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Logging poses danger to common needs of people

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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The-logging-road-that-runs-through-the-island-of-San-Jorge.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE logging development in Solomon Islands is real and poses danger to the common needs of community people, according to Hilary Wemani.

Mr Wemani is Japan’s International Corporation Agency (JICA) Sustainable Forest Resources Management (SFRM) promoter in Honiara.

He echoed this during a visit to the SFRM pilot site in Komuniboli, Guadalcanal.

“The threat to Forest Environment by logging development in Solomon Islands is real and poses danger to the common needs of community people throughout this nation as forest environment is where we get our basic need from like clean water, food, timber for shelter,” he said.

Wemani said from 2006 to 2011 the average annual log report volume was about 1.45millon m3 ,and this is estimated to be 20 percent of revenue from exported products to the country’s economy.

“Even this is so, the sustainability is being threatened by the decrease in natural forest resources and damage to forest environment creating more challenges to community members in the rural area,” he said.

He said through bilateral collaboration and discussions, the Solomon Islands government requested assistance from the Japanese government to formulate a model for SFRM an alternative forest development approach. And so the agreement was signed between the two parties JICA and Ministry of Forestry and Research in 2017.

“By displaying the reality in the field on the map, the pilot site community could conveniently identify current situation on the current land use map and create their future dreams on future land use map.

“This community could now share the idea of alternative ways to forest development than logging development,”Wemani said.

Dr Nishikawa Tatsuji, Chief Advisor., JICA SFRM in Solomon Islands said the forest provides innumerous ecosystem services, such as timber and no-timber forest products, cultural services and water regulations to local communities.

“Again, profits from forests have not been limited to those from timber, but there is also economical income from non-timber forest products and emissions trading and forest ecosystems would be also derived many profits.

Moreover, the country currently relies on the forest sector as the key contributor to government receipts, export and growth actually. And, this economic aspect has significant impact on sustainable forest resources management in Solomon Islands,” Tatsuji said.

Fiji and Solomon Islands to sign maritime boundary agreement today

Written by
Ben Bilua
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PM and Madam Sogavare arriving at Nausori airport.

BY BEN BILUA
Suva, Fiji

LEADERS from Solomon Islands and Fiji will sign the maritime boundary agreement later today.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’ team which includes the Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Attorney General and other officials are currently in Suva for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

According to reports, the Agreement will address Maritime Boundary issues between Solomon Islands and Fiji.

The Agreement contains provisions for the resolution of the overlap of EEZ with the EEZ of Solomon Islands in the north-west of the Fiji basin.

The overlapping EEZ boundary between Fiji and Solomon Islands will be settled through the equidistance principle (equal distance from both countries EEZ) through a median line which is calculated from the base points of the respective countries.

Fiji and Solomon Islands will be seen as a parties to the agreement set out in the preamble recognising where maritime boundaries of the two countries compromised.

The good news is, there is no dispute concerning this demarcation.

According to UNCLOS, all coastal states are entitled to a 12 nautical mile territorial sea (Article 3 of UNCLOS), 24 nautical mile contiguous zone (Article 33 of UNCLOS), and a 200 nautical mile EEZ (Article 57 of UNCLOS) including the extended continental shelf claims not exceeding 350 nautical miles (Article 76 of UNCLOS) from the baseline from which the territorial sea is measured.

As a party to UNCLOS, Fiji has an obligation to define its maritime boundaries, most especially its EEZ which, while it is measured to 200 nautical miles, often overlaps with the EEZ boundaries of other coastal neighbouring States which surround Fiji.

In accordance with Article 74 of UNCLOS, if there is an overlap of the EEZ boundaries between coastal neighbouring States, these States need to negotiate and finalise an agreement for the delimitation of those EEZ boundaries.

Fiji shares its EEZ boundaries with the following neighbouring countries – Vanuatu, Tonga, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia.

Mayor: Covid-19, Riots worst challenges in the last year

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

HONIARA City Council has experienced many challenges including Covid-19 and the November riots last year.

As a result of Covid-19, some families have lost loved ones and business people lost their properties and victims of looting.

