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PM writes reference letter for thief, looter

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare

By EDDIE OSIFELO

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare wrote a character reference letter to support a Dion Kingi Paul, who pleaded guilty to stealing by looting wheels during flooding in Queensland, Australia, early this year.

Courier Mail crime reporter, Patrick Billings reported yesterday that Paul, a successful businessman who “took advantage of the misery of others” by stealing during Brisbane’s catastrophic floods, appeared in court with Sogavare’s character reference.

However, Paul, 63 and his stepson, Ryan Dawson Taurima on Monday, pleaded guilty to one count each of stealing by looting from Brisbane Auto Wreckers during a natural disaster.

Each man was sentenced to perform 85 hours’ community service.

Convictions were not recorded.

Member of Parliament for East Are Are, Peter Kenilorea Junior posted on social media that whoever occupies the high office of the PM must always remember that the office belongs to the people of Solomon Islands.

“Any requests for character references must be carefully weighed using the foregoing as the benchmark.

“I hope the character reference written by PM Sogavare, was made from a personal level and had nothing to do with the position of PM. Otherwise, questions will arise,” he said.

Island Sun checked with PM Sogavare’s top political appointees but they were not aware of the person and any reference letter made to that person.

Island Sun was told Paul owns two retail shops in Honiara. However, we were unable to locate the shops and the type of goods they sell.

It’s unclear the relationship between Sogavare and Paul.

According to 7News, Paul was arrested at Rocklea on March 1 during the deluge that caused a damage bill amounting to billions of dollars and claimed 13 lives.

Thousands of homes and businesses were inundated as floodwaters left a trail of devastation across southeast Queensland.

Before the water had subsided, reports of looting resulted in police stepping up patrols.

Paul was arrested on Ipswich Road at Rocklea for towing a trailer loaded with dozens of wheels and tyres stolen from Brisbane Auto Wreckers.

Wale tells Malaita voters to vote DCGA MPs out

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Guest of honor to Malaita Day celebration yesterday, Leader of Opposition, Hon Matthew Wale.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale has told Malaitans to vote out Malaita MPs in DCGA for what he describes as ‘non-prioritisation of issues of Malaita province’.

MP for Aoke Langa Langa who was the guest of honour to the Malaita province’s 39th Second Appointed Day made the call in his keynote address during the celebration on Monday this week in Auki.

He said the rationale behind the non-attendance of Malaita MPs to the Malaita Day was because of the political standoff between Malaita provincial government and DCGA government.

“We people are the ones that elect government. The way we made government is by electing those who truly represent us, and those who truly represent us must represent us.

“They won’t go there and represent their own interests or interests of others,” Wale said.

He said Malaita province celebrated its 39th Second Appointed Day. What did the province celebrates, while central government continues to lie to Malaita province.

“How many more years will we celebrate Second Appointed Day and nothing to show for it? We cannot continue like that,” Wale said.

He said all these things are happening and the only way to triumph over them is to change the government that is in Honiara, DCGA. That is the only way.

“We must change this government in the ballot box. Including those from Malaita in the government who went there and forgot the interests of Malaita” Wale said.

On that note, he called on Malaitans to look forward with resolute to be in their hands, mind and hearts.’

“Make sure of it and the way we make sure of it is to understand the true interests of Malaita where they are not different from the interests of other provinces.

“And therefore what must guide our decisions in making sure that the national government is truly a government of people, by the people and for the people,” Wale said.

Flu strikes city residents

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Honiara is the beating heart of the country's economy.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

UP to 72 per cent of people currently admitted at the National Referral Hospital are suffering from the flu outbreak in Honiara.

That’s according to Health minister Dr Culwick Togamana.

Togamana said the flu-like illness is spreading amongst our population, mainly in our Honiara, parts of Guadalcanal, as well as Malaita Province.

“In terms of admissions at our National Referral Hospital Emergency Department (ED) in the past 24 hours, 72 percent of total ED admissions are respiratory patients, 68 adults and 26 children,” the minister said.

“Our doctors including paediatricians are working hard to provide treatment and care to the 5 paediatric inpatients admitted with flu-like symptoms,” he added.

Togamana said most cases presented to health facilities were babies and children.

“Now we are also seeing influx of adults also presenting with flu like illnesses.

“Symptoms include; Flu or runny nose, coughing, fever, nausea or vomiting, headache and shortness of breath or short-wind as commonly known.”

