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PM hailed for revitalising CEMA

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Cutting of the cake to signify the opening of the buying center. From left Chairman of CEMA Board Alpha Kimata, Premier of Makira Ulawa Province, Hon. Julian Makaá, PM Sogavare and Minister of Commerce Fred Kologeto.jpg

Chairman of the Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) spoke highly of the Prime Minister’s leadership to revitalise and recapitalise CEMA.

Alpha Kimata, a long time board member and now chairman of the CEMA board, made the commendation at Pakera, Central Makira Ulawa Province, during the opening of the Pakera buying centre.

Kimata said revitalising and recapitalising CEMA is one of the flagship policies of the government and for the government to prop up CEMA at this time of COVID- 19 pandemic requires deep commitment and determination.

Kimata hailed the government under the able leadership of the Prime Minister for proving yet again that it is up to the task.

Kimata said CEMA plays a critical role to ensure copra and copra remain the mainstay of our economy, and the revitalisation and recapitalisation seven years’ strategy will ensure that CEMA is undeterred in its focus to develop and maintain the cocoa and copra industry.

The CEMA board chairman also revealed that the amendment to the CEMA Act to include other products beside cocoa and coconut, is in the pipeline.

Alpha Kimata said the amended CEMA Act is now with the Attorney General’s Chambers, awaiting final vetting before submitting it to parliament.

 Joining the CEMA board chairman was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CEMA, Patteson Siliota who sang praises to the Prime Minister for his leadership in revitalising and recapitalizing CEMA.

Siliota said to remain steadfast in reviving CEMA at this present condition is a tough call.

Siliota hailed Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare for his unwavering support and leadership to see through the revitalisation and recapitalisation seven years’ strategy of CEMA.

The CEMA CEO pledged the commitment of his executive to ensure the strategy is rolled out according to its expected targets and expectations.

The revitalization and recapitalization seven years’ strategy is, amongst other things, to put CEMA in a controlling position to revive and give prominence to the cocoa and copra industry.

The seven years’ strategy is supported with resources from line ministries which include the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labor and Immigration (MCILI), Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID) and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MAL).

–OPMC PRESS

CSSI signs broadcasting deal with national radio

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Group photo after the signing: CSSI Commissioner Gabriel Manelusi and SIBC Sales manager Moddy Nanau shows the signed document as witnessed by Superintendent Bernard Ramota from CSSI and Elizabeth Ratu from SIBC sales department

A contract agreement on the radio educational awareness program for the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands (CSSI) was signed on Friday 6 May 2022 between Gabriel Manelusi, Commissioner Correctional Service, and Moddie Nanau, SIBC Manager Sales and Marketing.

The signing of the document now officially endorses all discussion and arrangement towards the implementation of the radio educational awareness program which will go to air on the 18 May 2022.

“Reasons is that Solomon Islands is a country with well over 80% of its citizen living in the rural areas,” a statement from CSSI said.

“A vast majority of the population are illiterate and are deprived of their right to access relevant information,” it added.

This radio educational awareness can be seen as a way forward in raising awareness on the role of CSSI and the responsibility of  the communities in giving ex-offenders a “second chance in life” during this COVID 19 protocols.

This radio educational awareness strategy is designed to educate citizens and stakeholders on the transition from Solomon Islands Prison Services (SIPS) to CSSI, promote Rehabilitation, Regeneration, Reintegration Strategy 2022 and beyond, provide avenues for public support and collaboration with CSSI, promote of peacebuilding, preventation and rehabilitation of ex-offenders at all levels, educate citizens on legal obligations and mandates to reduce and prevent crime and re-offenses and acknowledge the cooperation of former parolees through effective follow-up process

In his remarks during the signing, Commissioner Manelusi thanked and acknowledged SIBC Manager Sales and Marketing for the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and thank the UNDP Country Manager for financing the radio educational awareness program for CSSI, at a cost of $38,082.00.

The duration of the MOA is 8 months, May to December 2022.

Premier Maka’a urges cocoa and copra farmers to step up

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Makira Premier, Julian Maka'a

Premier of Makira Ulawa Province has challenged cocoa and copra farmers of the province to continue to maintain their plantations now that a buying centre is established.

