THE Honiara City Council (HCC) says there will be no by-election for Ward 12 (East Honiara) until funds are available.
HCC Mayor, Mr. Andrew Mua, said their by-election preparation works have been done but they are waiting on the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to provide funds for the actual conduct of the by-election.
Mua was responding to claims the Council has used $150,000 provided by the MHA for its Ward 12 by-election without public knowledge.
East Honiara chief, Mr. Stephen Firibae, said it’s been two years and their Ward is still without a Counsellor.
The Ward Counsellor, Richard Safue, died in 2016 and there has been no replacement.
Chief Firibae said for too long their Ward is not represented in the Council and services not reaching them.
“Our right for someone to represent us in the Council has been robed,” Chief Firibae said.
He said Choiseul and Western Province have done their by-elections while the HCC by-election did not happen.
Chief Firibae claimed this raised questions as the MHA has already provided $150,000 to the HCC to run its by-election.
But, Mua said the money chief Firibae was referring to is the Council’s service grant.
He said the MHA suggested that the Council used the money to conduct the by-election and that the money will be replaced but the Council was advised not to divert the money to any use other than for the Council’s service.
How long before a by-election is held, Mua said it depends on the availability of money.
He said this issue has been explained a couple of times to the public when it was raised but it seems some people do not get it right.
Mua the Council has done its part by completing the registration and nominations and now it’s up to the government.
He added the simple answer to this issue is “no money- no by-election”.
WITH all the drama and confusion in what has been seen as a potential hijack of the Anti Corruption Bill 2017 after Wednesday’s first day of deliberation on the bill, Parliament has finally concluded all debates into the proposed legislation, which is now deemed to go through the committee of the whole house before it’s put up for its third reading where it is expected to be passed thereafter.
In its second day of debates into the much talked about AC Bill, parliament witnessed a swift indication of support and interests from members of both sides of the house, who praised the Solomon Islands Democratic for Change Coalition Government (SIDCCG) for what many described as, a bold and brave move in bringing it (bill) back into parliament.
Many, especially those from the Opposition and Independent groups, have expressed a few concerns over the bill and criticised a few clauses and sections within, but mostly concluded with great support and anticipation towards it (bill).
Others have however shared mixed views on the nature of the proposed law, which they say it is targeting certain leaders who are elementally remains from the ethnic tension, which got many to further suggest that the bill is a foreign driven concept, put in place to best suit outside interests.
Some other members thought that while the bill is undeniably the way forward, a lot of questions still need answers, and that it is also important to ask, as to whether the other existing laws have been strengthened to work hand in hand with this legislation if it becomes an act.
Questions were also asked, as to whether the government structure and system ready to host the proposed law if it is enacted.
However, with all the critics and negativities, all members who debated concluded that the Anti-Corruption Bill is a cry of the people of Solomon Islands, and it is only fitting for them to support and vote for the bill to be passed and enacted.
The positive feedbacks and support have also got the two leaders of the SIDCCG relieved, especially the Prime Minister, Rick Hou who when summing up all the debates, thank all members of the house who he said showed great support and interests in seeing the bill go through.
The Prime Minister said he was really encouraged to have seen the commitment that all members have taken into the bill.
“This has also enlightened our thoughts especially when this bill is in doubt,” the relieved Prime Minister shared.
Meanwhile, Hou explained that regarding all the comments especially the contributing recommendations from members, the government will ensure they are duly noted and will be thoroughly looked at after the bill can be passed.
“I wish to acknowledge the contributions and many suggestions that have been put forward by all speakers, to improve and strengthen the bill.
“In fact the house acknowledges and recognises this country is in deep problem, economically and in terms of service delivery, largely due to the level of corruptions that all of us have spoken about and described to be in our country.
Yes, there were many good proposals some of which have been taken up in the 2017 revised version
However, some of these would require further extensive consultations which will not only be expensive to carry out now, but there is likelihood that in doing so, the bill runs the risk of not being brought to parliament anytime soon.
“I feel this is the right time to do it, as this government is determined to do it, and the 10th Parliament is determined to do it.
“So I would like to stress a point that this bill is the outcome of various consultations at various stages, within the sponsoring ministry, which is my ministry, within the government line ministries, within the political government, namely, the government caucus, and of course the Bills an Legislation committee.
“We have also taken careful note, of the public concerns as they come through the media.
“Sir, many speakers have pointed that we now have a good legislation, it may not be perfect, but on such a serious and major issue in this country, which have yet to have any legislation on, this is a legislation that we are all waiting for.
“It’s an issue that needs legislating now,” the Prime Minister suggested.
He further added that this bill is more than the first step in the right direction, because it is the right thing to do and it is the right time now.
He further pointed out that where things are at right now, are where the bill will take on to become an act, but reassured that all the recommendations and suggestions have been noted for their right time to be acted upon, as far as strengthening and vamp up the new legislation will be concerned.
Following all debates and its second reading of the bill that sees it stand committed for the scrutiny of the whole house, Parliament was adjourned to 9am this morning.
Friday is a private members business, but if granted by the chairman of the committee of the whole house, the country could get its Anti-Corruption Law today, however, if not granted, the bill could b passed by Monday or latest, Tuesday next week.
DEAR EDITOR, I thank the Hon Member for the West Honiara Constituency and the community there for donating 20 rubbish bins to the National Referral Hospital.
I understand the donation came about after an appeal from the NRH after receiving complaints from patients and concerned citizens.
The doctors, nurses and administrative staff at the NRH work tirelessly to care for the sick and injured, often in difficult working conditions and with relatively few funds given the responsibility as the main referral hospital for a growing national population said to be about 650,000.
In such circumstances, I always try to thank the friends of the NRH.
DEAR EDITOR, when the essential ministries like the ministry of health that provide live-saving services for the entire population are become non-functioning incurring of life threating issue as shortage of drugs for medical treatment is only indicate well the poor attitude of the national government leadership towards its own citizens. .
The situation has enormously raised questions to the politician MPs who mandated the government of the day to come out clear and state where is the policy implementation priorities of the government are invested when the live saving health service of the people who voted them in the political power is concerned?
While the medical staff who are directly working in the national hospital looking after the national medicine store in our country are in a great concern, raising the issue of shortage of drugs -life-threating issue to the attention of the government, the Prime Minister represent the political government of the day continue to denying the situation with the PS of ministry of health is so confusing, however, it only reflect poorly on the leaders that want to cover up the attitudes of negligence of duties that victimize and deprive the rights of the poor citizens towards quality health services..
The poor medical services is a common issue in the country and this can be seen clearly in our NRH in which lack of live saving machines for blood testing and surgeries in our national hospital despise a lot of call by hospital authorities and public for financial assistance from the national government.
The national government failed to address health issue in our country.
Today the issue of shortage of medical drugs come to an accumulating point due to the prolong negligence of duty by the national government through under budgeting for the future medical services prosperity of this ntion.
The national budget passed at the early part of the year 2018 has indicated very clearly the financial budget priorities of our politicians in our government in which 50 percent budget increase only secured within the Ministry of rural development while other essential ministries such as the ministry of health that provide important services to the people nation-wide experience nothing.
The ministry of rural development is a newly introduced ministry in the government approved by the politicians MPs.
All funding within the ministry come under the discretion of the MPs.
Since the establishment of MRD misused of funds by politicians within the ministry become common without any tangible development happen in the constituencies nationwide.
The nation will continue to suffer with its basic services if our MPs continue to serve themselves with public funds intended to benefit people through the formulating of unfair national policies that create environment for financial corruption within the government leadership.
DEAR Editor, I write to clarify Australia’s support to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
The Australian Government does not require that the Ministry adhere to Australian procurement procedures and protocols to secure Australian funding.
Australia’s funding arrangement is designed to ensure the Ministry complies with the Solomon Islands Government’s own procurement procedures and protocols, including the legislative requirements under the Solomon Islands Public Finance Management Act.
These are the same processes and legal requirements that apply to all Solomon Islands Government funds. The Solomon Islands Government has put these processes in place to ensure the proper use of public funds and to reduce the risk of fraud and corruption in the Solomon Islands public service.
The Australian Government is committed to supporting the Solomon Islands Government to deliver health services to the people of Solomon Islands.
Australia will provide up to AUD47.8 million as direct budget support to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services over the period 2016 – 2020 to support the delivery of health services including the purchase of drugs and medical supplies. The Solomon Islands Government is responsible for the administration of these funds.
Australia remains a committed partner of Solomon Islands.
GOVERNMENT really needs to pull up its socks if it wants to get this country out of this mess of dependency.
We have a government that rely on aid, we have a nation and citizens that rely on government and the cycle continues.
People continue to blame government and politicians, government and politicians continue to blame the people.
When is this going to stop?
