tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54829349730644294452024-03-10T23:39:05.699+13:00PREJUDICEDWe live in a globalised village that generally emphasises individual rights and freedoms of speech, movement and expression. Therefore we are protected by law and by the Grace of God to say, think and do whatever we want to, as long as we do not infringe or interfere with the rights and liberty of others.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-54285690425080257432022-09-02T04:03:00.000+12:002022-09-02T04:03:47.983+12:00<p><u><b> Parliamentary Extension</b></u></p><p>Parliament in Solomon Islands is ready to debate a contraversal bill soon. The bill, which seeks the blessing of parliament to extent life of parliament for a further 8 months will be brought forward by the Sogavare-led government to allow for the Pacific Games, which will also occur in 2023, the same year of the elections.</p><p>As discussions and debate of this bill will ensue, I will posting details of the debates here. So stay tuned. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-33477992990121728982017-08-16T20:38:00.000+12:002017-08-16T20:38:26.391+12:00Hello Again. Its been a while.. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Good evening, <br />
<br />
I have left this personal blog idle for a very long time. After coming across it somehow this evening when browsing the internet, I have decided to revisit it. <br />
<br />
So as of today I will now start posting again on current affairs and other pressing issues especially in relation to Solomon Islands politics. <br />
Just be reminded that posts in this blog represent my own personal views and do not necessarily represent the views of my political affiliations and so forth. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-20432098950320639592013-03-28T19:14:00.000+13:002013-03-28T19:14:06.591+13:00Controversial CDF Bill passed in Parliament<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Solomon Islands Parliament has on 27th March 2013 passed a controversial Bill to legislate for the ultimate control of public funds by Members of Parliament. This was despite strong calls by members of the public and the civil society for the bill to be deferred for wider consultations.<br />
<br />
Called the Constituency Development Funds Bill 2013, the legislation legitimises the current practice of MPs controlling public fundings allocated within respective Ministries as discretionary constituency funds.<br />
<br />
The Bill provided for the establishment of 50 Constituency Offices for the management and administration of constituency development funds in accordance to Constituency Development Plans to be formulated by each constituency based on constituency profiles.<br />
<br />
It also legitimises the use of constituency accounts and specified that the signatories will be the Constituency Development Officer (CDO) and the Members of Parliament. In addition, the bill (soon to be an Act) also gives power to the CDO to enter into agreements with project recipients and maintain proper registers, accounts and other documents as required by the Minister. This, I believe is one of the weaknesses of the bill for it definitely creates room for corruption and signing of dubious contracts. It does not really address the problem of cronyism which is a major concern of many Solomon Islanders today who are not actually benefiting from the constituency funds.<br />
<br />
I believe the only positive aspect of the bill is that Constituency funds will be subject to financial audits, an improvement from the previous system where most constituency development funds are not subjected to public expenditure audits.<br />
<br />
Even so, public audit reports are just piece of documents as far as Solomon Islands is concerned. There is no guarantee that if misappropriations are reported, appropriate actions will be taken to investigate and prosecute people who are implicated to have committed those offences.<br />
<br />
One of the biggest concerns of ordinary Solomon Islanders is that the Bill was not thoroughly consulted and that wider consultations with ordinary Solomon Islanders, particularly in the rural areas should have been undertaken before the drafting of the legislation. This argument was presented in parliament together with a petition signed and presented to the Members of Parliament in accordance to the Parliamentary Standing Orders.<br />
<br />
Even before it was even tabled in Parliament it was almost certain that the petition was going to be defeated. The local media reported that the Prime Minister was under heavy pressure from members of his Cabinet and power brokers to pass the Bill. So it was an uphill battle for Forum Solomon Islands International, the Anti-corruption Network of Solomon Islands, and Transparency Solomon Islands, three civil society organisations that were at the forefront in the tabling of the petition.<br />
<br />
For many of the MPs it was unsurprising that they have voted in opposition of the petition - they are renowned self-servers. Information provided by sources in Parliament indicated how the voting went.<br />
<br />
Only ten (10) Opposition MPs voted in support of the petition. They are: Manasseh Sogavare, Andrew Manepora'a, Douglas Ete, Peter Shanel Agovaka, Johnley Hatimoana, Bodo Dettke, Milner Toxaka, John Maneiaru, Mathew Wale, and Dr. Derek Sikua. The rest of the MPs voted against the petition and made a fool of themselves trying to justify their actions.<br />
<br />
The most outstanding of them was Hon. Dick Ha'amori, MP for West Makira constituency who was very childish in my view raise very irrelevant and insignificant arguments to try and point out where he is to vote against the petition and in favour of the Bill.<br />
<br />
In his contributions of the debates he showed how self-serving he was and his presentation and eventually his vote was truly his own, not that of his constituents. An extract of his contribution on the Bill will be posted tomorrow here at Prejudiced Blog .<br />
