Former senior government officer gives perspective on Hell’s Point $50 million court of appeal award
By Alfred Sasako
A former senior public servant has given perspective on the $50 million pay-out being demanded for the Hell’s Point waste land in east Honiara, saying there is no shred of evidence in law to support the payment.
“Based on the 1977 Land and Titles Act, businessman Patrick Wong and Levers Solomon Ltd are not entitled to receive a single cent for Hell’s Point. It is not their land,” Alfred Aihunu, who once worked in the Office of the Prime Minister, told Island Sun over the weekend.
“All alienated land were returned to landowners based on the traditional blood system. The Court of Appeal was too rushed in making the award, which in my view is inconsistent with the spirit of the 1977 Land and Titles Act.
“In my view, the CoA erred in its judgement because it did not understand the background to the land tenure system, which prompted the British Government to enact the 1977 Land and Titles Act to address what is happening today,” Mr Aihunu said.
“That Act reflects the fact that customary land and alienated land are one and the same when it comes to ownership. Ownership is based the blood system,” he said.
Aihunu said Solomon Islands was to have had its independence a year early but because the land tenure system was a major issue at the time, independence was delayed by a year to July 7, 1978.
“It was a report by Sir David Kausimae (1975-76) which brought the issue rather poignantly. The report pointed out that while the British Government talked about post-independence development Solomon Islands no longer has land for this development because all the prime land which were largely alienated land were in the hands of foreigners.
“The Government under Sir Peter Kenilorea took up the concern with the British Government, which promptly enacted the 1977 Land and Titles Act based on the British ownership of land which is based on the blood system,” Aihunu said.
He said when the 1977 Land and Titles Act was enacted, all alienated land were automatically returned to the traditional landowners.
“This is why land is not saleable in Solomon Islands unless you are an indigenous Solomon Islander. But even then, land sale transaction is only allowed between two indigenous Solomon Islanders,” he said.
“To give away $50 million for people who never owned Hell’s Point in the first place makes no sense. No, the government must never pay the $50 million. It is not supported by law.”
[Tomorrow (Friday) Island Sun will publish the Management Agreement which shows businessman Patrick Wong was never an investor. He was merely an employee of CEMA according to the Agreement he signed on February 27, 2003]
Sharon Firisua competing in the 1500m of the Victoria Open and Para Championship.
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Sharon Firisua competing in the 1500m of the Victoria Open and Para Championship.
NATIONAL distance female rep to the Commonwealth Games next month has a clocked season’s best time in last week’s Victoria Milers competition in Australia.
Running in the women’s 1500m open, Firisua clocked 5:01.06s to give her a season’s best achievement.
Firisua is currently training with Glenhuntly Athletics Club in Melbourne along with fellow male country long distance rep Patrick Kam.
The arrangement to have Firisua and Kam train in Australia comes under an International Olympic Committee (IOC) funded scholarship.
The scholarship is to enable the country’s top athletes train at performance-enhancing facilities overseas to prepare them for upcoming global sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games next month and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
Kam also participated in the Victoria Milers in the 1500m event and completed the race with a time of 4:21.37s.
A week before the Milers’ competition, both Firisua and Kam participated in the Victorian Open and Para Championship.
Though they could not progress beyond the preliminary heats, Kam clocked 4:22.18s while Firisua finished the race with a time of 5:03.09s.
In another separate event that was held toward the end of February, the duo took part in the Warburton Fun Run and claimed the second spots in both the women’s and men’s categories.
Racing along a 5 kilometer course, Kam was placed second in the men’s and stopped the clock with a time of 8.09s behind Sam Toll (17.43s). Firisua finished the race clocking 20.42s behind Vanessa Wilson who crossed the finish line first with a time of 20.14s.
Firisua said the good results produced over the past two weeks during their training camp in Melbourne are expected to help boost them for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast next month.
“Though we don’t have much more left but I think so far so good,” Firisua said.
Firisua and Kam are two of the four athletes that will represent Solomon Islands in athletics next month in Gold Coast.
The other two are sprinters Kevin Pio and Samantha Rofo.
THE Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will carry out their second round assessment of Renbel Province’s preparation to host this year’s Solomon Games.
Permanent Secretary, Mr George Palua said the games local organizing committee wants to host 12 or 14 sports during the games but will depend on the assessments that will be carried out next month.
“At the moment I do not have any new information as such, but I have been informed a week or so ago that NOCSI is sending a technical Team to assess the sports facilities being built or existing in RenBell Province for hosting of the Solomon Games later on this year, 2018,” Mr Palua said.
“They should be able to advise on what kinds of sports can be hosted given the availability of the venues even though the Province has indicated their desire to host 12 or 14 sports during the Solomon Games.
Palua said the Provincial Executive is now required to appoint a Local Organizing Committee (LOC) who will be assisted by the Solomon Games Council and the Province to work in close consultation with MHA to organize the games later on this year.
The PS said their ministry is still determined to support the province to host the Solomon Games but wants the provincial government to first settle their current political issue.
“The Province as we know is undergoing some political issues that needs immediate settlement before they can continue with the construction of new or improvement of existing facilities,” Palua said.
“MHA is still determined to assist the Province in providing the venues needed for the Games through budget support
“A second round of assessment by the Ministry will be sometimes in April to get progress report and assessment of the work done and the utilization of the funds provided to the Province, they will be accompanied by officers from Finance this time round,” he said.
Meanwhile, Renbel Province Premier Collin Singamoana provincial government is expected to face a motion of no confidence Tuesday next week.
Gary Nuopula and Lalma during a training match at Multipurpose Hall
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Gary Nuopula and Lalma during a training match at Multipurpose Hall
THE two table tennis players that will represent Solomon Islands in next month’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia have vowed to do their best.
Gary Nuopula and Lalma Sifi are the two national table tennis players that were selected by the Solomon Islands Table Tennis Federation (SITTF) to participate in the Games.
Though it is expected to be tough, the duo told SunSPORTS on Monday that they are ready.
“The Commonwealth Games will be tough. During the past Pacific Games I’ve knocked out in the round of 16 and missed out of the quarter finals. But this year, I’m happy to come back again to compete and represent Solomon Islands. My training so far is going well and I’m improving every day,” Nuopula said.
Nuopula added: “Since it’s my first time to compete in the commonwealth games, I will do my very best to try and compete against my opponents.
“We’re training three hours each day, six days a week at the Multipurpose Hall.
Nuopula marked his international debut for Solomon Islands during the 2009 Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
Recalling the Rarotonga outing nine years ago and playing at the regional stage as a teenager, Nuopula said he had grown with a lot of experiences along the way, especially taking into account the other pacific games he had competed in since 2009.
“Of course, I’m a bit nervous at first because I was playing in a different country in a completely different environment. But the thing is that I keep on believing in myself and the trainings that I went through. I’ve came a long way to be here and now is the time for me to perform to the best and there’s nothing that I should be afraid of when competing in Gold Coast.”
Gary Nuopula and Lalma Sifi are ready to represent Solomon Islands in next month’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
For the female table tennis player, Sifi is obviously following in the footsteps of her father and her elder siblings who were all former national table tennis reps.
“I think table tennis is something that is very much part of us and everyone in the family. My father and my elder sisters have in the past represented Solomon Islands in international games overseas and here I am, at it again.
“This is my first Commonwealth Games and this is an exciting opportunity for me to represent Solomon Islands.
“My aim is to perform to the best,” Sifi said.
Nuopula and Sifi will travel with the Solomon Islands contingent to Gold Coast on March 25.
The Commonwealth Games will run from April 4 to 15.
Sharon Firisua and Patrick Kam joins the other members of Glenhuntly athletics for a group photoshoot during a training session. (INSERT) Sharon Firisua races toward the finish line in the 1500m of the Victoria Milers race last week
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Sharon Firisua and Patrick Kam joins the other members of Glenhuntly athletics for a group photoshoot during a training session. (INSERT) Sharon Firisua races toward the finish line in the 1500m of the Victoria Milers race last week
FEMALE national distance runner Sharon Firisua is having doubts she might not perform to her best in next month’s Commonwealth Games given she started very late in her training.
Firisua is one of the four athletes that will represent Solomon Islands in athletics in the Commonwealth Games which will begin on April 4 in Gold Coast.
Since February 23, Firisua and fellow male country long distance rep Patrick Kam are being training at the Glenhuntly Athletics Club in Melbourne, Australia.
The arrangement to have Firisua and Kam train in Australia comes under an International Olympic Committee (IOC) funded scholarship.
The scholarship is to enable the country’s top athletes train at performance-enhancing facilities overseas to prepare them for upcoming global sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games next month and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
Speaking to SunSPORTS from Melbourne yesterday, Firisua said that due to other circumstances, she and her partner could not depart earlier for Australia to get an earlier start to their preparations.
“We left on February 22 and now we only have one month left to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.
“Our trip had a bit of a delay from the start due to other circumstances.
“One month of training is not enough and involves a lot of tiring catch up sessions on fitness and pretty much hard work,” Firisua, who claimed top female athlete award of the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu said.
Despite this, Firisua and Kam remain optimistic of putting up to their best when competing on the tracks in the 5,000m events in both the men and women’s categories where they will take part in.
“Well, as I have mentioned I’m not ready due to late preparation. This is my second time to participate in the Commonwealth and I already know what to expect. It will be tough. The Commonwealth is the same as the Olympics. The pace of the race is tough and holds not so much difference with the Olympic Games.