In this health crisis, it is really surprising to see how people rely heavily on government even for a basic medication.
We have private pharmacies in operation and yet we see people complain about not having Panadol or amoxicillin.
Why not go and see seek a private medical practitioner if you care so much for your health?
We make fun of government being aid dependent while we ourselves are aid dependent too.
We do not want to spend money.
We rather have free handout then even spend money for our health.
While it is the government’s responsibility to look after its people, we as human beings should also be responsible for our own wellbeing, our children’s wellbeing and our family’s wellbeing.
We need to take responsibility of our own lives too.
We cannot rely or expect other people or government for assistance all the time.
This cycle must be stopped and we as citizens of this country need to pull ourselves together as well.
Graduating from being a Least Developed Country (LDC) is not only about having good roads or bridges or house, it is mainly about us taking care of ourselves and trying to be less dependent on other people for help. It is time we as Solomon Islanders stand up for ourselves.
It is time we rise up and make our government accountable like we are doing now. It is time we choose our leaders wisely.
It is time we go back to our homes and try to do something good out of our own lives so that we do not turn up at our MP’s or wantok’s house early in the morning asking for money.
The ‘dependency’ syndrome must stop.
Stop blaming and pointing fingers and start looking at ourselves.
The Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (SIDCCG) wishes to clarify the front page article of the Island Sun issue of Thursday July 19, 2018 entitled “Govt’s Decisive Steps on Drug Crisis” published in the Island Sun on Thursday.
A statement from the Government Communications Unit stated, “The article is not only misleading but manifestly erroneous and false.”
The Government wishes to clarify that contrary to Mr Sasako’s article, there was no Cabinet meeting held, Cabinet Paper nor a Cabinet decision on the involvement of the Government of Australia with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services nor on the possibility of a charter to bring in medical supplies.
“The Government at no point in time, stated or attributed the medical shortage to an error caused by or actions of the Government of Australia. The procurement of medical drugs and medical supplies was and is done in accordance with the procurement rules of the Solomon Islands Government including compliance with the Public Financial Management Act 2013.” The Statement further added.
The Government also wishes to refute the statement made by Sasako claiming the replacement of a Minister of the Crown.
The issue of medical shortage is a sensitive issue and journalists should practise responsible journalism during these times.
AS of Thursday, Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela says few essential medicine are in store at the national referral hospital store.
Hou adds that new orders are expected to arrive today.
He said the stock level of essential drugs at the national referral hospital are;
30 percent of our essential drugs are now in stock compared to only 10 percent three days earlier on July 6
32 percent of our essential drugs are available but in low stock compared to 48 percent three days earlier
38 percent are out of stock compared to 40 percent earlier
The stock levels at the National Medical Store as of yesterday includes’
34 percent of our essential drugs are now in stock
27 percent of our essential drugs are available but in low stock
39 percent are out of stock
He also adds that a number of new suppliers will arrive today from Brisbane and it comprise of;
1.4 million Amoxycillin Capsules
90,000 Procaine Penicillin injections
60,000 Benthazine Penicillin injections
2,000 Atropine sulphate injections
500 Ketamine injection
“The stock levels of essential drugs and consumable such as dressings and needles, catheters, tubes etc will continue to build slowly over the next two months as drugs and consumables ordered between April and June will arrive” he said.
“We expect to be in full stock of every essential item by September this year.”
Hou said they have seen small improvements in the stock level of essential medicines resulting from receipt of some of its orders over the past week—but nowhere near enough improvement.
However, over the next two-months, before our stock is back to normal, we will continue to experience shortage in some essential drugs and suppliers.
Despite the medicines in stock, Hou said Solomon Islands will still experiencing serious shortages in some essentials drugs needed.
“We anticipate being back to normal suppliers within next two-month when our various orders (five in total) made between April and June this year all arrive in the country,” he said.
He assures that services will continue to be provided from all health facilities depending on what is available at each facility, the nature and level of services provided may vary.
ESTABLISHING the anti corruption act or whatever fancy laws to fight the course, will not stop corruption to thrive in the country’s governance system if the government does not deal with its root cause.
The issue of corruption in the country is not something that needs someone to be rocket scientist to realise its existence and those in power have failed to see that the root cause is dealt with first.
Member of Parliament for Shortlands, Chris Laore made the statement when contributing to the debates into the Anti-Corruption Bill 2017 yesterday, who suggested that the people who carry out the work for the government are part and partial of the root-cause he was referring to.
