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Beulah PSS brace for worst case scenario

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Beulah PSS

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

BEULAH Provincial Secondary School has braced itself as future prediction of COVID-19 remains uncertain.

The school has turned back time by introducing the old system and practice where students will be distributed into Island groups and respective groups will be responsible for preparing food to feed their students with the support of the school.

The idea was brought to the school board during their meeting on Wednesday and was passed by majority votes.

Principal of the School, Frank Nagu said the idea is to ration student’s food to sustain the school during this time of economic crisis.

He said students now are working hard on gardening before going for the Easter break with expectation of healthy vegetables and root crops when the student’s return to school.

Chairperson of Beulah PSS Board, John Hopa said the initiative is an important move towards mitigating COVID-19 impact at the community level.

He adds that the idea will not only help the school to ration food supplies, but also encourages greater friendship among students.

“I remember, back then, we used to eat certain meal according to our islands. We work together to provide food for ourselves and in doing so, helped our school to reserve few funds for other important development,” Hopa said.

Commenting on the idea, Principal Education Officer of Western Province said, the idea will pave a way forward for students to become self-reliance.

“We always say that school is where students learn positive things and my view on this initiative is on self-reliance. Students will be responsible to bring food on the table and in doing so they will learn how to be self-reliance,” he said.

3 charged with murder following death of teacher

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THREE suspects have been charged with murder by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) following the death of a teacher om the Bahai area pf Central Honiara last Friday.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Honiara City Superintendent John Matamaru said the third suspect was arrested on Wednesday 31 March 2021 in Honiara and placed at the Central Police Station watch house.

Two other suspects were arrested earlier.

All three suspects have been charged with one count each for the offence of murder contrary to section 200 of the Penal Code and have been remanded at the Rove Correctional Center to appear in the Honiara Central Magistrates’ court at a later date.

Initial reports said the deceased had some beer with his cousin brother at the Scorpion Bar in the Kukum area and left to walk home at about 11 pm on 26 March 2021.

The report said the deceased was closely monitored by one of the suspects near the Barak Shop in the Bahai area. The first suspect then met two the other suspects and they followed the deceased as he walked along the road in the Bahai area.

PPC Matamaru further explains that, “It is alleged that the suspects then approached the deceased and asked him for money but the deceased said he had no money. It is further alleged that the suspects then attacked the deceased and as a result he fell to the ground and sustained injuries on the back of his head.”

The deceased was later transported to National Referral Hospital by St Johns Ambulance between 9- 11am on 26 March 2021) and admitted at the National Referral Hospital. He however died on 28 March 2021.

PPC Matamaru called on people in the Bahai area in Central Honiara who may have witnessed this sad incident to come forward to officers at the Central Police Station in Honiara City with whatever information they may have.”

“I further call on families of the deceased and the suspects from taking the law into their own hands and allow the police to deal with the matter.”

“I also urge members of the public to contact the necessary authorities including police and ambulance when you see someone lying down helpless on the road like that happened to the deceased in this matter. Let us have the spirit of caring for one another,” says PPC Matamaru

–RSIPF MEDIA

Peace Ministry holds validation workshop on draft Re-integration Policy

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Group photo from the NPRFC workshop

A day long validation workshop was held on Wednesday for members of the Solomon Islands Post Rehabilitation, Reintegration Association (SIPCRAA).

The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical (MTGP&EA).

The workshop is designed and funded by the Ministry to validate the final draft of the National Policy on Re-integration through this workshop held last Wednesday.

 It is expected to continue in the coming weeks with other groupings of SIPCRRA Guadalcanal Honiara-based and those who from other parts of Guadalcanal and Malaita provinces.

Speaking at the opening of this workshop, Permanent Secretary Peter Mae thanked the Malaita Honiara-based SIPCRRA grouping for their full turnout and attendance to the workshop.

He said this workshop is not a new initiative, but a continuity from the most recent one from which their shared inputs were extracted and consolidated into this final draft.

