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CSSI Auki releases prisoners under its SOPE

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Members of Auki Correctional Centre and five inmates (now free) who had released under the CSSI early release program in Auki.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

AUKI Correctional Centre released five prisoners on Friday under its early release programme after approval from the Minister and CSSI heads in Honiara.

The programme comes under CSSI’s covid-19 State of Public Emergency (SoPE) which tries to address the overcrowding of inmates in correctional centres in the country.

In an interview, Sergeant Leonard Kali said the release of the inmates – who are now free had come after required works were done that guaranteed their release.

“Prior to their release, we have conducted casework on rehabilitating and reintegrating them at Auki Correctional Centre.

“After then, we sent reports of our work to CSSI head office and minister of police where the decision to release the inmates was made based on the report,” he said.

Kali explained that the programme only applies to inmates who have a one-year sentence or less and these five men have almost served their sentences.

“Like, for these released inmates, they only have weeks or a month before their sentences could lapse before leaving the centre,” he said.

Kali said the men are from Malaita province and had been serving sentences for charges laid against them on cases relating to domestic violence – mainly grievous harm.

He thanked the men for their time at the centre as they look forward to reuniting with their families, relatives and communities in the province.

MARA gov’t plans important projects for Auki

Written by
Samie Waikori
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The current dumpsite at Molou residential area in Auki town.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE Suidani-led MARA government is planning to kick off work on some important projects for Auki Township.

The projects include Auki dumpsite, cemetery, and Flea market.

Premier Daniel Suidani said a plan is in place to begin work on the projects this year, 2022.

“Work on these three development projects for Auki Township is ongoing and we hope to start with actual physical work this year 2022,” he said.

Suidani said the projects are part of his government’s priorities for Auki Township and they will make sure it materializes for the development of Auki.

Auki town has been without a proper dumpsite since 1990s and the site used at Molou since then is still being used.

Waste Management Officer under MPG, Mr. Paul Iro said Auki town is expanding and there is a need to relocate the dumpsite from within the town.

He said they had already identified a government land at Gwaigeo as the proposed site for the new dumpsite and are working on it.

Iro said the plan to have a proper site for the programme is important as it will later develop into landfill.

Auki town is being without a government own cemetery since then and there is a need to have such project within the town.

Recently, PDOC Malaita has come up with the initiative during the height of the pandemic in the province and now MARA government is taking up the initiative.

The flea market is one of MARA government’s priorities for Auki town and Suidani has also announced his government’s intention to put-up one during the opening of Auki betel-nut market two years ago.

Last week, he re-strengthened their commitment for the flea market where proposed work on the facility to begin this year.

The establishment of a flea market in Auki will benefit Malaitans just like Auki betel-nut market, where vendors are earning money to support their families.

Betel vendors storm provincial office in Gizo

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Western Provincial capital Gizo

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

DISGRUNTLED betel vendors stormed the Western Provincial Office last week expressing their disappointment in the lack of opportunities to sell their products.

The protest was carried out following a police response to betel nut vendors who were selling betel nuts in public.

Gizo Police confiscated the vendors’ betel nuts and other products during their patrol.

While accepting vendors’ complaints, Patrick Toiraena, who is the deputy chairperson of Western Province’s Disaster Operation Committee (WPDOC) said a gazette notice was endorsed prohibiting betel nut vendors to sell their products in public places.

“Let me make this clear, requirements for betel nut selling under the gazette notice where police enforced determines that selling of betel nut in public places is prohibited.

“For example, KHY area and other roadside within Gizo, Munda and Noro fall under “public places” as stipulated in the gazette notice – meaning no betel nut vendors are allowed to sell their products at KHY,” he explained.

Toiraena stressed that police have the right to confiscate betel nut from vendors and their (Police) actions is protected by specific clauses in the gazette notice which is a legal instrument to control the selling of betel nut.

He said such regulation is for the good of the general public as far as COVID-19 safety protocol is concerned.

Toiraena said there are venues and times for the selling of betel nuts as approved by WPDOC and adhering to advice is very important.

He calls on betel nut vendors in Noro, Munda, and Gizo to respect the regulations to protect the Western populace.

