Tourism focus today

PS-Collin-Beck — MFAET Permanent Secretary, Collin Beck

Two-week window starts Feb 27

THE Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade is opening the new recruitment drive for workers to work in New Zealand and Australia, from February 27 to March 10.

Solomon Islanders between 21 to 50 years old are eligible to apply for the programme.

However, this year, LMU is introducing online and email submissions and not hand delivery of applications to the office.

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Collin Beck said they have learnt some lessons from 2021 when LMU received nearly 8,000 applicants.

He said when they used the manual approach, it took them nearly two years just to keep interviewing, processing and data and at the same time mobilising workers.

“For this submission, next round of recruitment, we are asking everyone to do digitally to allow data come and go straight to data base,” he said.

Beck said there will be demonstration on this.

There will be a video demonstration on how to make submission.

The online submission can be done online via this link: https://solomon.pacificlabour.org/register

While email submissions can be sent through to this email address: [email protected]

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

Have a valid passport.
Applicants must be fit and healthy / not colour blind.
Able to consistently lift 30kg from the floor.
Able to work standing for extended periods of time.
Applicants must be of good character with a strong work ethic.
Have no Criminal Convictions or police records (or any ongoing criminal /court cases)
Not consume alcohol
Must be able to work on Weekends (Saturdays and/or Sundays)
Applicants are encouraged to get vaccinated for Covid-19.

All applications must include:

A cover letter (Expression of interest) outlining why you are interested to join the WRP to work in Australia. (Required)
Applicants must include a CV that includes education and work experience including relevant dates. (required)
Reference letters from previous employer/educational institutions/church leaders/community leaders are accepted. (required)
Academic certificates (optional but encouraged)
A copy of your passport bio-page, copy of receipt from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) is accepted (required)
Valid Driving license (optional but encouraged)
A full body length photo of yourself. (required)
A copy of your Vaccine Card. (required)
Include a recent Police Clearance certificate, copy of receipt from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) is accepted. (required)

In the meantime, the LMU team will make an outreach to underrepresented provinces to do recruitment in order to spread the wealth from the Labour Mobility nationwide.

The scheduled provinces are:

– Makira: week of 27th February

– Temotu: Week of 6th March

– Isabel: Week of 13th March

Govt recommends federal constitution bill undergo cost analysis first: SSPM

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February 8, 2023

Special-Secretary-to-the-Prime-Minister-Albert-Kabui — Special Secretary to the Prime Minister Albert Kabui. Photo supplied

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE draft Federal Constitution needs to go through a cost analysis and peer review before the Government can proceed with it.

This after the draft Bill is still with the Constitutional Review Unit under the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Special Secretary to Prime Minister, Albert Kabui told media yesterday, a consultant was supposed to come and do a cost analysis, but was deferred due to Covid 19.

He said CRU also is suggesting to get lawyers to have a second look on the bill.

However, the Guadalcanal Post-Conflict, Reconciliation Rehabilitation and Restoration Association (GPCRRRA) petitions to see new Federal Constitution of Solomon Islands tables in Parliament, in the March’s sitting.

This after the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) led by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, has deferred the tabling of the Bill twice, last year.

Instead, Sogavare promised Guadalcanal people a timeline of 2026 to finalize all arrangements and see the system fully implemented.

Speaking during their meeting at Kakabona, West Honiara recently, President of Gaena’alu Movement and Member of Provincial Assembly for Moli ward (10), Jerry Sabino, said time for talking is over, they want to see action now.

Sabino said this Government has the two thirds majority to change the Constitution in Parliament.

“We cannot wait for 2026 because of Solomon Islands political history of seeing coalition government formed after elections.

“Our hope is with this government because they have the number now to do anything,” he said.

Sabino said they do not want to see the tabling of the Federal Constitution drags on like the Townsville Peace Agreement, that never being implemented after the signing in 2000.

However, SSPM Kabui said it is not as simple as the Government has the number.

He said this would not mean you amend the Constitution, but you repeal full Constitution.

“So, the draft Federal Constitution, when you repeal the Constitution, technically speaking, when you repeal the whole constitution, it means all the existing structures don’t have legal effects.

“Which means automatically all the new structures in the Constitution need to take effect,” he said.

“So, the question is, are we ready for this to happen?

“Because once we repeal the current constitution and we like new constitution to automatically take place or automatically take effect,” he said.

“What it means is Guadalcanal Province must have a High Court, Director of Public Prosecution, own police force, own medical authority to pay its own nurses and own education authority.

“Do we have that in place or not?” he asked.

Kabui said it’s not a matter about number, there are steps in place.

“It is the question of putting the right institutions in place so that transition period is smooth,” he added.

The draft Federal Constitution was handed over to the Government in 2019 after 10 years of consultation throughout the country.

It aims to change the British’s unitary system to a Republic system.

PEC holds consultations on MP salary increase

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February 8, 2023

By EDDIE OSIFELO

Parliament Entitlements Commission (PAC) has begun its consultation with relevant stakeholders last month to increase the salaries of Members of Parliament.

PEC has met with Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union recently following threat of demonstration after the proposal was leaked in the social media.

The Commission will also meet with Budget Unit in the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and expects submission from Central Bank of Solomon Islands.

They plan to meet with the Parliamentary House Committee when all there members are available.

Chairman of PEC, Johnson Siapu told media yesterday the decision taken by the Commission is because the current salary taken out of context in media, is a proposal since 2017 and 2019.

He said it is to do with Cost of Living Adjustment that was given to Public Servants in 2017 and 2019.

“When Public Servants received increase, the Commission must look into Members of Parliament.

“It is still a proposal,” he said.

Furthermore, Siapua said they started consultation in 2017 and planned to implement in 2019 but the Covid 19 disrupted it.

He said under Section 69B of the Constitution, it talks about their role to look into:

(i) the state of the national economy and the financial position of the Government;

(ii) movements in the level of the pay and other entitlements admissible to other persons in employment; and

(iii) changes in the retail price index and other relevant indicator showing the cost of maintaining the standard of living that Parliamentarians might reasonably be expected to enjoy.

The regulation shall come into effect on April 1.

Road repairs should begin, contractors already awarded on Jan 12: PS Maesiola

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February 8, 2023

MID-Permanent-Secretary-(PS)-Stephen-Maesiola-(Right)-and-Principal-Technical-Officer--Jimley-A-Fifiri-inspecting-the-installation-site-of-the-first-test-lane-site-at-the-MID-workshop-site-yesterday — MID Permanent Secretary (PS) Stephen Maesiola

By EDDIE OSIFELO

WORK on the deteriorating roads in Honiara should start after the Central Tender Board awarded contracts to three companies on January 12, this year.

They are EMCO company, Solomon Sheet Steel and Xiao.

Ministry of Infrastructure Development Permanent Secretary, Stephen Maesiola told media yesterday that EMCO was awarded contract to work on Honiara highway lot 1 from Henderson to Vura junction.

He said for Honiara lot 2 from Vura to White River, CTB already awarded contract to SSS Company.

Maesiola said for Naha to Kolaridge road, CTB awarded contract to Xiao company

He said these companies have been informed of their award letters and work should be started on these roads.

Furthermore, Maesiola said for Honiara feeder roads both sealed and unsealed, scoping work has completed by their team at Central Project Implementation Unit (CPIU).

He said they are now seeking quotes from the contractors who are interested.

“After that, formality of contractors will come through Ministerial Tender Board and the Central Tender Board.

“In the meantime, CPIU and Ministry of Finance compliance team have worked on the package for these feeder roads,” he said.

Maesiola said as soon as that is done, they should formalize the contracts and work should start straight after.

50 nurses leave for jobs overseas: SPM Rodgers

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February 8, 2023

Chairman of NHA and Secretary to Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

FIFTY nurses have signed up for overseas jobs and have left the country.

Secretary of the Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers confirmed this in a press conference yesterday.

“50 or so nurses are leaving the country for overseas jobs,” Rogers said.

He also reiterates that the health ministry is not blocking any nurse wishing to look for green pastures overseas.

Rather, the MHMS is mindful of the effect that this pending mass brain drain in the health care sector will have, thus is monitoring the situation, he adds.

“The Ministry of Health and Medical Services [MHMS] does not look to stopping nurses that would like to seek

but they respect their human rights whilst at the same time they are conscious they don’t want to lose everyone but to retain some to provide health care services and so they are looking at that balance.”

Rodgers said so far, the issue of nurses leaving the country for jobs overseas is not a ‘big problem’ for MHMS.

He said the health ministry also highlighted that there are 306 nurse interns that are yet to be fully registered and 200 nurses coming online.

“Thus, we have about 500 nurses that are coming online,” Rodgers said.

He stressed the other part they are looking at is all the retired nurses because these particular batch of nurses will fit in very well with age care.

“They can be refreshed before leaving the country, if not they can be refreshed to come in and fill gaps if there is any gap sighted when some of the other nurses go out.

“Basically, at the moment nurses leaving is not being stopped.

“They are not going to stand in the way of any nurse that would like to have better returns but they are watching very carefully to make sure national nursing situation does not suffer whilst that happens,” Rodgers said.

SUIDANI OUSTED

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February 8, 2023

Members of non-executive after they pass the motion of no confidence yesterday at Malaita Provincial Assembly chamber in Auki. — Members of new Malaita provincial government.

Malaita non-executive find success in third attempt. MARA executives boycott motion

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Malaita province’s Premier Daniel Suidani has been ousted by way of motion of no-confidence.

This motion is the non-executives’ third attempt to remove Mr Suidani.

Suidani and his executives reportedly boycotted yesterday’s motion, and the Speaker, Ronnie Butala, went on ahead with the meeting, resulting in a 17-votes to none decision.

Nominations for a new premier is open, and election of a new one is scheduled for this Friday.

Following the motion results, protestors who are sympathisers of Premier Suidani and his MARA government expressed their dismay, and were dispersed by the elite Police Response Team (PRT) who were deployed from Honiara.

The motion was tabled around 10.30am in the Malaita provincial chamber, the delay reportedly from waiting for members of the executive to attend.

The executives had attempted to delay the meeting purposely to wait for the outcome of any high court decision to the case filed by the premier a week ago asking court to interpret what had transpired three weeks ago in which the Speaker allowed the non-executives to defeat the Budget speech via voice vote.

The speaker addressed the assembly and allowed the motion to be moved by MPA for ward 3 (Buma), Martin Fini.

Speaker Butala then opened the one-sided floor for debate on the motion.

Three non-executive MPAs made their debate speech, and due to the absence of the premier to respond to the motion, the mover (Fini) asked to conclude the debate.

The speaker announced the motion to be put to a vote, which was supposed to be secret ballot paper under Malaita Provincial Assembly Standing Order (SO) 161.

However, due to the circumstances faced with the absence of the executives, the speaker suspended SO 161 and replaced it with SO 156 for a voice vote.

The speaker called for a voice vote and the 17 MPAs on the non-executive side voted ‘Aye’ in favour of the motion.

After the motion was passed the speaker announced the nomination for the post of premier, which opens 9.30 today and ends after 48 hours.

This is so that the non-executive could prepare ahead of election of the premier on Friday, where the new executive government of Malaita province will be made known.

The speaker also announced that while Malaita province is yet to have its new provincial government, the deputy premier will look after the premier’s post until a new government is formed.

Suidani who is being seen as a stout defender of democracy had manage to lead the country’s most populous province since coming to power in June 2019.

His defeat comes just five months before the life of the current Malaita provincial assembly ends.

Suidani stood against the immense pressure from the Solomon Islands national government and China, halting any aid from China and accepting US aid instead.

