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Botanical team to visit Fiji this month

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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The Botanical garden in Honiara.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A National Herbarium & Botanical Garden team is ready to visit Fiji this month with the aim of bringing back plants removed during the ethnic conflict between 1998-2003.

Minister of Forestry and Research, Dickson Mua confirmed this in Parliament when asked by the Leader of Opposition, Mathew Wale.

Mua said the team will negotiate with officials in Fiji for the safe returns of these plants.

Furthermore, Mua highlighted the facelift at the garden, including cementing the pathway, installing water, fencing, training of tour guides and completion of data base.

However, he said a Cabinet paper to deal with trespass was submitted to Cabinet because the fence cuts through some homes.

A National Herbarium & Botanical Garden Division is looking after the new building that was opened in 2017.

The Division exists as an implementer of Solomon Islands and overseas joint researches and studies which would lead to greater understanding and knowledge about the use of the forest resources and why protection, conservation and studying of these forest resources and their ecological biodiversity is so important.

Besides that, the Division is also responsible in the collection and preservation of the plant specimen and information for the identification of their botanical names and their potential uses.

PM conveys govt’s appreciation for Mercy’s visit

Written by
Press Release
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Navy Capt Kim, Prime Minister Sogavare and Russell Charge D’Affaires of the US in SI watching the bands performing

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has conveyed the government’s sincere appreciation for the visit by the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy to Solomon Islands to assist our people and our country.

The Prime Minister shared the message at the Unity Square before the ship’s Pacific Partnership Mission Commander Henry Kim, Captain Feinburg and Captain Nolan, United States Officials, and the traveling contingent of the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy.

Mr Sogavare said, “It is a fitting demonstration of our strengthening cooperation with the visit coming shortly after the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal earlier this month.”

He thanked Mission Commander Kim, Captain Feinburg and Captain Nolan “…for dedicating the vast resources of the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy to support the people and government of Solomon Islands”.

Sogavare reiterated that the visit by the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy is welcome and the services provided to the people of Solomon Islands is sincerely appreciated.

He also made a suggestion for such a visit to be made on annual basis, and that it would be excellent to have the US Navy Hospital Ship Mercy to visit during the hosting of the Pacific Games from 19 November to 2 December.

“A visit during the 2023 Pacific Games will add a new dimension to the Pacific partnership program, because US Navy Hospital Ship MERCY will be supporting all twenty-four nations in the Pacific in one single location,” the Prime Minister added.

Sogavare said such a visit will also provide relief to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services whose primary responsibility will be to look after over 5,000 athletes and officials from 24 countries in the Pacific region.

–GCU PRESS

PM says US coast guard vessel request arrived in his office late.

Written by
Press Release
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Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has clarified some misinformation currently carried on international media about the visit by the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry and HMAS Spey.

Speaking at a ceremony to welcome the visiting United States Hospital Ship USNS Mercy in Honiara yesterday evening, Sogavare said there had been a delay in the granting of approval for entry into the country to the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry due primarily to the appropriate information not sent to the Office of Prime Minister on time.

The Prime Minister’s Office sought and received the required information on August 20, 2022. Approval was granted for the US Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry to enter the country and participate in the FFA operation Island Chief event on August 20, 2022.

“Unfortunately, by the time the approval was communicated on the evening of 20th August 2022, the Ship’s captain had decided to leave our waters,” Sogavare said.

In relation to the HMAS Spey, the approval process to enter Solomon Islands was aborted when the Prime Minister’s Office received notification from the British High Commission in Honiara, that they were no longer seeking approval for HMAS Spey to enter the country.

The delay in these approvals demonstrate the need for the government to review and refine its approval requirements and procedures for visiting military vessels to Solomon Islands.

“To this end we have requested our partners to give us time to review and put in place our new processes before sending further requests for military vessels to enter the country. Once the new mechanism is in place, we will inform you all. We anticipate the new process to be smoother and timelier,” Sogavare said.

The government has asked all partner countries with plans to conduct naval visits or patrols to put them on hold until a revised national mechanism is in place. These will universally apply to all visiting naval vessels. 

