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Tovosia: We will be careful in handling deep-sea mining

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Government will be very careful in handling the issue of deep-sea mining in the country, Mines minister Tovosia says.

THE Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification will be guided by the following international obligations and duties when comes to deep sea mining.

These include:

  1. To protect and prevention of the marine environment and rare fragile ecosystem and habitants
  2. The prevention reducing the controlling of pollutions from deep sea mining, activities and costs of ships by dumping wastes and other matters at sea
  3. The prevention of transboundary harm
  4. The convention of biodiversity
  5. Applying of precursory approach
  6. Employing best environmental practice
  7. Conduction a prior environmental impact assessment of activities likely to cause significant harm
  8. Taking measures for ensuring safety at sea and
  9. Non-interference with the rights and freedom of other states such of freedom of navigation and freedom to install submarine pipelines and cables and conduct marine scientific research

Minister Bradley Tovosia told Parliament on Tuesday the ministry will ensure that the legal and regulatory framework appropriately address due diligence, licensing, inspection and registration of the sea bed exploration and mining operations and the gathering and retention of the geo science tech.

He said where there is a suspected and non-compliance by the license company or the risks or impacts of the sea bed mining activities appear to break, the ministry will have enforcement powers including reasonable notice

Further to that, Tovosia said the imposition of the sanctions against the company, such an order requiring certain actions, amendments or suspension to work for programmes, a fines or referral for prosecutions for offences.

He said the Ministry will encourage an initiatives or incentives for local process of minerals extracted from seabed where there is no local processing.

“The legal and regulatory framework shall consider and make provisions for methods by which companies can can contribute to the broader local economy.

“This maybe through addition of fiscal contribution supporting national and provincial education skills training through sea board training with company scholarships or funding allocated for purpose when adult training is not possible and local services,” he said.

Furthermore, Tovosia said the Government will encourage mining companies to pursue local recruitment, requiring 100 percent of unskilled labour to be sourced locally.

He said more broadly the Government will support and encourage policy to safeguard these businesses opportunities for Solomon Islands nationals

Moreover, in regulatory deep sea mining, the ministry shall take into account marine scientific research and ensure that the deep sea mining activities do no obstruct marine scientific research promotes industries

Tovosia said the deep sea mining company that carry out marine scientific research is to share data gathered with the ministry.

“The deep sea mining company shall be required to provide a public engagement and information plan.

“If marine and coastal users likely to adversely affect by the proposed projects identified to anytime, especially through the Environmental and Social Impact assessment process, the company will be required to obtain informed the consent from the species by way of compensation prior to the activities,” he added.

AGONY OF A BOY, 3

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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Francis and Samantha Bele with their son Xavier inside the Children’s Ward at the National Referral Hospital (NRH)

Help Xavier get the cancer treatment he needs overseas

By OFANI EREMAE

AS he hugged his critically-ill son on his bed at the National Referral Hospital (NRH), Francis Bele could not imagine losing a child he called “the apple of my eye”.

But Bele’s fears may likely happen if son Xavier Bele, 3, who is suffering from cancer of the blood (leukemia), is unable to get the treatment he needs overseas.

“This cancer is rapidly eating away the health of my son,” a tearful Bele, from central Guadalcanal, told the Island Sun this week.

“The pain he is going through every day breaks my heart,” he added.

Xavier has been sick for eight weeks before he was diagnosed with leukemia on 21 June this year.

Doctors at the NRH have told Bele and his wife Samantha there’s no treatment for the cancer locally.

This means Xavier has to travel overseas if he is to get a second change in life.

A lively and playful Xavier Bele before he was diagnosed with leukemia.

But medical treatment overseas does not come cheap. It’s costly – far beyond an ordinary Solomon Islands family could afford.

And that’s the challenge Bele and Samantha face as they scramble to raise funds to send Xavier for treatment abroad.

“Frankly, we don’t have the money for Xavier’s medical treatment,” Bele said.

“This is why we are working with family members and friends to try and raise enough funds so that we can send Xavier overseas,” he added.

A number of small fundraising efforts have already been held in recent weeks to raise funds for Xavier’s cause.

A cousin of Bele, Israel Sibia, who is currently in Australia, has also set up a Go-Fund-Me page on the internet as part of the fundraising effort.

In Honiara, a number of groups are also preparing to chip in.

