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9 PNG nationals rescued off Rennell island

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Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel (RSIPV) Gizo have transported nine people who are natives of Dawa Island in Papua New Guinea (PNG), from South West of Rennel Island to Honiara after they were found drifting at sea and rescued by Taiwanese fishing boat on 24 February 2022.

Director Police Maritime of the RSIPF Superintendent Nevol Soko said the rescue operation was carried out after request received from Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Honiara that a Taiwanese fishing vessel Yi SIANG No: 8 found a ray-boat with a 40-horse powered engine with nine survivors on the boat.”

“The boat was located 130 miles South West of Rennel Province close to the border between PNG Solomon Islands,” Soko said.

“Six are males while three are females. They were so fortunate to be rescued after drifting for 29 days,” he added.

“They were found and were kept on board the Taiwanese fishing vessel for 2 nights waiting the patrol boat to transport them to Honiara.”

Commanding officer Patrol Boat Gizo Inspector Derick Naotoro, said sea was rough with high swells and his crews have encountered strong winds but with the help of the Taiwanese Captain of the fishing vessel, they used their small floating-raft to transfer the survivors from the fishing vessel across to the Patrol Boat.

“The nine people were checked by a medical doctor on board the Patrol Boat. He did a swab test for COVID-19 and all results were negative.

“Further checks on their medical health condition proved that all of them are healthy and strong despite a month out in the open sea,” Naotoro said.

The nine are currently in quarantine at Guadalcanal Beach Resort.

Police conduct traffic check in Honiara

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Police patrol

TRAFFIC police say they conducted an operation following the increasing traffic accident during the State of Public Emergency period on 1 March 2022.

“The purpose of this operation is to curb the ongoing drink drive behaviors and those unlicensed vehicles on the roads in Honiara City,” Supervising Director Inspector Hugo Maelasi says.

“The Traffic operation was conducted at the Town council roundabout checkpoint to check the incoming vehicles from both west and eastern direction from the traffic lane,” he added.

“During the operation we checked 184 vehicles and seized 17 vehicles for investigation with unlicensed motor vehicles and 3 vehicles were also held for presence of alcohols in person blood.”

Maelasi said all drivers were charged to appear in Honiara Central Magistrates’ Court on a later date.

“Do not drink and drive and make sure your vehicle is road worthy before running on the road.

“I want to appeal to all vehicle owners and drivers to adhere to our road transport act,” Maelasi said.

222 gov’t workers yet to get their jabs

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A total of 222 public officers have decided not to be vaccinated and the first 54 are now self-terminated under the Government’s No Jab No Job policy.

The first 54 officers have been verified and confirmed by their respective human resource managers following the January 31, 2022 deadline.

Public Service and respective ministries are undergoing verification for the remaining 168 employees.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service (MPS) Nego Sisiolo confirmed this situation to the Oversight Committee.

In a statement, Sisiolo said arriving at this decision was a very long and a carefully calculated process.

The MPS has advised public officers in a circular on August 6, 2021 of the “No Jab No Job” policy outlining the rationale behind the policy and the consequences of failing to adhere to the policy.

A second circular reminding officers was issued on September 22, 2021 which provided a grace period to give time for officers to get their vaccines.

The circular further warned officers of the deadline and the consequences is self-termination.

Sisiolo said an advisory will be sent to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury following the verification process to cease the salaries of the remaining 168 officers who are not vaccinated. 

He explained, a number of public officers, because of health or other reasons are given extensions.

MPG cracks down on street vendors in Auki

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA province is coming down hard on street vendors and other unlawful activities along the street of Auki town.

The exercise is to ensure businesses are keep at their designated places and also part of enforcing covid-19 measures within the town.

Person in charge of the operation, Mr Jethro Siru said this week they are cracking down on vendors selling betel-nut, cigarette and those playing ludo in the street of Auki.

He said as directed from MPG, they will be monitoring the street of Auki to make sure such activities are to be avoided for a clean Auki town.

Siru also said that these activities are illegal along the street of Auki and has no provision for under the management of Auki town.

He said MARA government has built a betel nut market facility in Auki and there shouldn’t be excuse for people to bring the business onto the street.

Siru said there are designated places for the businesses in Auki town and people should cooperate with MPG and support each other during this trying time.

He said activities pertaining the illegal businesses also pose high risk to the current situation as face with covid-19 transmission in the province.

Siru appealed to vendors for understanding and thanked them for cooperation shown towards the operation this week.

