LANGA LANGA INFORMATION PORTAL

GOVERNMENT CAUTIOUS ABOUT TELECOMMUNICATION MONOPOLY

2008-11-10T22:12:00.001+12:00

The Government has decided not to take an aggressive stand to end the telecommunication monopoly held by Solomon Telekom.

The Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, John Keniapisia, told local media the Government had intended pushing through legislation to free up the sector in this month’s session of Parliament.

But he says they have decided instead to address the issue through negotiations with the phone company.

Mr Keniapisia says the Government does not want to send the wrong signal to investors by bulldozing through legislation, and instead will use the review clause in the licence to re-negotiate Telekom’s 15-year contract.

But he says if these talks fail the Government is likely to fall back on the option of using legislation to end the monopoly.

This month's parliament session is expected to convene on the twentieth.
---------------------------------------------------------------
MAKIRA-ULAWA MARINE STUDY
The Makira-Ulawa provincial government now had a better understanding of the marine status of the Kahua-Wainoni area.

This follows the handing over of a survey report carried out in the area recently by two marine biologists Geoff Dews and Glen Holmes from the University of Queensland Centre for Marine Studies.

Premier of Makira-Ulawa province Thomas Weape received the report on behalf of the province saying that the results and recommendations in the survey will assist the province in future plannings.

The survey was carried out following a request from the Kahua Association which was becoming concern about the declining fisheries in the area.

The survey included assessing the natural fisheries population as well as other marine lives and the state of coral reefs in the area.

In accepting the survey report, Mr Weape said it will help the province draw up policies on proper management of marine natural resources instead of making policies on the harvesting of sea resources.

Mr Weape says lack of information have resulted in past Makira-Ulawa provincial governments not putting in place policies which are not sustainable to the province's resources.

He says with the information contained in the survey, Makira-Ulawa Provincial government will now draw up policies aimed at re-stocking the province's marine resources.

EU TO HAND OVER RURAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS
The European Union, EU, will hand over three separate water supplies projects to communities in the Western Province this week.

All three projects were funded under the EU Micro-project Scheme at a cost of about 300-thousand dollars.

The EU Scheme donated 200-thousand dollars while the respective communities contributed 100-thousand dollars towards the projects.

SIBC's Simon Papage who is travelling with the EU group quotes EU Micro-project Coordinator, Alaric Rore, as saying the communities will take delivery of their respective projects as of tomorrow.

Mr Rore says official from the EU Micro-project and the Ministry of National Planning and Aid Coordination will hand over and open the Sambora Primary School Rain Water Catchment Project on Vela Lavella tomorrow morning.

On Wednesday the delegation will hand over and open Vila Water Supply and Sanitation Project on Kolombangara Island.

More than 800 people from surrounding villages will benefit from the projects.

Mr Rore says more than 800 students of Bubuku Community High School on Rendova Island will benefit from their new water supply and sanitation project on Thursday this week.

He says the project cost about 100-thousand dollars.
------------------------------------------------------------

NEW ZEALAND PM ELECTNew Zealand Prime Minister elect John Key has set a tight deadline for forming his new government and he's starting work on it on Monday.

TV New Zealand says National leader and soon to be prime minister is going to meet the leaders of the minor parties he intends bringing into his government so he has 70 votes in Parliament on confidence and supply.

Those votes are crucial for a government to command the confidence of parliament, and with 70 he will have an overwhelming majority over the 52 votes of Labour and the Greens.

Mr Key will meet on Monday with Rodney Hide, leader of the Act Party which now has five MPs.

Act is already committed to supporting National and the agreement was formalised during the campaign.

Meanwhile, outgoing prime minister Helen Clark will preside over her last Cabinet meeting on Monday as her colleagues think about a new Labour leadership.
------------------------------------------------------------
CALL FOR COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO ABANDONED LAND

Guadalcanal Premier Stephen Panga has urged the government to speed up the process of setting up the Commission of Inquiry into Abandoned Land on Guadalcanal.

Premier Panga re-iterates the call to ensure people who are concerned about abandoned land know the fate of land they have settled on prior to the ethnic tension.

He acknowledges that government was working on the Term of Reference for the Commission.

Premier Panga says his provincial government wants to contribute to the Term of Reference before it is adopted.

He says the quicker the government completes a report on the issues, the better for parties concern to know the fate their claims.
----------------------------------------------------------
POLICE CHARGE MAN WITH ATTEMPT MURDER

Solomon Islands Police Force detectives have charged a man with attempted murder after he attacked a RAMSI police officer with a bush knife.

Police will allege the 39-year-old man was responsible for seriously wounding the New Zealand police officer at Avuavu on Guadalcanal’s Weathercoast on Second September 2008.

The man surrendered to police based at Avuavu at the weekend after an extensive operation to apprehend the offenders responsible for the attack.

He was transported to Honiara on Saturday where detectives from the Solomon Islands Serious Crime Squad interviewed and formally charged him.

Acting Commissioner of Police, Peter Marshall, said the two-month operation to apprehend those responsible has been successful.

Three other suspects involved in the attack surrendered to police on 20th September 2008.

The operation to apprehend the remaining offenders will continue.

The 39-year-old man is expected to face the Honiara Magistrates Court today.
--------------------------------------------------------

SECURITY FIRM OWNER CONCERN ABOUT RISING CRIME RATE

A security firm owner in Honiara Chris Maebiru says it's now time Police and Security firms come together in tackling rising crime rate in Honiara.

He says that much criminal activities happened within operational areas of security firms but because of the lack of cooperation between the Police and the firms, it took a lot of time to investigate such activities.

Mr Maebiru says if an understanding is reached between the police and security firms, a lot of money, time and manpower used by the police in their investigations can be avoided through the help of security officers.

He says Security firms and the Police are serving the same people therefore an understanding should be reached between the two parties.

Mr Maebiru says Police can use security officers as their eyes and ears in the public.

He says security officers should also attend police training.

Mr Maebiru says he hopes that in the future, the Police Act can be amended to allow security officers carry out arrests when police are not present.

He says the idea is to make Honiara safe for Solomon Islanders, investors, businesspeople as well as tourists.
----------------------------------------------------------
GLOBAL CRISIS IS AFFECTING TOURISM OPERATORS
An umbrella organisation for South Pacific tourism operators says it appears that the global uncertainty is now having an obvious impact on visitor numbers in the region, especially those from long haul markets.

Popular destinations like French Polynesia and the Cook Islands have both noticed a drop in visitor numbers from Europe and North America.

South Pacific travel, is the mandated inter-governmental organisation for the tourism sector in the South Pacific.

Its chief executive, Tony Everitt, says, visitors from Europe, the United States, and Japan, which are the three key long haul markets, has certainly been quite soft.

But Tony Everitt says Pacific countries should still be vigilant and continue to promote in the United States and in Europe as they will always be important markets.
SOURCE: SIBC ONLINE NEWS

SoIomon Islands Prime Minister Congratulates OBAMA

2008-11-10T22:06:00.000+12:00

Prime Minister Derek Sikua has congratulated Barack Obama, the President-Elect of the United States of America for winning the presidential election on November 4.

In a letter to Obama today, Dr Sikua says it is with immense pleasure that the government and people of Solomon Islands join him in conveying the deepest and heartfelt congratulations on his historic election as President-Elect of the USA.

He says Solomon Islands and the US share a long, warm and historic relations spanning over a period of more than 62 years, which saw the 35th President of the US proudly serving his country in Solomon Islands during World War Two.

Prime Minister Sikua says Mr Obama's election comes at an important juncture when the world is facing so many challenges from climate change to financial crisis.

Dr Sikua says towards this end, Solomon Islands looks to Mr Obama's leadership with hope and confidence he will address these challenges and redefine the US relations with the Pacific region and Solomon Islands.

Dr Sikua says Solomon Islands reaffirms its keenness to strengthen and expand cooperation between the two countries on issues of mutual interest for the benefit of the people.

He wishes Mr Obama and his family and people of the US every success as he prepares to take on his new leadership role.

MALAITA CHIEF SUPPORTS CALL AGAINST TRESPASSERS

2008-11-08T11:39:00.000+12:00

A Malaita chief supports the call by Guadalcanal Premier, Stephen Panga, for people to stop trespassing on land on Guadalcanal that were abandoned by others following the ethnic tension.

Chief James Mosuria of Matakwalao House of Chief in North Malaita says other people including those from Malaita must stay away from the abandoned lands.

Chief Mosuria says people must be patient and wait until government's proposed Commission of Inquiry into those land is set up and complete its work.

He says until the Commission has deliberated on those lands and made recommendations for authorities including both the national and Guadalcanal Province to decide what is appropriate concerning those lands, no body should trespass on those lands.

Chief Mosuria appeals to other people including Malaitans to respect the rights of the Guadalcanal people and stay away from those land and properties.

The chief also appeals to leaders of people concern to gather and talk with their people to abide by the law and stop trespassing on other peoples' land and properties.

Iran to cover airfares for students to Cuba

2008-11-07T03:54:00.000+12:00

THE Government is believed to have accepted an offer by Iran to meet the travel costs for Solomon Islands medical students studying in Cuba.

Iran made the offer in talks in New York last September, sources said.

The funding is the latest to emerge since the revelation last week that the Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement (CNURA) government was engaged in secret bilateral talks with the Tehran government.

Foreign Minister William Haomae, and his Permanent Secretary Barnabas Anga, were in Tehran last week.

Details as to how much money was involved are sketchy.

The sources said the Government has accepted the offer and the money had been paid via the Solomon Islands Mission [Embassy] at the United Nations in New York .

The Iranians, the sources said, would also provide computers for our medical students in Cuban medical schools.

Iran’s offer to meet airfares and to provide computers were agreed in talks in New York last September when Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua was attending the United Nations General Assembly [UNGA].

Many of the students who were accepted for training in Cuba could not travel this year because of shortage in funding.

With the new funding source, more students will be on their way to Havana .

Training Solomon Islands medical students in Cuba was first initiated by Manasseh Sogavare’s government.

Under the arrangement, the Solomon Islands Government was to pay students’ travel costs to and from Cuba while the Havana government meets lodging and other internal costs.

As part of the scheme, Cuban medical doctors would be sent to work in Solomon Islands hospitals. At least two are already working at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara .

The revelation about bilateral talks with Iran has drawn sharp criticism from Opposition leader, Manasseh Sogavare, saying Iran is a nation known for sponsoring terrorism and that forming an ally with Tehran goes against the values of Solomon Islands .

"Terrorism in general is something that is condemned by the United Nations, and no country in their right mind would enter into an alliance or diplomatic relations with a country that sponsors that kind of activity, that causes suffering to millions of people," he said.

But the Solomon Islands government has defended its decision for the talks with Tehran saying it would pave the way for signing a bilateral cooperation agreement with Iran .

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement describing Mr Sogavare's comments as "regrettable", saying that Solomon Islands had not yet established diplomatic relations with Iran .

The statement said such an agreement would make way for the two countries to explore specific cooperative arrangements, including the possibility of formalising diplomatic relations.

Iran is a member of the UN and has diplomatic relations with 102 countries, including Australia and New Zealand.

By ALFRED SASAKO
in Taiwan
SOLOMON STAR NEWS

RAMSI Joins Hunt for Killer Crocs

2008-11-07T03:35:00.000+12:00

Two teams of RAMSI Participating Police Force (PPF) officers are being dispatched tomorrow (Friday) to help local police deal with threatening crocodiles in two separate provinces.

One team is heading to the Russell Islands after a community there requested assistance following the death of a young girl who was taken from the village of Ale by a crocodile earlier this week.

The Commander of the PPF, Denis McDermott, said that it is always tragic when a life is lost under these circumstances.

“The PPF is here to support the Solomon Islands Police in keeping the people of this country safe from harm. When a village is threatened by a dangerous animal, such as a crocodile, I am very pleased to be able to send my officers to help.”

At the request of the community, one of the teams will help local police in the Russell Islands to destroy the animal.

A second team will travel to Atoifi, Malaita Province to help the SIPF to locate and destroy a crocodile that has been menacing the community there.

“In the last month RAMSI has responded to requests from communities in Munda, on the Weathercoast, and from parts of Western Province,” Mr McDermott said.

RAMSI has promised to destroy crocodiles and urges anyone with concerns about these dangerous animals in their area to report the matter to their local police, who can then request armed assistance from RAMSI.
Solomon Star

UNIVERSITY DROPS COURSES

2008-11-07T03:24:00.000+12:00

The University of the South Pacific, the USP, is planning to drop 98 unpopular courses.

The Fiji Times quotes the USP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rajesh Chandra, saying the university had been looking at a number of ways to reduce costs.

Professor Chandra says the USP would restructure and cut back those courses which did not have many students.

He said cutting back on the undersubscribed courses would not mean students who had already enrolled in them would be forced to leave.

Professor Chandra says students in programmes would be able to complete them but the university will stop taking new students.

The university also plans to cut costs, including expenditure on travel, purchasing, internet usage, electricity and telephone calls.

In addition, Professor Chandra said, the university would try and generate additional income through consultancies.

The paper also reports him saying the number of faculties will be cut from four to three.

EU AND INCOME GENERATING PROJECTS

2008-11-07T03:22:00.000+12:00

The European Union Micro Project scheme will in the future be focusing its support to income generating projects that are viable.

Ravin Dhari from the EU Micro-project unit said this to those who gathered at the handing over ceremony of four cocoa driers to the Kolokarako Cocoa Farmers Association at New-Kolina village in East Guadalcanal.

Mr Dhari said this is because communities get a lot of benefits from projects that generate income. He said such projects if properly managed will have long term sustainability.

He said the driers that were handed over to Kolokarako Cocoa farmers will strengthen the production of cocoa in the community for many years.

Mr Dhari said further developments of cocoa production in the community lies in the strength of the association.

He urged the association of Kolokarako Cocoa farmers to approach other aid donors to help with road development and construction to their area.

He said the EU Micro project Unit believes the Kolokorako Cocoa farmers association will one day become a leading cocoa producer in the country.

GUADALCANAL PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS BURNING OF HOMES

2008-11-07T03:10:00.001+12:00

The Guadalcanal Provincial Government condemns the recent burning of homes at Ruaniu, Northwest Guadalcanal.

In a statement, Premier Stephen Panga says such act is criminal and uncalled for.

He says anyone responsible should face the full force of the law.

Mr Panga says the provincial government appeals to the Police to investigate the matter and bring to justice anyone involved in the criminal activity.

But in condemning what had happened Mr Panga says his government re-iterates its earlier call for people not to re-occupy abandoned lands around Guadalcanal until the Commission of Inquiry into Guadalcanal lands is established and decide on those lands.

Mr Panga says his government also calls on landowners not to allow or entertain any reoccupation of abandoned land by anyone including themselves until the Commission of Inquiry is completed.

He says this measure is to avoid any rows arising from the reoccupation of abandoned lands in light of our current efforts to build peace and harmony.

Meanwhile, Mr Panga says his government dismisses reports that Guadalcanal Province is preparing to start another social unrest.

He says such reports is unfounded considering the current efforts of the Guadalcanal Province and people to commit themselves to peace building, reconciliation, social harmony and unity.

SOLOMON ISLANDS SUPPORT USP FOURTH CAMPUS

2008-11-03T20:38:00.000+12:00

The establishment of a fourth campus of the University of the South Pacific in Solomon Islands was high on the agenda of the USP Council meeting in Fiji last week.

Head of the Solomon Islands delegation to the Council meeting, Minister of Education, Mathew Wale confirmed having used the Council meeting to inform other USP member countries of Government plans for a USP Campus in the country.

The education minister informed Solomon Islands students at the USP Laucala campus that government is working on the second largest USP campus in the region.

He said there is provision in the budget for the university project.

Mr Wale said the projected cost of the campus is around 70-million dollars.

Mr Wale said against time and other pressures, government is working on a number of strategies.

He said one of those strategies is to press the University of the South Pacific to begin the face to face teaching mode for certain 100 level courses from the beginning of the 2009 academic year at the current USP Honiara Centre.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Myline Kuve said the government is keen and committed to see the Solomon Islands campus operational by 2011.

In other related-development, Solomon Islands Government has invited the University of the South Pacific and its member countries to host the 2009 USP Counsel meeting in Honiara.

Permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mulie Kuve reveald this when she addressed more than seven hundred government-sponsored students at Laucala Campus.

Mrs Kuve said Solomon Islands government made the request during the USP's counsel meeting which ended in Suva last week.

She confirmed that the request has received unanimous agreement by the overall University Counsel.

Mrs Kuve said anticipating the big number of Solomon Islands grandaunts at the end of this year, the government will culminate the counsel meeting with a major graduation ceremony in Honiara.

More than 150 local students will be completing their masters and degree programs at the end of this year, graduating in various fields ranging from land management, geography, business administration, Politics, information system, education, marine science, banking, economics, chemistry and others.

SIBC ONLINE NEWS

SI FRIDAY IN BRIEF

2008-10-31T22:44:00.000+12:00

TUNA LOIN FACTORY

Government yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with landowners of Tenaru-Lunga and the Guadalcanal provincial government for the establishment of a Tuna Loin factory at Tenaru, Central Guadalcanal.

Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Nollen Leni whilst speaking at the signing ceremony said the loin factory is part of government's plan to bring development to rural people.

He said government believes the factory will create opportunities for employment to thousands of Solomon Islanders, with a lot of spin off benefits in the area.

Mr Leni says the creation of a tuna loin factory signals a shift in government's fisheries policy to reduce access to foreign fishing companies.

He urges all three parties in the M-O-U to work together to bring the Tenaru Loining factory a reality for the benefit of all.

Minister Leni thanks the people of Ghaobata, Bahomea and Malango for availing their land of a national development to take place.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister doctor Derek Sikua who witnessed the signing of the Tenaru Tuna Loin factory M-O-U says progress towards the next state in the development of the project depends on the commitment of each party.

He warns that failure by one party to comply with the required commitments could delay and even jeopardise the success of the project.

He appeals to all parties to honour their commitments.

Dr Sikua however says yesterday's event marks the beginning of an important process towards the establishment of a Tuna Loin factory on Guadalcanal and said he looks forward to officiate at a ceremony to mark the opening of the factory.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNDP REPORTS ON CORRUPTION

A new United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, report says politicians in the Asia-Pacific region are seen as the most corrupt group.

This is followed by the police and judiciary.

The 2007 Asia-Pacific human development report, entitled “Tackling Corruption, Transforming Lives”, says nearly one in five people in the region claimed to have paid a bribe to police during the previous year.

The report says between one third and three quarters of the victims spoken to in various Asia-Pacific countries said they did not report a crime because of a lack of trust in the police.

The UNDP says justice too had a price and according to the report, two thirds of the Asian population considered the courts to be corrupt.

Meanwhile, head of the UNDP regional human development report unit, Anuradha Rajivan, says while hauling the rich and powerful before the courts might grab the headlines, the poor would benefit more from efforts to eliminate corruption that plagued their everyday lives.

Ms Rajivan believed “petty corruption” was a wrong name.

She says although dollar amounts might be relatively small, the demands were incessant.

Ms Rajivan the number of people affected was enormous and the share of poor people’s income was high.

She says combating corruption made more political sense now than ever before, especially in sectors like water, electricity, health and education.

Ms Rajivan quotes the report as saying this not only conferred credibility on the government but also greatly promoted everyday citizen’s satisfaction.

The report was regionally launched last July in Jakarta by the Indonesian president and nationally on Tuesday by PNG Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane in the presence of foreign dignitaries and others.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUTHS HOLD RALLY

A Christian youth rally targeting young people in Honiara begins this evening.

The youth rally has been organised by the Solomon Islands Christian Association, S-I-C-A and the Year of the Bible Working group.

The theme of the rally is 'Strongim youth long word blo God' - empowering youth with the Word of God.

The rally will be held at the Multi-purpose building and starts at 6pm this evening.

Music, games, skits and bible teaching will be a part of today evening's opening program.

Tomorrow morning, the rally opens at 9am.

The youth rally is being sponsored by SICA and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT IN PETROLEUM

Solomons Cabinet is yet to deliberate on the Pacific Petroleum Project.
While just Nauru, Tuvalu and the Cook Islands are the only countries to sign up to the Pacific Petroleum Project, others, such as Solomon Islands will not be far behind.

The three small countries have committed to a memorandum of understanding which Pacific Island Forum Economic Ministers hope will see the region buying fuel in bulk and paying less for it.

Finance Minister, Snyder Rini, says Solomon Islands fully backs the Project it but cannot commit just yet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHURCH HAS A NEW BISHOP

The South Seas Evangelical Church, SSEC, has elected its new Reverend Bishop, somewhat ending the debate of internal doctrinal differences towards the candidacy of Reverend Michael Maeliau for the post.

The new Reverend Bishop, Mathias Lima was elected last night at the church's leaders conference in Malango, Central Guadalcanal.

He replaces former Reverend Bishop, the late Reverend Festus Suruma who died earlier this year.

Mr Lima won ahead of Reverend Eric Takila who came second, and Reverend Michael Maeliau who came third.

Meanwhile, Stanley Aitorea was elected Vice Reverend Bishop in a separate election.

Mr Lima's election as the new Reverend Bishop of SSEC puts to rest earlier debates of exposed internal doctrinal differences that erupted over the candidacy of Reverend Michael Maeliau.

The differences came to light after a letter which was written to the then Acting Reverend Bishop, Eric Takila by church elder Sir Peter Kenilorea was exposed to local newspaper, Solomon Star.

In the letter, Sir Peter had expressed concern over the candidacy of Reverend Maeliau citing that the Reverend no longer seems to believe in mainstream practices and doctrines of the SSE Church.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAIWANESE DOCTORS PROVIDE SERVICE

The doctor and nurse of Taiwan Health Center in Honiara is providing professional service.
The medical services which started two weeks ago is aimed at easing the shortage of medical manpower in the Central Hospital.
The local people from isolated villages, will in the long term benefit Taiwan's assistance.
Dr Chen Hsien-Ching, the chief of Taiwan Health Center said the medical work in Solomon Islands is different and full of challenge.
Dr Chen has been in Honiara to replace Dr Chang, Shiou since 27th September.
Dr. Chen says the relations between National Referral Hospital, NRH, and Taiwan Health Center have been established well during Dr. Chang's one year tenure.
The doctors and nurses from NRH now go to our center very often for consultations.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHRISTIAN YOUTH RALLY

A Christian youth rally targeting young people in Honiara begins this evening.
The youth rally has been organised by the Solomon Islands Christian Association, S-I-C-A and the Year of the Bible Working group.
The theme of the rally is 'Strongim youth long word blo God' - empowering youth with the Word of God.
The rally will be held at the Multi-purpose building and starts at 6pm this evening.
Music, games, skits and bible teaching will be a part of today evening's opening program.
Tomorrow morning, the rally opens at 9am.
The youth rally is being sponsored by SICA and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PACIFIC LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS

Potential Pacific leaders have gathered in Wellington this week to learn what it takes to make a difference.