Island Sun understands Zumba groups are planning a weekend marathon Zumba dance for Xavier.

One More Shot, a group of young photographers, says they’ll meet this weekend to plan how to raise funds.

For Francis and Samantha, life has not been the same again since their Xavier was diagnosed with the cancer.

“For the last three months, this has been our home,” Samantha says, referring to the Children’s ward where Xavier has been admitted.

“I hardly slept,” she added.

In pain…Xavier on his sick bed at the National Referral Hospital.

“Xavier has been in pain everyday and he does not want anyone else to be by his side, except me and Francis.

“So we have to be here for him day and night.

“I’ve taken leave and I don’t know how long I’ll be on leave,” Samantha, who works as a medical technician at the NRH, says.

At the children’s ward, Xavier, once a lively and playful child, is unable to walk around.

“Since it is a cancer located in the marrow of the bone, the pain he experiences from it made him unable to walk,” according to doctors.

“That’s because most of the pain comes from the bones of the legs.”

Xavier has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment, but now his body is not responding to the treatment.

So he will need what doctors called Bone Marrow Transfusion – a treatment that is costly and cannot be done locally.

Francis and Samantha appeal to the public to donate whatever amount of money they can to give their son a second chance in life.

Registration officials urged to be ethical

Written by
Ben Bilua
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First and second voters who kicked off Western Province's voter registration

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

REGISTRATION Manager of Western Province has called on voters registration officials carry out their duties in an honest and ethical manner.

Patrict Toiraena made the call during the launching of Western Province’s voters registration process on Tuesday.

“You are to provide eligible voters with equal opportunity to take part in the registration process so that they can practice their democratic rights to vote.

“There is no place for discrimination in the registration process so I appeal to all registration team to do their works with integrity and impartiality,” he said.

Toiraena also urge community leaders and other stakeholders to assist the registration team so that the registration process can run smoothly.

Wale lashes out at PM decision to control SIBC

Written by
Press Release
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Member of Parliament for Aoke Langalanga and Opposition Leader Matthew Wale. Photo Credit; Pacificwin NZ Aus Pacific on LinkedIn.

OPPOSITION leader Matthew Wale has lashed out at the Prime Minister’s decision to remove the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) as a State Owned Enterprise (SOE).

In a statement yesterday, Mr Wale said this is yet again another scheme orchestrated by the Prime Minister to curtail activities of SIBC as the voice of the nation and people of Solomon Islands.

The Opposition Leader said the Prime Minister’s decision is a clear attempt to directly control and censor the news content of SIBC.

“This will hijack well entrenched principles of law on defamation and freedom of speech thus depriving the public using SIBC to freely express their views, or accessing information on government activities,” he said.

Wale said it is a bad and regrettable decision that lacks any sensible policy rationale and a threat to press freedom in the country.

The Opposition Leader said the Prime Minister must accept that derogatory reporting is never an automatic wrong in law.

He said reporting truth and fair comment are justifiable even if they hurt.

Wale said that is why courts are there to order payment of compensation to any person aggrieved by any report by SIBC or any other media outlet for that matter.

The Opposition Leader said as leaders they are subject to criticism and it is absolutely right for people to voice their concerns against us leaders.

“Allowing the Prime Minister to control SIBC activities is not only contrary to law but can also have far-reaching consequences.

“It may well be draconian leaving no room for corruption by ministers and government officials to be brought to public attention,” he said.

Wale said it is hypocritical to suggest that government streamlining of SIBC news will serve the greater public interest.

He said the Prime Minister can never be neutral in cases where SIBC wants to publish news implicating the wrongful decisions of the government and its cronies when breaking the law.

The Opposition Leader said the decision therefore is a gag on the freedom of expression with the consequences that are potentially repugnant to the rule of law and the democratic principles of good and transparent governance.

“Lest the Prime Minister forgets, SIBC does not belong to him or the DCGA government.

“It is owned by the people of Solomon Islands to carry the voice of the people in this nation,” he said.

Wale said this action is trampling on the people’s right to hear a diversity of views and opinions, especially those critical of the Prime Minister and his government.

“The government is not the private business of the Prime Minister and his cronies.

“Their exercise of government is of interest to all citizens.

“SIBC must not be prevented by the narrow political interests of the Prime Minister from truthfully reporting how government powers are being used or abused,” he said.