<br />
Generally, the Bill is indeed a double-edged sword. If sensible and genuine people are voted into Parliament the bill will be an advantage for them for it will allow for forward planning and effective financial management and budgeting. The real problems will arise if MPs are corrupt and self-serving like most of the current bunch.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-22726265008230030762013-03-28T14:34:00.003+13:002013-03-28T14:34:54.842+13:00Development of "Underdevelopment" and Dependency in West Makira Constituency, Solomon Islands - A Perspective<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">I wish to share my opinion in relation to how underdevelopment and dependency has persisted in West Makira over the years, while West Makirans continue in their search for a new leader. The period I would like to dwell on is the sixteen years span after the late Solomon Mamaloni; the period when West Makira people had
started on the rather unpredictable and disappointing journey to search for a
new leader; a new <i>Mwaeraha</i>; a new
Son.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">The late Mamaloni
came into power for West Makira and Solomon Islands for that matter as an educated
and qualified elite; a pioneer of and for a new nation, Solomon Islands. He had
his tertiary education in New Zealand and therefore was well prepared and ready
to take up the leadership call. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">As one of our
elite leaders the late Mamaloni (Solo) had recognised the difficulty of
bringing the people together, hence his description of the new Solomon Islands
as “a nation conceived but never born” – a nation that will forever be diverse
and where the concept of unity is and will forever be an ideal objective to
achieve. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">Despite the
grand recognition and realisation, the late Mamaloni had during his reign
committed his time and energy not only for the nation but also for the people
of his constituency. His focus and approach of leadership was one of simplicity
and humility. For that reason, he was liked, cherished, highly regarded and
respected not only by his own people of West Makira but Solomon Islanders alike.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">In his passing,
it is undoubtedly so that there will never be another person like him. We can
only strive to be like him but we will never be exactly like him. That is an
undisputable fact of life – no two persons will ever be exactly alike or the
same. But we should not be disappointed because with new development comes the
prime need for new leadership approaches. Times have changed and new challenges
have began to emerge which I believe may require a little tweaking of old
styles and culture to be effectively and adequately addressed. The late Mamaloni
however, will always remain our local hero of West Makira. He is THE one and
only true Solomon Mamaloni; our true leader. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">During the late
Mamaloni’s era, West Makira strived for progress, growth and development. Back
then people were content with everything that was there. Whether there was
development or not, people did not care much because the late Mamaloni was able
to bring happiness and peace amongst all peoples. People peacefully coexisted
and the atmosphere was filled with great harmony and cooperative spirit. The West
Makira Games is a manifestation of how the late Mamaloni had highly regarded
the existence of harmony in society as an important prerequisite for
sustainable and equitable development. He was the founder of the Games; an
uniting factor for West Makira people for many years until his passing away. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">When the great
leader sadly passed away, a great vacuum emerged. West Makirans realise that
the only person they have ever known as the most capable leader has sadly left.
So the search for a new leader that can fill the very big shoes that Mamaloni
had left behind began. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">Because of the
great grief and sympathy, it was unsurprising that the person that was voted in
to replace him as our elected leader in Parliament was none other than his own
brother. The high regard for the late Solo was also extended in Parliament when
the incoming MP for West Makira, even though he was only elected in at a
by-election later become the Deputy Speaker, having gained the favour of most
MPs then to become their second boss in the Parliamentary Chambers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">So nationally,
the late Mamaloni’s immediate successor was highly regarded and he had dwelled
and excelled in that regard. He was himself a long-serving and experienced politician
at the provincial level and had many years of political experience behind him. Unfortunately,
he did not survive the next general elections, and returned to serve at the
provincial political level for some time. Perhaps West Makirans did not see the
leadership characteristics they expect of him; or time was too short for him to
make an impact at the constituency level; or whether he was just at the wrong
place at the wrong time – it was unclear. But one thing was clear; the journey
in search for a new leader for West Makira has only begun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">After Mamaloni’s
immediate successor was voted out of Parliament, a new face entered the
political scene for West Makira. The mandate was given to a long-time
educationist and public administrator. He had an agricultural background and
had served for many years in his respective field, as an agriculture field
officer, a teacher and school principal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">Upon becoming an
MP he became a Minister and expectations were high that given his
approachability and simplicity he would be the ONE West Makirans were looking for.
