PLAN to relocate South Pacific Oil (SPO) fuel storage tanks in the heart of the city to somewhere outside the city is progressing well.
Chairman of the SPO board, Gideon Zoleveke, confirmed that the initiative to relocate their tanks has been in the making for some years now.
Mr Zoleveke said a committee has been tasked to deliver this plan for SPOL within the next three to five years.
He said the committee is working on evaluating land issues, costings and forecasting, viability and more.
Zoleveke said part of the committee’s task is to acquire the AE Oval and adjacent land from Mr.Abraham Eke where the new fuel farm will be located.
He said the next step for the committee is to finalise arrangement to access the sea front at Ranadi for bunkering purposes in order to discharge the fuel from ships to shore.
Zoleveke said management have already completed design work and negotiated possible material sources.
He confirmed their Engineering Department is on site preparing to oversee the building process with help from local and international contractors.
“SPOL is ready to move once all the above issues are sorted out,” Zoleveke said.
He said SPOL has set aside capital from annual profits to cater for this relocation exercise.
Zoleveke said this project is also similar to their other initiative for Noro in the Western province. Currently, SPO is acquiring the land.
He said the move to address SPOL’s national storage capacity will enhance national fuel holding security for the future.
“Investments are also strategic investments as SPOL looks at its national distribution and support services requirement in the 21st century,” Zoleveke said.
He said SPO plans to deliver bulk supply to the provinces so that Honiara prices are passed to the provinces with the hope it will stimulate economic activities throughout the country.
SPO believes the country’s expansion will benefit the company.
POLICE Commissioner Mathew Varley has told newly graduated police officers to always bear in mind their oath to the office and maintain the high standards of the RSIPF.
Mr Varley said it is another milestone for the RSIPF to witness the graduation of the 70 recruits into the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
Out of the 70 graduating recruits, 14 are females and 56 males.
He said it is a fitting tribute to witness the recruits taking their oath of allegiance and graduating as they prepare themselves for duties as police officers.
“You will take your Oath of Office before me today. This empowers you as police constables, giving you the powers to perform police duties according to the law of the Solomon Islands.
“Today you graduate and become part of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
“Always wear your uniform with pride at all times.
“I remind you that there will be times when your integrity will be challenged, when wantok culture will make it difficult for you,” Varley told the graduate yesterday.
The RSIPF is now emerging as a more professional organisation that is placing a strong emphasis on employing well educated people and providing them with continued learning opportunities, Varley said.
“Therefore you are expected to deliver your duties with responsibility, impartiality, and diligence. To do otherwise undermines you personally, and your position as a Police Officer.
“I trust that you will build on your experiences at the Academy and quickly progress to become effective Police Officers not only in Honiara but also in the provinces.”
Ambassador O’ Caollai and Sir Frank Kabui at the Government House
Ambassador O’ Caollai and Sir Frank Kabui at the Government House
IRELAND’S new Ambassador to Solomon Islands his Excellency Breandán O’Caollai has presented his credentials to the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Frank Kabui in Honiara yesterday.
The Irish diplomat has expressed confidence of representing his government in Solomon Islands, saying his country enjoys very strong feelings of solidarity with the people of Solomon Islands.
Mr O’ Caollai hopes to build the ties between his country and Solomon Islands, based on common aspirations in areas such as climate change and cooperation at the United Nations.
“I hope during my time as Ambassador to the Solomon Islands I will help consolidate and build on the ties between our two great nations. In so doing, I hope and trust that I can call on and receive the assistance and goodwill of your Government.
“For my part, I will strive to be worthy of the confidence which the Government of Ireland has shown in entrusting me with this very important mission,” he added.
With regards to the United Nations, the Government of Ireland is seeking Solomon Islands’ support towards its candidacy for the UN Security Council.
“Ireland would greatly appreciate the support of the Solomon Islands in the election for the Security Council where we would ensure the voice of all Small Island Development States is heard and amplified in that crucial United Nations chamber,” O’Caollai.
Sir Frank welcomed Ambassador O’Caollai to Solomon Islands, saying that both countries are Island States that are far apart by distance but the people of both countries are part of humanity on planet earth.
Sir Frank said Solomon Islands appreciate Ireland’s role in 2017 at United Nations in helping to raise the voice of Small Island States in terms of climate change and other development aspirations such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“Your candidature for the United Nations Security Council is noted. The voice of Small Islands States in this forum is important to us. We hope you are successful in your bid,” Sir Frank said.
