By Gary Hatigeva

THE progress of the re-introduced Anti-Corruption Bill (ACB) in Parliament last year remains a top priority for the Solomon Islands Democratic for Change Government (SIDCCG), which is keen on having it passed as a law.

Government’s objectives include reviewing and strengthening anti-corruption legislations and related subsidiary legislations based on national consensus regarding the laws and mechanisms that must be established and implemented at national and provincial levels of combating corruption.

SIDCCG is hoping the ACB is tabled and passed along with other related subsidiaries including the Whistle blowers Protection Bill, the Right to Information Bill, the Leadership Commission (Amendment) Bill and the Political Party Integrity (Amendment) Bill.

Once the ACB becomes law, a new anti-corruption commission will have authority and jurisdiction to investigate and refer for prosecution all corruption cases that arise from the moment of the Bill’s adoption into law.

Government officials explained that the Bill, when enacted, will amend corruption offenses in the Penal Code, which will also be consistent with elements of corruption offences.

They said all corruption cases occurring prior to the law will be investigated by existing law enforcement bodies already engaged in the important work of fighting corruption.

Officials added that the government wants leverage from development partners to deliver on its National Anti-Corruption Strategy and a few including UN programme have been requested to cost-share with Government on this anti-corruption project as well as to further mobilise resources from other development partners.

It is understood that last year, the government signed an agreement with the UNDP to give effect to some of the anti-corruption activities in the country’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy

As part of these efforts, the government has adopted a national anti-corruption strategy at the highest level, following extensive stakeholder consultations.

They include a stand-alone budget for the Ombudsman’s Office to ensure its financial independence and the mandatory nature of the Leadership Code and accountability and oversight provided by the Leadership Code Commission.

Officials further added that the government has also noted the need to review and take appropriate measures to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public resources especially, the much talked about Constituency Development Funds.

The government in its Policy Statement, revealed that $3 million was projected under its fiscal budget to enable the implementation programme on the policy, which also hopes to see that corruption in all levels is prevented or reduced.

The government is also hoping that by passing the ACB and its subsidiaries will create efficient coordination and expedient service delivery, while at the same time looks to protect the integrity of leaders.

They are also hoping that with the Anti-Corruption becoming law, it will drive leaders to ensure decisions are made collectively and also ensures Political stability.

Meanwhile, officials highlighted by getting the anti-corruption in will restore public confidence, and by gaining their confidence a healthy economy is attained.

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By Gary Hatigeva

WITH its passing, the government will invest in the operations and construction of its foreign offices.

Highlighted in the summary of strategic action under its priority policies through the ministry of foreign affairs and external trade (MFAET), the government has outlined an allocation of $1.6 million from its fiscal budget for the construction of its Suva Chancery Office complex.

The SIDCC government believes work will not complete fully within their short stay in office and therefore established a long term policy framework of two years for the construction of the complex and expects any new government will carry on with the project to its completion in 2020.

The government has also outlined another allocation of $5 million for its London operation and its payroll, while a total of $440,000 will be engineered to other missions operational and their payrolls.

In its policy objectives, the SIDCC government highlighted the recognition and values the importance of peaceful co-existence with Solomon’s regional and international partners to promote trade, economic and foreign relations, which officials say needs further strengthening.

Officials explained that the strengthening programme will be done through the review of existing bilateral cooperation agreements to reflect current national interests and priorities, which also comes as a key priority area for the government to deal with before their term ends.

The government is also looking to explore greater opportunities through the South-South and North-South cooperation, while also actively participating in international and regional meetings to ensure benefits from membership in these organisations are maximised.

Amongst the number of Solomon’s high commission offices and chancery, the London mission is the latest addition, which was opened last year.

The government then under the leadership of former Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare opened the country’s London mission amid concerns at home that the country cannot afford it.

However, after opening its office, the DCC government then said it believed the mission’s establishment would increase Solomon Islands ability to explore opportunities for economic development in the United Kingdom and across Europe and this is something the Hounipwela-led government chose to take on, and ensure it is fully operational.

As for the Solomon Islands Chancery Office in Fiji, the $1.5 million allocation should enable the beginning phase construction at the site, located at Muanikau Road, Laucala Beach.

The portion of land was approved by the Government of Fiji and would also accommodate the Papua New Guinea and the Vanuatu Chancery buildings. at the site, located   Muanikau Road, Laucala Beach.

The Solomon Islands Chancery is currently located at Downtown Boulevard in Suva.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRE-TRIAL conference into the case against two men alleged of corrupting the RWASH project in 2016 will be made on March 5.

Hilly Manase and Wilson Innie were arrested in June last year for numerous incidents of conversion and false pretences committed in Honiara with a substantial amount of money involved.

The allegation said there were two separate projects funded by the European Union for Rural Water and Sanitation Hygiene (RWASH) through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services sometime in 2016.

GPPOL 1 in Guadalcanal province and Kanaba in the Renbel province water tanks projects are ongoing projects for construction in the RWASH programme for 2016. However during that time the MHMS found out that these two projects had some shortfalls on water tanks for the construction of the projects in January 2016.

The shortfalls include 12 5000 litres and two 2000 litres for GPPOL 1 project and 22 3000 litres for Kanaba water tank project.

Upon discussion with the RWASH Programme Manager at that time, he then later collected proforma quotes from the Island Tank Company and proceeded to raise two separate requisitions for the two projects respectively.

One requisition was raised against the name of Derick Willie who was the then RWASH Programme Manager for GPPOL 1 for the total amount of $99,340 for 12 5000 litres tanks and two 2000 litres tanks.

The second requisition was raised against the name of Henry Kato who was RWASH accountant for Kanaba community in Renbel Province for the $95,260 for 22 3000 litres tanks.

These two payments were raised for Island Tank company respectively in respect to the above two figures for the total of 36 water tanks.

It has been confirmed that there were two SIG cheques printed and payments were already made through the bank account of Island Tank, having receiving the money the company manufactured the water tanks and were all stored at the Island Tank compound ready for collection by the RWASH.

Police further alleged that while waiting for the collection Mr Hilly mentioned it to the other defendant and asked him to identify any buyer for the tanks.

It was during that time the two defendants Mr Hilly and Mr Innie were involved in selling the tanks on cheaper price, it is alleged.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE ministry of health (MHMS) scandal case has been adjourned for 14 days to begin its preliminary inquiry.

This is the case against five individuals alleged of misusing funds within the ministry of health in 2013.

Robert Manu former procurement officer, Dalcy Maena former accounts officer, local contractor Tigi Sikele, and Stephen Kidoe Dalipanda former Financial Controller and Randy Hatigeva former senior accountant.

They were alleged to have involved in misusing funds relating to the $10-million scandal that was uncovered in 2013 during a normal risk assessment undertaken in the government’s financial management information system by Finance ministry officials. In doing so, irregularities were detected in transactions relating to the Health Sector Support Programme funded by AusAID.

This is for the court to hear from the prosecution whether they have enough evidence to prosecute the case in court.

The defence lawyers have indicated a short form preliminary inquiry, and that will be heard in the next 14 days.

It was uncovered that government contracts allocated under the health project involved grossly inflated pricing of freight service charges and shipping charters by contractors who were not shipping operators, but merely middle-man shell companies that charged exorbitant margins of around three to four times the normal freight service charges.

Government officials involved have allegedly colluded with contracted service providers to defraud the state.

The allegation against the former financial controller said between January 1, 2012 and September 20, 2013 he obtained $7.3 million and on 15 occasions fabricated invoices for freighting and claims were submitted under the fake shipping companies without the provision of services.

His co-accused Manu of Tikopia faces 12 counts of false pretence and four counts of official corruption.

This is for allegedly processing some payments under two non-genuine shipping companies totalling up to $7.3 million.

Prosecution then alleged that the other Mr Hatigeva is also involved in endorsing payments and other documents totalling up $7.3 million.

Dalcy Maena of Malaita who faces 18 counts of false pretence was alleged of processing fictitious quotes, invoices and claims for non-executed services or duplicated payments from fake shipping including a private company that she set up totalling up to SBD $7,542,763.40.

In relation to the local contractor Tigi Sikele, he faces two counts of false pretences for allegedly defrauding the Ministry of Health of more than $730,000.

The Public Prosecution office is appearing for the crown in court.

Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea presides over the case in court.

ENDS//

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

WATER shortage is becoming an issue after more than a month of no rain in Auki.

According to residents from surrounding communities water sources are drying up and water pressure in supply pipes has dropped.

“Most of our communities depend much on rain water where it will be more challenging when drought takes place. At the moment most communities use wells for swimming and washing where they have to fetch for drinking water sources from the other communities.

“We call on the provincial government and the national government to see our need and prioritise it where two important institutes were located within the area which is Aligegeo School, Kiluufi hospital and including the capital town in Auki.”

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

LANDOWNERS want investors to take the lead in the national palm oil project in Wairokai.

The call follows widespread scepticism on the current “out-grower scheme”.

A landowner told Island Sun Auki that there’s no expected outlook for the project without an investor.

He said the “out-grower scheme” forces landowners to work with less financial support from the government.

“The idea of out-grower is good as the project will share among individual landowners and become ownership of it. But our fear is whether this out-grower scheme will work for the project.

“Because it requires 100 percent workforce from the people without machineries and with uneven financial support. We did all we can with the work on the project, but we can’t do enough since the work is beyond what we can.

“This is our alarm and the reason we want investors to work with us for the good of this palm oil project,” the man said.

The landowner claims that the ‘outgrower scheme’ only serves as a fundraising drive for the government and middlemen.

He calls on the national government and the agriculture ministry (MAL) to revisit the arrangement on the project and work with landowners.