Gov’t reveals cost of Mamara houses

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration has denied reports suggesting the 50 houses bought for public servants at Mamara, West of Honiara, cost between $2million to $3 million each.

Government bought the houses after it signed a Sale and Purchase agreement with developer Metropolis Pacific PTE Ltd and contractor, Metropolis Mamara Development Ltd, last year.

Permanent Secretary Riley Mesepitu clarified this in response to an article the Solomon Star published that claimed the two-bedroom houses cost $2 million-plus while the three-bedroom houses cost well over $3 million.

Mesepitu told reporters on Wednesday that there is not much difference in the cost of the Mamara houses compared to those Home Finance and other Real Estate agents are selling in Honiara.

He said the Solomon Star exaggerated the cost of the houses.

Mesepitu said type A houses, which are three bedroom and self-contained, cost about $927,675.

He said type B houses, which are three bedrooms with shared amenities, is $742,1`40.

Type C houses, which are two-bedroom, costs $556,605.

From the 50 houses, there are 10 Type A houses, 15 Type B houses and 25 Type C houses.

Mesepitu said the total cost of the 50 houses are just above $34 million.

Government holds the Perpetual Estate title of Mamara while Metropolis Pacific PTE Ltd holds the Fixed Term Estate title.

Mesepitu said titles of the 50 houses will go back to Commissioner of Lands after the Government completes the three phases of payments to Metropolis.

He said 40 percent of the $34 million (about $13.6M) was already released to the company when Government signed the Sale and Purchase agreement last year.

He said the Government will release 50 percent of the payment when the title is returned to Commissioner of Lands.

“There will be process in place for public servants who are interested to purchase the houses at Mamara,” he said.

Mesepitu said the final payment of 10 percent will be released when the public servant occupies the house if there are no defects.

However, he said public servants who occupy any of the 50 houses at Mamara will not benefit from the Public Servants’ Housing Assistance (PSHA).

Further to that, Mesepitu said the houses bought by some politicians is done outside the government scheme.

PSHA was renamed from Public Service Rental Scheme.

Under the PSHA, a level one public servant is eligible for $1,500 monthly rental, a $200 add atop each of the position levels up to the government highest postholder Superscale 3 (SS3) with $4,500 monthly rental eligibility.

Wale: no need for another SOPE

Written by
Press Release
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Opposition leader, Matthew Wale

OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Wale says another state of public emergency is unnecessary.

Wale highlighted this when he opposed the motion in his State of Public Emergency (SOPE) debate speech in Parliament yesterday.

“I have come to the conclusion that emergency powers were never needed at any time since the covid-19 was first reported overseas,” Wale said.

“In other words, the prior states of emergency approved by the House were unnecessary,” he added.

The Opposition Leader said Parliament has been ill-informed to support the SOPE in the past.

He said there are existing laws that makes adequate provision for an effective covid-19 response both before and during community transmission.

“The potential for government overreach is greater under a state of emergency than under our existing laws.

“Accountability for and transparency of government decisions and actions are better provided for under existing laws than under emergency powers,” he said.

Wale said there was never a need for SOPEs at all.

He said all regulations to date issued under the Emergency Powers Act could have been issued under existing laws with no gaps.

“The argument made for states of public emergency prior to community transmission of covid-19 was that we do not have provisions in our laws that cater for pre-emptive actions to be taken in the fight to protect our country and population from covid-19 and that our laws only provide for situations where the virus is already in the community,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said that argument is simply wrong.

“The Environmental Health Act and the Quarantine Act together provide adequately for pre-emptive actions to be taken against diseases like covid-19,” he said.

Wale said the Environmental Health Act (EHA) gives the Minister three powers to: (1) make regulations; (2) appoint officers; and (3) delegate administrative responsibilities, and provides a robust platform for dealing with COVID-19 or similar diseases, both before and during a community outbreak.

He said a clear example of this power is the Environmental Health (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) Regulations 2003.

Wale said it is a regulation passed under the EHA to deal with SARS-Corona virus then.

“This is particularly relevant to the current covid-19 situation and this debate.

“That regulation was enacted prior to the coronavirus SARS arriving in Solomon Islands.

“Fortunately, SARS never reached Solomon Islands, and so our response then did not develop further,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said the existing framework under the EHA allows for more robust and comprehensive regulations for dealing with COVID-19 throughout the country.

