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HHHH donates to San Isidro care centre

Written by
Press Release
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Sister Mary receiving the cheque from Honiara Hash House Harriers members

The Honiara Hash House Harriers (HHHH) club has donated $3,500 to the San Isidro Care centre in north western Guadalcanal.

The funds were raised following a fundraising event last year.

Receiving the donation on behalf of San Isidro, representative Sister Mary said the funds will be used to assist with rebuilding some classrooms that are getting old and rundown.

Honiara Hash House Harriers spokesman Andrew Fraser said, “This was a great turnout for a great cause.

“We thank all our members for supporting our fundraising events and the group did a lovely walk and run followed by a bbq and social time with teachers and students at the school on Easter Monday.”

Hash House Harriers is the largest international walking and running organisation in the world with almost 2000 chapters worldwide, and they carry out fundraising events from time to time to support worthy causes in their community.

Honiara Hash House Harriers is a friendly walking and running group that meets at 5pm every Monday evening in a different part of Honiara and is a wonderful mix of local Solomon Islanders and expatriates.

“Everyone is welcome to join the walk or run, regardless of their level of fitness and we typically have well over 40 Hashers each week, including children.

“You can find us on Facebook under Honiara Hash House Harriers so come along to see if it’s something you’d like to add to your experience here in the Solomon’s.

“Look out for their next fundraising event in a few months time.”

–HHHH PRESS

Call to re-open Manaoba airport

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Manaoba Airport

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

REPRESENTATIVE of Lolo tribe Frank Lauta Daoga has called on the Government and the Solomon Airlines to resume services to Manaoba airport.

Speaking to Island Sun, Daoga said the people who are behind the closure of airport do not have the right to do so.

“Once the closure continues and the disputes continues, I will call for an arrest on those people who got monies from the government for fake contracts and projects.

“I want the airport to re-open so that the government can get revenue from that airport,” Daoga said.

“Government has already spent about $15 million on those people behind the closure of the airport through contracts, and they have not properly used the monies on those projects and contracts claimed,” Daoga said.

He added those people are not even real landowners of Manaoba.

On April 26 Solomon Airlines advised the passengers that due to risk associated with interrupted services caused by the local landowners’ dispute, the airline has suspended all flights to and from Manaoba indefinitely.

The suspension is effective immediately including cancellation of today’s service. The airline is endeavouring to contact all affected passengers.

“While we sincerely regret the inconvenience to our passengers, the matter is simple. Landowners have advised us to suspend services until an ongoing local landowners disagreement can be settled,” said CEO of Solomon Airlines Mr Brett Gebers.

“We are therefore cancelling all services to Manaoba indefinitely as the constant disruption to our schedule cannot be tolerated.

“While we appreciate that there may be local issues yet to be resolved and which are outside of our control, we have an obligation to all who rely upon our scheduled flights across the Solomon Islands,” Mr Gebers said.

“Airlines cannot easily start and restart flights and airstrip operations on a whim. Behind the scenes, managing flight operations to regional areas is a significant activity which requires scheduling aircraft and equipment, fuel supplies, rostering of crew, management of passenger and cargo booking processes,” he said.

“At a time when we are seeking to recover and rebuild Solomon Airlines, we have no choice but to make a sensible decision to suspend flying to airports where our services are not required.”

SI can bounce back: Kuma

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Finance Minister, Hon Harry Kuma during a recent visit to Solomon Islands Tobacco Company

BY BEN BILUA

Gizo

MINISTER of Finance and Treasury says the country can bounce back from current economic pressures.

Harry Kuma said Solomon Islands not only has natural resources, but also human resources capable to support its economic recovery initiatives in 2022.

He said the government believes that by putting adequate resources to key pillars of the economy, Solomon Islanders will see and benefit from more tangible outcomes in the future.

Kuma said adapting and building a strong economic foundation will certainly strengthen the ability of the government to withstand adversity.

“Government is also aware that as a developing country, we also have a very young population with increasing demand for quality social services, and more infrastructure development to boost growth in order to provide more employment opportunities.

