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Western provincial assembly concludes last meeting

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Members of the outgoing MPAs under the Alliance for Rural Reform Development (ARRD) Government lead by Wayne Maepioh including Clerk to the Assembly, Kevin Paia and Provincial Speaker, Richard Tekifono pose for a group photo at the Women Resource Centre on Thursday

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO

THE Western province has concluded its final full assembly meeting on Thursday.

The main agenda discussed is the province’s Division Annual Report for the 2017/2018 financial year, the 2017/2018 revised supplementary budget and the 2018/2019 Appropriation Ordinance.

The assembly went through on the minutes of the previous meeting, received presentation from the Provincial Public Accounts Committee and extensively deliberated on the 2018/2019 Supplementary Appropriation (No 1) Bill 2018/2019 in the presence of the Clerk to the Assembly, Kevin Paia and Provincial Speaker, Richard Tekifono.

Acting Premier Maloney Lopoto in his final remarks at the Sine Die on Thursday said Alliance for Reform and Rural Development (ARRD) government since coming into power had produced a roadmap in terms of plans, policies and programmes to guide and help in the development of the province.

“We have travelled through this road up to this very moment with most of the issues, challenges, failures, achievements and success.

“I believe we have made some kind of significant achievements and some success taken into account the time we come into power as a government.

“It will surely be another challenging year for all of us, as we strive to fulfill our plans and programmes as stipulated in our policy statement 2014 – 2017 as well as our three years rolling plan,” said Lopoto.

The Western provincial government under caretaker Premier Wayne Maepioh was dissolved on Thursday last week.

Western province passes one last bill

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO

THE Western provincial government, in its last assembly last week, passed a bill.

The Western Provincial 2018/2019 Supplementary Appropriation (No.1) Bill 2018/2019 was passed on Tuesday, to be submitted to the Minister of Provincial Government for assenting and gazette.

Western Provincial 2018/2019 Supplementary Appropriation (No.1) Bill 2018/2019 went through the first reading stage during the second day of the meeting.

Provincial minister for finance and treasury, Lester Saomasi announced the province has appropriated a budget of $4,925,757 over the next fiscal year.

Saomasi while detailing the content of 2018/2019 budget estimate set before the chamber on Tuesday, said there is a supplementary expenditure of $4,925,757 for the services of the Western provincial government in respect of the fiscal year 2018/2019.

Saomasi thanked MPAs who presented their debate during the sine die motion in the last full assembly sitting under Premier Wayne Maepioh.

“It is time for this province to rise to its challenges, but in order for this to happen, we MPAs as elected leaders to working together to achieve goals.

“I would like to wish and hopeful that the next government will amicably solve the finance situation in terms of good management in the coming years.

“I hope some of us will not hinder the smooth implementation of this lawful exercise.”

The budget was passed before the house on Tuesday May 29, 2018.

The assembly concluded its final sitting on Thursday.

Meanwhile, MPA for Ward 18 South Rendova George Solingi Lilo speaking during the Sine Die said he was not satisfied with the MPAs’ overall attendance and contributing.

Choiseul businessman appeals to authorities to open up province to other shipping services  

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Alfred Sasako

 

A Choiseul businessman has called on authorities to open up for other commercial shipping services, saying Lauru shipping can no longer keep up with demands for regular shipping services between the Province and Honiara.

“Our copra and cocoa productions have suffered setbacks since two of Lauru Shipping’s boats have had engine problems. Both ships are sitting here in Choiseul for quite some time now with no indications when they might be back in service.

“That is really affecting us in a bad way,” the man who spoke on anonymity told Island Sun on the weekend.

“The only other boat that Lauru Shipping operates does not have the capacity to cater for the volume of copra and cocoa we produce on Choiseul. This is why I am calling on appropriate authorities to do something about the shipping service to the Province,” the man said.

He said the Choiseul Provincial government should look into the matter and do something about the situation.

“As businessmen and women, we just cannot sit back here and wait. For us, time is money and money is time. Therefore as taxpayers, we are calling on the Provincial Government and Lauru Shipping to come out and tell us what they are planning to do about the urgent need for shipping services.

“There are plenty of shipping companies operated by Solomon Islanders that would be willing to move in immediately,” the businessman said.

He said without shipping a lot of hard work by ordinary men and women in doing businesses would be pointless.

“I am appealing to them to please do something about the shipping service to Choiseul,” he said.

Meeting the challenge of vocational education and training in the Solomons

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, as one who has been keen to follow the good work of the Youth@Work programme in the Solomon Islands in providing vocational skills training aiding the job prospects for young Solomon Islanders, I was pleased to read an article in the Island Sun last week about a proposal for a new rural training centre.

The proposed rural training centre was raised by Pastor John Hugo when he was speaking at the official handover of a newly built six room double story building providing extra classrooms at the Global Harvest School in Gilbert Camp.

