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Miner clarifies Isabel tenement

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0

By EDDIE OSIFELO

NEW shareholder company, Hangzhou Gowin Mineral Product Ltd, has clarified the nickel operation by the former Solomon Islands Resources Company Limited (SIRCL) and operator, New Asia on Suma tenement, Isabel province.

This was after landowners called Three Brothers objected the transfer of shares from Hong Kong based New Origin which owned SIRCL and New Asia to another Hong Kong company, Hangzhou Gowin Mineral Product Ltd.

The Three Brothers wanted to stop the transfer of shares between both Hong Kong investors because of Hangzhou’s link to the controversial Win Win Win Investment Mining Limited that carried out alluvial mining on Turarana in Central Guadalcanal.

They accused Win Win company of trying to smuggle 1.7kg of gold in January 2020 and its alleged failure to address issues such as Corporate Social Responsibility of landowners.

However, General Manager of SIRCL, Charles Meke has rebutted the allegations because the 1.7kg of gold are released back to Win Win and should not be an issue any more.

He said Win Win is doing alluvial mining on Turarana, while SIRCL carries out nickel prospecting on Suma tenement.

Meke said the management and shareholders of SIRCL and Win Win are two different entities.

Furthermore, the Director said Suma landowners’ demand sent to Mines Division over the range of $100,000 US for the company to pay is highly questionable.

“The landowners have signed a document with former SIRCL in the Surface Access Agreement, therefore they should negotiate for such rates in the past,” he said.

Meke said such demand by the landowners need to be sorted out by the landowners, company and the Mines Division.

Director Meke said according to Company laws, Hangzhou Gowen Mineral Product automatically owns SIRCL and New Asia after it bought the 100 percent shares from New Origin.

He said the Foreign Investment Division and the Company Haus in the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration have also approved the change of names already.

The Director said the Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Bradley Tovosia has also approved the transfer of shares already.

He said currently they are waiting for the Attorney General to endorse the transfer of shares between New Origin and Hangzhou and the granting of Mining Lease for the company to carry out mining on Suma Tenement.

SIRCL held a Prospecting License over Suma tenement after it signed a Surface Access Agreement (SAA) with the landowners.

It is currently waiting for the Attorney General to grant the Mining Lease to allow SIRCL to get the Surface Access Rights to carry out mining on Suma land.

Further to that, Director Meke said SIRCL has also signed a SAA with landowners of Tenement D and Tenement E after number of consultations were held with them.

Due to Government’s fastrack policy to start mining operation to help the economy due to the COVID-19, the investor decided to maintain SIRCL and operator New Asia in Isabel rather than incorporating two new companies.

He said it will be a long process to go back to start engagement with landowners to get the Surface Access Agreement under a new business entity.

Currently the Government has hired two lawyers, Steward Tabo to deal with the three Brothers namely Martin Tango, Willie Denimana and Hugo Bugoro while Whitlam Togamae lawyer negotiates with Isabel Provincial Government.

The Director said once they get the approval of the Mining Lease from the Attorney General, they will go to the three Brothers to negotiate for Surface Access Rights to commence mining operation on Suma.

He said they had held three meetings with the Three Brothers already following three trips to Suma.

Meke said an audience was also held with  Isabel Premier and Deputy Premier last Thursday.

On the other hand, the Three Brothers highlighted in a document the allegations that SIRCL is not a genuine prospecting or mining company.

These include:

  1. lack of expertise,
  2. poor feasibility study,
  3. false promise by Garry Cheah of a package to landowners never eventuates after they signed the SAA;
  4. landowners given employment opportunities only as securities,
  5. cleaners while the Asian occupied rest of the jobs,
  6. SIRCL failure to protect the environment after carried out excavation on the land and
  7. lack of consultation with the three brothers.

However, Meke said these allegations fell under the former administration of SIRCL and not the new administration after the transfer of shares done between the two investors.

“Landowners should not refer to the old SIRCL because the company is still to carry out operation on the ground.

“Landowners have no right to criticize company that never go into the land as yet. To criticize the investor is unfair,” he added.

Officer to be tried over missing RAV4

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A POLICE officer accused of removing and selling a private RAV4 vehicle detained at the Kukum Traffic Centre in September 2019 will stand trial on 14 February 2022.

Michael Haomae, who used to work at the traffic centre, is facing count of conversion.

The vehicle was detained at the traffic centre after it involved in a traffic accident with an ambulance.

While there, Haomae allegedly removed it and sold it without the owner’s knowledge.

His action was only made public after the owner of the vehicle went to check it out.

A police investigation identified Haomae as the officer responsible for its removal.

