THE Western Provincial government executive meeting has been scheduled for May 14-18 in Gizo.
Deputy Premier Maloney Lopoto confirmed to Island Sun Gizo yesterday the 11 executive members under Premier Wayne Maepioh will meet before the provincial election on June 13.
Lopoto said the meeting will be held at the provincial government conference room.
“This is part of the executive’s objective is for meeting the people and to visit people living in rural and urban centres from Gatokae to Marovo Lagoon.
“Executive members have done this recently reaching the people at Viru, Saeragi, Simbo, Ranonga, Noro and now they are now moving the executive at the provincial head quarter in Gizo.
“This plan is for people will have the opportunity to meet their government and at the same time for the government to deal with their government businesses as well to discuss and develop the Province,” said Lopoto.
Meanwhile, the Western provincial assembly sitting has been scheduled for May 22-29, 2018 in Gizo.
The main business of the coming Assembly meeting will be to deliberate on the Division’s Annual Report for the 2017/2018 financial year.
Minister John Maneniaru with the equipment donated by the SPC
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
Minister John Maneniaru with the equipment donated by the SPC
MINISTER for Fisheries and Marine Resources has asked the Secretariat Pacific Community (SPC) to donate more Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD) to Solomon Islands communities.
In a handover ceremony of 20 FADs to 16 constituencies, Minister John Maneniaru asked for more FADs in the presence of the SPC Country Director, Mrs Monica Longanimala Ilala.
He said such development is important for communities’ daily livelihood for minor economic and social development.
“Let me ask Monika, SPC Country coordinator, we want more FADs, and that is your function, you represent the region, and Solomon Islands has that need,” Maneniaru said.
“It is an area of need that you need to address, and 20 FADs is not enough, you need to ask more for Solomon Islands, more rafters tailored down to our communities.”
Maneniaru said he asked for more rafters because even his constituency has very few and people have been waiting to see and have access to this workable device.
He adds, if SPC through the country director deals with the needs of these communities then they are covering the whole of Solomon Islands.
He encourages stakeholders to continue ensuring that fishing communities including women, youths and children get economic benefits out of the FAD programme funded under SPC.
Maneniaru said that villagers need to participate in this programme so that it adds to their daily life an economic benefit.
“Let’s make that a timely impact on our communities as we have these responsibilities of ensuring that policy touches their lives,” Maneniaru said.
SPC Country Director, Monica said they are considering the Minister’s request for more FADS.
In their discussions, Monica suggested that the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources develops a report and highlight the specific needs related to its request.
She adds, SPC understands that there is a need to increase the number of FADs reaching the community level.
Current donation of the 20 rafters will definitely benefit communities in the area of food security, accessible to canoe fishermen and increase catch rate.
Communities will also benefit through transfer of fishing effort from reef to the ocean, increase food security and resilience of coral reef ecosystem and smart fishing with sustainable environmental friendly approach.
CENTRAL Province (CIP) citizens have commended the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) at Tulagi for conducting awareness talk on illegal brewery (kwaso) and marijuana for students.
The awareness talk according to Solomon Business Magazine (SBM) online was conducted at McMahon Community High School last week following a request from the school.
CIP’s Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent Patricia Leta said that they were very happy to respond to the request.
“We believe it is important that our youth are given the information about the effects of drugs such as kwaso and marijuana. Our youth are exposed to these substances so they must know the effects of these things on their mental and physical health. They must learn to say no to these substances,” said PPC Superintendent Leta on SBM online.
A Senior Secondary School Teacher at McMahon was quoted thanking the PPC and her officers for taking the time to visit their school and talk about the important issues for their students as it is part of the learning process for them.
Recently, it is understood that a student of the school was arrested by police after being found in possession of a drug (Marijuana).
With the recent report having being very serious going out national forced the Deputy Premier and Provincial Minister of Education for CIP Hon Selwyn Luga to Chair a Forum recently at the school.
Despite of critics’ to the school and its administration for this year, McMahon School is striving at its top best to maintain and improve further the school standard and its reputation to produce good results. So far, all is good.
On Ngella’s famous social media forum (Ngella Forum), the RSIPF at Tulaghi have been highly commended as well.
DEFENCE lawyer representing a 19-year-old man charged for immigration offence has sought adjournment on the case to allow him time to look through the pre-trial conference papers.
Defence lawyer Nelson Laurere told the court that he needs time before the PTC is heard and sought to adjourn the case for 14 days.
Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika then adjourned the case for May 28 for PTC.
This is the case of Paul Anga who is charged with unlawful non-citizen and for misleading an immigration officer.
On previous appearances the defence claimed the accused is a Solomon Islands citizen.
But, prosecution said that there are no documents to identify that the accused is a Solomon Islander, as there is no birth certificate or other documents to support that he is a Solomon Islander.
Mr Anga was charged under the Immigration Act 2012 early this year.
The car wash operating along the Kola ridge graveyard road.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
The car wash operating along the Kola ridge graveyard road.