Solomon Islands have had unfortunate experiences of foreign naval vessels entering the country’s waters during the course of the year without diplomatic clearance granted, hence would like to avoid such incidents from reoccurring.

Solomon Islands would like to see partnership is in place to build national capacity to police our Exclusive Economic Zones. Once the process and procedures are in place suspension of naval vessel visits will be lifted.

The Government have communicated its position to all countries requesting to send in naval ships into Solomon Islands waters.

Meanwhile, the Government and people of Solomon Islands welcomed the visit of United States Hospital Ship USNS Mercy now in Honiara.

The United States Medical team in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services will be carrying out a number of health programmes in the Capital and in some provinces over the next few days.

–GCU PRESS

Forestry Bill to be tabled before year’s end

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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National Parliament of Solomon Islands

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE long-awaited Forestry Bill is expected to tabled in Parliament before the end of this year.

Minister of Forestry and Research, Dickson Mua confirmed this when asked by Member of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete yesterday.

Mua said currently the Ministry has answered all questions and queries sent by the Attorney General Chambers and sent it back.

He said now they wait for the Attorney General Chambers.

“We are hoping and the Government is seriously pushing for this to come in before the year’s end,” he said.

Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale said this is a strategic sector which needs managing strategic resources for the economy and manage strategies to get the highest returns with less environmental and social damage.

“We have a lot of problems with this sector and industry which exploited our own weakness,” he added.

Wale said when he entered Parliament in 2008, he heard about the bill.

“I am hoping Minister, you will be the Minister that will be bring the bill and it will be a good bill and not a diluted and watered-down bill,” he said.

The main objective of the Bill is to make amendments to the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization Act, Cap 40, in order to make it more robust and forward looking in nature to cater for the new activities and developments which is occurring in the forestry sector now and into the future its fundamental aims and objectives.

The secondary objectives and purposes of the recommended Amendment to the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization Act include:

Enable the Act to accommodate changes in the Forestry sector and establish the platform for changes in the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization Act and its relevant Regulations [2005]

The licensing and enforcement of the relevant conditions of the License

One of the recommended Amendments is the Commissioner of Forest Resources” should be replaced with the word “Forestry Technical Committee” (Commissioner will issue License based on the advice of the Forestry Technical Committee).

According to section 10 (1) the word “appropriate Government” should be replaced with the word “Council of Chiefs” and the word “Customary Land Appeal Court” should be replaced with the word “Tribal Land Panel” (as Local Court will no longer have the power to hear Land matters).

Section 17, a fine of three thousand dollars or imprisonment for two years or to both such fine and imprisonment” should be replaced with the phrase “a fine of fifty thousand dollars and five years’ imprisonment or both’.

There will be a Forestry Board established to:

  1. To receive appeals from the Minister of Forestry and Research from aggrieved parties
  2. To advise the Minister to lift suspended license and reinstate cancelled Felling License.
  3. To advise the Minister of Forests on appeal matters generally
  4. Any other matters that are referred to the Board by the Minister.
  5. Make decisions on issues pertaining to all Forestry plantations either owned by individual, family or community.
  6. To call up relevant expertise to advise on technical matters when needs arise.
  7. Deliberate on the Declaration of a Moratorium when the need arises
  8. Deliberate on forest clearance for other development purposes e.g., Agriculture, Palm oil, mining, major settlements, infrastructure developments,
  9. To advise the government of the day on Forest Policy issues, e.g., policy review.
  10. Forestry Board’s decision is final

Furthermore, the Ministry of Forestry and Research will put in place a Budget for all Timber Rights Hearing.

Taimareho 1 captain faces court for 2020 sea tragedy

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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27 lives were lost on the MV Taimareho in April 2020 when the ship sailed through rough weather.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of the Taimareho captain has been adjourned to September 7, 2022 for mention as he is yet to confirm his legal representation to assist him with his case.

Captain Michael Roy Galo is charged by police with 27 counts of manslaughter in relation to the Taimareho sea tragedy that occurred on April 3, 2020.

Appering in court yesterday Public Prosecutor Hellen Naqu confirmed that investigation has completed, but disclosures were yet to be served.

This is because the defendant is yet to confirm his lawyer.