The Permanent Secretary further adds that this National Policy on Reintegration is sister related to the National Policy on Conflict Prevention and Human Rights (was formerly named Reparation Policy) that was already endorsed by Cabinet on April 2020; hence it is prioritized to having this final draft validated for its eventual submission to Cabinet as well.

He also informed them that equally to seeing the continual commitment of the current government to this policy endeavor, the broader aspect of this specific policy under the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) framework of the UN has been incrementally attained – especially the disarmament and demobilization component in past years.

Therefore, he said the focus now is on the reintegration component, which this National Policy on Reintegration will addressed. And simultaneously to provide the restorative pathway for all members of SIPCRRA to their full capacitated civil wellbeing in society – to be able to now propagate for peace, reconciliation and harmony.

The Permanent Secretary reiterated to the participants the purpose of this validation workshop and encouraged them to contribute fully to the draft policy, he added “Your contribution and collective agreement must be reached on this workshop today”.

–MTGP & EA PRESS RELEASE

Barana nature park field trip helps SINU student

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SINU journalism students visited the Barana Nature Park on Friday.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

A field trip to the Barana Nature Park by a Solomon Islands National University Student (SINU) has allowed for the practical applications of the theory learned in class

Thompson Pada, a Journalism and Media student at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) proved this after a field trip with his classmates, senior Journalists and facilitators of a training workshop on reporting on Extractive Industries and Endemic Species in the Solomon Islands to the Barana nature park outside Honiara on Friday 26th March 2021.

Pada said, with his classmates and other senior journalists from the various NGO’s, government line-ministries and mainstream media, they visited the site to observe on topics covered at the workshop on environmental governance, extractive industries, export of endemic species and the impact of covid-19 on the environment. 

He said the information gathered helped them to know more of the environmental challenges faced by the barana community.

“The Barana Nature and Heritage Park spans approximately 5,000 hectares of forest area in the upper catchment of the Mataniko river, one of the largest river catchments draining Honiara city.

“The field trip helped us to appreciate the practicality of what we study in class,” Pada said.

He told Island Sun that from observations, environment reporting is an important area to report accurately on and more intensively on biodiversity issues and the impacts of covid-19 on the environment in the country.

Another student Frankford said environment reporting on wildlife is very much needed in the country to control our wildlife species.

“We also learned more on the development of the park which formed part of SPREP’s assistance to the Solomon Islands under its Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC) project.

He said what he learned from the project was selected following a comprehensive and participatory ‘ecosystem and socio-economic resilience analysis and mapping’ (ESRAM) study carried out for Honiara.

“Those include the conservation and rehabilitation of vulnerable ecosystems to safeguard their role in building social and economic resilience to climate change.

“We learn to report more on different environment issues” he said. “I and my classmates thank MASI and EJN, teams from the Ministry and editors, we had learned the reality of what we studied in class.

Ulawa Clinics in bad condition

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Taheramo Clinic building where one room is for outpatient and the other for Maternity

Clinics on Ulawa Island in the Makira Ulawa province are in a bad state and can be closed down.

Two of the four Rural Health Clinics (RHC) on Ulawa, namely Haupala and Taheramo are too old and needs urgent repairs as the roofs have leaked, walls damaged by termites and also are too small in relation to the islands’ increasing population.

John Matemotu from Kelimei village said that this is an issue for the North Ulawa ward which is the catchment area of Taheramo clinic, and if health authorities decide to close down Taheramo because of the current state of the building and no proper storage room for medical supplies.

“Since 1993 when the clinic first opened doors for service, there has never been any infrastructure upgrade or improvement done with our clinic, the clinic’s two room building is now too old and has been damaged by termite as well as it is small compared to today’s increasing population. The only development here is the building of the failed Maternity building way back in 2012 funded by the Solomon Islands Rural Development Program (SIRDP)”, Mr Matemotu said.

Mr. Matemotu said the big question is who is responsible for the development of clinics back in the rural areas.