HONIARA City Council has labelled car washing businesses in Honiara as illegal, due to ‘running without licence’.
Concerns had been raised earlier by retail businesses and car-wash businesses who question why they are paying licence fees when there are many car-washing operations going on in Honiara which are not paying HCC-licence fees.
The HCC Office clarified that car wash businesses which are operating without licence and continue to take money from people for their service is unlawful.
“Within the city boundary under its ordinance, once collecting money from people without a licence, you commit an offence because of collecting money from the public.”
Council said people running such services should obtain licence, and establish the services through a process similar to other car washing business established properly within Honiara.
HCC explained the area is a public area, meaning it belongs to the public to enjoy such environment surroundings.
HCC’s Law Enforcement has already reportedly cracked down on the issue.
Council Office explained only way to change such areas is, elected Counsellors must review the act in order to meet the challenges and issues the city has face.
Meanwhile, HCC has 12 divisions with 12 counsellors who are to execute the services.
“If they don’t do their job then that is what will happen,” the HCC Office said.
HONIARA City council (HCC) says there will be no by-election for ward-12 this year.
HCC explains that its decision not to hold by-elections is because the council will be dissolved in December this year.
This was revealed by HCC office in an exclusive interview yesterday following concerns raised by ward-12 residents over past weeks.
“At the moment we are preparing for the election coming up, so for the ward 12 by-elections, for now will not be possible, choose your new member for council’s election coming up,” HCC Office said.
Council Office clarified that it was HCC who asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to give them funds of $155,000 to conduct the by-election.
However, result was negative, and it turn out HCC was requested to use the service grant which is a different grant allocation.
Chief Steve Firibae, an outspoken leader from the ward 12 constituency, had earlier called on the Honiara City Council to clarify what has happened to funds meant for the by-election.
He had claimed that the HCC had misused the fund.
He also adds ward 12 had been neglected for almost three years and people want to know its grant allocation yearly and requested if an audit is conducted.
Chief Firibae said, “There are lots of young people who do nothing, so I think it is better for young people to apply for the ward grant and done something worthwhile for their lives.
“But at this point of time, we did not know where the ward grant is, what has been done to it, and we want the City Major and City Clerk to explain to us.”
THE case of former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development Henry Aife Murray will again be heard today in the Honiara Magistrate Court after it was adjourned yesterday.
The case came before the court yesterday for sentencing and mitigation submissions.
However that was not done yesterday as the defence will be making an application for ‘stay’ on the case in regards to sentencing, and court adjourned the case for today so that the lawyers can sort out the documents before submitting.
Mr Murray was charged with 14 counts of official corruption contrary to section 91(a) of the Penal Code Cap 26.
He was initially charged with his wife but after the trial was conducted, court found the wife not guilty of the charges.
Murray was charged in relation to an allegation relating to a series of offences alleged between 2014 to 2017 in relation to multiple payments of motor vehicle hire charges to a company that police alleged was registered to him and his wife.
The allegations said that the value of those payments is estimated to the excess of 1.1 million dollars.
Prosecution alleged that the payments were allegedly made through cheques and electronic fund transfers, which were deposited into their ANZ account under the name of Krash Transport and Marketing.
L & L lawyers are representing both defendants while the office of the Director Public Prosecution is prosecuting the case.
AN arson case had to be adjourned yesterday because the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has not responded to a memo.
The court was told yesterday that DPP is yet to respond to the memo, which is related to the accused men who were charged with arson.
Public Prosecutor John Zoze said all other disclosures in regards to the charges have already been sent to the defence lawyers.
Zoze also sought a short adjournment on the case to allow the DPP time to consider the memo.
However, the defence lawyer said that the medical report is yet to be provided.
But Mr Zoze said there were two medical reports of the two victims provided previously to one of the lawyers at PSO.
This is the case against Belia Samson Fredric, John Kemabule, Michael Belande and Peter Rande.
The men were charged with arson in relation to an incident which occurred early this year.
A lawyer from the Public Solicitor’s Office who appeared for the accused men also informed the court that the accused were ready to take their plea but since the prosecution needed more time they had no objection to any adjournment.
Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika then adjourned the case to May 18 for the accused to take their plea and also for the DPP to consider the memo sent to him.
MEMBER of parliament for
Rennell and Bellona, Dr Kaitu'u Tautai Angikimua
Renbel MP Agikimua accused of lying about his stand over mining on Rennell
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
MEMBER of parliament for Rennell and Bellona, Dr Kaitu’u Tautai Angikimua
MEMBER of parliament for Rennell and Bellona is accused of being ‘two-faced’ over the issue of mining in Rennell.
Concerned constituents of Renbel alleged to Island Sun that MP Dr Kaituu Agikimua presents himself to be against mining operations on Rennell, but in reality has signed his land over to be mined.
Agikimua had earlier published an ‘explanation’ publicly via Facebook page Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) on April 21, 2018, which implied that he is against mining on Rennell.
