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TSI: why MPs want elections deferred

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

The entitlements and benefits MPs are getting is believed to be a driving factor behind government’s proposal to extend parliament.

This was stated in a recent survey by the Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI).

Half of the 1,248 respondents interviewed strongly agreed that the lucrative members of parliament entitlements and benefit is “one of the hidden motives for the extension of the Parliament”.

They were interviewed in a survey conducted by Transparency Solomon Islands on the opinions and views of the citizens of this country on the proposed extension of the parliament from 4 to 5 years between March 16 to 1st April 2022.

“When it comes to these entitlements and benefits, the Constituency Development Fund all sides of the house (Executive Government, the Official Opposition and the Independent) are the same – they hardly speak against it, or when they do present very weak arguments in their own favour.

“Performing or non-performing, they continue to receive lucrative allowances and other entitlements,” TSI said.

TSI said they are the most privileged of all public officers with their entitlements reviewed and new ones added yearly performing or otherwise.

“They hardly passed more than one Bill last year.

“Some MPs have not said any word for the entire parliament 4-year period or contribute to any debate of substance in the parliament and yet they continue to get these benefits for doing nothing,” TSI said.

“What is given to parliamentarians under the Parliamentary Entitlement Regulation each year should be based on their attendance, performance and active engagement.

“The taxpayer of the Solomon Islands should no longer pay non performing parliamentarians,” TSI said.

“Let people vote in new representatives every 4 years to get rid of highly paid non performing MPs,” TSI said.

One commonly quoted comment by the 28 percent that strongly disagreed with this is the need to put in place a mechanism or tool to measure the performance of members of parliament.

“Their entitlements should be reflective of their performance rather than being paid these lucrative entitlements and benefits just for being members of parliament.

“Such a mechanism will demand quality and high performing MPs which produces positive results and construction debate in each parliament seating,” TSI said.

Survey: China remote controlling DCGA

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MOST believe that China is remotely controlling the DCGA Executive Government since the switch.

This is one of the hidden agendas Transparency Solomon Islands got from its survey in public and in street discussion.

TSI said of the 1,248 respondents, 41 percent strongly agreed that the extension for a year longer is to allow China to cement its relationship with the DCGA government.

“It is allegedly to give time to DCGA government to effect policies and legislative reforms demanded by Chinese Communist Party for the funding of the Pacific Games 2023 and other development projects.

“The current happenings with the secretive importation of replica guns, the arming of Chinese officials of the Embassy, the police training on crowd control by Chinese police officers, the secretive China Security MOU is but just a tip of the iceberg of what DCGA government has promised China or China demanded of the DCGA government,” TSI said.

“It needed the extra year in power to affect all of its new diplomatic friend’s demand,” TSI said.

Furthermore, TSI said the 27 percent strongly disagree with this as a good enough reason for the proposed extension argued that Solomon Islands is a democratic country and should not be sold to China.

Both strongly agree (41 percent) and the strongly disagree (27 percent) are of the opinions that DCGA/China diplomatic relation continues to be the most divisive of all the diplomatic foreign relations in the country and in the region.

“It has pitched the national government against the provincial governments, resulting in the downfall of premiers who do not work with it or dance to its tune.

“It portrays Solomon Islands and the people of Solomon Islands as manipulative, scheming, and not trustworthy,” TSI said.

TSI said this is the image and reputation that DCGA Executive Government has painted of the country, and people is not welcomed.

“China, since the switch, is remote controlling the DCGA government for its own world and regional agenda.

“It is time for a new government and new leadership to step in and ensure that the Solomon Islands government and people decide what China could and could not do in Solomon Islands as Solomon Islands new diplomatic friend,” TSI said.

Solomon Islands switched to China in 20 September 2019, ending 36 years of diplomatic relationship with Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan.

Survey: MPs fear losing seats

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By EDDIE OSIFELO

One of the main influences behind government’s proposal to defer the 11th parliament is the fear by some MPs that they would not be re-elected next election.

In the survey carried out by Transparency Solomon Islands, about 48 percent of the respondents strongly agree that this is one of the hidden agendas behind the proposed extension of the parliament term.

