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Malaita, the least vaccinated province

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

SINCE the roll out of covid-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca) in Malaita province last year, only 19 percent of eligible population of nearly 90,000 had completed their doses.

It’s a worrying statistic and it means only 19 percent of population above 18 years in the province are protected from covid-19, while 81 percent are not.

Director of Malaita Provincial Health, who is also the Chairman of Malaita EOC, Dr Rex Maukera expressed the fear in the wake of the lifting of covid-19 restrictions.

The restrictions were lifted last Friday.

Maukera said the statistic shows the province still has a long way to achieve its aim to ensure the eligible population are fully vaccinated and protected from covid-19.   

He said covid-19 vaccination coverage for the province is 36 percent for those with first dose and only 19 percent for those that completed their second doses.

“The biggest contributing factor to this low vaccination rate in the province is ‘hesitancy’,” Maukera said.

“That is the majority of people continue to believe in unreliable information from sources like social media and others,” he added.

Maukera said the current vaccination rate shows Malaita is the least vaccinated province and that signals catastrophe in the event of a future covid-19 outbreak.

“The good news however, is covid-19 vaccination is continuing in Auki town and at the moment the provincial health is administering the roll-out of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and booster vaccines.

“There will be another roll out of the vaccines in the province and communities are asked to support the provincial health on the program.

“And I asked all stakeholders in the province to support the provincial health by passing right information to our people so that they understand and accept the vaccines.

“There were incidents where health workers facilitating the vaccines were chased and threatened by certain communities.

“Everyone must understand that we are trying our best to provide health services to our communities and we depend on them to make it happen.

“I call for cooperation from communities to support the upcoming vaccination roll-out to protect the province from covid-19.”

Maukera said as Pfizer will be part of the roll out; they hope the eligible population can be able to get their vaccine to protect them and everyone from the virus.

He said as covid-19 restrictions are lifted, Malaitans are asked to continue uphold hand washing, face masking and social distancing.

Maukera said the EOC for covid-19 at Kilu’ufi hospital will continue to monitor the COVID situation in the province.

Vanuatu media supports MASI boycott of ‘One-question press conference’

Written by
Irwin Angiki
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BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Vanuatu’s media association has thrown its weight behind its Solomons counterpart’s decision to boycott the joint press conference with China’s foreign affairs minister.

Dubbed as the ‘One-question conference’, yesterday’s media event did not sit well with Solomons Media Association (MASI) after a government invite indicated that the local media was allowed only one question – and that would be to Solomons’ foreign minister.

China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, was to be asked only one question; but that privilege was given to China’s media.

Furthermore, selected few mainstream media agencies were allowed only one representative each. A good number of journalists, especially those taking news for international outlets were shut out.

MASI has decried this farcical arrangement, actioning it with a boycott of the joint press conference.

In a show of solidarity, Vanuatu’s media association (MAV) president Mr Stevenson Liu emailed MASI president Ms Georgina Kekea yesterday supporting the boycott decision, and calling on Pacific governments to “allow press freedoms at all times”.

“The Media Association of Vanuatu, MAV declares its solidarity with the MASI regarding the decision by MASI to boycott the coverage of the Chinese delegation to the Solomon Islands.

“People are expecting us, the Media to be their eyes and ears and to ask questions on their behalf.

“Not allowing the Media to freely demand answers from Government and the Chinese delegate is a slap to the principles of Freedom of Information and democracy.

“Therefore MAV is supporting the stand taken by MASI and demands pacific governments to allow press freedom at all times.

“This is the freedom to inform ordinary citizens and upholds democracy.

“MAV hopes the people of Solomon Islands acknowledges the stand taken by MASI and understand and support their journalists in their quest to fight for the right to know.”

In a press statement on Wednesday, President Kekea explained MASI’s disappointment.

“Solomon Islands is a democratic country and when media freedom is dictated on someone else’s terms, it then impedes on our democratic principles.

“The Chinese delegation’s visit is an important and historical one for our country and our members plays an important role in making sure it provides the right information and awareness on the importance of the visit to our people.

“Journalists should be given the opportunity to ask questions on behalf of the people.

“According to the programme, the press will be given the opportunity to ask only two questions. One from a Solomon Islands journalist directed to the Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Minister, and one from Chinese media, directed to their Foreign Affairs Minister.

“How ridiculous is that? If we want to interview our Foreign Affairs Minister, we can just do it without the event. What is the whole purpose of hosting such an event for the Press when they are only allowed one question and directed to their Foreign Minister only?”

Ms Kekea said even the discriminatory manner in which journalists are selected to cover the event does not bode well with the Association.

“MASI thrives on professional journalism and sees no reason for journalists to be discriminated against based on who they represent. Giving credentials to selected journalists is a sign of favouritism. Journalists should be allowed to do their job without fear or favour.”