However, early this month, documents surfaced which challenged Agikimua’s self-claimed stand against mining in Rennell.
A letter, addressed to the general manager of Bintan Mining company and copied to the attention of the Director of Mines, dated November 26, 2017, showed the MP as a co-signatory allowing mining operations into his land.
This revelation has led constituents to question the integrity of their MP, saying he is claiming to be a champion in the people’s fight against mining in Rennell but in practice, he is actively allowing mining to continue.
Agikimua, in his FSII statement, had blamed the Lilo-government for hastily signing Rennell over to be mined, and detailed his efforts to stop mining in Rennell, which he claims were futile because the government had ignored him.
“I raised this mining issue at all levels, in caucus cabinet and in parliament. No one listen as the government (Lilo) approved the mining to go ahead and the LOs signed up to have their land mined.”
He concluded with the all-too-familiar cliché of passing-the-buck over to landowners to be the frontline against mining: “The only way to stop the mining continuing is, LOs not to sign up with Bintan/APID. The mining will continue as long as APID has a legal ML and LOs sign up to have their land mined.”
In contrast, the letter which was published in one of Renbel’s Facebook fora, paints a different picture of Agikimua. He is a co-signatory with five other landowners of the Tehakamagoku land, Central Rennell, in the letter, which states: “We the undersigned are remnant and true traditional customary landowners of the said land (Tehakamagoku).
“We have met recently on a very important meeting and had unanimously resolved to consent our land to sought after a better agreement with your company to mine our land.”
Concerned Renbel public, responding to the revealed documents in social media, have decried the Renbel MP as ‘lying to the people of Renbel and Solomon Islands’, and being of ‘double standard’.
Speaking to Island Sun on condition of anonymity, a senior figure in Honiara’s Rennell community, says, “We accept Honourable’s [Agikimua] explanation about how hard it is to just simply stop mining in west Rennell. However, what we don’t accept is that he paints himself as siding with the people of Renbel against mining and pursuing their plight, and even advising people [landowners] not to sign land over to mining companies, when he had in fact signed his very own land to be mined. That is totally unacceptable.”
Another concerned Rennell woman, speaking on anonymity, says, “We feel betrayed because we had thought the MP [Agikimua] was with us against mining in west Rennell. The letter showing his signature is making us lose hope. He should just come out clear in the first place. If this letter had not surfaced, we would still be fooled into thinking that he [Agikimua] is with us against mining.”
Meanwhile, Renbel’s Constituency Development Officer (CDO) Mr Timothy Johnston, who is reportedly a very close relative of MP Agikimua, confirmed the letter’s authenticity on Facebook, however defended it as a means of protecting their land.
“We signed up this solidarity Agreement to protect our land and if it is mining, it will not repeat the story of logging,” said the CDO, referring to logging activities during the past on their lands being not dealt fairly.
“Anyway, I am going to revoke our tribe’s signatures now and our land will not be mined by any one and Bintan. Anyone who tries to touch our Land, it will like touching the apple of the eye of our Tribe. Let there be no miscalculation.”
Island Sun had contacted MP Agikimua to gauge his comments over the issue. He texted saying that his side’s explanation over the mining at Renbel has already been detailed on FSII.
When the paper attempted to interview him at his office yesterday, he sent word through his receptionist telling Island Sun to go and see the Minister of Mines instead.
THE report has been passed by the Temotu Provincial Assembly and is now with the Boundary Commission in the national level who has approved the recommendations.
According to provincial secretary, Mr Alan Sepe Agassi, Premier David Maina was responding to the people of Anuta during his visit to the island last week when they requested to become a separate ward on the basis that they have not benefited from ward grants for many years.
He added that the Premier’s presentation of the taskforce report on the ward boundary recommendation for Anuta Island to be a separate ward in the province received a jubilant round of applause.
Agassi mentioned that the island’s spokesman expressed that it is very exciting to have the provincial leader present, describing it as a rare occasion for them which they are very happy about.
He also stated that the spokesman said that the Premier’s effort to visit such a remote place is a clear testament of his concern and seriousness to involve them in the affairs of the province.
The provincial secretary said that the delegation was welcomed with a traditional dance, performed by eight warrior dancers singing traditional tunes only distinct to the islanders.
He noted that after being garlanded, they were then led to meet Anuta’s second chief, Chief Ti Kainanga.
Respecting the island’s tradition, Agassi said all members of the delegation crawled to pay respect to the chief and to be accepted to the island.
He furthered that Maina and his delegation presented two gifts to the chiefs and received traditional mats.
Agassi said that the island is made up of a 300-plus population remotely located with a rough and dangerous landing area.
He stressed that a clinic was built in the past but was destroyed by cyclone and since then has never been replaced.
“On the education service, there is a primary school on the island where all children attend. Higher classes are obtained at Tikopia and other schools in the province.
“Special consideration in terms of design is important for both Tikopia and Anuta. This, the province will approach the government to design such infrastructure services to reflect island features as they have proven durability against strong winds,” said Agassi.
