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11 suspects still no arrest made

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Police is yet to make an arrest over the dead body found under the Fiu bridge last week despite having 11 suspects on its list.

Police Media Unit says 11 suspects have been identified and investigation is ongoing.

Police Media said they are yet to receive any updated information regarding any arrest from Auki Police.

On December 6 a dead body was discovered under the Fiu bridge.

Police confirmed that the dead body is of a male adult person in his 30s or 40s that police retrieve his body in the morning.

Police also confirmed that the deceased had a swollen face and also the back of his head.

A death inquiry has been established and currently the investigation into the suspicious incident is continuing.

Police are appealing to anyone in and around the area that may have any information related to the death and come forward to assist police.

Mataniko Dental Centre relocated to NRH

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

THE Mataniko dental centre has relocated to the eastern end of the National Referral Hospital, at the former isolation wards.

This was confirmed by Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana.

“The dental centre at Mataniko close to the clinic as well as the Police Post the area is closed now. We have shifted the Dental Service close to the Triage on the East end of NRH and where we used to have those Isolation wards that were meant for covid-19.

“We have now that dedicated for dental, so at least we have two Dentists in a room to provide vital Dental services to the public,” Togamana said.

He says now they have about 20 dentists operating at NRH which has eased the queue of service required which was experienced at the China Town Mataniko former Dental centre.

Togamana adds in terms of the Medical and Dental Act, it is being reviewed.

He said the government has also reviewed the Health Service Act, with the Disability Inclusive Act having gone through drafting and the Mental Health Act pending cabinet’s decision.

“So there are serious of Acts being reviewed hopefully we should table these in Parliament next year including the Medical and Dental Act,” Togamana said.

He said these sentiments in parliament.

Forestry not aware of $1m for Kolo trust fund

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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MP for Savo/Russell Dickson Mua and Minister for Ministry of Forestry and Research.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Forestry and Research is not aware of the $1 million allocation for Kolombangara Land Trust Fund in Western Province.

Minister Dickson Mua Panakitasi confirmed this when asked by Leader of Opposition, Mathew Wale during the committee of supply of the 2023 budget, in Parliament.

Mua said there is no consultation with the ministry has an impact on 2023 budget for reforestation.

He said the additional injection has reduced the ministry’s budget.

Chairman of Public Accounts Committee, Douglas Ete urged the Minister to ask for supplementary for other farmers in the country.

Mua said definitely as there are about 25 associations the ministry used to assist through the reforestation and programmes in natural regeneration.

Further to that, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was also surprised to see there was no consultation with the Ministry of Forestry and Research, before the matter came before Cabinet to assist the people of Kolombangara.

However, Sogavare said this is an outstanding issue since 1992 when the issues came before Cabinet for the Government to assist them because of their contribution to the national economy.

He said this is a matter where the MFR, Ministry Finance and Treasury and Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet need to sit down and discuss.

Wale said there is no denying the people of Kolombangara should be supported, however the budget process needs to look at so that everyone is one the same playing field.

Forestry not aware of $1m for Kolo trust fund

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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MP for Savo/Russell Dickson Mua and Minister for Ministry of Forestry and Research.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Forestry and Research is not aware of the $1 million allocation for Kolombangara Land Trust Fund in Western Province.

Minister Dickson Mua Panakitasi confirmed this when asked by Leader of Opposition, Mathew Wale during the committee of supply of the 2023 budget, in Parliament.

Mua said there is no consultation with the ministry has an impact on 2023 budget for reforestation.

He said the additional injection has reduced the ministry’s budget.

Chairman of Public Accounts Committee, Douglas Ete urged the Minister to ask for supplementary for other farmers in the country.

Mua said definitely as there are about 25 associations the ministry used to assist through the reforestation and programmes in natural regeneration.

Further to that, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was also surprised to see there was no consultation with the Ministry of Forestry and Research, before the matter came before Cabinet to assist the people of Kolombangara.

However, Sogavare said this is an outstanding issue since 1992 when the issues came before Cabinet for the Government to assist them because of their contribution to the national economy.

He said this is a matter where the MFR, Ministry Finance and Treasury and Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet need to sit down and discuss.

Wale said there is no denying the people of Kolombangara should be supported, however the budget process needs to look at so that everyone is one the same playing field.

Carbon buyers in the country

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister for Forestry and Research Dickson Panakitasi Mua.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ABOUT five groups from overseas who are interested to pay resource owners’ carbon from their forests, are in the country.

