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HCC moves to restore order at central market

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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At central market

By EDDIE OSIFELO

TWO Divisions in the Honiara City Council are implementing strict rules to restore order at the Central Market.

The Market Standing Committee under Trade and Commerce and the Law Enforcement Division commenced the operation on Saturday following illegal selling of products, vendors pushed out to sell their products outside the market building and fish vendors using rocket scales to charge customers with higher prizes.

Chairlady of Trade and Commerce, Councillor Dorah Huapii Irofia said they came up with the rules after vendors have been selling their products outside the boundary of the market.

She said this is because the resellers have been occupying the spaces in the markets and claimed to own them after using for many years.

“Under the HCC ordinance, no one owns the space in the market to sell products,” Irogia said.

“We want to promote fairness to every vendor especially farmers of Guadalcanal who are forced to sell their products outside the market which is risky to them because of its closeness to the busstop,” she added.

As such, Irofia said they are making sure all vendors sell their products inside the market whether they are farmers or resellers.

Further to that, she said the Council has purchased 20 standard scales to be used in the market to weigh fish.

He said the Council disallowed fish vendors to use “rocket scales” now because it was unfair to customers.

In addition, Chairman of Law Enforcement Division, Robert Oge said they also realised when vendors sold their products outside the market, it contributed to traffic hold up.

Oge, also the Deputy Mayor, said the measures are the beginning of the process to take full control of the market to give confidence back to customers and foreigners as well.

He said the Council will try to recruit security officers to man the market to make sure vendors abide by the rules.

“We call for full cooperation from the vendors to work together with the Council for the good of the City.

“If we can’t control the market, then it is impossible to control the whole City,” Oge added.

Island Sun visited the market yesterday and found out no vendors are now selling their products outside the boundary of the market close to the bus stop.

However, a market vendor Henry Kauhui said this is unfair when the Council reduces the space in the market for vendors to sell their products.

“We pay $15 fee per day plus $5 for a chair.

“I think the Council should provide more stalls for vendors to sell their products,” he added.

However, the Council’s two divisions believe this is the right move to take to restore fairness and dignity to the market.

Gov’t urged to address school fee issue

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

A teacher at Su’u National Secondary School in Malaita province calls on the national government to look at alternatives under the Emergency Act and address the issue of school fees this year.

Richard Wane made the suggestion in support of a recent call by the Leader of the Independent Group, John Kuku for free-fee education for the remaining semester of the year.

Wane said the current situation is affecting everyone financially and puts fee payers in a difficult situation.

He said many people had lost their jobs due to the situation and with the economy down, money is difficult to earn.

“As a teacher, I know many students will not make it to Su’u for the next semester due to school fee issue.  

“The current situation is causing difficulties to fee payers so the national government should take urgent action to support schools by way of addressing school fees.

“In fact, the government should look into the emergency act and take in hand the school fee issue.”

Schools are expected to start the 2022 academic year at the end of this month.

Lack of fuel hinders police transporting case file

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Marau sound. Picture: Conflict Bay lodge

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Lack of fuel has been blamed for police not being able to provide prosecution with the case file of an attempted murder case.

The files are reportedly still in Marau police station.

Public Prosecutor Steward Tonowane informed court yesterday the investigating officer at Marau police station says investigations have completed but are unable to bring the files to Honiara since they were running out of fuel.

Court was told that police will resort to using public boat transport to bring the files over.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea made enquiries with the accused whether he had already engaged a lawyer to represent him in court.

The accused Ben Manai said he is yet to make any request to the Public Solicitor’s Office.

The accused also told the court that he is reluctant to make a request to the PSO, from fear that one of the lawyers might hurt him.

Meanwhile DCM Iomea said he could seek legal assistance from other lawyers within the PSO, because it is his right to be legally represented.

DCM Iomea then adjourned the case to May 30 for the prosecution to obtain the file from investigators, and also for the accused to seek legal representation.

Iomea also made direction on the prosecution to serve disclosures on the defence once they have the file during the adjournment.

Govt moving to restore PWDs

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
The roundabout at the Honiara City Council

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Infrastructure Development is in the process of reviving the Public Works Departments (PWD) in the provinces.

Acting Permanent Secretary, Stephen Maesiola confirmed this after Opposition Leader, Mathew Wale told Parliament recently that reestablishment of the provincial PWDs needs to be fast tracked.

Wale added once the provincial PWD units are back in action they need to be adequately equipped and trained to be responsible for the regular upkeep of provincial roads, bridges, airstrips and wharves.

However, Maesiola said Wale never listened when he informed the Public Accounts Committee twice on the progress of PWDs.

He said last December, the Cabinet has approved 54 new positions for MID which include those who will be posting in the provinces.

Maesiola said MID will be posting engineers, senior mechanics and architectures to the provinces to supervise the work.

He said the Provincial Governments will provide other employees like truck drivers and bulldozers operators to support the MID staffs.

“This is an ongoing programme of the DCGA to reduce costs in sending contractors to the provinces.

“The MID staff and support officers from the provinces will be responsible to do maintenance in the township,” he said.

Furthermore, Maesiola said they will also act as agents of National Disaster Council to repair damaged bridges and upgrade roads during any natural disasters.