Premier Julian Makaá made the call during the opening of the Pakera buying centre last week at Pakera, Central Bauro, Makira Ulawa Province.

Premier Makaá thanked the government for seeing it fit to establish the first buying centre in Makira Ulawa Province.

Makaá stated that the Province is amongst the highest producers of cocoa and copra, and the establishment of the buying centre is timely and a move in the right direction.

The Premier also spoke highly of the revitalization and recapitalisation strategy of Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA).

Premier Julian Makaá said reviving CEMA to be the conduit for cocoa and copra farmers is important as they are the drivers behind the two mainstay of our economy namely cocoa and copra.

Premier urged farmers to do their part as the government through CEMA has done theirs in the establishment of the buying center.

Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) Fredrick Kologeto also made the call on Makira Ulawa farmers to step up their cocoa and copra production.

Minister Kologeto emphasised that the ministry will continue to assist CEMA to ensure that CEMA thrives in its endeavor to promote and maintain the cocoa and copra industry.

Kologeto said the manifestation of the ministry’s assistance for CEMA can be seen in this year’s national budget where the ministry allocated $2 million to CEMA.

Kologeto highlighted that such financial help will continue until such time CEMA is proficient in delivering its aims and objectives.

Permanent Secretary of Commerce, Industry, Labor and Immigration Riley Mesepitu spoke highly of the government’s vision to revitalize and recapitalize CEMA.

Mesepitu said propping up CEMA is a longtime wish for many farmers as copra and cocoa have been the cornerstone of our economy.

The PS further joined others to congratulate government for realizing the vision to bring back copra and cocoa to their glory days, adding that it will not be an easy feat but a start is the way forward.

–OPMC PRESS

Naha communities mark Mother’s Day with lots of fun

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Eddie Osifelo
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Women enjoying the Mothers Day sport competion on Sunday. Tanofilms.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE four Naha communities in East Honiara have come together to celebrate Mother’s Day with food, dances and soccer games over the weekend.

The celebration started on Saturday night with feast and cultural and contemporary performances by the women and speech from guest speaker, Councilor for Vura ward, Reginald Ngati.

The theme of the event is “Mother and Environment”.

Naha 2 women enjoying the Mothers Day sports competition on Sunday.

Councilor Ngati said the theme reminds us the mothers can fit in any environment whether it is good or bad.

Ngati said mothers must concern about the environment.

He said if mothers unite in the same idea, there will be changes in the community.

Women of Naha 1 came out to support the Mothers Day competition on Sunday.

Further to that, he praised the women of the four communities of Naha for uniting together in celebrating the Mother’s Day with performances and soccer.

He said celebration brought out mothers from their homes to engage in the event.

“I am pledging to the mothers to do the same for the Independence Day celebration,” he added.

Naha girls dancing during the Mothers Day celebration on Saturday night.

On Sunday, the women engaged in a soccer competition that brought the residents of all four Naha together to cheer their teams.

It also offered the chance for market vendors to sell food and drinks to the spectators and supporters.

One of the community leaders said such celebration like sports can unite the community together.

Women in action during Naha Mothers Day sport competition on Sunday.

He said currently the leaders are working together with Councilor Ngati to get the Naha field and John Holland’s workshop to develop them for the upcoming Pacific Games in November 2023.

“We have held two meetings already and will meet with Sports Director of Honiara City Council on Thursday.

Angie selling food during the Mothers Day sports competition on Sunday

“This is to giver us direction on how to go about with the field and workshop because some people have applied for the land,” he said.

The community leader said they want to retain the field for future generations of Naha to benefit from good quality infrastructures.

Island Sun understands Honiara City Council holds the title of the field and John Holland’s workshop.

MEASLES FEAR

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Mavis Podokolo
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Health minister warns of potential outbreak

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

The Health minister has warned of a potential measles outbreak.

This is reportedly due to the drop in measles vaccination in children countrywide.

Health Minister Dr Culwick Togamana voiced this when addressing the recent commemoration of the World Immunisation Day in Honiara.