Radio New Zealand International reports that the symposium called “Growing a New Generation of Pacific Leaders” is organised by the Victoria University of Wellington and consists of workshops and readings.

A co-organiser, Dr Kabini Sanga, said Pacific leadership is different from other forms of leadership because it emphasises custom.

Dr Sanga said it’s about taking responsibility and a can-do attitude whether becoming the manager of a company or the head of a family.

He said the students will share a vision.

Dr Sanga said that vision being to grow one-thousand new generation leaders by 2015.

He said they have already mobilised young leaders in New Zealand and across the Pacific, including in Fiji and Solomon Islands.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SIBC ONLINE NEWS

WEEKEND NEWS IN BRIEF

2008-10-27T03:42:00.000+12:00

EU CONTINUE WITH MICRO PROJECT
The European Union will increase its funding assistance to Solomon islands under phase three of its micro project scheme to 80 million dollars.

Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination, Steve Abana says the increase is from the current 50-million US dollars in phase two of the micro project scheme which covers a period of three years ending early next year.

Mr Abana revealed this when he officially opened a new classroom and four staff houses at Belaga Community High School, on Small Gela, Central Province at the weekend.

Mr Abana told the communities of Belaga, that the successful implementation of phase two of the micro project scheme in Solomon islands funded by the European Union for the last three years had paved the way for the continuation of the scheme into phase three.

Mr Abana says his Ministry had successfully negotiated with the European Union phase three of the micro project scheme to start in early 2009 for the next three years.

He says it was the hard work and cooperation by the communities which help to build the confidence and trust with the EU in the partnership.

The Minister for Aid Coordination says Government and Solomon Islands must be thankful for the European Union for its cooperation and willingness to render the assistance.
CORRECTIONAL SERVICE FOCUS
Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Service Samuel Manetoali had spelt out the new approach of the revived Correctional Service.

Speaking at a ceremony farewelling Barry Apsey and welcoming Francis Haisoma as the new Correctional Service Commissioner, Mr Manetoali said the new focus is on rehabilitation of offenders and their re-integration into their communities.

He said that to achieve this the Correctional Service will need community commitment and support to assist prisoners prepare for release.

Mr Manetoali said the new correctional act and regulations will underpins the outward looking focus of Correctional Service.

He said one of the key approaches taken is to engage all stakeholders including governments, Non Government Organisations, churches and community groups.

Mr Manetoali says that because of good relationship with stakeholders,locals can now take over the helm of the service through capacity development.

He thanked RAMSI for their contribution to achieve what the Correctional service had planned which had resulted in a strong foundation being laid by the former commissioner Mr Apsey.

PROJECT APPRAISAL WORKSHOP
Solomon Islands Development Trust will facilitate four days Participatory Rural Appraisal training later this month at Paposi primary school, Savo Island.

The theme for the open forum is "Communication for Central Understanding"

The four days training and the one day open forum will be facilitated by two SIDT officers.
Leaders from twelve villages on Savo will be participating at the village forum as well as Central Islands Provincial government representative and donors.

SIDT says the purpose of the four day training is to prepare the village leaders to present some village development concerns on behalf of their villages within Savo to the Central Islands Provincial government and donor partners.
PLANNED SOLOMON ISLANDS UNIVERSITY SUPPORTED
The decision by the Education minister Matthew Wale for the country to have its university should be taken seriously by the present government.

A former school teacher and now a student at the University of the South Pacific, Ambrose Oiofa says that by having its own university, Solomon Islands will save money sending students overseas.

Solomon islands is currently sending its students to Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and even to Australia and
New Zealand.

Mr Oiofa says Solomon islands students would have easy access to university training to contribute to the country's standard and quality of education.

He says if Solomon Islands ignore this development, it's destroying its children's future.
FORMER WEST MAKIRA MP BURIED
The body of former member of parliament for West Makira the late Mathias Taro has been laid to rest at his home village of Heuru, Makira-Ulawa Province.

The late 56 -year old Taro died at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara last Wednesday after a long battle with illness.

The late Taro, an agriculturalist by profession was elected to Parliament in 2002 representing West Makira Constituency.

During his term in Parliament he had been designated crown Minister to various ministries.

He had held the position of Minister of Forestry, Environment and Conservation, Fisheries and Marine Resources and Education and Human Resources Development.

He was well remembered as one of the strong advocators of free education for Solomon islands during his time as Minister for Education and Human Resources Development.

The late Taro's body was transported home by boat and laid to rest at his home village of Heuru, in West Makira.

He is survived by his wife and five elderly children.

Source:SIBC ONLINE NEWS

Sasako wants late Ulufa’alu honoured

2008-10-26T11:21:00.000+12:00

Sasako wants late Ulufa’alu honoured
Thursday, 23 October 2008
A SENIOR minister in the late Bartholomew Ulufa’alu pre-coup government has suggested that Solomon Islands’ new Chancery building in Papua New Guinea be named after the late prime minister.

Alfred Sasako was the country’s first Minister of State, Assisting the Prime Minister from August 1997 to June 2000 under the late Ulufa’alu’s administration.

His suggestion came as PNG handed over the final tranche of funds for the building being completed in Port Moresby.

“My suggestion is not only appropriate but fitting for a man who was ahead of his time in thinking and doing,” Mr Sasako said.

“The funding being used partly for building the Chancery was provided due to the late Ulufa’alu’s efforts,” Mr Sasako said in a statement.

“Both Ulufa’alu and I negotiated the funding arrangement in September 1997 during a visit to Port Moresby. It was a package given in recognition of Solomon Islands’ assistance in looking after Bougainvilleans who escaped to Solomon Islands during the Bougainville uprising,” Mr Sasako said.

“I am grateful that the then PNG Government, led by the late Prime Minister, Bill Skate, was understanding and forthcoming when we put the proposal to him.

“A K40 million package to be paid in equal installments over four years was approved then and there,” he said.

Today, part of this funding was being used to pay for the education of many Solomon Islands students studying in PNG’s tertiary institutions.

“My suggestion to name the building housing the Chancery after the late Ulufa’alu is to honour a man whose vision and ingenuity in hard times is now being reaped by many,” Mr Sasako said.

“It is only appropriate and fitting that Solomon Islands pay homage to him in this way,” he said.

Mr Sasako said the late Ulufa’alu was a leader in a league of his own. He gave all for the nation often at the expense of his own family.

He added there are other reasons to name the building after this great leader as well.

“I don’t think the host Government would have any difficulty with my suggestion, given the late Ulufa’alu’s good standing with PNG leaders and intellectuals there.

“As many know, Ulufa’alu was one of the most distinguished economics students the University of Papua New Guinea has ever produced,” Mr Sasako said.

“As well, he was the most active and perhaps the only Solomon Islands student to serve with distinction as the President of UPNG’s Students’ Representative Council [SRC],” he said.

“As a former UPNG student myself, many PNG students in my time were still talking about what a great student leader Ulufa’alu was in his time.”

Mr Sasako said Solomon Islands have a duty to honour and preserve the late Ulufa’alu’s legacy.

Solomon Star News

WOMEN LEARN ABOUT HOW TO MAKE KEROSENE

2008-10-26T11:15:00.000+12:00

Women of Vuranimala Community on Gela, Central Province are attending a workshop on how to make for kerosene.

Steven Viri says the workshop is a follow-up of a similar one held at Siarana last month.

He said the workshop facilitator is Catherine Rongona.

Ms Rongona thanks the Grassroot Development Trust for training of the facilitator and the facilitator for passing the knowledge and skills to rural women of Gela.

Participants have expressed gratitude in attending the workshop saying that they will now be able to produce their own kerosene.

SIBC NEWS

WORLD BANK GROUP TO PROMOTE TOURISM

2008-10-26T11:12:00.002+12:00

A member of the World Bank Group, IFC has provided a grant to Dive Gizo to help establish a new online marketing and booking system that will boost tourism in the Solomon Islands.

The website will be launched in mid-November at the Sydney Adventure Travel and Backpackers Expo.

The new website will be part of a travel network, comprising more than 100 travel destinations.

Dedicated to the Solomon Islands, it will profile local tour operators and more than 30 accommodations, providing prospective visitors with the opportunity to book online.

Minister for Tourism Seth Gukuna who has previewed the website says it is an important addition to the country’s tourism promotion channels.

He says it will not only enhance country's appeal, but also enable business to be conducted in this important sector.
SIBC ONLINE NEWS

GUADALCANAL MAN BRUTALLY STABBED

2008-10-26T10:44:00.000+12:00

Guadalcanal Premier Stephen Panga has called for calm and patience as authorities take steps to reconcile concerned parties following the death of a Guadalcanal man recently at the Honiara Central market.

A man from Malaita has been apprehended by police and in relation to the death of the man.

Mr Panga in his appeal says people should let the law take its course and justice be done.

He also reveals a letter of compensation demand has been received from men who are said to be former Guadalcanal militants.

Mr Panga says he is already working to organise a reconciliation ceremony involving the family of the victim and the accused.

The Premier says he had discussed with the Prime Minister, Derek Sikua.

Mr Panga says he plans to discuss the matter with his Malaita counterpart, Richard Na’amo Irosaea.

Mr Panga says these efforts should also be allowed to happen in an atmosphere of calm.

But, Mr Panga says while he calls for calm and patience, the Province cannot allow such brutal attacks of his people to happen again.

He says the Province is committed to the reconciliation process and gaining peace in the country, because this is the way forward to preventing such attacks in the future.
SIBC ONLINE NEWS

PARAMOUNT CHIEF CALLS FOR COOPERATION

2008-10-23T21:34:00.000+12:00

The new Sahalu ward paramount chief and his assistance were sworn in last Friday at Maravovo, north-west Guadalcanal.

SIBC's correspondent John Toki reports that Anthony Limanisara and John Batista Kaoni took their oaths before a Commissioner of Oaths and 30 village and tribal chiefs.

In his acceptance speech, chief Limanisara called on chiefs and leaders in their communities to carry out what is expected of them.

Chief Limanisara apologised to people whom he and his tribesmen and women may have caused grievances to them.

He says differences between various families, tribes and individuals must be sorted out to live a happy live in the communities.

Chief Limanisara says another task would be to set up a strong secretariat of the chiefs council to be able to perform its duties.

More than 500 people witnessed the occasion.
________________________________________
WOMEN LEARN ABOUT HOW TO MAKE KEROSENE
10:43 hrs
23 October 2008

Women of Vuranimala Community on Gela, Central Province are attending a workshop on how to make for kerosene.
Women of Vuranimala Community on Gela, Central Province are attending a workshop on how to make for kerosene.

Steven Viri says the workshop is a follow-up of a similar one held at Siarana last month.

He said the workshop facilitator is Catherine Rongona.

Ms Rongona thanks the Grassroot Development Trust for training of the facilitator and the facilitator for passing the knowledge and skills to rural women of Gela.

Participants have expressed gratitude in attending the workshop saying that they will now be able to produce their own kerosene.
________________________________________
PNG HEALTH MINISTER SPEAKS ON POPULATION GROWTH

A family planning advisor says a partnership is what is needed to cut population growth in Papua New Guinea.

PNG’s Health Minister, Sasa Zibe, says the population will double in the next 25 years while Government services are already unable to cope.

He is advocating a return to traditional approaches to family planning, encouraging condom use and promising new approaches by the Government.

Joanna Spratt, who heads the New Zealand based Family Planning International, says the role of Government in providing services and education is key, but the solution lies very much in a partnership.

She says it’s about families talking amongst themselves about how many children can they have.
________________________________________
HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PACIFIC
10:36 hrs
A Fiji human rights lawyer, Imrana Jalal, says the new UN human rights monitoring system offers a broad assessment of a country's situation.

Radio New Zealand International reports that the Universal Periodic Report mechanism has seen Tonga outline its situation, with Tuvalu to appear before the committee in December.

Ms Jalal said while the Pacific doesn't have the worst abuses, there is a gradual deterioration.

She says what is happening in the Pacific is a slow whittling-away of human rights at a macro level

FOREST OWNERS ENCOURAGED TO DO DOWNSTREAM PROCESSING

2008-10-23T21:31:00.000+12:00

Forest resource owners must be encouraged to do downstream processing.
The Minister for Forestry and Research Job Duddley Tausinga made this emphasis when he took delivery of portable sawmills and reforestation equipment funded by the Taiwan government yesterday.

He said resource owners must also replant logged land areas to minimise the disastrous effects of unsustainable timber harvesting.

Mr Tausinga says the rate of timber harvesting is at alarming rate, and in 2007 it stood at one-point-five million cubic meters, which is four times the annual allowable rate.

Mr Tausinga received the sawmills and equipment from Taiwan’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands, George Chan, on behalf of the Members of Parliament and the timber resource owners who are recipients.
________________________________________

2008-10-23T21:29:00.000+12:00

Lady Alice Waena, the Governor General's wife, has appealed to the government to be involved in the campaign to help combat cancer killing Solomon Islands women.
She says the First Lady Charity Committee is aiming to raise a total of a million dollars towards this campaign and the fundraising program will be long and difficult.

She says the million dollars is towards getting a mammogram machine, a separate building for breast cancer testing, and to train local medical people to qualify for breast cancer testing.

Lady Alice says cervical cancer already has its own clinic and this is encouraging for women throughout the country.

She says the focus now is to raise funds to establish a breast cancer clinic for Solomon Islands women, hence pink ribbon dinner campaigns.

The first pink ribbon dinner was held last year and was initiated by RAMSI's PPF Commander, Dennis McDermott.

SIBC

COCOA FARMERS

2008-10-17T23:35:00.001+12:00

The Commodities, Export Marketing Authority, CEMA salutes all cocoa farmers and supporters of the industry on the occasion of International Cocoa day on October 12.

The Commodities, Export Marketing Authority, CEMA salutes all cocoa farmers and supporters of the industry on the occasion of International Cocoa day on October 12.

CEMA says it acknowledges the important contribution of cocoa growers and traders to the economy which resulted in a steady increase of export earnings over the years.

Up to September this year, the export value of cocoa was 58-million dollars , an increase of more than 10-million dollars recorded for the whole of last year.

Of the amount, farmers returns are estimated at more than 40-million dollars and increase of more than five-million from last year.

SIBC

CEMA urges all cocoa growers in the country to continue to produce high quality cocoa and maintain or expand their plantations.

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FOR PACIFIC

2008-10-17T21:33:00.000+12:00

A new capacity development study for Pacific nations shows that sustained capacity development of people and organizations can lead to better service delivery and increased poverty reduction in the region.

A new capacity development study for Pacific nations shows that sustained capacity development of people and organizations can lead to better service delivery and increased poverty reduction in the region.

The Pacific Capacity Development Study is sponsored by Asian Development Bank A-D-B and Australian Agency for International Development AusAID.

The study highlights good governance and increased participation of people in decision-making process on development issues as key factors in helping build capacity in the Pacific Islands.

The study investigates 21 case studies from 11 Pacific developing countries: Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The cases cover a range of experiences including economic planning, infrastructure development, health and legal sector reform, and civil society enhancement.

The study also identifies a number of key factors contributing success to the case studies: leadership, participation, right incentives, an enabling environment, and flexibility.
SIBC ONLINENEWS

Public Service Community website launched.

2008-10-17T20:58:00.000+12:00

The Minister of Public Service, Milner Tozaka has launched the Public Service Community website.

The website is expected to elevate the training delivery within the public service and produce quality public servants with higher standards of professionalism.

Speaking at the official launch of the website in Honiara, Mr Tozaka said the occasion was a historical event that will mark the establishment of learning in public service training and human resources pool through e-training in the country.

Mr Tozaka said the fundamental principle of the Online In-country Community is to enhance the coordination of IPAM courses.

He said it is also to empower human resources with relevant government information, improve the capacity of human trainers and facilitators, and participants.

Mr Tozaka said the website is also an avenue of networking by trainers of human resources managers through the sharing and receiving of knowledge, experience and skills in the public sector.

Currently the sites are hosted as the Pacific Village Online - WWW.thepacificvillage.org portal.

SIBC NEWS

RAMSI immunity challenged after death of Solomon Islander in car accident

2008-10-15T23:13:00.000+12:00

The Australian media has maintained a unanimous silence on the recent death of a young Solomon Islands’ woman who was hit by a vehicle driven by a police officer deployed under the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). The failure to cover the story is all the more striking given the political furore it has caused in the Solomons’ capital, Honiara, with senior parliamentarians demanding that the Australian-dominated RAMSI forces be stripped of their immunity from the country’s laws.

RAMSI’s immunity is emerging as a focal point for escalating opposition to Canberra’s indefinite occupation of the impoverished Pacific state. Under existing legislative arrangements, the officer involved in the fatal crash—who was allegedly drunk at the time—cannot be prosecuted in the Solomons, even if it is established that a crime was committed.

Hilda Ilabae, a 26-year-old trainee nurse, was struck while walking home from a Honiara church with two flatmates and fellow nurses at around 9 p.m. on June 13. According to an eyewitness, a white utility vehicle veered down the road in a zigzag manner before colliding with Ilabae. “Two of them managed to jump off the road in time but Hilda was late and the vehicle hit her and dragged her to the side of the road into the nearby bushes,” the witness told the Solomon Star.

The nurse died at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle—another RAMSI police officer—was seriously injured in the accident and later flown to Australia for emergency treatment. The officers, both Samoan nationals, were off-duty at the time.

Under the Facilitation of International Assistance Act, the RAMSI officer can be prosecuted under Solomons’ law only if the Samoan government waives the immunity provision. The Facilitation Act was drafted by the former Howard government and ratified by the Solomon Islands’ parliament in July 2003, as more than 2,000 Australian soldiers, police, and officials landed in the country as part of efforts by the Australian ruling elite to protect its economic and strategic interests in the region against encroaching rival powers. Publicly defended as a humanitarian intervention into a “failed” or “failing” state, RAMSI also proceeded under the banner of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)—in order to provide a “multilateral” cover for Canberra’s operation. The Samoan police involved in the June 13 fatality are among a small number of police, soldiers, and legal officials from PIF countries other than Australia and New Zealand.

Five years after the initial RAMSI deployment, Solomon Islands remains among the world’s poorest countries. While hundreds of millions of dollars in so-called Australian aid has been spent on Australian Federal Police salaries, prisons, and the court system, virtually nothing has been committed to health and education services, or to the alleviation of poverty and unemployment. At the same time, the influx of hundreds of highly paid Australian police, bureaucrats, “advisors”, and non-governmental organisation personnel has exacerbated social inequality.

This is especially marked in Honiara, where RAMSI has created a “bubble economy” by pushing up rents and other costs of living. According to a report issued last April by Aid/Watch, a Sydney-based watchdog organisation, a small house in Honiara rented for between SI$600 and $1,000 per month (A$80-$135) before RAMSI arrived, but now goes for between SI$2,000 and $5,000 (A$270-$675). As a result, many public service workers—whose monthly wage often amounts to just SI$1,000 to $2,000 a month—are forced to live in squatter camps on Honiara’s outskirts, without power, running water or basic municipal services. The Aid/Watch report (titled “The Limits of RAMSI”) also noted the situation in Nggosi, an area in west Honiara that is now a RAMSI enclave, with monthly rents averaging between SI$15,000 and $40,000 per month. “You rarely see Solomon Islanders there now, except as a cleaner,” Robert Iroga, a well-known journalist, reported.

For many ordinary people, the manner of Hilda Ilabae’s death symbolised the colonial character of RAMSI’s relations with the population. While the trainee nurse and her friends were walking home, the allegedly drunk RAMSI officer was driving a utility vehicle provided by the authorities. Getting around by car remains a “luxury” for most people, particularly with petrol prices rising. Inflation in fuel and food has hit the Pacific country hard in recent months. Many people are now unable to catch a bus, let alone drive a car, with the standard bus fare in Honiara rising by more than 100 percent in the last month (from SI$2 to $5).

A report in the Solomon Star pointed to the tensions revealed by the fatal vehicle accident: “Later Friday night some of Ms Ilabae’s relatives and RAMSI people were involved in a confrontation at the hospital. RAMSI soldiers, along with Participating Police Force [i.e., RAMSI police] officers, were called to provide security as the stand-off was sorted out.”

No doubt concerned to prevent the emergence of any public protests, senior RAMSI officials responded quickly. Special Coordinator Tim George issued a formal apology in letters to both Prime Minister Derek Sikua and the Ilabae family. RAMSI paid for the travel expenses of a reported 200 family members who went to the funeral in the family village of Talakali in Malaita Province. Participating Police Force Commander Denis McDermott, along with other RAMSI and police officials, also attended. Later however, McDermott suggested that the family’s demand for a compensation payment was a matter to be discussed between the Solomon Islands’ and Samoan governments, not RAMSI.

Legal immunity and the Commission of Inquiry’s final report

According to a report published on the People First web site, Manasseh Sogavare, former prime minister and current leader of the parliamentary opposition, said that the death of the young nurse was the eleventh fatality involving RAMSI officers.

“We cannot allow officers of the visiting contingent to continue to be careless about the way they conduct themselves in this country,” he declared. “If they are here to require Solomon Islanders to behave lawfully, then they have a duty to lead by example. The records of some officers so far are appalling... As it stands now, the visiting contingent is a privileged group of people in Solomon Islands who are enjoying immunities that are totally unnecessary and given the change in circumstances it became a license to carelessness. The responsibility now lies squarely on the shoulders of the Solomon Islands government to immediately review the legal framework for deliberation by parliament. Failing this, the government will be seen as condoning these irresponsible behaviours and a party to them.”

Canberra regards legal immunity as an essential component of the intervention, ensuring that Australian personnel retain a free hand to directly interfere in Solomons’ affairs whenever necessary. In Papua New Guinea, the Australian policing component of the so-called Enhanced Cooperation Program (an intervention force modelled on RAMSI) had to be withdrawn in 2005 after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that immunity was unconstitutional. Any forced withdrawal of Australian Federal Police from the Solomons would represent a major setback in Canberra’s efforts to assert its domination of a region that is marked by intensifying great power rivalries, characterised above all by Beijing’s growing economic and diplomatic influence.

The Solomon Islands’ parliament is due to complete the required annual review of the Facilitation Act next month. It remains to be seen whether Prime Minister Sikua will simply ram through a formal approval of the RAMSI legislation without debate (perhaps under the cover of the country’s 30th anniversary celebrations of formal independence from Britain), or whether there will instead be a serious assessment of the legal basis for RAMSI’s ongoing presence.

