By Alfred Sasako

UP to six senior government officials including ministers who were earmarked to be fired today have been given a temporary reprieve, thanks to the absence of the Attorney General.

Government House advised the Office of the Prime Minister late yesterday that the Attorney General, James Apaniai, is responsible for preparing the instruments for removing government Ministers.

But because he was out of the country, the planned sackings could not be carried out.

Island Sun was told late last night that because Mr Apaniai is out of the country, the dismissals could not be effected without the relevant instruments being prepared for endorsement by Government House.

This is now being held off until Monday, one insider told Island Sun last night.

In the meantime the SI DCC Government will launch its policy and translation this morning.

Angered by ongoing internal bickering Prime Minister Houenipwela was planning to remove up to six officials including ministers in a bid to bring about stability to the ruling two-party coalition.

Those being sacked included two political appointees who have been blamed for allegedly conspiring to remove the Prime Minister.

It is not clear whether the temporary reprieve would help ease the pressure on the government.

The government has also blamed the Opposition as being directly linked to the plot to unseat the government.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

A concerned citizen voices that a number of police vehicles in the country are in poor conditions because we have too many police drivers and vehicles are not properly cared for.

Former policeman, Mr Henry B Kahui expressed this after having learnt of the situation from an article published by Solomon Star on Feb 13, 2018, titled “vehicle shortage”.

He said that from how he sees it, while we have too many police drivers on the road some of them who are not fit to drive still take on the wheel and vehicles are not properly managed which may be the result of accidents.

Kahui also mentioned that police officers are not effective with their patrols and do not visit areas that have high crime rates.

On the other hand, he shares his experience and compares it to today’s police force.

Kahui explained that back then they used less than 50 vehicles which lasted for more than 10 years.

“We had to go through a 3 month training where we learned how to care for our vehicles and a little on basic law before moving on to various police stations that needed drivers. Drivers would have to check the vehicles before we used them.

“Although we did not have as much vehicles as today, we did our part in terms of patrolling around areas where crimes were committed on a daily basis. We carried out foot beat patrol where we walked around, patrolling around places from 10pm-6am. We did about 4 to 5 patrols before daylight and did not depend much on vehicles,” he said.

Kahui furthers that in order for RSIPF to safeguard our vehicles they must to change the direction of how their vehicles are managed and suggests that they recruit police drivers instead of allowing any police officers to drive.

By Mike Puia

AS the National General Elections move closer, some youths have come out and expressed their concern about our leaders.

A youth from Langalanga, in Malaita Province, Joseph Waledala, said current and would-be Members of Parliament must have genuine plans to make “real development” happens.

“We want leaders who are honest and devoted to the people. Leaders with visions and not self-serving,” Waledala said.

He said candidates must join the election equipped with plans and strategy on how to address the challenges rural people are experiencing.

“We want to see MPs making a difference in their constituency and in this country. We are fading-up of seeing self-serving MPs,” Waledala said.

He said the important thing they want to see is leaders who push for real development.

“Dishing out of roofing irons, solar, boats or engine is no real development. Real development is tapping the potentials in the constituency,” the youth said.

He said investing on things that would generate income and employment like eco-lodge for tourists, shell money exports and others should be every MP and intending MPs’ focus.

The elections are due to take place early next year. The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission confirmed it still working on updating and finalizing the voters list.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THIS year Young Women Christian Association Solomon Islands (YWCA SI) is planning to work closely with People with Disability Solomon Islands (PWDSI) in terms of empowering them with their yearly established programmes.

This was confirmed by the General Secretary of YWCA SI Mrs Joycelyn Lai in an exclusive interview yesterday.

She said PWDSI has been a target group her organisation has eyed to work closely with by investing in them.

However the programme must be of gender quality hence it’s inclusive for all people with special needs.

“We desired to empower them in relation to leadership, skills activities and other ways they can venture into to enable them to generate income.

Lai said YWCA SI has seen PWSDI needs that needed to be addressed hence they step in as a supportive arm.