“Given the many controversial policies and decisions the DCGA Executive Government has made in the absence of an inclusive consultation process with the people, they fear not being re-elected.

“The extra year is needed to buy voters that have become disgruntled,” TSI said.

“Solomon Islands has experienced a very turbulent time with this leadership and people must be given their right to go to the polls and elect new representatives.

“It is about people, their economy empowerment and the education and health of the people of this country that is important, not the biased of temporary government and temporary group of politicians,” TSI said.

The 25 percent who strongly disagreed with this being a good enough excuse to extend the parliament believe that the country needs a change of leadership.

“Naming citizens ‘Tom, Dick, and Harry’ is unacceptable.

“It is only at the election times that citizens have the opportunity to inflict punishment on their representatives – National General Elections must be held in 2023,” TSI said.

TSI said the country needs leadership that has a heart for the country and citizens.

TSI conducted the public opinion survey on the opinions and views of the citizens of this country on the proposed extension of the parliament from 4 to 5 years between March 16 to 1st April 2022.

The interviews were by phone, face to face and online reaching 1,248 respondents.

On Facebook group pages 930 respondents were reached. A total of 2,178 respondents participated in the survey.

Of the 1,248 respondents 42 percent are female, and 58 percent male.

On age cohorts 9 percent of the respondents are age groups 13-18 years (children), 50 percent are age group 19-34 years (youth), and 41 percent are age group are 34 plus years (adults).

SolAir welcomes reduced quarantine time for visitors

Written by
Press Release
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Solomon Airlines airbus

Solomon Airlines has welcomed the news that mandatory quarantine requirements for inbound visitors will be reduced shortly, with a new international schedule effective from August 1, re-introducing regular flights between Solomon Islands and Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu and Kiribati, and connections to partner airline services from New Zealand, Asia and the USA.

“Reopening our borders is a major milestone that means Solomon Airlines can again open up our flights and network to the world,” Solomon Airlines CEO Brett Gebers said in a statement.

“That means gradual recovery of inbound tourism, more opportunities for international air freight, and that our optimism about the future of air travel in our region has proved well-founded,” he added.

“On behalf of the Solomon Airlines team we thank the Solomon Islands Government, the Australia and New Zealand Governments, and our business and industry partners for standing by us, and helping us to keep our nation flying through our most difficult era ever.

“The past two years and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have been an incredibly long and testing journey, and we say tagio tumas to everyone who has supported us, for your patience and perseverance, especially our hardworking staff who made sacrifices to ensure the survival of Solomon Airlines.

“Our immediate priority now is to re-establish our core Pacific Islands network and ensure convenient connections from global markets especially NZ, Asia, the United States, and Europe via Brisbane and Fiji.

“We also look forward to continuing our work with our travel industry partners as well as Tourism Solomons to ensure Solomon Islands is indelibly placed on the world map as an attractive and accessible international destination,” Gebers said.

Until the complete lifting of mandatory quarantine, international visitors to Solomon Islands must continue to follow the updated health protocols while accommodated at one of the approved ‘Tourism Bubble’ operators.

Currently those operators include:

Honiara – Heritage Park Hotel, Mendana Hotel, Coral Sea Resort & Casino, King Solomon Hotel, Pacific Casino Hotel, Honiara Hotel

Marau – Tavanipupu Spa & Wellness Retreat

Suavanao – Papatura Island Retreat

Munda – Zipolo Habu Resort, Castaway Lagoon Resort

Gizo – Fatboys Resort, Sanbis Resort, Imagination Island

Liveaboard Cruises – Bilikiki Cruises, MV Taka

Details of the latest Solomon Islands Travel restrictions are available at this link:

https://www.flysolomons.com/plan/australia-solomon-islands-travel-advice

Solomon Airlines’ new international schedule effective from August 1, 2022 will include flight times that enable same-day connections at least twice weekly to and from all major international markets.

The airline has also adjusted timings on selected domestic flights to Munda, Gizo, Seghe, and Suavanao to allow for direct connections from international services on the Brisbane-Honiara route.