There is no question that the Rudd government wishes to avoid the latter possibility. Indeed, there is every reason to believe that Canberra’s determination to secure the Solomon Islands’ parliamentary rubber stamp for another 12 months of RAMSI legal immunity lies behind the ongoing suppression of a final report issued by the Commission of Inquiry on the April 2006 riots.

This official investigation was initiated by the former Sogavare government, which was in power from May 2006 to December 2007, when it finally succumbed to a sustained regime change campaign orchestrated in Canberra. The Howard government had targeted then Prime Minister Sogavare, who initiated the inquiry, as well as launching a filthy and slanderous attack on Julian Moti, an international constitutional lawyer and academic who was the central legal figure involved in establishing the investigation. Canberra was at pains to prevent any scrutiny of RAMSI’s role in the 2006 unrest, or any examination of evidence that Australian forces were stood down to allow the violence to proceed.

Moreover, an examination of the Commission of Inquiry’s hearings, interim findings, and final submissions indicates that one of the likely findings of the final report is that RAMSI’s legal immunity be revoked. (See: “Why have the findings of the Solomon Islands Commission of Inquiry into the 2006 riots not been released?”)

The question must be posed: Is this why the final report—which was handed to the Sikua government more than two months ago—has not been publicly released? There has been no explanation for the inordinate delay in its publication. There is no doubt that officials in Canberra have received a copy and have carefully perused its contents. Does the Australian government hope to first secure next month’s parliamentary renewal of the Facilitation Act before permitting the report’s release? And is it aiming to engineer a sanitised version of the final report for public consumption, censoring potentially damaging references to RAMSI’s legal immunity as well as to the intervention’s wider status under international law?

The current Australian Labor prime minister has already made clear his contempt for the Commission of Inquiry. When he visited the Solomon Islands in March, Rudd was asked about the submissions that suggested Canberra bore responsibility for providing compensation for damages caused in the April riots. “Our view as Australia, is that RAMSI has acted entirely professionally and properly in discharging its responsibilities,” Rudd replied. “For RAMSI there is absolutely no case to answer... These matters will now be deliberated on by the appropriate inquiry into what happened in those riots. But from the perspective of the Australian government, there is no case to answer.”

The parliamentary opposition has meanwhile stepped up its demands for the release of the final report. “The government’s suppression of the report is very suspicious,” East Honiara MP Charles Dausabea told the Solomon Star last Thursday. “It makes me very suspicious of what it might contain.”

Dausabea, together with fellow parliamentarian Nelson Ne’e, were arrested by RAMSI police within days of the April 2006 riots and were accused of orchestrating the violence. The two men were imprisoned without trial and denied bail by Australian judges for eight months, only to have the charges thrown out of court once a magistrate had a chance to review the evidence. It turned out that RAMSI’s entire case rested on the bogus testimony of a multiple felon. “I spent some eight months in prison on the matter only to be found innocent by the court,” Dausabea said. “Therefore I demand that the government release the report within seven days [and] if not I will seek my legal counsel for the release of the document.”

Perhaps the sensitivity of the question of legal immunity—along with the related issue of the suppression of the Commission of Inquiry’s final findings—may explain why the Australian media has ignored the killing of Hilda Ilabae.

By Patrick O’Connor
30 June 2008

RAMSI in violation of Solomons’ constitution

2008-10-15T23:00:00.000+12:00

Several submissions issued to the parliamentary foreign relations committee demonstrated the illegality of the Facilitation Act and therefore the RAMSI intervention as a whole.

Frank Ofagioro—chairman of the Solomons’ Law Reform Commission and former attorney general and High Court judge—told the parliamentary committee that he regarded the Facilitation Act as “constitutionally defective”. He added that he only decided against mounting a legal challenge after concluding that RAMSI’s work was benefitting the country.

Ofagioro explained that section 31(1) of the Solomons’ constitution only allows the governor-general to act with the authority of the cabinet or a minister of the crown, and that this appears to contradict section 3 of the Facilitation Act, which authorised the governor-general to issue an “international assistance notice” formally inviting the intervention force.

“If indeed this is the case,” he continued, “then obviously everything that has been done or is being done under the authority of the Facilitation of International Assistance Act, 2003 is unconstitutional and therefore null and void under section 2 of the Constitution.” He added: “Section 3 of the Facilitation of International Assistance Act, 2003 is the king-pin of the validity of the whole operation of RAMSI in Solomon Islands. Once this king-pin is removed, the whole RAMSI operation would collapse with its consequences.”

In his submission, Governor-General Nathaniel Waena noted that the Facilitation Act refers only to the “visiting contingent”, not RAMSI, making the latter an “illegal entity”. He similarly observed that the international treaty covering the intervention nowhere refers to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the regional body which Canberra insists is responsible for overseeing RAMSI. In reality the Forum is nothing but a fig-leaf for Canberra’s control.

The governor-general also condemned an extraordinary provision in section 24 of the Facilitation Act which bars the Solomons’ parliament from passing any subsequent legislation that can be interpreted as “amending or repealing, or otherwise altering the effect or operation of, this Act”. Waena noted that this clause contradicts the constitutional right of the parliament to “make laws for the peace, order and good government of Solomon Islands”, and therefore renders the Facilitation Act “legally questionable”.

Former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s submission contained some of the sharpest attacks on RAMSI.

“RAMSI intervention is guided by the objectives of protecting the narrow strategic, national, and commercial interests of Australia and therefore it failed miserably to address the real issues that matter to the country’s peace process,” he wrote. “A RAMSI arrangement is hopeless when it comes to restoring democracy, an institution that Australia and the western world, especially USA and Great Britain advanced as the reason for their interventions in selective spots around the world. In fact it is becoming clearer that restoring democracy is just a cover up of their real agendas, which is to protect their narrow national interests.”

Sogavare repeatedly referred to Australia’s “re-colonisation” of the Solomons and characterised RAMSI as an “occupying force”. He added: “The crude fact [is] that Australia is the authority behind RAMSI and camouflages itself under the pretext of helpim fren [‘Help a Friend’; RAMSI’s pidgin slogan] to exercise legitimate authority over the government system of this country.”

All of these points are entirely accurate. Sogavare’s submission made clear, however, the conditional and unprincipled character of his differences with Australian imperialism. “Despite the nationalistic stand taken in this paper on our relationship with Australia, it has to be appreciated that Solomon Islands has no real problem with the military agenda of Australia in the Pacific,” he wrote. And: “As far as RAMSI is concerned, again the problem is not RAMSI per se, but the way the intervention was undertaken to protect and advance Australia’s national interests, which reflects on the legal framework that governs its presence and operation in the country.”

Sogavare’s strategy is to manoeuvre with Australia’s rivals to secure a more favourable position for the Solomons’ elite in relation to Canberra. His submission urged that Japan, Taiwan, and “other Asian countries” be invited to participate in RAMSI, in order to “instil some form of discipline on RAMSI to behave like a true collective member of the region”.

The opposition leader proposed a long list of amendments to the Facilitation Act to make RAMSI and its personnel subject to the country’s laws, but did not call for the legislation to be revoked. He rather tentatively concluded: “The Committee [needs] to seriously consider the question as to whether there is still a need for RAMSI style intervention to consolidate the achievements of RAMSI.”

Canberra responds

Submissions from Australian and New Zealand officials—including Australia’s acting high commissioner to the Solomons Alison Duncan, New Zealand’s high commissioner Deborah Panckhurst, RAMSI special coordinator Tim George, and RAMSI police chief Peter Marshall—rejected outright any alteration to the Facilitation Act or to RAMSI’s operations.

“The Australian government considers that the FIA [Facilitation of International Assistance] Act which underpins RAMSI’s presence and activities in Solomon Islands remains appropriate and consistent with standard international practice,” Alison Duncan declared.

“It is important that RAMSI personnel continue to have immunities as provided under the FIA Act. These immunities exist to help the mission run smoothly by insulating RAMSI personnel from the threat of individuals bringing vexatious legal claims which could distract from their core objective of assisting Solomon Islanders.”

The real purpose of RAMSI’s immunity is to give its personnel a free hand in implementing Canberra’s dictates.

The Australian high commissioner challenged the need for the parliamentary review by insisting that the 2007 Pacific Islands Forum Task Force Review into RAMSI was sufficient. Canberra initiated the PIF review in an attempt to undercut Sogavare’s preparations for a parliamentary review; predictably, it rubber stamped RAMSI’s operations. Duncan cited the 2007 report’s assertion that “any unilateral amendments to the FIA Act would inevitably have serious implications for the willingness of participating nations to continue contributing to RAMSI”.

She added: “Any amendment to the RAMSI Treaty to mirror changes to the FIA Act would require fresh agreement by the fifteen contributing Pacific islands countries.” The legal veracity of this assertion is questionable, but its meaning is clear—any amendment to the Facilitation Act may result in RAMSI’s withdrawal. And together with RAMSI goes Australia’s aid money; limited and distorted as these funds are, they remain vital for the impoverished Pacific country’s economy.

The threat of a general Australian withdrawal is especially directed towards Prime Minister Sikua and others in his government who may prefer to adjust certain aspects of the Australian intervention, but not if that means risking RAMSI. There is no shortage of parliamentarians in Honiara whose political and financial interests are bound up with the ongoing presence of the Australian occupying force.

It remains to be seen whether the parliamentary inquiry simply ignores the submitted evidence of RAMSI’s illegal character and endorses its activities, or whether it will propose some form of amendment to the Facilitation Act. But given the Sikua government’s close alignment with Canberra, any legislative changes made will almost certainly be nothing more than cosmetic alterations intended to prevent any constitutional challenge to RAMSI’s presence while preserving all its critical powers.

WALA’S ONLINE NEWS BREAK

2008-08-21T01:21:00.001+12:00

PM HOLDS BILATERAL TALKS

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has held a number of bilateral meetings this morning in Alofi, Niue.

Prior to the opening of the 39th leaders forum this afternoon, Dr Sikua had meetings with the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Australia.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark informed Dr Sikua that the New Zealand government will assist Solomon Islands in funding and building a new police barracks at Rove.

Prime Minister Sikua in response expressed Solomon Islands' appreciation and gratitude to New Zealand for the support and assistance.

In another meeting, Dr Sikua discussed a number of issues with the prime minister of Australia Kevin Rudd, including RAMSI.

Before leaving for the forum, Prime Minister Sikua had written to Mr Rudd, expressing his disappointment at the exclusion of Solomon Islands from the pilot phase of the Australian Labour Mobility scheme for the Pacific.

Prime Minister Rudd this morning explained why Solomon Islands and other pacific countries are excluded from the pilot phase of the scheme.

Mr Rudd assured Dr Sikua that Solomon Islands will join the scheme at a later stage.

Prime Minister Sikua also met this morning with prime ministers of PNG and Vanuatu, and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
----------------------------------------------------------
SOLOMON ISLANDS JOINS NEW ZEALAND SCHEME

Solomon Islands has become a formal partner of the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employment R-S-E scheme.

It joins five other Pacific Island nations – Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu – who are already providing temporary labourers to New Zealand.

At the margins of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Niue today, Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua signed a partnership agreement, formalising Solomon Islands entry into the scheme.

New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark said even though Solomon Islands was not formally part of the scheme, workers from the islands were recruited.

New Zealand have had 240 Solomon Islanders in the last season.

In response, Dr Sikua thanked New Zealand for including his country in the temporary work scheme.

He said Solomon Islands will do all it can to ensure that it honours this opportunity.
---------------------------------------------------------
OUTGOING FORUM CHAIR APPLAUDS SOLOMON ISLANDS

The Outgoing Forum Chair Dr Feleti Sevele has expressed the Forum’s appreciation to the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Dr Derek Sikua for his leadership and understanding.

Dr Sevele also pledged the Forum Leaders’ continuing support through the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands and other Forum assistance programme.

The former Government of Solomon Islands boycotted the Forum last year in Tonga because of differences between the Government and the Forum over RAMSI.

But Dr Sevele said, fortunately for the region, relations have improved enormously since the change of government in Honiara last December.
-------------------------------------------------------
LEADERS FORUM OPENS

The 39th Pacific Islands Leaders Forum has opened in Alofi, Niue with a call for new initiatives to refine the current arrangements to further focus the agenda of Leaders.

In accepting his role as the new Chair of the 16-member grouping, the Premier of Niue, Toke Talagi said Forum Leaders must have oversight over the key developments of the region and therefore they must be kept current with all these developments.

Premier Talagi said he appreciated the attention dedicated to climate change at the Forum meeting.

Mr Talagi said regional leaders should not wait until a worse human catastrophe occurs before acting.

He said the international attention now focused on climate change presents an opportunity for the region to negotiate and secure tangible assistance for people already affected by climate change.

The Leaders’ retreat will be held at the Matavai Resort, outside of the capital Alofi tomorrow.
-------------------------------------------------------------
GOVERNMENT ASSURES WESTERN AND CHOISEUL PEOPLE

The government maintains its commitment to addressing the long overdue people of Western and Choiseul Provinces compensation claims resulting from the spillover effects of the Bougainville war.

Minister for National Security, Reconciliation and Peace, Sam Iduri was responding to a question raised on that issue by member of Parliament for East Choiseul and Opposition Leader, Manasseh Sogavare, this morning.

Minister Iduri said the government acknowledges the concerns of the provinces over the years.

He said these included the submissions made by the North-west Choiseul Constituency and the Shortland Islands claims.

Minister Iduri said while previous ruling governments have made little progress in determining how to address the claims, the government has taken steps through his ministry to address the issues.

He says the government has embarked on establishing talks with Western and Choiseul Provincial authorities to ensure the people are updated with the situation.

"To advance this and ensure continuity in pursuing these matters, I would like to inform the house that a Western/Choiseul Peace Office Desk has been established. One of their main functions besides others will be to consolidate what has been implemented under previous governments and to continue the dialogue process and re-assess the claims."
--------------------------------------------------------------
WHO CONSULTANT CONCERN OVER HIGH ANTIBIOTIC USAGE

Visiting WHO consultant, Dr Anuj Sharma, of the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, India, has found an alarming trend of very high antibiotic usage in the country, which is leading towards dangerous levels of resistance.

‘Resistance’ is the process by which bacteria learn how to defeat antibiotics, so that the antibiotics eventually become useless.

Dr Sharma, who is soon to complete a three-week consultancy in Solomon Islands, has found that the Antibiotic usage in the country is extremely high when compared to many other countries.

A statement from the Phamarcy says the main reasons for the over-usage appear to be an impression amongst Solomon Islanders that antibiotics can cure ‘all’ conditions and also patients ask for antibiotics from health workers without needing them.

It says health workers appear to find it difficult to refuse these requests, which some local staff have said stems from the Wantok culture of the Solomon Islands.

The most over-used medicines appear to be Septrin and Amoxycillin, though usage of all antibiotics is high.

Stakeholders are gathering tomorrow night to discuss the issues surrounding antibiotic use in the Solomon Islands and potential methods to tackle the problem.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLIC SERVANTS TO GET PAYBACK

Public Servants will be receiving payback in arrears for the last nine paydays in the legal minimum wages realignment along with tomorrow's expected salary.

General Secretary of the Solomon Islands Public Employees Union Paul Belande says the Prime Ministers Office confirmed this to him this morning.

Meanwhile Mr Belande says the only contention now is for the government to pay cost of living adjustment or cola.

The legal minimum wages realignment which comes into effect tomorrow does not cover public servants who are currently on leave as they have already advanced their salaries.
------------------------------------------------------------
GOVERNMENT AND RECONCILIATION

National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace Minister, Sam Iduri has said that the government is taking steps to identify outstanding issues that have given rise to or as the result of the ethnic tension.

Answering a question from the Leader of Opposition on the reconciliation process this morning, Minister Iduri says reconciliation is a priority of the government.

Mr Iduri assured Parliament that reconciliation is being facilitated with different sectors of the community.

He said reconciliation is based on outcomes and resolutions following consultations with provinces in the country, affected groups, communities and persons.

Mr Iduri said identified issues of reconciliation are not only sensitive in a number of cases, but technically and legally complex.

He said addressing these issues are a shared responsibility that covers other sectors and ministries of the government.

"Continual assessment and identification and monitoring of key outstanding issues are integral part of the reconciliation and peace building programme facilitated by the Ministry."
-------------------------------------------------------------
COMPANY STARTS DOWN STREAM PROCESSING

Eagon Pacific Plantation Limited will become the first ever in Solomon Islands to take the lead in down stream processing and manufacturing in the log industry.

The Korean owned company which has been engaged in forestry plantation business in Solomon Islands since 1984 expects to roll off its first sheet of veneer product manufactured from local wood by the end of October this year.

The Company General Manager, William Pita, says the achievement is a giant step forward in the economic development in the country.

In an interview with SIBC News, Mr. Pita says Eagon Pacific Plantation Limited had spent more than 21-million dollars so far in acquiring machinery and other accessories to set up the processing mill at Butagita, Ara-Ara concessionary area, New Georgia, Western Province.

He says once up and running the company expects to collect an initial foreign income of 37-million dollars a year.

Mr Pita says the development is in line with Government's and the company's policy on down stream processing.
-------------------------------------------------------
PACIFIC NGOS ISSUE STATEMENT

Pacific churches, unions and civil society organisations have issued a joint statement on trade justice to coincide with this year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Niue.

The Pacific Civil Society Statement on Trade Justice highlights serious concerns about potential free trade negotiations between island countries and Australia and New Zealand.

The statement also warns Pacific leaders that Australia and New Zealand may offer seasonal workers’ schemes as a bribe for Pacific governments to sign up to new free trade negotiations

Top men in spotlight over how new airport chairs were bought

2008-08-21T01:18:00.000+12:00

Job row -Top men in spotlight over how new airport chairs were bought
Wednesday, 20 August 2008

CONTROVERSY hangs over the new cushion chairs recently placed at the Honiara International Terminal’s main lobby.

Sources said the chairs were produced by SA & Sons Furniture, a company owned by the Civil Aviation Department’s financial controller John Kabolo.

There’s no public tender, sources say. “It’s sort of like the Civil Aviation authorities awarding the contract to their financial controller,” one source said.

“There’s no public tender process as normally required in such cases,” the source said. “The Director of Civil Aviation or the Airport Facilitation Committee did not approve the awarding of the contract to SA & Sons.”

Another source said SA & Sons produced similar chairs for the Civil Aviation’s Control Tower. “But those chairs were now put away. They failed to meet the required standards of chairs normally placed in control towers,” the source said.

He added the chairs were acquired despite the Civil Aviation department already making an order in New Zealand for new chairs.

“The chairs from New Zealand will arrive soon. I don’t know where the chairs supplied by SA & Sons will end up.” The source said the bill for the locally produced chairs was met from funds within the Director General of Civil Aviation account at ANZ Bank.

This is money collected from international aircrafts that used our air space from time to time. Funds in this account were previously abused.

Previously, a former permanent secretary (Francis Mete) and a former director (Demetrius Piziki) were removed from office for allegedly serving themselves with the funds.

Now, Permanent Secretary responsible for aviation Luma Darcy and the Director of Civil Aviation are signatories to this bank account.

Ben Kere is now the controller of aviation. Both Mr Darcy and Mr Kere refused to talk about the supply of the new chairs when contacted recently.

One source said Mr Darcy is a close relative of financial controller Mr Kabolo. Speaking to the Solomon Star Tuesday, Mr Kabolo said the chairs cost less than $30,000.

He denied claims the contract was allocated to his company without tender. But he did not say whether the project was put out on tender.

“This is part of an international project to improve the image of the terminal,” Mr Kabolo said. He refused to comment further, saying they have strict procedures on releasing information.

One source said the chairs supplied to the terminal were made of very low quality timber.

By MOFFAT MAMU

FORESTS MONITORING DIVISION

2008-08-12T23:01:00.001+12:00

The Ministry of Forests has created a Monitoring Division to monitor logging activities in the country.

Forest Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza revealed this in Parliament today during questions and answers and in particular on Government's policy on forestry.

He said under present forestry regulations, people are not benefiting much from their resources.

"This is the first time the Division has been formed since the start of the forest industry because of the reasons raised by the leader of Opposition. What the leader of Opposition says is true. It's the resource owners that pay export duties, licences and other costs."

Forest Minister Sir Allan said those costs including expenses relating to meetings with resource owners will be deducted from their royalties.

He says as part of government actions being taken the Ministry has deployed 60 Forestry Extension officers to assist in monitoring forest activities in the country.

FORESTS MONITORING DIVISION

2008-08-12T23:01:00.000+12:00

MALAITA SECOND APPOINTED DAY

2008-08-12T22:55:00.001+12:00

Activities marking the 25th anniversary of Malaita Province's Second Appointed Day this Friday have started in the provincial capital, Auki.

Deputy Provincial Secretary and Chairman of the organising committee for events in Auki, Robert Kaua, says programs have started last Sunday with a combine service.

He says sporting activities in football and volley ball started today for those from surrounding areas to Auki.

Mr Kaua says trade and cultural shows will start tomorrow and to culminate with the main official celebrations on Friday.

He says Malaita Day will also be celebrated in regional centres in the province.

"By Friday 15th, simultaneously people from Luaniua, Malu'u, Atori, Afio will celebrate together with those in Auki. People in the north, east and southern regional should go to their regional centres to take part in activities their government is hosting."

Mr Kaua says Malaita Provincial Assembly members are encouraged to go to the provincial centres to be with their people during the celebrations of the provincial day.

GOVERNOR GENERAL DECLARES BYE-ELECTION DATE

2008-08-11T22:59:00.001+12:00

Governor-General Sir Nathaniel Waena has appointed September 23rd this year as the date for National Parliament Bye-Elections in the Lau/Mbaelelea and East Honiara Electoral Constituencies.

Sir Nathaniel today made the declaration of the date of the bye-elections.

The declaration of the date of election today means that nomination of candidates in the two constituencies will open tomorrow.

Nomination of candidates will close on the 26th of this month, while the last day of withdrawal of candidature will be 29th this month.

A bye-election is being held in the Lau-Mbaelelea Constituency following the death last year of the late Samuel Bentley Ragosomani.

Meanwhile, the East Honiara Constituency bye-election comes following the automatic disqualification of incumbent, Charles Dausabea.

The court had sentenced Dausabea to prison on charges of conversion of funds in 2001.
CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGNING

Anyone wishing to contest the Lau-Mbaelelea Constituency and the East Honiara Constituency bye-elections can start campaigning once their respective Returning Officers have accepted their nominations.