NSO wins choir competition

Written by
Press Release
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NSO Staff; Leni Taisia, Anastasia Taghanepari and Micheal Dimola

The National Statistics Office was crowned winner of the annual Christmas choir competition held by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury last Friday.

Dressed in their maroon and orange shirts and dresses with candles in their hands, the Statistics team shone bright and colorful as they walked up to the front of the audience to sing.

Led by Chief Statistician Andrew Kakate, the group paused for a minute to remember their two late colleagues; Joanna Basi who passed away in July this year and Raphael Aipaina who died last month.

Josephat Tako and Ian Ghesimate

After the moment of silence, the music to the song “A child is born by Ray Kelly” filled the quiet night, and the group started to sing.

They presented a strong united front as they joyfully sang their hearts out in time to the music, maintaining their tone and pitch until the end.

Much laughter came forth from them as they bowed to the audience and went back to their seats amidst the clapping and cheers from the audience.

Their prize was one thousand dollars.

The second prize went to Customs and Excise while Corporate Services Section, CSS, scooped the third prize.

Consolation prizes were presented to Treasury and Internal Audit divisions.

The event on Friday also saw one of the NSO staff receiving an award for being the Most Outstanding staff in her Division.

Charity Karina, from East Malaita, has worked at the NSO since 2019, as one of its maintenance staff.

Charity Karina with her award

She was pleasantly surprised to hear her name called for the award.

“I was surprised but very happy too at the same time. The award means a lot to me and my work at the NSO. Next year I will work much harder.”

November Consumer Price Index falls 0.1 percent

Written by
Press Release
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0

The country’s National Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.1 percent to 107.4 in November 2021.

The latest report was released by the National Statistics Office on Tuesday 21st December 2021.

Government Statistician Douglas Kimi said, through the year, compared to the same month in 2020, the National CPI rose 1.9 percent.

He said the most significant changes by major expenditure groups from the previous month include:

 Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages: (-0.2%),

 Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics: (-0.2%)

 Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels: (-0.9%)

 Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance: (+0.3%)

 Transport: (+0.9%)

Kimi said the Solomon Islands inflation rate for the month of November 2021 calculated on a 3-months moving average basis was +2.0%.

“The corresponding inflation rates for imported items was +2.4%, while other (domestic) items inflation rate was +1.7%.

“The Solomon Islands underlying rates of inflation based on a 3-months moving average was observed between +0.1% and +0.8% for November 2021.”

At the provincial township level, the headline inflation rates for the respective towns calculated on a 3-months moving average basis were: Honiara: (+2.2%); Auki: (+1.3%); Gizo: (+8.5%); and Noro: (-2.8%).

Further information can be sourced from the latest report, statistical bulletin 20/21 from the NSO.

—SINSO

Isabel marks anti-corruption day

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Press Release
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March during the International Ant-Corruption Day celebrations in Buala, Isabel Province.

The Isabel Provincial Government (IPG) has hosted the International Anti-corruption Day celebrations at Buala last week.

International Ant-corruption Day is observed globally on 09th December, however due to unforeseen circumstances, the day was marked on 17th December 2021.

Theme for this year’s International Anti-corruption Day is “Your right, your role: say no to corruption”.

The day was celebrated with a colorful march from Jejevo to Buala Provincial Assembly by members from the nearby communities around Buala and various organizations, followed by a public forum conducted by the Solomon Islands Independent Commission against Corruption, SIICAC, Leadership Code Commission, LCC, Ombudsman Office, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, and the Royal Solomon Islands Police in Buala.

Speaking during the celebrations Isabel Provincial Premier Leslie Kikolo has reaffirmed Isabel Provincial Government’s support to host the SIICAC’s provincial office in the province.

“Today I wish to reaffirm the wish of this provincial government that once SIICAC is fully established, Isabel Province will be the first province to designate an integrity office as required for by the Anticorruption Act 2018,” Kikolo said.

“The vision I have for Santa Isabel is that we utilize or maximize the proposed integrity office to implement anticorruption measures or guidelines that are key to the provincial authority on matters concerning good governance including improved financial management, procurement compliances and audits, and more importantly, having the integrity office will in a way foster a culture of transparency, accountability and rule of law within our provincial administrative structure,” he said

He said these are fundamental instrument for effective and efficient of public service delivery.

“Our people deserve better and have the right to question how the government spend their tax money,” he said.

Premier Kikolo further called on everyone to take a collective stand against corruption that hold back the country for so long.

“Corruption is a challenge that not one segment can solve. Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something together. To achieve sustainable results, we all must take up the fight against corruption alongside each other,” he said.

Premier Kikolo also commended the National Government for the passage of the Anti-corruption Act 2018 and the establishment of the SIICAC.