“Solomon Islands cannot realised its development and growth potentials if the majority of our people who live in rural villages with poor access to social services, communication technologies, infrastructure, and other much needed services are left out,” he said.

Kuma said the government aims to improve sustainable livelihoods by implementing comprehensive development programmes for rural areas where the majority of our people live.

He said the Government had decided to allocate a total of $341.0 million to support rural development and growth initiatives through the constituency development programme in 2022.

“This amount also includes a $20 million Budget support allocation from the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).

“In this regard, I call on all constituency office staff to be accommodative and inclusive in funding their various rural community projects,” Kuma said.

He said the Budget allocation under this sector is meant to benefit everyone in each respective constituency, and not just a few.

“If we address rural development well, it can also contribute to reduce poverty in urban areas by reducing excessive population influxes from rural areas into Honiara and other urban centres,” Kuma said.

Face-value of properties damaged during riot

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Fire officers trying to put off fire at the kukum area during the riot. PHOTO: Mavis N Podokolo

BY BEN BILUA

Gizo

Minister for Finance and Treasury has outlined the dollar values of properties damaged during the November riot last year.

Speaking in Parliament last month, Harry Kuma said the values of properties damaged during the riot are as follows; Destruction of 162 properties worth $811 million, destruction of Honiara High School building, worth $21.1 million, destruction of two police stations worth $2.3 million and loss of employment and income for many workers and their families.

He said these add to the total government loss of revenues worth $84.0 million for November and December alone.

Kuma said these losses further put pressure on the local economy which has already been stretched by the pandemic.

He said the country’s economy is currently facing serious challenges, with the macroeconomic environment being significantly disrupted by the Coronavirus Pandemic and November 2021 civil unrest.

“In early 2021, Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was forecasted to rebound by 1.0 percent, from minus 3.6percent in 2020. Unfortunately, 2021 ended with real GDP contraction of 0.2 percent.

“The economy is expected to further contract by 4.5 percent in 2022, as a result of both the COVID-19 Pandemic transmission and aftermath of the November 2021 civil unrest,” Kuma said.

He said key issue going forward is the pace and rate of vaccinations so that domestic economic activities can goes back to normal.

Kuma said, the government will do all it can within its mandate and resources, but all eligible Solomon Islanders must also vaccinate as their heath and destiny is also in their own hands.

HCC moves to restore order at central market

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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At central market

By EDDIE OSIFELO

TWO Divisions in the Honiara City Council are implementing strict rules to restore order at the Central Market.

The Market Standing Committee under Trade and Commerce and the Law Enforcement Division commenced the operation on Saturday following illegal selling of products, vendors pushed out to sell their products outside the market building and fish vendors using rocket scales to charge customers with higher prizes.

Chairlady of Trade and Commerce, Councillor Dorah Huapii Irofia said they came up with the rules after vendors have been selling their products outside the boundary of the market.

She said this is because the resellers have been occupying the spaces in the markets and claimed to own them after using for many years.

“Under the HCC ordinance, no one owns the space in the market to sell products,” Irogia said.

“We want to promote fairness to every vendor especially farmers of Guadalcanal who are forced to sell their products outside the market which is risky to them because of its closeness to the busstop,” she added.

As such, Irofia said they are making sure all vendors sell their products inside the market whether they are farmers or resellers.

Further to that, she said the Council has purchased 20 standard scales to be used in the market to weigh fish.

He said the Council disallowed fish vendors to use “rocket scales” now because it was unfair to customers.

In addition, Chairman of Law Enforcement Division, Robert Oge said they also realised when vendors sold their products outside the market, it contributed to traffic hold up.

Oge, also the Deputy Mayor, said the measures are the beginning of the process to take full control of the market to give confidence back to customers and foreigners as well.

He said the Council will try to recruit security officers to man the market to make sure vendors abide by the rules.

“We call for full cooperation from the vendors to work together with the Council for the good of the City.