John Babalu of the Electoral Office says, this follows the Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena's declaration of the 23rd of September this year as the bye-elections date for the two constituencies.

Mr Babalu says the Returning Officer for Lau-Mbaelelea is Donald Anga Talofunu and East Honiara's Returning Officer is Cornelius Tariga.

He says the election fee for an intending candidate is two-thousand dollars.

Mr Babalu says each candidates is allowed under law to spend up to 50-thousand dollars in campaign costs.
FORMER SECRETARY GENERAL OF FORUM SECRETARIAT DIESThe Pacific is today mourning the passing away of the immediate past secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Greg Urwin.

Mr Urwin passed away after being ill for the past eight months. He was 62.

He began his first three-year term as Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in February 2004 and was re-appointed for another three-year term in October 2006.

The Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Mr Feleti Teo has informed the Chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of Tonga, Feleti Sevele and other Forum Leaders of the great loss to the region.

Mr Teo said the Pacific has lost a leader who had the region at heart. He was a very humble person and very sensitive to many cultures that make up the membership of the Pacific Islands Forum family.

Arrangements are underway for a memorial service to be held in Suva, Fiji while the funeral service will be held later in the week in Apia.

Mr Urwin is survived by his wife and three sons.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER CLARIFIES MEDIA REPORTSThe Deputy Prime Minister Fred Fono clarifies media reports that 100-thousand dollars have been paid into each M-Ps bank accounts.

Instead, Mr Fono says the money was paid into bank accounts of constituencies.

He says the money is government's contribution towards development in the constituencies.

Mr Fono explains the 100-thousand dollars for each constituency were not meant, nor were they paid into bank accounts of members of parliament.

GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION BILL
Government plans to introduce the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Bill 2008 to parliament on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Derek Sikua announced in parliament today that the bill will go to parliament in its second reading, and debate on it is expected to continue on Thursday.

Parliament is also expected to look at a report by the Parliamentary House Committee, to be tabled by committee chairman and M-P for East Makira David Sitai.

On Tuesday, debate is expected to be on the 2007 annual report of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands.

The House today looked at the 2007 annual report of the National Provident Fund.

PARLIAMENT DELIBERATES ON FUND ANNUAL REPORTThe National Parliament today deliberated on and passed the 2007 National Provident Fund Annual Report.

The report was tabled by the Minister for Finance and Treasury Snyder Rini, seeking parliament to resolve into a Committee of the whole house and to consider the report.

Members of parliament who contributed to today's debate of the motion spoke very positively of the report and of the management of the fund.

Among them was the Leader of Opposition, Manasseh Sogavare.

AUSTRALIA TO SCALE DOWN ON GUEST WORKERS.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Rudd has dramatically scaled back plans for a controversial Pacific “guest worker” scheme amid concerns of a community backlash.

The Herald Sun reports the Coalition has already raised concerns over the radical immigration plan, allowing islanders to work in rural communities for up to seven months.

But with unemployment on the rise, the Rudd Government has halved the number of participants to just 2500 over three years.

Only three countries - Tonga, Kiribati and Vanuatu - will be involved in the “pilot” scheme, although the Government is keen to sign up Papua New Guinea.

Senior Government sources last night confirmed Cabinet had adopted a “safety first” approach, following concerns it could trigger a backlash from “Pauline Hanson-type forces”.

Mr Rudd would announce the scheme in the next few weeks ahead of meeting with Pacific leaders on the tiny island of Niue on 19 August.

It is expected to get off the ground later this year, although the Government may hold back until 2009.

Reports from Fiji confirmed that a student studying in the University of the South Pacific died yesterday, in Suva, Fiji.

2008-08-08T17:30:00.000+12:00

A third year student at Laucala was pronounced dead yesterday at the Suva Private Hospital after being admited on Monday 4th August 2008 after a short illness.

The Late Patrick Campbell was a second year student law student currently doing online law courses. The unconfirmed Reports on how Patrick Campbell died was unsatisfactory to most students are now urging for an independent enquiry into the death.
The death of Patrick brings the number of deaths of Solomon Islands students studying at USP this year, to two. The first student died at the University pool in the first semester in the month leading up to the exams.

Evidence challenged

2008-08-08T11:43:00.001+12:00

EVIDENCE was challenged in court Thursday over an allegedly stolen Government cheque worth more than half a million dollars.

It came during a pre-trial hearing at the Magistrates Court, Honiara..

Simon Tigota and Betris Wale are facing charges in relation to the cheque, which was alleged to have been cashed by them. Tigota denies two charges; forgery and larceny, and Ms Wale one count of uttery.

Edward Cade, lawyer for Tigota, challenged the prosecution as to how evidence was collected. Prosecutor Jim Seuika called Police investigator Joseph Siapu, who gave evidence about the recorded interviews he did.

Chief Magistrate Leonard Maina adjourned the matter to Monday.

By JEREMY INIFIRI

SOLOMON STAR

TRIBE WANTS POWER SUPPLY RECONNECTED

2008-08-06T12:23:00.000+12:00

A tribal group in North Malaita is working toward restoring the hydro power system to the Malu'u sub-station and surrounding villages.

The system was closed more than a month ago and its impact has caused much inconvenience to the Malu'u Health Centre, resulting in the loss of more than 11-thousand dollars worth of medicines.

A Gwaasi Tribal Committee, currently in Honiara, has met and is working towards resolving the situation.

The Committee spokesman, David Suata says legal actions will be taken against any party found guilty of breaching the human rights and the culture and tradition of the people.

Mr Suata cautions the Te'ekwali tribal group which closed the hydro power source to be considerate and resolve their demands in an appropriate way that doesn't victimise the people.

He says the Gwaasi Committee has met with the Energy Department in the Ministry of Mines and Energy and Solomon Islands Electricity Authority and has asked them to reopen the hydro power system.

Mr Suata says a formal notice will be submitted to respective authorities for clarification of the real situation and progress of resolving the situation this week.

SIBC NEWS

Coin power planned to get people paying

2008-08-06T12:21:00.000+12:00

Coin power planned to get people paying
Wednesday, 06 August 2008

PEOPLE living in Honiara will eventually have to use coin-operated meters to get their power, it was indicated Tuesday.

They will have to feed coins into the meters before getting their power. That was the word from Solomon Islands Electricity Authority chairman Walter Naezon as the authority battled its cash flow crisis.

The power utility has said people not paying their bills is the reason it does not have enough money to pay for fuel. This has led to recent power cuts.

Hundreds of households have now had their power cut off as the financially struggling utility cracks down on bad debtors. It follows the intervention of Energy Minister Edward Huniehu after Honiara city was without power for almost a full business day.

The authority had run out of fuel to run its generators but could not get more until it cleared previous debts. Mr Huniehu instructed the authority to take a series of steps, including collecting the money it is owed.

Mr Naezon says some people have never paid for their electricity use. Government agencies throughout the country are also being cut, including a hospital on Malaita, which Mr Naezon says he has since ordered to be reconnected.

He says a number of provincial governments and state-owned enterprises are at fault and he will present a paper to Cabinet this week to ask it to help them out.

Mr Naezon told Radio New Zealand International: “In the past the management is a bit weak in the board and they could not collect legal established revenue of the Authority.

“So what we are doing now is we are disconnecting those who did not pay and those who did not pay is not only for 2008, [but] that goes back some ten or 15 years. So we are cleaning up SIEA accounts at the moment.”

Solomon News

PACIFIC NGO ACCUSES AUSTRALIA OF BULLYING

2008-08-06T12:04:00.001+12:00

A Pacific NGO has accused Australia of bullying Island countries as it tries to fast track the revamped Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations or PACER PLUS.

The Pacific Network on Globalisation, PANG, says the Australian delegation used last month’s trade ministers’ meeting in Rarotonga to try and advance the deal.

PANG’s coordinator Maureen Penjueli says the region is not ready to negotiate such deals with Australia, when it is still trying to settle the Economic Partnership Agreements demanded by the European Union.

She also says the region wants to negotiate on the so called PACER PLUS deals as a unit, but Australia is pushing for bilateral settlements, offering incentives such as the proposed labour mobility scheme.

SIBC NEWS

HONIARA HAS A NEW MAYOR

2008-04-29T20:48:00.000+12:00

HONIARA HAS A NEW MAYOR
Honiara City has a new Lord mayor.

He is Andrew Mua, councilor for Ngossi ward, West Honiara constituency.

Mr Mua polled 12 votes ahead of his only rival Dwene Tigulu who polled 4.

Today's vote follows last week's postponement on legal grounds.

Former City Lord Mayor, Alfred Maetia was ousted in a successful no confidence vote earlier this month.

Appointed members of the council were able to cast their votes at today's election of a new mayor after a second gazatted order from the minister of Home Affairs.

The Second gazette also provides a process in the event of a tie in voting.

Only 16 of the 20 elected and appointed councilors took part in today's vote.
SIBC NEWS

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR STUDENT

2008-04-29T20:41:00.001+12:00

More than five hundred family members, friends, former students, colleagues and relatives gathered at the St Barnabas Cathedral this afternoon to farewell former student and teacher, the late Duddley Kafa.

Among dignitaries who attended his funeral mass were Education Minister, Job Duddley Tausinga and Speaker of Parliament, Sir Peter Kenilorea.

The late Kafa died from a heart attack during a swimming class at the Fiji-based University of the South Pacific last week.

His body was flown home yesterday accompanied by USP Staff and Student representatives.

The late Kafa began his teaching career in 1990 as an untrained teacher, teaching English and Social Science at Selwyn College.

He returned to Goroka Teaching College in 1991 and graduated with a teaching diploma that same year.

Over the years he had also taught at Su'u Secondary School, Honiara High School, Pamua, St Nicholas, Allardyce and White River Community High School.

He was a final year student majoring in Education and Management at USP's Laucala Campus when he died.

His body was transported to his home village of Samasodu in Isabel Province this afternoon.

SIBC ONLINE NEWS

GOVERNOR GENERAL AND NATIONAL TRADE SHOW

2008-04-29T20:24:00.001+12:00

Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena says he hoped the 2008 national trade and agriculture show would demonstrate what the country had achieved since independence.

At a ceremony last week where he officially launched the show, Sir Nathaniel said the nation must be properly developed to become stronger and to grow to greater economic and political maturity.

He said the show will enable people to witness the growth of industries in the new products being displayed.

Sir Nathaniel said national economic growth depends largely on the diverse areas of investment.

Sir Nathaniel the 2008 national show should present the opportunity to look at alternative new products in bio-diesel and renewable energy.

SIBC online news

KOSA FC vs WAITAKERE UNITED

2008-04-26T14:34:00.000+12:00

HONIARA - Boats carrying fans from Auki, the Western province, Makira are en route to Honiara as the nation's capital comes to a standstill for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) O-League Final 1st Leg between Kossa FC and Waitakere United.

Tickets have been on sale in Honiara all week with crowds already gathered outside Lawson Tama Stadium searching for tickets, programmes and a sight of their heroes some three hours ahead of the big kick-off.

All eyes will be on Waitakere United and Solomon Islands internationals Benjamin Totori and Commins Menapi with a core of support expected to follow the Chris Milicich-coached Kiwi champions.

The majority of the crowd is expected to be following the home side but local rivalries will ensure a small but vocal minority will be cheering on the visitors.

Kossa FC enjoyed crowds of 12,000 and 13,000 for its Group B matches against Tafea FC and Ba and just over 102 Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers, a 30-strong rapid response unit and private security officials as well as RAMSI personnel are in place to ensure this match goes off without a hitch.

TELEVISION

Solomon Islands One News Limited will show the match delayed on Sunday 27th April, 2008.

Fiji Television will broadcast the match delayed through its Sky Pacific Network - check your local listings for details.

RADIO

Solomon Islands Broadcast Corporation (SIBC) will provide live radio coverage for Solomon Islands listeners throughout the island archipalego.

Medium Wave 1035 Honiara

Short Wave 5020/9545 Honiara

FM 96.3 Honiara

Medium Wave 945 Gizo

Medium Wave 1386 Lata

INTERNET

www.oceaniafootball.com will provide its usual live text updates - please refresh your browser for updates and remain patient as internet coverage can sometimes drop out in Solomon Islands.

Oceania Football Conferderation

GREENPEACE LAUNCHES REPORTS

2008-04-23T22:20:00.000+12:00

GREENPEACE LAUNCHES REPORTS

Greenpeace today launched two reports in the Solomon Islands that highlight the fragility of the nation’s two key natural resources, fisheries and forestry.

The reports also provide practical and ecologically responsible solutions to ensure their viability for generations to come.

This was part of the Greenpeace activities as the environmental organisations’ ship, the MY Esperenza, docked in Honiara today after being at sea for three weeks.

The crew of the Esperanza have defended the international waters of the Pacific as no-take marine reserves against over-fishing of yellow-fin and big-eye tuna.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific C-E-O, Steve Shallhorn said the Solomon Islands will be in a dire social, environmental and economic situation if the grave mistakes made with industrial logging, are repeated with tuna fisheries.

He said Greenpeace had recommended an immediate review of the logging sector and switch to small scale sustainable community logging to save the forests.

And he added that to ensure the health of the tuna fishery for future generations, the Solomon Islands government must call for the closure of the pockets of international waters and commit to significant cuts to tuna fishing of up to 50-per cent.

Australia Pacific Oceans campaigner Lagi Toribau said Greenpeace is asking the Solomon Islands Government to support recommendations outlined in the two reports to properly manage its two key economic natural resources.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace says unless Pacific nations take a concerted effort to curb the current rate of harvesting, fish stocks in the Pacific, mostly tuna will be depleted within the next few years.

Oceans Campaigner Shari Tolvanen says her team of campaigners will fight as long as it takes to promote public awareness on how nations can work together to reduce the harvesting rate to sustainable level.

Ms Tolvanen says Green Peace campaigners are travelling through Pacific nations as part of their campaign to convince pacific governments to do the right thing.

While in Honiara, Greenpeace campaigners will meet Government and relevant officials to discuss issues relating to conservation of marine, forestry and environmental issues.

GREENPEACE LAUNCHES REPORTS

2008-04-23T21:10:00.000+12:00

Greenpeace today launched two reports in the Solomon Islands that highlight the fragility of the nation’s two key natural resources, fisheries and forestry.

The reports also provide practical and ecologically responsible solutions to ensure their viability for generations to come.

This was part of the Greenpeace activities as the environmental organisations’ ship, the MY Esperenza, docked in Honiara today after being at sea for three weeks.

The crew of the Esperanza have defended the international waters of the Pacific as no-take marine reserves against over-fishing of yellow-fin and big-eye tuna.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific C-E-O, Steve Shallhorn said the Solomon Islands will be in a dire social, environmental and economic situation if the grave mistakes made with industrial logging, are repeated with tuna fisheries.

He said Greenpeace had recommended an immediate review of the logging sector and switch to small scale sustainable community logging to save the forests.

And he added that to ensure the health of the tuna fishery for future generations, the Solomon Islands government must call for the closure of the pockets of international waters and commit to significant cuts to tuna fishing of up to 50-per cent.

Australia Pacific Oceans campaigner Lagi Toribau said Greenpeace is asking the Solomon Islands Government to support recommendations outlined in the two reports to properly manage its two key economic natural resources.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace says unless Pacific nations take a concerted effort to curb the current rate of harvesting, fish stocks in the Pacific, mostly tuna will be depleted within the next few years.

Oceans Campaigner Shari Tolvanen says her team of campaigners will fight as long as it takes to promote public awareness on how nations can work together to reduce the harvesting rate to sustainable level.

Ms Tolvanen says Green Peace campaigners are travelling through Pacific nations as part of their campaign to convince pacific governments to do the right thing.

While in Honiara, Greenpeace campaigners will meet Government and relevant officials to discuss issues relating to conservation of marine, forestry and environmental issues.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foreign Policy Should be Driven by Rational Dialogue: Wale

2008-04-23T21:03:00.000+12:00

The new MP for Aoke/Langa Langa Mathew Wale has warned against allowing Solomon Islands foreign relations and policy to be driven neither by paranoia nor under a siege mentality based on mere allegations and conspiracy theories.
Wale's said this while speaking at the end of the recent Parliament meeting. His comments were consistent with comments which he had made last year in relation to former Prime Minister Sogavare's stand-off with Australia.

"If we accept that it is right that our foreign policy must protect and advance our national interest, then consistent with the principle of reciprocity we must accept that our partners and friends may have the same motivation. There is no need to fear this or become paranoid about it," Wale said.

The new Aoke/Langa Langa MP said that we can manage our foreign relations within this reality of reciprocity and mutual dependence and build regional and like minded alliances as platforms and tools within this context.

He said that political leaders should not succumb to an inferiority complex and in doing so refuse to dialogue with partners and neighbors. "We need to have the confidence to take our place amongst the family of nations and advance our interest through rational dialogue," said Mr. Wale.

Wale added that if our positions on various issues impacting on our foreign relations are rational, we should be confident in advancing it in dialogue with other nations.

He warned that small island states, with open and vulnerable economies, need to build critical mass and economies of scale arguing that Solomon Islands cannot afford to antagonize its neighbors nor actively seek isolation in the region for no apparent sensible reason.

Solomon Time

DEBATE ON THE DIAMOND ON MALAITA

2008-04-23T10:49:00.003+12:00

Professor Collerson, and colleagues
The report by Collerson et al.(1) of transition zone and lower mantle phases in mantle-derived material from alnöite pipes on Malaita, Solomon Islands, is highly significant in view of the rarity of such natural assemblages. Malaita is part of the obducted southern margin of the Ontong Java Plateau, an area of overthickened oceanic crust (2-7) that was emplaced by two major magmatic events at ~122 Ma and ~90 Ma (8, 9) and two minor events at ~62 Ma and ~36 Ma (10, 11). Recent seismic evidence has demonstrated the presence of a "mantle root" beneath the Ontong Java Plateau, interpreted to represent the remains of a plume head (7, 12), that has been repeatedly tapped (10, 11). The alnöite magmas were emplaced in the OJP at ~34 Ma (13).

Collerson et al. (1) used mineral chemistry, petrography, and infrared spectral data to identify majorite, silicate perovskite, and diamond in mantle xenoliths entrained by alnöite magmas from eastern Malaita. We urge extreme caution in interpreting those data in terms of ultrahigh pressure mineral phases, especially because definitive x-ray data are lacking. Mineral chemistry (Fig. 1 and Tables 1 to 3) previously reported for mantle xenoliths from the Malaitan alnöites (14-20) shows compositions akin to those reported by Collerson et al. (1); the strong compositional similarity between the two data sets suggests that the minerals have a common origin. The question is, is that origin deep in the mantle, or shallow?

Mineral chemistry. It is not possible to definitively identify majorite on the basis of mineral chemistry alone (21-24). Diagrams of the type depicted here (Fig. 1) and by Collerson et al. [figure 2 of (1)] do not show direct evidence of Si in octahedral sites, although it can be inferred. The covariation between Si and Al + Cr can be interpreted either as majorite substitution in a garnet structure (Si-Al substitution in the octahedral site) or tschermak substitution in a pyroxene structure (Si-Al substitution in the tetrahedral site). The distinction between majorite (cubic) and pyroxene is best made by x-ray diffraction, but such data were not included in (1). The compositions defined as majorite by Collerson et al. (1) are consistent with pyroxene containing up to 30 mole percent tschermak (R2+AlAlSiO6) in solid solution with either diopside or enstatite. Substitution is 2Al for R2+ + Si, for which the Malaita "majorites" and pyroxenes show an excellent linear correlation (Fig. 1).
Practically all mineral compositions (and, as discussed below, textures as well) reported by Collerson et al. (1) as being of ultrahigh-pressure origin are also found in megacrysts and spinel and garnet-spinel peridotite xenoliths from the Malaitan alnöites (Tables 1 to 3). For example, the garnets postulated in (1) to have equilibrated at >6 GPa (equivalent to ~200 km depth) have essentially the same compositions as samples reported by other workers (14-20) as equilibrating at <3.6 GPa, or ~120 km (Table 1). We believe that the phases described as majorite and perovskite in (1) are actually pyroxenes and amphiboles (Tables 1 to 3). For example, the E-type "majorites" of (1) have a composition similar to that of the bronzite megacrysts reported by Nixon and Boyd (15) and of an amphibole inclusion in a garnet megacryst (Table 2). The P-type majorite compositions (Table 2) are similar to amphibole and Al-rich clinopyroxene of metasomatic origin (19). The E-type perovskite compositions (1) are remarkably similar to primary orthopyroxenes from both garnet-spinel and spinel peridotites (Mg-perovskite; Table 3) and clinopyroxene inclusions in garnet megacrysts (Ca-perovskite; Table 3). The P-type Ca-perovskites identified in (1) are compositionally similar to secondary, retrograde clinopyroxene found between garnet and spinel (16, 17). It is evident from photomicrographs (Fig. 2, A and B) that the secondary clinopyroxene and amphibole found between garnet and spinel are in a state of disequilibrium with the primary peridotite minerals (Fig. 2, A and B; 16-18).
Ref Science Magazine for tables diagrams
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/292/5519/1015a

AUSTRALIA SCIENTIST OPTIMISTIC ABOUT DIAMOND ON MALAITA

2008-04-23T10:31:00.000+12:00

An Australian scientist, Professor Ken Collerson, has said there is great prospect of the presence of mineral diamond on Malaita.

This projection was made in a scientific presentation to the Government today.

Professor Collerson from the University of Queensland who made the presentation told Government he was optimistic about the presence of diamond and other minerals because of his earlier finding about the presence of micro diamond in rocks obtained from Malaita.

Minister for Mines and Energy, Edward Huni'ehu says Government was very anxious this finds could lead to long term economic benefits not only to Malaita province but Solomon islands as a whole.

Mr Huni'ehu says his Ministry would work on a paper seeking Cabinet approval to kick start the process of exploring the potential of the existence of minerals including diamond on the island of Malaita.

AOKE-LANGALANGA DEVELOPMENT

2008-04-23T10:28:00.002+12:00

The newly elected MP for Aoke/Langalanga constituency in Malaita province Mathew Cooper Wale is taking initial steps to address rural development in his constituency.

Mr Wale announced his development plans during a meeting with Honiara-based constituency leaders on Sunday.

The Government Communications Unit quotes Mr Wale as saying one of the first stages in the initiative is a proposed leaders retreat next month in Auki.

The aim of the retreat is to involve rural-based leaders and people in the constituency in the planning process to raise the constituency development profile and help in the identification of development priorities.

Mr Wale says the retreat will provide an opportunity for people in his constituency to identify and prioritise their own development needs.

He says the role of an MP is to help and facilitate the process of development and be accountable on how constituency funds are expended.

