Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare inspecting a guard of Honour at Tulagi
By EDDIE OSIFELO
THE Constituency Boundaries Commission is still to commence work following the recent appointment of the Chairman and two other members.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare confirmed this in Parliament when asked by Opposition Leader Matthew Wale during the Committee of Supply of the 2022 Appropriation Bill.
Sogavare blames the delay of work on the situation faced by the country at the moment.
However, he said the point is taken because the constituencies of our boundaries have not been reviewed for long time now.
According to Electoral Commission, the Constitution requires that a review of constituency boundaries be conducted by the Constituency Boundaries Commission at least every 10 years.
The most recent redrawing of constituency boundaries occurred in 1997 (increasing the number of constituencies from 47 to 50).
In 2009 the Parliament rejected a recommendation from the Commission to increase the number of constituencies to 67.
Sogavare said the Act itself needs to be relooked at because it leaves Parliament with nothing to do.
He said Parliament is only allowed to reject or approve it, there is no discussion between Parliament and the Commission.
“Once it rejects it, that’s the end of the story.
“The failure of last one was the Commissioner made some recommendations to Parliament and cannot agree because everyone want their constituencies to split it up,” he said.
“We cannot move ahead on this. If the process gives room for further discussions probably, we can move,” he added.
However, Sogavare justified the way rural development is expounded is through constituencies.
He said there are constituencies that are so big now and need to relook to split it if want fair distributions of rural development assistance to our people.
These include big constituencies in Malaita, Guadalcanal, Western Province and Temotu outer islands because of distance.
PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission will need about $23.6 million to conduct elections and by-election this year.
This includes provincial elections in Choiseul and Western provinces and by-elections for West Kwaio and Honiara City Council Vuhokesa ward respectively.
Sogavare told Parliament during the Committee of Supply in the 2022 Appropriation Bill that Government will seek contingent warrant to get Commission to do what is mandated of them by the constitution.
According to Electoral Commission, plans to hold the West Kwaio by-election has been in place since last year and the Electoral Office has ever since prepared, however factors affecting the delay have been beyond the Commission’s control.
The budget implications brought by this pandemic covid-19 across all sectors has sheared electoral budgets from the government even further.
Funding and budget cuts were some of the setbacks to implementations of these plans.
Amongst these outstanding electoral events, are voter registration update for Choiseul and Western provinces and their subsequent provincial assemblies’ elections.
At the moment, the Electoral Commission is implementing HCC Vuhokesa ward by-election, in Central Honiara Constituency with shared cost from Council funds.
Electoral commission has its own activity calendar within its four-year electoral cycle of which activities are being planned and budgeted for accordingly.
GOVERNMENT will work closely with Solomon Islands Electoral Commission to do consultation with the people before deciding to defer the elections to 2024.
Under the constitution, national elections must be held every four years. The next election is due next year.
However, Government is locked with the option to extend the Pacific Games in 2023 to another year because it will lose the hosting right and penalised heavily by the Pacific Games Council.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told Parliament yesterday during the Committee of Supply of the 2022 Budget that according to the Charter, they cannot host the Pacific Games when the Olympic Games happens in 2024.
The Olympic games is scheduled to take place in France from 26 July to 11 August 2024.
Further to that, Sogavare said the government will need $43 million to do the bio metric registration.
He said the intention is to do it at the third quarter.
“For voter registration we want to put in place and get the system running in place towards end of this year and peak up in 2023.
“Registration is key, if we have updated every day, we can go to polls after Parliament dissolves,” he added.
In addition, Sogavare told Parliament the government will need $49 million to do the elections.
He highlighted also the number of Electoral Reforms that needs to be enacted before the next elections.
The reforms include out of constituency vote for Solomon Islanders living abroad, hold the national and by election on the same day and amend the Political Parties Integrity Act.
However, Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale said the intention of the Electoral Act is for instantaneous registration daily, when parliament dissolves, next day elections can go ahead.
“But that did not happen because resources are not allocated to Electoral Commission for all the years.
“We are aware where we are because of government’s neglect to allocate resources to them,” he said.
“On the point of the reforms, I am not sure how many years we need to postpone elections to carry out because there are quite long list of reforms,” he added.
Wale said judging of government productivity in past years up until now, they will need a very long time to get all of that done.
“I don’t think those reforms are necessary grounds for extension of elections.
“In any case as law as it stands, is that every four years then Parliament to finish,” he said.
Wale said there ought to be prudent to allocate funds, once government decides to postpone elections, obviously those funds could be reallocated that deems require.
He said to leave it out when laws are not changed, then Parliament must dissolve after four years.
