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US envoy warns of aid that benefits one person, party

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Press Release
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THE U.S. ambassador to the Solomon Islands Erin McKee has warned Pacific Islands against “aid that benefits one person, one party and one bank account” – remarks that come after the Solomons were beset with riots last month blamed in part on discontent with China.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was accused last week by the leader of the opposition in parliament of using money from a national development fund that comes from China to prop up his political strength.

He has rejected graft allegations.

Sogavare has blamed foreign powers that opposed his 2019 decision to switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China for influencing anti-government protesters from Malaita province.

Malaita protesters last month sparked riots by residents of the capital Honiara, where there is discontent over foreign companies failing to provide local jobs. Large sections of Chinatown burnt down.

In her first public comments on the riots, U.S. ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, Erin McKee said in a statement that the loss of life and destruction of property in Honiara was tragic and “should not have happened”.

McKee said the U.S. aid project resulted from an exchange of letters between Sogavare and then U.S. vice president Mike Pence, and aid and defence officials travelled to the Solomon Islands in August 2019.

Solomon Islands broke relations with Taiwan and recognised China the next month.

Delays to the U.S. project occurred after the switch. It has since commenced operations although the entry of U.S. Peace Corps volunteers is still being negotiated.

U.S. aid contractors worked in partnership with communities so they could build local infrastructure such as roads and maintain it “without outside help”, the statement said.

“Do you want aid that benefits one person, one party, and one bank account? Or do you want assistance that empowers entire families, strengthens entire communities, and enriches entire nations?” she said.

“As democratic and independent states, you have a choice of who to partner with. And I believe that the choice is obvious.”

The Chinese embassy, which opened in Honiara in September last year, said on its website hundreds of Chinese families were left homeless by the riots.

“Any attempt to sabotage the relationship is doomed to failure,” it added.

Over 200 police and soldiers from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji are in Honiara at the request of Sogavare to maintain order.

Work on Vella’s Economic Growth Centre progressing well

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Top view of South Vella Constituency Economic Growth Center

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

DEVELOPMENT of South East Vella constituency Economic Growth Center is progressing well and is expected to go into full operation before June next year.

Island Sun was invited to visit the growth center with Member of Parliament for South East Vella, who is also the Minister for Commerce, Fredrick Kologeto, and officials from the Prime Minister’s office yesterday.

Construction workers were busy with five new buildings that will house some of the important services at the center.

Hon Fredrick Kologeto (middle) , Dr Samson Viulu (right) and Mrs Florence Joel pose for a photo at the incomplete Police post house

Kologeto said two buildings will be for coconut processing and refinery, Kava and seaweed buying center.

He adds that one of the buildings will be a police post and two other buildings will accommodate police officers who will be posted at the center.

“This development is part of the government’s pilot project to decentralize services and at the same time bring the services closer to the people,” Kologeto said.

Dr Samson Viulu, the Policy Secretary of Productive Sector (right) talking to Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Florence Joel (left)about the coconut drying process

“South Vella constituency Economic Growth Center is one of two pilot projects under the program,” he added.

“Another project is awarded to North Malaita Constituency.”

Kologeto said the coconut refinery, kava, cassava and Seaweed buying center are part of the constituency’s long term development plan, aimed at encouraging long term benefits for the people of the constituency.

Coconut, kava and cassava refinery building

He added that the Police Post and staff houses are his top priorities as security is important.

“I’m of the view that security must be guaranteed before any development can progress because we need law and order to be present so that people can actively participate in the economic activities,” he said.

A newly constructed builing forSeaweed buying center

Kologeto stressed that his overall objective is to turn the growth center into an industrial site where other developments such as tourism, agriculture, fisheries so as other essential service like Bank can be established at the center.

He said the first phase of the development is valued around $5 million and he is relying on the Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF) to fund the project.

Refined coconut meat ready for sell

Kologeto salutes his team for driving the development on the ground.

