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Opposition slams PM’s undiplomatic $900m request

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Deputy Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga.

THE Parliamentary Opposition has called on the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade to ensure the Prime Minister is well versed with the diplomatic protocol of seeking financial assistance from donors.

The call came after Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela asked the Taiwanese Government to donate $900-million to the Solomon Islands Government towards preparation for the 2023 Pacific Games.

The request was included in the Prime Minister’s speech at a banquet hosted for him by the Taiwanese President Dr Tsai Ing-wen during his recent visit to Taipei.

The Prime Minister’s Press Secretariat issued a Media Release about the Prime Minister making the $900-million request in his speech at the banquet.

Leader of Opposition Manasseh Maelanga said the Prime Minister should have made the request during his dialogue with the President and not in his speech at the banquet.

He said the action by the Prime Minister is a great diplomatic embarrassment for Solomon Islands and it begs the question whether he ever sought advice from his top officials who accompanied him on the trip before including the request in his speech.

Maelanga added that if it was the advice from the Prime Minister’s top officials that the request was included in his speech, then the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade should take necessary action to enlighten them and the Prime Minister himself about the diplomatic protocol of seeking financial assistance from donors.

The Opposition Leader said this will ensure that such act is not repeated in the future.

–OPPOSITION PRESS

PM hits back at Opposition over $900m claim

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Solomon Islands’ newly elected Prime Minister and MP for Small Malaita, Hon Rick Houenipwela. Photo by George Herming

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has hit back at the claim made by the Leader of Opposition that the Prime Minister requested $900 million when making a public statement during the state banquet in Taipei recently.

The Prime Minister in a statement yesterday asked the Leader of Opposition to clarify which speech he was referring to.

“Can the Opposition point out which part of my speech did I request SBD 900Million from Taiwan? I have never requested anything as such. In fact, there was no mention of any figure of whatsoever during the banquet and even during my meeting with the President,” he said.

PM Hou said the speech was also kindly distributed to local media in Solomon Islands and it would be advisable for the Opposition to obtain a copy to avoid making unfounded claims.

“My meeting with the President was basically to seek reassurance from the Taiwan Government for the funding of the 2023 Games stadium. And no figures were mentioned,” he said.

Hou said the proposal was not new to the Taiwan Government because it had been with them for several months already.

“It is a factual error that is only aimed at bringing a bad reputation to the Government after we successfully reassured support from Taiwan to assist us with the Pacific Games preparations,” he said.

–OPMC PRESS

Missing boy remains found after croc attack in Guadalcanal

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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REMAINS of the body of a boy reportedly attacked by a crocodile have been found on Tuesday.

Guadalcanal Police confirmed the finding which followed a search conducted on Tuesday at Singe village, North East Guadalcanal.

Acting Provincial Police Commander (PPC) for Guadalcanal Province, Superintendent Nixson Manetoga says, “I can confirm that members from Singe Village have found few pieces alleged to belong to the missing boy’s body and clothes. The pieces found have been put into a coffin for a proper burial; the remaining body of the child is yet to be retrieved.

“This is a sad outcome for the families of the missing child and also for the teams involved in the search. The search is continuing.

“Last night (May 28, 2018), at about 8pm, Tetere police received a report from Singe community reported a boy between 5 to 6-year-old was attacked by a crocodile while swimming in a pool (creek) near Singe Village.”

In light of the tragedy, Manetoga urged parents to take extra care to look after their children and be able to know their whereabouts to avoid such sad incidents to happen in the future.

“My prayers and condolence to the family of the young boy during this time of sorrow.

“I appeal to my people in Guadalcanal Province to report sighting of crocodiles to police so that arrangement can be made for police to hunt and try to destroy these reptiles; for a safer community.”

Family and relatives of the boy have since searched the area overnight but could not find the boy as it was very dark.

Police Response Team (PRT) and Tetere police are assisting relatives of the boy to set up traps to destroy crocodiles at the area the boy was missing in.

