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SORE MAKES A U-TURN

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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Former Honiara City Council Clerk Rence Sore. Photo: Charles Kadamana

DPP rejects embattled city clerk’s attempt to withdraw criminal case

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

EMBATTLED Honiara City Clerk Rence Sore yesterday made a surprise attempt to withdraw a criminal case he filed against two city councilors last year.

But the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution outrightly rejected Sore’s request on the basis much work has been already done with the case and that they are now ready to go to trial.

Sore, whose future with the council hangs in the balance after his boss city mayor Wilson Mamae was toppled Monday in a no-confidence vote, wanted the intimidation charges against councilors Reginald Ngati and Billy Abae withdrawn.

No reason was immediately provided as basis for his request.

Ngati and Abae were the two councilors who have exposed Mamae and Sore’s controversial dealings and alleged mismanagement of council funds.

The two councillors, Billy Abae and Reginald Ngati who led the charge to remove the leadership at the HCC

They were also behind the no-confidence vote that toppled Mamae on Monday. In fact Abae was the mover of the motion.

Sore claimed the two councilors threatened him in the office in June last year after he refused their requests to release their ward grants.

Abae and Ngati denied the charges, so the case was listed for trial yesterday morning when Sore and Mamae suddenly showed up at the Magistrate’s Court.

Before Principal Magistrate Tearo Beneteti, Sore requested the case to be withdrawn.

But public prosecutor Olivia Ratu told the court she would seek the DPP’s approval before a decision could be made. This resulted in an adjournment.

When the matter returned in the afternoon, Ratu said the DPP had refused the request for withdrawal and wanted the matter proceeded.

She said the prosecution has all its witnesses ready to give evidence in the trial.

Beneteti however, adjourned the matter for mention today because the defence lawyer Allan Hou was engaged in another High Court case.

CDF monitoring to be boosted

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Islands National Parliament

By EDDIE OSIFELO

MINISTRY of Rural Development is going to step up its capacity and Monitoring and Evaluation this year.

This was after the Government has allocated $2 million under the $3.9 billion 2021 Appropriation Bill 2021 budget.

Previously, the government has allocated $20,000 under the M&E which made it hard for officers in the ministry to carry out inspection in all 50 constituencies.

Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament yesterday, permanent secretary, Allan Daonga said the allocation will be used to capacity and purchasing vehicles and outboard motors to carry M&E in all constituencies.

Further to that, Daonga said the ministry will take a paper to Cabinet to establish another unit under the Corporate Service.

He said a Advisor and Communication Officer will be recruited to man the unit.

Daonga said it is important to engage a communication officer to disseminate information about the success and challenging stories of this programme.

Further to that, Daonga said the ministry plans to establish an internal audit division to carry out ongoing audit on projects’ acquittals.

He said the unit is expected to set up next year.

CDF Act to be reviewed

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Allan Daonga

By EDDIE OSIFELO

A TASKFORCE was set up to review the outdated Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Act 2013 and Regulations.

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Rural Development, Allan Daonga confirmed this when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament yesterday.

PAC has scrutinised the $$3,905,951,360 budget for this financial year.

Daonga said work halted since 2015-2016 to review certain provisions of the Act and the guideline to implement the programme.

He said Government has set up a taskforce under the chairmanship of Ministry of Finance and Treasury permanent secretary to align with Public Finance and Management Act and CDF Act.

In going forward, Daonga said a Technical Assistance has completed work on certain recommendation.

He said the taskforce will finalise the outcomes and recommendation of the study and present to Caucus.

Daonga said after that, the taskforce will also consult with the Opposition Group.

Former Prime Minister and MP for Small Malaita, Rick Hou said the CDF Act is important for accountability and reporting

Parliament passed the CDF Act in 2013 with the objective to ensure that the management and disbursement of CDF is carried out with integrity and in a prudent manner with the view to safeguarding the interest of potential recipients of the fund.

$6.8M to each constituencies

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE 50 Members of Parliament will receive a total of $6.8 million each in this financial year.

This after the government allocated $340 million to the 50 Constituencies under the Ministry’s Development Budget.

About $18.4 million was allocated under the Recurrent Budget for the ministry to meet its office’s expenses and other charges.

The Peoples Republic of China contributes $90 million of the portion, which each MP will get $1.8 million per year.

Ministry of Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Allan Daonga confirmed this when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament yesterday.

PAC is scrutinising the $$3,905,951,360 budget for this year.

Daonga said the ministry is embarking on implementing the National Development Strategy objectives and Government’s policy to deliver rural development nationwide.

He said this is so that all Solomon Islanders participate meaningfully to improve their social and economic livelihood.

