By Mike Puia

Gizo

AT least 15 chiefs from the Western province will attend a workshop next week to look at structuring and registering the Famoa Council of Chiefs (FCC).

The two-day workshop, which is sponsored by the Ministry of National Unity Reconciliation and Peace (MNURP) and facilitated by Western provincial peace and reconciliation office, is proposed to open in Gizo next Tuesday.

Western provincial peace and reconciliation deputy director, Wilson Liligeto, confirmed that chiefs mostly from Shortland Islands will attend the workshop.

“The workshop is purposely to allow the Famoa Council of Chiefs to re-look at the structure of the council and to look at the possibility of having the body registered under the charitable act,” Mr Liligeto said.

He said these work are part of their effort to strengthen the work of chiefs in the province.

“The workshop is in line with the Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for change government (SIDCCG) policy document which pledges to recognise, strengthen and empower traditional governance systems and structures and protect and preserve the diversity of our organic traditions and culture in Solomon Islands,” Liligeto said.

He said after settling the FCC, being the final council of chiefs, they will move to deal with houses of chiefs.

Liligeto said they have been registering council of chief since 2013 and to date nine councils have been registered. FCC will be the 10th.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PROSECUTION has told court yesterday that police investigation into the case of Mildrin Oletabo is yet to be completed.

Public Prosecutor Rajah Abe said the accused, Mr Oletabo is charged with burglary of a dwelling house school-store.

And yesterday’s appearance is the first appearance of the case in court after he was remanded in custody on the previous occasion.

Mr Abe also said disclosures also are yet to be disclosed to the defence.

Meanwhile the accused said that he is yet to secure a lawyer to represent him in court.

Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea then adjourned the case to May 2 for completion of investigation and disclosures to be served.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRINCIPAL Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi has committed the armed robbery case against Nelson Ausolo, Peter Kafa Eto and Patrick Talo to the High Court for trial.

The cases of another two accused in this incident are still awaiting preliminary issues in the Magistrate court.

The case of John Kiki and Solomon Wadili will be decided later after preliminary issues are sorted out in the Honiara Magistrates Court.

Ms Taeburi in her ruling said that there is sufficient evidence on the case and committed the case against the trio to the High Court for trial.

The trio will be called in High Court on April 27 for mention.

This is the case where five men were alleged to have involved in robbing the Bank South Pacific in Auki on November 27, 2015.

Prosecution has made an application at the Honiara Magistrate Court on the bank armed robbery cases to be committed to the High Court so that higher penalties can be imposed.

Police said the men were armed with dangerous weapons and one of them had a gun and fired a shot while standing outside the bank as lookout, the court was told; while other accused stayed in the getaway car.

Two others went into the bank and filled up bags with about SI$200,000 and US$10,000, the court heard.

The prosecution also said that another shot was fired before the accused left the bank.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown.

THE Honiara Central Magistrates Court has fined three men $500 each or in default 20 days imprisonment after being arrested and charged by police officers at the Honiara Central Police station on April 14, 2018 for allegedly consuming alcohol in a public place at Honiara Central Market.

The men were seen by police officers consuming what appeared to be mixed kwaso and soft drink in public.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Honiara City Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga says, “It is a crime to consume alcohol in public.

“There are certain public places which the public is allowed to consume alcohol including licensed clubs, hotel bars and any facility with a licence to buy and consume alcohol.

“The message to public is clear, go to the right place or area and consume your alcohol and you will not be arrested.

“I appeal to the good residents of Honiara and visitors into the city to help your police by reporting any alleged crime of similar nature to police.”

Honiara police can be contacted on phone numbers: 22999 (Honiara Central Police Station), 22044 (Market Police), 28999 (China Town Police), 22791/21363 (White River Police) and 39647 or 999 Toll free line (Police Communication Centre).

–POLICE MEDIA

THE Honiara Central Magistrates Court has fined a 25-year-old man for $300 or in default 20 days imprisonment after being arrested and charged by police officers from Honiara Central Police station on April 15, 2018 for allegedly stealing a plastic bag with valuable goods at the Honiara Central Market.

It is alleged the man stole a plastic bag from a 38- year-old female at the Central Market on April 14, 2018.

The female had bought parcels of cabbage, beans and heaps of eggplants which were kept inside the bag, and left the bag besides the market fencing while she went over to buy some more products.

When she returned to get the bag, it was not there.

