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HCC schools close early

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

MORE than twenty schools under the Honiara City Council Education Authority have agreed to close down schools early due to the unrest and the current unstable situation.

Elision Mane Honiara City Council Education Authority Chief Education Officer said the decision will be submitted to the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. 

Mane said school leaders have come up this decision based on some key points. This include transport issue as most teachers have reside far from their schools and also the danger of having COVID-19 virus the country as students were not vaccinated.

He also echoed that students and teachers have been traumatised with the recent unrest.

The meeting was held at St John School yesterday in Honiara.

Anglican clergies urged to strengthen pastoral mission.

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CLERGIES of the Anglican Church of Melanesian have been urged to strengthen pastoral mission.

The advise was made following reports from Correctional Service of Solomon Islands (CSSI) which states that 97 percent of those imprisoned are members of Anglican Church.

According to CSSI, the rate has increased this year compared to a 2016 report which indicated that 90 percent of prisoners are members of the church.

This report stunned clergies who attended the recent Synod held at Selwyn College which summoned Anglican Church clergies and also church leaders nationwide.

Serious discussions have been made for possible interventions that would pave a way forward for the church to address the issue.

On the same token, members of the Anglican Church have been urged to adhere to the church’s Christian values, principles and traditions while helping the country to grow economically and spiritually.

According to World Population Review, Solomon Islands has 92 percent of Christian population and 35 percent of the total Christian population are member of Anglican Church of Melanesia.

Foreign intervention personnel fully vaccinated

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

Minister of Health and Medical Service, Dr Culwick Togamana has defended the intervention force of Australia and Papua New Guinea who arrived last Thursday to help restore law and order in Honiara following the peaceful protest that turned violent against Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

Former Prime Minister Rick Hou has questioned the government in Parliament yesterday whether the intervention force personnel have gone through covid-19 protocols as they were seen on the streets upon arrival.

However, Togamana said he has been thoroughly briefed that all the personnel coming are fully vaccinated and tested before they came in the country.

He said they were tested negative.

“Tests done at medical lab, and all negative and I am pleased for personels arrive in the country.

“The Standard Operation Procedures are strictly followed especially for defence force, they must put on their masks and live separately,” he said.

In addition, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said they required to be double vaccinated, and some go for triple vaccination.

“They have to have negative PCR test before boarding plane, all observed them.

“Then within 48 hours they have tests, then they test every two days on rapid anti-gen testing and must wear masks and limited contact,” he said.

Australia has sent about 100 Defence Force personels following request from Sogavare to quell the protests and riot.

This was based on the bilateral security treaty signed by Australia and the Solomon Islands in Canberra in 2017.

The bilateral security treaty that allows Australian police, defence and associated civilian personnel to be deployed rapidly to the Solomon Islands in the event of an emergency.

While PNG sent 37 Police personnel under a Police-to-Police arrangement to assist in the country’s civil unrest.

Hon Tausinga joins United Party

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UP leader, Hon Peter Kenilorea Jr, centre, new member of UP Hon Tausinga, right, and MP for Central Honiara, Hon. Efona.

The MP for West New Georgia and Vona Vona Silas Vangara Tausinga who resigned from Our Party and the Government last week has joined United Party,

Tausinga was the first of the 5 MPs to leave the government in wake of the riots and looting last week.

On his decision to join UP, Tausinga said: “I am happy to join UP because I believe in its ideals and its practical focus on the strength of a united Solomon Islands, it’s focus on peace and security, sustainable development, more focus on infrastructure, the need to rethink CDF, the importance of good governance, and the need to work closely with our development partners.”

Parliamentary Wing of UP, Peter Kenilorea Junior said: “I am honoured to have Hon. Vangara join our ranks in parliament.”

**He said Vangara shares the common vision and values that UP stands for. **

“He has great ideas on how we can move our nation forward and we welcome his contribution to the UP, the parliament and the nation as a whole. UP did not offer him any incentives, monetary or otherwise to join the party. Hon. Vangara came on his own volition under his own conviction. And I recognize and thank him for that,” Kenilorea said.

The latest addition now increases the number of UP MPs in Parliament to three. The other is the MP for Central Honiara, Alfred Efona.

Huge Turn Out following Mayor’s Clean-Up Call

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Lord Mayor Eddie Siapu, third from right with his colleague councillors before setting out for the clean-up.

