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SEA CHASE IN MALAITA

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Speaker leaves Auki unexpectedly before swearing in of new MARA ministers

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

In an unprecedented turn of events to Malaita’s political upheaval, yesterday saw a high-speed sea chase of Malaita’s provincial speaker from Auki to the Central province.

Report says Speaker Ronnie Butala was supposed to have facilitated the swearing in of five new ministers to the Malaita Alliance for Rural Advancement (MARA) government, but left Auki unexpectedly onboard MV Taimareho.

Mr Butafa last night told Island Sun he had not been aware of the swearing in.

Premier Daniel Suidani has described Mr Butala’s action as “intentionally shirking and neglecting his duties”.

The swearing in was however carried out later the day under a commissioner of oath in Auki.

According to a provincial security officer, who was among those who chased MV Taimareho, the ship left Auki wharf at 8am yesterday morning.

He said shortly after the ship departed, members of MARA executive called Butafa’s mobile phone to check whether he was in Auki or in East Kwaio.

The security said all attempts were futile and they deduced that he must have left with MV Taimareho.

He said the captain of the ship was called to stop the ship while it was at Alite reef (only few kilometres from Auki).

“This is so that a boat could come over and check for Butala and return him back to Auki to facilitate the swearing-in.”

He said on their way they found that the ship had not stopped at Alite as arranged, but continued on its journey.

The security personnel said this forced them to continue with the chase, until they realised that they were running out of fuel; they had 10 gallons on a 60hp engine.

So, they called on the RSIPF for help with their fast craft in Auki.

He said within the boats were provincial security officers and police officers who chased the ship until Nggella where the ship slowed down after many attempts to signal the captain to slow down.

The security officer said they went boarded and relayed the message sent by Premier Suidani to Butafa, but he refused to return with them to Auki. They then returned to Auki.

Speaking to Island Sun last night, Butafa explains that he was not aware of the swearing-in because his office did not receive any notice from the premier.

He adds, he was at his office until 6pm on Monday but no one from the premier’s office came to notify him.

Butala said he had only learned of the swearing-in when the officers told him onboard Taimareho.

However, he said even he had been in Auki yesterday, a swearing in could not have been possible because he would have had to “seek legal interpretation first”.

Butala said recently Suidani filed a case against the deputy speaker on the delay of the swearing-in of the five appointed ministers and the matter is before court.

He adds, in order to facilitate the swearing-in of the appointed ministers, his office must receive appointment from the Minister of MPGIS.

Butala said the matter is complicated as it associated with law, which needs proper and thorough interpretation.

He said he left for Honiara to mourn with the families of his niece who had passed-on and will be back in Auki later this week.

Police question 2 over death of 7-yo girl in Kolombangara

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Gizo police, Western Province, are investigating an incident involving the death of a seven-year-old girl alleged to have been raped and killed near a village in North Kolombangara.

Gizo police confirmed yesterday they are questioning two suspects.

Gizo Police also confirmed the girl was a student of Sausepe Primary School in Kolombangara.

According to Police Media, the girl had gone missing on October 14.

Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu said investigation into the matter continues to make sure responsible people face justice for their actions.

 “On the initial report, the deceased told her elder siblings on their way home after school as they walked together that she was hungry so she started running ahead of them to quickly reach home.

“She reached a sharp bend of the main road where her siblings were not able to see her. When her siblings arrived home, they did not see her, that is when they alerted their parents, and the search began.”

Police Media said the search began three days ago but was unsuccessful, however on October 16 they found her school bag containing her slipper and her school uniform hidden among the roots of a tree.

“The search continued and on Monday this week they found her body inside a creek, which was in a state of decomposition but it is visible that her two arms were missing with a wound on her shoulder and bruises on her thighs,” police said.

Lenialu sends his condolences to the family of the deceased for the loss of their little girl.

 “Police urges parents to look out for your little ones and always take extra care especially for females who have seen to be the victim in such sad incidents. Children this age cannot fight for themselves and should be accompanied by adults,” PPC Lenialu emphasises.

Premier Gina condemns brutal killing of 7-yo girl

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

PREMIER of Western Province has condemned the brutal killing of a seven-year-old girl, describing the action as barbaric and senseless.

Mr David Gina said those found guilty must receive the toughest punishment and the law of the land must respect and honour the life of the innocent girl at all levels.