Togamana said the NRH laboratory technicians have since conducted laboratory tests from swab samples collected from patients and discovered multiple respiratory viruses with Rhinovirus and influenza H3 predominating, as the main drivers of the outbreak.

“These are viruses that cause common cold or flu-like illnesses that we are experiencing today.

“COVID-19 tests performed on the same samples returned negative test results

“These viruses are common cause of flu and cold and usually the symptoms are self-limiting.

“Kids especially those with other illnesses such as respiratory diseases and heart disease and adults who are old or have other disease such as obesity, diabetes, respiratory or heart disease may have severe disease requiring hospitalization,” he said.

POB opens Kukum branch office

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Pan Oceanic Bank newly opened Kukum branch

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

PAN Oceanic Bank (POB) this week officially opened it Kukum branch office aimed at providing excellent customer services for customers.  

POB after seven years at Panatina Plaza, relocated to Kukum.

Chief Executive Officer for POB Upul Hettiarachchii said he is excited to have the POB Kukum branch opened to services customers who choose POB as their bank of choice.

Hettiarachchii said they have the obligation towards to the community that is why they strive to provide a better service.

He said just like any commercial bank, POB has its products. To name a few they have saving accounts, current/cheque products, internet banking, personal and commercial loans, inward and outward telegraphic transfers, export bills and many more.  

Officers of the Pan Oceanic Bank newly opened Kukum branch

POB branch manager at Kukum Veronica Analau said POB is excited that to relocate to Kukum after seven years at Panatina Plaza.

“This new re-location to Kukum is an important one and we will always strive to prove an excellent customer service possible like we always do in the past,” Analau said.

She adds by acknowledging all POB key stakeholders who are present yesterday at the launching event these include, the board, the Solomon Islands Government, the private sector, state entities, employers and the general public who made POB their bank of choice.

“As you will appreciate the POB has developed a number of bank products that I believe suits your needs and we at Kukum branch are happy to welcome and help you to open one,”Analau said.

OUTBREAK!

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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NRH is being declared an emergency zone. PICTURE SUPPLIED

Flu hits Honiara, likely to spread to other provinces, says minister

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

A FLU outbreak (Viral Respiratory Illnesses or VRI) has been declared for Honiara and Malaita.

Health minister Dr Culwick Togamana relayed this in a nation-wide address on the national broadcaster, yesterday.

“I stand to announce that we now have an outbreak of Viral Respiratory Illnesses (VRI) in Honiara and Malaita,” Togamana said.

He said there is high chance or risk that it will spread to all other provinces due to ongoing inter-island travels.

Togamana said during the week of July 25 to 30th, the National Public Health Surveillance Unit picked up an increase in the number of cases of Influenza or flu-like illnesses mainly in Honiara and Malaita.

He said a total of 234 flu like cases were recorded in these provinces during this period.

He added the following week, 1st of August to the 7th of August 2022, the number of cases recorded increased from 234 to 803, an increase of 243 percent.

“This is derived from significant increases recorded at the sentinel sites or health facilities tasked to monitor and report diseases,” Togamana said

He said in Malaita Province, Atoifi hospital recorded an increase of 223 percent and Auki clinic 363 percent.

In Honiara, our National Referral Hospital (NRH) recorded an increase of 264 percent, Kukum clinic, 113 percent and Rove clinic 387 percent.

Togamana said the Ministry of Health has activated its National Health Emergency Arrangements to manage and coordinate the response to the current outbreak.

“In doing so, we will be: Enhancing our surveillance of the outbreak across the country to monitor the spread.

“We are assessing and strengthening further Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures across our health facilities to mitigate spread.  of the virus in health facilities.

“Our Health Promotion Department will be disseminating important messages through various mediums, print, radio, social media platforms, and roll out community awareness alongside other health programs including in health facilities for a wider reach of the public,” he said

SUIDANI SUBMITS CLAIMS

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Premier Daniel Suidani (left) hands over the log of claim to PS Stanley Dick Pirione (middle) and PS Peter Mae (right).

Gov’t given 28 days to respond to petition

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

Malaita Province has given the national government 28 days to respond to its Log of claims.

Premier Daniel Suidani officially handed over the document to the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS), Stanley Pirione, during celebrations held in Auki to mark the province’s 39th Second Appointed Day.

The claims contain 15 points.

Suidani said the document is a culmination of dialogues held between the two governments since last year.