Taheramo clinic walls infested with termites

“Who is responsible for the upgrading of these infrastructures, the communities here or is it the Makira Ulawa provincial government or the National government?” he asked.” Responsible authorities should not turn a blind eye on these things as we are dealing with people’s lives and their rights to access better health facilities.”

He added that people here are doing their part in keeping the clinic compound clean, doing repairs to thatched roof buildings such as the admission house and others as they only need local materials which is free and available unlike hardware materials.

“The communities have played their part in keeping maintenance work as these don’t require hardware materials but local materials where they can collect from the bush and to date, people are tired of doing maintenance and repairs to these thatched roof buildings such as the admission house, toilets and staff kitchens every year,” he further added.

Taheramo clinic’s admission building

 Ishmael Maeohu of Mwajoa village also shared similar sentiments about Haupala clinic which is located on Ward three of the Makira Ulawa province, and about ten kilometers east from Taheramo Clinic.

He said Haupala clinic too is facing the same problem and there is also no proper toilet for the staff and the sick patients.

“I can say here that Haupala’s clinic building conditions are far worse than that of Tahramo clinic. We don’t have any toilets here and both the nurse and the sick patients admitted here are using the seaside as toilets,” Mr Maeohu confirmed.

“Imagine somebody who is very sick and has to walk for a few meters to the seaside if he or she wants to go to the toilet.” He adds. “It is very bad that the clinic lacks these very important facilities that they should have.”

Taheramo clinic run down toilet facilities

Mr Maeohu said responsible authorities should try to address these problems as people have suffered for a long time now.

“I am calling on the Makira Ulawa medical division, the provincial member for ward three and not forgetting our parliament member to try as much as possible to address these issues relating to our clinic’s infrastructure conditions so that people in the rural areas can have access to good and better facilities”, he further added.

The Haupala clinic staff house is also no longer suitable for the nurse to live in as the building was badly damaged by termites and the nurse resorting has to live in another old permanent building that is not part of the clinic.

By Lionel Taoroa

In Ulawa

‘Your deaths not in vain’

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Jennifer Kusapa
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27 lives were lost on the MV Taimareho in April 2020 when the ship sailed through rough weather.

One year on, and charges finally laid over Taimareho sea tragedy

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

TODAY marks the day that 27 lives were lost at sea following the MV Taimareho sea tragedy and police can now confirm that charges are being laid against individuals in the High Court

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau confirmed that these people are being charged under the Marine Act.

Mangau said the case file was lodged at the High Court and further details on how many people were being charged as well as what charges they are facing will be revealed soon.

This announcement came as families of the 27 people victims announced this week that they are pursuing legal actions against five defendants in their case which includes; the West Are Are Constituency shipping company, the charterer MP John Maneniaru, MV Taimareho, SIMSA, captain Galo and captain Malepa.

The 27 lives were lost at sea between Malaita and Guadalcanal after the vessel met strong winds and rough seas. It was allowed to embark on its journey despite a cyclone warning issued earlier during the evening of 3rd April 2020.

The vessel was carrying passengers back to their constituency on West Are’are after a nationwide repatriation of people living in Honiara back to their home villages. Out of the 27 that were swept from the vessel only six bodies were recovered during search efforts.

As a result of that incident the police, marine and other stakeholders launched an investigation in to the incident and a report was released last year in May.

Minister of Infrastructure Development Manasseh Maelanga during the release of the report on the sea tragedy highlights that there are a number of recommendations made by the Board in the report dated 30th May 2020.

“These recommendations will now be forwarded to the relevant authorities including the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and the Director of the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority for their necessary actions.

Maelanga also said that once it reaches the police, they have the ball in their court to deal with the issue according to the law.

The recommendations are:

(a) That the Shipowner and Master violated the following:

(1) Sections 78 (1) and (2) of the Shipping Act 1998;

(2) Sections 8 (1) and (2) of the Shipping Act 1998;

(3) Sections 115 (1) and (3) of the Shipping Act 1998;

Meanwhile, section 78 (1) of the Shipping Act 1998 states “Neither the owner nor master shall permit more persons to be carried in a vessel than the number stated in the passenger ship safety certificate issued in respect of the vessel as being the maximum number of persons that may be carried in the vessel. 