He undertook his Ministerial responsibilities exceptionally well and was a
robust and active voice for his people in Parliament. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">However, despite
his good undertaking of national responsibilities as a national leader, his
focus on the development woes of West Makira constituency was minimal. He
continued with the undesirable “ballot box” politics of free handouts, nepotism
and cronyism. There was no evidence of a Constituency Development Plan and
development therefore was unguarded and was thus handled and decided more or
less on a case by case, a<i>dhoc</i> basis. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">Hopes were gone
and discontent began to intensify amongst West Makirans. Harmony faded and the
atmosphere began to shift from one that was filled with happiness and joy to
one that was filled with frustration and despair. He was voted out quite
dramatically in the next general elections as a result of a ‘block vote’ by
people of a particular part of the Constituency, the very people who were
credited to have backed him to victory in his previous election success. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">With his
unsuccessful defence of title, a not-so-new face entered the scene to be the
not-so-new political voice for West Makira. One of the longest serving public
officers, the new MP for West Makira was a good representative of the people on
the floor of Parliament. Given his experience throughout the colonial
administration era, at the executive public service level, and as a former MP
but for another Constituency in Makira, he was well-versed with his day to day
duties and as the voice for his people in Parliament. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">In fact, apart
from the late Solo, his work rate in the chambers of Parliament is next to none
comparably. He always contributed with his heart on the floor of Parliament and
does not worry much at all about whether he is talking in or out of Order. He
was initially appointed a Minister but later became the Deputy Opposition
Leader after the coalition government he was part of was voted out in a no
confidence vote. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">But like his
predecessors, he did not commit enough time or focus on matters of importance
and priority for his constituency. Like those before him, he rarely visited his
people by touring the constituency. He opted to remain in Honiara throughout
his whole four-year term and rented a house despite that fact the under the
Parliamentary Entitlements he was not entitled to rent a house in town. By
doing so, he invited pressure upon himself and was alleged that throughout his
term as an MP he was using funds meant for the development of the constituency
for the rental of the house he was living in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">He was a strong
leader; but perhaps too strong a leader. He usually disregards advices from his
constituents and decided instead to have around him people of questionable
agendas; people whose dubious characters are well known to most ordinary West
Makira constituents. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">Perhaps the most
controversial point of his term as the MP for West Makira was his firm and
unwavering decision to purchase a vessel using constituency funds. He told West
Makirans that the MV Hausori was purchased with RCDF. Almost half of the
four-year RCDF allocation was committed to purchase the vessel. That was what
he told constituents but he never publicly revealed the price of the vessel in
Solomon Islands Dollars. Perhaps the real cost was more than half of the RCDF
or even more because even at the dawn of the next general elections there were
rumours that the payment for the vessel was still incomplete and there were
orders from the supplier for the vessel to be tendered to recover the outstanding
money. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">The purchase of
the vessel did not change the development situation in West Makira. People were
still struggling and the vessel was rarely running given its constant visits to
the slip-way as a result of unsound management. There was no proper management
in place to oversee the running of the vessel. If people had benefitted at all
from the running of the vessel it would be his family, close friends, and
cronies. No other people from West Makira had benefitted because the vessel was
run as a private asset and its takings similarly so. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">During his term
as MP for West Makira nothing substantial occurred. He was alleged to have
misused funds allocated for constituency activities and development. Thus,
development remained stagnant and the level of discontent and disillusionment
with government intensified. Leading to the next general elections back then,
some West Makiran voters were even alleged to have put their ballot papers on
sale announcing their intention in the media, an indication of the embedded lack
of confidence they have on our democratic system and processes. Their argument
is that even if they go to the polls to vote, the outcome will not be different
as whoever they would vote for and win will still be a bad leader. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">So in the midst
of their search for a new leader or THE Leader, West Makirans were starting to
give up. They were starting to realise that indeed it is not easy to fill the
shoes of the late Mamaloni, and the fatigue was starting to show. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">Unsurprisingly,
the only MP responsible to have ever purchased a vessel for West Makira
constituency was voted out of Parliament in the most unprecedented fashion.
During the campaign period he was not even allowed in some of the villages. In
others he was able to campaign; he often faced furious crowds of people who
were there only to tell him off; some even physically confronting him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">So even when he
was voted out his misdemeanours did not leave him. He was summoned in court for
allegations of misappropriation of public funds; a case that is yet to be
judged by the courts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">The next phase
of the political journey of West Makira was lead by a young leader. In their
leadership search West Makirans chose a young leader; a science-educated young
leader. He has a science education background, with years of teaching
experience at the former SICHE now SINU. He was a former political appointee
under the Sogarave-led government and later became the Director of SICHE. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">In both
occupations as a political appointee and SICHE Director, he was removed from
Office allegedly due to under performance. This was quite unsurprising for many
who know him closely. They have described him as a good talker but a
not-so-good undertaker. In other words, he is only good in talking but rarely
carries out what he talks about. This has been evident in his current
leadership as the MP for West Makira constituency in that up to this day he has
not fulfilled most of the promises he had given to the people during his
campaign. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">He became a
Minister; and a good one too because he is a Minister in his area of specialty:
education. SINTA members, students and some parents however, may think
otherwise given the current failure of his Ministry to adequately deal with
teacher’s re-levelling issue.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">Consequently, given
his hectic ministerial responsibilities he had not been able to resolve many of
the issues that are affecting or holding back development in West Makira.