Further to that, the ministry has allocated $1.5 million for the 50 constituencies to apply to engage their communities in income generation activities and infrastructure projects like roads and bridges to access markets and establish fisheries centres.

Daonga said the constituencies need to submit their work plans to get 30% of the $1.5 million for income generating activities and infrastructures projects.

He said the constituencies can also get support to plant kava, cocoa and copra and establish their storage facilities at rural level rather than rely on fees allocated under constituencies.

Member of Parliament for Small Malaita, Rick Hou said infrastructures are pressing need in rural constituencies.

He said the road he built in his constituency was estimated at $250 million.

“I spent $3 million to make the road.

“However, it is very expensive as you have to meet the costs of machines, trucks, fuels, labour and shipping freights,” he said.

Call for action against Mamae

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Ousted City Mayor, Wilson Mamae appearing recently before the Public Accounts Committee

President of Solomon Islands Grassroot Organization Henry Wale Maneási is calling on the police unit called JANUS to investigate allegations against the ousted city council mayor Wilson Mamae.

He said investigation must continue because many serious allegations were raised under his leadership.

Maneasi said the issue of sale of land used by Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock at Ranadi and the failed Fire Extinguisher deal were classic examples.

“These issues must not be buried under the bridge even though Mamae has now left office,” he said.

Maneasi added the HCC office is not an office for leaders to serve themselves but to deliver services for people residing in Honiara.

He said Honiara residents have struggled to survived and it will not give justice to the people if Mamae and his cronies are allowed to walk away with their crimes.

Maneasi also appeals to the Solomon Islands Independent Commission against Corruption (SIICAC) to investigate the former mayor.

Five arrested for Jejevo incident now charged

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE have finally charged the five men arrested for the incident which occurred on March 8 2021 at Jejevo, Katova Isabel province this week.

Police said the five suspects have been charged for the offences of going armed in a public place, wilful and unlawful damage and criminal trespass.

The men appeared at the Honiara Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after the High Court directed the Magistrates’ Court to hear the matter.

Police said the men were then released by the court on strict bail conditions to reappear at a later date.

This is in relation to the incident which occurred at Jejevo on March 8 2021

Police said a group of people armed with knives and axe went inside the Jejevo community and destroyed properties at the estimated value of $350,000.00.

Police called on people around the Katova area, especially communities around Jejevo, Furona, Jajao and Hurepelo village in the Katova District to remain calm and allow police to do their investigation.

Police also said that investigations may take some time as police want the community to allow the law to takes its cause and that taking law into their own hands will create another issue.

WWF and WPG strengthen ties

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WWF and WPG Officials at workshop

BY BEN BILUA

WESTERN Province Head of Divisions, Administration and WWF have spent the last two days looking at areas where they can complement each other to deliver effective services.

Workshop Facilitator, Peter Ramo said WWF based in Gizo for over 20 years now took a new approach for greater collaboration and partnership with the Western Provincial Government (WPG).

He said the workshop focuses on Resource Capacity and Human Resource Capacity Development in an effort to build towards enhancement of community-based resource management.

Ramo explained that resource capacity development goal focus on how WWF and WPG can complement financial resource to achieve common goals in needed areas while the Human Capacity Resource development looks at how the parties can share expertise.

He said key provincial divisions includes Ministry of fisheries, Environment and Agriculture so as WPG administration are part of the workshop.

“Cooperation between WWF and WPG exists over the past 20 years and the workshop is facilitated for both the province and WWF to sit back and assess achievements and what needs improvement.

“WWF as an NGO facilitates this Capacity assessment to identify gaps that exists to improve its collaboration with WPG in terms of service deliveries,” Ramo said.

He said an action plan based on key indicators identified during discussions will be developed and compiled for reference at the end of the workshop.

Ramo reiterates that merging the capacity of the province and WWF is the way forward to achieve greater benefits in areas of community based conservation program.

Economy can improve if borders are reopened: PM

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Honourable-Prime-Minister-receiving-his-first-vaccine-shot

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the country’s economy could really be boosted if our borders are reopened.

However, he said our borders could only be reopened if the majority of people in the country are protected against COVID-19.

“The majority of people will only be protected if they are vaccinated,” Prime Minister Sogavare said in his nationwide address on Monday this week.

He said our goal is to achieve 100 percent coverage of our population above 18 years of age pending the WHO decision on those under 18 years of age.

Sogavare added if the majority are vaccinated, there is a chance that herd immunity will be established which will then provide some protection to those that cannot yet be vaccinated.

“I call on all of us to continue that same spirit of unity as we start the COVID-19 vaccination rollout program. Our ultimate success against COVID-19 is in our hands.