In his contribution, the Shortlands MP pointed out that instead of looking directly at the bill as the only solution to fight corruption, the government should look at why corruption has happened, and why corruption is thriving like cancer in our country.
He then called for the review in the packages and welfare of public servants as the solution to curbing corruption because, he stressed that no laws in the world will eradicate corruption but can only help reduce it as it will always be there.
“Despite owning almost all the resources, our people are still poor, why? It’s a question we ask our government system, and the system needs to realise that it is a must to review the welfare of our public servants
“Tell you, the salary level is bad, in my case for example, I have worked 21 years as a public servant, but 21 years of struggling, because of the system, which has been badly infected by corruption.
“It is a matter of social inequality, and good salaries for public servants vs water, power, and other necessary bills and the prices of goods and services are going up, how can a public servant survive this?” Laore asked.
The system has really affected us. Like fuel for another example, in Honiara, the price would be at $10 per litre, and doubles when it gets to the provinces. So it all comes back to the system, and that’s why I reiterate my calls for the governments look at salary scale levels of public servants.
He said the government continues to fail its people to as the talks are cheaply surrounding increment, which he questioned it.
He said increment is point zero one every year and that, he added, is almost 20 cents promotion every year, and that comes down to the is of promoting others and contradicting the other side of things, which is purely corruption in itself.
Laore however highlighted that if he was Prime Minister, he would push to improve the structures of all public servants, going up to a place where they can be sustained up to the next pay day, with a bit for their wants, education and other related matters.
“Like I said, social inequality is one of the major root cause of corruption that we talk too much about as they are inter-related
He further suggested that for the remaining months that are left, he reiterated his urging for the government to improve the packages of public servants.
“…because if you don’t do that, the new goods tax bill that is coming, if enacted, will have even heavier impact on them and that will just allow for corruption to thrive in the system
“We do not feel the effect because I think we have more than enough, but the lower brackets will go worse in these corrupt practices, and like I stressed that I’m not here to talk about the bill, but to talk about the system, which already has corruption eating up its core,” he further added.
The opposition MP then warned the government to be mindful after passing the law, especially those people who travel with their spouses using public funds, and illustrated the case of the Prime Minister of Malaysia who was recently arrested by the anti-corruption, for using government funds to pay for his wife’s credit card.
“But his wife is not an honourable or a member of parliament, therefore, be careful. Like I said, it is a system we create to destroy us because we have not dealt with the actual root cause of the matter,” the Shortland MP said.
He went on to add that the root cause will continue to harness even with the Anti Corruption law’s establishment, because in the Solomon Islands context, not a whole household has a job, maybe one or two out of the rest will have a job, and that means, there is a huge reliance on the employed few.
“So the question is, where will that public servant get the needed funds to meet the need and demands for a heavy reliance on them to sustain them up to the next pay day? He will certainly receive bribes anywhere or even steal.
“We are not addressing the root cause of corruption. All we do is trying to kill our people who worked their hearts out to serve the interests and make money for the government, but are continuously being looked down on.
“So I ask you the government, improve the structures of public services so that no corruption would ever come up because they will be able to meet their needs at the end of the day, so they can work without financial and economic influences.
“And anybody who does that after, that’s where the bill will deal with thoroughly deal with,” the MP further stressed.
He further suggested that the cycle will continue, despite whatever quotes and approaches taken or talked about.
“I was also tempted to write an essay like a novel on corruption to present in my debate, but I thought it would be useless. All we need to realise and deal with is the cycle within the system in order to deal with corruption,” Laore further pointed out.
He added that even if we pass the bill, corruption will continue to thrive and like a ripe fruit, it will never reverse its cycle and will end up rot and it’s the same with the anti-corruption, which if we do not deal with its core problem, will leave to rot in our country.
RENNELL and Bellona province is celebrating their 25th Second Appointed Day in the province’s main station, Tigoa today.
In a media conference yesterday, Commissioner of Police, Matthew Varley says the Royal Solomon Islands Police Band will also be performing at the official celebration of the province.
Commissioner Varley says RSIPF is pleased to support Rennell Bellona on this important occasion and to take part in the community event.
“And so we also want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Renbel Premier, the provincial government and the people of the Rennell Bellona province on this second appointed day. Obviously we are proud to support this community event through the RSIPF band.”
Varley said he hopes celebrations will be carried out peacefully and encourages the people of Renbel to enjoy their second appointed day in a peaceful manner.