Mala expects tourism facility in Auki by 2022

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Auki provincial town of Malaita.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA Provincial government is looking forward to the construction of its tourism facility project which will begin early 2022 in Auki.

The establishment of the facility will be a testament to the MOU the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) and MPG signed in 2020 and following a ground breaking held in 2015 towards the establishment of the facility in the province.

Malaita provincial tourism officer, Rose Masibata told Island Sun yesterday that since the ground breaking ceremony, nothing was done especially on the facility and by way of strengthening it an official MOU was signed last year.

She said the MOU was signed to pave way for development of the industry in the province and the establishment of the facility becomes a priority component of it.

Masibata said the multi-million-dollar facility will be referred to as a “cultural building” and if completed will house the provincial tourism office, provincial archive and museum and other related sectors to the industry in the province.

She said progress so far on the project was; MCT has already tendered the project and recently they retendered it not finding suitable contractors to award with the project during its first tender.

Masibata said process regarding the retender of the project is currently dealt with and will complete soon ahead of the construction of the facility next year.

She said the establishment of the facility will be no doubt a milestone towards the development of the tourism industry on Malaita province.

Masibata said Malaita province is one of the least provinces to benefit from the industry in the country and MCT’s plan to partner with MPG on the sector is welcoming news.

She said there are lots of tourism operators and potentials in the province, however they lack support that hinders the grow of the industry in the province.

Masibata said the development of the industry in the province rests heavily on the support from national government, MPG and resource owners towards it’s thrive in the province.

She said her office through Malaita provincial government looks forward to working closely with MCT through the national government to ensure terms under the MOU are materialized.

Provincial governments are bystanders: Mesepitu

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Premier elect Christian Mesepitu (right) shook hands with the Deputy Speaker (left)

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PREMIER of Western Province says provincial governments are bystanders in decision making as associated powers are centralized with the central government.

Premier Christian Burley Mesepitu described the existing system of governance as “master servant” due to the disproportions in the system.

He said the current governance structure and operation under the Provincial Government Act 1997 basically recognizes provincial governments as “agents” and not an equal partner in development.

Mesepitu said the system was designed with fundamental flaws in the structural arrangement that has performance obstacles with poor ability to cater for Western conventions and service delivery.

He said the disbanding of the Area Council in the 1990s by a mere Cabinet decision was for the sake of financial relieve only to serve few communities from the formal state apparatus.

Mesepitu stressed people have been distanced due to negligence of addressing and giving equal participation of provinces in decision making.

“Note that almost 80 to 90 percent of Solomon Islands population live in rural communities while the National Government is located in Honiara. The closest government that deals with the people is the provincial government. This simple understanding should be a solution to development issues which never addressed in the country,” he said.

Mesepitu suggests that core reform should focus on decentralization of service delivery, associated powers, functions and role within the national structure.

“To further isolate provincial governments by undermining both their political and practical relevance, and making them appear as inefficient, failure and unable to respond to the inevitable need for change in Solomon Islands is besieged and need immediate intervention,” he said.

Mesepitu reiterates call for State Government

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Premier Christian Burlay Mesepitu delivers his speech

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PREMIER of Western Province has reiterated his call to fast track the federal system of government.

Premier Christian Burlay Mesepitu made the call in the presence of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and government ministers during the second appointed celebration yesterday.

He said Western Province welcomes the government’s undertaking and progress towards the determination for state government system.

Mesepitu also acknowledged the Democratic Coalition Government Advancement (DCGA) under Sogavare’s leadership in recognizing the significance and determination of provinces who have called for self-autonomy through the adaptation of the federal system governance.

“Western Province welcomes the government’s timeline for the transition of existing governance structure to federal system of governance which is set to 2026.

“There are reservations from certain quarters as to whether provinces are actually ready to down the federal system pathway. Such reservations centres mostly on cost implications of adopting and operationalizing such a system, the issue of capacity at the provincial level to administer such a system and other associate issues.