Highlights of the new schedule from 1 August include:

• Brisbane-Honiara flights twice weekly and a third Brisbane-Honiara flight every fortnight

• Honiara-Brisbane flights twice weekly

• Honiara-Port Vila-Nadi-Honiara flights every Tuesday

• Brisbane-Tarawa flights via Honiara to operate fortnightly

• Tarawa-Brisbane direct flights to operate fortnightly

• Direct connection on Wednesdays from Munda onto the Honiara-Brisbane service

• Lomlom gains a second weekly service to and from Honiara via Santa Cruz on Tuesdays and Thursdays

• Honiara-Auki-Honiara services will operate twice daily on Monday in the morning and afternoon

Solomon Airlines said COVID-19 safety protocols including a requirement for passengers to wear face masks onboard all Solomon Airlines flights will continue to support the protection of passengers and staff.

Bednet distribution to north and east Malaita soon

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE Provincial Vector Borne Disease Malaria office in Auki says they will soon begin distributing bed-nets (mosquito nets) to northern and eastern regions of the province.

Officer in-charge, Mr John Susubi told this paper they are currently waiting for the budget for distribution.

He said early this year they completed bed-net distribution to southern and central regions.

“Next is northern and eastern regions and then Malaita Outer Islands (MOIs).”

Susubi said a total of 19,253 bed-nets were distributed to 345 communities in southern region, and 50,757 bed-nets to 583 communities in central region.

He said the bed-net distribution is an integral program of the national vector borne as one mitigating measure to address malaria in the country, as a chronic disease.

Susubi urged communities to use the nets only for intended purpose; because another distribution could likely happen after the next three years.

Adding that this is based on the effectiveness of insecticide on the bed-nets that has a lifetime of three years.

He said the bed-nets can be washed up to 20 times, only with rain water, with no soap, cleaner and other washing detergents or even brushing it.

Susubi said, “recommended method to wash the bed-net is by soaking it with rain water, fold it into a plastic bag and sunbath it so that the net can sweat and regain the effectiveness of the insecticide for uses.”

He also warns that water used to soak and wash the nets must not be disposed off into waterways, because it is harmful to the environment.

Goshen optimistic with Taro project in Malaita

Written by
Samie Waikori
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0
Goshen Enterprise demonstration taro farm at Gwaigeo, Malaita.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

GOSHEN Enterprise Company is optimistic of a successful taro industry in Malaita province and the country.

Since the establishment of the company in 2019 under the Enhance Capacity for Agriculture Trade ECAT programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET), Goshen is growing the industry locally.

Director of Goshen, Mr Levi Maesimae said they came into the programme to support food security and encourage taro-diet to reduce rates of Non-Communicable Diseases.

“Also to uphold taro as cultural root crops, conservation and preservation of taro and encourage farmers into commercial farming of taro.”

Maesimae said they have a vision to become the leading producer of fresh taro, frozen taro and taro products for farmers.

He said with that they are working towards achieving a slogan “taro on every body’s dinner plate”.

Maesimae said Goshen also has a goal and that is to “produce 60 tonnes of taros every year”. And by having the pack house, they hope to achieve that by producing 60 tonnes (three containers per year).

He said so far Goshen through the ECAT project under MFAET had provided trainings and distribution of basic farming tools to taro farmers in the province.

Maesimae said they also continue to distribute taro planting materials to farmers from their demo farm at Fiu, as they continue to build networks with associations in the province on the program.

He said Goshen is also looking forward to support farmers with logistic access whereby in the future they will buy taro products at the doorstep of farmers in the province.

Maesimae said Goshen Enterprise is partnership with MAL and MFAET on the taro program and so far the development of taro pack house at Adaliua is progressing.

He said their current taro market in Auki is slowly growing with steady demand for frozen taro and the beginning to expand the taro industry to international market.

No monkeypox case yet, risks low, says MHMS  

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

The Health ministry (MHMS) says the country is still free of Monkey pox, adding that the risk is low.

MHMS announced this in its media update yesterday on the ministry’s efforts to prepare for this disease.