Wale hails gov’t support for Ukraine

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Leader of Opposition Mathew Wale. Picture Supplied

OPPOSITION leader Matthew Wale has thanked the Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs for supporting the UN resolution to reprimand Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.

The Opposition Leader on Tuesday this week wrote a letter to the Prime Minister encouraging the Government to support the UN resolution.

Wale in his letter asked the Prime Minister to seriously consider condemning the unprovoked invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine by Russia.

The Prime Minister in response to the Opposition Leader acknowledged the Opposition’s position and support on the matter.

The Prime Minister in his letter also acknowledged that Solomon Islands has a duty to protect the principles upon which UN stands, which includes the respect for territorial integrity and security interests of members states.

“Thank you Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs for doing the right thing.

“As a member of the global family, we have made a stand that Solomon Islands must join with the rest of the world to condemn the breaching of the UN Charter by the unjustified actions of a member state on another,” Wale said.

The Opposition Leader said Solomon Islands’ stance is also inline with the UN Charter and its principles to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other.

“I believe our position is also clear that Solomon Islands itself is a sovereign nation and that we should not be influenced or pulled by the nose in making decisions at the international level,” he said.

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday this week overwhelmingly voted in favour of the resolution in condemning Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.

In a rare emergency session called by the U.N. Security Council, the resolution was supported by 141 of the assembly’s 193 members, five voted against and 35 abstentions.

Private lands officer’s case moved March 31

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRINCIPAL Magistrate Felix Hollison has adjourned the case of a Private Land acquisition officer to March 31 for setting of trial date.

Yesterday the case was mentioned via zoom and a pre-trial conference was conducted orally before the court.

Magistrate Hollison said the trial date will be set when the presiding magistrate resumes work in the coming weeks, therefore he adjourned the case for 28 days.

The accused Laury Penrose Palmer of Western Province is charged for with Corrupt Practices, contrary to section 374 (c) of the Penal Code

He was alleged of falsifying land documents when he was appointed as a Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) by the Commissioner of Lands to acquire the customary lands of West Rennell for Mining in February 2015.

Prosecution alleged that Penrose at the capacity of a servant, willfully and with intent to defraud his employer, the Commissioner of lands and produced an acquisition report which contains some false information dated October 2 2014, which to his knowledge is intended to mislead his employer, the Commissioner of lands by claiming that he had posted notices of the acquisition hearing at Labagu, Teabamagu, Tigoa, Matahenua and at Kagua producing Land title documents which claimed to be agreed and signed by Joseph Taupongi.

Prosecution alleged that all the documents produced by the accused was falsified.

The purpose of the acquisition is to allow Asia Pacific Investment & Development Limited (APID) to commence their mining operation.

It is further alleged that during the acquisition process, it is alleged that he appoints, Dictor Maitaki (ward 5), Joseph Taupongi (ward 3) to which he strongly denied, Sylvanias Kaipua (ward 4) and William Tino (ward 6) to be the respective trustees of the West Rennell Customary Land and produced an acquisition report to the Commissioner of Land.

Steward Tonowane of the Public Prosecution’s Office appears for the crown while Whitlam Togamae Law firm is representing the accused.

Passengers undergo five-day quarantine

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Passengers luggage upon arrival at Noro Port on Wednesday

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PASSENGERS recently repatriated from Honiara to the Western Province will undergo five days home quarantine.

The home quarantine period is part of Western Provincial Disaster Operation Committee requirement enforced for all passengers.

MV Fair Glory’s repatriation trip was described as successful when police and health officials put out a well-coordinated operation in three ports.

Passengers were swabbed upon arrival while police provided security resulting in no disturbance reported.

MV Fair Glory called in on Seghe, Noro and Gizo ports on Wednesday.

Last group of passenger arrived at Gizo around 7pm on Wednesday.

The ship returned to Honiara departing Gizo yesterday morning with stranded Honiara passengers who have been in Western Province since the outbreak.

Island Sun Gizo understands that Western Province is the first to repatriate its people who were stranded in Honiara.

IDC assures Tatamba communities of removal of MV Estrella

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MV Estrella berthing at Tatamba wharf.

Isabel Development Company (IDC) Managing Director James Habu has assured Tatamba ward and surrounding communities that MV Estrella will be removed from Tatamba wharf once enough fund is available.

MV Estrella has been berthing for over a year after experiencing machinery failure.

This has raised concern to Tatamba ward and surrounding communities of potential environmental impact to coastal area and marine resources.

Not only that it also affected the travelling passengers and other vessels accessing the wharf.