Discontent is still rife and only a certain component of the society is being
given close attention and repeated assistance. The cunning behaviour of his
Constituency Development Officer (CDO) is not helping at all in this situation;
nor is the use of his own brother as shadow CDO, or the fact that his spouse is
the secondary signatory to the West Makira Constituency account (the MP is the
primary signatory). All these are only adding salt to the wound. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">In his term as
MP, the disconnectedness between MPs and the people has widened, as he
continues to overlook small but underlying aspects that are held close to the
wellbeing of West Makirans. There are many proofs to this observation. For
instance, while the West Makira Games has never been held since 2010, the year
of general elections due to financial difficulties, the SDA Games has continued
undisturbed since his coming into power. As a result people are claiming that
because the current MP is an SDA, he is only focusing his support and
assistance to the West Makira SDA communities. And while many people are yet to
receive any material assistance from him, his home village or settlement at
Boro’oni continues to be built into a settlement of another class as compared
to all the rural communities of West Makira. Thanks to the flow of public funds
that are at his disposal to freely disburse. His family; associates and cronies
are the only ones reaping the benefits of the materials that are being
purchased with the monies that are meant for development of the whole West
Makira constituency and its people. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">The current MP
had opted to purchase vehicles and solar panels – the new phenomenon in the
politics of Solomon Islands which is driven by free handouts from Taiwan. His
supporters call this development. I personally disagree. This is not
development. These materials are tools for development. These are materials
meant to aid or boost development and should never be confused as actual development.
The purchase of these materials is not development. It is their use that should
result in easing of tangible development. What is happening now is that even
with the vehicles and solar panels, development continues to remain stagnant
and West Makira remains one of the worst developed constituencies in the whole
of Solomon Islands. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">What is worst is
the continuous under-utilisation of the potentials for development. Money is
being handed out freely with no genuine intentions for positive outcomes.
Despite the millions of dollars available every year since 2010, nothing
tangible is happening in West Makira. People continue to suffer and encounter
the same problems over and over again- the same old unaddressed development
woes. Instead of progress the general development situation in West Makira is
actually deteriorating. This is happening in our West Makira while in many
other constituencies development is occurring robustly with progress and
improvement in people’s wellbeing and livelihood, and thus people are directly
benefitting from positive change. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">As a matter of
fact, West Makira Constituency is very ill or sick. The sickness is embedded in
part to the lack of sound leadership, which is prevalent due to lack of guided
or planned development and unsound decision-making. The result is repeated
political leaderships that are concerned only on how they are to get re-elected
in the next general elections. Thus, cronyism and nepotism or favouritism are
the main components of the norm of the day. People are given assistance only
because of who they are, not because there is any genuine intention to develop
the constituency. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">For instance,
late last year 2012, a good number of farmers from West Makira were given SBD$2,500
each in the pretence of assisting them to rehabilitate their farms. But they
were also told that the money was just to thank them for their hard work all
year round in looking after their farms, and that they can use the money for
whatever purposes they may wish. So guess what the recipients do? They pay
themselves Christmas presents. And how can we blame the innocent farmers – what
can one do with $2,500 these days, especially when it is for the ongoing upkeep
of coconut and cocoa plantations? $2,500 is the labour cost for only a single
week’s work to maintain a standard sized farm in West Makira. After that
everything returns to square one. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">All this is
happening while hundreds of thousands of dollars are available within the
ministry of agriculture for cocoa and copra rehabilitation projects. These are
budgetary allocations which were to a certain extent at the discretion of MPs
in their disbursement. Had these funds were utilised I am sure that the amount
of money that was to be given to the farmers would have been more than the
lousy $2,500. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">To make it
worst, we continue to focus on purchasing material things even when we know too
well that these things are not development but are tools to boost development. And
how can development be guided and boosted if there is no plan at all in place –
at least a plan that all West Makirans are aware of and are part of in its
formulation. These material things will not get us anywhere but will only add
to the sickness that is affecting our constituency. What is happening now in
actual fact is the creation or the development of underdevelopment in West
Makira. It is not development that we are witnessing but underdevelopment and
continuous dependency. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">The sickness
that is affecting us must be resolved. We need the right doctor to give us the
right prescription and medicine for the sickness. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">But we need not
just any doctor; we need a specialist. By specialist I mean the right person
and people to lead us into a new era of leadership; a new legacy. Everybody – a
