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Gov’t cash drops

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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SIG cash balance falls this year, revenue lower than expected: Moody

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

MOODY’s Investors Services has admitted that the Government’s cash balance has fallen to low levels this year, revenues have come in below expectations, but still expects the Government to maintain its ongoing commitment to ensuring robust public finances.

“Solomon Islands’ successful graduation from an IMF programme in 2016 has helped strengthen fiscal management through the Public Financial Management Act, the introduction of a multiyear budget framework and enhancements to debt management,” the released document states.

The recently launched tax review, which includes examining the consumption tax, sales tax, income tax and other taxes such as gambling tax, would raise prospects for government revenue receipts if successfully implemented.

Moody adds that at this stage and given the likely implementation lags and potential narrowing of the scope of the fiscal reforms, it does not factor a significant broadening of the tax base in our projections.

Larger borrowing to fund key development projects such as the Tina River Hydro project will be done on concessional terms and include grants.

“We also expect Australia to continue to provide aid to Solomon Islands, which will help to maintain the sovereign’s low borrowing needs and high debt affordability.

“Overall, interest payments on government debt will remain below 0.5 percent of government revenues, a very low level compared to other rated sovereigns.

“Beside financial assistance, Australia provides technical support that contributes to the smooth functioning of the Solomon Islands’ government institutions,” it further adds.

Technical advisors are seconded to help strengthen the Solomon Islands’ capacity to undertake core state functions.

Although an escalation of domestic political and social tensions could have a high credit impact by threatening the continuity of donor support and hampering the effectiveness of policies and economic growth, Moody’s Investor Services thinks it is a low probability risk.

There has been some progress on restoring law and order in the past decade through the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), which Moody’s Investor Services expects to persist.

“We expect Australia’s technical and financial engagement with Solomon Islands to continue following the conclusion of RAMSI.

“Australia will continue to provide development support for justice and governance, education, health and police development through its bilateral aid investment program.

“Australia provides about 70 percent of Solomon Islands’ total aid, equal to around 28% of the government’s revenue or 12 percent GDP.

“The signing of a security treaty in August 2017 underscores the continued engagement on security issues between the two countries,” it further adds.

Moody’s Investor Services then elaborated that low incomes, narrow economic base and weak institutions constrain shock absorption capacity.

Lau lagoon to COP23 Germany

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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One of Mr Filia’s photo to be exhibited in COP23 Gallery
Island Sun reporter Lynton Aaron Filia

MASI member, Island Sun’s reporter, Lynton Aaron Filia says he is humbled and honoured to contribute towards the COP23 through his photo stories on climate change issues in the Solomon Islands.

Filia’s photograph was selected from a number of entries from photographers and reporters from the Pacific in a photo competition by the host country, Fiji.

As the Solomon Islands are under threat because of climate change he said he believed his picture would help portray the plight of Solomon Islands people, especially the Northern Region of Malaita province where his pictures were captured.

“I am just an amateur journalist and a reporter who is passionate about youth issues,” he said.

“My interest is in environmental issues and I encourage other young journalists to be passionate about these issues as well as it is time that we lead the change we want for the interest of our community and country.”

As a young journalist and a reporter passionate about youth issues, Mr Filia said he was excited that his picture had been selected to be showcased at the biggest climate change gathering.

The competition had called for submissions on photographs that showed the human or environmental impact of climate change and/or how individuals and groups are mobilising to counter the threat posed by climate change.

Filia also commended Island Sun newspaper for giving him the opportunity to unleash his passion and getting exposure at a higher level.

MASI Secretariat on this occasion congratulates Mr Filia for his achievements and wishes him well in his career.

Filia’s work will be displayed at COP23 in Bonn, Germany.

COP23 is informal name for the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Bonn this year. The United Nations Climate Change Conference is held every year to assess progress in dealing with climate change.

