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Speaker of Western Province survives motion

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Provincial Assembly Hon Speaker Adrian Sinabule Gina

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

SPEAKER of Western Province has survived a motion of confidence last week following discrepancies mounted after the fall of Gina led government.

Report states that a motion was filed but was not able to satisfy standard procedures as stimulated in the provincial standing orders.

According to the standing orders, motion must be submitted within seven clear days before any assembly meeting.

According to the report, the mover of the motion failed to satisfy this procedure and that the motion was thrown out from the order paper in the recent meeting.

Island Sun Gizo Office understands that leaders have opted to forget the past and focus on what is best for the province in the remaining life of the assembly.

This is clear during most speeches in the motion of Sine Die where most Member of Provincial Assembly echoed renewed friendship and cooperation till the assembly dissolves around June this year.

Western govt sets out formular to achieve budget estimates.

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Hon Ramrakha Talasasa.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WESTERN Provincial Government has established the RG 2 formula to make sure its 2022/2023 provincial budget comes to reality.

The province’s Minister of Finance, Ramrakha Talasasa said the RG 2 formula is Revenue Generation and Revenue Collection.

He said the formula came about when his team discussed how to establish a system to maximize the anticipated increase in revenue generation.

“Our government intends to approach the revenue strategy on two (2) fronts. First, we are looking at stimulating our revenue generation and secondly, strengthen our revenue collection strategy.

“It is our belief that these interventions will be the catalyst for improving our local revenue portfolio through more economic activities,” Talasasa said.

“I must acknowledge the previous regime’s efforts in also trying to tackle the issue and although it made some progress, the focus was perhaps more on utilizing existing revenue sources than on also actually providing a conducive environment for more revenue generation.

“The focus of this government will be both on revenue creation and efficient revenue collection,” he added.

Talasasa said identification of key productive sectors, invest resources and formulate relevant policy guidelines for respective sectors to provide the basis for their development in order to provide a conducive environment for more economic participation and investments is the province’s top priority.

He said the Mesepitu led governments has taken a serious reform on productive sector focusing on key sectorial reforms include proposed investments in land resources, agriculture, fisheries, tourism as well Agro-forestry.

Talasasa stressed that despite limited funding allocation compared to previous years, the government has already prioritized some of the proposed investments.

Johnson & Johnson vaccine here

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

THE Ministry of Health and Medical Service will receive another new covid-19 vaccine, theJohnson and Johnson vaccine provided by the New Zealand government through the COVAX facility.

Incident Controller of the National Health Emergency Operations Center Dr Nemia Bainivalu confirmed this yesterday during the OPMC radio talk-back show over the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation.

“The New Zealand government through the COVAX facility has donated to us one additional new vaccine called the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

The official handing over of the vaccine will be done today together with the summary of its distribution and how to train health workers on its roll out programme,” Bainivalu said.

He adds that Isabel province has started rolling out Pfizer vaccine last week for pregnant women and children 12 years of age and above and 18 years of age below.

Also, most provinces will now commence the roll-out of Pfizer vaccine.

“Unfortunately I won’t be able to provide you vaccination data now as compilation of vaccination datas and information is still ongoing,” Bainivalu said.

Japan assistance to solve Vurango school classroom shortage.

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Norimasa Yoshida Charged Affairs interim Embassy of Japan in Solomon Islands

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE sealing of an agreement between Vurango School on Choiseul Province and the Government and people of Japan for the construction of a classroom building will put an end to classroom shortage issues faced by the school.

The assistance came by way of a grant assistance at a total amount of around $ 700,000 (seven hundred thousand) Solomon Dollars. This assistance will enable the school to provide an appropriate educational environment to students.

Principal of Vurango Primary school Freeman Paezama Kuma on behalf of the school and the community conveyed the school’s sincere gratitude to the government of Japan for consideration of the school’s need.

“This project will really solve the problem of shortage of classroom and staff house shortage that the school is facing,” Kuma said.

He stressed that this project in particular would provide great benefit to our school and the community at large.

“There are five hundred plus students that will get direct benefit to the classroom, and the staff house will serve different teachers posted to our school.

“Church groups, women groups and youth groups would also benefit from this service regarding gatherings and meetings.