She said the reason given that the arrangements were done that way because of COVID protocols ‘is an excuse’.

“We have community transmission, people are crowded in buses, shops, markets, banks and so forth so this is a very lame excuse,” she said.

She said Press Freedom is enshrined as a fundamental element in our country’s constitution.

“Same as the Prime Minister has defended democracy in parliament after the November riots, MASI is also defending democracy in this space.”

5 agreements formalised

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi and his Solomon Islands counterpart, Jeremiah Manele in Honiara. PHOTO: SIBC

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands and China have formalised five Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) yesterday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele announced this yesterday during a joint media event with visiting Chinese Foreign minister Wang Yi.

Journalists were only allowed to ask two questions during the event. No follow up questions have been allowed.

Manel said the MOUs include:

  1. Mutual visa exemptions and enabling visa arrangements between the two countries.
  2. Health cooperation
  3. Deepening Blue Economy that aims to foster developments and economics investments in the marine sector.
  4. Cooperation in disaster risk reductions, which provided for emergency supplies system and contingency plan in Solomon Islands and China in terms of disaster reduction and management measures.
  5. Exchange of letters and formal declaration of sister relations between Honiara and Jiangmen City.

Manele said they also witnessed the exchange of letters for the funding assistance from China Development Cooperation Agency.

Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations with China in late 2019.

New equipment to Forestry

Written by
Press Release
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Vaeno Vigulu, left, receiving the donated equipment from FAO’s Raushan Kumar.

The Ministry of Forestry and Research (MOFR) received video conferencing equipment donated by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

With this facility being installed, MOFR will be able to efficiently conduct meetings with other ministry colleagues as well as with partners and stakeholders.

This will enhance the communication ability of ministry officials.

The brief handover ceremony was conducted at MOFR head office.

FAO’s Technical Advisor, Raushan Kumar handed over the video conferencing equipment to Permanent Secretory Dr Vaeno Vigulu.

Vaeno recognized the FAO’s support in ensuring effectiveness in connectivity and communication.

Due to unavailability VC facility, it was difficult to attend national, regional, and global virtual meetings and now this facility available, meetings can be attended in a more professional manner, he added.

FAO’s assistance to MOFR is to empower the ministry’s outreach to all stakeholders.

Kumar acknowledged that FAO recognises the importance of such facilities and happy to assist MOFR.

Six years for abusive father

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A FATHER, 37, guilty of having sex with his 14-year-old daughter has been jailed for six years.

Justice Maelyn Bird imposed the sentence on the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Justice Bird told the man, from Central Province, that it is a disgraceful act for a father to commit such offence on his biological daughter.

She said the father has caused phycological and emotional abuse on his daughter and it is revealed in court that the daughter attempted suicide three days after the incidents occurred.

“You should be ashamed of yourself instead of providing love, security and protection on your daughter, you turned around and sexually abused her,” Justice Bird said.

“You committed the offending inside your very own home, a place of each child in a family should be safe and secured, but is has turned into a crime scene,” she added.

“You should be a responsible and respectable father and lead by example.”

After sentencing the accused to six years, Justice Bird also made orders that period already spent in custody by the accused will be deducted from the total sentence imposed.

This incident occurred in 2020 and 2021.

The father was charged with sexual abuse on a child, domestic violence and psychological abuse.

The matter was reported to police after the girl told her grand-mother about her father’s actions.

Wang defends security cooperation

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
China's Foreign Affairs minister Wang Yi

By EDDIE OSIFELO

CHINESE Foreign Minister and State Councilor, Wang Yi has defended the controversial security cooperation framework agreement signed with Solomon Islands on April 14.

This came after Western media claimed based on the leaked draft agreement that allows China to send military personnel and warships to restore law and order in Solomon Islands and may likely to establish a military base.

Both countries signed the security agreement following the riot and burning of properties owned by Chinese community and other Solomon Islanders in Honiara last November that costs millions of dollars to the government.

Wang Yi told a joint press conference with his Solomon Islands counterpart, Jeremiah Manele in Honiara yesterday that China first fully respects the sovereignty of Solomon Islands from the provisions of police supplies assistance to advisory trainings to signing of the security cooperation framework agreement.

“Our cooperation has always been based on the needs of Solomon Islands and on the preconditions of consent by Solomon Islands.

“Our cooperation is also based on consultations on equal footings and enforce deals interference on internal affairs or undermining other country’s interests are never part of China’s foreign policy. Even less, it is how we Chinese people do things,” he said.

Furthermore, Wang Yi said the agreement helps Solomon Islands maintain social stability.