“Such concerns are genuine and the ball is in our court and it is up to us provincial governments to ensure we are ready to take up the challenge. While provinces differ in terms of geography, population, resources, land mass, capacity, infrastructure development and other critical aspects, it does not mean all provinces will attain or adopt the federal system at the same time.

“We can explore options and make our decisions based on which province are most ready or we can deal with the three major provinces first and the rest can follow suit at a later date,” he said.

Mesepitu said the regrettable event which took place at Honiara few weeks ago should provide a catalyst for the country and leaders to stop, think and focus on correct but also effective political directions.

He said the destiny of the people and the country should be built based on the interest of the people as the country continues to experience influence by geo-politics and other global concerns.

Mala provincial govt visit tourism operators

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE Department of Tourism in Malaita province had recently visited tourism operators in the northeast areas of Ata within the province.

The purpose of the visit is to help guide operators to abide to the “minimum standards and classification for tourism accommodation” as promoted in the country.

Malaita provincial tourism officer, Rose Masibata told this paper yesterday that the required minimum standard is important for tourism accommodation and operators to try and live up to.

She said under the minimum standards, design accommodation for tourism must meet required measurements of certain aspects of the building to suit comfortable stay for tourists.

Masibata added that the minimum standard doesn’t apply only for accommodation alone, but also to other activities that are connected to the accommodation. 

She said a total of nine operators had visited the program and most of them have knowledge on the idea as portrayed in the accommodation.

Masibata said the minimum standards and classification for tourism accommodation applies to home-stay, bungalow, resort, motel and even hotel which not only looks at comfortable stay for tourist, but promotes the industry.

On that note, she also said that during the visit as well, operators managed to understand differences of these types of accommodations and activities pertaining to them.

“The visit was also in preparation to boost tourism industry in the province as we expect to receive tourists whenever our border is open back next year.

“And for the purpose of the business, it doesn’t mean only tourist, but there are locals who will be using the accommodation if they have a chance,” Masibata said.

She said most of these operators had started their home-stays with the support received from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT).

Gizo Sick patients receive Christmas gifts

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Prime Minister Sogavare comfort and encourage one of the patient at Gizo Hospital during his visit

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

SICK patients both young and old at the Gizo Hospital received early Christmas gifts from Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, his wife and Ministers of the National Government when they visited the hospital yesterday.

Prime Minister Sogavare’s courtesy visit to Gizo hospital is part of Western Province Second Appointed Day.

 Prime Minister Sogavare and his team joined Members of the Western Provincial Government led by Premier Christian Burley Mesepitu for the visit to the hospital.

Prime Minister Sogavare and Madam Sogavare speaking to one of the sick patient at the hospital

The team visited every ward, presenting gifts as well as encouraging the sick to have faith and also wishing them speedy recovery.

More than 100 patients received gifts from the Prime Minister and his team.

The visit was emotional for a few patients while majority put on brave faces and smiled as the Prime Minister greeted them followed by presentation of gifts.

Prime Minister Sogavare, Ministers from National government, Premier and Officials from provincial Government with Gizo hospital staffs pose for a photo after the handingover of donation.

The visit ended with handing over of donation which was witnessed by nurses and doctors of Gizo hospital.

Director of Western Province Health Authority, Doctor Dickson Boara received the donation on behalf of the Gizo Hospital staff and management.

Nation has 9 missions abroad

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jerry Manele

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands has maintained nine Missions and one Consulate General Office abroad following the covid-19 pandemic.

These include the Embassies:

  1. Havana, Cuba in America;
  2. Jakarta, Indonesia;
  3. Beijing, China
  4. Brussels, Belgium

High Commission offices:

  1. Canberra, Australia;
  2. Suva, Fiji;
  3. Wellington, New Zealand;
  4. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea;
  5. Permanent Mission in New York, United States,
  6. Consulate office in Brisbane, Australia.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade has closed down the Solomon Islands Embassy in London, United Kingdom this year and Permanent Mission in Geneva, Switzerland in 2020.