Pastor Hugo envisaged the concept of a new rural training centre, although still seen as a dream, could lead to an upgrade of the east Honiara school.

The Pastor likened his dream as a challenge to educational stakeholders for he felt the development of a rural training centre would enhance the Human Resource development aspirations of many in the Solomon Islands in the years to come.

Importantly, Pastor Hugo was reported to have said, “Once established, vocational education and training (VET) would aim at creating opportunities for productive employment and provide access to adequately paid work, which could enable people to lead a self-determined life.”

Citing the need for a rural training centre, the Pastor told his audience, “The demand results from the outcomes of primary education, which has placed heavier pressure on secondary educational systems, because a growing number of primary school-leavers are entering the labour market directly or need further training.”

“The steady growth of the informal sector is also coming to the attention of international education policy debate”, he had added.

The proposal for a rural training centre is a sound idea given a growing focus locally on secondary and tertiary education and I would hope Pastor Hugo’s dream will be realized and coupled with job creation, added gender equity and much better health and environmental improvements.

 

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Health sector support a missing factor in ADB aid to the Solomons

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, looking at the Asia Development Banks (ADB) operational strategy for partnership with the Solomon Islands till 2020 I see the overall plan is to help the Solomon Islands with transport infrastructure assistance, to help with improved internet connectivity by providing power to provincial centres and asset management, all reportedly relevant in the context of development challenges, government priorities, and the division of labour among development partners.

In terms of the ADB’s country operations plan (COBP) till 2019 the COPB will support three sectors: energy, public sector management and transport in the Solomons.

Noting that ADB assistance both overall and in terms of the COPB is guided and relevant to SIG priorities I am somewhat disappointed that there is nothing envisaged to support the delivery of health services in the Solomon Islands, especially health service delivery by rehabilitating rural healthcare infrastructure, improving the availability of medical supplies, supporting new health partnerships, and using smart technologies to support digital information systems.

With such concerns in mind, it came as a surprise, today, to read that The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Directors has approved a total financing package of $195 million to support the delivery of accessible, affordable, and high-quality health services in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Quoting Radio New Zealand this is what I read of the aid assistance: “The delivery of accessible, affordable, and high-quality health services in Papua New Guinea is the target of an Asian Development Bank finance package.

“The ADB Board of Directors has approved a total financing package of $US195 million to support PNG’s efforts towards achieving universal health coverage

“The ADB Health Specialist for the Pacific said PNG’s poor health outcomes are the result of deteriorating healthcare services caused by volatile and unpredictable health financing as well as weaknesses in government systems and in health sector capacities.

“Inez Mikkelsen-Lopez said this program builds on the Bank’s long-term engagement in PNG in the health sector.

“Deficiencies in health sector governance, weak public financial management, and fragmented funds flows will also be addressed.

The financing package is comprised of two regular loans worth $100 million and $45.10 million and a $49.90 million concessional loan-all sourced from ADB’s ordinary capital resources balance sheet-to help PNG’s efforts in achieving universal health coverage.

“In a statement, the ABD said despite a period of high economic growth in recent years, averaging 6% annually from 2006-2015, PNG failed to achieve its targets for the Millennium Development Goals on maternal and child health.

“Limited investments in the country’s health infrastructure as well as suboptimal health sector governance also undermine service delivery.

“The Health Services Sector Development Program combines a policy-based operation and project financing to support critical sector reforms and investments in PNG, enabling the long-term sustainability and effective use of the country’s health sector financing.

“The program will support the implementation of an integrated public health model linking primary and secondary health facilities in rural areas to improve patient health outcomes.

“It will also support decentralized health service delivery by focusing on capacity building of staff at the sub-national level in public financial management and reporting to better plan and budget.”

While the ADB views the SIG’s key development challenge as (quote) “Controlling recurrent expenditure amid modest growth in revenues. The economy is based on primary commodities, and alternative opportunities to generate income are scarce. Economic growth prospects rest on the private sector and on developments in mining, agriculture, and fishing, with some potential for tourism.”

Given such a development challenge it is inherent that the Solomon Islands also, like PNG, has deficiencies in health care as manifest in recent reports about drugs shortages at the National Rural Hospital (NRH), alleged shortages of equipment and facilities there, and to say nothing about the poor state of the country’s rural health clinics and the fact that many communities across the country are experiencing great difficulties in accessing basic medical care.

I am aware of the many ADB’s country strategies and business plans in the Solomon Island, both current and past, but am not aware of any support for the ailing health sector.   If that is the real situation then I pose the question why not?

Yours sincerely

 

FRANK SHORT

SI-PNG POLICE DEAL

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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RPNGC Commissioner Baki and RSIPF Commissioner Varley sign the MoU

RSIPF & RPNGC sign cooperation MOU

 

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to govern future cooperation between the two police forces.

RSIPF Commissioner Matthew Varley and the RPNGC Commissioner, Gari Baki signed the MoU during a ceremony at the Rove Police Headquarters in Honiara following a bilateral discussion between the two commissioners.

The MoU sets out the framework between the parties in relation to cooperation on law enforcement issues and the exchange of information between the two police forces.

Commissioners Baki and Varley display copies of the MoU. Photo by Police Media.

Areas of cooperation that both parties will be focus on includes: Joint or coordinated operations; Training; Secondment or exchange of personnel; Community policing; Border security; Transnational crime; Investigation; Prosecution; and Any other areas of shared priorities and common interest as may be agreed to by the two.

RSIPF Police Commissioner Matthew Varley praises the MOU as a symbolic step forward between the two forces.

He explains that in the modern age cooperation between two police forces is absolutely central to national security for both domestically and regionally.

RPNGC Commissioner Baki and RSIPF Commissioner Varley sign the MoU

“We both agreed today that much more that can be done to step up our cooperation to look for ways to share skills, to share training and to share our abilities and basically to target our common enemy of crime between us,” Mr Varley said.

Varley said Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea have shared a special bond for many years in history across Melanesia and through the RAMSI programme.

“It’s a great honour one year on Commissioner from RAMSI June 30 last year was the end of RAMSI and you were here on the June 4, 2018 so one year on so it’s our chance to say thank you to you for the contribution, support you might made and your officers made to help re-build the new RSIPF but more importantly it’s our opportunity and privilege to help out your police force where we can and we know that today we show that with some of the trainings that RSIPF is already providing to RPNGC officers particularly on Operation Safety Tactics and Firearm training

Commissioner Gari Baki inspects parade by RSIPF officers. Photo by Police Media.

“This MOU is very important for us as we said it’s the first MOU for RSIPF with one our MSG partners and we are very grateful to your leadership and for your commitment making sure this came about today,” Varley said.

Meanwhile RPNGC Police Commissioner Gari Baki said it is a great opportunity particularly within the MSG countries and police forces within the MSG that they have a guiding principle documented that at some stage will allow them to interacting with policing responsibilities and relationship.

“I’m happy as the Commissioner for the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to be able to sign the MOU today with the RSIPF it’s something we wanted to achieve long time ago but it’s taken us long and we said the fact that the RSIPF has been going through reformation through RAMSI and now it’s able to stand on its own feet on what they have to do”, Commissioner Baki said.

He also said MOU will also cater in exchanging of their experiences in both countries in allowing those from RPNGC and RSIPF be attached to both countries to experience and expose and also broaden their in terms of policing.

RPNGC officers at the Rove Parade. Photo by Police Media
Brief visit to RSIPF Forensic laboratory. Photo by Police Media

Logging operation in Ngella accused of serious breach

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

BREACH of Licensee has been made by a logging operation at Ngella having operating outside of the concession area where the Timber Rights have approved initially.

The land area of concern is Maleali which also hosts the water supply for Tulaghi Township, making it automatically an issue of major public interest.

According to Central Islands Province (CIP) Provincial Secretary (PS), Christian Siale, they have already submitted report to the Commissioner of Forest highlighting that there is a logging operation outside of the concession area approved.

However, the notice to cancel is within the power of the Commissioner under the Forestry Act.

In clarification, the PS said that there are two distinct issues, one is the power of the Commissioner of Forest going in to play as the guardian of the Forestry Act as a response done to the reports done by the province and the other separate issue is trespassing into government land under the Crown.

The PS and Premier of CIP Hon Patrick Vasuni took the opportunity to reveal one of the survey reports confirming the encroachment into the registered land which is about a hector into it that is within the harvesting plan of the accused logging company.

Report shown confirmed that the operation is taking place outside of the concession area where the Timber Rights have approved initially.

“What the province has put out is not purposely for the Commissioner to enforce but to confirm the trespassing into the land of the Crown, this is the purpose of the report,” clarified CIP’s PS.

“But the Commissioner has picked out that there is a breach of the license so that is why this is being exercised, the notice to cancel is within the power of the Commissioner under the Forestry Act.”

It is understood that the logging licensee and contractor accused is the same person by entity and shareholding arrangements, it is owned by a person having 100 percent shares.

So there is no difference as the CIP PS said that there is no room for era.

“The onus is just too heavy in which such mistake is uncalled for, how can you ignore what the requirements of the licensee and harvesting plan are,” said the PS.

PS Siale elaborated that only two reports are left, the quantification of logging volume on trees as well as the environmental report.

“The latest consultation with two of these ministries (Environment and Forestry) should be available by next week and the Attorney General (AG) is very much on top of this issue being well aware of it and that he is only waiting for instructions from the province for whether we will put a case against the contractor and licensee or we will negotiate out of court settlement with the licensee and contractor,” said the PS.