Ambassador O’Caollai is scheduled to meet other Government Ministers and Officials during his stay in Honiara this week.
THOMAS Tome Siata is blind. He is looking for where to stay after the Honiara City Council has decided that where his hut stands “is dangerous and risky with big trucks turning right on the roadside where his hut is.
It was around 2007 that Thomas Tome Siata settled next to Top Timber at Ranadi. And settled he did.
Top Timber Proprietor, John Abba, who moved into the area around the same time allowed the man to stay on rent-free. In the ensuing years, Siata who comes from Ato village in the Baegu/Asifola area of North Malaita, decided to build himself a small timber hut which he called home, using timber he collected from the Top Timber yard.
This week, Siata, who appeared to have been blind from birth, was told the “bad” news. He had to move out as a result of a letter from the Honiara City Council which informed Top Timber that the roadside hut had to be removed or the company would face a hefty fine.
“Sorry Thomas but you have to move out. It is for your safety and it is the Council’s decision. It was good that in all the years you stayed in our area, nothing happened to you,” Mr Abba told Siata.
Mr Abba pledged $5, 000 towards materials for Mr Siata’s new home, just where he (Mr Siata) does not know.
Asked whether he had any relatives in Honiara, Mr Siata said yes. “I have three brothers, but I never saw them,” he said.
When Island Sun asked him whether he would like to go home to Malaita, he said, no. “I have no one to go back to,” he said.
“All I want is to find a safe place where I could stay and some help to find a place where I could build a small hut,” he said.
Prime Minister, Hon Rick Hou and Japanese Ambassador to SOlomon Islands His Excellency Mr Kenichi Kimiya
BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has applauded the outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands HE Kenichi Kimiya’s leadership style, displayed during his tenure in the office of the Embassy of Japan in Honiara.
PM Hou says Mr Kimiya has contributed much substantive assistance and support towards the development of Solomon Islands.
Hou said Solomon Islands have enjoyed the immense generous support from the government and people of Japan under Kimiya’s leadership.
He attributes the huge developmental progress to Kimiya’s stand to press on for many development schemes which cover many sectors and parts of the country.
These include major infrastructure projects implemented through Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through various economic and infrastructure developments.
Also, improvement of health and medical facilities, strengthening our education system and programs to assist rural communities adapt to the impacts from climate change and to adopt better management skills of the SI environment.
“The ongoing commitment under you leadership is way of strengthening greater cooperation Solomon Islands and Japan.
“I believe the exchanges shared through this avenue will continue to cultivate and enhance mutual understanding, respect and friendship between our two countries and people,” PM Hou said.
SOLOMON Islands farewells a friend, who came to represent his country here, and in due time became a familiar face which will be remembered fondly by many, especially in the rurals where Japan has assisted in many developments.
A dinner reception was held in honour of Ambassador extraordinarily and plenipotentiary of Japan to Solomon Islands Mr Kenichi Kimiya and his wife Mitsuki Kimiya, on Wednesday evening in Honiara.
Speaking during the farewell ceremony, Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela said that Mr Kenichi is no stranger to the Pacific Islands – Melanesia to be more specific and has grown accustomed to our way of life.
He thanked outgoing Ambassador Kimiya for his remarkable journey and memorable supervision during his tenure in the office here in Solomon Islands.
“Mr Kimiya you have represented and served your country very well in Solomon Islands. You have demonstrated that Japan, by all intents and purpose is a country (and people) that is truly desirous in sharing its economic achievement and development experience with the rest of the world especially Solomon Islands.
“But as noted already, this would not been possible without fellow Japanese like yourself, who are committed in the discharge of your duties. On behalf of my people I congratulate you for this exceptionally high standard of work and professionalism,” PM Hou said.
He highlighted that it wouldn’t be possible if the person in charge of the office in Honiara does not possess the vision and care for the people of Solomon Islands in terms of development.
“Ambassador Kenichi, I admire that vision and passion displayed during your service here in Solomon Islands,” Hou said.
In his remarks, Kimiya said he had been working as the Ambassador to Solomon Islands for four years and in the course of their (his family) living they have received considerable support and cordial friendship from many country men and women.