“We have another simmering issue at hand, that is the decline in childhood vaccination amid pandemic. For instance from over 85 percent coverage before the covid-19 pandemic, the measles vaccination coverage has gone down in all provinces,” Togamana said.

“In three provinces the coverage level is even less than 50 percent; this data indicate potentially high risk of measles outbreak soon if action is not taken,” he added.

The minister warns that measles is a killer diseases and it kills children compared to covid-19 which kills primarily vulnerable adults.

Togamana said 95 percent of measles vaccination coverage is required to prevent outbreaks.

“We could see rise of other infections if there is a measles outbreak,” he said.

He adds that an outbreak of whooping cough and rotavirus diarrhoea during the pandemic was also witnessed.

“Hence it is important that we continue to focus on routine childhood vaccinations,” Togamana said.

He said the ministry and partners are discussing conducting special activities such as measles immunisations and catch up campaigns.

“In the meantime, the would like to urge all parents to bring their children to the clinics for vaccinations and health staff to intensify their routine immunisation coverage,” he said.

PMO: Wale benefits from extractive industry

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Opposition leader, Matthew Wale

Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale’s nonstop deliberate lies to mislead the public and his ongoing personal attack in the media on Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has taken another low when Wale in one of his recent opinion pieces in the media claimed Sogavare was a beneficiary of  the extractive Industry.

“Wale’s uncontrollable crave for power and continuous attempt to discredit the Prime minister is downright wrong and unbecoming of any national Leader  but is not surprising coming from Wale,” a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said.

“In fact, contrary to Wale’s misleading claims, Sogavare as Prime Minister in 2015 lead from the front in Forestry reform to ensure stricter logging practices when he revoked more than 30 Agro Forestry permits upon learning that logging companies were abusing it,” the statement added.

“Actually the truth in essence is Wale self-benefitted from the extractive industry and is on record for fraud where he self-gained organizing a scholarship for his own biological children under Allied Gold & St. Barbara Mining, a mining company then operating in Gold Ridge where Wale promised the company he could set up further kickbacks in the form of mining leases.

“The payments to Wale on record were made in 2011 by miners Allied Gold and St Barbara to the then Deputy Opposition Leader Matthew Wale which resulted  in such actions referred to and investigated by the Australian Federal Police.

“St. Barbara’s financial records obtained then showed, Opposition leader Wale’s children attended the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane, with annual fees reportedly paid for by St. Barbara for as much as AUD$113,000 equivalent to SBD$750,000.

“St. Barbara was also coerced into arranging employment for a relative of Wale, a lawyer with other benefits, which included a AUD$13,500 or SBD$81,000 payment to Wale for “office set up expenses”.

“St Barbara provided a statement in regards to Wales’s corruptive practices to the Australian Securities Exchange that through its internal ­mechanisms it became aware of the payments to Wale and had reported the issue to authorities including the AFP, the UK Serious Fraud Office and the Solomon Islands Attorney-General Office.

“Wale’s corruptive practices and self-serving attitude and action resulted in a public uproar and condemnation.

“The then provincial member for Vulolo ward of Guadacanal Province and Minister for Provincial Affairs, Patrick Kennedy, said the revelation that opposition leader, Matthew Wale, had been benefiting from a tailored scholarship for his children is a slap on the face of Gold Ridge people.

“Not all the landowning families have the privilege to be under the company’s scholarship, why does the company overlooked us and paid lavish fees for the children of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Aoke/ Langalanga?

“He’s not even a Guadalcanal leader, it is really a slap on the face of all of us- the landowning groups of Gold Ridge mine.

“As the provincial member responsible for the Gold Ridge area, I urge the next company not to repeat what Allied and St Barbara did.

“We also have people who are well versed with the workings of the government, and why the company did not use them is anybody’s guess.

“We cannot afford to lose our privilege to a national leader that is not even responsible for the affairs of Guadalcanal Province as a whole.”

St Barbara did not confirm or deny any of these allegations in its statement then to the ASXIt but its market cap fell to around $70 million.