However, City Mayor, Eddie Siapu said the Council has overcome these challenges and continue to move forward with their goals.

Speaking at the Mayor Independence Dinner at National Auditorium last Friday, Mayor Siapu said this would not have been possible without the genuine and honest support from the National Government, our external partners and friends.

“Iam proud to say we are moving forward and making progress in developing our City Honiara,” he said.

Mayor Siapu said Honiara has developed and grown substantially over the years.

“We are forced to tackle the problems of a rapidly increasing population, urbanisation, unemployment and increasing demand for council services.

“With the rapid changes, Honiara City Council over the years has been proactive in working towards resolving issues and improving services,” he added.

Furthermore, Mayor Siapu made special mention to the Guadalcanal farmers that supply food to Central market and other small markets in the outskirts of the city every day.

In the meantime, Mayor Siapu acknowledged the development partners that support HCC.

They are:

  1. New Zealand Government for funding the upgrade of the Multipurpose Hall facility and Youth Hub;
  2. Japanese Government for donation of 2 waste management tipper trucks to be officially handed over on 27th July 2022; and
  3. Peoples Republic of China for donation of 2 rubbish compactors.

He also thanked his Councillors and hardworking staff of HCC for their dedication and backbone of ensuring services within the city is maintained and carried us in a timely and orderly manner.

Maelanga urges Solomon Islanders to embrace unity

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Deputy Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

DEPUTY Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga urges Solomon Islanders to embrace unity rather than division.

Maelanga stressed this during the Mayor Independence Dinner at the National Auditorium last Friday.

The dinner was organised by Honiara City Council to celebrate the country’s 44th Independence Day after the country gained her independence in 7th July 1978.

This year’s theme is “Iumi Tugeda for a Stronger and Peaceful Solomon Islands”.

The theme calls for all Solomon Islands citizens to unite as fellow country men and women of the “happy Isles” to build the country into a stronger and peaceful place for everyone.

However, Honiara was the centre of the November riots last year and the outbreak of the Covid 19 that affected some families.

Maelanga said he liked the message preached by Reverend Edward Kolohai during the Thanksgiving service on the need to grow peace and unity by following the teaching of Jesus to love and forgive and not take revenge if someone wrongs you.

“We all come together with different backgrounds, diversity and cultures but we have to have one common understanding that is unity.

“We are one Solomon Islanders. We need to have this in our heart,” he said.

“When I was the Minister of Homes Affairs, I always travelled with national team to Mini Games, Pacific Games and Olympic Games.

“Sometimes when the national anthem cries, I am in tears because I think we are one,” he said.

However, Maelanga said some educated leaders don’t understand this and brain washed our people.

“Sometimes we know these things are right, but we them turn into wrongs,” he added.

Logging industry provides 10,000 jobs

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Logging in Solomon Islands. Photo supplied

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Solomon Islands logging industry provides around 10,000 jobs.

 This is according to Dr Nishikawa Tatsuji, Chief Advisor of JICA’s Sustainable Forest Resources Management SFRM project in Solomon Islands.

“The logging industry provides around 10,000 jobs, which represent 20 percent of total employment,” Tatsuji says.

He said the population growth facing Solomon Islands has resulted in a large surplus workforce but which as 10 thousand jobs has not been able to fully participate in the logging industry.

“The current status of the demographics and workforce of communities in Solomon Islands communities is that births are increasing in all communities and the proportion of youth and infant in the communities is also increasing.

“It is a challenge in all community for adolescents to get jobs and cash income within the communities. On the other hand, if communities sell their tree to logging company, the following negative effects may occur; the forest resources, which is the main property of the community will be lost at once, the forest will be recovered to take more than 20 years, the youth will have no hope of living in the community and when natural disasters occur, the damage will be enormous,” Tatsuji said.

He echoed the above statement during the event of the second Press tour for local Journalists in the country.

Regional journalists undergo Media master class ahead of the 51st PIFLM

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Journalists pose for a group photo with PIFS Secretary General Henry Puna and Australian High Commission to Fiji H.E John Feakes

BY BEN BILUA
Suva, Fiji

REGIONAL journalists have undergone an intense training yesterday ahead of the 51st Pacific Island Leaders Forum Meeting that will kick off in Suva, Fiji today.