village elder; a builder; an educationist; an agriculturist; a fisherman; a
farmer; a mechanic; a church pastor; a student – and you name it– can be a
politician if they have the support of the majority of voters. But the problem
we have now is deep and serious and we need the right person to solve it. Lest
we forget that despite our different qualifications sound political leadership
is not just about qualification. It is about having the right qualification,
specialty and qualities to be a good and effective leader. There has to be a
balance between one’s knowledge of the political and governance context of
Solomon Islands and the challenges affecting us at the rural, grassroots
setting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">Remember, a
mechanic is qualified but he or she won’t build a house. A carpenter, even
though qualified in his or her own right can build a house, but they won’t fix
a vehicle. The sickness that is affecting us is about development and governance:
it is about politics and that requires a person that is trained to be a good
politician. That is, a person who is a trained politician and had some
firsthand experience of the problem at hand. We need a person that is well
versed with the problem at hand; who has felt this problem and has suffered and
struggled just like any other person in West Makira. A person who is energetic
and committed with their whole heart and mind to focus only on the problem at
hand; a person who knows what this is all about. A person that is knowledgeable
about our culture, politics, governance and development issues – a person who
can bring back harmony and peaceful co-existence within our society. That is
the kind of specialist we need – not just any qualified person. We do not need
any more political wannabes – enough of them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">We need a person
that goes in Parliament not because he or she is enticed or attracted by the
millions of dollars that are at the discretion of MPs; or a person who wants to
go in there just to build up their wealth or ego at the national level. We need
a person that goes in there and focuses not only on himself and his family,
friends or religious community but the whole of West Makira; a person who will
have time for his people and put the affairs and concerns of his people first
than anything or anybody else. A person who will be able to heal our illness or
sickness and take us forward prosperously with harmony, humility and
humbleness. That is, a person that does not need more time to learn to be
well-versed about the workings of government and parliament but a person who
already understands these processes and procedures. That is the kind of person
we want. A person who will never tell lies to us again and is serious about his
role as a law-maker, a national leader and a representative of his constituency
– all the people of his constituency and not just his voters, friends and
family. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">So as the next
general elections draws nearer our search for good political leadership
continues. The choice is on us to decide – whether we want to continue to
suffer or should we make some tough decisions and change the leadership of West
Makira forever for the better. We have searched enough – today is the time for
us to appreciate and acknowledge that the leadership we have been looking for
all along is ready to take us forward. We only have to recognise that and allow
that to happen. The time has come for that change to happen. The ball is in our
court and whether or not we are happy or suffer tomorrow is a decision we have
to make today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">You make your choice, and make sure it is the right choice! For a
wrong choice today will be your suffering tomorrow!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">God Bless West Makira. God Bless Solomon Islands. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">Mr. John Saenitoro</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">Concerned Voter, West Makira Constituency</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-67535400248138875112011-11-16T22:59:00.000+13:002011-11-16T23:00:54.302+13:00News Source: SIBC, Honiara.<p> <span 2="" style="font-family:Arial size=;color:#0000cc;"><b> PRIME MINISTER TAKES OATH<br /> </b></span> <!-- Time and date --> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"> 18:19hrs 16 November 2011 </span> </p> <!-- Image and caption --> <p> <img src="http://www.sibconline.com.sb/images/null.gif" alt="" /><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#333333;"> </span> </p> <!-- Summary --> <p> <span style="color:#228b22;"><i> Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has been sworn in.<br /> </i></span> </p> <p> Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has been sworn in.<br /><br />Governor General Sir Frank Kabui officiated the swearing in of the new prime minister this evening, hours after it was initially scheduled.<br /><br />The ceremony was delayed due to disagreements by some groups of people who demanded the prime minister step down by 4.30 this afternoon.<br /><br />The group gathered outside the Government House earlier in the afternoon and demanded the Governor General to ask the new prime minister to step down.<br /><br />Commenting on the events of the day during the swearing in, Governor General Sir Frank Kabui said the gathering outside the Government House premises was illegal and at the same time threatening.<br /><br />The Prime Minister Mr Lilo is expected to announce his cabinet soon.<br /> </p> <hr /> <p> <span 2="" style="font-family:Arial size=;color:#0000cc;"><b> PRIME MINISTER LILO ASSURES PEOPLE<br /> </b></span> <!-- Time and date --> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"> 18:18hrs 16 November 2011 </span> </p> <!-- Image and caption --> <p> <img src="http://www.sibconline.com.sb/images/null.gif" alt="" /><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#333333;"> </span> </p> <!-- Summary --> <p> <span style="color:#228b22;"><i> Newly elected Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, has assured Solomon Islanders, that his government will be an open and transparent and one that wish to see good governance beyond the democratic and bureaucratic processes.<br /> </i></span> </p> <p> Newly elected Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, has assured Solomon Islanders, that his government will be an open and transparent and one that wish to see good governance beyond the democratic and bureaucratic processes.<br /><br />In his maiden speech following his election, Mr Lilo said his government will ensure men and women, children, the old, the crippled and the disadvantaged are looked after.<br /><br />Mr Lilo said this morning the country's elected representatives have made their choice in electing him as the new Prime Minister.<br /><br />He thanked the MPs for the confidence they entrusted him to carry on the task before them.<br /><br />Mr Lilo also paid tribute to his predecessor, the member of Parliament for South New George, Rendova and Tetepare, Danny Philip, who has held the Prime Minister's post for more than 14 months, adding that the country owe him admiration for his humility and respect for democracy.<br /><br />He said the election was a resounding victory for Solomon Islands young and growing democracy after a week of intense political intensity and uncertainty.<br /><br />Mr Lilo said it goes to show when there is uncertainty, the Constitution and democracy will prevail above the political, social and economic impasse.<br /><br />He said the people deserve a stable government to govern their affairs and continue the awesome task of delivering the services to them.<br /> </p> <hr /> <p> <span 2="" style="font-family:Arial size=;color:#0000cc;"><b> PM THANKS MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT<br /> </b></span> <!-- Time and date --> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"> 18:15hrs 16 November 2011 </span> </p> <!-- Image and caption --> <p> <img src="http://www.sibconline.com.sb/images/null.gif" alt="" /><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#333333;"> </span> </p> <!-- Summary --> <p> <span style="color:#228b22;"><i> The Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, expresses his gratitude and appreciation to the People of Solomon Islands who, through their respective members of Parliament, elected him as the next Prime Minister of Solomon Islands.<br /> </i></span> </p> <p> The Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, expresses his gratitude and appreciation to the People of Solomon Islands who, through their respective members of Parliament, elected him as the next Prime Minister of Solomon Islands.<br /><br />Mr Lilo said he was moved by the support given to him by M-Ps on the floor of Parliament.<br /><br />He said the people of Solomon Islands, through their MPs, have spoken.<br /><br />He appealed to every citizen to respect Parliament’s wish and allow the government to govern Solomon Islands on their behalf.<br /><br />The Prime Minister, Mr Lilo said his priority now is to ensure the 2012 national budget is passed so that services to the rural people are not affected.<br /><br />In his brief remarks to MPs at the Cabinet Conference Room today, Mr. Lilo assured Caucus that he would undertake major decision through dialogue and consultation with his Cabinet and Caucus when need be.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lilo appeals to the Opposition Leader and his group to work with the government to address national issues and to leave aside petty politics for the good of Solomon Islands.<br /> </p> <hr /> <p> <span 2="" style="font-family:Arial size=;color:#0000cc;"><b> POLICE QUELL RIOTS<br /> </b></span> <!-- Time and date --> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"> 18:13hrs 16 November 2011 </span> </p> <!-- Image and caption --> <p> <img src="http://www.sibconline.com.sb/images/null.gif" alt="" /><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#333333;"> </span> </p> <!-- Summary --> <p> <span style="color:#228b22;"><i> The presence of police in the streets of Honiara today played a big part in avoiding a protest situation getting out of hand in the capital.<br /> </i></span> </p> <p> The presence of police in the streets of Honiara today played a big part in avoiding a protest situation getting out of hand in the capital.<br /><br />Following the election of Gizo/Kolombangara M-P Gordon Darcy Lilo as new prime minister, pockets of unhappy Honiara residents regrouped and marched towards the Prime Minister's Office and then to the Government House.<br /><br />But Acting Police Commissioner Walter Kola said the crowds were disbursed by police.<br /><br />Mr Kola said the number of police officers on the ground for this security operation has been increased after what happened today.<br /><br />Mr Kola also confirmed that police has made a number of arrests for unlawful behaviour, few police officers have received medical attention for minor injuries from stone-throwing and that a number of police vehicles have been damaged.<br /><br />There's been no reports of further destruction to properties in the capital from the street protests today.<br /><br />The protestors were unhappy with the result of this morning's parliamentary elections of a new prime minister.<br /><br />With two candidates withdrawing their candidacies in the race earlier, Former Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo was unanimously elected by 29 M-Ps in the first round of ballots, ahead of the other three candidates.<br /><br />The Honiara Central Market remained close today and a liquor ban remains in force, and police continue their security operations overnight.<br /> </p> <hr /> <p> <span 2="" style="font-family:Arial size=;color:#0000cc;"><b> POLICE INCREASE NUMBER OF OFFICERS<br /> </b></span> <!-- Time and date --> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"> 18:12hrs 16 November 2011 </span> </p> <!-- Image and caption --> <p> <img src="http://www.sibconline.com.sb/images/null.gif" alt="" /><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#333333;"> </span> </p> <!-- Summary --> <p> <span style="color:#228b22;"><i> Police have increased the number of officers in its Operation National Parliament and will be on a 24-hour alert says Acting Police Commissioner, Walter Kola.