Mr Wale travels today to Auki to hold various meetings with local community leaders ahead of the upcoming Leaders Retreat.

Mr Wale who replaced former MP Bartholomew Ulufa’alu won the Aoke/Langalanga seat in last month’s by-election.

SIBC ONLINE NEWS

STUDENTS THREATENS TO COME HOME

2008-04-12T15:19:00.000+12:00

In brief: The Solomon Islands Students Association at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji have this week informed the Minister Education of their intentions through a letter from the Chairman of the Solomon Islands Students Association, SISA, Council.

In the letter the students issued an ultimatum to the national government to pay up their outstanding allowances or they will return home.

The letter is also copied to the Permanent Secretaries of Finance and Foreign Affairs, the Director of the National Training Unit, the Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Private Secretary to Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader.

The Chairman of the SISA Council said in the letter, that the student body has unanimously agreed to return home as of next week, if the government fails to meet their demands.

SIBC ONLINE NEWS

PARLIAMENT MEETING TO END TOMORROW

2008-04-11T01:58:00.000+12:00

The current meeting of Parliament will end tomorrow.

The Sine die motion indicating the end of the meeting was moved Tuesday by Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua.

In his speech Dr Sikua talked about issues raised before the Parliament and thanked members of Parliament who've attended meetings during the current sitting.

He also congratulated the new deputy Speaker Clement Kengava who upon being elected took on the role presiding over a good percentage of the current sitting while the substantive Speaker, Sir Peter Kenilorea was out of the country.

The current sitting took nearly four weeks of which three weeks was devoted to the country's 2008 budget.

Only one question was raised in Parliament during the question and answers segment in the morning raised by the MP for Temotu Nende Patteson Oti.

Two motions were moved in Parliament by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of two audited Reports.

Only one bill was tabled and passed in a day's meeting and that is the Amendment Bill to the Mines and Energy Act tabled by the Mines and Energy Minister Edward Huni'ehu.

GOVERNMENT AND PACIFIC YEAR OF REEFS

2008-04-08T20:16:00.001+12:00

Government in collaboration with the Secretariat of Pacific Regional Environment Programme, SPREP are commemorating this year 2008 as the Pacific Year of Reefs.

Government, through the ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources will highlight the theme 'strong reefs, strong islands with a series of activities throughout the year.

A national launching day of these events is being planned for tomorrow at the Children's Park in Rove where promotional talks and activities will take place.

The Pacific Year of Reefs 2008 is a regional campaign by SPREP and other regional and international partners to incite action to save coral reefs.

The aim is to encourage islanders to take action to reverse the degradation of their coral reefs which play a crucial role in providing for the livelihoods and cultures of pacific people.

POLICE INVESTIGATE DEATH OF YOUTH

Police are investigating the death of a 20 year old man over the weekend.

The deceased was allegedly stabbed with a sharp instrument following an argument with two other men at White River, early Saturday morning.

He was taken to the National Referral Hospital but later died early Sunday morning.

Police have arrested the suspects, who are in their twenties, with the help of the White River Community.

The two men are now in police custody.

Meanwhile, police are calling for any witnesses to the incident to come forward with information that might assist them in their investigations.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND BOUGAINVILLE GOVERNMENTS HOLD TALK

Papua New Guinea and Bougainville governments have expressed satisfaction with the results of the second Joint Supervisory Body meeting held in Alotau last week.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu led the National Government team and President Joseph Kabui led the Autonomous Bougainville Government team.

The two governments described the meeting as successful and are looking forward to more success in the June meeting in Manus this year.

Dr Temu said the meeting discussed and achieved good mutual understanding on a number of important issues.

He said the progress they we made shows that the National Government and the ABG are both genuinely committed to making the agreed arrangements for Bougainville autonomy work.

Dr Temu also said the joint meeting agreed to a plan for implementing the first transfer of functions and powers to the ABG since the ABG was elected in June 2005.

Both PNG Government and ABG leaders thanked the Australian and New Zealand Governments for their assistance to the meeting.

FOOTBALL CLUB TO HOST INTERNATIONAL GAME

2008-04-08T20:13:00.000+12:00

FOOTBALL CLUB TO HOST INTERNATIONAL GAME

Kossa Football Club will host the first leg of the Oceania Football Confederation O-League final against Waitakere United at the Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara on the 26th of this month.

Waitakere will host the Solomon Islands Champions in the return leg in Auckland City on 4th May.

Waitakere qualified for the OFC O-league final as winner of group A, after holding Auckland City to a draw in their final group match while Kossa qualified for their first OFC O-league, beating Fijian Champions, Ba to secure the top spot in group B.

A statement from the Oceania Football Confederation says there will be strong Solomon Islands influence in the finals when Waitakere duo - Benjamin Totori and Commins Menapi clash with their international teammates.

A large crowd is expected in Honiara for the first leg.

STUDENT GROUP TO HELP SCHOOL

2008-04-08T20:09:00.000+12:00

A North Malaita student volunteer group will in the second semester of this year help a number of students in Community High Schools and a Rural Training Centre in the Constituency.

The To’abaita Authority for Research and Development, TARD, has initiated a partial “school fee” bursary scheme to be introduced from semester two 2008.

TARD Project Coordinator, Exsley Taloiburi, says the scheme is aimed at providing partial tuition fee assistance to selected students studying at the respective education institutions.

He says the scheme is a “one semester” award to five students at each of the four Community High Schools and a Vocational Training Centre in the North Malaita Constituency.

Mr Taloiburi says the award will be based on both financial need and academic merit.

He says that in semester two this year, there will be at least 25 partial tuition fee bursaries each worth 200 dollars for interested students.

Mr Taloiburi says TARD is grateful to a couple in the United Kingdom that provided about 15-thousand dollars support towards the initiative.

"The small donation is only a fixed grant and we estimated that by the end of 2009 the fund will ran out. But at least 60 students from North Malaita will have benefited from the assistance. It depends if TARD can get other help for the scheme in the future it would be good."

TSI CONCERN OVER POLITICIANS INVOLVEMENT IN LOG EXPORTS

2008-04-08T00:58:00.000+12:00

Transparency Solomon Islands, TSI, is concerned at the involvement of politicians in assessing the export log values.

There are reports circulating in Honiara that the government is losing up to two million dollars a week in revenue because the price on which export duty is paid on logs is too low.

Acting Executive officer of TSI, Jean Tafoa says that this has been going on for several years with the country losing hundreds of millions of dollars that should have gone into improving government services.

She says ministers have been fixing low export prices under pressure from logging companies with whom they were involved.

Mrs Tafoa says TSI wants to see this practice stopped.

She says export duty is paid at a rate fixed by the Minister of Finance.

Mrs Tafoa says the duty is paid on the value of the log when it is loaded onto the ship.

She says the exporter when declaring the value in the customs entry documents for the shipment may or may not be telling the truth, and it is an offence to give false information.

Mr Tafoa says TSI welcomes the government commitment for the Ministry of forestry ‘to ensure Solomon Islands receives fair returns on the export of round logs.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRANSITION PERIOD
Prime Minister Derek Sikua has said it's estimated that the transition period for the present government system to the State Government system will take about 10 years of implementation.

In a statement in Parliament on the progress of the Federal System of Government, Dr Sikua said during the 10 year period the people will be expected to enjoy full responsibilities and benefits that come from the new change.

He said the big and well resourced states should be able to enjoy the benefits of the new system within five years.

However, Dr Sikua said the small states with small populations should be able to do well within that same period of five years if they manage and use their new found wealth well.

He said his Government will try its best to fulfil the desires of the people by giving them the kind of government system they have been demanding since day one of Independence in 1978.
CONSTITUTION THEME COMMITTEES
The Constitution Congress and Eminent Persons Advisory Council has set up Strategic Theme.

The seven Theme Committees are based on the main subject areas of the Draft Federal Constitution.

They are set out in their respective thematic broad headings and subject areas.

The first theme is on Federal Foundation.

The second theme is on Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms and other and he third theme is on Federal Political System.

The fourth theme is on Public Financial and Revenue Sharing, the fifth theme is Law and Justice and the sixth theme looks at Constitutional Institutions, Representation and Public Service

The seventh and final theme, deals with Transition, and caters for Transition and Saving provisions.

The Theme Committees will be sitting simultaneously from August to October 2008 to scrutinize the thematic areas in the Draft Federal Constitution.
GOVERNMENT ALLOCATION FOR SECURITY
The Minister for Police and National Security Samuel Manetoali has pledged to use his Ministry's 2008 Budget allocations to provide a safe and secure environment for Solomon Islands.

The Government has allocated more than 92 million dollars in its 2008 recurrent budget estimates, and more than 20 million in its development estimates to the Ministry of Police and National Security.

The Police Minister told National Parliament during the general debate on the 2008 Budget that his Ministry's 2008 budget allocations would enable the Ministry to implement its priorities and programs, one of which is a safe and secure environment.

Mr Manetolea said a safe and secure environment in the country has both economic and social benefits to the people of Solomon Islands.

He said safe and secure environment are essential for foreign investment and that it will also help to promote harmonious and peaceful coexistence between our people.

2008 BUDGET PASSED IN PARLIAMENT

2008-04-08T00:44:00.001+12:00

The country's more than one-point four billion dollar budget was passed this afternoon in Parliament with minor typical amendments.

More than one-billion dollars was earmarked for ministerial expenses with more than 380-million dollars allocated for development projects.

It took Parliament seven days to debate the budget in the general debate, committee of supply and third reading which ended this afternoon.

Much of the development budget was allocated to the Ministry of Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs headed by the Deputy Prime Minister Fred Fono.

In this years budget the government hopes to collect increased revenue from domestic sources and hopes to control spending according to the budget.

It also hopes to refrain from borrowing any money locally and internationally.

Finance Minister Snyder Rini said the government will be looking at other revenue sources now that the logging industry will slowly becoming a less important income earner for the government over the next few years.

The current budget meeting is expected to end this week with a motion of Sine Die.

SIBC ONLINE NEWS

Ma'asina Forum Wants Independence for Malaita

2008-04-07T23:58:00.003+12:00

Ma'asina forum has called on the premier of Malaita Province to consider Political Autonomy as a way forward for the Province.
In a four page letter to Premier Richard Irosaea, the forum outlined reasons why they think going after full autonomy is the best possible option for Malaita Province.

Ma'asina Forum, a body claiming to represent Malaitan people, said recent political development in the country, both internally and externally, had prompted the Malaita Ma'asina Forum to make the request to Premier Irosaea's government.

"Sir, we fully understand that during the Premiers Conference held in Rennell and Bellona in 2007, all Premiers including you agreed to the idea of State Government, but you also indicated to the Malaita Ma'asina Forum that State Government is not Malaita's priority," the letter reads.

"This means therefore that Malaitans have different options in determining their own political future and we hereby make this first move to recommend to you what many ordinary Malaitans have been thinking about for many years and would like to see on Malaita."

The forum believes that the issue of State Government developed out of hatred towards Malaitans. "This idea was not born out of any good intent for this country, but out of hatred of many towards Malaita as a people and province."

The letter also outlines the benefits Malaita would gain by going autonomy. "...We will be having more control of ourselves with the freedom to choose our own development partners and not those who come with their biases and bullying tactics. Political autonomy will give us some leeway in controlling our own resources and make decisions that reflect our cultural considerations, interests and not the interests of outsiders which this current National Government is entertaining."
Solomon Time

Candle Light for Tsunami Victims

2008-04-02T19:41:00.000+12:00

Hundreds of people in the Western provincial capital town Gizo turned up for the April 2 eve candle night service at the JFK stadium last night.
The service took less than an hour, with presentation of choirs from three churches in town followed with the evening's brief devotional thought conducted by a Pastor from the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

The Governor General, Sir. Nathanial Waena also took part at the candle night service along with the Premier of Western Province Hon. Alex Lokopio.

Earlier yesterday afternoon, the head of state and the Premier have been reported to have met with the victims at their camp site.

The Governor General today will deliver his first ever address to the people of Western Province at the main anniversary commemoration service to be held today at the JFK stadium.

The speech will be followed with the announcement of awards by the Governor General. More the 30 people will be awarded with medals for their selfless act of bravery and extraordinary service in saving lives of people during the April 2 disaster. Sir Nathaniel will then host a reception at the PT 109 restaurant in honor of the recipient of the awards.

A monument unveiling and dedication service, in memory for those who lost their lives, will be held at 2pm today at the Gizo police station area. This will then be followed by a sea memorial service, to be conducted at the Gizo main wharf to remember those who perished on the day of the disaster.

Other parts of Western Province will hold similar Remembrance Ceremonies today.

Solomon Times

Solomon Islands News Released 1st April 2008

2008-04-01T21:10:00.000+12:00

MISSION ASSISTANCE TO JUSTICE SECTOR

Assistance from the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI, Law and Justice Program this year will be in three areas.

Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Toswell Kaua said this in Parliament during the debate of the 2008 national budget yesterday.

The first is the Technical Assistance portion, which will see advisors and inline personal provided to justice agencies.

The Minister said the Law Reform Commission will have a Legal Policy Researcher and Chief Executive Officer and the ministry headquarters would have a financial advisor, a Legal Policy advisor and a Planning Officer.

Mr Kaua said the second part is infrastructure, which would see the completion of the first stage of the High Court precinct including construction of a new sheriff’s office and registry and the completion of the refurbishment of the Kalala House in Honiara.

He said under this component a new court house and court offices in Auki will be built starting in May this year and to be completed in early 2009.

The third phase will include activities, which would require Law Reform improving access to ordinary people and support to the back capture unit to collect Solomon Islands case law free online access and support to the ministry’s local justice project.

This phase will look at how the role of traditional leaders can be strengthened to deliver justice to rural communities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PM CLARIFIES CONCERN OVER OFFICE OF AUDITOR GENERAL
Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has said he is not aware of the alleged transfer of the Office of the Auditor General's link from the Finance Ministry to the Prime Minister's Office.

Auditor General Augustine Fatai recently expressed this concern while speaking at the Parliamentary Public Accounts.

Mr Fatai said his division is now under the Prime Ministers Office as the link to Parliament, not the Minister of Finance.

He said that over the years the Auditor General's Office link to Parliament is the Minister of Finance although it has worked closely with other government ministers including the Prime Ministers office.

But clarifying the situation in Parliament today the Prime Minister said the Office of the Auditor General's link to the Ministry of Finance will remain as at present.

Dr Sikua the matter is being rectified adding that for any change to the present arrangement will require an amendment to the relevant legislation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW MPS SWORN-IN
The two newly elected Malaita MPs took their oaths before the Speaker of Parliament Sir Peter Kenilorea at the start of this morning’s parliament sitting.

East Malaita MP Manasseh Maelanga and Aoke Langalanga MP Mathew Cooper Wale immediately join other members in the current budget seating following the brief swearing-in ceremony.

Sir Peter congratulated the two MPs for their successful election into parliament.

Maelanga won the East Malaita seat polling 1106 votes ahead of his runner-up David Toifai Misitomu who polled 748 votes.

Wale won the Aoke Langalanga seat polling 1608 ballots ahead of his runner-up Billy Manu who polled 1022 votes.

Mr Maelanga replaced the late Joses Sanga and Mr Wale replaced the late Bartholomew Ulufa’alu.

Both former MPs died last year of illness.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CALL FOR AUTHORITIES TO BUILD BRIDGE
A rural farmer of Makira Ulawa Province, Paul Taemara is urging the provincial and national government to build a bridge over Rawo river, in Central Bauro.

In a statement on behalf of rural farmers in the Province, Mr Taemara says the bridge would give them access to markets in either Kirakira or Honiara.

Mr Taemara says lives have also been lost in the river during flooding and without the bridge, there is concern that this might happen again in the future.

He says wards nine and ten of the province, produce more cocoa, copra and timber but this is hindered by the lack of transport because of the poor road conditions and no bridges to cross rivers.

Meanwhile, Mr Taemara says he is glad to hear the present government's indication of improving infrastructure in rural areas as one of it's priorities.

He says adequate services from the national government to the rural populace increases participation in rural development to help improve the economy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MINERALS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

A hi-tech gold rush is building in the South Pacific and serious players are spending big money.

New Zealand geologist Cornel de Ronde used to look toward the South Pacific and say: “There's gold in them waters.”

His prophecy went unheeded for about 10 years but now serious players with big money are on the hunt.

At stake, in the waters of New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji and around the potentially disputed continental shelf boundaries of the three, are high-grade gold, copper, zinc, lead and silver.

Nautilus Minerals, which is Australian-dominated but listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, joined an expedition out of Nuku'alofa last week to check out the potentially lucrative Valu Fa Ridge in the Lau Basin near the Fiji-Tonga boundary.

It is also eyeing prospects further south in the Kermadec back-arc off New Zealand.

Rival Neptune Minerals, which is also Australian-controlled but listed on London's secondary market, said last week it was preparing to file a mining licence application in New Zealand.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOVERNOR GENERAL GIVEN ROYAL SALUTE
Governor General Sir Nathaniel Weana was given a Royal salute from a Police parade on his arrival in the Western Provincial capital, Gizo this morning.

Western Province Premier Alex Lokopio, Provincial Police Commander Bernard Roau an Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Tsunami Anniversary, Oliver Zapo, met Sir Nathaniel on his arrival at Nusa Tupe airport.

Gizo Ward Assembly member Danny Kennedy and a big crowd welcomed the Governor General on his arrival in Gizo.

After the welcome the Governor General was escorted to Gizo Hotel for a briefing, refreshment and a meeting with community leaders.

SIBC Radio Hapi Lagun reports that this afternoon Sir Nathaniel will visit the disaster stricken areas and his officials will rehearse with those who will receive awards for their bravery during the disaster which struck April the second last year.

Meanwhile, Western Provincial Premier Alex Lokopio has appealed to all employers in an around Gizo to release their workers to join the commemoration celebration tomorrow.

Mr Lokopio also appeals to the general public to attend the remembrance day tomorrow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
The Minister of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology Gordon Darcy Lilo says the national government has established a strategy for mitigation and adaptation to climate change aimed at reducing the risk of sea level rise in the country.

Speaking in parliament on Friday Mr Lilo said the government is dedicated on the issue because it recognises the fact that failure to address the risks of climate change will certainly reduce the progress of development in the country.

Earlier last week, Member of Parliament for Malaita Outer Islands Patrick Vahoe questioned the government’s plans to address the effects of sea level rise in low lying atolls such as Ontong Java and Sikaiana in his constituency.

Minister Lilo assured the concerned MP and his people that addressing the effects of sea level rise are well noted by his Ministry.

Mr Lilo said his ministry is putting in place the National Adaptation Programme of Action to tackle issues raised by the Member of Parliament concerned.

He said Global warming is already happening when world temperatures increased by around point-seven degree centigrade since the advent of the industrial era – and now it continued to increase rapidly.

Mr Lilo said Climate change was global but its effects are local and it was evident in the coastal erosion and inundation in some parts of Solomon Islands.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPORT ON PACIFIC COUNTRIES ECONOMIES
The economic well-being of several Pacific countries looks set to improve, despite the likelihood of a global economic slowdown led by the United States.

AAP reports the region's combined gross domestic product, GDP, is projected to grow by four-point-five per cent in 2008, up from an average of two-point-eight per cent between 2005 and 2007.

The 2008 Pacific Economic Survey - released on Monday - credits the commodities boom for economic growth in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste and increased tourism for growth in Vanuatu, Samoa and Palau.

However, the economic rebound in the Solomon Islands economy is being driven in large part by substantial aid flows and unsustainable logging, while the economies of Fiji and Tonga have contracted as a result of political instability.

Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Duncan Kerr, who launched the survey in Port Vila, Vanuatu said these figures are encouraging.

Mr Kerr said although some countries are performing better than others, it is particularly striking that Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands - which comprise more than 70 per cent of the Pacific's population - are now growing at about six per cent.

He said if these levels of growth can be sustained they have a real chance to alleviate poverty.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POLICE ASSISTANCE OVER THE WEEKEND

Police units attended to 40 calls for assistance over the weekend.

Twelve people were arrested for offences ranging from demanding money, burglary, traffic offences, disorderly behaviour, threatening, disturbances and possession of dangerous drugs.

Honiara City detectives are investigating circumstances surrounding the theft of several valuable properties from a residence at Vavaya Ridge last Saturday.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the culprits accessed the house through the front door and allegedly stole a television antenna, a traveller’s cheque and an amount of cash in Solomon Islands and American currencies.

Police have spoken to several witnesses who are currently assisting police with the investigation.

The investigation is continuing.

New music sensation of Solomon Islands, the Soul Kizs had just arrived this afternoon from their tour to Papua New Guinea.

2008-03-31T22:21:00.000+12:00

The one-month tour has been described as an eye-opener for the young group, equipping them with good experiences to advance further in their musical aspiration.
Solomon Times met up with some band members, who gave an insight to what is said to be their "first tour overseas".
"We never realized that we had followers in PNG until we took the one month trip, putting on shows in Lae, Goroka and the biggest show was staged in Port Moresby," band singer, Rina Fiolo said.
Solomon Times was informed that another show to be staged in Rabaul had to be cancelled "due to some disagreements between two clans in Rabaul".
"This tour has really helped us to understand music beyond recording in the studio, and we now know expectations from fans, so we are hoping that from experiences learnt, our next tour will be even better" he added.
Another band member, Ezekiel Ramosaea said that the group had missed out on receiving the prestigious "Pacific Band of The Year" award "due to some financial problems".
Asked to clarify on the matter, Mr. Ramosaea explained that the band was nominated for the coveted Pacific music award and "we were supposed to collect it December last year but we didn't make it".

He added that "we had to pay for it, and our budget was fixed for the duration of the tour so we had to give that up because of financial limit".
The two young singers said that their biggest hit songs during their one month tour were 'Laea Long Mi', 'Darling', 'Daiguai' and 'Kekeni'.

The local band's tour was sponsored by two PNG-owned companies, the SP Breweries Company and Club 69 owned by a man from Lae, Mr. Brian Crammer.
Mr. Fiolo told Solomon Times that apart from stage performances, "we visited schools and sick patients in hospital."
"We sang some of our songs to patients in the Children's Ward and gave lolies to them, and it was the same for the schools we visited," he said.
Mr. Fiolo said that the initiative taken to visit the sick in hospital was praised by the people in PNG and even the young scholars.

"Despite our semi-live performances, we received a lot of feedbacks from the crazy fans who really enjoyed our shows," he added.
Mr. Ramosaea said the support from fans of PNG was amazing "and they want us to go back for a second tour".
The Soul Kizs band is hoping to tour other countries "but we would love to go back to PNG", as part of their band strategy to international promotions for the young uprising local musical talents.