Police also reports that bystanders saw the man took away the bag.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC)Honiara City Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga says, “I wish to thank the witnesses who assisted with the police investigation which resulted in the man involved arrested, charged with one count simple larceny and brought before court on April 16, 2018.

“My message to the public, do not leave your goods without someone looking after them whenever you do shopping either in the markets or any shops in Honiara.

“I appeal to the good residents of Honiara and visitors into the city to help your police by reporting any alleged crime of similar nature.”

Honiara police can be contacted on phone numbers: 22999 (Honiara Central Police Station), 22044 (Market Police), 28999 (China Town Police), 22791/21363 (White River Police) and 39647 or 999 Toll free line (Police Communication Centre).

–POLICE MEDIA

By Gary Hatigeva

THE office of the Vice Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) has denied claims made against them over what have been highlighted to be issues affecting students and the manner in which the issues were handled including the termination of eight students.

In a lengthy statement, the office of the Vice Chancellor outlined in point form, listing three issues highlighted by the students, which they completely denied and concluded with claims that the issues reported are a cover up from the students part to escape from what they described as, “mess created for themselves” (students).

The statement added that the SINU management finds the attitude of the group dubious and unreasonable in their demands and allegations.

It further added that the SINU Management also notice them keep changing their demands and allegations every time they go to the media.

“First, they question the PVCC’s authority in declaring their election null and void. When he explained to them the reasons, they came up with more allegations.

“Although this group of 8 students had called a strike and a boycott, their attempt was an absolute failure because no students or SINU staff joined the strike and the attendance of students during the last [two] weeks in all [five] schools and academic and non-academic staff have been 100 [percent],” the SINU statement claimed.

However, when contacted last night, the former SINUSA President, Reginald Ngati refuted the institute’s explanations and clarifications on the issues, stressing that the group stood by their claims against the management and that they (SINU Management) have been mishandling the matter all along.

With the statement highlighting the management’s views, claiming the illegitimacy of the student body’s executive, the terminated students however questioned and pointed out that the SINU management had failed to tell the public, what grounds their election as the executive was null and void.

“Just because we started talking out and digging into matters concerning the student body, the management decided we were illegal?”

Ngati also responded to the clarifications on the calls for dialogue, claiming that the SINU Management statement is actually the other way round.

“They actually refused to meet with us after arrangements were made by the Police for a combined meeting following two sets of separated meetings with the two parties,” Ngati further claimed.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

A five-day practice parliament session for women leaders who are interested in contesting for the upcoming national elections will be held from May 22-25, this year in Honiara.

This was revealed yesterday by Mrs Marisa Pepa, a Civic officer at the national parliament.

She said the purpose of hosting this activity is to advance women in political decision-making in terms of the very low representation of women at the national parliament.

“This forum will provide women with practical skills and exposure to the realities of policy-making and parliamentary processes and also an opportunity to practise at the highest legislative chambers.

“Learning form the last practice parliament for women in Solomon Islands, it would be ideal to target a total of 50 participants from diverse backgrounds and with a mix of young and older women,” said Pepa.

She explained the workshop targets women who are considering standing for the national and provincial elections and women who are community leaders, who wish to develop their leadership, advocacy and policy skills.

Also welcome are women who have commitment to support women and gender equality in terms of partnership with the national and local government bodies

Pepa adds, the session will be more on provincial representing, as well as including young women of all diversity.

She said application forms will be designed and distributed by the national partners through their networks as well as public calls through print media outlets, radio and targeted e-mail messages.

The forum is organised by the National Parliament of Solomon Islands in partnership with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP).

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

BUSINESS activities in Kolomola Village, Hograno district, Isabel province have been disturbed by telecommunication fault, it is reported.

Information reaching the paper says the fault has been going on for a month.

This has raised concerns among business entrepreneurs there whose business operations rely heavily on daily telecommunications service. Exports from the area is said to be among the worst hit.

Chief Gideon Kale from Kolomala Village said this matter needs to be addressed by responsible authorities.

“The telecommunication difficulty we are facing now has affected our daily business activities because there hasn’t any network coverage accessed by cell phones to simply relay of voice or data sender to receiver,” he said

Meanwhile, Mr Estermarh Teinody, a Buala Telekom staff said they have been aware of the matter and have reported it to the Our Telekom headquarter in Honiara.

He said the matter was considered, hence responsible officers from Honiara are expected to be in Isabel as of today.

Attempts to have comments from Our Telekom’s main office in Honiara were futile before the paper went to print last night.