BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

Women in the provinces who have gathered for a week-long forum in Honiara have called on responsible authorities for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) awareness to be done in rural areas within all provinces.

Speaking at the third day of the forum, Mrs Pricillar Meplo from the Temotu provincial council of women asks who the responsible person is to do CDF awareness in rural areas in the provinces.

“If only the responsible authority or person could identify potential women and men network that exist in all provinces and work together to disseminate information and advocate citizens on CDF.

“When we (rural men and women) access this information we can help advocate and educate rural dwellers because information is power that will help people to make good decisions,” she said.

Moreover one of the participants added there are many other reasons why they eagerly call for CDF awareness and these are some of the significant basis.

“For us to know the CDF scheme, when it was started, its background and history synopsis, where does the money form CDF come from, its goals and objectives and CDF budget and allocations to name a few,” uttered the participant.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force is ready should there be any urgent need for action on the Tinakula volcanic ash issue.

Police Commissioner Mathew Varley said police in Temotu are in two stages providing assistance to local communities.

He said police officers there are working with local disaster management groups.

“We also work with the national disaster management office to review the case and we know the NDMO is monitoring the volcanic ash cloud and dispatching water supply to the island.”

He said on Monday this week a team of police officers with an Agriculture team visited the island to check the volcano and advise people on precaution.

Varley also said the advice from relevant authorities is to remain calm and pay attention to messages from NDMO and other provincial authorities.

“But at this point in time the volcanic ash is the problem we have known further information that indicates an imminent risk to public safety down there,” Varley said.

BY BEN BILUA

THE ISABEL Provincial Youth Forum (IPYF) has applauded the Mines and Mineral Board (MMB) for its decision to deny prospecting licence to applicants during an MMB meeting this week.

This meeting was reported to have taken place as a result from pressure by the government, in relation to the Isabel Nickel project.

On Wednesday of this week, the Mines and Mineral Board met to deliberate on issues surrounding the Isabel Mining Project.

However, news of the meeting was met with a lot of criticism from leaders, scholars and youths of Isabel province, describing the proposed meeting as ‘rushing Isabel into mining’.

On Wednesday, IPYF submitted a petition letter reminding the Mines and Mineral Board of the communique the Isabel Tripod leadership had presented government.

The communique spells out Isabel leaders’ stand on being given time to address issues pertaining the Nickel project, such as land disputes etc.

It is understood that MMB has inclined to IPYF’s request and has placed applications as pending, with the meeting adjourned for next week.

In a statement to Island Sun, IPYF administration and members expressed their great appreciation for the sound decision by the MMB to put on hold all consideration to grant prospecting licence to interested mining companies who have been eyeing tenements in Isabel province.

“Knowing fully well and appreciating the independence of the MMB, the Forum acknowledges the exercising of such powers by the Board in this decision.

“We uphold the Tripods Resolution, we cannot work away from its spirit and come up with our own agenda.

“This is why the Paramount Chief was pushing for Youth to be in the Tripod,” the statement says.

IPYF is a charitable organisation registered under the Charitable Act of Solomon Islands.

The platform provide an avenue for Youths, leaders, chiefs, women and religious organisation of Isabel province to share, debate and map out what is significant to the future of Isabel Province.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

POLICE Commissioner Matthew Varley said his office will launch an independent investigation to review the reasons for the escape of the two suspects last week.

Police’s immediate priority is to re-capture them, but investigation into the escape will follow in due time.

Varley said he understands that there is a need for the public to know the truth surrounding the suspects’ escape from police escort.

“I want to comment on report that somehow there are those in the community who want to know the reason why this escape occurred, I understand that.

“And I understand that there are many questions to be looked into in this case.

“I will intend to appoint an independent investigation team to review this case and the reasons for the escape and the lessons we can learn from this,” he said.

He cautions against baseless speculations that the two officer present at the time of escape may have contributed to it.

“But I want to caution against any sort of commentary that the two officers involved in the event should somehow be verify or victimise as the result of this escape.

“I can assure you that those two officers feel the weight of the responsibility of what occurred, and they are working very hard as part of the team to capture these two men.

“It’s also important to know that the two officers involved were part of the original investigation team that arrested these men in the first place, and we should not lose sight of that.

“These two officers worked very hard as part of the original investigation into the home invasion to capture and arrested the two men.

“And at the end of the operation obviously for reasons that we will look at there were some mistakes made and the men escaped,” Mr Varley said.

He dismissed suggestions that the involvement of the female officer in the case contributed to the escape.

He said any criticism on that is not fair as she is a very excellent detective officer.

BY SAMIE WAIKOIRI

POLICE Commissioner Matthew Varley is calling on all communities to support and aid the operation to recapture the two escapees.

Varley said police are mounting a huge operation to recapture them, however, he reiterates the importance of public support, urging communities to help police and come forward with any information.

“We are grateful for information collected so far and we continue to receive information from the community. We appeal for anyone with more information on where about these two men to come forward and report that to police either by person at police stations or via police communication lines.

“Police continues to distribute their photos and identities to the community and actively engage with community leaders, church groups and the broader community as we continue our search,” Varley said.

Varley reminds public that the two escapees are ordered by court to be remanded in police custody.

“So people should not be under any illusions that there is some reason for them to be OK to be out. It’s important that if you know where these men are, you respect the order of the court and provide information to police or you encourage them to surrender.

“The police would rather see the operation resolve peacefully through negotiated surrender of the two men than having any police activity in terms of physically arresting them,” he said.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has not achieved much.

This was revealed by Mrs Ruth Liloqula during her presentation at the SI women’s forum in Honiara.

She said despite the CDF being in the millions, there is nothing tangible around to justify this.

“Despite the huge growth in the amount available under CDF scheme there is still no evidence of real development.

“Substantial development observed during our visits are from people’s effort and sweat or donor supported,” she uttered.

Moreover, members of parliament and the government continually refuse requests to explain exactly how this money is spent and retirement reports.

However, there are MPs who have done constituency development for individuals, groups, like income generating and community project.

“This shows that a number of MPs have done extremely well in their constituencies,” said.Liloqula.

The reports she presented are from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) community consultation and assessment workshop that was undertaken by the Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI).