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PIMEU team assists WPG with its policy

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Special Secretary to the Prime Minister Albert Kabui. Photo supplied

BY BEN BILUA

POLICY, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit (PIMEU) officials from the Prime Minister’s Office last week paid a courtesy visit to the Premier of Western Province.

The team also assisted the Western Provincial Government formulate its policy.

This followed a request made by Western Provincial Assembly and the Premier’s Office to the Prime Minister’s office.

“It was a successful discussion. We have discussed couples of subjects and has reached a fruitful resolution,” Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Albert Kabui said.

He said the aim and objective of the discussion was to align national policies with the policy of Western Province.

Albert said the policy will provide a clear path for Western Province’s Appropriation Budget 2023/2024 which will be tabled in March this year.

He explained that policy formulation and prioritization is important to draft the province’s budget as well as aligning national budgets and allocation to sectors that affiliate with provincial developments and services deliveries.

“What happen during our meeting was, Western Provincial Assembly seeking clarification on government policies especially priorities of different sectors within the national government.

“We have fundamental sector, productive sector and service sector. These sectors are vital organ of the central government adding aligning provinces’ policies to achieve the overall mission, vision and objectives of these sectors will not only bring positive outcome for the central government but also enhance service delivery and production sectors in the provinces.

“This is where both the central government and provincial government policies must be aligned,” Kabui said.

He adds that discussions during the meeting have been centered towards infrastructure development, Federal system, Human Resource development and land reform.

“From a practical point of view, it is important to align policies but it is equally important that there are human resources to implement the policies.

“The same goes to other development ambitions, for example; cooperation is needed to carry out infrastructure development, land reform and the much talked about federal system,” Kabui said.

He said the best take away from the meeting was the assurance between Western Province and the Prime Minister’s office to establish greater cooperation going forward.

Kabui said Choiseul Province is also looking at the same procedure and his team is likely to have discussion with the Premier and executive of the province later.

SI YOUTHS CLIMATE CHAMPS

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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PIF Secretary General, Henry Puna

Forum recognises our young people as strong advocates at COP26 & COP27

By EDDIE OSIFELO

PACIFIC Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna has acknowledged the young people of Solomon Islands to be strong advocates as youth climate champions, at the COP26 and COP27.

COP 26 was held at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, from October 31 to November 13, 2021.

While, the recent COP 27 was held in held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt from November 6 until November 20, 2022.

Speaking to media in a joint press conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele in Honiara last Thursday, Puna said he was really encouraged by the participation of our young people, because all the work that they do in climate change is for their sake.

“Isn’t it?

“We want to leave the world behind the same way even better the way we found it,” he said.

Puna said that is the least that they have to do for their young people.

“So, thank you to the young people of Solomon Islands for being so active advocates in assisting us spread our message on the global forum.

“In this particular regard, I want to acknowledge the young champion, Gladys Habu, who have been with us in Glasgow in COP 26, and also with us at the Ocean Conference in Lisbon, last June,” he said.

Puna said she (Habu) is an excellent advocate not just for the Solomon Islands but for our region.

“You should be proud of her,” he added.

Furthermore, Puna is happy to see Australia come on board and align her policies on the concerns of climate change in the region.

He said climate change is an existential threat that they have all acknowledge and accept as the greatest threat to our region.

“And we have been pushing and pushing very hard and we will continue to push.

“We starting to see ray of sunshine but there is still a lot of work to do,” he said.

However, Puna said but the comfort to him is the fact that Australia is now starting to come onboard and align the policies with the concerns that they have expressed as a region.

“So, I want to congratulate the Australia Government for the new change that they are bringing about so that they are more align with the concerns that we the Pacific states have experienced and have continue to experience,” he added.

Puna has left the country last Thursday after choosing Solomon Islands as a first stop over to meet with Heads of Government, officials, civil society and private sectors.

MPG onto relocation of Auki bonito market

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Auki bonito market at the old Auki market area.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Malaita provincial government is working on relocating Auki’s bonito market from the old area back to the Auki main market.

Deputy Provincial Secretary, Mr David Filia Tuita said about two years ago the bonito market was removed from the Auki main market due to an upgrade being carried out on the designated area for the business.

Tuita said this was to make sure the business is carried out in a clean and hygienic environment.

He said the facility has been ready since, but bonito vendors are still using the old Auki market area.

Tuita said his office understands that there are advantages like vendors are not paying fee for doing business at the current site, but that is not the matter.

He said MPG is concerned with all services provided in Auki town to be at the right and designated places for the operation of the provincial town.

Tuita said business activities such as the bonito market must be at the right place.

He said Auki bonito market is ready and they are working with vendors and owners of the current site for the relocation of the bonito market back to Auki main market.

MPG calls for stop to street market in Auki

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Auki provincial town of Malaita.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MALAITA provincial government is calling on street market vendors to stop.

It threatens ‘tougher’ measures if vendors do not adhere to this call.

Deputy Provincial Secretary, Mr David Filia Tuita made the call following MPG’s plan to get tough on the illegal activity within Auki’s CBD area.