“Its framework provides for better accountability and transparency compared to the emergency regulations for COVID-19.

“Further, it contains mechanisms for national implementation of laws as it is better linked to the provincial government system.”

Government MPs late yesterday supported the motion to extend the SOPE for another four months.

Parl extends SOPE

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

PARLIAMENT has passed a resolution yesterday to extend the State of Public Emergency (SOPE) for another four months.

This was after two thirds of 49 members of Parliament gave their support to the resolution when put to vote.

All members of the Opposition and Independent did not take part during the vote except MP for Small Malaita Rick Hou.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare who tabled the motion, said the extension of the SOPE is more important than it ever was.

He said the SOPE is made purposely to protect our people and country and not made on the pretext to trample on fundamental rights.

“The government respects your rights and will continue to do so and off course subject to public interests,” he said.

Sogavare said the Public Health Emergency Bill is before Parliament.

Further to that, he confirms the delta variant is circulating around the people.

He said the delta variant is here to stay and “we must adjust and learn to live it.”

However, Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale said prior SOPE approved in the house was unnecessary.

He supported it based on uninformed decisions.

Wale said existing law makes adequate provisions for an effective Covid 19 response both before and during community transmissions.

He said all regulations to date issued under Emergency Powers Act could have been issued under existing laws with no gaps.

“The argument made for State of Public Emergency prior covid 19 was that we don’t have provisions in our laws to cater for preemptive actions to be taken in the fight to protect our country and population.

“But the law only provides for diseases when it was already in the country and disease now in the country,” he said.

However, Wale said the argument is not right because the Environmental Health Act and old Quarantine Act provide adequately for preemptive actions to be taken against diseases like covid 19.

Furthermore, Former Prime Minister Rick Hou said capability to enforce covid 19 protocols are inadequate based on the practicality on the ground.

He said SOPE also give avenues for officials to abuse their powers as well.

He said SOPE also contributed to businesses struggling to make revenue because of the strict protocols.

Parliament has adjourned to Thursday 14th April 2022.

CLAIM FOR OIL SPILL LODGED

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Oil spill on Rennell Island

Gov’t seeks millions from ship’s insurer

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ATTORNEY General John Muria Junior has confirmed his office has submitted a claim that amounts to millions of dollars to insurer Korea Protection and Indemnity Club (KP&I) for the 2019 oil spill in Rennell and Bellona.

This was after the Government ratified the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (‘Bunkers Convention’) last year.

The accession to the Bunkers Convention was triggered by the grounding of Hong Kong based MV Solomon Trader in February 2019.

The bulk carrier spilled more than 300 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into Kagava Bay, Rennell Bellona Province, which is close to the World Heritage site at Lake Tengano.

“At the moment we are still waiting for their response.

“But we are very hopeful,” Muria Junior said.

A detailed environmental damage assessment commissioned by the Government on the Rennell Oil Spill has concluded that the grounding of the ship MV Solomon Trader and the subsequent oil spill caused significant ecological impacts and economic losses in the order of $112 million (US$14 million) to $304.6 million (US$38 million).

In the meantime, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Dr Melchior Mataki confirmed Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA) is currently dealing with the insurer of the vessel discharged oil in Graciosa Bay, Temotu Province.

The Panama-flagged bulker, MV Quebec has been accused of deliberately discharging heavy fuel oil (HFO) into the pristine waters of Graciosa Bay on 20 January 2021.

The bulk carrier arrived to pick up logs for a Malaysian Xiang Lin Timber Company when it started discharging thick oil into the bay.

In early February last year, the government’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) sent a technical assessment team to the site.

An initial assessment showed that the 28,500-dwt bulk carrier spilled around 1,000 tonnes of HFO, reaching the second level of pollution.

Kabui maintains parliament extension plan not yet decided

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Special Secretary to the Prime Minister Albert Kabui. Photo supplied

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SPECIAL Secretary to Prime Minister Albert Kabui still maintains his stand that Cabinet is still to make a decision to extend Parliament from 4 to 5 years.

This was after the Opposition Office hit back recently that it is a blatant lie after a Cabinet paper on the extension clearly shows that Cabinet had already ‘Agreed’ on the decision to extend parliament from four to five years in February 2021.