“For instance, on November 30, 2021, Malaita province made a public call for dialogue on fundamental issues,” Suidani said.

“Then on December 22, 2021, a three-man delegation from the national government held a meeting with some members of the executive on issues Malaita proposed in its call for a dialogue on fundamental issues,” he added.

“From the December meeting it was agreed that MPG will prepare its log of claims and submit them to the national government.”

Suidani said the provincial government took the initiative and came up with the log of claims document on critical issues to the good governance, peace and stability of the country and for the progress of Malaita province.

Pirione accepted the document and thanked the province for taking issues of their people’s concern to national government in a cordial and professional manner.

He assured Suidani that he and his colleague PS Peter Mae of the Ministry of Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs, will take the claim and present it to the national government for discussions to seek a way forward on the issues raised in the claim.

Mae also thanked the government and people of Malaita for the log of claims, which he says will chart a way forward for working together between Malaita and the national government.

He said one of the reasons he was in Auki to attended the province’s Second Appointed Day is to witness the presentation of the log of claims and guide it to the national government.

Mae and Pirione reiterated their pledge to bring the log of claims to the national government and responsible authorities for dialogue.

Government fines Win-Win over gold smuggling

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Government has charged Win Win mining company an administration fine after it tried to evade customs at the Honiara International Airport by smuggling 1.7 kilograms or $700,000 of pure gold in 2019.

According to Section 214 of Customs and Exercise Cap.121,  If any person imports or exports, or causes to be imported or exported, or attempts to import or export any goods concealed in any way, or packed in any package or parcel (whether there be any other goods in such package or parcel or not) in a manner calculated to deceive an officer, or any package containing goods not corresponding with the entry thereof, such package and the goods therein shall be forfeited, and such person shall incur a penalty of two hundred dollars, or treble the value of the goods contained in such package, at the election of the Comptroller.

Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma told Parliament last week that smuggling of gold is a breach of Customs Act.

However, he said through Customs Act, it provides the Company to seek administrative settlement and which they did.

Kuma said through advice which can be done, purely based on economic reasons because the company just started work and given the important contribution of the company to the nation, especially during this difficult and challenging times like Covid 19 period, they decide to sort it out administratively.

However, Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale questioned the Ministry on how it handled the issue given its seriousness and how it was sorted out administratively without any criminal liability against company officers after what is clearly an intentional attempt to defraud the government and people.

In the meantime, the issue became a hot cake in the media when former Director of the Ministry of Mines Energy and Rural Electrification Nicholas Biliki exposed the export document details last year showing in 2019, 1.7 kilograms worth SBD700, 000 of pure gold was attempted to be smuggled out from the country by a Win Win Mining officer.

Biliki claimed the gold samples were intentionally spray-painted to look like ground samples for test analyses abroad.

Win Win hit back on Bilikiki for releasing the information too late and claimed he had some liabilities with the company as well.

Ete slams Government policy on UXO

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
EOD Operator remove the UXOs.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MEMBER of Parliament for East Honiara, Douglas Ete has described the government’s policy on Unexploded Ordinances (UXO) as trying to look for a “pin in a haystack”.

Ete made this scathing comment in Parliament last week after the Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Anthony Veke said due to no mapping, the only way to know the deposit of UXO is through ‘sighting and reporting’.

However, Ete, also chairman of Public Accounts Committee, said it is an “old” issue.

He claimed after the signing of the second World War 11 agreement in New York in 1945, there was a case of bomb study made in Solomon Islands.

Ete said this matter needs to be dealt with at the regional level like the Pacific Island Forum.

He said in 1989, a project under SPREP saw divers diving the 101 sunken ships at Iron Bottom Sound.

“I think there needs to be a policy to remove the UXO with the help of USA and Japan,” he said.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare confirmed the issue was discussed at the Forum level and taken up in the Communiqué.

Sogavare said it is up to the Forum Secretariate to take it up with the countries.

In the meantime, the project involving the mapping of Unexploded Ordinances (UXO) nationwide is currently being suspended following an incident two years ago.

The project is part of identifying areas which unexploded bombs are located in some parts of the country.

Minister Veke explained the mapping of UXO survey was supported by the United States (US) government in partnership with the Norwegian People’s Aid.

But it was suspended in 2020 following an explosion incident involving officials working under the project in Honiara.

In late 2021 Veke said, his ministry has resubmitted the government’s interest to reconsider the recommencement of the project.