SIICAC Director General John Kouni said SIICAC is looking forward to working closely with the Isabel Provincial Government in the fight against corruption.

Kouni also thanked the Isabel Provincial Government for hosting this year’s Anti-corruption celebrations.

Prior to the celebrations, SIICAC and other Integrity Agencies has been conducting Anti-corruption campaign around Isabel Province with support from the Isabel Provincial Government, Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, OPMC, and the United Nations Development Program, UNDP.

Isabel tribe objects to Win Win company

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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0
A recent mining exploration on Isabel Province. Photo by Axiom Mining Solomon Islands.

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Three Brothers tribe has objected Go Win company to carry out nickel mining on their land at Suma, Isabel Province, because it is an associate company of the controversial Win Win Investment Mining Limited.

This was after Win Win company is accused of trying to smuggle 1.7kg of gold in January 2020 from its alluvial mining operation at Turarana, Central Guadalcanal, and its alleged failure to address issues such as Corporate Social Responsibility of landowners.

The Three Brothers urged the Mines and Mineral Board not to grant the transfer of shares and Mining Lease to Go Win company after it fully took over from Solomon Islands Resources Company Limited (SIRCL) three months ago.

SIRCL had carried out prospecting on Suma  after it signed a Surface Access Agreement with the landowners.

According to sources, a Hong Kong based company, New Origin owns SIRCL and New Asia that carried out operation on Suma land.

However, due to alleged financial issues faced by SIRCL, New Origin decided to sell the 100 percent shares to another Hong Kong based company, Hangzhou Gowen Mineral Product.

Hangzhou Gowen Mineral Product owns Win Win company.

One of the Directors of Win Win company, Charles Meke said according to company law, Hangzhou Gowen Mineral Product automatically owns SIRCL and New Asia after it bought the 100 percent shares.

Meke said the Foreign Investment Division and the Company Haus in the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration have also approved the change of names already.

He said the Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification, Bradley Tovosia has also approved the transfer of shares already.

Meke said currently they are waiting for the Attorney General to approve it in order to give them the Mining Lease to carry out the operation.

Further to that, he said due to Government’s fastrack policy to start mining operation to help the economy, they decided to maintain SIRCL and New Asia.

Meke said it will be a long process to go back to start engagement with landowners to get the Surface Access Agreement under a new business entity.

He said currently, the Government has hired two lawyers, Steward Tabo to deal with the three Brothers namely Martin Tango, Willie Denimana and Hugo Bugoro while Whitlam Togamae lawyer negotiates with Isabel Provincial Government.

Meke said once they get the approval of the Mining Lease from the Attorney General, they will go to the three Brothers to negotiate for Surface Access Rights to commence mining operation.

He said they had held three meetings with the Three Brothers already following three trips to Suma.

Meke said an audience was also held with  Isabel Premier and Deputy Premier last Thursday.

He said two other tenements D and E have all signed already.

“We are awaiting the Attorney General Chambers for deliberations on this progress,” he added.

However, the Three Brothers highlighted in a document the allegations that SIRCL is not a genuine prospecting or mining company.

These include:

  1. lack of expertise,
  2. poor feasibility study,
  3. false promise by Garry Cheah of a package to landowners never eventuates after they signed the SAA;
  4. landowners given employment opportunities only as securities,
  5. cleaners while the Asian occupied rest of the jobs,
  6. SIRCL failure to protect the environment after carried out excavation on the land and
  7. lack of consultation with the three brothers.

The document said the Feasibility Study it submitted to accompany its Mining Lease is “very, very poor”.

“This is the conclusion of the Australian consultant Derisk Geomining Consultants that reviewed the Feasibility Study,” it said.

The document states the Commercial discovery produced and announced by SIRCL was solely based on a pitting excavation programme.

“This is a very old method employed to evaluate any mineral resource.

“SIRCL unknowingly excluded historical quality assay information recently generated by Axion as well,” it said.

“This only proves their inexperience and poor knowledge of mining.

“Not only this, SIRCL analysed these samples using a hand held XRF equipment, which is totally unacceptable in resource/reserve calculations,” it said.

The document states no Government should accept such Commercial Discovery reports under such circumstances/scenarios.”

As such, the three brothers claimed in the document that Win Win’s application for Mining Lease should therefore be deemed unacceptable and rejected as required by legislation since it cannot comply with the requirements after being requested to revise and improve these submissions.

Furthermore, it states SIRCL, after failing to comply with these requirements, or having performed poorly is now passing the buck to another company with no appropriate mining experience and with dirty mining deals in front of their eyes.

No flights yet for nationals living in Canada and Cuba

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0
Solomon Airlines airbus

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

No dates have been set to bring home nationals currently living in Canada and Cuba.