“Deep in our heart and in certain extent I will say that this project is a dream come true. There are elders in our community who have struggled to improve and develop our school but cannot live up to this day to witness this great achievement.

“I on behalf our people would take this time to really thank the Japanese embassy under its Grassroots funding agency for your fulfilment of our dream,” Kuma said.

He further thanked the Embassy of Japan for the approval of this project.

Charge de Affairs interim of the Embassy of Japan in Solomon Islands, Norimasa Yoshida said one of the priority areas of their assistance under the Grassroots and Human Security Scheme is supporting basic education.

 Education plays a key role in the development of the society.

“Therefore, we believe that this project will have positive impacts on the socio-economic development of Solomon Islands and strengthen further cordial relationship between Solomon Islands and Japan,” Yoshida said.

He said “indeed this project is a symbol of the cordial relationship between the two countries. 

“On behalf of the Government and people of Japan, I would like to reaffirm our continuous commitment to the people and the prosperity of our two countries”.

SINPF considers partial payment proposal

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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SINPF Building in Honiara

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands National Provident Fund has considered the proposal for partial payments to members of the fund during this pandemic.

Chairman of SINPF Board, Dr Jimmy Rodgers confirmed this during the Talk Back show yesterday.

Dr Rodgers said the NPF is waiting for formal submission from government for this process to be considered.

He said the Board is ready to consider that, just hold on, while process is completed, they will let you know.

Speaking at the opening of Solomon Finance Bank last Friday, SINPF Deputy Board chairman David Rupokets also shared a predicament SINPF board has been facing when considering member requests for exemptions for partial withdrawal of their savings.

“The dilemma faced by the board is reconciling these requests against the key object of the fund that their funds accumulated over time should be held for their retirement and old age.

“Today, these exemption requests made to the Ministry of Finance is increasing.

“For the first eight months of our 2022 financial year, we have received more than 400 requests for exemption.

“The major reasons for the exemption requests are school fees, medical and health fees, building of a house, purchase of a land and establishment of a small income generating business.

“When members draw on their retirement funds which are intended for their old age, they will reduce what is available to them when they reach their retirement age.

“With the commencement of SFL, members can now channel these requests through the SFL with well-planned proposals,” Rupokets said.

Governor General’s speech to the throne to open Parliament.

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Governor General Sir David Vunagi will open parliament today.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

GOVERNOR General Sir David Vunagi will present his Speech to the Throne at the opening of the 5th meeting of the 11th Parliament today.

Sir Vunagi is expected to outline the government programmes for this year.

His Speech to the Throne comes at a time the government is facing a number of controversies like the ‘replica guns’ import from China and the leaked Solomon Islands and China proposed security cooperation agreement on social media.

Attorney General, John Muria Junior confirmed in a talk back show yesterday that the GG’s speech to the throne is the main business for today.

He said the debate on the State of Public Emergency commences tomorrow.

If Parliament passes the resolution, the country will go through another four months of SOPE.

Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale told Radio New Zealand over the weekend the government’s proposed security cooperation agreement with China reflects its careless attitude.

The unverified document lays down a framework which could permit Beijing to deploy forces to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands.

Wale said that any sensible person would recognize that the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s actions on this matter are threatening national unity.

“How is such a decision in the best interest of the nation?” the opposition leader questioned.

He said that these actions show a disregard for the public’s views and are causing the public to lose trust in the government.

“Clearly the issue of China is still an unsettled situation in our country because of the geopolitics involved. Yet the prime minister seems bent on aggravating this situation as reflected in this draft MOU [Memorandum of Understanding],” he said.

Wale stated that the proposed MOU with China is an example of how Pacific Islands nations have struggled to balance their own interests against those of global superpowers.

“For long [time], the Pacific has had to navigate the different waves of geopolitical narratives that has washed over its shores,” he said.

Wale also asked “what security benefits can be gained from this agreement with the PRC that cannot be provided by Australia, New Zealand and our other regional friends?”

The opposition leader said it would be preferable to enter into security agreements only with like-minded democracies.

“This is because, firstly, the system of government in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is not familiar to Solomon Islands, and secondly, Solomon Islands itself does not have the capacity to manage such an agreement with the People’s Republic of China,” he said.

