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NEW YEAR PRESENT?

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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PM to get extra $30k in PEC new proposal

By EDDIE OSIFELO

PRIME MINISTER Manasseh Sogavare is awarded an extra $30,000 or 10 percent, on top of his annual salary, in the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission (PEC) proposal for 2023.

This is after a $13,000 increase is awarded to the fortnight salaries of all 50 members of Parliament.

This will give PM a new annual salary of $338.000.01.

Initially, the PM’s annual salary was $307,919.30.

This was revealed in the proposal leaked by the Opposition Group on social media yesterday.

Lyall Patovaki, in the Payroll Section in the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, justified the increase by giving an example of the Prime Minister’s annual salary.

Patovaki explains that the current base salary of the Prime Minister is $11,843.05, multiplies by 26 paydays, equals to $307,919.30 for his annual salary.

The ten percent increase from his annual salary is $30,080.71.

As such, the PM’s annual salary of $307,919.30 plus the $30,080.71, results in his new annual salary of $338.000.01.

Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister new annual salary is $304,872.67.

The Ministers, Leader of Opposition and Leader of Independent Group to get $266,123.00.

The Deputy Speaker, Chairperson of Parliamentary Caucus, Chairpersons of Parliamentary Standing Committees to get $241,166.24 and the members to get $218,231.60.

Other benefits include:

  1. meal allowance that increases from $200 to $500;
  2. education allowance increases from $10,000 to $25,000;
  3. appointment grant increase from $10,000 to $15,000;
  4. Clothing allowance (to be differed from outfit) none, with Members to get USD$3000 while PM, DPM, Ministers and Leaders to get USD$7000.

The PEC invites MPs and beneficiaries to attend a consultation meeting on 15th February 2023 at their conference room at AJ City Mall Room 42.

The Commission is currently in the process of reviewing the Members of Parliament Entitlement Regulation.

Already, the proposed increase has attracted a lot of criticism from members of the public and Unions.

Why COVID was costly

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Governor General Sir David Vunagi

By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNOR General Sir David Vunagi believes the impact of COVID19, was exacerbated by the country’s lack of proper management, for its natural resources.

Sir Vunagi stressed this when he delivered his New Year’s speech to the nation on the 1st of January 2023.

He said the country loses money in the millions, when raw materials like mineral ores, logs and fish are exported direct to overseas markets.

“Mining and logging industries should be governed by well documented set of compliances that the national government, provincial government, resource owners and the company concerned must comply with.

“Failing that only the Logging or Mining Company benefits from the operation while all the other three parties are only regarded as incidental beneficiaries who do not seem to have legal rights to anything from the operation,” he said.

Sir David said this is especially true for the resource owners.

“I think the country should have a stable economy and unemployment should be reduced greatly if all raw materials are processed in the country. 

“The dilemma of exporting raw materials to overseas markets cost the country both money and job opportunities,” he said.

Sir David said the Provincial Governments and Resource owners should be encouraged to engage in processing of raw materials in their own areas.

 

COVID has huge impact on nation

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Governor General Sir David Vunagi

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE impact of the global covid 19 pandemic in 2019 has affected the Solomon Islands economy and exacerbates unemployment and social issues.

Governor General Sir David Vunagi confirmed this, when he delivered his New Year’s message to the nation, on the 1st of January 2023.

He said during the last two years, the global community was drastically affected by the effects of pandemic Covid 19.

Sir David said in Solomon Islands, the community transmission of the virus created anxiety, fear, uncertainty and depression.

“To prevent the spread of the covid 19 virus, health protocols were instituted, wearing of face masks, washing hands with soaps and water, social distancing, lock down of borders, restrictions of movements, closures of schools, churches, offices, hotels and so on.

“Still, many people contracting the virus and some died. May their soul rest in peace,” he said.

Furthermore, Sir David said as the dust settles, the impact of covid 19 becomes more visible in the social and productive sectors.

He said the health protocols triggered the downward flow of the economy.

“Cash flow slows down the completion of the developmental projects.

“Inflation increases to 8.5 percent, pushing the prices of goods in the shops and markets to a level ordinary citizens struggle to put food on their tables,” he said.

Further to that, Sir David said people have also cut back on spendings because the room for spending has been greatly minimized.