Mayor of Honiara City Eddie Siapu thanked business houses, NGOs, community and youth groups for responding to the call for a major voluntary clean in the City.

As the Head of Honiara City Council Governance, he said he is profoundly grateful for the overwhelming turn out.

“I highly appreciate your support in positively responding to my call for voluntary clean-up of our City. Honiara is our home. We live and work in Honiara so we must keep it clean.

“Despite of what happened in the past days, I am indeed grateful that hundreds of residents took part in the clean-up. There are so many of you so that I cannot mention names.”

“However, I give my big thank you to church leaders, community leaders, women leaders, youth leaders, government agencies, private sector companies and NGOs who mobilized your members to come out in numbers for the voluntary clean up. Tagio Tumas oketa wantoks.”


West Honiara youths take part in the clean-up.

“I must again register my appreciation to groups who did clean-up of Honiara City with their own initiative. I understand some groups cleaned up the City, especially China Town, on Sunday.”

“A big thank you to Fijian community, BSP Staff and others who came out voluntarily for this noble task. In addition, I must say thank you to EMCO and SRML company for cleaning the main highway in East Honiara of debris and wreckages on Saturday.”

“Thank you to the Koloale Youths for cleaning Koloale road and other groups who I do not mention. You know who you are so Tagio thank you,” he said.

HCC Media

Maringe leaders call on MP to resign from DCGA

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Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana

LEADERS from the Maringe District House of Chiefs are calling on their Member of Parliament, Dr Culwick Togamana to leave the current government as a form of action and responsibility.

In a letter sent to the MP and Minister for Health and Medical Services yesterday, Paramount Chief, Clement Rojumana questioned why they have not heard from their Parliamentary representative on the looting and burning of properties in the city.

“The current turmoil has affected Our people in the villages in a way or another.

“Our people of Maringe have look to you to at least appraise us on the latest.

Cbief Rojumana said while they cannot control the individual attitudes resulting in the lawlessness seen, they are asking the MP to save the nation and the people he represents in Parliament.

“We ask you to take this stand and to give your best in this circumstance, If is not possible and what we ask means the Prime Minister will have to step aside, to enable the nations capital to return to normalcy.

“If we must bear the unbearable, and do the unthinkable, we would not want you as our MP to be part of a team that brings this nation to its knees,” Chief Rojumana explained.

The call came as two members of the current government reportedly tendered their resignation to the Prime Minister yesterday evening.

The Prime Minister earlier said the only way to remove him from power is through the rightful process within the floor of Parliament.

Listen to the people first: Suidani

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Road block at the Kukum area yesterday. PHOTO: William Ekotani

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

PREMIER of Malaita province, Daniel Suidani wants the Prime Minister to address the demands of the people before he can make a call for peace.

Speaking to the local media in Auki yesterday, Premier Suidani said the situation in Honiara now needs national leaders of parties involved to come down and talk to the people and not run-away from them

“The people are there with their demand, and they want response from the Prime Minister or cabinet on their demand,” he said.

The Premier said he has been continouously bombarded with calls from leaders in Honiara to help calm the situation, but his question to them remains, “who are you?”

“These people come to you as their representatives on the national level, they voted you, just the same as they voted me to be their representative at the provincial level.

“And the issue is directed at you and not me, so it would be appropriate in my view for national members to address the issue and not to run-away from it,” he said.

Suidani said even if he makes a call to calm the situation it won’t work as people will turn on him, because the peoples’ demand is not directed at him.

He said the situation faced now has risen from the Prime Minister and cabinet’s continues tactic of evading people’s demand which has turned into frustration.

“Like every time they go to meet with the PM about their petitions, he avoided them and directed his staff to meet with the people,” Suidani said.

Suidani said the Prime Minister forgot that he is the leader of this country and of these people, so as a leader he must at all time see to the needs of the people when they want to talk to him.

“Everytime, I make calls the national government didn’t listen, now they come to you and it’s your time to deal with them.

“So I want to see if you can address them and I will call for peace, because even if I make a call now it won’t work unless you address their demand first.

“With that I call on PM that if the people wants you to resign, you resign!

“These are the people you lead and if they no longer have the confidence on you, step-down and people will calm down,” he said.

Suidani said this is the only solution to calm down the situation so that it will allow people to choose a government of their choice.

On that note, he called on Malaitan MPs in the DCGA to come out of their hide-outs and talk to the people they represent, otherwise resign from DCGA.