–MASI Newsletter

Taiwan’s support of health issues in the Solomon Islands

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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I write this letter to your newspaper consciously trying not to appear overtly political because it is not my intention in writing about concerns I care about deeply, the health and welfare of Solomon Islanders, by implying anything of Taiwan’s foreign policy.
On the global stage, Taipei’s health cooperation has been viewed as relatively uncontroversial and pragmatic in engaging in international relations and reducing its diplomatic isolation.
In the Solomon Islands where diplomatic relations exists with Taiwan the government in Taipei has always supported local health initiatives to protect and promote health.
It is within the spirit of that bond of cooperation that I appeal to the Taiwanese Government to consider aiding the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MOHMS) by providing the funds to re-build and re-equip the now derelict Rehabilitation Workshop at the NRH with the aim of ensuring the 400 or more limbless former patients of the National Referral Hospital (NRH) are able to be given prosthetic limbs to enhance their life opportunities and job prospects.
If the Rehabilitation Workshop could be rebuilt and equipped with the necessary tools to again function as it once did, I really believe it will be possible for one or more charitable organizations in Australia and New Zealand to offer custom made prosthetics to those awaiting limbs.
What has prompted this letter at this time?   There are several answers to the question which I will explain.
Firstly, the SI Prime Minister recently paid a historic and successful visit to Taiwan where he hailed the relationship between his country and Taiwan.
There was further warm words on the existing diplomatic relationship this week during the ‘Double Tenth’ celebrations held in Honiara when His Excellency, the Taiwanese Ambassador announced, what I have long advocated, the establishment of a factory in Honiara to generate employment and to aid the economic prosperity of the Solomon Islands.
I am not alone in having raised concerns regarding the need for better oversight and auditing of the money the Taiwanese Government gives, annually, to advance constituency development and projects.
The promise of a factory to ensure job creation locally is, at least to me, a very sound and tangible initiative that has the potential to silence those who might have implied that there is little being seen, to-date, with the money allocated for constituency projects.
Some years ago there was much talk of a ‘bottoms-up’ approach to rural development but nothing materialized.  Taiwan’s direct creation of rural enterprises, even if initially on a small scale would bring about a real change to the lives of communities.
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In returning to my plea to the Taiwanese Government, I would earnestly request that my request is met with approval and some hope can be offered very soon to those less fortunate in society.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short

Thailand has much to offer the Solomon Islands on successful sustainable development

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
AS the Solomon Islands still seeks to grow its economy and provide a meaningful sustainable development policy to accommodate its growing population and at a time of increasing  local concern over the effects on climate change, I would recommend the Solomon Islands Government to examine Thailand’s success story on sustainable development.
First some facts.
Thailand sits in the centre of Southeast Asia.  It has a total area of 513,000 km (198,000 sg mi); a population of 69 million and the unitary state is subdivided into 76 provinces.
The country is a constitutional monarchy.
Soon after the late and much loved King Bhumibol took the throne in 1946, His Majesty toured the whole country and became acutely aware of the many hardships then facing the rural people, particularly the poor farmers.  At that time the, per capita GDP was about US$200.
The King took a keen interest in rural development, devoted his whole life to helping the rural impoverished and instituted many royal projects which led to the sufficiency economy philosophy policy now pursued with growing success by the Thai Government.
The sustainable economy approach has been introduced and adopted in more than 23,000 villages across Thailand, raising prosperity and economic standards to higher levels by stages.
Thailand’s sufficiency economy concept as sustainability at its very core and is now seen as an important contributor to the UN’s international development goals.
The Thai governmental organisation most responsible for implementing the sufficiency economy is the  National Economic and Social Development Board
The ECSDB’s primary tool for mobilising action is the excellent, graphically illustrated publication of theNational Economic and Development Plan.  A copy can be accessed by using your browser to search –
http://www.mfa.go.th/SEPforSDGs/SEPThailandsPathtowardsSDGS/SEP_Thailands_Path_towards_SDGs.pdf.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Frank Short

West Areare voters demand truth about $4 million shipping grants: Charles Karaori

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Alfred Sasako

 

WEST Are Are community leader Charles Karaori has congratulated the Constituency MP, John Maneniaru, on his promotion to head the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

Hon Maneniaru, formerly of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, and Hon Snyder Rini swapped ministries in August this year. But the transition was delayed until last week as a result of intervention by the Party executives of the DCC Coalition.

In his congratulatory message, Mr Karaori warned that while the promotion was a gain for West Are Are, thousands of voters are demanding answers on a number of issues relating to the use of funding grants for the Constituency in the last three years.

“For example, the voters want the truth about the $4 million in shipping grants Hon Maneniaru received in 2016. They want to know what he spent the money on as to this day, West Are Are voters have not seen a constituency boat,” Mr Karaori said.

“All the people know through other sources is that their MP has requested an additional $5 million from the shipping grants this year, a request former minister for the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) had turned down because the initial grant of $4 million was never retired,” Mr Karaori said.

He said shipping is not a priority in West Are Are because the Constituency is well served by existing shipping operators.

“What the voters are quite angry about is that their MP never told them he had received $4 million in shipping grants last year. Hon Maneniaru had an opportunity to inform his voters during his recent tour of the Constituency, but he never did,” Mr Karaori said.

“I think there are a lot of angry voters out there,” he said.