Galo was alleged to be the Master of that ship Taimareho 1 when the incident occurred.

Prosecution said that 27 people were washed away by waves from the MV Taimareho due to overloading of the vessel on April 3, 2020. The vessel departed from Honiara on April 2, 2020 for ward 24 in West Are’are in Malaita Province.

During the course of the voyage, the ship encountered bad weather between Guadalcanal and Malaita Province, and three huge waves struck the ship during the night, as a result 27 people were washed overboard. The ship managed to make its way to Su’u Harbour around 7am on April 3, 2020.

Prosecution also said only six dead bodies were recovered.

West Kwaio by-election candidate disqualified

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

A candidate for ward 28 by-election of West Kwaio constituency, Mr Chris Rioka has been disqualified.

His disqualification comes after SIEC through its election team in Auki found that the name Chris Rioka does not exist in the 2018 voters list, which is the current validated list.

According to the election team in Auki, in 2014, Rioka had registered in West Kwaio and Central Kwara’ae constituencies.

He made the double registration in September and Central Kwara’ae was taken as his preferred constituency.

And in 2018, Rioka registered at Abalolo polling station in the Aoke Langa Langa constituency, but with a different name, Mr Jimmy Bata.

The election team said the registration of the candidate as Mr Chris Rioka to contest the by-election with the non-existence of the name on the validated voter’s list led to his disqualification.

They said the candidate’s valid name in accordance to the 2018 validated voter’s list is Mr Jimmy Bata, and if registered as that name he won’t disqualify.      

The election team said that the candidate had already informed on his disqualification and soon he will receive his notice of disqualification.

The exclusion of Mr Chris Rioka from contesting ward 28 provincial seat in the upcoming bye-election left with four intending candidates, 

  • Mr David Gosia
  • John Daubo Tafiiru
  • Fr Alfred Funuka
  • Reginald Maesugea

Poll for the provincial bye-elections of Ward 28 and 18 seats and West Kwaio constituency seat will be on September 21, 2022.

Pleas for help as politics and the China debate cast shadow over KPFL’s survival.

Written by
Ben Bilua
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(L to R): Kolombangara Forest Products Limited General Manager, Dan Raymond; the Australian High Commissioner, Dr Lachlan Strahan; Australian High Commission Counselor Economics, Andrew Schloeffel; and the Honourable Minister and Member of Parliament for Gizo/Kolombangara, Lanelle Tanandaga, touring the Kolombangara timber plantations last year.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

Kolombangara Forest Products (KPFL) – one of the biggest employers in Solomon Islands and an important source of income to local communities in Western province – is on a financial knife-edge.

In an exclusive interview with Island Sun Gizo Office, KPFL General Manager, Edwin Schramm said KFPL is struggling to sell its logs and is requesting the shareholders to inject more funds to keep the company going.

Schramm said the company’s focus is business and that it is not interested in politics.

The comments come after an Australian Broadcasting Corporation program reported that a Chinese state-owned enterprise had shown interest in the weakened company and that during a visit representatives of the Chinese enterprise paid particular attention to KPFL’s deep water harbour which has potential for military use.

In response, the office of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare issued a statement saying: “It is a baseless allegation to say that a Chinese firm is going to buy off the Kolombangara Forests Products Limited (KFPL) on Kolombangara Island, Western Province.”

Since COVID pandemic, KPFL has been struggling financially and has needed extra cash to survive.

The company shareholders are Elite Idea Ltd – a Taiwanese company – and the Investment Corporation of Solomon Islands (ICSI) which is owned by the Solomon Islands government.

“So far, the Taiwanese Company (the majority shareholder) has injected four or five times funding, but ICSI zero, Schramm said

“This means, the balance of share(holding)_has completely changed. Currently, ICSI has very minority share, while the Taiwanese Company has substantial shares.

Documents filed with the Solomon Islands Business Registry show that since May 2020 ICSI’s shareholding in KPFL has fallen from 33% of the total number of shares to just 17.6%.

Australia has no share with KFPL but is funding development projects Schramm stated.