“If we can’t control the market, then it is impossible to control the whole City,” Oge added.

Island Sun visited the market yesterday and found out no vendors are now selling their products outside the boundary of the market close to the bus stop.

However, a market vendor Henry Kauhui said this is unfair when the Council reduces the space in the market for vendors to sell their products.

“We pay $15 fee per day plus $5 for a chair.

“I think the Council should provide more stalls for vendors to sell their products,” he added.

However, the Council’s two divisions believe this is the right move to take to restore fairness and dignity to the market.

Gov’t urged to address school fee issue

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

A teacher at Su’u National Secondary School in Malaita province calls on the national government to look at alternatives under the Emergency Act and address the issue of school fees this year.

Richard Wane made the suggestion in support of a recent call by the Leader of the Independent Group, John Kuku for free-fee education for the remaining semester of the year.

Wane said the current situation is affecting everyone financially and puts fee payers in a difficult situation.

He said many people had lost their jobs due to the situation and with the economy down, money is difficult to earn.

“As a teacher, I know many students will not make it to Su’u for the next semester due to school fee issue.  

“The current situation is causing difficulties to fee payers so the national government should take urgent action to support schools by way of addressing school fees.

“In fact, the government should look into the emergency act and take in hand the school fee issue.”

Schools are expected to start the 2022 academic year at the end of this month.

Lack of fuel hinders police transporting case file

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Marau sound. Picture: Conflict Bay lodge

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Lack of fuel has been blamed for police not being able to provide prosecution with the case file of an attempted murder case.

The files are reportedly still in Marau police station.

Public Prosecutor Steward Tonowane informed court yesterday the investigating officer at Marau police station says investigations have completed but are unable to bring the files to Honiara since they were running out of fuel.

Court was told that police will resort to using public boat transport to bring the files over.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea made enquiries with the accused whether he had already engaged a lawyer to represent him in court.

The accused Ben Manai said he is yet to make any request to the Public Solicitor’s Office.

The accused also told the court that he is reluctant to make a request to the PSO, from fear that one of the lawyers might hurt him.

Meanwhile DCM Iomea said he could seek legal assistance from other lawyers within the PSO, because it is his right to be legally represented.

DCM Iomea then adjourned the case to May 30 for the prosecution to obtain the file from investigators, and also for the accused to seek legal representation.

Iomea also made direction on the prosecution to serve disclosures on the defence once they have the file during the adjournment.

Govt moving to restore PWDs

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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The roundabout at the Honiara City Council

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Infrastructure Development is in the process of reviving the Public Works Departments (PWD) in the provinces.

Acting Permanent Secretary, Stephen Maesiola confirmed this after Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale told Parliament recently that reestablishment of the provincial PWDs needs to be fast tracked.

Wale added once the provincial PWD units are back in action they need to be adequately equipped and trained to be responsible for the regular upkeep of provincial roads, bridges, airstrips and wharves.

However, Maesiola said Wale never listened when he informed the Public Accounts Committee twice on the progress of PWDs.

He said last December, the Cabinet has approved 54 new positions for MID which include those who will be posting in the provinces.

Maesiola said MID will be posting engineers, senior mechanics and architectures to the provinces to supervise the work.

He said the Provincial Governments will provide other employees like truck drivers and bulldozers operators to support the MID staffs.

“This is an ongoing programme of the DCGA to reduce costs in sending contractors to the provinces.

“The MID staff and support officers from the provinces will be responsible to do maintenance in the township,” he said.

Furthermore, Maesiola said they will also act as agents of National Disaster Council to repair damaged bridges and upgrade roads during any natural disasters.

Currently, Lata in Temotu Province and Kirakira in Makira Ulawa province still maintain their workshops except for other provinces.

Maesiola said MID has already secured a land in Gizo, Western Province, after it was sold to a businessman.

He said Isabel Province is willing to allocate a land to MID to establish a workshop following the need to connect roads on the longest island.

On Rennell and Bellona, Maesiola said a land is available but they need to visit the site to demarcate it.