Mr Karaori said while Hon Maneniaru’s promotion to the Minister of Finance was a proud moment for the people of West Are Are, the ramifications could be dire for the DCC Government.

“I said this because of the fact that there absolutely is nothing to speak of in terms of tangible development in West Are Are. I guess the same is true of other provinces, despite tens of millions of dollars that Members of Parliament received on behalf of their constituencies,” he said.

“I guess one way of describing it is that while the move is a gain for West Are Are, it is suicidal for the government.”

Mr Karaori said a recent assessment of the MP’s performance in terms of project delivery showed only iron roofing was donated – all without nails and Louvre glasses.

“How do you expect a village man or woman to buy materials to complete their houses, when the bulk of the cost of completing their houses has been left to the poor people?”

“Members of Parliament, particularly those in government, are on the priority list of receiving annual grants of $7 million each in what is popularly known as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

“This means that each Constituency would have received $28 million in CDF grants by the end of their four-year term. But there is more that they get as extras that we all don’t know about,” Mr Karaori said.

Beche-de-mer exporters

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
  • Four beche-de-mer exporters decided
  • MFMR releases prices of Beche-de-mer

BY JARED KOLI

THE Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) has concluded the screening of four companies identified to export the lucrative beche-de-mer product.

The exporters were each given an Offer Letter, and are yet to confirm their offer and pay an export licence fee, according to MFMR Communications Officer Francis Pituvaka.

When asked yesterday, Mr Pituvaka could not name the four companies as he maintained that formalities are yet to be completed – the confirmation of the offer and a licence fee of $SBD200, 000.

“Four of the applicants applying for the beche-de-mer export licence have been decided on, they have been issued an Offer Letter each but are yet to return to the Ministry to confirm whether they accept the offer or not,” he explained.

It is understood that once the MFMR receives a confirmation from the four, names could be known in the coming days.

Meanwhile, MFMR Permanent Secretary Dr Christian Ramofafia has told The Island Sun that there are many applications but the four selected are based on strict conditions of the four criteria set by MFMR.

Director of Fisheries Mr Edward Honiwala added that companies or individuals not meeting the requirement will not be considered.

“Others will argue to grant export licence to locals but many locals are backed by Foreigners. From our experience, licence fee is high and locals could not afford, we have seen that many locals are backed by outside people.

“We will look at their commitment with the ministry and support on the development of the country, in terms of employment because all these things are about development of fisheries,” the two echoed in a recent interview.

The Ministry yesterday also released a local buying price guideline for a total of 54 different species of beche-de-mer during this opening period.

The new buying price sets the ‘white teatfish’ as the most expensive or high valued species with a minimum price of $500 for white teatfish A and $300 for whiteteat fish B. (see separate advert from MFMR in today’s issue)

The high value group is seconded by $400 worth Black Teat Fish A for its dry (processed) product.

The products are categorised in three groups namely 24 species in the high value group, 11 species in Medium Value group and 13 in low value group.

Dr Christian said the ministry provides the price range to local buyers and exporters, because the complexity of the trade, many of the buyers didn’t link with exporters.

“When we issue export permit we will also be giving exporters a price guide as condition for their license. The licence will be issued with conditions, and one of the conditions is not to buy undersized beche-de-mer,” Dr Christian said.

Dr Christian said the ministry will put in place a strong guide to support villagers in terms of pricing because the lifting is aimed at supporting them.

Taiwan high-tech company heads to SI next year

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Speedtech CEO Mr Lucas Chiu talks with PM Sogavare and Mr Roger Luo

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

A renowned high-tech solar company from the Republic of China (Taiwan) will set up its manufacturing solar factory in Solomon Islands early next year, HE Roger Luo said.

This is an outcome from the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s state visit to Taiwan last year, he adds.

Luo revealed this in his remarks during the celebration of Taiwan’s Double Tenth National Day held at Mendana Hotel on Tuesday, Oct 10.

The Company – Speedtech Company has established factories in Taiwan, Africa, Caribbean and Central America, their new factory in Honiara will be the first one in the Pacific.

“I am very pleased to inform you that at invitation of Hon Prime Minister Sogavare during his last year’s state visit to Taiwan, one of Taiwan’s prominent high-tech solar power manufacturer Speedtech Company will come to set up a solar power panel factory in Honiara early next year,” Mr Luo said.

“And we can expect that very soon there will be solar power panel made in Solomon Islands.”

Speedtech CEO Mr Lucas Chiu and his team are in the country for the Taiwanese tradeshow which was held at the Mendana Hotel this week.

Mr Luo said, “And it turns out very successfully, they have found business partners and received many orders. Obviously people in Honiara like their products very much.