“Otherwise, we will reach a situation where government says we proceed with what current law requires then we are not giving time to pass supplementary for Commission to kick in to run registration,” he added.
PM Sogavare said they can do it other way, there are budget instruments to allocate resource to it if they need to go to it.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare warmly welcomed US National Security Council Coordinator for the Indo –Pacific, Kurt Campbell to Solomon Islands following a friendly and productive meeting on 22 Friday April, 2022.
The two countries reaffirmed their friendship and committed to strengthen their relations and work together on all issues of mutual concerns.
Visiting delegation leader Kurt Campbell reassures Prime Minister Sogavare that the United States is back “We will do better,” and committed to do more in Solomon Islands.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare acknowledged with gratitude United States revitalized relations with Solomon Islands and welcome once again US decision to re-establish its Embassy in the country and acknowledge the recent signing of MCC Threshold Programme.
The senior White House Official added, US will provide more assistance in addressing unexploded ordnance, supplying COVID 19 vaccines, provide medical support, reopen the Peace Corps program and look at expanding the SCALE Programme to other provinces.
US is committed to ensuring the clearing of the WW2 EOD and would look into the issue of oil spill in the Iron Bottom Sound.
On the China-Solomon Islands Security Cooperation, “We have no say on the SI-China agreement. We respect Solomon Islands sovereign decision. There is no misunderstanding,” stated the White House Official.
US’s core concern is China establishing a military base in Solomon Islands, this will have regional security implications.
The Prime Minister responded, contrary to misinformation promoted by anti-government critics, the Solomon Islands – China Security Cooperation is not about China establishing a military base in Solomon Islands but is about supporting the state to address its internal hard and soft security threats. It is not directed at any external security interest.
The Solomon Islands – China Security Cooperation compliments other bilateral and regional security arrangement Solomon Islands is a Party to.
Prime Minister Sogavare was also acknowledged for his outstanding leadership through the many challenges facing the young nation.
The two states registered appreciation for the talks and committed their officials.to meet in September to advance identified areas of cooperation. —PMO
TEMOTU Province has lost its covid-19 free status after cases were reported there.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Pauline McNeil confirmed this yesterday.
“Temotu province for the first time has reported seven covid-19 cases following covid-19 tests carried out on Saturday.
“This is expected due to community transmission across the country and movement of people to and from the provinces,” McNeil said.
She said the cases are in reference to 14 passengers who have travelled from Honiara to Temotu and were detected in quarantine on Temotu.
“All close contacts of the 14 passengers were also quarantined and further investigation is still ongoing,” McNeil said.
She adds for Malaita province 11 new cases were detected and total case count to date 1103.For Guadalcanal Province with 81 new cases, so total case count as of yesterday stands at 711.
McNeil stressed that Western Province have not submitted report for the last three days as of Sunday(yesterday) but their total case count stands at 2107.
A health team at the ministry is still working to finalising their data so hopefully their report should be ready in the next update.
She said for Choiseul province they have recorded seven new cases with total case count stands at 463.
For Isabel 27 new cases, so the total case count for Isabel stands at 1027.
No report was received from Makira regarding the new cases, so their total case count is 1203.
Renbel with two new cases, total case 222.
Central Islands Province reported 61 new cases of Covid-19. Their total case stands at 674.
THE Chinese government says it objects to any third-party interference with its security cooperation with the Solomon Islands.
The Chinese embassy in Honiara made this statement in light of recent warnings by a United States delegation about potential regional security implications brough about by the recent Solomon Islands-China Security pact.
The United States delegation said they have significant concerns and will respond accordingly if steps are taken to establish a de facto permanent military presence, power-projection capabilities, or a military installation
However, the Chinese embassy viewed the U.S delegation warning as an exposure of some countries condescending acts in disrespect to other nations.
“In accordance with the principles of on equal footing, mutual respect and non-interference into each other’s internal affairs, the cooperation in security and other fields between China and Solomon Islands conforms to international law and norms and is conducive to regional stability and development,” it said.
The Embassy said both China and Solomon Islands have repeatedly emphasized that reports on so-called Chinese military base in Solomon Islands are misinformation fabricated by those people with ulterior motives.
It said since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Solomon Islands, the exchanges and cooperation between two countries in various fields have yielded fruitful results and been warmly welcomed by two peoples.
“Any attempt to inflame the situation, provoke tensions and stir up confrontation in the Pacific Island region does not serve common interests of regional countries and is doomed to fail, the statement reads.
In his meeting with the visiting delegation on Friday. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare reiterated to White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell that there would be no military base, no long-term presence, and no power projection capability under its security deal signed with China.