“I call on all citizens and residents in our country that are 18 years and older to be vaccinated when your time comes,” he said.

Prime Minister Sogavare said logistically, this could be a challenge.  

However, he said with God on our side, there are no challenges too great, especially if we face them together.

“My good people of Solomon Islands, we have made tremendous progress in our fight against COVID-19 over the past week and a half.

“We became the second Island country in the southern Pacific to receive and roll-out the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said they have demonstrated their confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine with the Prime Minister, the Governor General, and Cabinet Ministers leading the way in taking the vaccine during the first two days of the vaccination rollout program.

“As a country, we have pulled together in our joint endeavor to protect our country from COVID-19.

“That is what makes Solomon Islands special. We unite against COVID-19,” he said.

MAL to deliver on three main projects in 2021

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THREE main important projects have been earmarked for implementation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) 2021 development budget, besides others.

Permanent Secretary Ethel Tebengi Frances highlighted these when her executive appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last week.

The projects include;

  • The Establishment of a biosecurity treatment facilities that will facilitate exports including fruits, vegetables, root crops etc.;
  • The Establishment of an agriculture loan facilities at the Development Bank of Solomon Islands (DBSI) that will enable access to credit facilities or loans for all farmers around the country
  • The Establishment of a Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock farmer support services centre to introduce mechanisation to increase production.

Frances explained that the purpose to establish treatment facilities at MAL biosecurity land at Henderson means that anyone who wishes to export fruits, crops or vegetables can do so as Solomon Islands will have a place where their products can be treated before exported.

“Solomon Islands has never been for the past 40 years set up such facilities that is why our farmers cannot export fruits and vegetables because of biosecurity standards and requirements other countries have which we have to comply with.”

The PS further stressed that the establishment of an agriculture loan product or facilities at the DBSI is specifically tailored to address specific needs of the agriculture sector. Our people, let alone farmers, cannot access loan to boost or increase their production. This product will be designed to address the unique need of the sector weeding out stringent criteria commercial products that deny our people the opportunities to better their farm production and lives.

“This was already negotiated with the DBSI. Plans is to sign an MOU with the bank so that they will also conduct financial literacy training for our farmers so they learn simple financial management technique that will allow them to repay their loan and still enjoy a good return,” she said.

On the Establishment of a MAL farmer support services centre, she said the idea is to introduce mechanisation to increase production.

“We are in the 21st centuries but have not supported our people with machines that reduces the burden of farming. We are starting with Honiara and Guadalcanal then to the provinces. We now have secured a new lease with the Catholic Church for reestablishment of the former Field Experimental Station at Tenaru.”

The Permanent Secretary then thanked the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) for its great wisdom for seeing the need to have its policies reviewed to be more refocused so resources are directed to where there is great need right now in the sector, being economic recovery and food security.

“The plan to establish biosecurity treatment facility received overwhelming support from the Minister and Office of the Prime Minister so it is very encouraging.

“As a government agency in the productive sector, our role is to support the government’s economic recovery efforts therefore our program this year reflects these new policy redirections so that there is more focus on exports, commercial farming and facilitation of trade,” Mrs. Frances said.

–MAL

EDITORIAL- A complete waste of our development funds

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UP to $6.8 million will be dished out to each of the 50 constituencies this year.

That’s $340 million in total.

By our standard, this is a huge amount of money.

Used wisely and for its intended purpose, it would bring in the kind of development we would like to see in our rural areas.

But this is not the first time our constituencies have been allocated this huge funding.

Under previous budgets, Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has always been allocated the lion’s share of the money.

As the name suggests, this is money intended to develop our constituencies.

But how much of the money has been used to develop our constituencies?

How much of it has reached the people down there in the villages?

If you visit the constituencies now, you’ll notice the amount of money allocated for CDF each year does not equate what you see on the ground.

In fact, you’ll be surprise to note that there’s virtually nothing tangible we could speak of in the constituencies that is built out of CDF. Nothing!

If you see a school or clinic down there, it is either built by donors or through other funding.

Frankly, CDF has nothing to show for in terms of development in our constituencies.

So why are we still allocating a huge chunk of our development funds to CDF when it has nothing to show for nation-wide?

Are we so dump not to realise that CDF is a complete waste of our meager financial resources?

To allocate $340 million a year for rural development only to see no tangible development down there is beyond normal thinking.

Yet, year after year, the Government continues to entertain CDF. And keep allocating our development funds to a cause that brings no return.

The problem is CDF is controlled by our MPs.

As long as this practice continues, we will get nowhere with CDF.

In fact it will become a drain to our meager development funds.

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