Minister for Forestry and Research, Dickson Mua Panakitasi warned resource owners who want to go into carbon trading, to seek assistance from the ministry before engaging in it, because of the high demand in the carbon trading market.

In response to Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale during the committee of supply of the 2023 budget in Parliament on Monday, Mua said under the PARIS agreement, there is an alliance that has a good price of US$50 per metric tonne.

Solomon Islands is a member of the Coalition for Rainforest nations (CFRN).

He said during his bilateral meeting in COP 27 in Egypt, the Alliance used satellite and shows that Solomon Islands has 120 million metric tonnes of carbon.

“With this carbon, one reason resource owners need to consult with the ministry.

“It is easy for these carbon buyers to come and buy on US$17 and lock you for 25 years not to cut your forest. They then go out and sell it to US$50 or US$60,” he said.

Wale said this is an emerging problem where there are speculators to buy and sale.

He said there needs to be a licensing regime so that the buyers don’t go to tribes and do it alone, but government must issue the license.

Mua said they need to work on policy and regulation as well the question of benefit sharing.

He earlier asked resource owners and stakeholders as you work on protecting the forests for carbon trading, liaise with his Ministry for updated information and how they can establish a national REDD+ Policy and REDD+ Regulation to protect you and our nation’s interest going forward

NRH lab runs out of reagents

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE laboratory at the National Referral Hospital is reportedly running out of reagents.

Reagents enable technicians to analyse blood samples.

Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana said, “We experienced shortage of reagents at the moment. This is something to do with procurement and supply of the reagents.”

He said sometimes when they make orders for reagents it delays at times and therefore they have issues and were not able to do analysis.

“So we are working on that to ensure smooth procurement of reagent so at least we   know and to end up with situation where we have to wait for two or three weeks before the reagents arrive to do tests,” Togamana said.

He echoed these sentiments in Parliament.

PM denies funding ex-militants’ office

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Manasseh Sogavare Ownership, Unity and Responsibility (OUR) Party Parliamentary Wing Leader.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says Government did not fund the establishment of ex-combatants’ offices at Town Ground Plaza, West Honiara.

This was after Opposition Leader Matthew Wale and Member of Parliament for West Are Are, John Manenioru confirmed seeing ex-combatants of Malaita and Guadalcanal renting offices at Town ground.

Sogavare told Parliament yesterday that anyone in this country has the right to organise themselves to set up office.

However, he said the Government is not aware of funding any office.

Most of the ex-combatants are members of Solomon Islands Post Conflict Rehabilitation and Restoration Association (SIPCRRA) Guadalcanal and Malaita.

They have set up to push for their demands, after they signed the Townsville Peace Agreement on October 15, 2000, to end the ethnic conflict on Guadalcanal.

Chairman of Public Accounts Committee and MP for East Honiara, Douglas Ete asked how the government is going to rehabilitate the ex-combatants.

Sogavare said there will be a Commission set up to look on the outstanding claims.

He said the precedent had been set in the past where Government has paid out money for lost properties and loss of lives.

Sogavare said it is not a simple matter and that it needs the cooperation of everyone to address.

SUIDANI: NOT TRUE

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Former Malaita Premier, Daniel Suidani

Premier denies allegations of paying loyalty from executives

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Malaita premier Daniel Suidani has clarified rumours he dished out $10,000 to his executives to ensure their loyalty remains intact ahead of the province’s full assembly meeting.

Allegations add that Mr Suidani got his funds from the New Asia mining company and the USAID SCALE-NRM project.

Suidani agrees that he had given more than $10,000 each to his executives, but says this money was intended to help them with their Christmas festivities plans, and not as a means of consolidating them ahead of the Full Assembly meeting.

He also denies that the funds came from the mining company and the US-backed project on Malaita.

Suidani says he does not see this as an issue since past provincial governments of Malaita had engaged in the practice.

More so the national government also practises this, he adds.

He said his office is aware that New Asia Mining Company has been in the province recently, for the signing of Access Agreement with landowners in pursuit of proposed mining initiative for East Kwara’ae and Fataleka.

Suidani said under the arrangement for the signing of the Access Agreement and meeting with landowners in East Malaita, his office has nothing to do with it, neither involved in it.

He said the only involvement MPG will have in the initiative is when the mining company wishes to obtain business license from them to operate as business in the province.

Adding that he has no business with the New Asia Mining Company.