“The school girl was innocent and her life was cut short. It is common sense that there is no single right for a person to take away the life of another person – meaning life must be fair and respected,” he said.

Gina calls on the law enforcement agencies to launch an investigation as soon as possible so that those behind the barbaric killing face justice.

He also calls on communities in North Kolombangara to help police in their investigations to arrest the suspects.

Women’s Groups, churches and leaders of Western Province have also expressed anger towards the inhuman action.

Report reaching Island Sun Gizo alleges that the girl was raped and murdered.

Police have confirmed that two suspects have been arrested and questioned.

LOs threaten to boycott Suidani’s trip to Afio

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Premier of Malaita province Daniel Suidani

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

& IRWIN ANGIKI

AFIO landowners say they will boycott the proposed awareness planned by the Malaita premier for South Malaita.

The landowners are requesting that Premier Daniel Suidani hands over the perpetual estate (PE) land title over the land on which Afio sub-station sits.

And, unless Premier Suidani has any plans to do this in his planned trip to South Malaita, the landowners say there will be no meeting, consultation or awareness held in Afio.

But, Premier Suidani in an interview yesterday says what the landowners are requesting is not possible.

Mr Suidani pleads the landowners for understanding and patience, saying dialogue over the issue is forthcoming.

Speaking to the paper last week, deputy chairman to the Talahanea Original Land and Resource Owners Association (TOLOA) Mr Peter Iroka explains the issue of Afio land is a longstanding problem that dates back to the colonial days.

“In 1979, the title to Afio land was given to the Malaita provincial government to facilitate its transfer back to the landowners from the new government of Solomon Islands.

“The lease over Afio land which was held by the colonial government had expired in 1978.

“Since then, successive provincial governments of Malaita have ignored this matter, until former premier Peter Ramohia, who facilitated the process of giving the title back to the landowners with land reform consultations and launching of the TOLOA constitution.

“The current premier, Mr Suidani, refuses to continue the work that premier Ramohia had done, and insists that we go back to the beginning and dialogue and consult various authorities, which kills all the hard work that we had done with Ramohia. This is inconsiderate and suspicious of premier Suidani.

“Since we have already done the dialogue and other processes, we are in the stage of expecting the Premier to hand over the PE title to us, landowners. Nothing more.”

In response, Premier Suidani, speaking to the paper yesterday, pleads to the landowners of Afio land for their understanding and patience on the matter.

He adds that it is “something that is for us to discuss together and move forward with”.

On the overall, Suidani says he is simply being careful and does not want to rush things.

“When the Afio landowners approached me with land transfer documents to sign, I refused simply because I had no idea or understanding of that matter.

“Though I am premier, I cannot just issue or hand over properties left and right without knowledge of the Malaita provincial assembly, or the matter being well understood by all stakeholders, which includes MARA government, the people and landowners, and the provincial administration.

“I just came in and they assumed that I knew about this matter, which is wrong.

“And, the MPA for that ward in which Afio is located, had advised me to hold back from signing the documents and research and understand this matter thoroughly first.”

Suidani acknowledges this concern raised by the Afio landowners, saying their grievances are “genuine” and “true”.

“This is a complicated issue, with paper work involving a previous caretaker government, which in my view should not have made promises to the landowners while in caretaker mode.

“I and my executive and administration need to well understand this issue first before we discuss any handing over. The landowners’ claims are genuine and something to discuss.”

When asked whether he will go ahead with the planned trip to Afio, Premier Suidani said the awareness is important for people of South Malaita, to keep them up to date with current affairs of the province.

Meanwhile, explaining the issue of Afio land, MPG Lands officer Mr George Hoatamauri supports Premier Suidani’s assertions that it is a complicated matter.

Hotamauri reveals that a return of the title to landowners will result in a titanic cost for the Malaita provincial government (MPG).

“MPG will responsible to compensate for all properties within Afio, which will be costly and MPG is not prepared for this.”

Hoatamauri confirms the title is currently with the province after it was transferred to them by the Ministry of Lands (MLHS) through the national government few years after the country’s independence.

He said the South Seas Evangelical Church (SSEC) first held the title of Afio land under perpetual estate (outright purchase/freehold) status in the colonial days.

“This is was after they purchased the land from the landowners for 36 British Pounds.

“After the independence – in 1979, the land act was in place and entails that no foreigner like SSEC would hold a perpetual estate or absolute title of a land in the country.