The training was held at Holiday Inn, Suva and it was blessed with the presence of Secretary General of Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Henry Puna and Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, His Excellency John Feakes who welcomed the participants and also opened the Master Class training.

Speaking to the journalists, Puna says the need for people to have access to information that is factual and fair will always be the cornerstone of the partnership between the media and regional institutions in the pacific.

“Your work is ensuring communities and people that our leaders serve are informed and engaged on the policies strengthening our common regional future. Collaboration and cooperation are as critical to resourcing the work that we do for the Pacific as it surely is for resourcing the work you do on reporting on regionalism.

“Master Class Training introduced journalists to 2050 Strategy, Trade to 2050 Agreement (Samoa), Pacific to COP27 and Ocean-Climate, Gender to 2050 – the Pacific SDGs postcard, Pacific Islands Forum history, presentation from Civil Society Organisations (PRINGO Alliance and PIANGO), technical session to cover the forum leaders meeting and briefing by Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Communication and Public Affairs Department,” he says.

Puna says the conversations on development priorities for the Pacific and what the aspirations mean to people in the pacific must always be informed by the voices of the people.

He says the professional ethics and standards of pacific media industry must be shaped and performed according to media ethics advocating positive changes.

Puna acknowledges the Australian government for supporting the Master Class Training.

Forestry receives 2 important documents

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Dr Nishikawa hands over the MOFR Corporate plan and Long-term Policy for SFRM

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Ministry of Forest and Research (MOFR) has received its Corporate plan 2023-26 and its long-term sustainable forest resources management (SFRM) policy.

The corporate plan 2023-26 details the forest policy, priority policy execution plans 2023-2026 and divisional activities and planning 2023-2026.

The long-term sustainable forest resource management policy speaks of the current status of forest resources and challenges of the Solomon Islands forest sector, vision and the long term policy of SFRM itself.

Dr Nishikawa Tatsuji, chief advisor JICA on Capacity Development for Sustainable Forest Resources Management in Solomon Islands, handed the two documents to the Permanent Secretary of MOFR, Dr Vaeno Vigulu.

Tatsuji said he is delighted to hand over the Corporate Plan 2023-26 and long term Policy for the SFRM project.

“I would like to hand over the Corporate plan 2023-2026 and the Long term Sustainable Forest Resource Management Policy compiled by the Technical Support Committee of the Ministry of Forestry and Research and the Japans International Corporation Agency –SFRM project after more than one year discussions, to the Ministry of Forestry Research Executive,” he said 

TRIBUTE TO FOUNDING FATHERS

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare

PM remembers past leaders in 44th independence speech

By EDDIE OSIFELO

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare has paid tribute to the founding fathers, who pushed the country to gain Independence from Great Britain in 1978.

Sogavare stated this during his reflection of the country’s 44-year journey in his 44th anniversary speech yesterday.

“These men and women negotiated our political Independence from Great Britain who ruled the country for 85 years since declaring us a Protectorate in 1893,” the prime minister said.

He said on 7 July 1978, our young country attained nationhood.

Former Member of East Are Are, late Peter Kenilorea was the first Prime Minister who led the country to Independence.

“Our first leaders solemnly declared to the world our choice and determination to champion our destiny.

“On that day, 44 years ago, we started the process of governing ourselves,” he said.

However, Solomon Islands, a country of more than 700,000 people and different cultures and languages, has faced many challenges in her history.

Some of the challenges included internal conflicts like the ethnic conflict between Malaita and Guadalcanal from 1998-2003, riots in Honiara and natural disasters like cyclones and climate change.

Sogavare pondered some questions that remained with him today as he reflected on the country’s journey.

“Has the country achieved the vision and aspirations our founding fathers and mothers had of a strong united and peaceful Solomon Islands?

“Has the country achieved the vision portrayed in our National Anthem which is a country that exude joy, peace, progress and prosperity where men shall brothers be make nations see?

