More than 500 police officers will be deployed during the lockdown exercise operation next week.
COVID-19 Police Operation Commander Simpson Pogeava says the lockdown will start at 6pm on August 29, finishing at 6am on August 31.
Mr Pogeava says police are supporting the Ministry of Health and Medical Services as the leading agency to test their response capabilities should there be any community transmission when borders reopen.
Pogeava says from the police operational perspective, there will be six sub-zone boundaries from Poha Bridge in North West Guadalcanal to Alligator Creek in the Eastern side of Honiara International Airport. Within those sub-zones, there are 10 checkpoints within Honiara and part of Guadalcanal policing jurisdiction.
He says police are working on other essential services to be exempted during the lockdown.
“I kindly ask everyone to prepare ahead for this lockdown. Stock up your homes with food and other necessities to keep you for that period.
“Be mindful, though it is a lockdown exercise but police will arrest and charge those who breach it. I ask you, my good people in Honiara, to stay home during the lockdown. Other essential services will be exempted and work during the lockdown period to attend other essential services,” says Pogeava.
A yacht anchoring off Selwyn Bay, Ugi island, Makira-Ulawa province is causing a scare.
Kirakira police yesterday told the paper the principal of nearby Pawa school had raised to them concerns of this yacht and the scare it is causing on surrounding coastal communities as well as staff and students of Pawa.
Kirakira police say they have alerted authorities in Honiara, and are standing by for any order from the capital.
Community rumours reaching Kirakira police say the yacht had run into some mechanical problem, thereby forcing it to drop anchor.
Provincial Police Commander advises surrounding communities not to go near the yacht as the country is currently in State of Public Emergency.
The yacht carries two male foreigners; the description of the yacht is white in colour with the name Vivre, and one mast.
Peter Kenilorea Junior with members of the Paehusi landholding with their certificate
THREE customary landholding groups in Masupa Village in the East ‘Are’are region of Malaita Province received their certificates of land recording completion in a hand-over ceremony yesterday,
The Customary Recording was carried out under the Customary Land Act and preceded by public awareness dialogues and consultations, boundary mapping and reconciliation between customary landholding groups’ members.
Minister Avui and East Are’Are MP with delegates on arrival at Masupa village
The main purpose of the Customary Recording Programme was to record the land rights of customary landholding groups.
It also allowed recording their genealogy which is now officially recognized and subsequently will be registered in the Repository of the Central Land Records Office of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey.
Minister Avui with members of the Huniharu landholding group with their certificates
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister for Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS), Ishmael Avui, congratulated three landholding groups, including the Rarirahuta, Paehusi and Huniharu of East Are’ Are, for receiving their certificates of completion of the Customary Land Recording process under the Customary Land Recording Act.
“I strongly believe that the recording of customary land will spread throughout Malaita and other provinces and communities. The fire has started here in East Are’ Are, and the DCGA Government will help to fan the flame so that it will spread throughout other parts of Malaita and other Islands in the country,” Minister Avui said.
Minister Avui speaking at the Masupa handover ceremony
“Thank you to the East Are’ Are House of Chiefs and other tribal elders for supporting my Ministry in successfully rolling out the programme,” he added.
“On that same note, I would like to thank our development Partner UNDP for their financial and technical support to this great and historical achievement.
UNDP Country Manager in Solomon Islands Mr Berdi Berdiyev with members of the Raroasi landholding group members
“Such assistance is never easy to get, but I can assure you it will go a long way to drive development in the rural areas of Solomon Islands.”
In his welcoming remarks, UNDP Country Manager in Solomon Islands Berdi Berdiyev expressed his appreciation to members of three customary landholding groups in East ‘Are’are for their partnership with the Government over last 10 months to complete the recording.
UNDP Country Manager in Solomon Islands Mr Berdi Berdiyev speaking at Masupa
“Having land rights recorded grants the landowners the right to utilize land for development that will benefit not just one person or family or a group of individuals, but everyone in your communities in years to come,” he said.
Berdiyev further emphasized that the customary recording process supported by UNDP is an important initiative which contributes to development and peace of Solomon Islands.
“The development and implementation of the customary land recording in Solomon Islands is a critical pillar of the National Development Strategy, and with the approach to leave-no-one-behind, I am positive that the recording will play a pivotal role in building and sustaining peace and reducing land-related conflicts and disputes in Solomon Islands,” he added.
Children and women joined the celeberation
With the Sustainable Development Goals as a guiding thread, UNDP works to promote peace and inclusive societies by supporting and partnering with governments, civil society organizations and people to participate in processes to prevent conflict and sustain peace.
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.
Government has come out defending its allocation of $1.8 million for the lock-down planned for next week.