In the same period, its share price has fallen from $1.75 to 14.5¢.St Barbara reported a $501 million full-year loss for the 2014 financial year, including a $411 million hit for the non-cash impairment of its Pacific operations.

“It is indeed sad to see Wale accusing the Prime Minister of something that is being practiced by himself.

“Wale’s desperate campaign to become Prime Minister has become comical and pathetic,” the statement from the PMO said.

GOV’T MOVES IN ON RIPEL

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Negotiates deal to bail out two bankrupt Austrian companies

LEAKED documents have suggested that the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Robson Djokovic and the Attorney General John Muria Jnr are cooking up a “dubious deal” in an attempt to commit the Government into bailing out two companies in Australia.

This is over the failed Russell and Tenaru plantation (RIPEL) formerly Levers Solomons Ltd.

The two companies, Orbis and Pacific Investments Holdings, are currently under bankruptcy proceedings in Australia.

Orbis and Pacific are owned by Willem and Margriet Van Vlymen.

The Van Vlymens appear to have been in a joint venture with entities owned by Patrick Wong in the controversial take-over of Levers by RIPEL some years back.

While their fight in the Australian court is over, their business interests has left the future of the plantations and the Solomon Islands creditors and the brawl between the Commissioner of Lands and RIPEL over company land in limbo.

Documents showed that on 1 July 2021, court administrators in Australia received correspondence from SV Partners, a professional insolvency firm, advising that they had been approached by the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Government via a local barrister.

SV Partners advised that the Solomon Islands Government “is looking to acquire unspecified number of Levers properties in Solomon Islands through a proposed Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) with Orbis and Pacific.

Documents show the proposed offer under the Solomon Islands DOCA was between AUD$15 million ($120 million) and AUD$20 million ($160 million), which would be enough to pay all creditors of Orbis and Pacific in full.

On 5 August 2021, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of the Solomon Islands Government wrote to the administrators, expressing an interest in acquiring the land owned by Lever Solomon’s through the DOCA process, but noting that any proposal would have to be approved by the Cabinet.

The documents showed on 20 August 2021, the Chief of Staff persuaded the Attorney General to write to the administrators, estimating that a minimum of three months was required to finalise a DOCA proposal for the approval of Cabinet.

On 23 August 2021, the administrators held a telephone conference with the Attorney General, a representative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and Djokovic and discussed the proposed DOCA being formulated in the Solomon Islands and how long that would take.

At that point in time, Djokovic, Muria and Dentana indicated that AUD$14 million was being considered.

On 9th February 2022, the Attorney General John Muria wrote a letter to Steve Agosta, Solicitor Director of Nelson McKinnon Lawyers in Sydney, requesting a further extension of the court proceedings to June 2022.

In his letter the AG stated a number of events that has impacted on the ability of the Solomon Islands Government to finalize the DOCA.

These events included the entry and community transmission of COVID 19, the motion of no-confidence in November and the riots.

But government sources say the AG’s letter has raised the question as to who authorised him to write the letter without Cabinet’s approval and why the need to interfere with the legal process in Australia.

Sources have questioned why the PM’s chief of staff and the AG would enter into a financial commitment without Cabinet’s approval.

“Why should SIG bail out Orbis and Pacific Investments Holdings?

“These two companies are under bankruptcy proceedings in Australia.

“What liabilities do these bankrupt companies have?

“The DOCA implies that SIG is paying off company debts in exchange for company shares?

“If SIG is interested in buying properties only, why not deal directly with LSL and RIPEL?” sources questioned.

“It is clear from the documents cited that the involvement of these government officials had no Cabinet mandate thus raising the question as to whose authority do they make that commitment.

“The commitment made by Djokovic and AG on behalf of the Government without Cabinet’s approval has raised a lot of questions especially trying to bail out two companies that are currently under bankruptcy proceedings.

“The involvement of Djokovic who has a history with controversial issues who also has criminal convictions in Australia raised the question as to whose interests he is making that commitment,” sources said.

Comments are being sought from Djokovic and Muria.

Covid patients in hospital ‘overall low’: Togamana

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Mavis Podokolo
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Health Minister and team talks to a mother admitted at the NRH Golden Ward during local community transmission.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE overall hospitalisation due to covid-19 remains low, says Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana.