The Leader of Opposition calls on the Prime Minister to revoke this wrong decision and reaffirm SIBC’s total control of & independence in its editorial policy.

Solomon Islands joins global voice on seas treaty

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Opposition Leader, Jeremaiah Manele
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeremaiah Manele.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

Solomon Islands has joined the global call to have the United Nations Inter-Governmental Conference to conclude its work on the “BBNJ” Treaty, also known as the “Treaty of the High Seas” this year.

The BBNJ is an international agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

This new instrument is being developed within the framework of the United Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the main international agreement governing human activities at sea.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele confirmed this when asked by Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale on the update of the BBNJ Treaty.

Manele said the inter-governmental conference has had four sessions, the last one in 18 March 2022 but did not conclude its work.

Three former sessions were held in September 2018 (IGC 1), March-April 2019 (IGC 2) and August 2019 (IGC 3).

“Given the Covid-19 situations, participation of Solomon Islands at the March’s session was done by our country’s mission in New York, off course working along other Pacific Solomon Islands Developing States (SIDS) countries as we normally do when we undertake such negotiations.

“Also, with Associations of Small Islands States (AOSIS) and other groups, but mostly with Pacific SIDS, that is being coordinated by Samoa,” he said.

The negotiations are in four areas:

  1. Marine Genetic Resources, including the questions of benefit sharing
  2. Area Based Management Tools – including Marine Protected Areas
  3. Capacity Building Technology Transfer
  4. Environmental Impact Assessment

A fit session of the inter-governmental negotiations is scheduled to take place from 15-26 August 2022 in New York

Manele said there is now a text on the table for negotiation.

“There is a further revised draft text following the March’s session that has been circulated.

“Some of languages are still in brackets, there are number of options in different areas also in the draft that will be looked at at the upcoming negotiations,” he said.

“We hope the negotiations or the final version of the Treaty will be concluded by the end of this year,” he said.

Manele said there are a number of interest areas and priorities for Pacific SIDS including the recognition of the special circumstances of SIDS in the draft.

He said this is important for us in order to unlock financial support as well as technology transfer and capacity development.

Furthermore, Manele said there is still some work to be done on this area as the draft text has not provide the specific section on the special circumstances of SIDS, except one of the areas on Manager Genetic Resource, there is some reference to SIDS.

“It is also important for us that there is implementation mechanism in place to support country like us to carry out the implementation of the treaty obligations.

“The Pacific SIDS are also pushing a SIDS seat in some of the bodies that the treaty will be established,” he said.

Moreover, Manele said there is also ongoing discussion on this.

He said the issue of traditional knowledge is also priority for SIDS and there is some reference to that in the revised draft that we had.

The discussion on the BBNJ came about followed the 69/292 resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 19 June 2015.

That is the development of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Western eyes 6,500 new voters

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Dieffany Noiama is the first eligible voter to register this year

BY BEN BILUA

Gizo

VOTER registration in Western Province is looking at approximately 6,500 new voters to register for the upcoming provincial election in December 14th.

Registration Manager, the Deputy Provincial Secretary of Western Province, Patrick Toiraena made the statement during the launching of voter registration at Gizo yesterday.

He said these new voters are those who have turned 18 after the last registration.

“Based on the latest census, approximately 6,500 new voters are expected to be registered this year,” Toiraena said.

He said a total of 59, 983 voters have been registered during the previous voter’s registration in 2017, 2018 and 2019 national general election – meaning the current registration is expecting to register close to 66,483 voters.

Toiraena said the registration process is a legal obligation under section 12 of the Electoral Act [2018] where eligible voters are obliged to fulfil.

He adds that the process is anticipated to provide the basis for the scheduled provincial election and at the same time establish an avenue for eligible voters to satisfy their democratic rights.

“If your name is not on the list, you are not eligible to vote, so this registration process is to provide the opportunity to those who are eligible to vote to fulfil their democratic rights to vote.

“Those who turned 18 and above after the last registration must make all efforts to register,” Toiraena said.

He appeals to stakeholders, leaders and families to advocate and encourage eligible voters to register.

Toiraena also calls on community leaders to assist those with special needs to register.

“We must put our hands together to ensure we are able to participate in the democratic process leading to our provincial elections comes December.

“As a democratic nation, these are the principles of democratic elections and this must be upheld.

“We cannot hold provincial election without an updated voters list,” he said.