“So under the law, the SSEC gave back the land to government and in return government offered SSEC a lease hold of the land but the Church did not show interest.

“This is when Malaita provincial government came in with the interest to have Afio for its substation in the southern region of the province.

“Under that arrangement, the MLHS through the national government transferred the title to MPG and currently the title is with premier and Malaita provincial assembly.”

Like Premier Suidani, Hotamauri sympathises with the Afio landowners, saying:

“Since the return of the land from SSEC to the government, all the arrangements made regarding the land were made without consultation with the landowners.

“The quest of landowners’ to return their land is rightful, but there are areas that Malaita province is wary of, that is why it is hesitant to rush the transfer of title to the landowners.”

With that, MPG through the lands office has had several meetings with the two landowning groups claiming the land at Afio into some mutual partnership to address the matter.

Western province leading in copra and log export

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

WESTERN Province has been identified as the leading exporter of copra and log in the first half of the year.

Central Bank of Solomon Islands Quarterly Report states that Western Province has contributed a total of 27 percent to the total output for copra, making it the leading producer of copra this quarter.

Central Province sits behind Western Province contributing 22 percent, while Choiseul contributed 15 percent, Guadalcanal with 14 percent, Makira Province with 11 percent and other provinces contributed the remaining 11 percent.

Again, Western Province has come top on log production compared to other provinces.

The report states that Western province make up the largest proportion of log volume with a 30% share.

This is followed by Guadalcanal with 23%, Isabel with 12%, and Choiseul with 11%. Other provinces not stated above accounted for the remaining 24%.

Copra and log exports are two commodities that have seen improvement in the first quarter of this year.

New vax deadline for govt workers, Oct 31

Written by
Press Release
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THE National Cabinet has set October 31, 2021 as the date for all public servants and employees of government agencies and state-owned enterprises to take their first dose of covid-19 vaccine.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his nationwide address yesterday said by November 1, 2021, all public servants, and employees of government agencies and SOEs that have not taken their vaccinations will not be allowed to return to their workplaces.

He said the only exceptions will be for those officers with genuine medical contraindications as certified by the Incident Controller, and pregnant women who wish to be vaccinated but were unable to be vaccinated due to pregnancy.

“The Oversight Committee will be presenting an analysis of the implications of this decision on services and options to be considered to address any gaps that might result from public servants who choose not to be vaccinated,” he said.

In relation to all teachers, Sogavare encouraged all education authorities to ensure that all their teachers are vaccinated.

He said the government assists all education authorities through grants and wishes to seek the cooperation of all education authorities to ensure that all teachers and staff funded through government support are vaccinated.

“With regards to all other employers in the country, while it is outside the jurisdiction of the government to enforce its policies on your corporations or companies, I emphasise that you all have a duty of care to protect this country from COVID-19,” the Prime Minister said.

Sogavare said Solomon Islands must learn from other countries where all employers in the private and public sector cooperated to achieve the country’s national vaccination targets so that their borders can reopen quickly.

“I must emphasise that to achieve the 90 percent target, we need the support of all employers, all churches, all communities to increase our vaccination rate to reach 20,000 doses per week. This will ensure we can reopen our borders fully by June 1, 2022,” he said.

The Prime Minister said if we can increase our vaccination numbers above 20,000 doses each week, we will be able to open our borders earlier than June 2022.

–OPMC PRESS

World food day honoured in style

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Mr Elvis kikolo and his friend smile with cassavas on their shoulders

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THIS year’s World Food Day was honoured with a variety of food displayed in style to raise awareness on the importance of food and to honour farmers in the country.

The three-day event commenced with a float parade starting from the Honiara City Council to Townground, featuring stakeholders and food farmers showcasing different food in their booths.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare who was the guest speaker of the event echoed, “We continue to invest in training our farmers, because the impacts of climate change on people’s live are really disturbing.”

One of the energy farmer enjoys the parade yesterday

He said his government will continue to invest in food security training in terms of supply of tools and equipment.

“We are committed a s government to growing the sector and making it more productive to support our business farmers to feed our nation, grow our economy for good living standard and to improve our health. In simple term this is our vison for the people of Solomon Islands and our nation,” Sogavare said.             