“But anyway, I just have to leave all this behind and put up strong focus to concentrate on the great opportunity ahead which racing the tracks against the best in Gold Coast next month.
“We participated in two competitions in the previous weeks and came up really good results.
“We look forward to the opportunity in the Commonwealth Games and our aim is to finish with better results on the finish line,” she said.
Firisua and Kam will spend the next remaining weeks and days this month training in Melbourne before joining the rest of the ‘One Team Solomon’ members prior to the kickoff of the Games.
Firisua and Kam are expected to meet the rest of the ‘One team Solomon’ members in Brisbane on March 25, enroute to the Games in Gold Coast.
The Commonwealth Games will run from April 4 to 15.
ADELIUA Taiwanese farm at Fiu, near Auki, has extended its set-up for farmers within the central region in Malaita province.
Taiwanese style of farming was first introduced at Adeliua in Fiu in 2016, and has played a vital role for farmers especially to introduce the similar settings back in their communities in terms of farming.
Speaking to this paper yesterday, Enoch Gwala, Taiwanese worker at Adeliua, said the idea of the Taiwanese agriculture set up is good especially for the people in the rural communities to improve their subsistence farming.
He said, in some cases people often burn their rubbish after clearing the sites for their farms but it is not the right way to preserve the soil for farming.
Gwala added, the Taiwanese farming ideas introduced at Adeliua are more helpful in terms of soil preservation.
In the Taiwanese farm they introduced new format of planting pana, sweet potatoes, cassava, sugar cane, bean, taro, peanut and some other local types of crops and vegetables.
ROws of Cassava blocks at Adeliua Taiwanese farmNew blocks for Peanut at AdeliuaPart of the sugar cane FarmRows of Pana at AdeliuaTaiwanese farm office at Adeliua at FiuThe new ploughed site prepared for vegetables
SOLOMON Islands joined more than 180 countries from five continents in Berlin last week for a three-day showcasing on the country’s tourist destination.
Ms Helen Aumae from Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau represented Solomon Islands in the world leading Travel Trade Show called ITB Berlin.
At the ITB Berlin event, Ms Aumae exhibited Solomon Islands by showcasing information about Solomon Islands through prepared promotional materials.
According to Aumae, 2018 ITB Berlin Trade Fair event has increased awareness and visibility of Solomon Islands to the European market.
She is a SIVB Officer who looks after Europe countries, and participating in the ITB Berlin will contribute towards Solomon Islands’ market to Europe.
The ITB Berlin Travel Trade show convened 1000 qualified top buyers, 10,000 exhibitors, 28,000 convention visitors and 109 trade visitors.
Total visitors attending the 2018 ITB Berlin Trade Fair event is 160, which gives Solomon Islands a good head-start in the European market.
ITB Berlin is the leading Travel Trade show and is the foremost business platform for global touristic offers.
Meanwhile, Aumae has spent three days in Berlin from March 7 – 11. She arrived back in Honiara over the weekend.
More update on her trip will be featured this Friday on the Island Sun tourism page.
Information pack about Solomon IslandsGroup photo of Helen with other tourism officersMs Helen Aumae in Berlin with other participants at the 2018 ITB Berlin Trade Fair eventOne of the visitors impressed with Solomon designSolomon Islands is promoted through basket at the ITB Berlin fair trade and exhibitionTwo visitors hold SIVB magazine and business card which they have clear information about Solomon Islands
Members of the MAC Fest 2018 NOC - Left-Right - Chairman Andrew Nihopara - Vice-Chair Moses Tepai - Secretary Lilly Tinoni - Head Finance Denty Tuke - Customs and Immigration Martha Ausolo - Head of Events and Venues Dennis Marita
By Gary Hatigeva
Members of the MAC Fest 2018 NOC – Left-Right – Chairman Andrew Nihopara – Vice-Chair Moses Tepai – Secretary Lilly Tinoni – Head Finance Denty Tuke – Customs and Immigration Martha Ausolo – Head of Events and Venues Dennis Marita
AS we now mark 108 days away from officially hosting the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival 2018, we introduce to you the events National Committee or called in short, the MACFNOC.
The MACFNOC comprises of officers from various Solomon Islands Government ministries and several sitting members from other organisations and institutions within the country.
According the Committee’s head of Events and Venues, Dennis Marita during a launch on Monday explained that from the committee, most will be heading sub-committees responsible for various functions of the festival.
The committee consists of a Chairman, Mr Andrew Nihopara who is also the Permanent Secretary and assisted by Mr Moses Tepai, the Under Secretary, both from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Nihopara will strictly supervise in nature and chairs all MAFNOC meetings at the same time heads consultations and negotiations on Festival matters, as well as the accountable officer in terms of finances.
