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Bad weather worries Malaita farmers

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Ellen Hitala with her market products at the Auki market on Wednesday.

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

Ellen Hitala with her market products at the Auki market on Wednesday.

FARMERS in Malaita province are concerned at the threat the continuing bad weather is posing on their farms.

A local vegetable farmer in central Kwara’ae Mrs Ellen Hitala, is one such farmer, who believes that the bad weather which is entering its full month, will destroy their crops.

Already, she says, many of her crops have been destroyed.

“Definitely our crops and gardens will surely be destroyed because we are living in low land areas that will be easily destroyed if the heavy down fall of rain continues.

“Currently some of our vegetables have already been spoilt by water and pest.

“As a regular market producer in the Auki market we have been affected by producing our products for marketing.

At the moment local farmers are coming up with less products, she says.

“I believe if the bad weather continues we will be heading towards destruction especially farmers and rural people that depend entirely on gardening.

“Most farmers today also sing the same tune where their gardens and root crops have been disturbed by the bad weather.”

Health & medical critical but RCDF gets more

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PM Rick Hou

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

PM Rick Hou

PRIME Minister Rick Hou has revealed to Business houses that government is aware of the lack of medicines in the National Referral Hospital (NRH) and has classified it as critical.

When questioned by a member of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) during a Business Breakfast with him last month, PM Hou says government is aware of the dire situation of medical supplies at the NRH.

“The issue of the hospital is a very critical one, and the matter has been brought to caucus which we are looking at ways to ensure medical drugs not only medical drugs but also the situation at NRH which is not good.”

PM Hou was being questioned on discretionary funds and government’s priority spending at the moment, considering the dire situation of medical supplies at the NRH.

“To grow the economy, we need a healthy society and a healthy workforce to be productive as alluded to in your speech. So my question is, how are you managing your priority spending now that you have only a few months to go?” the PM was questioned.

The PM in his response says government is implementing spending according to the budget, as it is. He said monies are being spent on where they are intended.

However he admits that half of the government’s budget is being allocated to the RCDF.

“I think what you referred to was the RCDF, this is where 50 percent or more of the budget is allocated and this is where it is being spent.”

Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF) is donor funding paid to Members for constituency development purposes.

Members have for many years been strongly criticised by the public for allegedly misusing the funds.

LCC to act on ‘undeclared’ servants

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE Leadership Code Commission (LCC) is now carrying out enforcement against public servants who have not submitted their completed statements of declaration to the Commission before its due date.

Early this year, LCC had issued out a declaration form for the public service within the government ministries to declare their wealth and properties.

The timeframe to fill in the form according to sources has already lapsed but many within the ministries had either ‘not completed and submitted theirs’, or ‘had not signed’.

Island Sun sought comments from LCC’s Chairman, Solomon Kalu, who said that they are now carrying out enforcement against officers within the ministries who had not submitted their statements of declaration.

“The enforcement starts with charging of officers who failed to comply with their duties & responsibilities under part II of the Leadership Code (Further Provisions) Act 1999.

“That is failing to submit statements for the preceding period.

“Officers must provide written explanations for their non-compliance. The Commission will then decide whether an explanation is reasonable to excuse the officer’s non-compliance.

“Of course the charge does not preclude an office from tendering his or her late submissions. They must still submit their declarations but with an explanation,” said LCC’s Chairman.

Information on which government ministries had been completed and which ones are still outstanding for enforcement were not revealed as the Chairman said he will not provide them.

23-yo arrested over rape charge

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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A 23-year-old male has been arrested for the alleged rape of a 20-year-old girl in the Lungga area in East Honiara on July 9, 2018.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Guadalcanal province Superintendent Nixon Manetoga says, “My officers attended to the report of the alleged rape after it was reported to police on July 10 and apprehended the alleged suspect around the Plywood area at Lungga.

“The alleged rape happened when the victim was on her way home after work on the evening of July 9.

“The suspect allegedly used a long bush knife to threaten the victim and allegedly raped her.

“The suspect was formally arrested at the Henderson police station and interviewed. A remand application is being processed for the suspect to be placed in custody as the investigation into the alleged incident continues.