Togamana echoed this when delivering his covid-19 situational update this week.  

“Overall hospitalization due to COVID-19 remains low and I thank our frontline medical teams at our various hospitals and clinics managing COVID-19 patients. May God continue to bless your hands as you work to help the sick recover,” he said.

Togamana explained regarding hospitalisation, National Referral Hospital in the past 72 hours as of yesterday had made three discharges with no new COVID-19 admission during this reporting period.

“With this, total of 33 COVID-19 patients that the NRH is currently managing. This is 14 percent of total admissions at the hospital. From these 33, four patients are in severe condition with one (1) critical case needing oxygen,” he said.

Togamana adds, for Kiluufi hospital in Malaita Province, eight patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have been moved to the hospital’s isolation ward to undergo treatment for their other health conditions and management.

He also stated that in Makira Province, two patients with mild symptoms and admitted due to other health conditions, and one COVID-19 patient who is also considered as a mild case is being managed at the Gizo hospital isolation ward.

Unvaxed, elderly prone to any new variant: Togamana

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BY MAVIS N PODOKO

Unvaccinated persons with underlying health conditions and the elderly will get sick from any new variant that enters the country.

Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana announced this in his situational update on covid-19 this week.

Solomon Islands was recently announced by the government as undergoing its second wave of covid-19 community transmission.

In January this year, the first wave began, ending about two months later, which was due to the Delta strain.

The current second wave is reportedly caused by the Omicron variant.

‘Nevertheless, those with unvaccinated more especially with underlying health conditions, the elderly and those with risk behaviours still remain at risk of being sick and even die from the new variant,” Togamana said.

“What is critical for us is to all remain united in solidarity as one family in our fight against COVID-19. Practically this requires everyone to play their part. It saddens me to see people complaining.

“Even for vaccination, do not wait for health to visit your communities.

“While this has been our struggle to bring the vaccines closer to your homes, we seek your cooperation to also go to nearest vaccination site and get vaccinated.

“This is the true meaning of unity, solidarity and togetherness in the face of COVID-19. Only through our combined cooperative efforts we will spare lives, preserve our health and overcome this virus,” Togamana said.

Manele defends Sino-SI security pact

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Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele has rejected any notion that the security treaty with China calls or provides for the establishment of a PRC military or naval base.

This came after some Solomon Islands traditional partners, members of United Nation, talked about a ‘red line’ and ‘responding appropriately’ should China set up a military base in Solomon Islands.

There are even talk of invasion of Solomon Islands by the international media.

Speaking on the motion to thank the Governor General on his speech to the throne in Parliament on Wednesday, Manele said “we are not stupid to ask for a military base as we ourselves could be a target for a military strike in the future in the event of an armed conflict between the major powers.”

He said the Solomon Islands Security Agreement with China reaffirms respect for Solomon Islands sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.

“The security agreement reinforces the foundation of peace, security and development.

“Security agreements are meant to grow peace through development,” he said.

Manele said it builds bridges of confidence, and removes sources of danger so that our people can keep investing to improve their quality of life.

He said it gives confidence to business houses and allows the nation of Solomon Islands to prosper.

Furthermore, Manele said Solomon Islands security cooperation with China does not undermine our security arrangements with Australia, or security cooperation with any other country.

He said actually it complements existing arrangements.

“The SI-PRC security agreement is a form of preventive diplomacy, in line with the 1997 Aitutaki Declaration.

“In other words, preventing the use of violence by some to uproot democratic processes and values.

“It prevents disputes from turning into conflict. It is peace keeping driven by the needs of the state,” he said.

Manele said the security cooperation agreement with China will not undermine regional security and stability.

“Having a stable Solomon Islands is also about securing stable and prosperous Pacific region,” he said.

Under the Aitutaki Declaration on Regional Cooperation, Leaders of the Pacific recognised that an adverse law enforcement environment could threaten the security, and economic integrity of Forum Members and jeopardize economic and social development. The Pacific has also identified climate change as the single greatest threat facing the region

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