However, he said land dispute still hinders the progress on the land at Auki, Malaita province, after it was sold to a businessman.

“I have written two letters to Malaita Province but still to get a response until today.

“Malaita Province needs to give an alternative land for a workshop because of the need to upgrade roads and other infrastructures on the big island,” he said.

Further to that, Maesiola said MID is working with Choiseul to get a land despite the delay to wait for the relocation of Taro Township to the mainland.

He said for Central Island province, he is not sure if there is workshop for MID there.

However, Maesiola said MID is open to work with Central Islands province to establish a workshop if it is available.

PSO conducts awareness in Malaita

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Senior Legal Officer at PSO Auki, Mr Oxley Limeniala is addressing the communities during the PSO awareness program.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

COMMUNITIES within Dada’ame area in the northern region of Malaita have benefited from legal awareness program provided by the Public Solicitors Office (PSO) in Auki.

On Sunday, the PSO team visited Dada’ame and its surrounding communities of Manakafo, Anokwasi, Lobo, Rara, Sikwafata, New Village, Susule, One and Nao with the program.

Senior Legal Officer (PSO) in Auki, Oxley Limeniala said the awareness aims to help community members understand the function of the Public Solicitors Office.

“The awareness was to help people understand the services PSO provides for public, and what are some of the offences that commonly happen in communities and their penalties?

“When we talk about PSO, we are talking about office that was established under the constitution to provide legal services to disadvantage people,” he said.

PSO auki awareness talk at Dada’am village in the northern region of the province.

Limeniala said communities must be provided with information on PSO so that they know and understand how to go about the service.

He said during the talk, the team explained to communities the legal services they offer like criminal, civil, families, land and how law can be used to protect people in those areas.

Limeniala said offenses continue to happen in the communities; however the fact that people didn’t understand processes to go about the offenses with PSO is a challenge.  

“So the awareness is important to help people understand where to go about offenses when there are crimes committed in communities,” he said.

Limeniala said the awareness is an eye opener for the communities as expressed and they were happy to learn about the functions of PSO and services provide.

He said the communities showed eagerness to learn with scores of questions asked and they uttered clarity on how to go about the services.

Limeniala said the awareness program was also an opportunity for PSO Auki PDLP students or trainees to learn and engage with communities.

He said PSO Auki plans to conduct further awareness across the province.

WANG HERE THURSDAY

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Honiara is the beating heart of the country's economy.

Chinese Foreign minister coming for first ever visit

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A LARGE Chinese delegation led by its Foreign Affairs minister Wang Yi will arrive in Honiara on Thursday in his first ever visit here.

Political sources confirmed it is a reciprocated trip after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeremiah Manele travelled to Beijing following the diplomatic switch in 2019.

Solomon Islands switched diplomatic from Taiwan to China after more than 30 years of friendship with the intention to accelerate trade, economic advancement and establish infrastructure projects for the Pacific Games in 2023.

Sources within the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet say a taskforce is preparing for Wang’s visit.

They say the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is working on the programme before making it public.

The Chinese Embassy in Honiara has not replied to emails sent by Island Sun this week on Wang’s visit.

In Honiara, Wang will meet his counterpart Manele, as well as PM Sogavare and members of the Cabinet.

Manele and his Permanent Secretary Colin Beck should graduate from quarantine yesterday following their trip to Fiji and Australia the week before, where they travelled to explain the controversial security agreement Honiara signed with Beijing.

One government source told the Australia Broadcasting Corporation last week that while here, Wang would likely sign a host of agreements with Manele.

ABC said it is also possible the minister will formally sign the deeply contentious security pact that has already been agreed to by both Solomon Islands and China.

The news of his visit comes in the wake of a regional meeting on the China-Solomon Islands agreement, which was held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Fiji’s capital Suva last Tuesday.

Manele and Police Minister Veke briefed several senior officials and a small number of politicians from Pacific Island countries about the agreement in an effort to calm regional anxieties about its implications.

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