“The Criminal Investigation Team at the Henderson police station are investigating the alleged rape incident and I appeal to both parties to refrain from taking the law into their own hands but allow the police to investigate the matter.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Minister criticised for unruly behaviour  

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Reserved parking space at the Anthony Saru.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

A Minister of the Crown has been criticised for allegedly abusing security guards over parking space at the Anthony Saru complex.

In a ‘Letter to the Editor’ article, an El-ten Jama says on Monday morning, the Minister of National Unity Reconciliation and Peace (MNURP) angrily accused the security guards for not doing their job in making sure his allocated car park space was not taken up by any other persons.

The Minister was said to be angry because his parking space was taken up by another vehicle.

Jama says what interests him the most is the way the Minister of the Crown approached the guards and pointed them in the face and told them off for not doing their job. He kept repeating that he is the Minister and that the guards should look after his interest first.

“Me nao Minister ino you fala, iu fala saveh tu? [I am the Minister, don’t you know that?]” Jama reported in his article.

He said on his way out, the Minister threw down the parking notice that bears the notice ‘Reserved for Minister’. This was after repeated comments about him being the Minister.

He questions if such attitude qualifies the said Minister to lead under the Motto, ‘To lead is to Serve’.

Upon receiving the article, Island Sun made queries to the relevant Ministry with the hope to get comments from the Minister.

However since this incident is in isolation of the Ministry, Island Sun was not able to get comments from the Minister. But an email from MNURP says the Ministry will call on the Management of the Security firm and apologise for the Minister’s action.

It was reported by Jama that this is the second time the same Minister had an argument of this nature.

The said Minister is responsible to look after the government’s focal Ministry for advising, facilitating and coordinating policies with regards to Peace, Reconciliation and also longer term peace building in the country.

Success of MACFest masks undercurrent of dissatisfaction

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Pan pipers from Malaita

By Alfred Sasako

Pan pipers from Malaita

AS the veil of success of the two-week Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival (MACFEST) lifted, undercurrents of dissatisfaction by some local artists have begun to emerge.

And one member of the Arts Association is calling on authorities to take onboard their concerns, which included being sidelined in terms of allocation of venues to display their wares throughout the two-week arts and crafts bonanza.

“We feel we were being ignored during the festival,” Mrs Rosina Esther Fa’arodo told Island Sun on Tueasday.

Mrs Fa’arodo, a seasoned artist, with the Arts Association said the intention of the Arts Association is to promote Solomon Islands through their art work. Instead, they were denied the opportunity.

“We were given, for example, venues that were either very expensive or were located away from the main venue of the Festival,” Fa’arodo (pictured) said.

Fa’arodo is a member of the Arts Association for seven years.

“I want to make it clear that this is not a complaint. It is a concern shared by our members because we too would like to put on display our products in the hope of making sales. That opportunity was denied the local artists.

“I am hoping that this concern would be addressed in future,” she said.

Fa’arodo said members of the Arts Association were also disappointed with authorities regarding allocation of space at the new Arts and Crafts Centre, funded by Taiwan.

“We asked whether we could start using it after MACFEST, but were told we have to wait until a new committee has sorted out allocation of spaces. As a result, we had to bring out our umbrellas and set up outside the new Arts and Craft Centre.

“In fact, the Ministry responsible simply asked us to go back home and wait for the decision of the new committee. This is totally unfair as we need to sell our products to earn a little money to help our families,” Fa’arodo said.

RSIPF commend public for peaceful MACFest

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) commends the public, participating countries and the organisers for a peaceful 6th Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival (MACFest) which ended in Honiara on Tuesday night.

More than 200 police officers from Honiara City and Guadalcanal province as well as the Police Response Team (PRT), the Close Personal Protection Unit (CPP), the National Criminal Investigation Department, the Traffic Department, the Maritime Department, the Fire and Rescue Service as well as the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit took part in the operation.

Officers were posted at the main venues of the MACFest and conducted visibility patrols throughout the city on a 24-hour basis.

Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Gabriel Manelusi, who was overall commander of the police operations during MACFest, said, “Despite the large number of people in Honiara moving from the various venues of the MACFest from July 1-10, there were no major disturbances to law and order in the capital city.

“The police congratulate our people living in Honiara and coming in from the provinces as well as the more than 1,000 participants from other MSG countries for respecting our laws and one another.