SolomonTimes

GOVERNMENT TO CLAMP DOWN ON IRRELEVANT TAX

2008-03-31T21:30:00.000+12:00

The Government plans to clamp down on irrelevant tax and duty exemptions as one of its crucial steps to increase government revenue collection in 2008.

Finance Minister, Snyder Rini said some exemptions granted by the previous administration had unnecessarily cost government’s revenue collection.

He said exemptions granted under the previous regime rose to nearly 120-million dollars a year.

While some of these exemptions are legitimate, justified and necessary such as exemptions for diplomats, development assistance or for productive machinery or hospital supplies, many others are not. We believe that reducing these by one third will raise SBD$40 million or so.

The other measure that the government will implement is to raise excise on beer and tobacco products which it believes pose social or health risks.

MP CALLS CHRISTIANS HYPOCRITES
Member of Parliament for West Honiara Issac Tosika Inoke has said that many public servants who claim to be Christians are dishonest.

Speaking in Parliament last week on an audit report on the Ministry of Education which highlighted many discrepancies, Mr Inoke said 90 percent of Solomon Islanders claim to be Christian and go to churches on Saturdays and Sunday.

Mr Inoke said most of theses people go to work late and leave their offices early and pretend to be Christians.

But Mr Inoke said the peoples' ticket to heaven is their work on earth.

"If you cannot perform faithfully and trustworthy on earth, how much more in heaven, that's your ticket. So therefore I urge everyone in the country, if we want to move the country forward and see changes and effectiveness and efficiency in the ministries, then begin to respect yourself and try to be honest. Come early to work and leave at the right time."

Mr Inoke said it's a common practice in Government ministries for senior officials to go to work late and leave early, while some of them were hardly in their offices.

He said the Governments cannot implement its policies if its workers are dishonest and inefficient.

Mr Inoke also said the public service must revive its discipline actions because he said at present it is dead.
SOLOMON ISLANDS COMPUTERISED TAX SYSTEM

Called PC/Trade, the system will modernize Customs procedures and aims to increase the speed and reduce the cost of bringing goods in and out of the country.

In announcing the introduction of the PC/Trade system, the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Snyder Rini, said this is good news and positive initiative.

He said the modernization program will help bring Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division up to international standards.

Mr Rini said the PC/Trade system is also good news for doing business in Solomon Islands because it will speed up international trade to and from the country.

He said the system was developed by a New Zealand Government Agency for a number of Pacific Island countries to process import and export entries and at the same time provides valuable trade statistics.

Its installation in Solomon Islands Customs is one of the final steps of a joint Government-RAMSI project with support from N-Z AID to help modernize and streamline customs processes and procedures.

Also welcoming the PC/Trade initiative, the Comptroller of Customs, Daniel Rofeta said, the program will make Customs more effective, efficient and equitable.
TAIWANESE FOREIGN MINISTER REBUTS COMMENTS
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry rebutted criticism by former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer that Taipei was engaged in "checkbook diplomacy, particularly in the Solomon Islands.

The Taipei Times reports that Victor Yu, deputy director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said cooperation and development programs are an obligation and the responsibility of every advanced nation in the international community.

He said hey should not be described as `checkbook diplomacy.

Yu's rebuttal followed criticisms by Downer, who was an international observer in Taiwan during the country's recent presidential election.

In an interview with the ABC, Downer said, there are clearly bribes that are being paid to members of parliament that has been undermining the work Australia is doing in the Regional Assistance Mission in Solomon Islands.

Downer told the ABC that newly elected Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou had told him that the new government would stop paying bribes and improve its relations with Pacific Island nations, the newspaper reports.

Yu, the Taiwan foreign ministry official, said Downer misunderstood Ma's comments.

Yu said all the resources that the nation has contributed are project-oriented and have generated substantial positive effects on the local economy and on society.

CALL FOR ASSEMBLY SPEAKER TO ARRANGE MEETING
The Opposition group in the Guadalcanal Provincial Assembly has called on the Assembly Speaker to immediately arrange a meeting of the Assembly.

Spokesman for the group, Stephen Panga, says the meeting is necessary for the Assembly to debate and pass this year's provincial budget.

Mr Panga says other provinces have passed their budget and submitted them to the national government.

He says the delay in passing a budget would affect the delivery of services to the Guadalcanal people saying it would be illegal for the province to continue to operate without an approved budget.

Mr Panga says the other option is to for Premier Joash Salani who does not have the supports of the majority of Provincial members to step down from his position as political head of the province.

Mr Panga says this would enable a new government to be form to lead the province.
SHELTER REHABILITATION MEETING
Members of Parliament from constituencies affected by last April’s Quake and Tsunami in the Western and Choiseul province’s held talks with World Vision Officials on Shelter Rehabilitation in affected Provinces last Wednesday.

Head of the National Coordination Unit within the Ministry of Finance, Ronnie Piva said the aim of the meeting was to avoid duplication of approaches for the “Shelter Projects” in Western and Choiseul Provinces.

MP’s present at the meeting was Job Duddley Tausinga, Peter Boyers, Leslie Boseto and Milner Tozaka as well as representatives from these affected Constituencies.

Also present at the meeting are officials from the Prime Ministers Office and members of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

Following the meeting a coordination approach will be taken between MP’s that attended and World Vision.

ANNIVERSARY OF TSUNAMI
A senior community leader of Titiana Village in Gizo says he is unaware of any planned boycott for the commemoration of the first anniversary of earthquake and tsunami disaster set for this week.

Earlier reports received by SIBC said victims of last years disaster had planned a boycott for the event as they had seen little assistance since the disaster.

But Adrian Sina of Radio Hapi Lagun reports from Gizo that the community leader says his community will be joining the rest of the communities in Gizo to commemorate the day.

Meanwhile, the Governor General Sir Nathaniel is the guest of honour of the programme marking last year's tsunami disaster.

The programme includes a visit tomorrow by Sir Nathaniel to communities affected by the disaster and a candle light service.

On Wednesday, a service led by various churches will be held at the JFK Stadium.

During the main service, the government house will also be announcing awards to heroes and presentation of medals is expected to follow.

Unveiling of a monument and dedication service to remember those who perished during last year's disaster, will take place in the afternoon in front of Gizo Police Station.

A Sea Memorial Service will be held later in the evening in front of the Gizo Wharf area in which wreaths will be placed in the sea to remember the victims.

LEADER CONGRATULATES NEW MP
An Aoke-Langalanga leader on Malaita, Charles Lesimaoma has congratulated the newly elected member of Parliament for the Constituency, Mathew Cooper Wale.
Mr Lesimaoma says Mr Wale has been the right choice of the people for the constituency.
Mr Lesimaoma also supports the call by the new MP for the people of Aoke-Langalanga to cooperate with him develop and improve the livelihood of the people
He says people of the constituency must put aside their differences and work with Mr Wale and other leaders develop the the Aoke-Langalanga Constituency.
Mr Wale who won by a majority of more than 500 votes over his nearest rival.

Newly elected Malaita MPs will soon join Parliament

2008-03-31T08:06:00.000+12:00

Two newly elected Malaita MPs will soon join parliament after their by-election victories last Thursday in Malaita Province.

Two newly elected Malaita MPs will soon join parliament after their by-election victories last Thursday in Malaita Province.

They are Mathew Cooper Wale who won the Aoke Langalanga seat and Manasseh Maelanga who secured a landslide victory in the East Malaita constituency.

Mr Wale won by a margin of over Five-hundred votes against his runner-up Mr Billy Manu who polled a little over one-thousand ballots.

In East Malaita, Mr Maelanga polled more than one-thousand-700 votes ahead of his runner-up, Mr David Misitomu who polled more than 700 ballots.

A total of ten candidates contested the Aoke Langalanga constituency by-election while East Malaita has a total of 11 candidates.

Official results after the close of counting are expected to be released tomorrow.

More than 15-thousand registered voters in both constituencies participated in the by-elections last Thursday.

SIBC

Results in the two bye-elections on Malaita Province have been released.

2008-03-29T17:24:00.000+12:00

For East Malaita, Manasseh Maelanga won with 1,106 votes, his second runner up David Toifai Misitomu with 748 votes, third runner up Mrs. Taeasi Sanga with 678 votes.

Winner for the Aoke-Langalanga constituency is Mathew Wale with a total of 1,608 votes.
Other results are as follows: Honiara City Mayor, Alfred Maetia with 642 votes, Chris Mae with 346 votes, Tony Maega'asia with 260 votes, Billy Farobo with 218 votes, Elwyn Maetia Rea with 216 votes, David Carlson Ganifiri with 199 votes, David Mani Manusau with 155 votes and Wilfred Belo with 25 votes.
Twenty-one candidates including two women contested the bye-elections in East Malaita and Aoke Langalanga constituencies.The bye-elections followed the death last year of two sitting M-Ps.They were M-P for Aoke Langalanga and a former Prime Minister, Bartholomew Ulufa'alu, and East Malaita MP and former Minister for Public Service, Joses Wawari Sanga.

In related news, two people were reported to have been seriously wounded during voting at Namoia polling station in the bye-election of East Malaita constituency.

A row reportedly broke out between some men from Kwaio and Kwara'ae two hours into voting.

This resulted in two injured men taken to Atoifi Adventist Hospital with serious wounds.

Police who manned the polling station, together with chiefs and elders of the community, brought the situation under control and voting continued until closing time, 5pm, yesterday.

Voting in other parts of East Malaita and Aoke Langalanga constituency was reported to be problem free.

POLLING IN TWO BYE-ELECTIONS

2008-03-28T15:48:00.000+12:00

Polling has started in two bye-elections on Malaita.

Twenty-one candidates including two women are contesting the bye-elections in East Malaita and Aoke Langa Langa constituencies.

The bye-elections follow the death last year of two sitting M-Ps.

They were M-P for Aoke Langa Langa and a former Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu, and East Malaita MP and former Minister for Public Service Joses Wawari Sanga.

Counting of ballots will start tomorrow and results expected later in the day.

Meanwhile, reports reaching SIBC News say boat-loads of Honiara-based voters left for the two constituencies last night.

A report from Auki says may voters arrived at the provincial capital by boat from Honiara this morning and some are making their way to vote in East Malaita.

Election fever hits Malaita Province

2008-03-19T21:57:00.000+12:00

It’s brewing in provincial capital Auki where candidates were seen last week towing crowds of supporters.

This comes ahead of the March 27 by-elections in Aoke/Langalanga and East Malaita.

An Aoke/Langalanga voter, Jezreel Lusu, told the Solomon Star in Auki last week, the electoral climate was “tense”.

“I believe we need heavy police presence on election day,” he said.

“The war of words between candidates was so tense,” Mr Lusu said.

Ten candidates are contesting the seat.

Candidate Mathew Wale is reportedly getting the upper hand there. Mr Wale came second in the 2006 elections.

“It’s difficult to predict at this stage but Mr Wale is gaining a large following,” one voter told the Solomon Star.

EAST MALAITA
In East Malaita, former convict and police officer Manasseh Maelanga is on the lips of most people.

But whether the talks will translate into support for Mr Maelanga remains to be seen.

Mr Maelanga sparked controversially when he was nominated. Many questioned his eligibility.

But the Electoral Commission said the former police officer was eligible. This is because he already served his jail term.

Mr Maelanga was convicted of a number of tension related offences.

Honiara City Mayor Alfred Maetia is also reported to be a front runner.

The Solomon Star spotted him last Friday pulling together a few supporters in Auki.

Eleven candidates are contesting the East Malaita seat.

SECURITY
Meanwhile, the returning officer for East Malaita Michael Laumani said he had already met police authorities about security arrangements.

"Arrangements are already in place for police to be deployed to all polling stations in the two constituencies,” Mr Laumani said.

He said 42 presiding officers and polling assistants were appointed to man the 30 polling stations in both constituencies.

They’ll be briefed tomorrow in Atori, East Malaita, and Auki.

By EDNAL PALMER

Huniehu revokes decision on wife

2008-03-19T21:46:00.001+12:00

MINISTER for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Edward Huniehu has revoked the appointment of his wife to the boards of two State Owned Enterprises (SOEs).
Mr Huniehu told the Solomon Star that he took action in light of public criticisms.

Mr Huniehu early this month appointed his wife, Hellen, as member of the Solomon Islands Water Authority Board (SIWA) and Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA) boards.

He earlier explained his decision saying that with her corporate literacy, she will be the only person if appointed, satisfy his demands for research information.
“In order to successfully implement reforms, the flow and availability of research information is crucial to me,” he said.
“It is with this in mind that I have gone ahead in appointing her, even without approaching her in the first place.”

However, yesterday Mr Huniehu said he would soon be naming two women to replace his wife in the two boards.
But he warned Solomon Islanders to change their attitude towards women.
“Unless we stop the suppression of women, God will not bless Solomon Islands to the fullest,” he said.

He said the most successful cooperate entities in the world are those that involved women, while the most bankrupt ones are those without women.
“This country cannot continue like this,” the minister said.

He said the Solomon Islands Water Authority and Solomon Islands Electricity Authority are bankrupt.
“Until the boards do their work effectively, the reforms are just unnecessary,”

The minister said he has seen the two boards creating problems after problems because of lack of coordination between them and the ministry.
“This is a management problem,” Mr Huniehu said.

Mr Huniehu said it was because of those past experiences that he wanted to appoint people who will work together with him to fulfill the policies of the government.
“So because of that, I thought I have the right to appoint the board,” he said.

Mr Huniehu said he wanted to let the people of Solomon Islands know that the matter is now closed.
Meanwhile, Mrs Huniehu is one of the contestants in the upcoming Aoke Langalanga constituency by-elections.

AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS AWARENESS PROGRAM

2008-03-19T21:43:00.000+12:00

AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS AWARENESS PROGRAM
19:29 hrs
19 March 2008

Australia has announced its support to the Social Welfare Division of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, to raise awareness of Human Rights in logging communities in Solomon Islands.

Australia has announced its support to the Social Welfare Division of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, to raise awareness of Human Rights in logging communities in Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands Social Welfare Division was one of eighteen beneficiaries of human rights projects announced by Australia this week.

The projects are funded by Australia internationally, under the Human Rights Small Grants Scheme 2007 to 2008.

The Australian High Commission in Honiara says Australian is providing over one-million Australian dollars to support a range of local organisations across the Asia-Pacific region.

It says in Solomon Islands, the Social Welfare Division received nearly 300-thousand Solomon dollars to assist communities to engage logging companies in addressing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the country.

High Commissioner Peter Hooton expressed strong support for the project at the hand over of the money to the Director of the Social Welfare Division, Aaron Olofia this week.

A WALA NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE TO BE LAUNCHED

2008-03-16T16:23:00.000+12:00

The Wala New Testament Bible will be launched tomorrow.

Wala speakers of the Langalanga Lagoon on Malaita will have much to celebrate when the Bible will be launched at Radesifolomae Village following a Palm Sunday followed by a celebration feast.

At the launch, Wala New Testaments will be on sale for 10 dollars.

After Sunday the New Testaments will cost 15 dollars and be available for sale at the Sunflower Shop or Chemist in Auki and the Bible Superstore in Honiara.

Several overseas guests have arrived in the Solomons to attend the launch.

The Wala New Testament launch marks the first of three Bible launches scheduled for 2008 which has been declared Year of the Bible.

On Independence Day this year, the entire Pijin Bible will be launched followed by the Natugqu New Testament in Santa Cruz on 20 July 2008.

DIPLOMAT SUGGEST FEDERATED STATES OF MELANESIA

2008-03-13T18:00:00.001+12:00

DIPLOMAT SUGGEST FEDERATED STATES OF MELANESIA
12:49 hrs
The outgoing Papua New Guinea High Commissioner to New Zealand, Bernard Narakobi, says he believes a Federated States of Melanesia would help each of the countries to better tackle the major problems they face.

Radio New Zealand International reports Mr Narakobi as saying that the Melanesian countries, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji and PNG are struggling alone to combat issues such as health and education services, and unemployment.

Mr Narakobi said the Melanesian Spearhead Group would eventually be the ideal agency to handle problems such as those now covered by the Australian led Regional Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI.

He said as it is now it is not ideal because it is not faced with the same resources, same manpower, same personnel, or similar to what exists in Australia and New Zealand being the the primary forces in RAMSI.

SOFU HAILS JAPANESE ASSISTANCE TOWARDS GIZO WHARVES

2008-03-12T19:06:00.002+12:00

Minister for Infrastructure Development Stanley Festus Sofu today thanked the Government of Japan for funding the rehabilitation of two Gizo wharves damage during last April’s Quake and Tsunami in Western Province.

Mr Sofu and Mr. Akira Iwanade, Chargé d’ Affairs of Japan, signed a grant contract worth over SBD$1.25 million for the wharf rehabilitation project.

“My Government is overwhelmed by the speed at which the projects were processed. It has surpassed considerably the normal processing schedules that we are accustomed to in the past,” Mr Sofu said.

The grant assistance was funded under the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security Project (GGP) with an allocation of over SBD$620,000 for the Rehabilitation of Gizo Main Wharf Ramp and SBD$640,000 for the Rehabilitation of Gizo Hospital Wharf.

Mr Sofu said the completion of the hospital wharf will effectively enhance direct delivery of patients traveling in from nearby islands to the Hospital and will also minimize vehicle travel where patients may have to be moved on and off vehicles”.

He said the Gizo Main Wharf Ramp will enhance services for the Gizo community, improve safety in loading and unloading of goods, increase capacity in cargo handling but most important is for those affected by the tsunami to strengthen community resilience.

“Generally, the projects will support recovery and image building and therefore are highly accepted by the Western Provincial Government and People,” Mr Sofu said.

The Minister said such a hasty process and approval from the Government and People of Japan for these projects is a reflection of a real concern Japan has for the Tsunami affected people of the Western Province and Solomon Islands.”

Mr Iwanade said Gizo is known as the 2nd largest commercial hub next to Honiara in Solomon Islands and it’s attracting a lot of foreign tourists as their destination to enjoy holidays in the beautiful nature.

“We recognize that the recovery of the significant economic and social functions of Gizo will be the key step toward the rebuilding of Western Province”.

“This assistance is a genuine expression of the friendship of the people of Japan, who always appreciate the long-standing friendly relations between Japan and Solomon Islands. We the people of Japan are pleased to assist people of Gizo and Western Province in their endeavor to help themselves in rehabilitating public infrastructure with the support from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development,” he said.

End///
Please attribute this press release to Government Communications Unit
Visit our website: www.pmc.gov.sb for more information

NEWS IN BRIEF FOR 12/03/2008 SIBC

2008-03-12T18:41:00.002+12:00

GUADALCANAL PREMIER DISMISSES CLAIMS AGAINST HIM

Guadalcanal premier Joash Salani who is facing a mass walk out of his executive government has dismissed allegations that he lacks an open and transparent style of leadership.

Six members of Mr Salani's 11 member executive team have resigned, claiming incompetence, lack of consultation, coordination and unplanned spending of provincial finances by the premier as reasons for their resignation.

But Mr Salani says whilst he respects the rights of his six ministers to resign from the executive, the move is mere politicking which is not in the best interest of Guadalcanal province.

He says Guadalcanal province has no time for petty politicking and he would ensure steps are taken to stop it.

Mr Salani says he will not accept allegations that were leveled at him.

Mr Salani says he will be talking to the other provincial assembly members who are not in the current executive to see if they are willing to replace the ministers who resigned yesterday.

He welcomes a motion of no confidence which the six ministers have threatened to move against him if he did not resign as premier.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RENNELL-BELLONA PREMIER FACES MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE

Premier of Rennell-Bellona Province Solly Tengemona faces a motion of no confidence this Friday when the province's full assembly meets.

Mover of the motion Timothy Johnstone says while the reasons cannot be revealed in the media at the moment, corruption, poor leadership and self serving interests are among issues likely to be alleged against the premier.

He says the premier is at present barely holding on to power with one executive member as three others have resigned last month.

They are the deputy premier Edward Kaitu'u, Brian Ngibutai and Anne Pugeva.

Mr Johnstone says non executive members have joined up with the resigned three and were calling on Mr Tengemoana to resign.

They've also requested the minister for Provincial government to intervene.

The Minister for Provincial government had advised the Provincial Speaker to summon a full Assembly meeting to test the numbers of the provincial executive or a motion of no confidence be tabled if the premier holds a minority government.

Mr Johnstone says the summoning of the Full Assembly meeting is based on advise from the Attorney General's chamber.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUTH AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

An analysis report on youth and mental health issues was launched at the Solomon Islands Development Trust Conference Room this morning.

An analysis report on youth and mental health issues was launched at the Solomon Islands Development Trust Conference Room this morning.

The report titled 'Youth and Mental Health in Solomon Islands - A situation analysis' highlights major mental health related issues affecting youths in the country today.

In his speech during the launch, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Special duties Permanent Secretary George Malefoasi described the report as invaluable.

Dr Malefoasi said the report provides the actual situation of the country in relation to youth and their mental health.

He said the report's data outlines important information that should help stakeholders plan and allocate appropriate resources to support the report's recommendations.

The report is an initiative of the Youth and Mental Health Project coordinated by SIDT.

It is supported by the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific International, FSPI and is funded by NZAID.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAUSES OF MENTAL ILL HEALTH

The lack of education, high rate of unemployment, loss of self identity due to a rapidly changing society and the tension period of of civil unrest were found to be the major contributors to mental ill health among the youth in Honiara.

Findings in the report indicate that youth in Solomon Islands and Honiara in particular, face the negative impacts of substance abuse, inadequate education, lack of employment opportunities, depression, violence, sexual abuse, poverty, gender disparity and suicide.

Research for the situational analysis took place in three residential areas outside Honiara where incidences of mental ill health were believed to be high.

The areas include Burnscreek, Koahill and Fulisango Zion.

Over 26-thousand youths of ages 15 to 29 were covered in the research.

In Honiara, people of this age group make up just over 39-thousand of the city's population.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CALL FOR AUTHORITIES TO FIX LEAKED SEWERAGE

Relevant authorities have been called on to fix a leaked sewage pipe that is reportedly causing heath risks to pupils of a Seventh Day Adventist Primary School near the Kukum Hot Bread Kitchen in East Honiara.

A teacher of the school Evan Bulehite is calling on the responsible authorities to fix leakage which happened over the weekend.

He says the school has an enrolment of more than 400 students and they are being affected by the situation.

"We like responsible authorities to fix the sewerage it's flowing like a flood. It's very smelly, with children walking about, we like authorities which deal with such matters to step in and fix the problem."

Mr Bulehite says his school has suspended classes until the leakage sewerage is fixed.

