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300 + utilize local holiday packages

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Tourism Solomon

By EDDIE OSIFELO

ABOUT 373 passengers have utlised the ‘Iumi Tugeda Holiday Packages’ program introduced by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in March this year.

This is in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Services and the Ministry of Communication & Aviation, in close consultation with Tourism Solomons and Solomon Airline.

Government has injected about $1.34 million to Solomon Airlines during the course of the bubble, which the Airlines used to create new tourism operations in the country.

Most of the passengers who travelled to the domestic resorts and accommodations in the provinces were public servants.

Minister Barthomew Parapolo said in October, there were 14 public servants who utilized the package under the new holiday entitlement.

He said 38 people have used the package to travel domestically.

“We are hoping to increase the number of public servants to use the package in November and December,” he said.

“We hope to see positive increase in 2022,” he said.

Parapolo said despite many challenges, his ministry looks forward to 2022 which is demonstrated in the preparation of their workplan and budget in 2022.

He said MCT hopes to have its budget approved so they can continue implementation of the programme in the DCGA re-direction policy, to get results.

The ‘Iumi Tugeda Holiday Packages’ forms a critical component of the MCT/Tourism Solomons ‘Five Point Strategy’ launched mid-2020 aimed at boosting the country’s domestic tourism numbers.

Court condemns recent rioting

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRINCIPAL Magistrate Felix Hollision says the recent looting and rioting in Honiara must be condemned as it causes fear to members of the public, business owners and investors.

Hollision said the ransacking, looting and burning of shops started from the 24th November 2021 right through to the 26th November 2021.

This case reflects a sad situation where very young people including juveniles defied the curfew regulations as ordered by the Governor-General which became effective from the 26th of November 2021 up to the 10th of December 2021.

He also said the fact that very young people were involved along with adult defendants who were found together at Ranadi, shows that they do not have any respect for the rule of law and they had taken advantage of the situation thinking that they would not be arrested.

“I take cognizance of the fact that innocent foreign investors from countries such as Australia and China, Papua New Guinea which is home to Bank South Pacific (BSP), local Solomon Islanders of Chinese origin, and some indigenous people were heartlessly and unfairly targeted.

“I also take judicial notice of the three locals who have tragically lost their lives during the riots between the 24 and 26th November 2021 in Honiara, although at the moment, it is not clear how the trio got into the scorched building in the first place and whether or not they were part of the looters and hooligans”, Hollision said.

Hollision therefore stressed that people should not take advantage of any given situation to commit crimes and the rule of law must always prevail. That is to say that there is no lawful excuse or justification for the unlawful events that we have seen during the recent deadly riots.

Juveniles fined $500 fines for breaching lockdown order

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THREE male juveniles guilty of breaching the riot related lockdown last month have been fined $500 each.

 Each were found guilty of one count of Restriction of Movement of Persons in Honiara: contrary to Regulation 5(1), (2) (a) and (b); and 9(1) of the Preservation of Public Security Regulations 2021 and section 3 of the Preservation of Public Security Act [Cap 27] and 21(a) of the Penal Code [Cap 26] were sentenced to a fine of $500.

The juveniles were charged together with 17 other adult males in relation to an incident that occurred on November 26th 2021, at around 7pm, Police arrested a group of people at the Bishop brothers, Ranadi area, in which the three juveniles were part of the group.

Principal Magistrate Felix Hollision in sentencing the accused said regulations were made for the preservation of public safety in Honiara aimed at curbing the riots, burning and looting of shops and other private businesses.

The riots and looting between the 24th and 26th of November had resulted in the scorching of more than 50 buildings and destruction of business houses.

“The total loss in which I take judicial notice of is the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) report which stated that the minimum loss is more than SBD 200,000,000 (200 million).

“Many business people which include foreigners, Solomon Islanders who are of Asian origin and indigenous people were rendered homeless because of these senseless and inhuman actions. Lives were sadly lost.

“Thus, disobeying the lockdown or curfew regulations following last three week’s riot should be treated as more serious than the usual lock downs or curfews”, Hollision said.

On November 25 2021, large groups of people started forming in east Honiara. They were then involved in the looting and burning of buildings including the Bank of South Pacific (BSP) Ranadi branch which was set on fire. The level of destruction increased throughout the day. Members of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (the Police) struggled to control the groups of people.

On 26th November 2021, the Governor General declared a curfew on the basis that it was necessary for the preservation of public security to do so, under section 3 of the Preservation of Public Security Act [Cap 27].

The curfew was in force and run between the hours of 7:00pm and 6:00am.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown while Stanley Taedi of the Public Solicitor’s office represents the three juveniles.

Manelusi highlights CSSI’s achievement

Written by
Press Release
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Commissioner Manelusi delivered his remarks during the closing of the office of Commissioners on Friday 10.

COMMISSIONER of the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands (CSSI) Gabriel Manelusi expressed has thanked his staff for a job well-done throughout 2021.

Manelusi expressed his appreciation at CSSI’s year-end gathering recently.