The 36-hour exercise will begin at 6pm Sunday, August 29, ending at 6am Tuesday, Aug 31.
Taxpayers over the weekend had questioned this rather large sum especially when government is in a financially tight spot.
Speaking at a radio talkback yesterday, deputy director for the national disaster management office (NDMO) Johnathan Taufiariki said the $1.8million will be used by six sectors of government: Police, Agriculture, Health, Infrastructure, Education and Camp Management.
Mr Taufiariki explains the first three:
Police will be carrying out safety and security for the general public.
Ministry of Agriculture (MAL) will ensure food security and livelihood during those 36 hours. For who exactly, Taufiariki does not elaborate.
Ministry of Health (MHMS) will ensure health and medical services continue throughout the lockdown.
It is still not clear what the roles of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Infrastructure and Camp Management are.
“We have six sectors that will be engaged in this exercise. When all these sectors put together their budget, the total cost is $1.8million.”
Taufiariki adds that $1.8 million is necessary to ensure preparation, which would help the government avoid costs that would be in the ‘ten-fold’ if disaster strikes due to non-preparation.
“If we are not prepared, we will expect to spend 10-fold of this $1.8milliion just to answer and to deal with any community transmission.
“In order for us to test our preparedness and response effort some resources have to be put to use so that to prepare us.
“Preparedness is usually one important area but sometimes people do not take it into considerations because they said that amount should be saved for response purposes.
“But when the response part comes it will be a very expensive cost to pay for.”
Dr Jimmie Rodgers, secretary to the Prime Minister, said there will be a huge number of people involved to implement this lock-down exercise – to ensure it works.
Rodgers said the bulk of the $1.8million will be for Police and Health – “Between these two parties is $1.3million.”
“This is because they are the ones that will do most of work during this period.
“The other sectors that are coming in are for support areas to help the lock down exercise successfully.
“If we are not prepared when the virus hit the cost for us in Solomon Islands on a community transmission even in one day will be using more than $1.8million.
“We are using this money to sharpen our skills, so that we will and can know what to do and what not to do if the virus happens to be in our communities,” Rodgers said.
Primary aim of the simulated lockdown is to test and assess the response capabilities of frontline agencies to protect us from the deadly coronavirus delta strain.
Senior technical advisor to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Dr Yogesh Choudhri, in a media briefing yesterday said “COVID-19 keeps changing thus we have to tighten our procedures.
“We ensure to be a step ahead of the virus in our preparation plans.
“This lockdown will put to test the health scenarios such as contact tracing in the event a surge of virus cases in the city, our connection with the wider Guadalcanal Province, the extra facilities identified to cater for a surge of positive cases and other factors at play.”
National Disaster Council Chair Dr Melchoir Mataki explained that lockdown is part and partial of government measures to protect the country from covid-19 such as the nationwide vaccination campaign and the border restriction.
Mataki emphasised though the lockdown is simulation in nature, it is real and the public must take note of the consequences of any breach.
Director of the National Disaster Council Loti Yates also highlighted the need to conduct a trial lockdown to test out certain function of the response mechanisms.
“This will prepare our frontline agencies to relook into their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
“The role National Disaster Operation Sector Committees played during a lockdown period is important and it will be put to test again after its revision since last year.
“Acceptance from those in the emergency zone is needed though it will cause inconvenience,” Loti said.
From the outset of this global crisis, the goal of the Government has always been to safeguard the health, social and economic security of Solomon Islanders by:
a) Minimising the risk of importation on any new strain of COVID-19 including the Delta Strain in Solomon Islands;
b) Minimising the spread, reducing morbidity and mortality; and
c) Minimising societal disruption, and psychosocial and economic impacts of COVID-19
The lockdown will start next Sunday 29th at 6pm and cease Tuesday 31st at 6am.
The lockdown is only for the Declared Emergency Zone from Aligator Creek to Poha.
Technical advisor to Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Dr Yogesh Choudri
BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO
Medical services will be available for public during next week’s 36-hour lockdown, government says.
Doctors and nurses at the national referral hospital (NRH) will be working their normal routines, and members of public needing medical attention during lockdown are being urged to go there.
Clinics of the City Council will likewise remain open too.
Loti Yates, director for National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), at a local media conference on the 36-hour lock-down said:
“Doctors and nurses are encouraging general public and people residing in the Honiara Emergency zone who will be-needing medical assistance during the lock down to go to nearest health facilities to seek medical support.
“Do not wait for the lock down to pass before seeking medical aid because at that time a person’s health issue might reach a complication stage which will lead to death,” Yates said.
“On your way to your nearest health centre bring your medical card with you and when you pass the check points explain to them(police) why and where are going.”