He said there is a provincial litter ordinance that prohibits such business activities along the street of Auki.

Tuita said the ordinance exists to advocate for hygiene and cleanliness of Auki town, which is for the benefit of everyone and it must be respected.

He said however people continue to carry out market activities which mostly involve betel-nut, smoke and cooked food at undesignated areas within the town.

Tuita said his office understands that illegal markets go on at the old Auki market during nights when ships arrive and even in front of Auki main market.

He said there are designated areas for cooked food, betel-nut and smokes to be sold and those involved in the activity know about it.

SI commends Forum stand against nuclear dumping

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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PIF Secretary General, Henry Puna

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands has commended the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna for pushing the region’s interest to stop Japan from discharging nuclear wastes into the Pacific ocean.

Japan is moving to start dumping one million tonnes of treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant into the Pacific Ocean, in few months’ time.

This treated water was used to clean up the Fukushima plant after the nuclear accident that followed the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.

The US National Association of Marine Laboratories said there was a lack of adequate and accurate scientific data supporting Japan’s assertion of safety.

Speaking at the joint press conference with Puna in Honiara yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Maneli said indeed much of our economy and livelihoods depend upon the resources within our ocean.

He said Solomon Islands welcomes further engagement with Japan on this matter to ensure all the necessary data and information needed to reassure Pacific countries that our ocean will not be affected in the slightest way, are obtained and scientifically verified.

“We are a region that has experienced first-hand the effects of the negative impacts of a nuclear testing legacy and it is our wish that such events do not repeat themselves.

“As a signatory to the 1985 Rarotonga Treaty, Solomon Islands remains supportive of a nuclear free region,” he said.

Furthermore, Puna said he has taken the responsibly on his shoulders and have been pushing hard with Japan to at least defer the proposed discharge for as early as March or April until the agreement that they reached with the Japan Prime Minister in 2011 is accomplished.

“And that agreement basically says that Japan will not proceed with discharge until all international consultations, international law and independent verifiable scientific evidence and assessments have been made and successfully completed,” he said.

However, Puna said he pleased that the Japanese Prime Minister has finally agreed to meet with a high-level delegation from our region and he’s intend to part of the mission on the 7th of March.

“It will be good to have face to face with Japanese Prime Minister to give to him the earnest and humbly plea from the Pacific Region, that this has the potential impacts to damage our livelihoods, our fishery livelihood, our livelihood as people that depend very much and well connected to the ocean in both our cultures and identity,” he added.

Veo cautious about statehood

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Billy Veo

BY BEN BILUA

PREMIER of Western Province says his government will be very careful in its deliberation on the statehood agenda.

In his Sine Die Speech last week, Billy Veo said adopting a federal system type of government is easy but sustaining it over the long run is another thing.

He said his government fully understands the importance of statehood, however, preparatory approach is something that his government will investigate further.

“Successive government over the years have been talking about statehood and the need for the provincial government to be given more autonomy in running their affairs.

“A couple of our sister provinces have also been very vocal about the need for adoption of the federal system and substantial work has already been undertaken up to several drafts of the federal constitution.

“I know it will come, it will eventually come, but my million dollar question is ‘are we ready?’.

“How do we prepare ourselves for that eventual outcome when the opportunity presents itself?

“I believe in order to get there, we have to have a strong economy foundation to bolster economic growth, together with good human resources capacity to ensure we take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves,” Veo said.

He said all the required goals will not be achieved overnight but it will be good to at least start somewhere.

PUNA BACKS PACT

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna, meets Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele before the Press Conference in Honiara yesterday.

Forum respects controversial Sino-SI security agreement

By EDDIE OSIFELO

PACIFIC Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna respects the controversial security agreement Solomon Islands signed with China in April 2022.

Speaking to media in a joint press conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele, in Honiara yesterday, Puna said the security arrangement between a country and a partner outside of the region is an exclusive jurisdiction and domain of a sovereign government.

“And I have made known to people who want to interfere and imposed their own views, that this is a sovereign issue for the Solomon Islands.

“I respect that and I respect the sovereignty of your government to enter into bilateral arrangement with any country,” he added.

Puna said as Small Island States, they have a common approach in Foreign Policy and that is ‘We are friends to all and enemy to no one’.

“We cannot afford to take a different position because we need all the help we can get.

“But in doing that, we need to be cautious in any potential pitfalls in such an arrangement,” he said.

Puna is a former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, from November 2010 to October 2020, and a staunch supporter of China.

“I have to tell you that I am a good friend of China.

“In fact, when I am becoming the Prime Minister, I only have one policy in my foreign policy. And that sentence was, I would support the One China Policy,” he said.

“And, I tell China has been a good development partner for the Cook Islands and that has been the case until now.

“So, I respect the decision taken by the Solomon Islands,” he added.

Apart from that, Puna has chosen Solomon Islands as a first stop-over in his tour to inform the government, officials, civil societies and private sectors of the Forum’s issues and programmes.

He left the country yesterday, on the way to another Forum country.

Seleso likely to deliver advice on Mala political issue by the end of the week

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, Rollen Seleso

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MINISTER of Provincial Government, Rolland Seleso is likely to deliver advice on the current political turmoil facing Malaita provincial assembly by the end of the week.