Wale said that the Solomon Islands, as a sovereign nation, should make its decisions in tune with its own national interest. This is especially important when considering whether to enter into an alliance with a foreign power.

The Government said the security cooperation is still in working progress and Cabinet still to deliberate on it.

OPPOSITION WARNS; SI SHOULD NOT BE ON THE GROUNDS BIG POWERS PLAY

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Press Release
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Opposition leader, Matthew Wale

OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Wale has warned that Solomon Islands should not to be on the grounds where big powers play or compete.

Wale made this statement following the controversial draft security MOU with China leaked in the media recently.

The Opposition Leader warned that this is a very dangerous place to be and the agreement places Solomon Islands in a very vulnerable ground in terms of geopolitical competition.

“This is not the place Solomon Islands should be and not in the best interest of Solomon Islands,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said Solomon Islands is a young democracy, fairly fragile and geopolitics already has a direct impact in our politics, domestic governance and even threatening our national unity.

He said if the security agreement takes on more serious deployments and show based facilities, for sure there will be force projection issues.

“If we have Chinese military assets here in SI, for sure it will project Chinese force that has a direct implication for the rest of the region,” Hon Wale said.

The Opposition Leader warned that these are not small issues and the Government should thread carefully.

Wale said it would be good to know what is missing in the Australia and New Zealand agreement that Solomon Islands has benefited from compared to the China agreement.

“It is important that our security relationships are open and transparent. But the way the document was leaked points to secrecy with due process into its drafting and the government has not been transparent about it,” he said.

Hon Wale said it is not surprising because that is how the Prime Minister and the government had always been operating, under secrecy.

The Opposition Leader said the Prime Minister and his government has taken an unnecessary and very sensitive step.

“But we wouldn’t be surprised because all these are done for the Prime Minister’s own political security. It has never been about Solomon Islands, our people nor our democracy but for his personal political sustenance,” Hon Wale said.

Vigulu thanks US for funding

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Permanent Secretary of Forestry, Vaeno Vigulu

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

PERMANENT Secretary of Ministry of Forest and Research, Dr Vaeno Vigulu has thanked United States of America through the USAID SCALE-NRM project for the facilitation of the Forests and Development Fund for Malaita province and the country.

In his remark during launching of the fund on Thursday this week in Auki, Vigulu stated that government’s support towards the fund and programs will  benefit people in the province.

“We appreciate the establishment of the partnership project in Malaita province and looking forward to participate as a ministry to provide advices, trainings and necessary supports towards the program,” Vigulu said.

“This is to ensure the project will develop and benefit people in the province and grow to other provinces in the country,” he added.

Vigulu said Solomon Islands are a developing country and looking at partners to work with to develop their forests and natural resources for substantial benefits.

He said FDF program is a milestone for forestry sector in the country, because it will help promote forest sustainability and management program under the US SCALE project for the country.

Vigulu added that  the FDF was set up to purposely support protection of forest, expending opportunities for local income generation, strengthening the capacity of communities and community organization for successful implementation of the program.

He said forestry sector is the second largest employer of Solomon Islanders, and establishing this program will help communities to better engage forest resources at the provincial level.

“The good thing is getting community members at their own tribal lands to get employ and generate income will support micro economy in the province and the national economy,” he said.

On that note, Vigulu said USA is advance in both technology and forest resource management and working with them will be a benefit to forest industry and for the country.

He said MFR is looking forward to share, interact and learn from them on the forest resource planning and management as SCALE-NRM will be implementing the program. 

WPG passes $18.9m budget

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Western Provincial capital Gizo

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WESTERN Provincial Assembly endorsed a $18,893,064 budget for the first quarter of 2022/2023 financial year on Thursday this week.

Minister of Finance, Ramrakha Talasasa said the budget estimate is a six percent increase from the actual recurrent revenue in 2021/2022 financial year but several millions short in comparison to the 2021 revised projections.

He told assembly that the estimated recurrent revenue is expected from the following sectors; Provincial Assembly $1,201,757 (6%), Finance (FSG) $7,765,341 (41%), Works, Transport & Comm $490,510 (3%), Lands $3,058,705 (16%), Commerce & Investment $2,636,936 (14%), Fisheries and Marine Resources $177,540 (1%) and Forestry $3,403,000 (18%).