She adds that there will be challenges ahead in terms of finance but they will find possible ways to keep the partnership and the programs soon to be carried will go well.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

A long serving non-governmental women organisation, Young Women Christian Association in Solomon Islands (YWCA SI) this year has called on interested and committed women and girls to become members and promote YWCA.

This call was made yesterday by the YWCASI General Secretary Mrs Jocelyn Lai.

She said the organisation is looking forward to welcome interested women and girls who wish to become a member as of this year and onwards.

“All are welcomed including school drop outs, house wives, working wives and all interested females are asked to come and enquire for process to become a member.

“We accept members from different backgrounds, with varying skills and experience also those that eager to obtain new knowledge regarding different spheres of life and other related areas like life skills,” Lai said.

Moreover she furthers by urging the old members to come forward and renew their membership fees which is still remains as the $20 per head.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

NORTHWEST Choiseul citizens at Ward 12 welcome their MPA’s reply over the accusation he bribed voters with alcohol during a recent Timber Rights Hearing at Taro Station.

According to Mr Nerio Ulemiki the media coordinator for Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru reporting, Ward citizens have noted his response saying that what he was accused of is only a caution for such practise to not be applied in their Ward and province.

Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Varisi Lavata at Ward 12 Northwest Choiseul Hon Gideon Panisaga when earlier contacted over the accusation had rebuffed using alcohol to bribe voters.

He said what he did was not bribery at all.

“During such meetings is the only time I have meeting up with most of my Ward people especially the young youths who normally want to enjoy alcohol,” said Hon Panisaga.

“I know my boundaries as a leader and to do such bad practise to my own people will be wrong. Whatever done during that time I am accused off was only for that time with no motive behind it.”

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

A concerned citizen expresses that with potential in the country’s tourism sector, particularly in accommodation the National Provident Fund (NPF) should build a 5 star resort at Munda, Western Province.

A Mr George Notoibae said that NPF should make a franchise agreement with a company that carries a brand name to take care of their marketing, promotions, know-how etc.

In this regard, he explains that such companies are not only well known around the world but are also very popular to tourists all due to their status of providing the best services.

“Companies with brand names are well known and these are companies that are most favored by tourists because they are the best when it comes to what they represent in terms of their services, hospitality and image”, Mr Notoibae said.

He furthers that hotels are potentially capable of contributing to the country’s tourism sector.

“So if the Ministry of Tourism and the government can seriously look into prioritizing this then we should be well off as compared to other countries in the Pacific because we are culturally diverse and this is something that attracts tourists here”, Mr Notoibae said.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

TRIAL into the case against the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and his wife has commenced in the Honiara Magistrate Court yesterday.

First prosecution witness has been called and will continue giving evidence today.

This is the case in relation to the suspended permanent secretary Mr Henry Murray and his wife.

Murray is facing counts of official corruption contrary to section 91 (a) of the Penal Code and Rose Murray is facing 19 counts of false pretence contrary tosection 308 (a) of the Penal Code.

They were charged in relation to an allegation relate 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 the PS and his wife.

The value of those payments is estimated to the excess of 1.1 million dollars and as a result of that they both face a range of serious charges.

The couple appeared at the Honiara Magistrate Court and apart from the cash bail other strict conditions also applied on both the accused.

That they must surrender all passports (official and personal), Surrender any or all keys, access cards, identification cards to the offices of Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) including telecommunication devices, cellular phones laptop computers, motor vehicles, passwords and pass codes and uniform items provided to him by virtue of his contract of employment as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development;

Not to approach or enter Office buildings belonging to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development or Ministry of Finance & Treasury;

To reside at their current residential address situated at East Kola Ridge, Honiara;

Not to interfere with Police witnesses;

Not to contact any person directly or indirectly employed by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development or the Ministry of Finance & Treasury;

Not to leave or travel out of Honiara or Guadalcanal Province without the consent of the court and to report to Naha Police Station every Mondays and Fridays between 8:00am – 4:00pm.

Leslie Kwaiga from L & L law firm represents the couple while Florence Joel from the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown.