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Sasako invited by police for questioning over his article ‘Top Secret Out’

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE Commissioner Mostyn Mangau has said Solomon Star journalist Alfred Sasako has been invited for questioning over his article published in the Solomon Star issue 8391 on  March 4, 2023.

Mangau said the content of the article is a threat to National Security and police are currently investigating the matter.

He said the author of the article will also be dealt with, if the investigation finds no truth in the contents of the article.

Mangau said it will take sometime as police will have to do thorough investigation on the matter.

He said currently police are doing general enquiry to find out whether the article is genuine.

The article stated that Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was to be assassinated after the success of the November 2021 riot in Honiara, sources deep within the Malaita For Development (M4D) movement have revealed.

Sasako’s article also claimed that the seven-member assassination squad handpicked for the job was given support by the United State.

The US Embassy has denied and rebutted Sasako’s article labelling it as a ‘fantasy’.

650 award letters so far

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) Permanent Secretary (PS) Dr Franco Rodie

Education PS Rodie gives update on late government scholarships.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Government has so far given out 650 award letters of 1000 scholarships for this year.

This comes as tertiary institutions in the country and the region are either in their sixth week of classes or more.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Education (MEHRD) Dr Franco Rodie at a press conference yesterday indicated that most scholarship recipients will commence studies under SIG sponsorship in the second semester.

Rodie said 1000 award letters will be issued and that will be final.

“Out of the 1000 scholarships that were allocated and budgeted for only 650 award letters have been issued so, that is what we have processed so far.”

Rodie said they are about to complete the scholarship rounds of 2023.

“The only activity that is happening is issuing of awards to those students who are yet to collect their awards.

“Regarding decision on those students who might not been able to commence their studies this year or this semester they have course or programs that they will commence in semester two.

“So those students who need to travel overseas within the Pacific region to regional universities their arrangement are being met so that they can go on next semester,” Rodie said.

“At the local institution because of the delay there are some students who are not able to complete their enrolment and so they should be able to commence their studies in semester two.”

Last month, SITESA, the body inside MEHRD which deals with scholarship, made a farce by secretly letting applicants know of the status of their application.

SITESA did not publish the list of scholarship recipients for 2023 in the public space.

This did not sit well with concerned members of public, who took to social media calling on SITESA to publish the list.

Many posted on social media their suspicions that the scholarship list may have been hijacked by politicians or manipulated through corrupt means by SITESA officials responsible for approving who gets a scholarship.

Since then, SITESA did nothing to quell public concerns and demands.

Earlier this week, SBM Online reported that the minister of education Lannelle Tanangada has directed her permanent secretary, Rodie, to overtake the role of CEO from the current, Constance Nasi.

PS Rodie told SBM Online that his role is temporary and that he was brought in to “troubleshoot and speed up the 2023 scholarship awards due to delays by the SITESA Management”.

“The instruction for me to oversight comes from the Minister under the powers and duties spelt out in the SITESA Act and in concurrence with the advice issued by the AG based on his review and analysis of the Act,” Rodie told SBM Online.

Tourism Industry Urged to work with Government, GPC and NHA for PG2023

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare

BY MAVIS PODOKOLO

THE tourism industry of Solomon Islands is urged to work collaboratively with the national government, the Games Organising Committee (GOC) and the National Hosting Authority (NHA) to assisting to the upcoming South Pacific Games 2023 event.

Hosting Authority (NHA) to assisting to the upcoming South Pacific Games 2023 event.

This call was made by the Minister for Culture and Tourism Bartholomew Parapolo during the event of the “Tourism in Focus” 2023.

This is going to be a very important and busy year for the country as we prepare to host the South Pacific Games. I urge and call upon the industry to work with the government, the GOC and NHA in whatever capacity and role so that we deliver one of the best sporting events in the region,” he said.

Prime Minister adds the tourism industry must enhance itself within the ambits of culture, arts and heritage.

“As such, I fully acknowledge the ongoing preparations by the industry in readiness towards receiving the largest group of the Pacific friends braced to visit shores for the Pacific Games in 9- month time. We will all ensure a successful game is hosted and iumi tugeda bae welcome and host our friends,” Sogavare said.

TRAFFIC EXPECTED

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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RSIPF Assistant Commissioner National Operations, Everlyn Thugea.

…Green Games launches

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

INTERRUPTION of traffic flow is expected this morning due to a parade that will be held to mark the start of the Safe and Green Games strategy commencing today until Sunday 5th.

This was confirmed by Everlyn Thugea Assistant Commissioner National operation under Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in a Police press conference yesterday.

“You will expect interruption or disturbance today because of the parade and also road closer especially at China Town for sometimes while the parade is progressing during the early hours.

“However, traffic police officers and uniform officers will be there to manage the flow of the traffic.

“I call on public to please be patients with us especially on the traffic interruption. This is our activity let us all support what the event is aimed at,” Thugea said.

She said the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF)will deploy a good number of officers to assist in managing the traffic flow on the floats during parade and crowd control on all venues. RSIPF will also assist the traffic flow in different identified locations where the parades will commence.

“We are anticipating around two thousand people representing the government ministries, churches Civil Society Organisations, private sectors, NGOs , SOEs and schools will participate in this match. It is quite a huge number of people who will turn out on this event today,” Thugea said.

Additionally, Thugea says there will be three floats from different locations going towards Lawson Tama.

“For West Honiara their main float will starts at SIM to Lawson Tama, Central Honiara from HCC going through China town to Lawson Tama and East Honiara Parade will begins at SINU to Lawson Tama,” she said.

“I call on citizens to support the green games programs so that event will run smoothly and everyone will enjoy our clean environment once the campaign clean-up is done in a proper manner.

“Safety is a shared responsibility for all of us both the general public and the police,” Thugea adds.

Launching of the Safe Green Games initiative meanwhile will kick off at 8am and is expected to finish with entertainments after 11:30am today at the Lawson Tama Stadium.

800 per month for seasonal work processing: MFAET

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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MFAET Permanent Secretary, Collin Beck

BY NED GAGAHE

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affair and External Trade (MFAET) Mr Collin Beck says due to the massive work of processing well over 15,000 applications, MFAET can only do 800 applicants on monthly basis for the Work Ready Pool.

Beck said based on estimations it will take up to 19 months to process the massive task of processing the applicants who have applied during the recent two-week window opportunity.

Beck revealed this during its media conference yesterday.

He said the four underrepresented provinces will be visited starting in two weeks’ time, the provinces are Makira, Temotu, Isabel and Renbel.

Beck added that for this calendar year they are looking at sending 2000 to 2500 workers under the LMU scheme.

“Nearly 4, 000 applied online portal, bulk of those submission were received on email, 10,964 to be exact.

“Outreached to four underrepresented provinces will soon commence for Makira, Isabel, Temotu and Renbel, funds were already available for the program.

“MFAET is now finalizing arrangements in the next two weeks our teams should be in both Makira and Isabel, Temotu visitation will begins in the first week of April.

“For the provinces access to network is not that good compared in Honiara so we will accept manual submissions of hard copies.

“In light of the capacity to deal with the massive role of processing the 15,000 applicants we acknowledged the support from Australia and the firm Pasifika HR.

“We can only do 800 applicants a month and will be spilled over going into 2024 based on rough estimation it will take up to 19 months

“Current work includes building profiles for workers on the WRP at the same time mobilizing workers out of the country.

“2,478 workers still on work ready pool from the previous recruitment drive

“MFAET is working on trimming the list by delisting applicants for non-responses to phone calls being made to contact them over a period of time.” Beck said.

Meanwhile, Beck said that for the past 24 to 36 months 5332 were mobilized to Australia and some have already completed their contract.

He said presently 4,705 workers are in Australia and the total number of workers in New Zealand is around 600

He said they are hope to surpass 1,000 workers for New Zealand this year.

3 global powers descend on Honiara

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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US Coast Guard Commander for Oceania Rear Admiral Michael Day, Commander, District 14 (left), National Security Council Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific Dr Kurt Campbell (centre) and US Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator for Asia Michael Schiffer (right). Photo credit – Mavis Podokolo

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands welcomed three global powers in recent days.

This after Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi made the first historical tour to the country for the first time in the history on Sunday.

On Monday, China International Development Agency officials arrived in the country to follow up on the multi-million projects they funded for the Pacific Games in November this year.

Followed on by USA’s Dr Kurt Campbell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, National Security Council, who arrived with his eight-member delegation.

When asked why Solomon Islands is special by media during a press conference on Tuesday, Dr Campbell said so look this is an arena that the United States has critical strategic interests.

“We have moral interests.

“We have historical interests,” he said.

“I have visited the Solomons in the Pacific for decades.

“And I believe that the United States is seeking to step up its role and engagement in the Pacific for a multiplicity of reasons,” he said.

Dr Campbell said it is important to them for you to understand that United States believes that it is a Pacific nation, our states are in the region.

“We have a long-standing history here.

“I think it is very much in the interests of the Solomon Islands people that that more nations are paying attention or engaging on your terms and seeking to meet the needs of the Solomon Islands people some,” he said.

However, political analysts believe the diplomatic switch Solomon Islands made to China in 2019 and the Security pact signed with China in March 2022 have triggered the physical interest of US to the country.

Dr Campbell said the position of the United States and other countries in the region would be that while those interactions and engagements are appropriate.

“For instance, if there was any discussion about a permanent military base or something associated with power projection, the United States would have substantial concerns associated with that,” he added.

AUKUS to provide security for Indo-Pacific: US delegation

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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National Security Council Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific Dr Kurt Campbell.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

The United States delegation to Solomon Islands has explained the AUKUS partnership as providing security for the Indo-Pacific region.

National security council coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, Dr Kurt Campbell, who led a delegation on a one-day swoop visit to Honiara told local media this on Tuesday this week.

He said AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom & United States) is a new security partnership which is an effort to respond to a rapidly changing security environment in the Indo-Pacific.