Police at Tetere can be contacted on phone 34508 or call Henderson Police on phone 36200 or police emergency line 999 and provide information to police about the missing boy.

–POLICE MEDIA

No sponsor for plastic ban white paper

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PS Jeffery Wickham

By Mike Puia

Gizo

THE Western province will proceed and impose a ban on plastic starting in July.

While the provincial government is having an issue with the drafting of a policy paper (white paper), provincial secretary, Jeffery Wickham, confirmed there is no turning back for the province.

Wickham has admitted the government has yet to secure a sponsor to fund the drafting of the white paper.

The white paper is important as it will provide detail guideline on how the proposed ban will be implemented like how retail shops will be dealt with, what are the penalties, what type of plastics the ban will apply to and so forth.

Wickham said the provincial government has approved the ban but there is no draft white paper as yet.

The reason mentioned is the fact the province has no legal advisor.

Wickham said the Temporary Special Measure (TSM) the government had also pursued was lucky that the UN Women comes along and sponsor it.

Currently, work on the TSM is about 80 percent done.

The provincial secretary appealed to non-government organisations in the province to utilise their links and help the province get its white paper on the plastic ban done.

Wickham said the detail guideline of this ban will be delayed but the awareness on this ban should go ahead.

He also encouraged NOGs to help influence the people they work closely with to refuse to use plastic.

SINU students concerned over allowance delay

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Gary Hatigeva

STUDENTS at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), who planned to spend their midyear break in their home provinces and villages, are worried that they could wait another week or two before their allowances are paid.

With less than three weeks left before the institute goes into its first semester break, students have expressed that any delays could affect their preparations to leave for their respective homes, and meeting outstanding costs they have with the university.

Following queries to the ministry over the raised concerns, students were practically told that payments were already made and funds are currently being processed by the ministry of finance and treasury.

But further enquiries by this paper with the ministry of finance revealed that no payment has yet been lodged by the Education Ministry for any student allowance.

These concerns however contravene earlier statements, which the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education made, assuring that student allowances for the last quarter of semester one were to be paid before they leave for the mid-semester break.

But with only two weeks left, students are concerned that they could be stuck for another week or so before they will receive their allowances.

“We go into our final exams for semester one next week, and are expected to finalise all assessments and other related programs, the week after.

“After all, that we are expected to leave campus especially, those of us that are boarding, so what do you expect will happen if our allowances are delayed?

“We have already suffered enough throughout this semester in terms of our allowances, through the ministry of education, now this?” one of the students stressed.

Island Sun was unable to get comments from the Ministry regarding the concerns raised, but will continue to seek response in our next issues.

PM Hou denied proper protocol at Brisbane departure this week

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Prime Minister Rick Hou being escorted by his Deputy, Manasseh Sogavare on his arrival on Monday at the Honiara International Airport.

By Alfred Sasako

Prime Minister Rick Hou being escorted by his Deputy, Manasseh Sogavare on his arrival on Monday at the Honiara International Airport.

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela must be wondering what happened when he turned up at the Brisbane International Airport on Monday, ready for the final leg of his journey home.

Instead of being accorded express check-in and proper protocol befitting heads of government, he simply went through the ordinary check-in counter.

Solomon Islands’ High Commissioner to Australia, Colin Beck saw Prime Minister Houenipwela off in Brisbane last Monday.

“The Prime Minister’s delegation was accorded proper protocol when they arrived in Brisbane from Taipei. They were taken to the VIP lounge and so on,” insiders said.

But this was not the case on his departure from Brisbane on Monday, according to travellers who were on the flight from Brisbane.

“He (Prime Minister) simply checked in as the rest of us,” one traveller told Island Sun.

Officials are said to be wondering why the Prime Minister was accorded such disrespect, especially on the eve of his visit to Australia and New Zealand.

Prime Minister Houenipwela is due to leave on a two-week visit to Australia and New Zealand beginning on June 5 this year.