Jimi Saelea, Food Agriculture Representative (FAO) on behalf of FAO Director General Mr Qu Dongyu and FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for Pacific Islands, said this year’s World Food day is celebrated under the cloud of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“On this World Food Day (yesterday), we pay tribute to the Food Hero’s including our rural farmers, fishers, foresters, food processors, market vendors and the back yard gardeners who ensure we had food to eat.

Honiara Central Market vendors Association members

“This World Food Day also calls on all of us to become a food hero ourselves as we continue to transform the ways in which our food is produced, processed, stored, distributed and consumed,” Saelea said.  

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Ethel Francis said speaks highly of all farmers inside the country.

PS for MAL Ethel Francis delivers his speech

“Let me thank all of you our women farmers around the country for your role in the homes and in farming. We who are here today (yesterday) know our women’s contributions to the homes and this sector because we all have farming mothers.

“Allow me to pay respect to our many hardworking farmers around this beautiful country of ours because they are the ones who keeps the wheel turning for us.”

“We often look at the figures and value and forget where and how it happened and what the person that makes it happen went through. These are our unseen heros, true Solomon Islanders,” Ms Francis said.

MAL launches agriculture growth 10-yr plan

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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PM Sogavare and his delegation visiting the noni stall

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has launched its 10-year plan for Agriculture Sector Growth Strategy and Investment aimed at capturing the nature of Agriculture investment.

Speaking during the launching and commemoration of the World Food Day, Permanent Secretary for MAL Ethel Francis said this is the first-ever plan launched which will capture the nature of agriculture investment.

“Today (yesterday) we are officially launching our first ever 10-years Agriculture Sector Growth Strategy and Investment Plan 2021-2030.It is the first time we have a longer term plan to capture the nature of agriculture investment in that agriculture it takes time before you fully realise the return of your investment,” Ms Francis said.

Farmers taking part on the parade yesterday

“Our country vision for agriculture sector as presented in this strategy is for our nation to have a “A sustainable, competitive and profitable agriculture sector that enhances economic growth, food sovereignty and prosperity for all Solomon Islanders”. It identifies strategic opportunities and outline ambitious pathways to revitalise the sector,” Francis said.

She said the overall goals are to increase agriculture sector contribution to GDP, increase self-sufficiency through local food supply chains, decreased levels of stunting in children under five years, increased agricultural productivity and value addition , increased profitability for all value chain actors and decreased levels of people living below the poverty line.

Mr Daniel displays with his young helper dressed in copra bag

Jimmy Saelea on behalf of Food Association Organisation (FOA) commended the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock for having accomplished a historic milestone in the development of the 10-year Agriculture Sector Growth Strategy and Investment plan.

“FAO is pleased to have collaborated in this significant achievement with mal and OFAD in putting the plan together.

“This is a significant achievement for the government and MAL and Agriculture sector, more so the country. The agri-food systems in the country will now have a clear plan with which development partners and others may wish to invest. FAO support for plan does not stop here. Already FAO consultants are developing project concept notes and proposals to implement the plan,” Mr Saelea said.

Solomon Islanders bearing witness to climate change.

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Birds at Leorava Island

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

IN the Western Province, climate change has spelt death for many islands, but it has also given birth to one.

Across the jewel seas of the province, there are regretful scenes as small but beautiful islands fall victim to sea level rise caused by climate change.

A report published by Solomon Islands Government Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology on August this year states that, sea level is expected to increase between 0.29 to 1.05 metres by 2100 and will exacerbate coastal erosion and storm surges which already huge problems for low are laying islands.

In some cases, some coastlines may retreat by 30 metres by 2050.

The prediction is based on sea level data from the Honiara tide gauge with records starting from 1981.

A few minutes’ boat drive to the west of Gizo lies a wreckage of Nusa Ivili Island reduced to coral due to sea level rise.

Nusa Ivili was an inhabited Island but its beauty attracted people to frequently visit the island for picnics and leisure activities.

According to Freedom Tozaka, he and his friends last went to the island for a barbeque when returning from Choiseul province back in 2018.

Gizo resident, Freedom Tozaka

“I’m speechless to see how fast this island has sunk underwater. It is sad to see this island gone in a matter of 3 years.

“I was here in 2018 and this Island was full of life,” he said.

Further down, what used to be a ridge connecting Mburuburu islands, Nusa Belama and Sulumania Island has been reduced to sand drowning that one can barely see the landscape underwater.

Some of these small islands belong to Tozaka’s tribe and he said that with them some of their culture and traditional heritage have gone.