“No cases of monkeypox have been found in Solomon Islands, so the risk catching it is low. However, persons travelling from areas in countries where monkeypox outbreaks are occurring should monitor themselves for symptoms.

“If you have been to an area where cases have been reported and develop any of the symptoms of monkeypox, immediately isolate yourself, follow the prevention measures and inform the surveillance unit at the Ministry of Health by calling 23650,” Ministry of health statement said.

The statement stressed that symptoms of Monkeypox include fever, headache, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, skin rash and blisters on the body usually with one to three days of developing fever.

How to prevent it (monkeypox) are avoid contact with infected animals, humans or materials, practice good hygiene (handwashing), wear a mask, cover your cough and people with symptoms should isolate until they have recovered the health statement said. 

20-yo thief gets 3 years jail time

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A 20-year-old man who stole on two separate occasions against different complainants at Kukum shopping area in east Honiara was sentenced to three years and five months yesterday by the court.

Carlos Gao was found guilty of two charges of simple larceny in relation to the incidents which occurred in April 2022.

On April 8, 2022 morning the complainant, Silas Feliz Qopu, and his bus driver, parked their bus in front of L&J Hardware shop at the Kukum seaside area.

The complainant got off the bus and went into that Hardware shop to purchase some building materials.

He returned to the bus and waited for the materials to be delivered to his vehicle.

He then decided to get out of the bus to help with the loading of the materials.

So he removed his brown bag from his neck containing $18,800, NPF cards and driver’s licence and placed it onto the passenger’s front seat, and went to assist with the loading of the materials.

It was when he was busy with loading the materials that Gao approached the bus and removed the basket with the money and other personal items.

The second incident occurred while Gao was on bail. The complainant on this case is a Bangladesh national and on May 27, 2022 he put his Black Redmi 115 lite mobile phone valued about $4,300 on the counter and was looking for his keys in the interior of the shop.

It was when he was busy looking for the keys that the defendant entered the shop, grabbed the phone and escaped.

Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga in sentencing Gao said enough is enough, the court must send a strong message that carries a tangible result of objectively discouraging and decreasing stealing and its related offences in Honiara and in the country.

“That is, if you steal large amount of money or valuable properties of others, you will go to jail for a long term, nothing more nothing less.   

“The defendant herein had caused unhappiness and anger to the person who had lost his $17,000 and the owner of the mobile phone.

“He is a thief and a bad citizen. He had no respect to other people’s money and property.

“He should be ashamed of himself. Through his own criminality, he just recorded his name in the criminal records of the Royal Solomon Islands Police which could impede or jeopardize his prospects of employment in the light of the ongoing overseas employment opportunities such as the Labour Mobility or Seasonal Work scheme,” Aulanga said.

He said there is no need for a scientific study or anecdotal evidence to convince any Solomon Islander living in Honiara that stealing is now prevalent in and around the city.

“It is an everyday occurrence on the streets, shops, public and private spaces, and in the neighborhoods.

“It is my considered view that past sentences imposed by the courts are out of contemporaneity and outdated.

“They need to be adjusted and increased accordingly.

“I say this because they have failed to deter stealing related offences in the country. There is no fear at all by thieves to carry out stealing even in the face of the public.

“And for them, going to jail is simply like a holiday break.

“Those past sentences on theft are just a laughing stock or sheer judicial messages that do not have any real deterrent effect on likeminded offenders.”

Magistrate Aulanga adds, “since the defendant is a thief, he ought to be punished by the law despite he is a 20 year old young person.

“He decided to steal and should be prepared as well to face its consequence. It is recognised that youths who committed felonious crimes should not hide behind the cloak of youthfulness merely to escape punishment.”

LOGGERS, MINERS ACCUSED

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
Illegally felled Tubi logs at Korona log pond.

Survey claims they are behind intention to extend parliament

By EDDIE OSIFELO

LOGGERS and miners are believed to influence the DCGA Government to extend Parliament life from four to five years.

About 46 percent of respondents strongly agreed in a survey carried out by Transparency Solomon Islands between March 16 and April 1, 2022.

The interviews were by phone, face to face and online reaching 1,248 respondents.

On Facebook group pages 930 respondents were reached. A total of 2,178 respondents participated in the survey.