He said even operators’ business entrepreneurs have struggled to provide reliable services and transport providers have been challenged to increase fares and in order to remain operational.

Moreover, Sir David said boarding schools argued to increase fees to a level that both parents and students struggle to meet.

He said even clinics and provincial centres lack accommodations and other basic facilities to cater for the needs of nurses.

Sir David said short supplies of basic drugs like panadols, bandages and plasters also continued to be unending issues for health institutions to provide equitable services to the general public.

Furthermore, he said employment in both the public service and private sectors have been saturated, that said university graduates and school levers find themselves on the deep end of the stick in trying to secure employments.

Sir David said a generalization has been made as unemployment increases, so are anti-social issues.

“Many organisations both churches based and Non-Government Organisations strive to address these social issues but lacking resources, so they end up addressing the symptoms other than the cause,” he said.

Sir David said the main cause is unemployment that causes stress, trauma, that leads to domestic violence and other anti-social behaviors.

He said unemployment is a central issue that needs to be addressed if self-reliance and economic independence is to achieve by all.

Vunagi: gender abuse everywhere

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Governor General Sir David Vunagi

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

GOVERNOR General Sir David Vunagi has highlighted in his new year’s message that the recurrence of domestic violence, rape and abuse of girls and women is happening everywhere.

“This shows that we have failed to address the combination of behavior and cultural attitudes of perpetrators,” Vunagi said.

He said the 16 Days of Activism against Gender- based violence that is celebrated every year from 25 November to 10 December does not impact the society.

“I think awareness alone is not enough. What is required is better-informed and pragmatic responses from all stakeholders including women and girls that touch the hearts of perpetrators,” Vunagi said.

He also said the recurrence of an undesirable attitude from some close relatives that dehumanise daughters or granddaughters, the incest practice is destroying the cultural equilibrium and what is regarded as ‘normal life’ within the family. 

The effects show a range of attitudinal behaviours that create emotional, physical and perceptional response to life.

“When communities are weak in their moral and ethical standing, they start to develop ‘a no care attitude’ towards respect for relationships, and so lawlessness and chaos become the results.

“Therefore, I think, Lawlessness continues to happen not because people choose to randomly commit crimes but also because law enforcing agencies are not enforcing the law,” Vunagi adds.

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15 babies born on New Year’s Day

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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The National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

FIFTEEN babies were born on New Year ’s Day at the labour ward, National Referral Hospital

This was confirmed by Delight Oloifana, nurse in charge for labour ward, National Referral Hospital on January 2.

“During first day of the new year 15 babies were born. Of the 15 eight are males and seven female,” Oloifana said.

Last year 11 babies were born on New Year, 2022. Of the 11, nine were males and two female. In 2021 more babies were born compared to 2022.

This year the number of newborn babies at the NRH is increasing again.

New Year’s Day

BIG CHALLENGE

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Governor General Sir David Vunagi

Growing unemployment must be urgently addressed, says Vunagi

By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNOR General Sir David Vunagi has highlighted the need to address the growing unemployment in the country.

This comes after university graduates and school drop outs could not find any jobs in both public and private sectors.

Delivering his New Year’s message on the 1st of January 2023, Sir David said it is obvious there is no quick solutions to this problem.

He said the seasonal mobility schemes in Australia and New Zealand may assist to alleviate the situations, but not the panacea.

Sir David said maybe the graduates and schools should try to create job opportunities and not merely waiting around to be employed.

Furthermore, he said Solomon Islands is abundantly rich in resources, which are divine gifts for us to use and enjoy.

“In view of that, universities, schools and training centres need to review the curriculum they offer to the students.

“The status quo for schools and university to prepare their students for white collar jobs or even blue-collar jobs is no longer true,” he said.

Sir David said very often students graduated with theory and academia, something very abstract but lacking economic strategy.

“I believe economic strategy is a missing link that needs to be incorporated into the schools’ curriculum.

“The economic strategy should instill in students what is available to them after graduations, including what financial facility is available to help them create jobs,” he said.

Further to that, Sir David said students must be encouraged to exercise resilience and the freedom of taking risks to pursue tasks to create jobs.