Tozaka is from one of the big islands in Western Province called Vella La Vella – few miles from the Islands.

His tribe’s connection to the islands came along way since head hunting days.

“These islands are our lives, we are connected to the islands and what lives within. We are helpless as climate change robbed us without warning. We cannot do much to save these islands,” Tozaka said.

A ridge connecting Mburburu Island, Nusa Belama Island and Sulumania Island reduced to Island due to sea level rise

When he was a child, Tozaka travelled to the island with his parents on a Seagull Engine for a picnic every weekend.

Now at sixty years old, Tozaka said the islands’ landscape has changed.

“These islands are getting smaller in size and there’s not much life within them, unlike in the 80s where we shared these paradise with the seabirds.

Patrick Vilaka, who worked as a boat driver for Western Province Education Authority, shares a similar sentiment saying that close to three small islands have perished recently around Gizo.

There is no official record on the number of disappearing Islands in Western Province. However people like Vilaka who frequently cruising the area have done their own math.

“For me, these islands are my traditional beacons when travelling at sea during bad weather. I used these islands for navigation. Now that they are gone, I find it quite difficult to navigate around these areas when travelling at night or during bad weather,” he said.

Amidst these sad events, there is a bright side of climate change that makes some people smile.

Approximately, 20 kilometres from Gizo, lies Leorava Island which recently came back to life.

Austin Beto, a 75 year-old local residence who live close to Leorava Island said the island was once a dinky little sand rising above the sea level but over the years, the island slowly expanded and in 2009, trees grew and full of life.

Austin Beto

Beto, who lived at Epanga Island in the late-1970s, recalled that his family used to go to Leaorava Island for picnics and fishing in 1990s.

“There was no trees that time but a beautiful beach filled with seabird eggs. Fish was also abundant on the island.

“It is interesting to see what the island has become,” Mr Beto said.

For Vilaka, Leorava Island is a new beacon when travelling eastward from Gizo.

“Leorava Island is like a transit destination for me when travelling from Noro to Gizo. I used to come and rest on the island before going to Gizo,” he said.

Like anywhere in the world, Solomon Islands is vulnerable to climate change.

In his statement during the launching of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) this year, Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology Titus Fika said Solomon Islands takes adaptation as a matter of survival and not just an option.

He said short to medium term adaptation priorities are set out in the country’s National Adaptation Programme of Action.

“Long-term adaptation plans will be captured in new National Adaptation Plan. Relocation of communities in low-lying and artificial islands must be supported now rather than later,” Fika said.

He said Solomon Islands is serious in meeting its mitigation targets as a moral contribution towards the goal of the Paris Agreement and at the same time to call on bigger emitters to drastically and immediately reduce their emissions to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 oC.

With its limited resources, below average support for resilience programs and other climate mitigation and adaptation activities, and a higher-than-average risk of climate-induced disasters, the people of western province are especially vulnerable.

SUIDANI FACES VOTE

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Premier Suidani is carried on a platform as he and his delegation was welcome by Malaitans in Auki .

Second no confidence motion filed against Malaita premier

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

MALAITA Premier Daniel Suidani is poised to face his second motion of no-confidence within a year when the Provincial Assembly meets towards the end of this month.

Members of the non-executive group filed the no confidence motion with the Office of the Malaita Provincial Assembly Speaker in Auki yesterday.

“I received notice of the motion at 11am today,” Speaker Ronnie Butala told Island Sun yesterday.

“After looking through the content of the notice, I’m satisfied it had met the criteria under standing orders 106 and 107,” he added.

“The notice will take seven clear days (excluding Saturday and Sunday) from the date of submission before it can be tabled in the provincial chamber for MPAs to debate.”

Butala said the motion will be debated on 27 October.

He has not provided contents of the motion.

Following the sacking of his deputy Randall Sifoni and the subsequent resignation of six executive members, Suidani is believed to be running a minority government.

In October last year, Suidani defeated the first no-confidence motion that was tabled against him.

Incompetence, financial mismanagement and abuse of office were some of the reasons given by provincial assembly member David Baerara for bringing the no confidence motion against Suidani last year.

However, when the motion was finally moved it was defeated by 24 votes to nine.

Suidani is an outspoken critic of the national government’s decision last year to switch Solomon Islands’ diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China.

His government’s refusal to allow any aid from Beijing into the province has been a source of friction at both the provincial and the national levels.

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