Dr Yogesh Choudhri, senior advisor to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), said in the course of the upcoming lock-down exercise, NRH will still be providing health services.
Choudhri said clinics of the Honiara City Council will also be providing health services to the people of Honiara.
“Hence if you need health services in the course of the lockdown please go to your nearest clinic,” he said.
SOLOMON Islands students who recently tested positive to covid-19 in Fiji have all recovered.
Dr Jimmie Rodgers, secretary to Prime Minister, said this yesterday at a radio talkback on covid-19 updates in Honiara.
“So the good news here for their parents and the Solomon Islands government is that all students tested positive for COVID-19 and those that presenting COVID-19 symptoms are all recovered.
“We are still working on how we can support them better. The Solomon Islands high commission office here, the education attaché also working with us.
“We will be making sure that when the time is right, those where to be repatriated including some of us will be repatriated. But the danger of bringing the virus into the country,” he said.
THE 36-hour simulation lock-down exercise is legal and has hefty penalties if breached.
This was confirmed by the Attorney General John Muria Junior.
Mr Muria in radio talkback yesterday said according to court the lock-down orders are constitutional, meaning it is valid.
“Please respect them and adhere to them. If you breach it you will be arrested. Penalty for breaching the lock-down is SBD10,000 or five-year imprisonment,” he said.
Dr Jimmie Rodgers, secretary to the Prime Minister, said the simulation lock-down is a legal exercise.
“It is not like a mock.
“This because it is established under law it requires people to also follow,” Rodgers said.
Police commissioner Mostyn Mangau speaking on the same matter reminds people and communities within Honiara Emergency zones that “it is a trial lock-down exercise but if breached you will be arrested and be dealt with by the Police compliance team.
“Only people who are exempted under the lock-down will be allowed to move around.
“For essential services we need them to mobilise to provide essential services this for those who are exempted. If you know that you are not exempted to come out you will be deal with for any breached on our lock down,” Mangau said.
He said police will be on high alert to ensure the orders are enforced and executed.
“This is to allow the Ministry of Health to run their exercise in trying out their Standard Operating procedures in case the delta variant enters the country the front line officers are prepared to deal with.”
Part of a group of Solomon Islanders who went under the Australian Seasonal Workers Programme and Labour Mobility Scheme. PHOTO AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION OFFICE
Wale urges gov’t to forego processing costs for seasonal work following intake increase
Leader of the Opposition Matthew Wale acknowledges and thanks the Government and People of Australia for their continued support to the Pacific Island countries and people in these trying times.
The acknowledgement follows recent confirmation by the Australian High Commission Office in Honiara that the labour quota for Pacific Island countries under the Seasonal Workers Programme has been increased to 12,500.
“This is a notable increase.
“It is both timely and is a clear demonstration of the Australia government’s sincerity in lending a hand where it really matters to the ordinary people of the Pacific,” said the Opposition Leader.
Wale adds, “With the increase and inclusion of health and home care workers, new doors are now open for a lot more Solomon Islanders to benefit from the arrangement.
“This is good for both families and the country as a whole moving forward hence, I extend my hearty appreciation to the Government and people of Australia.”
Meanwhile, Wale stressed that the announcement also calls for improvements in the domestic systems handling the scheme, adding that with proper planning, Solomon Islands numbers can take advantage of the increase to up its domestic quota.
“A starting point as I have stated earlier is for the government to do away with the processing costs.
“Small as they may be, they can be a hindrance discouraging people that really need the opportunities to impact the domestic cash flow and industry needs in our rebuilding efforts.
“The Solomon Islands government must get its act together and work proactively to fill more than half of the 12,500-increase by March 2022,” the Opposition Leader said.
Gizo police is looking at establishing crime prevention committees in communities there.
A notice was circulated to churches to inform community leaders and residents on the proposed meeting scheduled today evening, tomorrow and Wednesday.
According to the letter, RSIPF officers will hold a meeting with Hill Top Community today at 5pm, District and Water Pump Communities tomorrow and Banana Valley Community on Wednesday.
The series of meetings will assist community leaders and residents to form a Crime Prevention Committee as part of a programme called “Tugether Iumi Mekem Gizo Town Safe and Peaceful”.
The committee will then formulate bylaws in an effort to maintain peace, safety and well-being of residents.
Crime Prevention is a four-year program established in 2019 and will end next year 2022 with the aim to provide police with better intelligence in communities so that criminal issues can be dealt with as they develop.
The RSIPF Crime Prevention strategy builds on previous approach and incorporates problem solving driven by stakeholders and communities in the absence of police.
Part of the strategy is to reinforce the key roles of leaders in communities and the traditional role of chiefs in crime and harm prevention activities as well as mediating and solving issues.
