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.
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).
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.
SOLOMON Islands has maintained nine Missions and one Consulate General Office abroad following the covid-19 pandemic.
These include the Embassies:
Havana, Cuba in America;
Jakarta, Indonesia;
Beijing, China
Brussels, Belgium
High Commission offices:
Canberra, Australia;
Suva, Fiji;
Wellington, New Zealand;
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea;
Permanent Mission in New York, United States,
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.
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.
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.
PM and Western Premier giving 3 happy cheers marking the provincial appointed day
BY BEN BILUA Gizo
PRIME Minister, Manasseh Sogavare has congratulated Western Province for the progress made over the past 38 years.
He made the statement during Western Province’s Second Appointed day yesterday.
Sogavare said Western Province has grown economically and socially over the past year making it one of the huge contributor to the country’s economic development.
He adds that Western Province has been leading the country’s infrastructure developments because of cooperation between landowners and developers that welcomes development.
Sogavare acknowledged the government and people of Western province for the ongoing support towards Solomon Islands.
In his speech, Premier of Western Province, Christian Burley Mesepitu acknowledged the presence of Prime Minister Sogavare and Government Ministers describing it as historical.
“This year 2021 marks the 38th Anniversary of Western Province since it was recognised as a province. Today’s occasion which is graced by our Honorable Prime Minister is no less significant and should be embraced and commemorated with equal zest and enthusiasm,” he said.
Mesepitu said his newly elected government is looking forward to work closely with the national government, donor partners and also traditional partners in driving the province’s development aspirations.
He said the recently launched Commodity Export Management Authority (CEMA) program at Noro on Monday demonstrates the province’s willingness to allocate land for national development to roll.
Malaita businessman, John Kwaita. PHOTO: Facebook profile
BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
POLICE yesterday charged prominent Malaitan John Kwaita in relation to the recent riots in Honiara before they released him on bail.
Kwaita, who is also President of the United Party, will front the Honiara Magistrate’s court on February 2, accused of being part of the three days of rioting and looting that left parts of Honiara in ruins.
He was arrested on Monday evening and kept overnight in police custody.
A police spokesman told the Island Sun last night Kwaita has been charged with unauthorised public assembly and public procession contrary to regulation 14(1) & (3) (a) of the emergency powers (COVID -19) (N0.3) 2021; regulation 4 of the emergency powers (COVID-19) (Declaration of Honiara as Emergency Zone (Amendment) Order 2020; section 21 (b) of the penal code.
“Yes, he was charged and released on bail to appear in court on 2 February 2022,” the spokesman said.
Kwaita becomes the first high profile Malaitan to have been arrested in relation to the recent rioting that left Chinatown and parts of Honiara in ruins.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has accused the Malaita Provincial Government and members of the Opposition Group in Parliament of planning and backing the protest that led to the riot.
He vowed police will hunt down those who are behind the riot.
Members of the Opposition have denied the accusation.
Police have so far arrested more than 200 youths, accusing them of taking part in the rioting and looting.
Kwaita’s arrest came a day after Opposition leader Mathew Wale called for police to investigate PM Sogavare’s alleged involvement in the abduction and planned executive of Northwest Guadalcanal MP Bodo Dettke and former West Kwaio MP late John Garo in 2000 at the height of the ethnic tension.
Sogavare has rejected the accusation in parliament last week during a no-confidence vote tabled against him.
Island Sun understands names of a number of high profiled Malaitans and members of the Opposition are in the police’s “arrest list”.
THE Government has seen the need to beef up its Mission in Brussels, Belgium, after it closed the offices in United Kingdom and Geneva in Switzerland due to the impact of covid-19.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manale told Parliament last week that Solomon Islands engagement with the bilateral and multi-lateral partners in Europe including the European Union through the Mission in Brussels is crucial in our foreign policy outreach in promoting our interests in that part of the world.
He said since it closed our Missions in Geneva and London, his ministry has consolidated and beefed up our Mission in Brussels to represent our interest in Europe.
Manele said some of the key achievements and deliverables with our Mission in Brussels in 2021 are as follows.
Solomon Islands Accession to the EU-Pacific interim Economic Partnership Agreement.
He said the Interim EPA for EU and Pacific states enable Solomon Islands to access the EU market for its export in goods especially tuna products.
Manele said in 2020 Solomon Islands became the fourth Pacific Islands country to accede to the Interim EPA joining Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.
PNG has acceded to the EU Interim EPA since 2009, followed by Fiji in 2014 and Samoa in 2019.
Solomon Islands had been accessing the United Kingdom market for exports of palm oil and tuna through the European Union’s Everything But Arms (EBA) arrangement available for Least Developed Countries (LDC).
Anticipating Solomon Islands graduation from the LDC category in 2024, Solomon Islands in May 2020 acceded to the European Union Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (Interim EPA) with PNG, Fiji and Samoa.
He said in May this year, Solomon Islands benefited from the Global Sourcing Provision of IEPA for its tuna export to EU enabling Soltuna and other potential fish processing investors in Solomon Islands to source tuna from a third country supplier and have it processed locally and qualify as an originating product from Solomon Islands.
Further to that, Manele said the Ministry has also successfully completed Solomon Islands – EU 8th Enhanced Political dialogue on 13th October 2021.
He said an important aspect of the EU ACP Cotonou agreement political dialogue enables bilateral discussion between SI and EU on strengthening our development partnership.
“Solomon Islands use this platform to address common priorities to strengthen our engagement with the EU including addressing covid-19 pandemic, enhancing trade cooperation, concluding the Post Cotonou negotiations, promoting climate actions, combating IUU fishing and promoting ocean governance and protecting human rights,” he said.
Furthermore, Manele said on 15th April 2021, Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and EU concluded negotiations on a new agreement in succeeding the Cotonou agreement.
He said the new agreement would be called the SAMOA agreement.
Manele said the new agreement has regional protocol for each of the OACPS regions to which there will be EU-Pacific regional protocol.
He said the key aspects of the regional agreement will be cooperation on trade and investment, development and regionalization.
Manele said it will cover a large number of areas such as sustainable development and growth, human rights and peace, and security with the aim of promoting regional integration.
The Leader of the Independent Group in Parliament has reminded the Minister of Finance and Treasury to be truthful and consistent in his responses when informing parliament of government policies and programmes, in particular those that are under his portfolio and leadership.
John Dean Kuku made this reminder in a statement following Finance Minister Harry Kuma’s statement in parliament during the motion of sine die which was also carried by the Solomon Star newspaper on 11 December 2021.
Kuma referred to the Customs and Excise Validation (Amendment) Bill 2021 as part of the government’s reform agenda however, went on to reveal that the Bill will be withdrawn in 2022 quoting that “major targeted legal issues that require Parliament’s consideration were already formalized by a Gazette in 2018”.
But Kuku questioned why it took the government three years to realise that the targeted legal issues were already formalised in the 2018 Gazette.
“Was it not that those issues were only brought to light by the Bills and Legislation Committee in its scrutiny of the Bill?” Kuku asked.
He said the Object of the Bill was to (a) give effect to the HS Code 2017 on and from 1st October 2018; and (b) validate the import duty rates and export duty rates levied and collected under the Customs and Excise Act on and from 1st October 2018.
In his contribution to the motion of no confidence last week, Kuku highlighted the failure of the government to pursue passage of the Customs and Excise Validation (Amendment) Bill 2021.
He pointed out that the collection of duties by way of import and export duties under the Customs and Duties Act (Cap. 121) under the Harmonized System (HS) Code 2017 from October 1, 2018 was never authorised by law which was a serious matter.
“If I have misguided Parliament as stated by the Minister, which I strongly deny, can the minister explain why the Customs and Excise Validation (Amendment) Bill seeks to regulate the collection of export and import duties since October 1 2018?”.
“This implies or suggests that the minister is seeking to rectify or, to use a crude word, ‘cover-up’ a blunder caused by the government through the Ministry of Finance in the collection of unauthorized customs duties under the HS Code 2017.
“Everything said by the Minister is on record therefore I find it very difficult to comprehend his persistent denial of facts.”
Kuku further noted that the same ministry who was responsible for issuing drafting instructions for the Bill has backtracked on its own policy intention and is now saying that all is well and therefore intends to withdraw it in 2022.
The Leader advised that the government through the Ministry of Finance simply lacked the political will and diligence to withdraw the Bill to prevent us arriving at this dilemma.
Kuku also stressed the importance of being truthful, which he believes the Minister has consistently failed to meet this standard.
The Bills and Legislation Committee report on the Bill has recommended withdrawal and redrafting of the Bill due to possible infringement of the Constitution.
Kuku said what transpired from the Minister’s remarks were misfired denials which he apparently came out of unscathed.
“However, what cannot be denied is we are now in the festive season hence I warmly wish the Minister a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2022.”