The Cabinet paper was also leaked on social media attracting a lot of criticisms against the government.

Kabui told media yesterday part C of the Cabinet paper or document directs him and Attorney General to do consultation.

He said the process is still ongoing.

“We have done consultations with all the Premiers, SIFGA, SICA and SICCI.

“After consultation we will go back to Cabinet. Nothing for us to hide here,” he said.

Further to that, Kabui said the Governor General in his Speech to the throne speech encouraged Members of Parliament to go back and do consultation with their people.

He said had Cabinet made a decision, they could draft the bill and take it up to Parliament.

Kabui said according to the Constitution it requires 6 weeks to lay on the table.

He said this is to give change for the Constitution Review Committee to consult with the people.

“Since it’s a Constitutional Amendment, need time longer than normal bill.

“This is check and balance Constitution provide for,” he added.

Kabui said if Cabinet made the decision, they would not need to consult.

According to Governor General Sir David Vunagi, the issue of deferment of the National General Election is an issue that was recently raised in the media.

There are four options available;

  1. Early dissolution of Parliament as early as May and hold a snap election.
  2. Hold the National General Election in 2023 as scheduled.
  3. Defer the National General Election from 2023 to 2024.
  4. Permanently increase the term of Parliament from four to five years.

Sir David said these options have their own implications.

“However, it is for Cabinet to decide.

“If Cabinet adopts either of options three or four the Constitution will have to be amended,” he said.

Sir David said the Constitution provides for its own alteration and it is Parliament that has the mandate to amend the Constitution.

“I trust that each Member of Parliament will consult and explain to their constituents their views on this matter.

“I will leave this matter to Cabinet and Parliament for their decision,” he added.

Gov’t urged to reopen western border

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Police officers patrolling the Western border with Bougainville. PHOTO ABC

By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNMENT is being urged to reopen the international border between Solomon Islands and Bougainville next week.

This comes in light of reports that people in Shortlands are facing a humanitarian crisis, forcing some of them to illegally cross over to Bougainville to sell their products and buy foods.

Police in Bougainville arrested them at Buin for breaching the Covid-19 protocol put in place by both countries.

Chief of Staff, Robson Djokovic confirmed this during a press conference yesterday.

Djokovic said they are finalising border reopening strategy, that include Malaita Outer Islands and Temotu, but priority is Shortlands.

He said Government is liasing with its counterpart in Papua New Guinea and plans to ease restrictions until the reopening of border in July.

As part of addressing the humanitarian issues faced by the people of Shortlands, government has sent relief supplies on Monday.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Dr Melchior Mataki confirmed that the short term relief supplies include 30 tonnes of rice and 80 cartons of soltuna products.

Mataki, also chairman of National Disaster Council, said the food relief is not made out of thin air.

He said Provincial Disaster Operating Center, made up of technical agencies in Western province, needed proper assessment and put to NDOC, and food relief made.

He said the food supplies to cover all 23 communities including Mono island as well.

Mataki said there is understanding reached between PDOC Western province and communities that distributions based on households and started already.

Beck says leaked documents not final

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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MFAET Permanent Secretary, Collin Beck

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and External Trade confirms the ‘leaked’ Security  Cooperation draft on social media is not final.

Permanent Secretary, Collin Beck told media yesterday said until they have a signed document before it is finalised

“What is being leaked is just a document, not something in any final form concluded.

“Something we continue to work on,” he said.

Furthermore, Chief of Staff, Robson Djokovic said it’s a draft.

“It’s unlikely a draft will be a formalized into a document because it is simply a draft.

“Process is ongoing. PRC not here to take our security space,” he added.

The unsigned document received by media states that Solomon Islands may, according to its own needs, request China to send police, armed police, military personnel, and other law enforcement and armed forces to Solomon Islands.

This is to assist in maintaining social order, protecting people’s lives and property, providing humanitarian assistance, carrying out disaster response, or providing assistance on other tasks agreed upon by the Parties.

The document also states China may according to its own needs with the consent of Solomon Islands, make ship visits to, carry out logistical replenishment in, and have stopover and transition in Solomon Islands.

It also states the relevant forces of China can be used to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands.

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