Section 78 (2) stated; “Every owner and the master of the vessel who contravenes this section each commit an offence, and each shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars and to a further fine of not more than two hundred dollars for each person carried on board the vessel in excess of the number stated in the passenger ship safety certificate.”

Sections 81 (1) (c) however states every vessel is unsafe if –the vessel is overloaded or improperly loaded and section 81 (2) states “Where an unsafe vessel goes to sea, every person who knowingly sends, and the master who knowingly takes, the unsafe vessel to sea commit an offence, and each shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding sixty thousand dollars..

Section 115 (1) states “No person shall be employed on a vessel as a seaman unless there is in force an employment agreement approved by the principal shipping officer, in writing in the English language, between the owner, or licensed shipping agent, or master and the seaman which agreement maybe-

(a) With respect to employment in one or more vessel; or

(b) For a particular period not exceeding one year; or

(c) For one or more particular voyages.

Section 115 (3) however states every person who acts in contravention of subsection (1) or subsection (2) commits an offence, and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars.

Families of those who perished in the tragedy have formed a Victims Custom Compensation Committee, in which they have pursued legal action against those purported to have given the green-light for the vessel to sail during the night.

Vice Secretary of the Committee Venasio Huniehu said they have engaged a private law firm to proceed with their case.

Huniehu said in their legal suit they claimed $250,000 for expectancy of dependency, $100,000 for expectancy of life and $50,000 for special expense.

This totals up to $400,000 per life.

PM Briefed on Projects under US Development.

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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and US Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Bernard Link.

The United States of America this week updated Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on plans to upgrade the former’s development programmes in the country. 

The US Deputy Chief of Mission from the Port Moresby Embassy, Mr. Bernard Link lead the team for the Courtesy call.

Updating Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on US’s development projects in the country, the US Deputy Chief of Mission said, development project initiatives for Solomon Islands are related to:

  • USAID’s $25 million Strengthening Competitiveness, Agriculture, Livelihoods and Environment (SCALE) Program, which will be the USG’s largest investment in the Solomon Islands. This is a national Project that will benefit Malaita and other provinces. The primary objective of SCALE is to advance the Solomon Islands’ economic competitiveness and inclusiveness with specific emphasis on the development of the agribusiness sector and improved management of the forestry sector.  It will seek to improve the enabling environment for increased trade and investment; promote the expansion and further development of the agribusiness sector; and improve governance.  By advancing regulatory reform and improving the performance of the agriculture and forestry sectors, more employment will be generated, incomes are expected to rise and the quality of life of the citizens of Solomon Islands will improve. An agreement is under development. 
  • The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) threshold programme. This seeks to assist the Solomon Islands Government in addressing two major constraints to economic growth through the Accessing Land for Tourism Investment Facilitation (ALTIF) Project and the Forest Value Enhancement Project (FoVEP).  The MCC threshold programme is approximately USD 23 million. An agreement on this is under negotiation.
  • The US Government is also negotiating the framework that would authorize Peace Corps’ return to Solomon Islands. At present, Peace Corps has no volunteers posted overseas due to COVID.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is grateful to the US Government for its development initiatives.   

The Prime Minister welcomes the US projects and hope they contribute meaningfully and inclusively to national development.   

He emphasised, Solomon Islands must address its development issues. They are important to sustain our economy.

On the US25 million Aid as with other bilateral undertakings between Washington and Honiara, a formal Third-Party Note is a precondition.  

The Prime Minister further underlined, any development in the country must ensure Solomon Islands progress as a united country not focusing only on one particular interest. The nation is still struggling to address issues and bitter memories of the past Ethnic Tension.

“We want to keep our corner of the world peaceful.”

On MCC, he adds, “My Government is receptive to Millennium Challenge Corporation programme negotiations.” 

The announcement to re-establish Peace Corps in Solomon Islands 20 years after departing the country is also commended.   