Currently the water supply is not yet a threat at this point of time for Tulaghi Township as it is situated on a different front where encroachment is, but there are reports that activities are going on there where the source of water is.

Water shortage returns to Gizo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

 

GIZO town is reportedly facing water shortage, which is worsening by the week.

It is said to result from prolonged dry spells, which the island is currently going through.

A Mr Andrew Koke told Island Sun yesterday areas most affected include TC, Top Hill, Corner-shop area, Banana Valley, China Town areas and District areas.

“Some of the residents in the town have worried so they only buying water from shops for drinking at exorbitant prices.

“We are experienced the erratic rains for the past months due to the effect of climate change that have not only affect water sources but also our plants and food gardens.

“We encourage the responsible government, NGOs and line ministries to quickly addressing this water shortage in the province.”

He said streams, boreholes, wells and water supply have dried up.

Koke said that residents around Gizo town are resorting to bottled mineral water in the shops.

Koke said residents are hoping that rain will soon come.

SI postal corporation on a special bonus payout?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Alfred Sasako

 

THE Solomon Islands Postal Corporation (SIPC), the smallest of the nation’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), is believed to have approved a special bonus payout for staff and board members.

The payout range from $10, 000 to $30, 000 per individual, according to information provided to Island Sun yesterday.

The Corporation’s Chairman, Robert Bokelema and its Chief Executive Officer, Allan Arafoa were both tight-lipped about whether or not the one-off special bonus had been approved.

Asked yesterday, Mr Bokelema said all questions relating to the matter should be referred to CEO Arafoa, who is in Samoa on duty travel.

“Alfred, your question earlier. Please speak with our CEO Allan Arafoa when he returns from overseas [later] this week,” Mr Bokelema said in a text message.

Island Sun also made contact via email with Mr Arafoa yesterday afternoon. He responded by saying:

“Thank you for your email. I am still on duty travel and upon my return we will discuss the matter.”

It is understood the Solomon Islands Postal Corporation has a Long Service Benefits (LBS) scheme. However, the special bonus which has reportedly been approved is quite separate and could just be a one-off payment.

It is not clear whether or not the SIPC Board had approved the payment, and if so, if it had been paid.

SIPC has a Board of Directors whose terms appear to have lapsed, according to its website. The website shows the position each director holds and when it expires:

 

Director                                  Position          Expiry

Robert Bokelema                  Chairman      10/10/2015

Benjiman Oatasia                Member         16/09/2016

Christian Alan Siale              Member         10/10/2012

Patrick Taloboe                    Member         10/10/2014

George Selwyn Kiriau          Member         16/09/2015

Mr. Gideon Zoleveke          Member         16/09/2016

 

The directors are accountable to the Minister of Finance & Treasury as well as the Minister for Aviation and Communications.

Solomon Islands Postal Corporation (SIPC) is a state-owned enterprise established by an Act of Parliament in 1996 to provide postal services within Solomon Islands and to other countries.

As an SOE, it is subject to the State-owned Enterprises Act 2007 and State-owned Enterprises Regulations 2010.

SIPC is governed by a board of directors that is responsible to the Accountable Ministers.

Its Vision is to be “a trusted leading provider of world-class postal services and other related innovative services and to be recognized as the best model of SOE in the South Pacific,”

Its Mission, on the other hand, is to “provide high quality and modern postal services within Solomon Islands and other countries, carry on any business or activity relating to postal services to bridge customers, provide telecommunications, value added services including electronic mail, electronic data interchange, internet services, electronic funds transfer services, financial services, e-commerce services and any other appropriate or related services for customers’ better life”, according to its website.

Malaita peacekeeping force clarifies itself

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

THE Malaita Peacekeeping Force has come out clarifying its objective and purpose following criticism by members of public.

Speaking to this paper Moses Akote’e said that the main aim of his group’s establishment is to work alongside and support the police in Auki, and Malaita province as a whole.

“I know some members from the public have criticizes this group where we are here to work closely with the police.

“Our aim is to re-organise from our past failures and to have concern and reduce crime in our communities and Auki township area.

“We want to live in peace and harmony and discourage unlawful activities in our societies today.”

He says the group is voluntary and members join purely out of their own desire to see peace and security established and maintained in Auki and Malaita.

“Our group however is a voluntary group where we will work closely with the police to fight against crime in Malaita province.

“The Malaita peacekeeping force is not a special unit or a security firm that will work according to their structures or policies but it is a group that will provide more information to police and to create peace in the lovely isles of malaita voluntarily.

“The word peace is a state of tranquility, quiet and harmony. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance and a state free of oppressive and unpleasant thoughts and emotions.

“Force is anything to make a big change in a person, communities or in a nation.

“If we want lasting peace and a safe environment in our communities and our society we must work together not to hate the other.”

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