“It is a concern that ICSI is not very supportive of the company at the moment, he said“. Twenty percent of ICSI’s share to KFPL is meant to go the communities but they don’t have 20 percent share left because they are not funding this company. This has created a lot of unhappiness in most of the communities. They know that by now they should have 20 percent of ICSI’s share as ownership by themselves,” Schramm told Island Sun.

The Kolombangara Land Trust Foundation (KLTF) is a body set up to ensure communities benefit from KPFL.

So far KLTF has received nothing from the ICSI, Schramm told Island Sun.

He said KFPL needs more support from the government to make sure all its logs are exported and more customers are coming in to do business.

Like many businesses, KPFL was hit hard by COVID.

Unlike some, it is still suffering from a confusing and uncertain future.

KPFL management is worried.

Schramm said KFPL’s log exports has been stopped since the lockdown and that even though international restrictions have been lifted, not a single international customer has been interested in doing business with KFPL.

“I’m trying to understand why the business is not running for more than a year and yet we are still keeping 1400 employees.

“We thought that when the borders were opening on the 1st of July, and state of emergency was lifted on 24th of July, we thought the customers, from records, we have many customers from years ago. I don’t familiar with them but Vietnam, Philippines, Japan and Chinese.

“There are many different customers who have been buying logs here but not even one single customers is committed to come back and I don’t understand why.

“Is it something to with Chinese issue in Solomon Islands? Is the government changed the export regulation for border control? Is it because of politics or is it because this company is core owned by a Taiwanese company? You know the shareholder of this company is Taiwanese, China and Taiwan is not in a good term, I don’t know.

“All we are trying to do is to attract customers coming here,” he said.

“People are saying that politic(s) is interfering, that what people are saying not me, but if politics is involved, we have to resolve these issues quickly,” Schramm said.

He said KFPL is very grateful that Bulacan International Limited has stepped in and buy some of the logs.

“KFPL needs to remain viable because we care for the people of this islands to help them but in order to that, we need financial support.

“We need to sell our logs. KFPL must remain viable critically. We have a population of about 8000 people in this island. There are people from other islands that are looking for employment here but I have to cut back on our recruitment.

 “For me, if we talk about KFPL, we talk about business and not the politics,” Schramm said.

Kelvin Naphtalae, Senior Accountant at KFPL said COVID-19 has had a major blow to KFPL as most customers stop buying logs from the company.

He adds that the international restrictions have forced customers to stay out.

Naphtalae further stated that the company has lost its privilege of duty-free export.

“In the previous years, the government gave us duty exceptions on our export, but this has changed recently. Maybe it’s something to do with economy recovery, maybe there are changes in our export regulation, I don’t know,” he said.

Naphtalae said KFPL has contributed well in the economic development of Solomon Islands, not only that, the company also provides employment to people all over Solomon Islands.

He said KFPL is a sustainable company with huge potential to deliver much needed service for the people and at the same time contributes to the country’s economic development.

“We pay our taxes, contributes to our employee NFP and also pays other fees. These are our contribution to our country and I calls on the government and other aid donors to help KFPL continue with its service,” Naphtalae said.

He said KFPL is gold for Solomon Islands and that assistance from donor partners to secure more customers would be high appreciated.

“KFPL is our bread and butter so all of us including those working in plantation don’t want this company to go down,” Naphtalae said.

William Duran, Assistant Supervisor KFPL Necessary said his department also lost staff due to financial constraints.

He said only three employees out of ten are currently managing the Necessary department.

“Our government must support KFPL because we support the government in many ways. KFPL provides employment, pay taxes, pay NPFs and other state obligations to drive the country’s economic forward.

“Stop the politics and think about the people who are struggling to fend for their families as we enter into post-covid period,” Duran said.

‘No voters list’ blamed for delayed elections.

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Western Provincial capital Gizo

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE non-availability of voters list has delayed the provincial elections in Western and Choiseul following dissolution of their Assemblies on 13th June 2022.

Minister of Provincial and Institutional Strengthening, Rollen Seleso clarified this when asked by Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale in Parliament yesterday.

Mr Seleso said according to the section 9 of Provincial Government Act 1997, election should take place on the 4th Anniversary of the previous election which is June 14, 2022.

He said this could not eventuate due to non-availability of update voters list.