That’s according to Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Secretary to the Prime Minister, on the radio talk-back show, Sunday.

“All the plans that were in placed before the 24h of November 2021 were all disrupted by the Honiara unrest so we are starting again,” Rodgers said.

He said the repatriation flights with dates are the ones for Fiji and Vanuatu which will bring home more than 300 students.

Rodger said Canada, United States, Cuba are on the northern tip while a small number of nationals were also in Japan and the Philippines.

“And so we need to make sure to have flight planning to go through countries that will firstly allow them without quarantining.

“Because there are countries that you will be required to go through quarantine. It’s no longer straight forward flight anymore.

“But in the next two months we hope to put students from Cuba and Canada and other countries we will be able to have routes for them so they can be able to come home.

“Right now the exact date is still unknown but we will let them know of the dates,” he said.

Men accused of setting fire to PM’s residence deny charges

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Two men have denied before the court setting fire to the Prime minister’s residence.

PM Manasseh Sogavare’s mansion at Lungga was torched during the November riots.

Moses Tome and Wilson Poelo are charged with one count each of attempted arson in relation to that incident, which occurred on November 26, 2021 at Lungga area.

The allegation said the two men were part of a group that set fire to the residence.

Defence Lawyer Stanley Taedi after both accused pleaded not guilty to the charge, sought adjournment on the case for next week so that they can settle the documents for the pre-trial conference.

Principal Magistrate Leonard Chite then made directions that prosecution and defence settle the PTC documents during the adjournment and then adjourned the case to December 27 for oral PTC to be conducted.

Myrella Cleven of the Office of the Director Public Prosecutions appears on behalf of the crown.

Alleged riot ‘instigator’ on $1,000 bail

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0
Carnage on the streets of Honiara. PHOTO: Mavis N Podokolo

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court has granted bail to one of the instigators of the recent rioting and looting in Honiara.

Simon Mannie was arrested and charged by police with one count of unauthorized public assembly and public procession contrary to regulation 14(1) and (3)(a) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.3) 2021; Regulation 4 of the Emergency Powers (Covid-10) (declaration of Honiara as Emergency Zone (Amendment) Order 2020; and section 21(b) of the penal code.

Defence lawyer Ronald Dive applied to the court to release his client on bail while awaiting his case to be progressed before the court.

Prosecution said Mannie is a leader and active member of Malaita for Democracy (M4D) and represents Honiara based Malaitans.

They accused him of having been involved in unlawful planning of authorized public assembly that led to the November 24-26 rioting and looting in Honiara.

Prosecution alleged that Mannie and others, who are still at large, planned and executed the public procession that resulted in arson, and destruction of business buildings, looting of shops and burning of Kukum Traffic Centre and damage to Naha Police Station.

Mannie was taken by police on 29 November 2021 questioned and then charged for the offence.

He was remanded in custody till yesterday.

Andrew Kelesi, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Office, appears for the crown.

Country to celebrate national day in Dubai

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Press Release
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Minister Kologeto at the Dubai World Expo village on Sunday 19 December ahead of the Solomon Islands National Celebrations

Solomon Islands is set to celebrate its National Day today December 21 in style at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai with an expected 30 million viewers on Arabian TV Channels and thousands more at the Expo village.

A statement from the Government Communications Unit says the event will be broadcasted live on TV and online channels at around 4pm (Dubai time) and provides a huge opportunity for people around the world and especially the Arab world to get a glimpse on what Solomon Islands has to offer in terms of its socio-economic opportunities.

Head of delegation and Minister for Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration, Frederick Kologeto who is currently in Dubai will address guests and visitors soon after a flag raising ceremony to be followed by a speech from a United Arab Emirates (UAE) Government Minister.

“The event will also show case Solomon Islands cultural performances from our pan pipers and contemporary music artists,” the statement said.

“Soon after the performances, Minister Kologeto will hold a bilateral meeting with his UAE counterpart and Officials,” it added.

Minister Kologeto expressed his gratitude to the UAE government for the support and opportunity given to Solomon Islands to showcase itself to the world.

“This is an important and unique opportunity to expose the opportunities that our country has to offer to the world of business and commerce and for this I sincerely thanked the Government and People of UAE for this opportunity,” Kologeto said on Sunday.

Kologeto also appreciated the fact that an estimated 30 million TV viewers in the Arab world will be able to watch the event and hoped it will make an impact on the investment and trade opportunities that Solomon Islands has on offer.

Kologeto is accompanied by his Deputy Secretary Technical Eric George Ongoa, Bob Pollard, Managing Director of Kokonut Pacific Limited, George Herming, Director Government Communication Unit and 10 performing traditional and contemporary artists.

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