Sisilo meets Kennedy

Written by
Press Release
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Sisilo and Kennedy during the courtesy visit in Canberra

Within a week of her arrival in Canberra, the new US Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, on Monday this week paid one of her first courtesy calls on Mr. Robert Sisilo, Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia. 

Being new, and at a time of tensions and geo-strategic rivalries between the US, Australia and China on Solomon Islands and the region, she hit the ground running but in a more and keen listening mode. 

“Maybe because Solomon Islands is not under her remit (the US Embassy in POM is), she listened more to know more on what the US and Australia are doing in Solomon Islands and the region.” Mr. Sisilo, also a former Solomon Islands Ambassador to the United States said. 

The proposal to put a US Embassy in Honiara and the US/Pacific Island Countries Tuna Treaty are some of the notable developments Mr. Sisilo drew to her attention. 

There are also the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) threshold programme of $20 million to boost economic growth and USAID’s funded SCALE’s $25 million programme to unlock economic opportunities and increase trade in the long term. 

On the return of the US Peace Corps Volunteers Mr. Sisilo, a former beneficiary of the programme, was very appreciative and thankful.

“More than 700 Peace Corps volunteers were in the country since the early 1970’s but left in 2000 because of the ethnic unrest.  In fact, one of my teachers at primary school was a Peace Corps volunteer thanks to your late father and former US President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who in 1961 established the Peace Corps Volunteers to assist developing countries in education, health, cooperatives etc.  It was his idea, his baby.”  Mr. Sisilo said.

Ms Caroline Kennedy, under the Obama Administration, served as US Ambassador to Japan from 2013 – 2017.  She played a critical role in the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. 

She will be in a high-powered US delegation that will arrive in Honiara over the weekend for the 80th Anniversary Celebrations of the Battle of Guadalcanal.

Floral training for SIWIBA members

Written by
Press Release
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SIWIBA Members after their floral training.

SIWIBA members have successfully completed a three-day floral arrangement training for Honiara members.

The training ran from July 27-29 at the SIWIBA Business Development Centre, facilitated by Karina Aubira Paineitala and Ethel Saelea.

Fifteen members attended the training and were very pleased to have done so.

Speaking during the closing, SIWIBA President Pamela Zoleveke acknowledged Strongim Bisnis for making it possible for the training to take place; also for Paineitala and Saelea for conducting the training in a simple manner to help the women to upgrade their level of learning in floral arrangement.

Also Strongim Bisnis for providing the much-needed funding for the SIWIBA members.

A member representative acknowledged SIWIBA for taking the lead in empowering the women and appreciated Strongim Bisnis.

The training closed with the members awarded certificates on their achievements.

Guadalcanal to reopen CITREC program

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Solomon Islanders that have arrived under CITREC partnership to strengthen Canada’s labour mobility.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Guadalcanal is working on reopening the once popular CITREC job opportunity in Canada.

“The task of reopening the CITREC program is ongoing,” Guadalcanal premier Francis Sade echoed.

He said under this the Canadian International Training and Education Corp (CITREC) and the Guadalcanal Provincial government are creating employment for Guadalcanal people.

He said 32 people from Guadalcanal were recruited to work in Canada under this scheme between 2014 and 2018.

“As much as we want to increase this, my administration needs to assess the costs and ensure that the Province and our people truly benefit from this program, especially in terms of the value of labour we provide and the anticipated financial returns,” Sade said.

He echoed the above statement this week at the commemoration of the Guadalcanal 38th Second appointed day anniversary.

Guadalcanal plans to limit logging operations

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Logging in Solomon Islands. Photo supplied

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

GUADALCANAL Province is planning to limit the number of logging companies operating in the province and focus more on conserving the environment.

Premier Francis Sade revealed this during the 38th second appointed day celebration at Tenaru.

He said whilst logging is a major industry in the province and throughout Solomon Islands, it has huge negative environmental and social impacts and customary landowners do not always benefit from it.

“We also plan to look at limiting the number of logging companies and focus more on environmental conservation and protections in terms of carbon trading,” Sade said.

He said recently GP Forestry Division had visited several logging companies and camps in east and west Guadalcanal a first ever logging assessment and valuation exercises since 1985.

He said their goal is to have better regulatory implementations with the logging partners. And also, to ensure that logging companies follow environmental regulations and pay their debts to the province.

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