Minister Manele said: “As you know operationalizing and running of these Mission are very costly exercise for the government.”

He said therefore the Government took a tough decision to close our High Commission in London.

This followed the closure of Geneva Mission in 2020.

“The Ministry will continue to assess and continue its diplomatic posture to ensure we effectively manage and support our oversea missions in order to gain maximum benefits from these investments,” he said.

Furthermore, to consolidate the closure of London Mission, Manele said the Ministry has appointed John Geoffrey Freeman as its Honorary Consul for the Consular District of London, United Kingdom.

“Freeman’s appointment will complement the work of the Brussels mission in facilitating and promoting economic, trade and cultural interests for Solomon Islands in the UK including providing consular services to Solomon Islands citizens visiting, studying and residing in the United Kingdom,” he said.

Manele said the Ministry is also working on finalizing the appointment of the Honorary consul for the Federal Republic of Germany hopefully by the end of this year or early next year.

In addition, Manele said this year, his Ministry has commissioned and facilitated the appointment of four Heads of Missions.

These our Ambassador to China, High Commissioner to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji

He said there is still one vacant Head of Mission post that is Permanent Representative to Solomon Islands Mission to New York, which is also accredited as Ambassador to US and High Commissioner to Canada.

“We have already identified a candidate and hopefully a candidate will take up posting early next year,” he added.

Need to protect border

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Police officers patrolling the Western border with Bougainville. PHOTO ABC

By EDDIE OSIFELO

SOLOMON Islands has seen the need to protect her five maritime borders with Australia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

This is because it has an Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.598 million square kilometres compared to the two percent in terms of land territory and an important natural resource and a primary source of income livelihood for our people.

Like other Small Islands developing states, Solomon Islands is also vulnerable to climate change, sea level rise and other catastrophic events.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele told Parliament last week that Solomon Islands have signed maritime boundary treaties with Australia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu except with Fiji.

He said the two currently enforced are with the Australia Solomon Islands Maritime Boundary Treaty 1998 and Solomon Islands New Caledonia French Maritime Boundary treaty 1990 .

Manele said two have been signed but yet to enforce are Solomon Islands Papua New Guinea Maritime Boundary Treaty and Solomon Islands Vanuatu Maritime Boundary treaty 2016.

He said one is still outstanding the Solomon Islands Fiji Maritime Boundary treaty.

“At the moment the Ministry is in the final stages of entering into force the Solomon Islands Papua New Guinea Maritime Boundary treaty and the Solomon Islands Vanuatu Maritime Boundary treaty

“These are the two Maritime Boundary treaties that are signed but yet to enter into force,” he added.

Manele said his Ministry priority is to determine the outer limits of our maritime zones and concludes outstanding maritime boundary treaties and register them with United Nations in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (‘UNCLOS’).

“This will give permanent recognition that our baseline and maritime zones within our maritime boundaries will not be challenged or reduced even in the event of rising sea levels

“This will indeed create certainty and stability of expectations on both sides of the border,” he said.

“The message here is once we deposit our maritime boundary zones as established in accordance with UNCLOS with the UN Secretary General, these maritime boundaries will not change or reduce or challenge as a result of fiscal changes to the baselines resulting from climate change and sea level rise.

“This practice will reiterate legal principles undermine the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea including the principle of legal stability, security, certainty and predictability,” he said.

Manele said “As Small Islands Developing States collectively working together with other Pacific SIDS in the region is critical.

“We raised our voice as one Blue Pacific regionally and globally to address common issues of concerns affecting us in the region such as climate change, sustainable development, covid 19, cyber security, illegal fishing, transnational crime, human trafficking to name a few.

“Through established regional mechanisms, my ministry will continue to work together with our regional organisations such the Pacific Islands Forum, The Pacific Community (SPC), Forum Fisheries Agency and others to address these issues of concern that are dear to us,” he added.