Meanwhile, a Vura resident Gustav Kuper calls on East Honiara leaders including the City Councilor for the area to do their duties and ensure the relevant authorities fix the leaked sewerage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER RESPONSES TO OPPOSITION

The Australian High Commissioner, Peter Hooton has said that recent reports of comments made by the Leader of the Opposition, Manasseh Sogavare, had understated the value of Australian aid.

Mr Hooton says that while it was pleasing that Mr Sogavare had welcomed the Australian Prime Minister's announcement of additional assistance to Solomon Islands over the weekend, the reports of his comments greatly understated the value of Australian aid to Solomon Islands.

He says Australia's combined bilateral and regional commitments to Solomon Islands on development-related activities are close to one and a half billion dollars per annum in 2007-08.

On Saturday, Mr Rudd announced an estimated additional 20 million dollars would be provided this year for rehabilitation and maintenance of rural roads.

Mr Hooton says Australia's bilateral aid to Solomon Islands was this year expected to be 183 million dollars but with the additional funds the estimated total for Australia's bilateral aid this year is about 203 million dollars.

He says Australia will also provide about 10 million dollars for the construction of shelters in communities affected by the April 2007 earthquake and tsunami.

In addition to this, Mr Rudd pledged an additional 65 million dollars next year to support work in priority areas including infrastructure development, health, technical education and reforestation.

Mr Hooton says bilateral aid is separate from Australia's funding of RAMSI.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATES MISSION

The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd has congratulated all members of Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI for their efforts in rebuilding Solomon Islands.

The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd has congratulated all members of Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI for their efforts in rebuilding Solomon Islands.

Speaking during a brief visit to the mission’s headquarters in Honiara at the weekend, Mr Rudd said it was the individual efforts of every member of the mission in partnership with the people of Solomon Islands that really made the difference.

Describing RAMSI as a great example of regional cooperation, Mr Rudd said he wanted to personally thank all those Pacific Islanders who had contributed to RAMSI.

Mr Rudd also made particular reference to New Zealand as a key partner in RAMSI.

And to his own countrymen and women, Mr Rudd said that he understood their mission had been ‘difficult and challenging.

Mr Rudd said RAMSI would remain in Solomon Islands for as long as it was welcome and for as long as it had a job to do.

The countries that make up RAMSI are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MINISTER OF MINES OBTAINS INFORMATION

Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Edward Huni’ehu cherishes the amount of information obtained during last week's conference on International Renewable Energy held in Washington DC.

Mr Huni’ehu led a government delegation comprising top officials from his Ministry to represent Solomon Islands at the conference.

The Minister who is also a strong promoter of renewable energy said the conference is significant to the country's future development aspirations, especially when it falls directly in line with the focus of the C-NURA Government’s policy on rural electrification and renewable energy.

Mr Huni’ehu said the focus towards rural electrification, through renewable energy will not only help to improve rural peoples’ standard of living but it will also help to foster rural economic growth.

Meanwhile, the Government Communications Unit says following the Washington Conference, Mr Huni’ehu traveled to Canada to hold talks with the Canadian INCO Mining Company in an attempt to obtain important data relating to exploration information carried out on Isabel in the 1960’s.

The Unit says this information data is important to pursuing the international tender process towards Nickel prospecting on Isabel.

The Minister and his delegation will return this weekend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MINISTER MEETS CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE

A meeting is underway between the Minister for Home Affairs James Tora and members of the Honiara City Council executive.

Deputy Mayor of Honiara City Jim Sevesi says the purpose of the meeting is strengthen relations between the City Council and the ministry responsible because previously relations between the council and ministry had not been cordial.

The meeting will also look at ways in which the ministry and City Council can work together to properly deliver services to the people of Honiara and a revision of entitlements for councilors for 2008.

Mr Sevesi says it is important that issues about stability, leadership and good governance are dealt with by the bodies so that people in Honiara get the best benefits.

He says there are political instability among various provincial governments and this should be a concern for both the Honiara City Council and the ministry of Home Affairs.

SIBC ON LINES NEWS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Letter from Solomon Islands

2008-03-07T10:01:00.001+12:00

Kydd (R) and Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation founder and CEO Maire Bopp Allport in Rarotonga, Cook IslandsMy two-week experience in the heat of Honiara—the capital of the Solomon Islands, east of Papua New Guinea—was indisputably the highlight of my internship with the Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation (PIAF).

I am an undergraduate student with an academic focus on the Pacific Islands, and this was my first time living and working in the Pacific. I was in the Cook Islands from late August 2007 until the end of January 2008 as a project officer for PIAF in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

UVic’s Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives (CAPI) organized the placement through its long-term partnership with PIAF, and financial support came from the Canadian International Development Agency’s Students for Development program which offers internship opportunities in the developing world.

During my five-month experience, I travelled to the Solomon Islands in early December 2007 to conduct research for PIAF’s major regional mapping project. The project will result in a comprehensive inventory and database of HIV/AIDS services for each Pacific country and will be available for service providers and HIV-positive people in order to locate services in their area and illustrate where there are gaps in these services.

It was an immense honour to be asked to go to the Solomon Islands as the first PIAF representative ever to travel to the country. I met with ministry representatives and officers from non-governmental organizations including World Vision and UNICEF, and I also met with the Permanent Secretary of Health for the Solomon Islands Dr. George Manimu, as well as the undersecretary of health improvement.

It was during these latter two meetings especially that I felt like I had achieved the goals of my trip in spreading the word of PIAF, increasing governmental knowledge about HIV in the Pacific and advocating the issues for which PIAF stands.

I approached Dr. Manimu before his presentation on World AIDS day in Honiara. This was, in hindsight, a pretty bold move for a foreigner, a woman and a stranger—especially when I asked for his email and an hour of his time later in the week. Finding him surprisingly friendly, I met with him for over an hour talking about PIAF, HIV, the mapping project, the Pacific, international HIV responses and issues that need to be addressed in the Solomon Islands.

My time in the Solomon Islands and at PIAF has forged my commitment and respect for the region in a way that my classroom studies never could, and has cemented my desire to return.

Since 2003, PIAF has hosted eight students through the CAPI internship program, helping them gain first-hand exposure and development work experience in the region.
For more information on the CAPI internships and Kydd’s experience, By Emily Kydd, third-year UVic Pacific and Asian Studies student

http://www.capi.uvic.ca/opportunities

CENTRAL BANK CAUTIONS GOVERNMENT OVER MINIMUM WAGE

2007-09-08T18:57:00.000+12:00

Central Bank of Solomon Islands has cautioned government to carefully analyse any policy relating to increase the country's minimum wage.

It its submission to a committee seeking suggestions from stakeholders on the proposed wage increase, CBSI says any major increase will result in major job losses defeating the aim to help low income wage earners.

Governor of Central Bank Rick Hou says many low income earners will lose their job because companies will no longer afford to meet increased wages.

He says another concern would be that Solomon Islands will price itself out of market.

Mr Hou says as workers will be getting higher wages and salaries, goods produced in Solomon Islands will be expensive resulting in importers turning to other countries whose products are cheaper compared to that of Solomon Islands.

He says wide consultation among all stakeholders is the key to reach an acceptable minimum wage.

CHIEFS CONCERN OVER THEIR EXCLUSION FROM RECONCILIATION SUMMIT

2007-09-08T18:46:00.000+12:00

Chiefs in West Mbaelelea area of Malaita Province are concerned that they've been excluded from the Malaita Reconciliation summit.

Secretary of Arao House of chiefs John Sukina'a says that although the need to have reconciliation amongst communities is an important component for the sustainability of peace, each ward of the province should be represented.

Mr Sukina'a says many of the victims of the ethnic tension are people from Mbaelelea who were chased out of Gadalcanal and they want their story to be told.

He says the Malaita reconciliation office should have picked one chief out of every ward of the province as well as members of various house of chiefs in the province.

Mr Sukina'a says the government should not use money as an excuse not to include all the chiefs in the summit because peace is important for the development of the country.

The summit for Malaita leaders should have started today and will end tomorrow.

PRIME MINISTER ACCUSE VANUATU COURT REGISTRAR

2007-08-31T20:12:00.000+12:00

09:45 hrs
31 August 2007

Solomon Islands government will be lodging a complaint to the Vanuatu government over its Supreme Court Acting Registrar’s concocted claim on Julian Moti to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Board of Inquiry.
Solomon Islands government will be lodging a complaint to the Vanuatu government over its Supreme Court Acting Registrar’s concocted claim on Julian Moti to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Board of Inquiry.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told Parliament on Tuesday that the Acting Registrar of the Vanuatu Supreme Court had committed a serious crime by making a false claim to the Chairman of the PNG Defence Force Board of Inquiry that Mr Moti was still not cleared by the Vanuatu courts for the sex allegations against him.

He said the government is taking up this issue with Vanuatu to ensure the administration of justice in Melanesia remains pure and uncorrupted.

The PNG Defence Force Inquiry was launched last year to probe into what was described as the ‘clandestine escape’ of Mr Moti from Port Moresby to Solomon Islands after being arrested and detained in the Papua New Guinea capital at the advise of Canberra over the sex allegations.

Mr Sogavare said the chairman of the PNG Defence Force Board of Inquiry had publicly announced that Mr Moti was not cleared by the Vanuatu courts based on legal documents he claimed to have obtained.

However the Prime Minister said when Mr Moti’s lawyer in PNG challenged the Chairman to the Defence Force Board of Inquiry over his statement, he quickly wrote a facsimile to the court registrar requesting copies of the records of the Moti case for his perusal.

He said the Vanuatu Supreme Court registrar replied to the Chairman of the PNG Defence Force Board of Inquiry saying that the court proceedings against Mr Moti were still pending because Mr Moti had not returned to the Vanuatu jurisdiction but refused to avail copies of the court records.
RAMSI DOES NOT WITHHOLD INFORMATION ON GUNS
09:42 hrs
31 August 2007

RAMSI Special Coordinator, Tim George, today said claims that RAMSI was withholding information on the presence of weapons in the community were not true.
RAMSI Special Coordinator, Tim George, today said claims that RAMSI was withholding information on the presence of weapons in the community were not true.

Speaking in response to comments made by the Prime Minister in Parliament this week, Mr George said that neither he nor his two predecessors as Special Coordinator had ever said that all weapons had been recovered.

Mr George said RAMSI has been and will always be open about the security situation in Solomon Islands.

Mr George said Solomon Islands and RAMSI have a very good story to tell on disarmament as almost 4000 weapons have been surrendered.

While the incidence of gun-related crimes is now quite rare in Solomon Islands, Mr George said RAMSI was acutely aware of the risks that still remain.
MINISTER LAUNCHES FORESTRY REPORT
09:41 hrs
31 August 2007

The Minister of Forests, Environment and Conservation Mark Kemakeza has launched the Government's National Forestry Assessment Report and the National Forest Plantation Program.
The Minister of Forests, Environment and Conservation Mark Kemakeza has launched the Government's National Forestry Assessment Report and the National Forest Plantation Program.

The two reports highlighted the historical and current perspective of the state of the forests of Solomon Island and the future direction and emphasis of the industry.

Mr Kemakeza said both documents are important to the government’s rural development policy which included the management of the country’s forestry resources.

He said the way Forest is managed is critical to life and the extent to which forest is handled has an impact locally and globally.

He said, in Solomon Islands, forest is mainly used for commercial and economic benefits, and in many occasions these two factors supersede environmental factors.

The minister said a balance needs to be seriously considered somewhere along the way.

Mr Kemakeza said natural forest is the country’s primary income generating industry providing, approximately 65 to 70 percent of foreign exchange and directly employs some 5,000 locals.

As the dominant industry in Solomon Islands, it provides source of income to land owners, and the Government in the form of export duty to round logs.

But Mr Kemakeza warned the country’s forest industry through logging is expected to reduce and eventually disappear in the next 8 years.

GOVERNMENT PRAISES TIMELY I-C-T STRATEGY

2007-08-20T18:15:00.000+12:00

The government says building of national information, communication and technology strategy is timely.

The government says building of national information, communication and technology strategy is timely.

Permanent Secretary for the Education Ministry Barnabas Anga says the strategy is important for the education sector in Solomon Islands.

Mr Anga says such plans would provide for better communication and better modes for instruction.

He says the impact of I-C-T will shift the mind set about the traditional process of training and instruction to reach more people.

He says this wider reach will enable the people share knowledge and develop skills to rebuild Solomon Islands.

Mr Anga says the government is looking forward to receiving the conclusions of the Pacific Internet Conference currently underway in Honiara.

SIBC ONLINE NEWS

PRIME MINISTER PRAISED LATE ULUFA'ALU

2007-05-29T15:40:00.000+12:00

Prime minister Manasseh Sogavare had spoken highly of the late Bartholomew Ulufa'alu as a man whose initiative the Bottom Up Approach concept government had based its development policy on.

Speaking during the late Ulufa'alu's funeral Service at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Honiara today, Mr Sogavare said the late Ulufa'alu had lived a colourful life.

Mr Sogavare said as the prime minister of Solomon islands, he is not qualified to describe the life of late Ulufa'alu because of his many achievements and hardship the late leader had been through in his private and public life.

He said the late Ulufa'alu is an enemy to none and friend to all.

Mr Sogavare said during his public life, the late Ulufa'alu had thought up great ideas, one of which is the initial Bottom Up Approach and the many reforms in the country's, economic reforms.

He said through his initial reforms, Solomon Islands is able to move ahead against all odds.

Mr Sogavare said Solomon islands will miss many contributions, the late Ulufa'alu have had and new ones he may have been thinking about.

He said various government's have made the late Ulufa'alu their finance minister because of his credentials of being a reformist.

Mr Sogavare also described the late Ulufa'alu as a man who strived, even through vary trying times for a united Solomon Islands until his death last Friday after a long illness.

The body of the late Bartholomew Ulufa'alu will be buried at his home village in the Langa Langa Lagoon Malaita province tomorrow.

His body was transported home this evening by police patrol boat Auki after today's state funeral.

The country's distinguished leaders including the Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena and Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare paid last tribute and respect to the late Ulufa'alu when his body lay in state at the national parliament chamber.

The body was later taken to Holy Cross Cathedral for a funeral service before it was transported home.

SIBC NEWS

STATE FUNERAL FOR LATE FORMER PM LATE BARTHOLOMEW ABAAU ULUFAALU

2007-05-29T13:01:00.000+12:00

The body of late Bartholomew Ulufa'alu, will be given a state funeral tomorrow, Sunday 27th May.

Announcing this, Acting Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo says the body will lay in state at Parliament House from nine o'clock in the morning to 2:30 in the afternoon.

The public will have the opportunity then to file past the body to pay their last respect to the late Ulufa'alu.

"At about 3 pm, the body will be transported down to the Holy Cross Cathedral for the state funeral service. And thereafter late in the evening,the body will then be transport to his home place at Auki via the patrol boat."

The late Ulufa'alu has been hospitalised for sometime for ill health before he died yesterday.

His death brings to two, members of parliament in the current house who have died while in office.

Last month the member of Parliament for East Malaita constituency, the late Joses Sanga had also been accorded a state funeral.
SIBC NEWS

SOLOMON ISLANDS LOSES A STATE MAN

2007-05-29T12:56:00.000+12:00

Solomon Islands has lost one of its states man.

He is the late, Bartholomew Ulufa'alu.

The late Ulufa'alu died at 12:30 pm this afternoon at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara.

He was under intensive medical care for sometime, suffering from diabetes.

Announcing the death this afternoon through the national radio, SIBC, Acting Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo says the country had lost one of its great leaders and true son of Solomon islands.

The late Ulufa'alu was member of parliament for Auki Langa Langa constituency at the time of his death.

The late Ulufa'alu had been Prime Minister of Solomon islands from 1997 to 2000.

Since taking up politics in the late seventies, Mr Ulufa'alu had held several senior Ministerial posts in Government including the post of Finance Minister in various Government Administrations.

Mr Darcy says the late Ulufa'alu had established his good reputation as a household name.

He says the late Ulufa'alu had been a legacy in the establishment of trade unions in the country, formation of strong opposition in parliament and providing an active parliament.

Mr Lilo describes the late Ulufa'alu as having established a reputation among his parliamentarian colleague who hold a strong view that a parliament without Bart is no parliament.

SIBC NEWS

Northern Malaita Fundraising

2007-05-19T13:59:00.000+12:00

A Malaita Northern Region Disaster Fundraising Committee effort to support affected communities in Western and Choiseul Provinces will end its activities tomorrow.

Committee Treasurer Henry Kanairara told NDC in a phone conversation from Malu’u this afternoon that they have already raised more than 10-thousand dollars since starting on the 29th April.

Mr Kanairara says the committee is appealing to surrounding and nearby communities of the area to come out tomorrow and support their final effort.

He says they will start the final program at Malu’u station tomorrow with a barbecue.

Mr Kanairara says the highlight of the day’s effort will be the live performance of well known local Gospel group Echoes of Innocence.

He says his committee’s final program will run throughout tomorrow.

THREAT OF EARTHQUAKES RECURRING IS LOW

2007-04-16T16:26:00.000+12:00

BY George Siapu
In Gizo

A team from the Geology Division dispatched by the NDMO in Honiara to monitor and assess areas affected by the recent earthquake that devastated western and Choiseul province has confirmed that the possibility of an earthquake of the same magnitude of 8.1 recurring at the same spot is highly unlikely.

The team, in the last three-days has carried out their assessment on Simbo and Ranongga which were the two islands that have experienced the full brunt of the earthquake and tsunami.

The Geologists revealed that when the earthquake struck it had also dislodged a great amount of stress which technically indicated that it is impractical for the recurrence of an earthquake of similar magnitude happening within weeks or even months along the same fault lines.

Following their field assessment trip along the coast and onshore, the team had confirmed that the island of Ranongga has been raised after the earthquake; however, they could not at this stage determine its height.
From their observation, the team noted that the raised reefs were once passageways and anchorages.

Further assessment will be taken but the eminent threat of it’s recurrence as feared by most people on both islands and even other parts of the country is said to be low, according to the teams finding.

The after-shocks or tremors would continue to be experienced but infrequently in the province and at a much lesser strength.

Despite its infrequency, these tremors will be felt for weeks or even months, according to assessments by the geologists.

The reason is that at the time of the earthquake, the movements of the huge adjoining tectonic plates deep under the seabed at the epicentre had covered a wide area which would take longer for the vibration to finally settle down.

But the Team has realized the impact of the disaster on the people and the fear that had prevented them from returning to their homes.
News Source: 16/04/2007

GEOLOGISTS TRAVEL TO SIMBO ISLAND

2007-04-11T17:01:00.000+12:00

A team of geologists is travelling to Simbo in Solomon Islands’ Western Province to assess its volcanic activity in the wake of last week's earthquake and tsunami.

The National Disaster Management Office says that the group is among a number of teams being sent to the outlying islands of Simbo and Ranongga.

The deputy provincial secretary, Jonathon Bana, says the temporary camps around Gizo have enough water containers and food to keep going but they need to get more supplies out to more remote areas.

Jonathon Bana says health workers are also being sent to camps to dig pit latrines and ensure proper sanitation.

SIBC ONLINE NEWS 11/04/2007

Western Province strike by Tsunami

2007-04-04T19:39:00.000+12:00

By MERAIAH FOLEY

MUNDA, Solomon Islands Apr 4, 2007 (AP)— Relief workers reported the first signs of disease Wednesday among survivors of a devastating earthquake and tsunami, as damaged airports caused a bottleneck in the flow of badly needed water, food and medicine.

Red Cross official Nancy Jolo said her agency had handed out all the emergency supplies it had stored in Gizo, the main town in the disaster zone, and was waiting for new supplies from a New Zealand military transport plane that landed late Tuesday in nearby Munda.

"The priority need right now is for water," Jolo told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio from Gizo. "What we are experiencing right now in some of the campsites is children starting to experience diarrhea."

At least 28 people died in the tsunami and quake, measured at a magnitude of 8.1 by the U.S. Geological Survey. The victims include a bishop and three worshippers killed when a wave hit a church and a New Zealand man who drowned trying to save his mother, who remains missing.

Disaster officials said the toll was expected to rise as rescue crews reached outlying villages that were flattened by the waves. Bodies could be seen floating in the water by authorities conducting aerial surveys of the destruction; there was no official count of those missing.

The government cited an unconfirmed report that six people were killed on Simbo Island by a landslide triggered by the quake potentially pushing the toll to 34.

Some of more than 2,000 people who spent Monday night camped on a hill behind the town of Gizo returned Tuesday to look for supplies or loved ones. Others were too afraid to venture to the coast amid more than two dozen aftershocks, including at least four of magnitude-6 or stronger.

Julian Makaa of the National Disaster Management Office said more than 900 homes had been destroyed around Gizo and about 5,000 people affected.

Gizo's airport remained closed, and helicopters or a boat journey of several hours were the only ways to get emergency supplies to the town.

"We have not reached people as soon as we could … because of the widespread nature of this particular disaster," said Fred Fakarii, chairman of the National Disaster Management Council. "Our difficulty is getting to them quickly with what we have on the ground."

TARO AUTHORITIES EVACUATES RESIDENTS TO HIGHER GROUND AS STRANGE SEA CHANGES DEVELOPED

2007-04-02T16:40:00.000+12:00

PRESS RELEASE 02/04/07GH067

Authorities in the provincial capital of Taro Island, Choiseul Province in the Western Solomons are evacuating residents to higher ground after observing strange ocean changes in the Western part of the Island.Provincial Premier Jackson Kiloe described the sea changes on the western coast of Choiseul as “strangely frightening”.He said the present sea activities involving huge rolling waves which repeatedly caused dry seas deeper into the ocean have exposed fish and other marine lives.He said the earthquake that hit the Western Solomon’s this morning was strongly felt twice in Choiseul province. “We are currently evacuating Taro Island residents and others in coastal areas to higher ground.“The huge wave rolls are stronger than floods. “They are causing large areas of ocean to dry up exposing fish and other marine lives,” Mr Kiloe said by phone from Taro Island.

He said provincial authorities are closely monitoring the situation.He said the quake had not caused any deaths, but considerable damages were recorded throughout the province.
He said all official provincial business activities were closed since this morning and will resume when the situation is back to normal.He said the situation has caused widespread fear among people in the province.

NEWS by George Heming

MALAITA SCHOOLS RECEIVE BOOKS

2007-03-29T18:55:00.000+12:00

Secondary schools in Malaita province this week received books funded under the European Union 1999 Stabex fund.

Officials from both the EU and the Ministry of Education attended an official hand-over ceremony of the books in Auki on Tuesday in the presence of provincial education authorities and students.