He said it is the morale responsibility of the nation to see these things available for newly graduating students from our universities, schools and training centres.

Moreover, he said it’s been a practice that school levers drift to urban centres in search for job opportunities.

However, he said constituencies that make up the nine provinces are resource owners.

“That said, provincial governments are indirectly resource owners, so they should engage in economic activities to provide job opportunities for their working age populations in their provinces.

“Let us not put all the eggs in the national basket,” he said.

Sir David said after 44 years of Independence, we should now be able to define the manpower needs of this country.

He said in the pre-independence era, scholarships were offered to successful candidates who would occupy jobs that are available to them when they graduated from universities.

However, he said that is not happening now because we are offering scholarships to students that do not have jobs to come back to.

“In view of that, we must establish a general conscious plan for training where our human resources development can take us to.

“It is only those who do not know where they are going, can afford to travel without a map,” he said.

Communities undergo conservation training

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Participants during the training session at the Western Provincial Council of women conference room in Gizo.

BY BEN BILUA

TEN communities in Western Province successfully completed a series of Rangers training earlier this month.

Representatives from Kolombangara Island, Munda, Rannonga Island, Simbo Island, Vella la vella Island and Gizo Island were part of the training.

The training was carried out by Solomon Islands Rangers in partnership with WWF-Pacific (Solomon Islands) staff.

Topics covered during the training include;

  1. Rangers’ effective communication and issue handlings in protected areas.
  2. Developing good mindset, and how to conduct a meeting that really works at the community.
  3. Equipment handling and caring.
  4. Field data management
  5. Principles of fundraisings
  6. Fundraising strategy for sustainability and
  7. Simple project proposal development for communities.

Solomon Islands Rangers Program Manager, Eddie Huitarau said the training aimed at equipping rangers to professionally handle and mange any issues that may take place within the community management area.

“The training is looking at developing excellent mindsets and behaviors in relation to management area.

“It enable rangers to conduct meetings and programs that they see fit in the community to promote an awareness and understanding of the benefits of management areas provide to communities,” he said.

Huitarau the training is very important to make sure conservation groups understand the requirements so that standing procedures are aligned with the national legislation and policies.

He said most conservation groups are tribally owned and accessing funds to anticipate transformation.

One of the participants Rinda Melsen acknowledged the training saying that enhancing the capacity of local rangers is paramount going forward.

She said knowledge obtained from the training is a huge bonus for her community to better improve conservation activities.

Secretary of Vitu Tribal Association, Varina Toribule said building a foundation with sound knowledge matters to rangers to carry out their duties.

She said the training has established confident among ranger to carry out their duties with perfection.

Mr Dickson Taniveke of Uriapo Tribe Conservation thanked the facilitators for the sessions on Rangers’ effective communication and issue handlings in protected areas.

Participants were given certificates after completing the three days training.

The training was proudly funded by WWF-Netherland.

COURT ANNULS ‘GUILTY PLEA’

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Magistrate says it’s a ‘not guilty’ case

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

CHIEF Magistrate Emma Garo has reversed the guilty plea of a defendant, Happy Christmas, to a plea of NOT guilty after the defence lawyer submitted his client acted in “self-defence”.

This is the case of Happy Christmas who was charged for one count of grievous harm in relation to an incident occurred on November 22 2022.

CM Garo in her ruling yesterday emphasizes that from the agreed facts, the submissions put forward by the defence lawyer Tracy Aisa and the failure by the prosecution to dispute the version of events by the prosecution to dispute the version of events as put forward by Ms Aisa, self defence is being raised as a mitigating factor.

“I have a duty to not proceed to sentence, I vacate the guilty plea entered, I enter a not guilty plea. I must hear the evidence, to determine whether or not self-defence, is available to the defendant”, Ms Garo said.

She therefore listed the matter for trial on January 9 to 13 2023 and will be conducted via zoom in which all witnesses will give evidence through zoom from Gizo.

The defence lawyer Tracy Aisa submissions on sentence argued that the complainant challenged the defendant for a fight three times and was armed with weapons.

She argued that the injuries inflicted on the complainant by the defendant, were inflicted as a result of trying to defend him, from being injured by the complainant.