HONIARA’S RAIN CURSE

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February 4, 2023

Groundbreaking ceremony of the Kongulai water treatment plant held yesterday. A significant milestone on the journey to deliver safe, sustainable, resilient and reliable water supply and sanitation services to all people in the Solomon Islands.

… to become a thing of the past, soon

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Whenever it rains in Honiara, the water supply gets cut-off in most parts. This has been an ongoing problem which notably began in 2018.

But, a ground-breaking yesterday could see the end to this ‘Honiara rain curse’ in a matter of months.

The ceremony marks the beginning of work on a new water treatment plant at Kongulai water source – Honiara’s main water source.

The new Kongulai water treatment plant with a capacity to produce 15 million litres of treated water daily will enable Solomon Water to continue its service delivery ensuring safe, quality water for customers.

Speaking to the launching event Unit Head Solomon Islands Pacific Country Office, Asian Development Bank, Elmar Elbling, on behalf of the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP) and its development partners – the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, says the ground-breaking event marks a significant milestone on the journey to deliver safe, sustainable, resilient and reliable water supply and sanitation services to all people in the Solomon Islands.

“The demand for sustainable and safe water services in urban and peri-urban areas in Solomon Islands is increasing rapidly, considering the high population growth rate in urban areas.

“When commissioned later this year, the Kongulai water treatment plant with a capacity to produce 15 million liters of treated water daily, will improve the lives of more than 140,00 people living in the greater Honiara area

“The frequent shutdowns due to heavy rain and high turbidity (water), which impact households and businesses throughout the greater Honiara area will become a thing of the past,” Mr Elbling said.

Gloria Hong on behalf of Solomon Water said it was a long time coming and despite challenges in the last few years, Solomon Water continued to and still remains firm in its commitment to see the Kongulai Water Treatment project enabled.

“Todays (yesterdays) ground breaking ceremony marks the start to the largest project undertaking by Solomon Water to –date.

“This water treatment plant shall enable Solomon water to continue its service delivery ensuring safe, quality water for customers.

“Upon its completion and in its operational capacity the treatment plant will ensure that clean water is produced during high turbidity – the main cause for many unfortunate disruptions in the past,” Ms Hong said.

Deputy Secretary for Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Daniel Rove says the delivery of this project will provide significant long-term benefits for local people and for local businesses in Solomon Islands.

“We expect a lot of people and local businesses to be involved in the building of this water treatment plant and the joint venture will provide employment opportunities for up to 70 people depending on the different work requirements.”

The project was possible with the generous support from donor partners, these are the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Union / government Union.

Reopening of embassy not US response to any country’s action: Charge d’affaires Comeau

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February 3, 2023

From (L-R) Taylor Ruggles, Russell Comeau and Colin Beck during a press conference yesterday. — From (L-R) Taylor Ruggles, Russell Comeau and Colin Beck.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE US has said its reopening of an embassy in the Solomons is not a response to any country’s action.

Russell Comeau, chargé d’affaires ad interim, United States Embassy Solomon Islands told a press conference this after yesterday’s official opening.

“We have been engaged in the Pacific push for almost a decade now. The realisation of our presences matters not only in the Pacific but around the world, this is not confined with the Pacific

“Reopening of our embassy is not an action of us responding to any other countries action this is Untied States striking out on its own work plans.

“What witnessed today is the realisation of the commitments we made in the Indo Pacific strategy,” Comeau said.

Taylor Ruggles, director EAP/ANP, United States Department of State, says the core to their strategy in the Pacific is for peaceful open Indo–Pacific.

“It is not focused on any one country. But it’s about the values that we share, the democratic values, the development objectives, the peaceful aspiration and the partnership that we established throughout the region,” Ruggles said.

Colin Beck, permanent secretary to Solomons foreign affairs ministry (MFAET) and the only government representative at the occasion, said the reopening of this mission is welcomed by the government and people of Solomon Islands.

“It is a manifestation of the rich historical ties we share, the ongoing friendly relations between our two countries, and ushers renewed ambitions to deepen our bilateral partnership,” Beck said.

US visas will still be managed in PNG

News

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February 3, 2023