“And my call is for nine Malaitan MPs in the DCGA to resign now so that it would help in addressing the current situation,” he said.

Sogavare loses two

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THE Prime Minister has reportedly lost two of his political supporters after events of the past two days.

While the alleged resignation of the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Senley Levi Filualea is yet to be confirmed despite doing the rounds on social media. There is confirmation that government backbencher and Member of Parliament for West New Georgia and Vona Vona constituency, Silas Vangara Tausinga has tendered his resignation as a member of Manasseh Sogavare’s “Our Party” and subsequently the ruling government.

He made the confirmation to local media outlet, the Solomon Business Magazine Online this evening.

In confirming his resignation, MP Tausinga said it has been a valuable experience being a member of the party, however, due to personal reasons he can no longer remain with the party when his allegiance is no longer with the Parliamentary wing leader which is the Prime Minister.

The Minister of Agriculture and member of the north Malaita constituency had earlier assured constituents that he would resign from the ruling government, however, Island Sun could not verify this report.

The Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare announced that he would not be forced to give up power, as that right can only be taken from him on the floor of Parliament.

This despite calls by both the leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale and Malaita Premier, Daniel Suidani for him to step down in light of the current destruction of Honiara city.

Sogavare said any moves to remove him can only be done on the floor of Parliament.

Despite the departure of the two political supporters of the government, Sogavare expects to have the upper hand in Parliament with the support of 36 Parliamentarians out of the current 49 filled seats. One seat being that of West Kwaio on Malaita remains vacant following the death of its parliamentarian, Titus Fika last week.

AFP here to assist local Police

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The first team of AFP deployment at the Henderson Airport this evening. PHOTO SUPPLIED

THE first Australian Federal Police Officers deployed to assist maintain law and order in Honiara following two days of rioting have arrived at the Henderson Airport, a couple of minutes ago.

The first deployment touched down around 10:40PM with 23 members of the Australian Federal Police’s Specialist Response Group.

The Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison earlier this evening said “Our purpose here is to provide stability and security.

He made the announcement following a meeting of Australia’s National Security Committee of cabinet this afternoon. The meeting was convened after his Solomon Islands counterpart, Manasseh Sogavare urged Australia to help under a security treaty both countries signed in 2017.

According to the Prime Minister Morrison, another 50 AFP officers will be deployed to support critical infrastructure on Friday, as well as 43 Defence Force personnel from Army units based in Townsville.

Mr Morrison said he expected the Australian deployment to last “a matter of weeks”.

“Our purpose here is to provide stability and security to enable the normal constitutional processes, within the Solomon Islands, to be able to deal with the various issues that have arisen,” he said.

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Vehicles being burnt on the streets of Honiara today.

Guadalcanal Province Premier Francis Belande Sade condemns the continuing violence, looting and destruction of properties in Honiara and appeals for peace.

He also calls on the National Government to urgently convene a meeting of Members of Parliament and Provincial Premiers to discuss a solution to the situation.

The violence started on Wednesday following a demonstration calling on the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to resign. It quickly degenerated into looting and the destruction and burning of properties.

Premier Sade calls on “our people to do the right thing and stop the violence and return to your families and communities.”

He said while he understands that some people might have political disagreements with the Central Government, violence and the destruction of properties are not lawful means of expressing political discontent.

Premier Sade says, “we can resolve our differences in a civil manner and by respecting our country’s laws. We cannot correct a perceived wrong by committing another wrong.”

He said the looting and destruction of properties we now see in Honiara is criminal. It is not a lawful political expression.”

“History shows us that similar incidents in the past have not led to positive outcomes. Instead, they have set our country back decades and brought disrepute to our image internationally,” Premier Sade said.

Meanwhile, Premier Sade appeals to Guadalcanal people to refrain from participating in these criminal activities and ask them to return to their homes and ensure the safety of their families and properties.

He also calls on national and provincial leaders to stop politicizing the events by making statements that could potentially worsen the situation. “As leaders, it is our responsibility to calm the situation and facilitate dialogue,” says the Premier.

Premier Sade also thanked members of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), doctors, nurses and other professionals who are working to ensure the health and safety of our people.

“I know this is a difficult situation. I therefore thank you for your tireless efforts to ensure the safety of properties and people. Please know that your efforts are appreciated,” Premier Sade says.

–GP Media

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