“Hence My wife and I would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who have extended to us their valuable support and close relationship.
“Let us all swear out determination for making better world of peace unity and friendship towards the future because nothing is more precious than life love and nothing is more valuable than peace and freedom,” he said.
In delivering his farewelled address, he highlighted developments through projects in terms of the bilateral relationship between Solomon Islands and Japan.
Kimiya began his services to Melanesian in Papua New Guinea and was later posted to the Embassy in Honiara where he spent four years in service for his country and to the people of Solomon Islands.
He and his family will leave for Japan by the end of this month.
Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete
By Gary Hatigeva
The Public Accounts Committee Chairman and Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete
THE Public Accounts Committee Chairman and Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete has shared concerns over the distress signals emanating from all line ministries over the vicious 2018 Budget allocations.
Contributing to debates of the Appropriation Bill 2018, Mr Ete stressed that it is a worry to hear expressions of disappointments and frustrations from all line ministries who are the actual implementers of the budget programmes.
Ete said during the two-week hearing, the committee has noted concerns raised by permanent secretaries and directors of ministries on what they think and feel about the budget when they appear before PAC.
“Let me tell you that many of them are distressed over the decrease of the size of government expenditures regarding their ministries and their ministries’ activities for 2018 fiscal year,” he said.
Meanwhile, in their earlier budget speeches, the Minister of Finance, Manasseh Sogavare and the Minister of Development Planning and Aid Coordination, Jeremiah Manele urged for the reprioritisation and scale-down of implementation programmes in all line ministries due to a tight budget.
“But after listening carefully to the speech by the Minister of Finance and Treasury, I think he (Sogavare) created a bit of history, because this is the first budget in the last four years to have alienated major programmes under different sectors of the entire ministries of government,” Ete said.
He then supported that by cutting the budget for this year, all ministries might not participate effectively in any implementations and it will just be business as usual.
He however pointed out that current Finance Minister was Prime Minister for the last three years until November of 2017, who during his term put in one of the largest budget this country ever had.
“Unfortunately,” he said. “Little was felt or seen in the implementation prospects of major programmes in Solomon Islands.”
And this according to Ete continues to see increased negativity in the economic and social aspects of this country.
Based on the 2018 Budget theme, “Ensuring a prudent and stable budget”, Ete suggested that what the finance minister highlighted can only be seen as government’s clear intention to remove all government programmes except for the Tina Hydro and the Undersea Cable project.
He said while that is established, every other establishment of government will be business as usual or no business at all for 2018.
However, the East Honiara MP revealed that based on hearing outcomes, it is clear the bipartition attitude of this government is one that is based on two different ideologies and platforms, which is believed to be one of the factors contributing to the cut, and this really came out clear when PAC met in the last two weeks.
“As chair of PAC in the recent examination of ministerial estimates collated by the range of policies attached to heads and subheads items, PSs and Directors were showing signs of staleness and uneasiness in the implementation of major projects under the establishment because of the fact that policies of the former regime and the new regime came head to head.
“But to a certain degree on some very important projects of the government, where one thought about taking one direction, while the other think something else,” Ete further stressed.
This he added will obviously lead to a marginal slow down or delays in any form of implementation activities and programs, which will not serve the purpose for the establishment of a budget that continued to be regarded as credible and responsible because the 80 percent in the total population will not feel the impacts as boasted.
Meanwhile, he further suggested for any contractionary fiscal policy, fiscal measures must be controlled because in this approach, ministries will stop performing or leap in their performances.
“And the people of this country will continue to feel the burden of high cost of living and high tax adjustments and subsequently stop buying and we could eventually see a fall in consumption, which is a crisis.”
Ete however pointed out that with all the worries and distresses being expressed, the buck stops at the table of the Prime Minister and he must bear the full responsibility for policy directions and research by his cabinet.
He added that the Prime Minister has around 10 months to commit himself to ensure his government implements the major programmes under this budget and at least take on some of the series of recommendations given.
“This is because despite so many recommendations made in the past years, the government is seemingly taking a deaf ear and turning a blind eye on them, putting more pressure on the current situation, which is understood to have forced the major cut in budget.”
The 2018 Budget under an Appropriation Bill 2018 is now before parliament and is currently being debated in its second reading.
SOLOMON Islands’ top Health official has confirmed being aware of the suspension of the 10-bed arrangement with Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, but added “not very clear on the reasons” for it.