Ahetaha Water Conservation Empowers East Are’ Are Women.

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Group photo of the participants attending the two days workshop training at Ahetaha Conservation Training Centre.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

AHETAHA Water Conservation Association (AWCA) has successfully completed a two days community collaboration and training on maintenance and operation of the WASH program from the 18th to 19th November at Ahetaha, ward 19 of East Are Are Constituency.

The training is part of AWCA’s community service for the following affiliated communities; Foulofo, Kanata, Su’u, Manawai, Ahetaha, Raeao and Nariao’a village.

The Coordinator of AWCA Eddie Huitarau said the program was the fourth phase of SPC-HRSD Pacific People Advancing Change (PPAC) Small Grants targeted for Pacific People Advancing Change towards advocacy campaign on any particular issue identified by pacific people that needs special attention.

He said the AWCA Advocacy campaign for this phase is premised on “promoting women in WASH with operation and maintenance skills in rural communities and settings”.


Group presentation led by Ms Mary Takaramu during the training at Ahetaha Conservation Training centre.

Huitarau said activity of the program was mainly on hardware component which advocated for involvement and wider participation of women in rural WASH committees.

Adding this is especially on planning to highlight greater importance and to have women’s participation at community level, and to avoid the burden of women lacking basic technical skills when needs arise in their own settings.

He said from the workshop, most of these women have seen the challenges of being the male advocators, taking initiative to prioritise women and girls for WASH activities.

One of the participants, Belinda Watewari expressed her appreciation to AWCA coordinator saying, “we as women have realised our own challenges and concerns in the face of WASH facilities.

“What saddened us is the fact that it was difficult for women elites of Aiaisi ward 19 to see this need from the lens of women themselves, instead you have identified this challenge as an individual from a community and lead this idea as a cross cutting issue best fit to exposé as an important agenda for East Are Are communities,” she said.

Huitarau said the training is part of Human Rights and Social Development (HRSD) project targeted for women and it aims to achieve this by advancing human rights, equality and social inclusion for all pacific people, grounded in cultural values and principles.

He said the project was funded through the SPC-Building positive advocacy capacity to advance human rights, a twelve-month funded program working with Civil Society Organizations on innovative ways to improve water, sanitation and hygiene for women and girls in the rural villages.


Group discussing before presentation to be led by the group leader Ms Belinda of Foulofo village.

Huitarau said the project is led by PPAC in collaboration with AWCA and the partnership includes financial oversight, management and coordination of the project, with an implementing team made up of AWCA and WASH specialists in the communities. 

He said the key WASH tools and approaches used in the project includes; Community Led Total Sanitation, WASH Facility Improvement Tool, and Social Marketing approaches to improve hygiene practice and behaviors.

Huitarau explained that the CLTS training approaches provide skills and motivation to households for women to effectively assess, plan, act and monitor WASH improvements to achieve safe, secure and inclusive WASH.  

He said the project seeks to empower rural women to gain skills and knowledge to enable them to repair basic WASH facilities for their families to meet family hygiene and other family needs and cultural obligations.

Huitarau said that for this phase, AWCA identified that although women begin to access WASH facilities within their homes and communities, there is still problem with low cost and inappropriate material used by women across many rural communities and villages in East Are Are.


AWCA Coordinator, Mr Eddie Huitarau introducing the training to the participants during the first day of the training inside AWCA training centre.

“In terms of our project outcome, our expected change over time is for women members in WASH committees to be aware of WASH facilities Operation and maintenance and practices and know how to apply and use them.

“Furthermore, the immediate result we want to see is for women committee members to have better awareness on WASH facilities Operation and Maintenance,” he said.

Huitarau said the training was facilitated by AWCA Coordinator, Mr Eddie Huitarau, Mr James Singi and Mr John Haroka and attended by 30 female participants from the mentioned communities.

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