He said some of the achievements made include:

  • New CSTC syllabus of the Policy statements of the Government
  • Promotion of Senior and Subordinate officers
  • Increment from Level 4 – 7 approved by the Commissioner’s decisions
  • Relevelling as of January 2022
  • Released of 16 inmates based on the Parole orders
  • Forum Leaders workshop on Remand, Rehabilitation
  • 130 Positions with 2 x Assistance Commissioner
  • Rotation of Senior leaders
  • Capacity development workshop for Senior leaders
  • Implementation of COVID 19 Standing orders
  • Senior Managers Conference
  • Installation of three new Gensets at Tetere Correctional Centre (TCC) & Rove Central Correctional Centre (RCCC)
  • Installation of 7 Water tanks at RCCC
  • Recruitment of Technical specialists – Nurses, Project/Assist, OHS, Dieticians, Drivers and Communications
  • DFAT Projects – Gizo Correctional Centre & RCCC Sewage
  • Auki Correctional Centre Joinery, Naha walling, RCCC fencing
  • Succession plan, HRD plan
  • Media release and monthly release
  • Advisors – Training Adviser-Angelique and Advisor RRR-Anthony Maelasi

Manelusi also highlighted the agreement between CSSI and external stakeholders.

These were signed with:

  • Assa Abloy Australia Pty Limited – Lock smith
  • Mental Health Service
  • Global Vision Company
  • Solomon Rice Company Ltd
  • Soltuna
  • IBM – Island Bible Ministries
  • QCS – Queensland Correctional Service

 He said the future direction for CSSI as of 2022 will focus on:

  • Identifying potential skills for CSSI to further invest in HR development.
  • National Peacebuilding, Prevention, Rehabilitation Advisory Board meeting with PS’s and Donor partners on 16th February 2022
  • Refresher courses for CSSI
  • Stakeholders meeting on mentally-ill patients and convicts
  • Scheme of services
  • Civil engineer for a one year design infrastructure
  • Review of CSSI Strategic Direction – Mission, Vision, Goals, Values
  • Completion of the 20 years CSSI National Infrastructure master plan
  • Filling up the Assistant Commissioners
  • Design a 1-2 years leadership training for middle managers
  • Establishment of proper Mental facility
  • Improvement of piggery, poultry & farming at TCC for 2023
  • Inmates community work program
  • Set leadership standards & discipline
  • Seek donor support for uniform

Commissioner Manelusi acknowledged all members and CSSI families across Solomon Islands for their support.

He also extended his gratitude to the three Advisors – George Samuel, Angelique and Anthony Maelasi.

Communities receive fishing rafters (FAD)

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Members of Hauhui community during the preparation of their FAD that deployed early this month.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

COMMUNITIES from Hauhui, Malo’u and Tawanikeni on west Are Are and Small Malaita constituencies recently recieved Fishing Aggregate Devises (FAD) in their waters.

Malaita provincial senior fisheries officer in Auki, Matthew Isihanua who administered the deployment of the FADs told this paper yesterday.

He said the FADs were deployed in the first week of this month and people are now catching fish and benefiting from them.

Isihanua said the FAD program was part of MPG’s support towards improving livelihood of people, especially those in coastal communities in the province.

He said the ultimate aim of the programme is to try and shift people’s behavior from overharvesting marine habitats like reefs and mangroves to FADs out in the ocean.

Isihanua said for these recent deployed FADs, they were funded by communities and the MPA through their Ward Development Committee (WDC).

He said the FAD at Hauhui was funded by members of the community and donor partners.

The two FADs on Small Malaita were funded by MPA, Dickson Pola through his WDC for his people of ward 21, which also covered wards 20 and 19.

He said for the past three years, more than 100 FADs were deployed around the province.

Isihanua said the funding of these FADs came under partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource, MPG, WorldFish and Provincial Assembly Members through their WDCs.

Solomon Finance ready to operate in 2022

Written by
Press Release
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SINPF Building in Honiara

SOLOMON Finance Limited, a credit institution owned by Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF), is expected to commence its lending operation in the new year.

SINPF board chairman Dr Jimmie Rodgers announced this on Tuesday.

Rodgers said the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) has just granted Solomon Finance its licence to conduct its banking business.

“This is another major milestone in the Fund’s 45-year journey enabling the Board through Solomon Finance Limited an investee company of the Fund to provide competitively priced financial products to its members,” Rodger said.

“Solomon Finance Limited will offer alternative financial products, from personal to home loans to our eligible members so that they can invest in their well-being in education, health, to owning a home and to take part in income-generating activities whilst still in employment and at the same time actively contributing to their retirement savings with the SINPF,” he added.

“This service or benefit is consistent with the Fund’s objective and vision to support members build up their wealth for their old age and retirement whilst they are active and still in employment. 

“It has taken the Board more than 12 years to achieve this milestone and I would like to thank past SINPF Boards and management who have in one way or another contributed to the proposal of establishing a separate viable credit institution for its members.

“I would also like to thank the PSDI of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for providing technical support in assisting the Fund’s investment team preparing the feasibility and business case for the new credit institution for approval by the Minister of Finance in 2018 and later application to the CBSI for an interim license that was approved and issued in November 2019.

“And finally, my congratulations to the new Board and management of SFL who were appointed in October 2020 for finally securing SFL’s interim license conversion to a full license after meeting the requirements of the CBSI, contained in the interim license.

“Thank you, you have done a great job.”

Rodgers said Solomon Finance Limited plans to open for business in the first quarter of 2022.

Its office is located on the ground floor of the Anthony Saru Building (ASB), Hibiscus Avenue, Honiara.

US envoy warns of aid that benefits one person, party

Written by
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.

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