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Barnabas Anga said the government believes in investing in its children’s future and in the adequate reform of the education system.

He said the availability of teaching materials was important for conducive learning for teachers and students witnessed by the substantial investment in textbooks.

He said the government was serious about education in Solomon Islands and this was demonstrated earlier through the teachers improved conditions of service in the new unified pay structure.

Meanwhile, Mr Anga has also appealed to communities to provide support to their schools because better schools are those supported by their local communities.

News Source:

Malaita election results out

2007-01-19T12:34:00.000+12:00

TWENTY two winning candidates have been officially declared out of the 25 wards in the second election of the Malaita province yesterday.
Returning Officer Johnson Houma told Solomon Star from Auki yesterday that the other three results were not made available due to late response by the Assistant Returning Officers from wards 8,9 and 10.
However by 5.30pm results for wards 6 to 30 were announced.
The winners are, Silas Talota ward 6, Philip Taloinao ward 7, Silas Tony Bobby ward 11, Kalberth Aluta ward 12, Sam Bobby ward 13, George Abana ward 14, Michael Saru ward 15, Philip Farobo ward 16, Billy Abae ward 17, Alick Butala ward 18, Roni Maia ward 19, John Arahauri ward 20, John Teohu ward 21, George Moffat Ou ward 22, Francis Wate Liu ward 23, Jimmy K Manewai ward 24, Isaach Hou Hiapa ward 25, Charles Jeffery ward 26, David Nguiburi ward 27, Henry Dada ward 28, Clifton Frazer Pulesau ward 29 and Randell Sifoni ward 30.
Mr Houma said that the three remaining results are expected by last night or this morning.
The election was the second part of the election first held in December.
The postponement of the election in wards 6-30 was due to late preparation of ballot boxes and the difficulty in transporting them to the polling stations in time for the election.
It had been agreed that the election be postponed until this week.
Mr Houma said that despite problems being faced with transport the election was successfully held.
The first provincial assembly for the new and returning members will be next week and the premier’s election will be held on Friday.
By MOFFAT MAMU
Solomon Star

CALL FOR RECONGNITION OF WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

2006-11-16T20:06:00.000+12:00

Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena wants to see recognition of the important contribution by women in Solomon islands to peace and development.

Sir Nathaniel told the visiting US Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Leslie Rowe that such gender contribution is crucial in the development of the rebuilding process of the country.

Sir Nathaniel told Ambassador Rowe that Solomon islands wants to see development of programmes which economically empower women.

He says this will help women fully participate in decision making processes.

Sir Nathaniel says too often some people seem to think women's success was measured by their ascension and participation in parliament.

But Sir Nathaniel says regrettably such approach neglects the real underlying challenges faced by women in this country.
SIBC ONLINE NEWS

US WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH SOLOMON ISLANDS

2006-11-15T19:24:00.000+12:00

The United States of American will continue to work closely with Solomon Islands to strengthen security in the region.

The United States new Ambassador to Solomon islands, Madam Leslie Rowe made the comment during presentation of her credentials to the Governor General at Government House this morning.

Ambassador Rowe says the United states supports the work of the multi country regional assistance mission to Solomon islands and its efforts to bring peace and security to the country.

Ambassador Rowe who is based in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea says her country will do its part in cooperating with Solomon islands police and civil services to provide training and other forms of assistance.

She cited the recent construction of a water supply system to Kilu'ufi hospital, Malaita province by the US Department of Defence.

Ambassador Rowe says her government looks forward to working closely with the media to promote good journalism.

She says her government will continue to take Solomon islands government and community leaders to the United States participate in programmes in a number of disciplines.
SIBC NEWS ONLINE

FORUM EXPRESSES CONCERN

2006-11-14T19:35:00.000+12:00

The Malaita Maasina Forum has cautioned relevant authorities to ensure that members of the National Provident Fund benefit from the proposed sale of the National Bank of Solomon Islands, NBSI,to the Papua New Guinea's Bank South Pacific.

The board and shareholders of NBSI recently announced that an agreement with the PNG bank, been signed, paving the way for the acquisition of the 100 percent interest in NBSI.

The Solomon Islands national Provident Fund holds 49 percent in NBSI, while the remaining 51 percent of shares are held in three separate trusts.

General Secretary of the Maasina Forum, William Gua says the forum is concerned about NPF members' shares in the bank.

"Malaita people who contribute to NPF is about 75 percent. We are concern and we would like to see that the 49 percent NPF share in the National Bank should go to the contributors of NPF. We don't like to see when they sell the bank, the shares will go in the wrong hands."

The board and shareholders of NBSI say the proposed acquisition by Bank South Pacific is in the best interests of NBSI, its shareholders, employees and the nation.

SIBC ONLINE NEWS

TAIWAN TO HELP IN MEDICAL SERVICES.

2006-11-12T11:51:00.000+12:00

The Government of the Republic of China or Taiwan plans to expand its assistance in the improvement of health services in Solomon Islands.

New Taiwanese Ambassador to Solomon islands, George Chan says his country plans to send more doctors to Solomon islands.

He says this will be done under the existing scheme.

But Mr Chan says the recruitment of doctors will expand to cover specialists in various fields of the medical profession.

Ambassador Chan says the assistance will also cover provision of drugs and other medications for urban and rural health care centres in the country.

Mr Chan says since the National referral Hospital in Honiara is designed and built by Taiwan, his country looks to it as its baby.

Therefore, he says Taiwan will continue to maintain the up keep of the hospital

News Source:SIBC

SOLOMON ISLANDS TO RETURN LAWYER TO AUSTRALIA

2006-11-11T09:23:00.000+12:00

The Solomon Island's Prime Minister's office has confirmed it has offered to return controversial lawyer Julian Moti to Australia to face child sex charges.

Radio Australia says the move is seen as a step by the government in a bid to mend relations between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Patterson Oti says his government has also given in to Canberra's demand to exclude two terms of reference of the inquiry into the Honiara riots in April.

Australia was concerned that some of the blame could be directed at the Regional Assistance Mission, RAMSI.

The Office of Prime Minister this evening told SIBC News that the offer was made by Prime Minister Sogavare to Australia a long time a go, but Australia refused to respond positively.

Radio Australia also quoted Foreign Minister Mr Oti as saying Canberra is not reciprocating to Solomon Islands approach in wanting to mend the relations.

Meanwhile, Mr Moti has withdrawn an appeal to the Solomon Islands High Court in which he wanted the magistrate in his case to be disqualified.

Mr Moti had complained that the magistrate due to hear his case is an Australian.

News Source: SIBC

TAIWAN AND SOLOMON ISLANDS RELATION

2006-11-10T13:42:00.000+12:00

Taiwan and Solomon Islands relationship is one of mutual respect for each others sovereignty.

Taiwanese new Ambassador to Solomon Islands, George Chan highlighted this special relationship between the two island countries during an official function hosted by the Prime Minister to welcome him.

He says Taiwan will continue to provide assistance to Solomon Islands to improve the livelihoods of its people.

Ambassador Chan says Taiwan will continue to provide 50 million dollars each year.

The money is paid into rural constituency, poverty alleviation and micro project funds.

Mr Chan says the help is based on the principle of a friend in need is a friend indeed.

News Source: SIBC NEWS

GOVERNOR GENERAL IS PATRON OF TRAINING CENTRE

2006-11-09T10:57:00.000+12:00

Archbishop Adrian Smith had installed Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena as Patron of the Stuybenberg Rural Training Centre in East Makira.

Accepting the role last Friday, Sir Nathaniel thanked the church and the people for cooperating in establishing and running the centre which helps families, communities and Solomon Islands.

Outgoing Principal Brother George says the installation follows the tradition of his Centres in installing a Governor General as Patron.

While at the Centre over the weekend, Sir Nathaniel also invested East Makira MP David Sitai with an Officer of the British Empire,O-B-E, medal.

Sir Nathaniel also invested a Solomon Islands Silver Medal to Father Gerry Bruns last Sunday for dedicated services to the Catholic church in Makira.

FORMER PRIME MINISTER TO SEEK COMPENSATION

2006-11-09T10:45:00.000+12:00

A former Solomon Islands prime minister says he is seeking compensation in the High Court for being ousted by a coup in 2000.

Bartholomew Ulufa'alu was forcibly removed from office in a joint operation by police and the Malaita Eagle Force militant group in June 2000.

The current prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, was then voted in by parliament as Prime Minister.

Mr Ulufa'alu says he has forgiven Mr Sogavare for any part he might have played in the coup.

News Source:SIBC ONLINE NEWS

SOLOMON AIRLINES TO LEASE AIRCRAFT

2006-11-05T22:19:00.000+12:00

Solomon Airlines will soon lease an aircraft to serve routes between Honiara, Brisbane, Nadi, Port Vila and Santo in Vanuatu.

The first flight of the leased aircraft is expected later this month.

With the additional flights provided by the leased plane, Honiara International airport will be busy handling flights from Air Niugini, Air Vanuatu and Air Pacific on a daily basis.

News SourceSIBC ONLINE NEWS

ECANSI hails Mala’s move against logging

2006-11-03T17:11:00.000+12:00

Environmental Concern Action Network of Solomon Islands (ECANSI) congratulates Malaita Provincial Government for its move to stop logging operations.
“It is high time that leaders and decision makers are not ignorant of the destructive impacts that logging can do to the land, sea, water and foremost to people that are defined and shaped by their environment,” ECASI said in a statement yesterday.
The organisation commends Malaita Premier Reuben Moli for taking the lead.
“Though logging provides for resource owners; money, employment and ‘promised developments’, the downsides are environmental destruction to land, water catchment areas, coastal ecosystems, loss of biodiversity (flora & fauna) and social disputes,” ECACSI said.
Meanwhile, ECANSI said it values the recognition that the province gives to promoting other ‘alternatives’ (organic farming, environmental conservation) in helping to address its growing population, food security and the environment.
However it says that although Malaita has taken a positive step to logging, ECANSI notes the challenges with the move.Read moreclick here

New source: Solomon Star News

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006

2006-11-03T14:48:00.000+12:00

James Naka takes the ball around Cameroon keeper Pascal Mbeyo to score in his side's famous 5-2 victory.
(FIFA.com)

To round off the opening day in Rio de Janeiro, the Bilikiki Boys caused an upset with a display of beach soccer that belied their embracing of the sport just a few short months ago. By imposing their unrefined yet mightily effective style, the islanders never allowed Cameroon to wrest control of the encounter.
''I really don't understand what happened to my players," admitted the Cameroonian coach Joseph-Antoine Bell. They seemed so nervous that they simply did whatever came into their heads. In view of all the chances we had, there is plenty of cause for regret, as we could still have won the game without actually playing well.''

As might have been expected, it was more a football match played on sand than a bona fide beach soccer encounter. What with two teams prepared to run and run despite the Brazilian heat, the early minutes were particularly frenzied. However, all that changed in fifth minute when, one on one with the Cameroonian goalkeeper, James Naka flicked the ball over his opponent before scoring into an empty net. It was a fine goal and one which will go down in history as the Solomons' first at the finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

At the first break, with his side by then two behind, Joseph-Antoine Bell read his players the riot act. The former international goalkeeper urged his players to fight back and above all demanded greater defensive discipline.

But the rest of the match was to follow pretty much the same pattern as the opening twelve minutes. Although the Cameroonians did their level best to impose their own more aerial style on the proceedings, the Oceania champions lost none of their effectiveness. Moreover, in James Naka, they possess a first-rate striker who, as well as scoring all five of his team's goals, looked dangerous every time he touched the ball.

But in the last few minutes of the game, the Cameroonians finally decided to show why they are known as the Indomitable Lions, with a pair of late goals from Etienne Ngiladjoe and Benoit Eyoum making the defeat a little easier to digest.

''What we've just achieved is so incredible," declared a beaming Solomon Islands coach Eddie Omokirio. "We were unknown a few weeks ago, but beach soccer is allowing us to shine. It really is a dream come true.''

News Source:FIFA

SOLOMON ISLANDS BEACH FOOTBALL WINS

2006-11-03T14:12:00.000+12:00

The Bilikiki beach soccer team has this morning won its first pool match by five goals to two against African champions Cameroon in a style described by spectators as unrefined yet mighty.

A beaming Bilikiki coach Eddie Omokirio is quoted as saying what the team had achieved was incredible.

Omokirio says the boys were unknown a few weeks ago, but beach soccer is allowing them to shine and it really is a dream come true.

Reports say although the Cameroonians did their best, the Oceania champions lost no effectiveness.

Striker James Naka is the leading goal scorer so far in the world cup tournament, who as well as scoring four of his teams goals, looked dangerous every time he touched the ball.

The Cameroonian coach is reported to have admitted he really did not understand what happened to his players.

He says his boys seemed so nervous that they simply did whatever came into their heads.

The Solomons beach soccer team has two more pool matches to play against Uruguay and Portugal in the tournament now underway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

News Source: SIBC

Ulufa’alu wants Liberals out

2006-11-02T09:51:00.000+12:00

By ROBERT L. IROGA

IN a serious political twist, the Liberal Party leader, Bart Ulufa’alu, is urging his eight MPs to withdraw their support from the Prime Minister after chains of controversial undertakings by the government.
Mr Ulufa’alu, who was also sacked as finance minister, said it was obvious that Mr Sogavare is singled handedly running the government in a divide and rule game, with no regard to other partners in the coalition.
He said because of the lack of consultation with other partners, he has written to Liberal MPs in the government to withdraw their support from the prime minister.
In a statement yesterday, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the MP for Aoke/Langalanga had been relieved from his appointment as the Minister of Finance after wide consultation.
He said the relief was a gentle way of sidelining someone from a position and in the case of Mr Ulufa’alu it was done for the sake of the Grand Coalition for Change Government’s stability.
But in his first interview after being hospitalised, Mr Ulufa’alu told the Solomon Star that it was clearly stated in his letter that he was sacked not relieved.
“I was sacked for not turning up in Parliament during the Motion of No Confidence day,” the MP said.
The Government defeated the motion.
The former prime minister said he was unable to attend because he was pretty sick and he has his medical record to ascertain that.
Apart from that, Mr Ulufa’alu said Sogavare’s claim that he was relieved was merely a cover-up because the prime minister did not like party leaders in the coalition.
“It’s not the first time he has done that, he has done it before,” Mr Ulufa’alu made the statement in reference to the sacking of National Party leader and former prime minister Francis Billy Hilly in July.
In protest over his dismissal, Mr Ulufa’alu said he had written to eight Liberal MPs in the government to withdraw their support for the PM on Thursday last week.
He did not give the names of the MPs but confirmed that letters were sent to eight MPs in the Government.
Mr Ulufa’alu said his party supported the government but wanted a leadership change.
However, Mr Sogavare said other Liberal Party members in the government agreed on the sideline of Mr Ulufa’alu and the government still considered Mr Ulufa’alu as a backbencher.
He reiterated that Ulufa’alu’s relieve off his ministerial duties was only done upon Cabinet endorsement and consultation with the MP for Aoke/Langalanga’s Liberal Party colleagues in the government.
The Prime Minister said claims that he ruled with dictatorship was totally incorrect as the decisions he had made since taking up leadership were only made after a wide consultation with the political parties that made up the Grand Coalition for Change Government and were endorsed by Cabinet.
Meanwhile, Mr Ulufa’alu said that the party supported the extradited of controversial lawyer Julian Moti to Australia to face the alleged charges against him.

News Source:Solomon Star News

Our sense of national pride

2006-11-01T08:33:00.000+12:00

I LIKE to contribute to this agenda because I think it is a very important issue at stake at the moment in our beloved country.
Also as I watch and listened to the debates that were going on in parliament during the debate of the motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister, I got the impression that the contributions of most of our members of parliament were based on the issue of sovereignty.
This article will discuss the issue of sovereignty in particular the sovereignty of Solomon Islands as a sovereign nation among many other sovereign nations in the world.
I will firstly talk about sovereign and try to explain what that term means.
I will then discuss sovereignty in relation to the current political saga that we are currently experiencing in the country.
The purpose of this article is for us to give us (Solomon Islanders some understanding of the term sovereignty in order for us to appreciate our sovereignty and most importantly to reaffirm our sense of national pride.
We always hear about sovereignty in the media, but what exactly is sovereignty?
Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political authority over a geographic region, group of people or oneself.
This means that an independent country has supreme right over its legislature, judiciary, based on the national laws of that country.
In constitutional and international law, the concept of sovereignty also pertains to a government possessing full control over its own affairs within a territorial or geographical area of limit and in certain context to various organs (such as courts of law).
Every state has the right to sovereignty and independence. It demonstrates freedom of a state from outside control in domestic and external affairs.
Independence of a state entails two aspects, internal and external. Internal independence implies sovereign control of a state over persons and property within its territory.
Read MorePrivate View Solomon Star; By Christopher N. Waiwori

PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS ANNOUNCED

2006-11-01T06:58:00.000+12:00

Nominations for provincial elections in Isabel and Central Provinces open tomorrow, 1st of November.

Minister for Provincial Government Japhet Waipora signed instruments for election dates in the two provinces today.

Elections will be held in both provinces on the 5th of December.

Mr Waipora is expected to also soon announce provincial election dates for four other provinces, Rennell and Bellona, Guadalcanal, Temotu and Malaita.

News SourceSIBC ONLINE NEWS

PACIFIC PLAN

2006-11-01T06:51:00.000+12:00

The Australian establishment’s response has been to aggressively advance its interests through the Pacific Islands Forum. One of the Howard government’s central aims at this year’s Forum is to ensure that member states adhere to the so-called Pacific Plan. The Plan, which was finalised last year by the Forum’s Australian secretary-general Greg Urwin, lays out a ten-year schedule for economic and political reforms that are designed to ensure Canberra’s direct domination over the region.

Urwin was first appointed at the 2003 Forum, after Canberra strong-armed the Pacific governments into voting for its man. This came just weeks after RAMSI forces were first deployed to the Solomons, and followed an intense discussion within Australian ruling circles over the future of its role in the Pacific.

A Senate inquiry in Canberra had released a report advocating a Pacific “economic and political community” which would see a regional free trade zone and a common labour market, and make the Australian dollar the single regional currency. While Howard distanced himself from the report, saying the Pacific should “crawl before we walk”; he backed the central strategy of integrating the region under Australia’s hegemony.
News Source:World Socialist Website

FORMER FINANCE MINISTER REVEALS THAT HE WAS SACKED

2006-10-30T23:47:00.000+12:00

Former Finance Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu has accused Prime Minister Sogavare of failing to consult his coalition partners on issues of interest to the country.

Speaking to overseas media at the weekend, Mr Ulufa'alu said he rejected government statements that he was relieved of his duties for health reasons.

He said he has received a letter from the government that he was sacked.

The former Prime Minister said he supported the grand coalition government, but not the leadership.

Mr Ulufa'alu said he had forgiven Sogavare for the 2000 coup which ousted him from power.

He said he had backed Mr Sogavare as prime minister earlier this year by ensuring him the votes of eight MPs.

Mr Ulafa'alu said he had now regretted the fact that he was one who made Mr Sogavare the prime minister.

Meanwhile, the former prime minister Mr Ulufa'alu said Solomon Islanders will not allow Prime Minister Sogavare to carry out his threat to oust the Australian-led RAMSI from the country.

Mr Ulafa'alu, who was ousted as prime minister in a coup in 2000 during the country's ethnic unrest was sacked as finance minister by Mr Sogavare earlier this month after failing to vote on a no-confidence motion.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald at the weekend that Mr Sogavare would have to go through parliament if he wanted to oust RAMSI.

Mr Ulufa'alu said he doesn't think the Prime Minister will ever have the numbers to do it.

He said if the government has the numbers to do it, the people of Solomon Islands will not let that happen.

Mr Ulafa'alu said RAMSI had given the Solomon Islands a golden opportunity to recover and it was a case of working carefully back to self-governance.

News Source:SIBC ONLINE NEWS

MISSION WELCOMES PACIFIC LEADERS RESOLUTION

2006-10-30T14:59:00.000+12:00

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI welcomes the the Forum Leaders' resolution contained in the communique released after the meeting last week in Nadi, Fiji.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI welcomes the the Forum Leaders' resolution contained in the communique released after the meeting last week in Nadi, Fiji.

Special Coordinator James Batley says leaders have agreed with the work and presence of RAMSI in Solomon Islands.

He says the resolution calls for a review team to be activated and regular consultation with the government which will be forwarded to the Forum Chair.

Mr Batley says a consultative Forum was formed last year between the Solomon Islands government and RAMSI.

He says under the arrangement, the Special Coordinator and other senior officers of RAMSI meet regularly with the government team headed by the Secretary to the Prime minister.

Mr Batley says resolutions and issues raised and discussed in such consultative meetings are to be forwarded to the Forum Chair.

He says RAMSI is happy with the current arrangement and is hopeful it will be strengthened.

News Source:SIBC ONLINE NEWS

A state of confusion

2006-10-30T14:54:00.000+12:00

WHERE is Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and the Government taking this country to?
This is the question many Solomon Islanders are asking in the light of the current situation.
Initially, ordinary Solomon Islanders were excited about the Government’s Rural Development Policy approach.
This was a fantastic policy approach aimed at developing and upgrading rural infrastructure.
Yes, the Government has the right vision in taking such approach – for 80 per cent of the country’s population are rural-based.
But the same people who some four months ago have shown much excitement at the launched of the policy document are now in a state of confusion.
They don’t know where the country is heading or what lies ahead.
The much talked about rural development policy is now down-graded to the back seat.
Getting Julian Moti into the country and protecting him from Australian law enforcement authorities appeared to be the Government’s priority now.
Equally, while service delivery to the country’s rural populace remains poor, the Government found no difficulty to bring in questionable lawyers in the person of Christian Roger de Robillad.
Interestingly, the Government choose to remain silent about this new engagement.
What benefit will Solomon Islanders get from the engagement of de Robillad?
Solomon Islanders have the right to know why de Robillad was brought in and how much of tax payers’ money was spent on this man.
Now the prime minister has threatened to subtract the Australian police and military from RAMSI.
But the announcement was immediately rebuked by the provincial premiers, who represented 80 per cent of the country’s population.
RAMSI, the premiers said, still has a role to play in this country.
To expel it now would be a national suicide, as stated by Transparency Solomon Islands.
The premiers not only taken issue with the announced expulsion of RAMSI, they also wanted Moti deported.
Prime Minister Sogavare is in Fiji this week.
On his return, he should listen to the voice of the people than just the few who are advising him from some far away land.
This country belongs to Solomon Islanders and those in Government must listen to the voice of the people.
The current state of confusion enveloping the nation is doing no one any good.

News Source:Solomon Star