Campbell echoed this during a press conference with the local journalists on Tuesday.

He said Great Britain and Australia are two of United States’ very important allies and partners who are committed in a peace loving and also committed to non-nuclear policies especially deeply engaged in the Pacific particularly Australia.

“I think the view is AUKUS was an effort to respond to a rapidly change security environment in the indo-pacific it is not meant to pro proactive but it is defensive and its goals are to secure Peace and Stability in the Indo –pacific something that we believe    is in the best interests of all the people.

“I would also say that Australia, Great Britain and United States want to be open and transparent about the details associated with this initiative. Australia has strongly reassured partners in the region of their determination to continue to adhere to the Treaty of Rarotonga and we support that and we also believe that it would be critical to continue with that understanding of the people of the Pacific,” Campbell said.

AUKUS is a new security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States established in September 2021. It is a new security partnership that will promote a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable.

WEST DENIED $1.4M

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Government says no funds

BY BEN BILUA

The Government through the Ministry of Provincial has again denied Western Province of $1.4 million.

And, Western province policy-makers are rubbishing national government’s explanation as ‘lame’.

The fund is part of the 2022/2023 PCDF allocation which every province is the Solomon Islands is entitled to under the Ministry of Provincial Government Act.

In his speech when delivering Western Province’s Appropriation Budget 2023/2024, Minister of Finance and Treasury, who is also the Deputy Premier of Western Province, Calrick Runimetu said the 10th Assembly of Western Province is very disappointed that the government failed to pay the outstanding SIG PCDF allocation to Provincial Government in 2022/2023 Financial Year.

He said there was no formal explanation as to why the government has resorted to holding the funds back which are supposed to be delivered to support Western Province’s service deliveries and operations.

“The only explanation we received was that there were no funds which to us is a lame excuse,” Runimetu said.

He said the 1.4 million should stand as part of Western Province’s development budget for 2022/2023 and the fund is now foregone.

“WPG’s disappointment is that there was no written justification or reason stating why it will be forfeited. As agents of the national government, the PGs should be duly informed of such decisions.

“Further to that, these budget allocations are part of the approved appropriation ordinance and are legally binding and thus should be delivered,” Runimetu said.

He said Western Province is a strong province that has been looking at its people though the government downplayed benefits that are legally accorded to Western Province.

MID welcomes willingness by local contractors to remove potholes free of charge

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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MID Permanent Secretary (PS) Stephen Maesiola

BY NED GAGAHE

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) Mr. Stephen Maesiola has welcome local contractors who are willing to do road maintenance along the stretch of road between Ranadi roundabout down to Henderson, East Honiara with their machines free of charge.

Maesiola was responding to calls by a local contractor to fix the road by grading it with his own machines free of charge following the worsening road conditions.

When asked by the media during the weekly media conference last Friday Maesiola said MID welcome such proposal and urged the contractors to see them.

“If any contractor is willing to voluntary work on grading the road, I am happy to see them and give them the offer to allow them to carry out the work.” Maesiola said.

He explained that Kitano company who is currently upgrading of the road was responsible to ensure that the road is in good condition for vehicles to use on a daily basis.

Maesiola said that despite undergoing the major upgrade Kitano is responsible under their contract to ensure that the road is in good shape.

Last week the paper reported that deteriorating road conditions there has forced bus owners avoiding the patch of road resulted in students and residents residing at Lunga and Henderson to walk from Ranandi to their homes.

Mr. Maesiola also added that other contributing factors such as rain also contributed to the worsening road condition.

Budget will be enough: HCC

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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HCC legal officer, Paul Inifiri.

BY NED GAGAHE

Honiara City Council’s (HCC) says that the National Hosting Authority (NHA) proposed budget to support HCC step up its rubbish collection and clean-up towards and during the Pacific Games will be enough to carry out their work plan.

HCC Legal Advisor Paul Inifiri echoed this during the media conference organized by the Prime Minister’s Office Last Friday.

Mr. Inifiri said HCC is currently working on its work plan designed as a budget before it submitted to NHA to provide funding to implement the workplan.

“To my understanding the budget from NHA should be enough for HCC to carry out its work on rubbish collection and clean-up campaign towards and during the games.” Mr. Inifiri said.

Earlier Secretary to Prime Minister (SPM) Dr Jimmie Rodgers disclosed that a proposal submitted by HCC for additional budget to complement HCC’s annual budget allocation specifically for the Pacific Games was disqualified for failure to meet government budgetary requirements.

NHA as a result has offered to support HCC with funding support.

The Island Sun had asked Mr. Inifiri how much is NHA’s funding support and whether it is sufficient for the intended purpose.

Mr. Inifiri only said that he hopes that the funding should be enough.

Mr. Inifiri did not disclose the amount and answer whether the funding will be enough to carry out the work.

Meanwhile, it is expected that HCC will have to deal with a massive work of cleaning up to 160 tonnes of rubbish in a single day in the city during the Pacific Games.

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