Officials say he will travel to New Zealand first and will cross the Tasman to Australia later.

The mishap in protocols is not the only bungle suffered by the Prime Minister’s delegation.

Insiders told Island Sun on Tuesday the first mishap happened in Japan and later in Taiwan when it was found the Imprest Officer on the delegation could not access funds through his credit card to pay the costs they incurred.

The officer, said to be from the Office of the Prime Minister, had dumped all the Imprest money into his credit card before the delegation left Solomon Islands.

“The card was not recognised by ATMs in those countries. As a result, the people on the delegation had to resort to paying their duty-related costs using their per diems all throughout the trip,” the insider said.

“It was embarrassing but there was little delegation members could do. They just had to use their per diem.”

Ambassador Waleanisia refutes TV report on $900m request

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Aid for the Solomon Islands

By Gary Hatigeva

SOLOMON Islands Ambassador to Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan, Joseph Waleanisia has refuted reports that the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Rick Hounipwela, made a direct request to ROC President for an assistance of $900million.

This report has also made headlines on many of the local online forums, which gave much confusion and attracted widespread debates, both questioning the report and the Prime Minister’s diplomatic credibility.

The news from a station known as the Formosa, a Taiwan Television, also made it to other online mediums including youtube, which also attracted thousands of criticism on both the Solomon Islands and Taiwanese governments.

Circulated via a clip, the news reported that legislators of ROC Taiwan were questioning the request by the Solomon Islands Prime Minister to the ROC’s President, of a total of $900million, at a lunch banquet during his one week visit there.

It also reported that the Solomon Islands should not take advantage of its strong ties with ROC Taiwan and use the island nation as its ATM.

But in his response to the news, Ambassador Waleanisia clarified and urged that people should not listen to this News Clip from Formosa Taiwan TV, because it has mis-reported the meeting between Solomon Islands PM and President Tsai Ing-wen.

“I want to clarify that there was no mention of a figure neither at the Lunch Banquet, or the Bilateral meeting, nor at the brief Remarks PM gave at the Honor Guard put in PM’s honour.

“The 900 million figure mentioned is New Taiwan Dollars which is equal to USD30 million or SBD263 million,” the Ambassador explained.

He said if one cares to check the record again, they will find that the US$30 million figure was the original amount the former Government had indicated it would need a donor to assist Solomon Islands with to host the 2023 Games.

“Again, it was misreported as the amount Solomon Islands Government requested. The TV incorrectly stated the amount was requested by PM during the meeting with the President, we were present at all the meetings, and at no time did our PM made any appeal or request for $900 million, as misquoted,” Ambassador Waleanisia added.

The Solomon Islands Ambassador however revealed that the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade through his office, will make a formal complaint to the Formosa TV Station to correct what he described as, the fake news.

The Prime Minister himself, through an official statement denied the report and claimed that it was a huge error from the news agency’s part.

“It is a factual error that is only aimed at bringing a bad reputation to the Government after we successfully reassured support from Taiwan to assist us with the Pacific Games preparations,” he said.

Prime Minister Hou further explained that his meeting with the President was basically to seek reassurance from the Taiwan Government for the funding of the 2023 Games stadium.

“And no figures were mentioned,” he added.

Inquiry on couple’s death continues in court

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE inquiry into the death of a couple at the Mbumburu area in 2016 is continuing in the Honiara Magistrate Court before Chief Magistrate Emma Garo.

Yesterday a police officer gave evidence before the Coroner in relation to a phone conversation.

The hearing has been conducted since March and several witnesses have been called to give their evidence before the coroner. The hearing was adjourned and then continued on Monday this week.

The inquiry was conducted to establish the cause of death for the deceased couple.

This is in relation to the case where a couple were found dead at their home in November 2016.

Police were called to the scene and retrieved the bodies of the couple and transported the bodies to the National Referral Hospital.

On the day of incidence, residents of Mbumburu were shocked at the sad news and gathered along the road as police entered the house to carry out initial investigations and also to retrieve the bodies.