“I am very sure that through our joint efforts there will be more Taiwan’s companies come to Solomon Islands to explore opportunities of investment.”

CEO Chiu said the company believes they can do something here as Solomon Islands has diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

“The Solomon Island Government helps us a lot and so we should do something in return, and additionally Solomon Islanders are friendly, and if we setup factory here there in no hesitation,” Mr Chiu said.

Touching Lives touches the sick

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Nurse Manager, Ms Anna Lofea.

BY ALICE NANTARA

On Thursday at the National Referral Hospital Paediatric Ward, the nurse in-charge conveyed her appreciation to the students and organisers for visiting.

Ms Anna Lofea, who is the Nurse Manager at the Children’s Ward, said that her staff and patients are so blessed to receive gifts and messages that the students present through singing and sharing.

“It is indeed a blessing for all of us at the hospital today. The love and care that patients receive along with gifts showed that these students care and does have heart for people in need.

“King George Sixth students are amongst the few that make time to visit the sick. The fact that they have the initiative to reach out and do something for those that are sick really touched me.

“We are nurses and our job is to provide care for the sick but any act of kindness from outside will always be welcomed and appreciated within these walls.

“On behalf of my staff and patients, I would like to thank the students and those working behind the scenes for making this day a blessing indeed,” Ms Lofea concludes.

A student representative assures the sick and their families that they will not forget them in their prayers despite their visitation is only for a short time.

Touching Lives gives back to the community

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
King George Sixth school visit Labour Ward

BY ALICE NANTARA

400-plus King George Sixth students and their patrons gathered yesterday midday at the National Referral Hospital Square to fulfil the main goal of ‘Touching Lives’.

Opening prayer was done by the school Chaplain and the school Principal presented brief remarks on the purpose of their visit, reminding every student to be mindful of how they interact with sick patients and ensure that they always apply courtesy.

“This for sure will be a good experience for all of us here, students especially will get to interact with the sick, giving gifts, get well soon cards, singing a few songs and saying a prayer to enlighten and uplift sick patients.

“We hope that what we do will touch and inspire the lives of sick patients,” says KGVI principal.

Students were divided into classes and each class was allocated which ward to visit.

A school patron and a nurse in charge then escorted the students to their assigned wards.

Speaking on behalf of the Form Five Red students, their class captain Mr Kevin Tareamu shared that it was a second time that he got involved with touching lives and in comparison to past years, 2017 NRH visitation has improved a lot.

“School administration, parents, ex-students and some others I could not name have all contributed and helped in making 2017 NRH visitation a success,” Mr Tareamu said.

As part of their visitation, students also share encouraging messages to those that are sick and for those that are responsible for taking care of the sick.

Touching Lives is a school-based charity group that started back in 2013 and with the donations that they receive from Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and other groups, 2017 hospital visit is a success.

2017 Hospital visitation was not only for the NRH but also some students were send up to pay a visit to sick patients at Good Samaritan Hospital at GPOL.

Selwyn College academic performance smashes records

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Principal of Selwyn College Mr Lionel Vuthia delivers his speech during the school’s graduation last week.

BY BEN BILUA

CHURCH-owned Selwyn College continues to produce brilliant academic performance and results each year.

Speaking during the 2017 graduation and prize-giving day last week, School Principal Mr Lionel Vuthia said Selwyn College semester-one pass rate smashed 95 percent with students achieving 3.9 GPA.

He said three form seven students from Selwyn College have already secured scholarships, two from AusAid, one International Award, the other Regional Award and one Taiwan Scholarship.

Vuthia adds that one student from Selwyn College also went to Japan on a look-and-learn invitation visit.

He said the school continues to strive to achieve higher academic goals and is now counting on the school’s form seven external semester-one results.

Vuthia said the national assessment for school’s examination classes for 2017 F3, F5, F6 and F7 will be determined after the external exams in November.

He told parents that the teaching staff of Selwyn College will continue to hold high in preparation for the student’s exams.

Mr Vuthia said two volunteer teachers from the United Kingdom have joined Selwyn College teaching staffs which promises to boost the students’ exam preparation.

“Lately in August, two volunteers from Project Trust Volunteers in UK joined the teaching staff.

“This is a pilot project on annual recruitment if successful.

“Welcome to Mr Noah Poole and Mr Ultan Wood, they are now settling in well at school in SI context,” he explained.

On the same note, Vuthia advises students to create for themselves a milestone in life for better future.

“To the graduands, what does this occasion mean to you?

“I hope you are not just passing time but should create a milestone in your journey to the world out there,” he said.

Vuthia calls on parents to continue to support the students in their education.

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