“Or are we planting seeds of doubts and dissent that will continue to divide us and prevent our country from achieving long term peace and prosperity?” he asked.

Sogavare said what legacy should the current generation of Solomon Islanders leaders leave behind for future generations.

“What kind of Solomon Islands do we want to see in 10,20, 50 years or 100 years from today?

“What should we do to ensure that the decisions we all make will lead us to the type of Solomon Islands we wish to see and leave behind for our children, our great children, grandchildren and your children?” he asked.

He said to ask answer these questions, we must first look back to our past and consider the realities we face today before we can chart our path into the future.

Honiara marked the Independence with parade from White River to Maranatha Hall, music shows at Townground, Auditorium building, women selling food and handicrafts and youths offering barber services at Solomon Islands Ports Authority compound.

While people in the communities also celebrated the Independence with sporting events and selling of foods and music.

SIEC holds election training for Auki media

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Members of media in Auki and SIEC staffs after the Media Accreditation and Code of Conduct training at Auki Lodge yesterday in Auki.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

A team from the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission office has successfully conducted a half day Media Accreditation and Code of Conduct training for media personnel in Auki yesterday.

A total of six media personnel, four from the mainstream outlets, Island Sun, Solomon Star and SIBC and two from social media Face book groups, Malaita Issue and Malaita News have attended the training.

The training is part of SIEC’s preparation for the upcoming two by-elections for West Kwaio constituency and provincial ward 18 of East Kwaio constituency.

The training was aimed at enhancing the capacity of media on the important role they play to disseminate fair and proper information to public on the election events.

During the training, the media personnel were briefed on SIEC organizational structure, election process, SIEC code of conduct for media and election advocacy.

These areas are important to the media personnel to provide them with fair understanding on what to do when executing their election reporting.

Particularly, for election process and election code of conduct to guide them on how best they could carry out their work in accordance to the required standard.

Media personnel in Auki thanked SIEC for the training and coordination they have with the Media in Solomon Islands on election activities.

Auki media looks forward to working together with SIEC and people in West Kwaio constituency and provincial ward 18 of East Kwaio constituency in the coming by-elections.

Bill to extend parliament

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
Solomon Islands National Parliament

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE proposed Bill to delay the 11th Parliament to 2024 or permanently extend for five years can be scrutinised by the Bills and Legislative Committee.

This after the Constitutional Review Committee in Parliament is also identified to scrutinise the Bill if it is tabled in Parliament.

Under Section 61 (4) (a) of the Constitution, the notice of the proposed Bill has been given to the Speaker at least four weeks before the first reading of the Bill in Parliament.

Parliament Office said by default position, any bill can go through BLC apart from the Appropriation Bill which the Public Accounts Committee is mandated to scrutinise it.

However, Parliament Office said the CRC can do an issue base inquiry on the proposed Bill.

Under the Standing Orders of Parliament, the CRC can review the Constitution regularly and examine any changes of the proposed Constitution.

“It is still not sure whether the Speaker will allow the proposed Bill to be scrutinised by BLC or CRC,” Parliament office said.

The CRC is currently without a Chairman after Member of Parliament for Rennell and Bellona,” Dr Tautai Angikimua Kaitu’u has vacated his responsibility.

The members of CRC are Opposition Leader Mathew Wale, Member of Parliament for East Are Are, Peter Kenilorea Junior, MP for South New Georgia, Rendova Tetepare, Danny Philip, MP for East Honiara, Douglas Ete and MP for Central Kwara’ae, Jackson Fiulaua.

Furthermore, Parliament Office said the one-month notice is to allow time to notify the Committee members, hold enquiry with different stakeholders and make recommendations of the report.

Unlike the Government’s bill, it has a duration of four days and Non-Members Bill is 12 days.

However, one month notice is given to the proposed Bill because it is a Constitutional Amendment.

The Government intended to delay the elections to 2024 because the Pacific Games is taking place in 2023 as well.

So far, Transparency Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands Christian Association, House of Chiefs on Guadalcanal and other women’s organisations have opposed the delay or extension of Parliament because they want to the election held in 2023.

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