked if other means have been looked at especially with regards to usage of technology to report complaints on corruption, especially in the usage of mobile phones and emails.
However, when responding to the questions and concerns, Prime Minister Rick Hounipwela explained that the points are well noted, unfortunately, for the time being, what’s highlighted are the only means factored to be used.
Hou suggested that maybe sometimes in the future, things as such, including usage of videos and other forms, are incorporated.
But in the case of reporting orally, as questioned by the Member of Parliament for Northeast Guadalcanal, the Attorney General explained that complainants must report matters in the sense they must appear before the commission or the integrity officer.
The Northeast Guadalcanal MP during his contribution in the proceedings of the Anti-Corruption Bill, was asking whether reporting orally as stated in the Bill (Act) also covers reporting of complaints through phones.
It was explained that the information given by parties implicated could be exposed or tempered with and therefore the physical presence of complainants on corruption is important, but the government is confident that after its passage, areas highlighted can be added if needed or necessary.
THE Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) is in the process of reviewing and finalising its National Energy Policy Framework (NEPF).
The Ministry, particularly its Energy Division, hopes the revised NEPF will go before cabinet for endorsement during the 3rd quarter of this year.
The Ministry’s Energy Division, yesterday, hold a two-days gathering to review and finalize its 2014 NEPF draft. Government ministries and stakeholders attended the review.
Director of the Mines Division, John Korihihona, told Island Sun the policy they are reviewing will have amendments to the Petroleum Act and that they will formulate the Energy Act that should give their Ministry the direction it should take with regards to energy.
Korihihona said once cabinet endorsed the framework, their Division can easily review it as the document will become a government property.
He said the review they are conducting looks into areas including governance of the energy sector, electric power, urban, rural and retail supply and distribution of energy, energy efficiency, financing of programs and projects, environment, renewable energy etc.
Korihihona said the overall goal of the policy they are reviewing is to help people access sustainable and affordable fuel.
Even with that, he said getting people to access sustainable and affordable fuel will continue to be a challenge as the country depends on fuel from outside, the population continues to grow and people have low income.
But, he said they want to make sure all aspects of the energy sector are captured in the framework.
Korihihona added this will help people, even those in rural areas, to participate in economic activities and health facilities and learning institutions operating.
NRH’s Chief Executive officer (CEO) Dr Steve Aumanu
By Alfred Sasako
NRH’s Chief Executive officer (CEO) Dr Steve Aumanu
OUR traditional donors – Australia, Britain, New Zealand, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea – were all ready to fly in emergency life-saving drugs for the National Referral Hospital, it was revealed this week.
“They were ready to move in if the Government had declared a state of emergency,” insiders told Island Sun.
The insiders said declaring a state of emergency would have triggered an avalanche of assistance, but the fact that the government did not do so, they all held back.
The National Referral Hospital is still without life-saving blood analyser machines despite government claims that all is under control at the Hospital.
Chief Executive Officer, Steve Aumanu, told Island Sun the Hospital once had three analysers – a Haematology, a Bio-chemistry and an Electrolyte, adding these had broken down through excessive use and normal wear and tear.
The hospital is relying almost entirely on VanLab, a private laboratory and manual analysis by clinicians.
The situation forced the Hospital to approach the Office of the Prime Minister earlier this month, requesting emergency funding to acquire the machines.
Cabinet approved emergency funding to purchase replacement machines, but buying the machines had bogged down at the Ministry of Finance and Treasure which insists on following the letter on the procurement process.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are jointly pursuing the purchase.
It is not clear when the machines would arrive in Honiara.
Governor of Central Bank of Solomon Islands, Denton Rarawa
IMF team and representatives of financial institution on setting up corresponding bank relationship with POB in the country.
By Alfred Sasako
A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as representatives from the financial institution the Central Bank of Solomon Islands is consulting on the issue of setting up a corresponding banking relationship with Pan Oceania Bank (POB) have arrived in the country.
While CBSI Governor Denton Rarawa has downplayed the significance of the visit, officials told Island Sun the Government is worried, particularly about the outstanding issue of corresponding banking relationship (CBR) involving POB.
“What worries the Government is the deadline given CBSI by the Reserve Bank of the United States to sort out the corresponding banking relationship matter before December this year.
“Once the issue is not resolved, Solomon Islands can be blacklisted. This means that we won’t be able to receive United States dollars for our log exports. And that is the fear because the government relies heavily for its revenue from logging receipts,” one official said.
The representatives of the financial institution are actually here to see whether POB is complying or not and the CBSI as the regulator is doing about it, the official said.
Their visit, unlike the IMF team, is reportedly part of a Pacific-wide visit to check compliance by commercial banks such as POB on logging activities and exports.
The cost of the consultation is said to be four million sterling pounds or about SBD52 million.
The situation in Solomon Islands is quite problematic in that logging companies that are not registered are harvesting logs without licences and that POB could be unknowingly accepting their businesses.
There is a moratorium on new logging licences, but it would appear the Ministry of Forestry and Research continues to issue licences in defiance of the moratorium.
In response to an email yesterday, Governor Rarawa said:
“Thank you for your email. I am not aware of any international audit of banks taking logging proceeds underway in the country. But I know there is an IMF Article IV mission currently in the country holding consultations with key stakeholders including CBSI and POB.
“I am also aware that a team from the financial institution we are consulting to set up a correspondent banking relationship (CBR) with POB will be in the country in the next few days to assess POB’s AML/CFT compliance protocols. We will meet with them later this week to hold further consultations,” Mr Rarawa said.
DEAR EDITOR, it is my understanding that the the Honiara City Council (HCC) has thanked the Member for West Honiara Constituency, Namson Tran, for his recent donation of much needed drugs and medication supplies to its three wards’ clinics in West Honiara.
I, too, express my thanks to the Hon Member for his help in aiding the local medical services and the sick during the unfortunate period of drug shortages.