Talasasa said estimated capital revenue for Western Provincial in 2022/2023 financial year stands at 9,680,876 – an amount expected from PCDF, Gov4Res Climate Change Project funded by UN and RCDF contribution for Ward 13, 15, 16 and 25.

“Breakdown of the Capital Revenue is as follows: PCDF $8,028,948 (This includes a 7.5% contribution from WPG), Gov4Res SBD451, 928 and RCDF (Wards 13, 15, 16, 25) $1,200,000,” he explained.

Talasasa said the capital expenditure projection for this year includes carried forward projects identified by Ward Development Committees while the capital budget will focus on economic infrastructure and productive sector.

“In the outset, dollar to service and development distributions are as follows; The PCDF component is distributed as 42% Economic Infrastructures, 28% Development projects (Education and Health), 20% Administration and 10% General Investment Service.

“Ward Development Grant Allocation will be SBD3, 857,504 worth of projects for each ward – projects were identified by Ward Development Committees in the best interest of communities,” he said.

He said the budget has been dropped significantly due to pressure in local revenue and that new priorities have been established to address the issue.

Talasasa said Mesepitu led-government’s key priority is looking at broadening the province’s revenue base by encouraging local entrepreneurship and creating a conducive environment for small to medium level businesses to flourish.

“I can confidently say that this budget is a reflection of this government’s policy direction and tries to address key sectors that we feel would pave the way for creating opportunities and options for our rural populace, so that they can be able to participate in activities that will support their livelihood and wellbeing in the future.

NPF launches new credit institution

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Admin
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SOLOMON Finance Ltd (SFL) is set to open for business on Monday.

Located on the ground floor of Anthony Saru building in central Honiara, SFL is a credit institution Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (NPF) established to issue out loans to its members.

Yesterday, NPF board members and staff, along with invited government and private sector officials, gathered to witness the launch of SFL operations.

NPF’s deputy board chairman David Rupokets said the launch of SFL marks another milestone in NPF’s 44-year journey.

“Besides being an investment for the members of NPF, SFL is also a service and benefit to our members where they can access financing to support them with their retirement goals, without touching their retirement savings whilst they are still in employment,” Rupokets said.

“It has taken the SINPF board past and present, more than 11 years to achieve its vision to provide this pre-retirement credit solutions to our members through a wholly-owned credit subsidiary,” he added.

Rupokets explained SFL is not an early withdrawal channel for members to withdraw their contributions from the Fund.

“Rather, SFL is a channel that will encourage members to develop personal retirement plans carefully before seeking financing from SFL.

“In this way members will able to build up their wealth and savings and enable them to enjoy a comfortable retirement in their sunset years.”

Rupokets also shared a predicament SINPF board has been facing when considering member requests for exemptions for partial withdrawal of their savings.

“The dilemma faced by the board is reconciling these requests against the key object of the fund that their funds accumulated over time should be held for their retirement and old age.

“Today, these exemption requests made to the Ministry of Finance is increasing.

“For the first eight months of our 2022 financial year, we have received more than 400 requests for exemption.

“The major reasons for the exemption requests are school fees, medical and health fees, building of a house, purchase of a land and establishment of a small income generating business.

“When members draw on their retirement funds which are intended for their old age, they will reduce what is available to them when they reach their retirement age.

“With the commencement of SFL, members can now channel these requests through the SFL with well-planned proposals,” Rupokets said.

General Manager of SINPF Mike Wate said previously the Board has loan schemes for its members namely the Urban and Rural Housing Home Scheme and Members Furniture Loan Scheme.

But Wate said these were discontinued in the late 1990s as they were not feasible to be performed inhouse due to the small sizes of the loans.

He added the restarting of the loan scheme becomes possible after SINPF acquired government-owned Solomon Islands Home Finance Limited in 2009.

With SFL, Wate said instead of it providing home loans only, it must also provide other small personal loans for members.

“This will not only expand benefits to members, but will also improve the new entity’s profitability,” he said.

SFL will be trading is “Our Finance” – issuing loans to NPF members only.

General Manager of SFL, Jefferey Pitamama says NPF members interested in acquiring loans can call in at their office as of Monday.

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