“This is a clear sign that Solomon Islands can now host such large events because our citizens respect law and order and want to live in a peaceful environment with one another.

“Also the success of the Festival proves that our various Government ministries and other organisations in the country are able to coordinate such big events as the MACFest.

“Police congratulates everyone for a job well done. I trust that our visitors are returning to their various countries with fond memories of the Hapi Isles.”

“At the same time, I want to publicly thank all the police officers who took part in the operation in the last two weeks for their tireless efforts in ensuring everyone was safe and were able to move around freely in Honiara and enjoy the MACFest. I salute you for an excellent job.

“Now with the MACFest over, our focus will be on the 2018 FIFA World Cup final over the next couple of days. I want to urge the sport loving people of this country to continue to enjoy the rest of the matches including the final early next week in a peaceful manner with respect for each other and our laws.”

–POLICE MEDIA

PM conveys condolences to Japanese flood victims

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PM Hou meets Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before the bilateral meeting.

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has conveyed condolences to the Government and people of Japan following the devastating floods and landslide that hit the country.

In a letter to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister Houenipwela expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Japanese people who lost loved ones as a result of this tragic event.

“On behalf of the Government, and the people of Solomon Islands I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to you and the people of Japan especially to families that have lost loved ones as a result of the flooding in your country,” Houenipwela said in his letter.

He said as a nation affected by climate change, Solomon Islands is fully aware of the vulnerabilities associated with unseasonal weather.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the flooding. We wish every success for the ongoing efforts to rescue the victims.

“I am confident that the people of Japan have the resilience, determination, and the drive to recover and rebuild their lives from these tragic events,” the Prime Minister stated in his letter.

Torrential rains unleashed floods and landslides in western Japan last week, their worst flooding in 36 years.

The landslides and flooding have killed at least 155 people, with more than 60 still missing.

Almost 2 million Japanese people have been advised to evacuate their homes.

–OPMC PRESS

No new agriculture project: MAL

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Mike Puia

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) will not issue out application forms for new agriculture projects.

This measure is necessary to allow the Ministry to deal with a huge number of outstanding projects it had received dated back to 2015.

This year there has been a huge cut to the Ministry’s budget. That is the main issue that prompted this measure.

The Agriculture Planning & Management Department confirmed having a huge pile of projects in its possession.

The Department’s Chief Planning Officer, Franklyn Wasi, said they have a pile of outstanding projects dating back to 2015 therefore they will cease issuing forms for new ones.

No date was given as to when forms for new projects will be re-opened to farmers.

Wasi confirmed for this year their department received $1.5million for their cocoa programme and no funding for the coconut programme.

He said this funding is small as $1m will be used up by administration related work leaving only $0.5m for its activities.

Other departments face the same issue. Their budgets have also seen huge shrink.

The Agriculture Extension Services department, for instance, gets only $1m for its food security programme, $2m for its livelihood programme and $1m for its extension infrastructure programme.

Wasi confirmed at present they are dealing with past projects that have been approved by the ministry.

Most farmers whom their projects were approved are now collecting materials from suppliers in Honiara.

MAL rejects ‘funds diversion’ claim

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Mike Puia

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) has rejected claims it has diverted funds.

The Ministry was responding to claims made by local farmers.

Some cocoa farmers told Island Sun that their cocoa projects were approved by the Ministry in 2016 but they later found out funds for their projects were diverted to other farmers and for other use.

MALD’s Agriculture Planning & Management Department Chief Planning Officer, Franklyn Wasi, refuted this claim.

Wasi said they have not divert any funds as claimed as there is a process in place when receiving, screening and paying out projects.

He said recently cocoa farmers flooded their office when they began paying out approved projects.

Wasi said he talked to many farmers telling them that there are no funds available.

He said they went back to their records and started to sort out farmers whose projects were approved starting in 2015 but have yet to collect their materials.

Some of the projects have seen a cut to the original amount requested in their project proposals.

The huge cut to the Ministry’s budget would help explain these cuts.

Wasi said information about farmers the Ministry is paying out their project have been communicated to their offices in the provinces so farmers should go to these offices and find out.

He was responding to complaints from farmers saying they spend money to come to Honiara only to be told funds for their projects have been diverted.

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