The U.S. delegation thereby outlined specific steps Washington would take to advance the welfare of the people of the Solomons, including by expediting the opening of an embassy, boosting cooperation on unexploded ordinance and sending the Mercy hospital ship to address health issues.
They also said Washington would also deliver more vaccines and would advance climate and health initiatives.
Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Vice Chancellor Professor Transform Aqorau.Photo supplied.
BY BEN BILUA Gizo
SENIOR Scholar Transform Aqorau says the China/Solomon Islands Security Treaty had lots of escape clauses that will become a problem for Solomon Islanders.
He made the statement during a Webinar organized by Center for Pacific Islands Studies “China-Solomon Islands Security Agreement and Blue Pacific (In) Securities”
Aqorau said there are missing pieces in the process leading up to the signing of the security treaty and this includes lack of supporting legislation to legally authorise and approve arming of Chinese personnel in Solomon Islands.
He suggested that the security treaty should be complemented by an act of parliament as arming foreign personal comes with greater risks in circumstances where discharging of firearm may result in casualties.
“I want to make a point about the process. When RAMSI was brought in, it was done under an agreement.
“The carrying of arms and immunity was facilitated through an act of parliament.
“The immunity for RAMSI and the assistance force …was passed under the facilitation act. I suggest this (latest) agreement should also have been subjected to the same kind of legislative process,” Aqorau said.
Outspoken Member of Parliament, Peter Kenilorea Jr said there are differences between the China/Solomon Islands security treaty and the Australia/Solomon Islands Agreement.
“Having seen the draft and the Australia agreement, the Aust agreement is very specific. Issues on arms, customs, tax…I know because I was permanent secretary.
“The open-endednee of the draft with China is what worries me more than anything else. Security treaties are usually deposited with the UN. I would like to see this, andveryone can see it,” he said.
Kenilorea went on to say that the China/Solomon Islands Security Treaty is not a collective decision but the decision of the Cabinet.
He said the agreement lacks inputs from National Parliament, let alone lack of consultations prior to the signing of the agreement, and that such conflicting views are bound to happen.
“The process is very much an executive process on behalf of the nation.
“There is very little or no input from parliament. It is a little different from other Pacific countries and democracies.
“Done by executive branch – cabinet – they decide which ones we ratify,” he said.
“I see a straight line from the switch to the signing.
“I think this was in the works even before the switch. When you have economic power, military might follows,” Kenilorea added.
He said the Foreign Relations Committee is looking at introducing the involvement of a parliament committee to put correct records on executive decision.
Government back-bencher and Chair of the Government’s Foreign Policy Advisory Sub-Committee, Danny Phillip shared similar sentiment saying that the agreement was signed and drawn up for the eyes of the government.
“The agreement that was signed is very much in the hands of the executive government at the moment but in the context of what we are dealing with here… but in matters of national security there are some things that do not need to have the whole country’s legitimacy,” he said.
OUTSPOKEN Member of Parliament Peter Kenilorea has described the proposed visit by a US delegation as “too late, the agreement has already been sealed”.
He said there have been discussion between Solomon Islands and United State of America for a meeting before the switch but it never happened.
“Before the switch – Sogavare spoke with US Vice President on an understanding to come and meet before the switch. That didn’t happen. Now the agreement signed even before the US delegation arrives,” Kenilorea said.
According to Danny Phillip (former MP), USA has distanced itself from Solomon Islands over the past years.
He said USA has totally forgotten Solomon Islands over the past 80 years after the vicious world war two (WW2) living tones of munitions, hazardous chemicals wastes and military hardware of various descriptions in the country.
“Our people have been killed in numbers annually by unexploded ordinance and other hazardous materials – a risk that still persist in most part of Solomon Islands till today,” Phillip said.
He said, like other Melanesia countries in the pacific, Solomon Islands is the most volatile country with different culture and traditional beliefs and values which makes governance complicated and plain difficult at times.
“We tried to govern ourselves politically and economically since independent doing so with much challenges and difficulties.
“As we continue to govern ourselves we discovered many unsuspected issues and challenges related very on our diversity.
“We struggle on ways of making our tribal land, our cultural values and systems to become more relevant to the requisite of more than economic development.
“This is often our development partners left the issues for us to deal with it ourselves,” Phillip said.
He said the unresolved fundamental reforms often developed into internal challenges that have become more serious and have political overturns which cause social segregations that often developed into violence and destruction.
Phillip stressed that the need for establishing a strong and effective internal security apparatus and system to underwrite and guarantee economic development so as national assets is important.
“This alone is the basis for the expanded scope of security arrangement between Solomon Islands and China,” he said.
Honiara is the beating heart of the country's economy.