He said China Solomon Islands security cooperation include other requests of Solomon Islands, assist the country in maintaining social order in accordance with law, protect people’s live and security of properties including humanitarian assistance and natural disaster response.

“The purpose of such cooperation is to help Solomon Islands build greater capacity with the police force and address the security governance deficit to help Solomon Islands maintain stability in this country and achieve long term security.

“China, Solomon Islands security cooperation is about honesty and integrity, it is not imposed on anyone nor it targeted any third party and no intention to establish military base,” he added.

Moreover, Wang Yi said such cooperation coexists with other regional arrangements

He said China supports enhancing security cooperation with Pacific Island Countries in join hands to tackle security challenges in this region.

“We also support cooperation arrangements with the existing security arrangements in the region.

“At the same time, the China -Solomon Islands security cooperation shares the aligned objectives and interests with the existing arrangements in the region and serve the common interests of Solomon Islands under the whole South Pacific region,” he added.

“Let me emphasis here, Pacific Islands countries are all sovereign independent countries and not the backyard of anyone.

“All the Pacific Islands countries are entitled to make their own choice instead of be mere followers of others,” he added.

Wang Yi said any smears and attack on any normal security cooperation between China and Solomon Islands are about the good and any such destructions will not get anywhere.

CENTRAL GETS CLEAN REPORT

Written by
Press Release
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Premier of Central Islands Province, Stanley Manetiva

Central Islands Province (CIP) has received clean audit report for its 2020/21 final audit carried out by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG).  

Being the third clean audit report in a row (unqualified audit opinion), the CIP is being commended by the Minister and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) for setting the pace for public sector accountability in the country.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker and the Provincial Secretary of CIP, the Auditor General (AG) stated that he has audited the Financial Statements of CIP and have expressed unqualified opinion on them in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) cash basis, and International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institution (INTOSAI).

In the report on the matters arising from FS audit of CIP for the period 1st April 2020 – 31st March 2021, the OAG found out that CIP has adequate control over its resources even though there are areas that need to be strengthened in order to improve internal control systems within the Province.

Unqualified audit report for CIP means that the financial statement produced and audited by the AG represents a true and fair view of the state of the financial affairs of the CIP.

Some of the areas identified for improvement did not impact drastically on the opinion.

CIP was once disqualified from accessing PCDF in 2015/16 but bounced back from the bottom to top all the subsequent PCDF Assessments conducted in 2016/17, 2017/18 2018/19 and 2019/20 retaining first position in four years in a row which is indeed manifested in the audit performance.  

The audit outcome for CIP is a clear demonstration of the commitment of CIP to good governance as far as compliance to acts, legislations, relevant regulations, financial instructions and other developmental policies are concerned.

Compliance through consistent application of policies, fiscal discipline, and proper accounting on the use of public resources will help the Province to move forward. 

In congratulating the Premier and his hardworking officers in Central Province, the Minister and the Permanent Secretary urged all provinces to emulate the examples being set by Central and Isabel Provinces.

Despite the size of the two Provinces and sometime lack of adequate manpower, the Executive Government decisions in the two Provinces has helped the officers to attain such a higher level of audit performance.

The Permanent Secretary indicated that the MPGIS and its PGSP program will continue to provide the best of technical advice to all provinces to come up to speed to Central and Isabel.

Whilst bigger Provinces have the manpower and revenue sources, the officers in bigger provinces need more support from the Executives to ensure proper internal control processes and procedures are in place in order to turn around their audit performances.

The Minister and the Permanent Secretary for MPGIS expressed sincere appreciation to the SIG for the continued support being provided to PGSP recurrent budget, from where the continuous capacity building of the Nine Provinces is being funded.

Without such a recurrent budget support, the Ministry could not have been able to sustain the capacity building of the Nine Provinces in Public Finance, Public Expenditure Management Systems, Good Governance, and the success stories of PCDF.

PS for CIP stated that he felt very honoured indeed for his Province to clinch such opinion from OAG which does not come by easily unless they are convinced to make confident independent opinion.

“I am grateful to CIP Heads of Divisions, especially Finance and Treasury, Planning, Executive Government, the Assembly and every other individual who in many ways contributed to elevating the position of CIP in terms of audit opinion,” PS Allan Siale stated.

He calls on CIP Government Officials, especially all HODs, CIP public entities, and citizens who do business with CIP to make every day an audit day.

The PS appeals to each official in the CIP to continue to shine and transform their daily work/outputs into desirable outcomes to grow Central Islands Province.  

The CIP PS expressed his sincere thanks to the National Government and the MPGIS for the continued support to CIP through the PCDF and capacity building.

He said with the SIG support, Central Islands Province would not be where it is at today.