“The DCGA government has been strongly influenced by loggers who get away with breaching our laws.

“The investors in the Extractive Industry have got the government system, the Executive Government, and public institutions in their pockets,” they said.

“They have corrupted our timber rights processes, the courts and those in leadership and it is not beyond them to have a hand in this.

“The fact that almost (80 percent) of all the logs harvested in Solomon Islands are exported to China, there is no doubt they argued a connection here, all the more reason for the extension not to be allowed,” they said.

The 27 percent strongly disagreed with loggers, miners having an influence on the proposed extension.

“They are of the view that unless the people stand up and say enough is enough, the loggers regardless of who is in power will always find a way of corrupting them and having the government system, officials, politicians eating out of their pockets and dancing to their tune,” they said.

“The country needs a complete change of leadership.

“The Prime Minister has shown that he has very little regard for people’s views, suffering, the loss of their resources, and inequitable sharing of benefits arising from the exploitation of their resources and needs to step down,” they said.

“Loggers, miners, businesses should refrain from influencing Solomon Islands political outcomes.

“Stronger laws are needed to address current experiences with these unscrupulous investors,” they said.

“It is time government admits and acknowledges that most benefits from the exploitation of the natural resources of this country are not poured back into the development of Solomon Islands,” they said.

“The influence of certain loggers, they say, has become very powerful.

“Just most recently Mines minister Bradley Tovosia granted Johny Sy of Bulacan logging company to log the protected Tubi species in Choiseul, and customary resources owners of tubi in Isabel were prevented by the High Court from exporting the tubi that was logged using fake gazette,” they said.

“This in their view shows just how deep the loggers and miners have corrupted our government system, and public institutions, including the judiciary,” they said.

People VS DCGA

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
National Parliament of Solomon Islands

—TSI Survey hits hard on Parliament extension plans

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A survey carried out by Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) found that majority of total respondents (83 percent) strongly disagreed with the proposed extension of Parliament from four to five years.

Only four percent strongly agree with the proposed extension.

The result shows that be it in their age groups, children (13-18 year), youths (19-34 years), adult (34 plus years), men and women, the majority do not believe extending Parliament term from four years to five years is a good idea, nor is it in the interest of citizens, country, and democracy.

“In their view it will set a very bad precedent.

“Extension of term of Parliament will not make any difference in terms of programme implementation and any positive change nor delivery of services,” survey found.

Many believe the reasons given by the DCGA Executive Government are not good enough and irrelevant.

“The Constitution is the Supreme Law of Solomon Islands and should not be tampered with for an Executive Government that has become too comfortable in its number and has failed miserably to consult the citizens on its many controversial policies and decisions.

“It is of great concern to them that they are being left out of the debate nor consulted,” the survey stated.

“This is an election issue and a matter best left to the people to decide, at election time.

“DCGA political party must put this policy in this election campaign policy and platform to the people at the 2023 National General Election,” Survey said.

“It should not pre-empt the right of the voters to choose.

“It is irresponsible and unacceptable to jump the gun before election 2023,” it said.

“A government that is irresponsible, non-transparent, and with no accountability to the people of Solomon Islands is not needed in Solomon Islands.

“A “representative government” as always argued by the Prime Minister but one that is manipulated by him and the politicians in his camp for their own political agenda, an Executive Government that got into power as a result of undue influences on elected representatives,” it said.

Furthermore, of the Facebook groups 930 respondents, 94 percent were against the proposed extension of Parliament and only 4 percent agree with the proposal.

TSI conducted the public opinion survey on the opinions and views of the citizens of this country on the proposed extension of the parliament from 4 to 5 years between March 16 to 1st April 2022.

The interviews were by phone, face to face and online reaching 1,248 respondents.

On Facebook group pages 930 respondents were reached. A total of 2,178 respondents participated in the survey.

Of the 1,248 respondent’s 42 percent are female, and 58 percent male.

On age cohort’s 9 percent of the respondents are age groups 13-18 years (children), 50 percent are age group 19-34 years (youth), and 41 percent are age group are 34 plus years (adults).

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