By Brian Lezutuni
THE dent to the economy brought about by the November 2021 riots and Covid-19 transmission has seen a refocus on the Government’s key policy commitments.
Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma announced in his budget speech that key policy commitments would be focused on three key priority areas.
The key areas are COVID-19 transmission response in Honiara and the provinces, reconstruction and financial assistance to businesses affected by the riots and implementation of economic response measures to support economic recovery and growth in the country.
The areas of focus are important as the government predicts the local economy would further contract by 4.5 percent in 2022 after 2021 ended with a GDP contraction of 0.2% following the adverse effects of Covid-19 and the November 2021 riots and looting. These new figures revealed in the budget speech show Solomon Islands is now tracking well behind other Pacific nations in its economic recovery and are significantly worse than had been expected before the riot and the recent COVID outbreak.
Mr Kuma said a Ministry of Infrastructure Development report on the riots showed an estimated loss of SBD$811 million in 2021.
The report also showed that a total of 81 businesses and buildings were affected.
“The total loss was equivalent to 6.1 percent of the pre-unrest 2021 GDP value,” Mr Kuma remarked.
He said the civil unrest had also severely impacted Governments fiscal operations.
Police officers tirelessly working to bring the riots under control. PHOTO: Mavis N Podokolo
“Preliminary indicators have shown that Government has lost $120 million in total revenue in the last two months of 2021 alone.
Apart from that, ongoing revenue losses for 2022 are estimated at $200 million.
As compensation, the government is committing $125 million to support the reconstruction and rehabilitation of building and businesses destroyed during unrest.
In terms of the impacts of COVID-19, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury estimates that lockdowns associated with local transmission has costed the Government about $81 million in foregone revenue.
For the nation as a whole, it was estimated that the economy was losing $25 million worth of output per day, with Honiara alone accounting for $14 million per day.
Minister Kuma stressed that the most affected sectors were retail and wholesale, public administration, transport, manufacturing, and agriculture.
“The immediate knock-on loss in all other provinces were estimated at $10 million, as a result of supply chain disruptions.
He said the Community Transmission Plan estimates that around $400 million is needed for a period of six months to adequately respond to COVID-19 community transmission.
Health Minister and team talks to a mother admitted at the NRH Golden Ward during local community transmission.
“The fight against the covid-19 pandemic is not yet over,” he said.
“Until COVID19 vaccination rates in the country increases dramatically, the pandemic will continue to be a handbrake on our economic growth prospects and a likely driver over a longer period.
The government will be committing $180.6 million under respective implementing ministries to support response to COVID-19 community transmission in Honiara and provinces.
Minister Kuma highlights that with these new developments, a review of the overall 2022 budget including revenue projections and policy priorities was made to cater for the changing economic environment faced.
Despite the setbacks, the Government said it is focused on ongoing commitments to its economic recovery strategy as demonstrated in the 2022 development budget.
The 2022 budget will see the Productive and Resources sectors again being key priority sectors. It views these two sectors as major drivers and enablers of economic growth.
Copra is one of the most important commodities in the country
The Minister said the productive sector is one of the pillars of the country’s recovery and growth process.
This explains why a total of $222.9 million is allocated to the productive sector.
The allocations are as follows.
(i) $25.0 million for Agriculture investments.
(ii) (ii) $33.7 million for Commerce and trade investments.
(iii) (iii) $109.2 million for Infrastructure developments.
(iv) (iv) $10.0 million for investment in lands issues.
(v) (v) $15.0 million for Fishery investments, and
(vi) (vi) $30.3 million for Communication and Aviation investments.
Allocation under the Resource Sector would aim to build a resilient environment to support socio-economic development, create innovative development models, review and strengthen development frameworks of the country’s extractive industries, support strategic development through Public Private Partnership (PPP), and maximize economic benefits from natural resources.
The following Budget allocations are made under the Resource Sector in the 2022 Budget.
(i) $10.6 million for Forestry related investments.
(ii) (ii) $7.5 million for Environment related investments.
(iii) (iii) $30.0 million for mining related investments.
In his closing remarks Mr Kuma told parliament Solomon Islands had suffered major challenges in 2021 and into 2022.
‘The task of rebuilding our nation and hopefully reversed the damages done by the COVID-19 and November 2021 riots is immense,’ he said.
‘For the sake of our nation’s future, I appeal to all citizens of our beloved country, Chiefs, Church and Community leaders, NGOs and Civil Society organizations, Premiers and Members of Provincial Assemblies, Public Servants and the general populace of Solomon Islands to support the government in this fight against our common enemy, the COVID-19 and work in partnership to lay the foundations for recovery, growth and prosperity in our country,’ he concluded.