“I’m aware of the suspension but not very clear on the reasons,” Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Dr Tenneth Dalipada told Island Sun this week.
“All we were informed last year is allocations for (the) 10-bed (arrangement) has been exhausted and we will have to wait until the next financial year,” Mr Dalipada said in an email.
He also dismissed reports that patients on the 10-bed arrangements were paid allowance.
“The ministry never pays for patients’ allowance, we only cover their rent, food, logistic in picking them up at the airport, paying for medications on discharge, paying for consultation if patients are seen at the private clinic. We also pay for test or investigations if done outside the public part of St Vincent’s Hospital.
“It’s not correct that patients (were) paid any allowance, imagine what this will create. (The) National Referral Hospital usually pay for allowances for patients which was stop(ped) in 2008, I think.”
“For budgetary purpose there is an estimate for cost per person but we don’t pay allowances. (The) Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ allocation for last year and 2016 were not exhausted due to the current CEO strict ruling on budgetary allocation and not 10 beds as was the case before.”
Dalipada stopped short of saying whether an interim arrangement is being organised for patients whose illnesses could not be determined locally.
The management of St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney confirmed last week that the 10-bed arrangement is suspended until “outstanding issues” are resolved, confidential documents obtained by the Island Sun newspaper last week showed.
It adds that both the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and Solomon Islands High Commissioner in Canberra were fully aware of these issues.
THE United Nations’ Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has announced that Solomon Islands is one of the four countries that will soon graduate out from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) list.
This is history for the country since Solomon Islands is among five countries, out of 47, that graduated out of this status since the UN established the LDC category in 1971.
While the graduation is seen as a positive indication that there are improvements, senior local diplomats are worried about this.
Minister Counsellor and Chargé d’affaires at our Permanent Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, Barrett Salato, has expressed that while the country’s graduating out from LDC status may be seen as a positive achievement, it would also mean that Solomon Islands will no longer enjoy the special trade rules and development programmes and assistance given to LDCs.
Mr Salato said it is worrying that local companies like Soltuna and Guadalcanal Plain Plantation Oil Limited (GIPPOL) that are exporting their products to the European Union (EU) market stand the risk of going out of business because they will face ‘big trouble’ entering EU market.
Currently, he said local companies like Soltuna and GIPPOL are exporting their products easily into EU market on a duty-free-quota-free basis under the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative.
And, he said these companies are competing in the EU market because they are accorded zero preferential tariffs and no restriction on import quantity under the EBA.
Salato said if the country graduates out of the list then the preferential arrangement will “go out the window”.
“Thailand, which is the largest tuna exporter to EU pays 24 percent tariff with strict import quota system to enter EU tuna market, Soltuna hardly compete with them. If Soltuna pays 24 percent tariff, I don’t think Soltuna will survive the market,” Salato added.
He said if Soltuna or GIPPOL are unable to compete then jobs of hundreds of locals, mostly women, are at risk.
Salato said the country can maintain its tuna export to EU with zero duty once it agrees to the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) or the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP ++). He warned both are bad.
He said Pacific island countries need to make a strong case to the UN to review the criteria for assessing their development status.
“For Pacific islands countries, the vulnerability criteria should supersede economic indicators,
The pacific region is so vulnerable to natural disasters and global economic shocks that even if a country graduate, a single cyclone or earthquake can wipe out 30 years of development in a matter of hours,” Salato said.
He said Solomon Islands will join countries like China, India, Thailand, Philippines, Chile, Mexico to compete for the same market with similar products with the same set of trade rules.
Salato said graduation is a good thing the country should embrace but it comes with its own set of challenges that needs to be fully understood.
Vanuatu and Angola are scheduled for graduation over the next three years.
POLICE will continue its operation for the Easter holiday break to make sure the general public celebrate Easter peacefully and safely.
Commissioner Mathew Varley said police will not only be doing traffic checks and random breath tests but will also be conducting high visibility patrols.
Mr Varley reminds public that the police’s message is always the same and clear that if you are going to drink don’t drive because your safety is much important.
He said police across the country will involve in the operation to make sure people go about their Easter safely and have a blessed Easter celebration without alcohol related violence.
He said police in Honiara will be providing high visibility patrols around the Honiara city and are urging public to cooperate with police while carrying out their duties.