Peace Corps’ efforts in Solomon Islands will initially focus on education and will recruit short-term volunteers with experience in Peace Corps’ education sector to help re-establish the program.

The first group of volunteers is scheduled to arrive mid-2021.

  –PMO

Guadalcanal to get tough on logging

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Ishmael Kukiti speaking during the motion of Sine Die

GUADALCANAL Province will get tougher on logging issues this year.

It will also limit the number of logging companies operating in the province.

The province’s Minister for Forestry and Mining, Ishmael Kukiti, revealed this in his contribution to the Sine Die motion Tuesday this week.

More than 20 logging companies – including licensees and contractors – have been operating on Guadalcanal since 2015.

Licences of some of the loggers and contractors are expired to expire sometimes this year.

Kukiti said his ministry will be closely monitoring all logging business licences, and also environmental impacts once the relevant ordinances are assented.

“The Government for Inclusive Change and Sustainable Development (GICSD) had started mid last year to do background checks on these logging companies, one of which is the SINO Capital Ltd case (now in High Court),” Kukiti said.

“We are also looking at limiting the number of logging companies operating on Guadalcanal,” he added.

“We aim to pass an ordinance that would control the negative environmental impacts due to logging activities.”

Despite efforts by a number of provinces to limit logging, the national government continues to issue logging licences one after the other.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry Vaeno Vigulu told the Public Accounts Committee last week his ministry has issued 435 licences to logging companies operating across the country.

These include 281 valid licences and 154 operation licences.

Police reminder on illegal sale of alcohol

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Jennifer Kusapa
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Police patrol

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE Commissioner Mostyn Mangau is calling on individuals and the public to always do the right thing and refrain from illegally selling alcohol.

Mangau said during the Easter operation one of their main target is to re-enforce the law and the illegal sale of alcohol will also be targeted during their operation.

He said people need to obtain proper licenses before they could sell alcohol, and calls on the public and communities to support police stop those illegal activities happening inside their societies.

Mangau said police cannot do policing alone without public support.

He said there must be a report from the public before police can obtain an order or search warrant to search the spots where some individuals are using to sell alcohol.

When questioned as to why police are not going undercover to trap those selling alcohol, Mangau said police will not resort to that idea.

Mangau explained that on one occasion police have been doing that, trying to trap those involved in the illegal sale of alcohol, but when the case came before the court, it was thrown out as police officers are not supposed to trap people into trouble.

Therefore, the police needs the public to support them in providing information before they could obtain proper warrants to search those people involved in such illegal activity.

This paper understands that the Bahai area and behind the bulk shop near the Church of Melanesia premises at Point Cruz, are some of the spots people use to do those activities.

Bus-driver in hit-and-run incident face trial on Tuesday

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Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

HEARING of evidence into the case against the bus-driver accused of causing death on a pedestrian will commence on April 6 2021 before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea.

The accused Konge Diau denied the charge against him and a trial was set to April 6, where the prosecution will call their witnesses to give evidence in court in regards to the incident.

The accused Konge was charged for a hit and run incident at the Henderson area on July 2020 where a man died as a result.

Prosecution said the deceased was with his wife and their teenage boy on board a pick-up truck travelling from Honiara’s main market heading back home. The deceased is believed to have taken some alcohol before he and his family boarded the vehicle. On their way passing the Lungga Bridge, East of Honiara, the deceased asked his wife to give him some money. His wife gave him $100.00.

Police said they stopped at the shops in the Lungga area and the deceased went into one of the shops and bought some goods before they drove out again heading in the easterly direction.

Police said just opposite the Island Night Club in the Henderson area, the deceased asked the driver of the motor vehicle to stop.

As the driver was about to stop the deceased suddenly jumped out of the truck, without looking for incoming vehicles from both lanes. It is believed that he ran straight into the main road, as one vehicle was approaching from the westerly direction. Police  said when the deceased crossed the road, a 15-seater mini bus travelling at high speed from the easterly direction unfortunately hit the deceased and it is believed he died instantly

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