Suidani said for the USAID SCALE-NRM program, MPG is partner with them for development but they hardly involve with MPG on such matter.

He said it’s not anyone’s interest to know where about the money came from, and for those who want to know it, what would you do with it?

“If people can earn money, why not me? We all can earn money and I was once a businessman who I used to earn money and can still earn money.

“So, what is wrong when I support my executive government as their leading hand when they asked me for support. I can do it,” Suidani said.

He said on the notion that there is an upcoming no confidence motion against his leadership, this is news to him and there’s nothing as dishing out money to his executive members to consolidate them ahead of the full assembly meeting.   

Suidani said there might be a motion as the law provides for, but how long would they lead when the current house is only six-months away from its natural death?

He said it makes no sense, adding that the MARA government is intact and if there’s to be any challenge, they are ready to face it.   

Suidani said this allegation plus many others on him only have one goal and that is to tarnish his reputation and mislead people.

Immigration ministry expects 2000 passports

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0

By EDDIE OSIFELO

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) is expecting 2000 new passports next week to allow students and seasonal workers to travel overseas.

This came after the Passport Unit in the ministry ran out of passports following high demand from seasonal workers.

Minister of MCILI) Frederick Kologeto confirmed this when asked by Member of Parliament for Small Malaita, Rick Hou during the committee of supply of the 2023 budget, in Parliament yesterday.

Kologeto said the ministry has applied to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to purchase the new passports.

He said next week, hopefully 2000 passports will arrive for students preparing to go overseas and the seasonal labourers.

Initially, a total of 13,300 Solomon Islands passports were issued in the period from 2021 to 2022 raking in $10.7-million into government coffers and the national economy.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Labour and Immigration, Riley Mesepitu, earlier told media that 90 percent of the 13,300 passports were issued to seasonal workers.

Ten percent accounts for other Solomon Islanders travelling on businesses, conferences and or training.

He said in 2021 alone a total of 8,804 passports were issued raking in $6 million.

In January to July of 2022 alone some 4,500 passports were issued, earning the state coffers some SBD$4.7-Million.

Mr Mesepitu said these figures show an increased demand for passport and his Ministry is looking at ways to address the high demand.

One of the ways being considered is the creation of mobile passport units, with bases in provincial capitals such as Gizo in Western Province and Auki on Malaita because of its high population.

The MCILI purchased the passports from IRIS, a Malaysian technology company.

Suidani: It’s too early to say anything on mining for Mala

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Former Malaita Premier, Daniel Suidani

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

PREMIER Daniel Suidani says it is too early to say anything on the proposed mining for East Malaita and Fataleka, however MPG is aware of development so far on the initiative.

He said recently his executive was briefed by a team from New Asia Mining Company Ltd on an arrangement between Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and resource owners toward an Access Agreement.

Suidani said MMERE is the responsible ministry that worked with New Asia Mining Company towards the Access Agreement, and not Malaita province government, as they have nothing to do with it.

The premier made that in response to queries raised by public on MPG’s perspective on the matter.

He said what MPG aware off was, mining like other developments has its own process and Access Agreement is first to confer with resource owners on the development, in which signing of the Access Agreement was done last week.

Suidani said the process is to know whether landowners want the development or to get approval from landowners for the development.

He added that the Access Agreement is also a crucial step to pave way for the company to get their prospecting license from MMERE, where they will apply for.

Suidani said for Malaita provincial government, they have no mining ordinance neither provision for mining prospecting under its business ordinance.

“This is why I said its early to talk, because MPG has no ordinance to safeguard mining development in the province, except only business licence.

“And, business license is only for the mining company to pay their fee in order to operate business in the province, nothing more about the mining operation,” he said.

In a public statement issued by Premier Suidani’s Political Advisor, Celsius Talifilu, MPG executive informed New Asia Mining Company the MPG has no provisions for mining prospecting in its business licence ordinance.

“Therefore, until there are provisions for mining prospecting in its business license ordinance, MPG in not in a position to give such a license to the company until appropriate provisions are legislated for,” he said.

Suidani said that MPG through his office is aware of public queries on MPG’s views on the mining initiative, and this is what he could only say.

He said that at this stage, it’s only an Access Agreement signed and although MPG has no provision for mining under its business ordinance, they will always have something to say.

About 18 tribes within Aluta basin had signed the Access Agreement with the New Asian Mining Company at Aluta village last week.

Aluta basin was initially earmarked by national government for national palm oil years ago, later this year rice project and now mining.

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