The Chair according to the committee structure and guide, will report back to the Government through the Minister of Culture and Tourism, while also liaises between the Government, relevant stakeholders and MAFNOC.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chairman is expected to chair meetings in the absence of the Chairman and also liaise with all Sub-committee Chairs and briefs the Festival Chair on their respective progresses at the same time runs the administration of the Festival Secretariat.
Tepai will also be responsible for the compilation of the Final Report at the conclusion of the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival.
Meet Lilly Tinoni, the Executive Personal Secretary at Ministry of Culture and Tourism who is one of the only two females in the Local Organising Committee.
With her responsibility as Secretary to the MAC Fest, she is responsible for organising and preparation of MAFNOC meetings, and also takes records of meetings and disseminates information to members.
The Secretary is also expected to make appointments and logistical arrangements for consultations and meetings including other general administration work.
As for this Committee, it is one group that any organising committees or events cannot go without and that is the Finance section.
Meet Denty Tuke who is the Head of Finance sub-committee, which is expected to play more of an advisory and monitoring role to ensure that Government Finances are utilised appropriately and transparently inclined with Government Financial Instructions (FIs).
Members of the Finance Sub-Committee will include representatives from the Accountant General’s Office, Auditor General’s Office, Attorney General’s Chamber, and Central Tender Board.
The committee is also expected to ensure the smooth and speedy facilitation of procurements to meet festival datelines, while at the same time entrusted to do up the audit report at the end of the festival.
Tuke is also the Assistant Accountant General for the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
Meet Martha Ausolo from the Customs and Excise division at Ministry of Finance and Treasury, another of the only two female officials within the organising committee who is tasked to head the event’s sub-committee responsible for matters on Customs and Immigration.
This Sub-Committee will be responsible for all arrivals and departures at the airport and to ensure that there is a smooth flow through the immigration services for purposes of time and convenience.
The committee is also expected to liaise with their counter-parts in participating countries on matters of immigration and visas.
The committee is to ensure that all goods arriving through international entry points to go through relevant procedures in compliance with Solomon Islands’ laws.
The committee will formulate a strategy of how to handle all airport arrivals and Departures while at the same time liaise with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) regarding any breech of our Customs and Immigration Laws.
Follow us in our next issues for the remaining members and heads of various sub-committees and sections party to the Local Organising Committee but before this one ends, we want you to meet Dennis Marita, the Director of Culture at Ministry of Culture and Tourism who is also the Head of the programmes & events sub-committee.
While Marita is in charge of Events and venues for the Festival, he and his sub-committee would probably have some of the biggest tasks in hand, one of which is to draw up the entire festival programme according to the various proposed activities for the festival.
His committee is expected to liaise with the Festival Secretariat to know the status of the participating countries in terms of areas of participation, participation numbers and participation requirements.
This committee comprise of people who will be responsible for the Performing Arts, which of course includes dance, music, theatre and others.
They are also responsible for Arts Exhibitions, which will include Visual arts, contemporary arts, Handicrafts, sculptor, and other related areas.
Marita and his committee will also be looking after Literary Arts, Canoeing and Navigation, Fashion, Film, Symposiums, and Ceremonies, which includes the Ecumenical service, opening and closing.
A graduate receives her APTC certificate in leadership and management at APTC’s Graduation Ceremony in Gizo last week. PHOTO APTC
A graduate receives her APTC certificate in leadership and management at APTC’s Graduation Ceremony in Gizo last week. PHOTO APTC.
THE Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) celebrated the achievements of 13 Solomon Islanders at its graduation ceremony in Gizo on March 9, 2018.
It was a special moment for 11 women who were also the first group of APTC students to graduate with Certificate IV in Leadership and Management from the Western Province in Solomon Islands.
APTC is a flagship programme of the Australian Government that provides Australian-standard skills and qualifications across a wide range of vocational careers for skilled workers across the Pacific.
Since 2007, APTC has trained over 12,000 graduates, including more than 1390 Solomon Island nationals. Of these, over 130 have undertaken Leadership and Management training, with 84 of this group being women.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Premier of Western Province, Malloney Lopoto commended the women on taking up the challenge to educate and upskill themselves.
“For sustainable development, we will need good leaders for proper decision-making. I am pleased that these graduates have been equipped with the strong leadership and management skills that can make a difference in our Province,” he added.
Lopoto hopes to see more participation of women in decision-making at the provincial level. He thanked the Australian Government and APTC for supporting women’s empowerment and development in the Western Province.
The Australian Deputy High Commissioner, Michael Hassett, also congratulated the women on their achievement, and encouraged them to seek out leadership roles in their community. He added that creating opportunities for women and girls to reach their full potential was a key priority for the Australian Government.
Two male Certificate III in Carpentry students also received their qualification during the graduation ceremony.
Apart from Gizo, APTC held graduations in Honiara and Auki last week. More than 130 Solomon Islanders graduated from these three ceremonies.