Currently, Lata in Temotu Province and Kirakira in Makira Ulawa province still maintain their workshops except for other provinces.

Maesiola said MID has already secured a land in Gizo, Western Province, after it was sold to a businessman.

He said Isabel Province is willing to allocate a land to MID to establish a workshop following the need to connect roads on the longest island.

On Rennell and Bellona, Maesiola said a land is available but they need to visit the site to demarcate it.

However, he said land dispute still hinders the progress on the land at Auki, Malaita province, after it was sold to a businessman.

“I have written two letters to Malaita Province but still to get a response until today.

“Malaita Province needs to give an alternative land for a workshop because of the need to upgrade roads and other infrastructures on the big island,” he said.

Further to that, Maesiola said MID is working with Choiseul to get a land despite the delay to wait for the relocation of Taro Township to the mainland.

He said for Central Island province, he is not sure if there is workshop for MID there.

However, Maesiola said MID is open to work with Central Islands province to establish a workshop if it is available.

PSO conducts awareness in Malaita

Written by
Samie Waikori
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0
Senior Legal Officer at PSO Auki, Mr Oxley Limeniala is addressing the communities during the PSO awareness program.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

COMMUNITIES within Dada’ame area in the northern region of Malaita have benefited from legal awareness program provided by the Public Solicitors Office (PSO) in Auki.

On Sunday, the PSO team visited Dada’ame and its surrounding communities of Manakafo, Anokwasi, Lobo, Rara, Sikwafata, New Village, Susule, One and Nao with the program.

Senior Legal Officer (PSO) in Auki, Oxley Limeniala said the awareness aims to help community members understand the function of the Public Solicitors Office.

“The awareness was to help people understand the services PSO provides for public, and what are some of the offences that commonly happen in communities and their penalties?

“When we talk about PSO, we are talking about office that was established under the constitution to provide legal services to disadvantage people,” he said.

PSO auki awareness talk at Dada’am village in the northern region of the province.

Limeniala said communities must be provided with information on PSO so that they know and understand how to go about the service.

He said during the talk, the team explained to communities the legal services they offer like criminal, civil, families, land and how law can be used to protect people in those areas.

Limeniala said offenses continue to happen in the communities; however the fact that people didn’t understand processes to go about the offenses with PSO is a challenge.  

“So the awareness is important to help people understand where to go about offenses when there are crimes committed in communities,” he said.

Limeniala said the awareness is an eye opener for the communities as expressed and they were happy to learn about the functions of PSO and services provide.

He said the communities showed eagerness to learn with scores of questions asked and they uttered clarity on how to go about the services.

Limeniala said the awareness program was also an opportunity for PSO Auki PDLP students or trainees to learn and engage with communities.

He said PSO Auki plans to conduct further awareness across the province.

WANG HERE THURSDAY

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
Honiara is the beating heart of the country's economy.

Chinese Foreign minister coming for first ever visit

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A LARGE Chinese delegation led by its Foreign Affairs minister Wang Yi will arrive in Honiara on Thursday in his first ever visit here.

Political sources confirmed it is a reciprocated trip after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeremiah Manele travelled to Beijing following the diplomatic switch in 2019.

Solomon Islands switched diplomatic from Taiwan to China after more than 30 years of friendship with the intention to accelerate trade, economic advancement and establish infrastructure projects for the Pacific Games in 2023.

Sources within the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet say a taskforce is preparing for Wang’s visit.

They say the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is working on the programme before making it public.

The Chinese Embassy in Honiara has not replied to emails sent by Island Sun this week on Wang’s visit.

In Honiara, Wang will meet his counterpart Manele, as well as PM Sogavare and members of the Cabinet.

Manele and his Permanent Secretary Colin Beck should graduate from quarantine yesterday following their trip to Fiji and Australia the week before, where they travelled to explain the controversial security agreement Honiara signed with Beijing.

One government source told the Australia Broadcasting Corporation last week that while here, Wang would likely sign a host of agreements with Manele.

ABC said it is also possible the minister will formally sign the deeply contentious security pact that has already been agreed to by both Solomon Islands and China.

The news of his visit comes in the wake of a regional meeting on the China-Solomon Islands agreement, which was held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Fiji’s capital Suva last Tuesday.

Manele and Police Minister Veke briefed several senior officials and a small number of politicians from Pacific Island countries about the agreement in an effort to calm regional anxieties about its implications.

First ever high-level PRC visit to SI

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

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A BIG Chinese delegation led by its Foreign Affairs minister Wang Yi is expected in Honiara next week in his first ever visit here.

Political sources confirmed this to Island Sun this week.

But they could not say for certain the day of arrival and the official programme.

Sources within the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet say a taskforce is preparing for Wang’s visit.

They say the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is working on the programme before making it public.

The Chinese Embassy in Honiara has not replied to emails sent by Island Sun this week on Wang’s visit.

In Honiara, Wang will meet his counterpart Jeremiah Manele, as well as Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and members of the Cabinet.

Manele and his Permanent Secretary Colin Beck are currently in quarantine following their trip to Fiji and Australia last week, where they travelled to explain the controversial security agreement Honiara signed with Beijing.