Mr Fanasia submitted that the defendant threw a stone at the complainant, and not dispute the version put forward by Ms Aisa in her submission.

The allegation said that the defendant Christmas had an affair with the wife of the complainant since 2021 and between November 1 and November 22 2022, they ran away and lived at an Island in the Western Province Vasavasara for about two weeks.

On November 22 2022, the complainant went to Vasavasara Island to look for his wife.

The defendant seeing the complainant approaching the tent he lived in on the Island, told the complaint’s wife to run and hide in the nearby bush and then he waited for the complainant.

At that time the complainant approached the defendant armed with a bush knife and a chain, the defendant told the complainant to go back and threw a stone at the complainant, the complainant missed the stone and it was at that time they started fighting each other.

It was further alleged that the complainant was armed with a knife and a chain while the defendant armed with a knife.

They both ran towards each other and swung their knives at each other. The defendant’s knife landed on the complainant’s right deltoid/shoulder.

The defendant again struck the complaint, the knife landed on the right wrist of the complaint. The complainant also sustained injuries to his lower abdomen and lips.

When the defendant saw that the complainant was covered with blood and was helpless, the defendant escaped.

The complaint’s wife heard someone crying in agony came out from where she was hiding and saw it was the complainant, she then assisted him to the clinic.

The matter was then reported to the police in which the defendant is arrested for the offence committed.

Public Prosecutor Paul Fanasia appears for the crown while Tracy Aisa of the Public Solicitor’s represents the defendant.

MFAET to launch foreign policy 2023

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Foreign Affairs and External Trade will launch Solomon Islands foreign policy during the course of 2023.

Currently, there is a draft policy on the country’s foreign policy in place.

Minister of MFAET, Jeremiah Manele told the sine die motion in Parliament last week that his Ministry will undertake consultations with all line ministries during the first quarter of 2023.

“It is our hope the final document or policy will be ready before August 2023.

“We intent to have a foreign policy with phase and power to advance Solomon Islands vital and core interests,” he said.

Further to that, Manele said the foreign policy is to guide and boost the full potential of the country.

“And this policy will no doubt take into account the ongoing competition for influence in our region or geo politics,” he said.

Moreover, Manele said the Government sees the geopolitical competition for influence in the region and elsewhere, both as a challenge and opportunity.

“It is not new.

“I don’t think it is matter that is haunting us,” he said.

“I believe it is a matter that we should see, though it is a challenge, but there are also opportunities.

“And Forum leaders have come to see geo politics in the region both as a challenge and as an opportunity,” he added.

West’s election of Speaker Tuesday next week

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Provincial Assembly Hon Speaker Adrian Sinabule Gina

THE election of the Speaker for Western Province has been rescheduled to Tuesday January 3, 2023.

Speaker of Western Province Adrian S Gina made the confirmation on Wednesday December 28.

He said the changes are due to public holidays lining up during this festive season until next week.

Gina said nominations for speaker was opened on Wednesday and will close on Friday – two clear days in accordance to Western Province’s standing orders.

“As I’ve alluded during my opening statement, the changes on the previous timeline was due to public holidays which are beyond our control.

“We cannot do business during public holidays as it against our standing orders,” he explained.

Gina adds that nomination for the premier’s position will follow.

“The Assembly and new Speaker will give two days for nomination of Premier, Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th.

“By Friday 6th election for the Premier’s post will be carried out.

“We anticipate that over the weekend which is on 7th and 8th, the Premier will appoint his executive and by Monday 9th the new government will be announced.

“On the 13th of January 2023, the new Speaker will give a seven days’ notice for the Assembly Meeting,” he said.

Gina said the meeting is purposely to appoint the Provincial Public Accounts Committee (PPAC) so that member of the PPAC can immediately look into the revised budget 2022/2023.

He said other seven days’ notice will be issued on 13th for the Assembly to scrutinize the 2022/2023 revised budget.

“It will be a tight timeline considering that we need to approve the Appropriate Budget 2022/2023 before the end of January.

“This is important because we need our province’s business and operations start immediately for the betterment of our province and people,” Gina said.

Island Sun understands that one nomination has been submitted to the Clerk’s office.

The nomination is from one of the camps and it is likely that another nomination will be submitted before the closer of nomination period from the other camp.

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