“And they have responded positively to support us. They will come back to support us.

“Currently a bid is being undertaken to get a partner that will be involved in the project,” he said.

Veke said funds for the project is also being finalized as well.

In addition, he said that some parts of the country are being littered by unexploded bombs from the WWII, 80 years ago.

Veke strong believed there is a need to clear off the unexploded ordinances.

Parliament resumes on 29th August 2022.

Riot torn businesses to receive payments soon

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Fire officers trying to put off fire at the kukum area during the riot. PHOTO: Mavis N Podokolo

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ABOUT 162 businesses affected by the looting and burning down during the riots last November are expected to receive their payments soon.

About $125 million is allocated under the 2022 National Budget to meet the cost.

This came about after Cabinet endorsed the implementation arrangement on August 2nd 2022.

Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma confirmed this when asked by Chairman of Public Accounts Committee and MP for East Honiara, Douglas Ete last week.

Kuma said the technical team chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration has finalised guidelines to accommodate the implementation of the two components mentioned earlier.

The two components are as follows:

Firstly, the Government will directly manage the first part.

The types of support under this part:

  • Possible import duties and good tax exemption on import materials, machinery for construction, equipment or restocking goods to business who are committed to resume operations
  • Possible tax relief on case-by-case basis
  • Possible rental relief for affected business
  • Stamp duty exemptions on mop purchase if business seek additional financial support from commercial banks
  • Options for possible cash grants

The second component will be managed through our commercial banks including the Development Bank of Solomon Islands.

Types of support include:

  • Long relief support. This relieve includes interest payments on existing loans up to six months on affected businesses
  • Concessional financing. This includes special products with DBSI to support affected businesses who wish to rebuild their properties and restock.

Kuma said the affected businesses will be informed on the criteria and commencement of the support.

Parliament resumes on 29th August.

INQUIRY SOON

Written by
Ofani Eremae
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0
National Parliament of Solomon Islands

BLC sets to inquire into decision to delay elections

By OFANI EREMAE

THE Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) will soon carry out a provincial-wide inquiry into the Government’s move to defer next year’s election by a year to 2024.

This comes as the Government unveiled a controversial bill to amend the Constitution so that the election could be deferred by a year.

Opposition leader and member of BLC Mathew Wale told reporters yesterday the inquiry, which will be carried out at provincial centres, will happen as soon as Government releases funding.

“We hope to complete the inquiry within six weeks before parliament can debate the bill,” Wale said.

Notice of Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2022 was issued in parliament this week.

The bill intends to delay next year’s election and extend the life of the current parliament from May 2023 to 31 December 2023.

This means the next election will be held within the four months after 31 December 2023.

Government says the extension is necessary because of next year’s Pacific Games in Honiara.

It argued, despite widespread public opposition, that the country cannot afford to host two major events – election and Pacific Games – within the same year.

But Wale yesterday argued there is simply no sufficient weighty grounds for amending the constitution merely just to host the Pacific Games.

“Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is playing around with the Constitution,” Wale stated.

“It’s a terrible decision that will set a bad precedence for the country,” he added.

“It’s bad governance.”

The Prime Minister’s Office recently dished out $100,000 to each MP to carry out constituency consultations on the matter.

The funds were drawn from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), and will be deducted from the next round of CDF pay-outs.

Prime Minister Sogavare has told parliament a report based on the constituency consultations has been produced.

But Wale said Government is yet to furnish BLC with a copy of the report.

“We need to see the report,” he said.

East Makira MP and BLC member Derick Manu’ari said the recent constituency consultation was poorly organized.

“The Government has not provided MPs with the right information about its proposed move to extend life of parliament by a year,” Manu’ari said.

“It was a poorly organized consultation,” he added.

Manu’ari said the decision was taken to undermine the Constitution.

He said deferring the elections because the country is also hosting the Pacific Games in the same year is not a good reason to amend the Constitution.

“Simply, the Government has hijacked established processes to fulfill its ambition to defer the elections.”

Opposition leader Wale says the only reason he could think of as basis for delaying next year’s election is “the fear of losing the election”.

“The real reason for postponement is not because of the games. The real reason is they are scared.

“They are scared of losing the elections. They are scared of the people not voting for them.

“No matter how much money China gives them for the election, they will lose because people have had enough of them and the bad decisions they’ve made.

“That’s the real reason.”

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