SPTO focuses on digitizing Pacific Islands’ tourism industry

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Tourism Solomon

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PACIFIC tourism body, the South Pacific Tourism Association (SPTO) is looking at digitizing Pacific tourism industry for efficient and effective services during the pandemic.

SPTO Boss, Chris Cocker said the organisation has done quite a lot of work in the last two years preparing for recovery – one of which is to see how best services can be delivered in a much safer and reliable system.

He said Pacific Digitalization Transformation project – a four-year project funded by New Zealand (MFAT) is currently in face-two earmarked to end in 2025.

Cocker adds that SPTO has set up a partnership with UNSIDS targeting different organisations like the Caribbean Indian Tourism Organisation, Indian Ocean, ASEAN Travel Association and MasterCard International.

He said the partnership focuses very much on the recovery approach which is supported by UNSIDS.

“I think from SPTO’s perspective, we would like to reset through digital transformation and also rethinking through innovative collaboration regionally or globally and finally rebuilding through responsible sustainable tourism recovery,” Cocker said.

He said two key programs that SPTO is currently rolling out are the MFAT-DFAT-ADB (with) Funding (from) the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI) and that is to help member countries recover and they work on a country basis in close collaboration with SPTO.

Cocker said PSDI has been running for the past years and in its fourth final phase, however negotiations with ADB have been successful with focus on tourism sector specifically because of the impact.

“That’s probably just a fair idea in terms of recovery in the Pacific and what we are doing. So other areas in training and also working with collaborator like-minded partners,” he said.

Revenue drop for Auki market

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Pineapple sell at Auki Central Market in Auki.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

Revenue collection in Auki Market has dropped significantly due to the pandemic.

Market Master, Mr James Hagi said yesterday the market continues to lose almost a thousand dollar daily in revenue collection compared to past years.

He said chief reason is the current covid-19 situation that also has great impact on the country’s economy.

“As experienced since this year, there was a drop in number of vendors at the market as the result of the current situation that continues to affect our revenue collection.

“Adding to that, there was also a drop of cash flow especially within the market that also contributed to the drop of number of vendors,” Hagi said.

He said another issue faced was sometimes vendors do not pay dues to the market.

Hagi said in such case the market management understands the current situation and considers that the market is not only to gain revenue, but also to provide service to people.

He said both service delivery revenue aspects of the market must weight equally so that ACM through MPG continues to provide services through the revenue for the province.

However, Hagi said the current situation is not only affecting the revenue collection of the market alone, but also the vendors.

Chiefs in East Kwaio meet ahead of MP’s visit

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology Member of Parliament for East Kwaio, Stanley Sofu.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

CHIEFS, elders and representatives from communities within Yuru Harbour of East Kwaio constituency met last Friday in preparation for the proposed MP’s visit.

The meeting was organised by Yuru Harbour House of Chiefs with the intention to get people’s view on the extension of the life of parliament from 4-5 years.

A person who spoke to this paper on the meeting said the meeting was convened and discussion made on the “extension of parliament” as the chief agenda and other current controversial issues.

He said concerns were raised on the chief agenda and a common understanding was reached that chiefs and communities within Yuru and even Kwaiba’ita do not support the proposal.

The person said that in addition to the understanding, the people even agreed not to receive the visit in the constituency.

He said the chiefs and communities vehemently disagreed with the proposal despite whatever reasons government is basing on for the extension.

The person said the issue of the security pact was also discussed and similar conclusion was reached that people didn’t agree with government’s preference on the matter.

Also, according to a post in East Kwaio Politic and Development forum on the meeting, the chiefs said they saw no benefit of the South Pacific Game as reason for the extension of the parliamentary term from 4-5 years.

“The chiefs of East Kwaio understand that there are two important events next year 2023, and so the election has to be moved.

“A question raised was, why should we allow that two weeks event to be the priority of the government than having election which is an important event that should be respected as it is an important element within our current laws and constitution.

“There are 52 weeks in a year and so the SP Game would be hosted for only two weeks, what about the other 50 weeks?

“Where is the sovereignty the Prime Minister is so boastful about that an important legal instrument within our constitution has to be defer just because of a two weeks event that comes and goes?

“The chief of East Kwaio asserted that the SP Game would not benefit us, but only people within the ruling government that is why they see it as a priority.

“Learning from past experience, when Solomon Islands hosted the Pacific Arts Festival in 2012, it only had an impact on the urban dwellers but not the rural people.

“Only the election would have an impact on us that is why we see it as an important event that usually occurs after every four years.

“The chiefs who convened for the one-day consultation meeting had passed a resolution that they do not support the extension of the life of parliament no matter what explanation would be made by the MP during his proposed visit.

“The people of East Kwaio appeal to their MP to not support the extension and must listen to the very people whom he duly represented.

“We also appeal to all our national leaders to listen to us as well,” he wrote.

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