Two concern members from Tatamba ward, Wayne Manutai and Kenneth Oleva who took the initiative to discuss the issue with Mr Habu said it was sad to know the current situation IDC is facing.

Manutai said from their discussions they were informed that IDC is really down on its knees as far as financial strength is concern and that has affected the operation and services of IDC.

Adding more problem is the impact of Covid-19 pandemic felt by everyone.

Manutai said the IDC management also share the same concern to remove the vessel from Tatamba wharf but they could not do much without money.

Mr Habu informed Mr Manutai and Oleva that someone from Tatamba ward have requested the company to move the vessel to anchor at nearby island at Tanabuli but there is no fund to even purchase an anchor.

It was also suggested to move the vessel to Cockatoo Island and again IDC need money to do that.

According to Habu some parts to fix the problem already purchased last year and are still at the Ports Authority waiting for clearance.

He said IDC again need money to clear them and that has delayed the progress of work in maintaining the vessel.

Despite of the financial difficulties Mr Habu assured that once the company have enough money MV Estrella will be removed from the wharf.

He said he will further discuss the matter with his colleague Manager Collin Feitei on the concern raised to him.

Habu said at the stage the company need people who can manage the operation as expected.

He said since he took up office there is small progress been made and hope IDC is still heading towards good recovery.

According to a person who is well aware of the situation of the vessel it needs around $500,000 to put back the vessel up and running again.

Mr Estrella is among five vessels that run by IDC. The other includes MV Arnavon, MV Isabella and MV Ortega and MV Onogou.

MV Isabella is also currently berthing at Cockatoo Island while MV Ortega has been sold to a private business man.

IDC is the longest shipping company in Solomon Islands established in 1971 as a private company. It have 249 shareholders which bunched into 49 trustees monies collected.

Since its establishment: the company have Ligomo 1,2,3,4 ,5, Fern , Isabella , Estrella , Onogou, Ortega , and MV Arnavon .

A total of 11 ships they purchase since then.

It is the vision of the founder Late Willy Betu and Isabel leaders those years that we enjoy it now. 

Parliamentarians should lead by example in rolling out vaccination to communities  

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

MEMBERS of Parliament have the duty of care to lead the vaccination roll out programe to their communities.

This was highlighted by Dr Jimmie Rodgers Secretary to the Prime Minister and member of the Oversight Committee in a Press Conference held at Mendana Hotel yesterday.

“The role of Members of parliament is to encourage and took the lead in taking vaccination roll –out programs to their communities. They have the right to assist health teams in terms of logistic support before nurses deployed and actually do vaccination on the ground,” Rodgers said.

He said these Members are the ones that will bring the communities together because they are put into parliament by their community members.

“They have the duty of care to their people to make sure they are leading the chat,” Rodgers said.

He confirmed that there are Members of parliament that are working hard behind the scene to ensure their people are vaccinated.

“I want to thank all the MP within the government and other leaders in leading the chats when it comes to vaccinations,” Rodgers said.

Implementing partners for USAID SCALE A&E visit sites in the province

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Premier Daniel Suidani and USAID SCALE team meeting with communities in East Malaita during their recent trip to the region....Photo supplied

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

A team led by premier Daniel Suidani and USAID SCALE A&E (Green Power Technology) recently visited proposed sites for projects in the province.

Suidani who is the chairman of Malaita Province Infrastructure Advisory Committee (MPIAC) joined Green Power Technology staff, Mr Joseph Gesiau and visited Malu’u, Atori and several communities in the Eastern Region of Malaita.

According to a statement from PARU, the team was also accompanied by provincial minister for Eastern Regional Affairs, Preston Billy.

“Following the 12th meeting of the Advisory Committee on the 16th of February, it was identified the need to decentralize some of the infrastructures under the SCALE A&E component to other regions of Malaita.

“This includes Cocoa Solar Dryer facilities and also the coconut crushing mill facilities.

“To facilitate the decentralization approach it agreed that the advisory committee visits the substations with the aim of identifying spaces on provincial land that would accommodate such infrastructures,” it said

The premier and team also visited Manu and Adakoa during the trip.

Also during the trip, Mr Gesiau shared with communities of Adakoa that according to timeline, the infrastructure projects will be tendered soon.

“Currently, Green Power Technology and its partners are on the design stage and after that will be the tendering for the construction of the facilities.

“This is expected to happen soon,” he said.

A report of the trip will prepare to present in the next meeting of the Advisory Committee.

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