This is following the non-executive’s victory vote over the budget speech after debating it on Tuesday last week.

The speaker adjourned the meeting to seek advice from the Attorney General and Minister on the budget.

The adjournment made was undated and when or whether the meeting will resume depends on advice from the two responsible offices especially the office of Minister Seleso.

Since then, more than a week from the day the meeting was adjourned, the executive, the office of the speaker, clerk and provincial administration are waiting for advice.

PS acting for Malaita province, Mr David Filia Tuita said yesterday the minister is yet to notify his office on when to deliver the advice.

He said only information received was from the provincial speaker where he was informed that the minister will deliver the advice whether Thursday or Friday this week.

“I also met with the executive today (yesterday) and they are still waiting from the minister upon a request given to his office to advice on the situation,” Tuita said.

The PS acting said whatever the advice will be is unknown at the moment and any instruction given will determine the prospect of the meeting.

“We are still waiting and we’ll see what the advice will like,” he said.

Since the political turmoil last Tuesday, a change of numerical strengthen has witnessed with the non-executive is claiming majority of the house.

This was after MPA for ward 25 of West Are Are Joe Heroau, who was initially a non-executive member but later joined the executive, resigned to rejoin the non-executive.

Also, MPA for ward 26 of West Kwaio, Hon Alick OfoOfo Junior was reported to have defected from Premier Daniel Suidani’s government.

However, this week, he told SunAuki that he was neutral and not taking side on either bench; which is a strange position to be in politic, and assured of his decision when voting for the budget.

We’ll try to minimise Games disruption of school: Bosamata

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Deputy Secretary MEHRD James Bosamata

BY NED GAGAHE

The Ministry of Education (MEHRD) has plans in place to ensure learning continues despite the calling-off of classes for the Pacific games this year.

Deputy Secretary James Bosamata highlighted this in a recent press conference early this month.

Bosamata was pressed on what plans the ministry has in place and how it will ensure learning of students progressed smoothly during the games despite calling off classes early (end of October 2023) to make way for the Pacific Games.

Given the fact the academic year 2022 was severely affected by covid-19 and it is anticipated that academic year 2023 will also be shorter due to hosting of Pacific Games.

“In fact, this academic year will only go for three terms, the first thing we will be working on it when schools are back is setting in place how to support education authorities and schools to ensure students will still learn during this year 2023, given the short school calendar.

“That is our task with education authorities and school leaders, to ensure that learning is not disrupted,” Bosamata said.

Suidani hits back

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
Daneil Suidani.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

PREMIER of Malaita Province, Daniel Suidani has hit back on the accusations that his administration failed to fulfil their promises in the last three years.

David Suda highlighted the failed promises in an article titled: ‘MARA LEADERSHIP PLAYBOOK – DECEIVING MALAITANS,’ and posted on Malaita Watch social media page.

Suda posed these questions in his article:

  1. Has the Malaita Bank publicly announced by Premier when he received all the shell money from all the Malaita regions at Aimela set up? During the Reconciliation at Aimela, Suidani announced that he will use the Shell Money to start the Bank of Malaita? Was it already set and running? The short answer is NILL
  2. Where are the millions promised to be funded by Taiwan, Israel and USA to develop Malaita Province? NILL
  3. Where is the infrastructure promised in all the colourful speeches of MARA leadership? NILL
  4. Where are the results from the MARA 7-Point Policy? NILL
  5. Where is the referendum for Autonomy promised to be carried out in 2021-2022 and has the UN General Secretary responded to the letter issued by the Premier’s Political Advisor? NILL
  6. Have Malaita become an independent state as promised by MARA leadership? NILL

Furthermore, Suda said the biggest lie was, after all those failed promises made to the people of Malaita over the last three years, MARA leadership now had cleverly crafted the new ‘UMI Political Party’ and again tried to convince Malaitans that the only way to develop Malaita Province was through the ‘UMI Political Party’.

However, Suidani said Malaita Bank is still ongoing because it is part of the MARA’s policy.

He said the delay is because the expertise people to set up the bank are not available.

But, Suidani said his government will still pursue the idea even until the dissolution of the administration.

On Referendum, Suidani said it is still on the table.

He said the visits made to the regions in Malaita is part of the Referendum to get peoples’ views on the idea.

Further to that, Suidani said the projects in the province are still ongoing, namely, the expansion of the Kilu’ufi hospital funded by the Japanese Government; factory at Gwaegio funded by USAID and Winrock projects.

He said Malaita Province is not directly involve in these projects but just stand for democracy in the country.

Moreover, on the new political party ‘Umi Political Party,’ Suidani said there is an interim committee set up to register the members.

He said once all the members are registered, they will register it under the Political Party Commission.

Suidani said so far many people have shown their interest to register with the new political party.

Therefore, Suidani said critics need to provide evidence when trying to accuse his administration.

He believes about 70 percent of projects have been implemented in the province.

Suidani said if the MARA government cannot achieve all the projects at the end of their term, any new government can continue with them or not.

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