One government source told the Australia Broadcasting Corporation last week that while here, Wang would likely sign a host of agreements with Manele.

ABC said it is also possible the minister will formally sign the deeply contentious security pact that has already been agreed to by both Solomon Islands and China.

The news of his visit comes in the wake of a regional meeting on the China-Solomon Islands agreement, which was held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Fiji’s capital Suva last Tuesday.

Manele and Police Minister Veke briefed several senior officials and a small number of politicians from Pacific Island countries about the agreement in an effort to calm regional anxieties about its implications.

Upgrade of MSG building underway

Written by
Ben Bilua
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0
The MSG building in Gizo.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

COMMUNITY Access and Urban Services Enhancement Project (CAUSE) has begun the upgrading work on the MSG building at Gizo.

Workers were seen preparing posts to erect a fence around the building as well as doing ground work on the proposed shower and absolution block.

According to the project’s plan, MSG building will be transformed into a proper resting place for vendors from nearby Islands who spend more days trying to sell their products at Gizo Market.

There will be proper rooms, shower rooms and absolution block where vendors can rent for a lesser amount of money.

The plan was approved following reports that vendors were braving cold and bad weather sleeping at the building when they are unable to sell their products at the market.

Last year the Asia Development Bank (ADB) made the announcement and its willingness to fund the project under its program known as CAUSE Project.

The project will provide a safe haven for vendors when it’s open.

Call for visa conditions for expat airline managers

Written by
Ben Bilua
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0
Solomon Airlines airbus

BY BEN BILUA

Gizo

TRAINING for Pacific Island airline managers is being neglected but could be increased if governments imposed visa conditions on expat managers.

The call for visa conditions on expat airline managers was made by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA) George Faktaufon who says more locals need to be trained to take up higher responsibilities in the airlines business.

Faktaufon said ASPA has plans in place to re-introduce general management training for Pacific Island airline staff but needs help from governments.

“For instance, when you grant visas for expatriates, particularly for the airlines, there must be some requirements to identify local counterparts, and provide training during a certain period that when expatriate leaves, there is a local person ready to take over.

“Unfortunately, this is absent in all Pacific Island countries. There is not any requirement when you bring in expatriates to train and develop local counterparts.

Faktaufon said loss of skilled staff is one of the key challenges airlines have faced since COVID-19.

Airlines have been harder hit than many other industries by the impact of the pandemic because border closures have dramatically reduced services.

Even when planes are not flying, airline staff need to continue regular training to maintain the certification they need to keep their jobs.

ASPA is working with its member airlines to assist them in the complicated process of resuming regular international flights, including with training.

“In the last 10 years, we have been concentrating on training specific key areas like revenue management, operational management, engineering maintenance management and our focus was in these specific areas because we felt it was necessary,” Faktaufon said.

“But we found that during the pandemic that no one has any existing general management training.

 While ASPA is developing new training initiatives Faktaufon said: “There’s only so much we can do in training and developing”.

“I think the onus rests with the governments themselves, the boards of the airline’s themselves, to make sure that there is a system in place where local people are developed, trained, and ready to take up those responsibilities.

New challenges flipping roles in families and small business

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0
Women Selling Their products at the Honiara Main Market.

By Jeniffer Kusapa

Twenty-year-old Anna used to be relaxed and waiting on her parents to put food on the table. Now she is struggling to support her parents on a day-to-day routine for survival.

Anna has grown up fast and says COVID-19 has taught her family a great lesson about the value of culture.

Out of a family of six children, only their mother is employed and even that is not regular.

Like so many others, her father lost his job due to COVID-19 as the company that he worked for was forced to make staff redundant. 

Since her father lost his employment, Anna and other members of the family had to find new ways to earn some money for their survival.

“So, we engaged ourselves to do small markets like selling of betel-nuts and coconuts along the road,” Anna explained

“I have been selling betel-nut since the beginning of 2021 given our situation; this is in order to support our mother who is still working.

“This year things have got worse.

“Come 2022, when the COVID out-break and the lockdowns, it has affected us.

“Our mother never goes to work and also our market was affected.

“With the COVID restrictions in place by the government, nobody buys from our markets, as those who usually buys our goods no longer come around to buy from us.”

Anna has gained a new appreciation for the value of our culture our wantok system culture, as relatives reached out to provide her family with some food.

“Culture and wantok system are something that we Solomon Islanders are lucky of,” she said.

“Our wantoks sometimes are there to support us, but in terms of money we have to struggle to earn a dollar a day.”  

The hard times Anna is experiencing are reflected in the economic statistics.

Last year, before the November riots and the COVID-19 outbreak early this year, the Ministry of Finance had expected the economy to grow slightly – by around 1% in 2022.

In his budget speech last month Finance and Treasury Minister Harry Kuma revealed that, in fact, the economy contracted by 0.2% in 2021

The prospects for 2022 are worse, with a further 4.5% contraction in economic growth.

If that trend continues Anna thinks more people with small businesses will be affected.

She believes the government should consider some subsidies to assist and support people in their business, so small businesses are able to survive the challenging situation ahead.

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