Reports stated that residents close to the house where the two deceased had lived were not aware of the tragic death.

However, curiosity arose when they realised that the house was quieter than usual and the fact that an unusually large number of flies were circulating the house, battering the windows.

It was then that the neighbours kicked down the locked doors and were met by a foul smell coming from inside that they called the police.

‘We are not your ATM’

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Taiwan flag

Taiwanese legislators react to Solomon Islands’ endless financial requests

 

BY ALFRED SASAKO

TIRED of Honiara’s never-ending requests for financial assistance, Taiwanese legislators have reacted angrily to news that Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela has secured NT$900 million from Taiwan in support of Solomon Islands hosting the 2023 South Pacific Games.

“Solomon Islands should not be treating Taiwan like an ATM [Automatic Teller Machine],” the angry legislators reportedly said.

The Presidential Office has agreed to the request, according to Taiwan’s Formosa EnglishNews.

The agreement allegedly triggered an avalanche of protests from legislators who said Solomon Islands should not treat Taiwan like an ATM.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has defended the agreement, saying the payment should not be seen as “monetary aid, but rather a part of the two countries’ long-term, mutually beneficial alliance”.

The Ministry pointed out that as a faithful ally, Taiwan has already been contributing to the Games’ planning, design and location scouting.

It is not clear whether the new funding is additional to Taipei’s budgetary aid assistance to Solomon Islands.

It is also not clear whether it could impact on Taiwan’s current aid programme which stands at more than SBD100 million in untied aid a year.

Many have blamed Taiwan’s free funding as a source of corruption in Solomon Islands, particularly the use of the money by politicians.

Taiwan has recently taken steps to address the concern by withholding payments of the infamous RCDF grants to constituencies that do not acquit their shares.

In Taipei last week, Prime Minister Hou told a lunchtime banquet held in his honour that Taiwan’s aid to Solomon Islands over the last 40 years has led to new technological innovations in agriculture and other sectors.

“We are pleased that development aid to Solomon Islands over the last four decades has led to new technological innovations in our agriculture fruit trees, vegetables, crop and poultry and pig-farming; and introduction of green energy to rural villages.

“Other assistance programmes in strengthening health and medical services delivery capacity, tertiary education; cooperation in meteorology data system management, climate change and disaster prediction systems installation and training continue to be implemented.

“The benefits these different programmes created for the people and the country can be seen across the different sectors, and their impact felt with varying intensity within individual households, communities and the wider government circles,” Prime Minister Hou said.

A historic election win and a boost for gender equality

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, following a reported overwhelming turnout for the Gizo-Kolombangara by-election last week, the poll closed with a landslide victory for Mrs Lanelle Tanagada, a former teacher and the holder of a Masters degree from Waikato University in New Zealand.

Mrs Tangada won by a 987 majority from the 2580 votes that had been cast.

Her historic win means she is the fourth women in the history of this country to enter parliament.

The current parliament will now have two female MPs. The other current female MP being the Hon. Freda Tuki of Temotu Vatud.

The win by Mrs Tanagada has been described as a sweet victory for women in the Solomon Islands.

In 2009 Florence Naesol then the Deputy Clerk to the National Parliament, said “Women taking up senior positions in the Public Service are becoming acceptable among us and I’m seeing a brighter future with Solomon Islands women assuming leadership roles in government”

I too, over the years, have witnessed seeing the value of women’s increasing participation in decision making processes in the public service and across the broader areas of life in the Solomon Islands.

Clearly, from Mrs. Tanagada’s election victory attitudes towards women’s in the electoral role are changing, albeit still too slowly, but nevertheless I see change is on the way.

Some commentators have already said the victory is about advancing women in leadership and gender equality.

Another voiced the option that Mrs Tanagada’s win was a huge victory because the silent majority had spoken.

Mrs Tanaganda will be sworn in as a new MP soon.

I believe all will wish Mrs Tanaganda success in her parliamentary role.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

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