Therefore, Seleso used his power under 47 of the Act to put out an order for election to take place on December 14, 2022.

“This is to allow time for voters registration and preparation for elections of two provinces,” he added.

Seleso explained the situation in Western and Choiseul is unprecedented, they have not gone through this experience before.

“Therefore, this order clarifies how provincial government to be administered.

“The order to avoid further confusion,” he added.

Seleso said voter registration has started on August 2, 2022 and complete in end of October 2022.

Wale said this situation arose because the Ministry allowed it too late.

He asked whether there is power to run the affairs of province as delegated to public officers as opposed to elected officials.

However, Attorney General, John Muria Junior said in terms of section 47, it gives power to Minister to deal with the situation when there is nothing as provided in the Act.

He said “because it is not provided, we use Section 47 to create a provision to cater for that, so it is the avenue that ministry has taken”.

RSIPF and AFP prepare for parliament meeting

Written by
Press Release
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RSIPF officers leading that route march through Honiara starting at Ranadi on Saturday.

Local police (RSIPF) and members of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) under the Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) continue their preparations for the upcoming sitting of Parliament. 

Operational fitness and interoperability are key to maintaining the RSIPF’s Public Order Management (POM) capability.

Over the weekend, RSIPF and AFP members participated in a route march from Ranadi to Rove Headquarters as part of the RSIPF preparedness for the next phase of Operation Parliament.

RSIPF Commissioner Mostyn Mangau in a statement acknowledged AFP for continuing to support the RSIPF in building a robust POM capability.

“This exceptional capability continues today to ensure RSIPF is operationally prepared for current and future operations.

RSIPF and SIAF officers arriving at the Rove Police Headquarters during their route march that starts at Ranadi on Saturday.

“As Commissioner, I reassure the community my members are prepared to maintain law and order.

“I remind citizens that you have a responsibility to not engage in criminal acts and if you choose to, we are prepared to respond,” Mr Mangau said.

He said the route march shows that RSIPF and SIAF officers are partners united in protecting law and order in the Solomon Islands.

SIAF Deputy Commissioner, Heath Davies, reinforced the message that SIAF are here to support RSIPF as part of the Australian and Solomon Islands Government Bi-lateral Security Treaty (BST).

The RSIPF and SIAF route march started at Ranadi in the early hours of Saturday.

The RSIPF and SIAF officers regularly conduct joint POM operational exercises to ensure both police agencies are prepared to respond to any potential public disorder incidents.

These exercises ensure members are operationally prepared and provide realistic exposure to an active POM environment and will continue as part of the ongoing operational preparedness

Mercy services to start on August 31

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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United States Naval Hospital Mercy arrived in Honiara yesterday

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE United States Naval Hospital Mercy and partners arrived in Honiara yesterday.

It is here for its Pacific Partnership 2022 and will start its humanitarian services on August 31, 2022 to the people of Solomon Islands.

Chaplain of the Pacific Partnership 2022 Steven Szelmeczki says the floating Hospital Mercy departed Philippines and arrived in Honiara yesterday.

“The team is excited to have the Mercy calling into port.

“We are very excited to be able to have the ship calling into port. Many different logistics have been worked out yesterday when the ship calls into port. Some of the staffs on board the ship have met with the planners on the ground to prepare for the opening ceremony today evening at the Unity square before we will go into our line of effort.

“So yesterday is mostly the logistics of settling the Ship and getting everybody on the same page so we can execute a good mission here in Solomon Islands. Majority of the efforts will start on August 31, 2022,” Szelmeczki said.

He says it is a blessing for him be here in the country and finalise details for his line of effort in this host nation in terms of outreach.

“The biggest I have to say is that to thank already for the hospitality that they have shown us over the course of the last week the smiles on the children’s faces will continue to grow over the course of our mission execution as we actually work together for the beautiful partnership here in Solomon Islands,” Szelmeczki says.

“The Pacific Partnership 2022 comprises of four main lines of the effort, one is medical, engineering and one is humanitarian and disaster relief and the last one is host nation includes outreach.”

Pacific Partnership 22 returns to Solomon Islands, continuing to build on a foundation established during previous missions.  Now in its 17th year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.

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