<br /> </i></span> </p> Police have increased the number of officers in its Operation National Parliament and will be on a 24-hour alert says Acting Police Commissioner, Walter Kola.<br /><br />The Police Operation increased its manpower this afternoon and changed its operational status after a large crowd of hostile people began protesting against the win of Gizo-Kolombangara MP Gordon Darcy Lilo this morning.<br /><br />The crowd made up of mainly young men and boys occupied the main street at Point Cruz and marched towards the Prime Ministers Office before changing their course to the Government House at East Kola'a Ridge.<br /><br />A smaller group of young men and boys had broken away from the main group of protestors at the Government House to Chinatown where they were stopped by police officers armed with riot gear, including tear gas guns.<br /><br />In an interview with SIBC News this afternoon, Acting Police Commissioner Kola says Chinatown has been sealed off and police moved the faction to the West Kola'a Ridge road.<br /><br />Mr Kola also confirms he has increased deployment numbers and police officers will be on a 24-hour alert.Enemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00016932713400192563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-90403773886782728032011-11-16T17:47:00.002+13:002011-11-16T17:50:11.561+13:00Social Unrest brewing in Honiara<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta 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mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Unconfirmed reports stated that a social unrest is brewing in Honiara. Latest reports that are coming in as we speak stated that some protesters are starting to take the law into their own hands. It was reported some groups of people are seen throwing rocks and attempted to break-in to shops in China town. Also, unconfirmed reports stated that the police have used small amount of tear gas to try and disperse the crowd. <span style=""> </span>There is heavy presence of local police and RAMSI PPF within the vicinity of China town while police presence can be felt in other parts of Honiara city. <span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >During the April riots majority of the shops at China town have been burned to the ground. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Meanwhile, Prejudiced understands that a crowd is sitting outside the Government House. It is believed the crowd is demanding Lilo’s resignation before 4.00pm today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Enemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00016932713400192563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-17824945774925070512011-11-16T16:19:00.004+13:002011-11-16T16:49:33.829+13:00Tense atmosphere in Honiara after PMs ResultThere are reports of people marching along the streets of Honiara demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister elect Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo as we speak. Reports reaching Prejudiced stated that a group known as the Malaita Ma'asina Forum is leading the protest calling on Hon. Lilo to step down by 4:00pm today. This morning Parliament elected Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo as the new Prime Minister replacing Hon. Danny Philip following the resignation of the former Prime Minister last week.<br /><br />Some people spoken to Prejudiced earlier today said that they do not wish to have Darcy Lilo as the next Prime Minister. It is believed that the group who is leading the protest prefer Manasseh Sogavare for the top job.<br /><br />Lilo is expected to take his oath today. But it is understood a large crowd is gathering outside the Prime Minister's Office and some at the Government House attempting to prevent the swearing-in ceremony not to take place. In 2006 similar developments led to the April riots and the burning down of a number of buildings in Honiara.<br /><br /><span dir="ltr" id=":13b">Meanwhile, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force together with the support of RAMSI PPF and military are understood to be on high alert. </span>Enemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00016932713400192563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-77753942374018228572011-11-16T15:58:00.007+13:002011-11-16T16:18:51.803+13:00Gordon Darcy Lilo is new Solomon Islands Prime Minister<p class="MsoNormal">Solomon Islands has a new Prime Minister. he is Gordon Darcy Lilo, the Member of Parliament for Gizo and Kolombangara. Mr. Lilo defeated three other candidates in a very tense voting atmosphere inside Parliament House today. Lilo polled 29 votes, Sogavare polled 9 votes, Milner Tozaka 9 votes and Manetoali 2 votes. Moffat Fuigui withdraw before the election begins and Douglas Ete withdrew late yesterday.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lilo was able to take out the victory when Steve Abana's Solomon Islands Democratic Party and Job Duddley Tausinga make a last minute switch on Lilo's side.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The situation in town is quite normal with pockets of gatherings around town, mainly to discuss the outcome of the votes. But local police are very alert and can be seen patrolling Honiara on foot and in vehicle.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In his victory Speech Lilo said that the result is a resounding victory for the young democracy of Solomon Islands after weeks of intense political lobbying and uncertainty, and that it goes to show that when there’s uncertainty the Constitution will prevail over the socio-economic and political impasse. </p>Enemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00016932713400192563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-43433794646848918382011-11-11T20:29:00.003+13:002011-11-11T20:37:07.833+13:00General Viewpoint on the Unfolding Events<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 14"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 14"><link rel="File-List" 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10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Today, Friday 11<sup>th</sup> November, 2011 is a very special day- a one in a lifetime. This is because today is 11/11/11 and this triple 11 date has never occurred in history and will never come again in the future of humanity. That is in fact a matter of certainty as we are sure that this will never happen again. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">In Solomon Islands, however, today is a day that has been filled with much uncertainty- not because of the 11/11/11 number coincidence but due to the political situation. Just after 10am this morning the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, voted into power on 24<sup>th</sup> August, 2010, had gracefully tendered his resignation at the dawn of a no confidence motion on the floor of Parliament. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">In tendering his resignation, Prime Minister Philip said that his decision to resign was not a decision he made by himself but a collective decision of the NCRA coalition. He said the decision is for the best interest and benefit of the nation of Solomon Islands and its people, but claimed that the Sikua-led Opposition and the media collaborating to discredit him was a major cause of his fall. He however warned that despite the efforts of the media and the “perpetrators” of the no confidence motion to destroy him, they will never destroy the National Coalition for Rural Advancement (NCRA). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Prime Minister Philip then appealed to all Members of Parliament to form a good and sound government in the next few days and to continue on with the work and policies of NCRA. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-US">Public reaction<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Hours before the Parliamentary session commenced the gates of Parliament were already crowded with people wanting to go and listen to the deliberations. Prejudiced sources who were present at the locations discovered that a majority of the people were in favour of a change of government, citing their disagreement of the Prime Minister’s use of the Discretionary Fund as the main reason for wanting the Prime Minister out of Office. However, interestingly, while the majority agrees that the Prime Minister should step aside, not many people agreed on a choice for the new Prime Minister. One person that was spoken to said: “Iumi no savve too. Oketa everyone ia sem sem noma” (We don’t know <i style="">who is the best candidate </i>because they are all just the same). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Obviously there was an uncertainty, confusion and anxiety amongst the sizeable crowd that gathered to witness the deliberations.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Small gathering of people along the streets of Honiara were quickly dispersed by the local police who were very alert to ensure no opportunists took advantage of the situation. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Generally people were generally relieved that the Prime Minister had decided to resign, but were unsure whether a new government would be of any much difference. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-US">Political maneuvering <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">In the chamber the arrival of Gordon Darcy Lilo to Parliament before the deliberations caused quite a stir among the Members and the public alike. Hon. Darcy Lilo, the former Finance Minister who was sacked on the eleventh hour came into parliament and found himself standing at the centre of the two groups: his former colleagues in the government at his left, and the Opposition Group who were reluctant to have him upon his sacking yesterday at his right. He came into the chamber and stood right in the middle of the two groups before asking loudly: “Where should I go”? He sounded almost like a confused person.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">But is Hon. Lilo really confused of where he should go? Many people were quite suspicious of Hon. Lilo’s eleventh hour sacking that it was the last move of desperation by NCRA to try and regain the support for numbers. It is known that Hon. Lilo and Hon. Bodo cannot work together, and it is believed that one of the main reasons why Hon. Bodo and his group of “grasshoppers” (re)deflected to the Opposition was because of Hon. Lilo’s presence in NCRA. The move to sack Hon. Lilo obviously didn’t work out and it was no surprise that just an hour after the Prime Minister’s resignation, and only a day after Hon. Lilo’s sacking, he (Hon. Lilo) was seen parading the corridors of the Office of the Prime Minister again. He had a meeting with the Prime Minister which lasted for almost 3 hours. Is that how a sacked Member of Parliament reacts? Well, obviously not- hence it is almost certain that the move was collaborative between Lilo and NCRA and obviously was miscalculated, perhaps because of the limitation of time or because the Opposition were already content with their numbers and characters. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-US">Is Opposition stable?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The Opposition is obviously not stable. It is fragmented and with the presence of Bodo and his “ping pong” boys anything can still happen. The presence of “ping pong” politicians with the likes of Mark Kemakeza, Marting Sophage, James Tora, Stanley Sofu, Douglas Ete, and their ring leader Dodo Dettke will always be a source for instability. These guys are Rambos who are always willing to tender personal service for gain in cash or kind. Their way of doing politics is almost to the way prostitutes do their trade- gaining monetary returns in exchange for their personal presence and service. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">While they may have gained thousands of dollars doing this cunny practice there is no doubt about how grave they have sacrificed their integrity and dignity as national leaders without sound principles. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">So what the “stable” Members should do is to regroup and isolate the “shaky” and form a new government. Currently there are 49 Members of Parliament and my count shows that even if the unstable Members, or the political prostitutes if you like, are isolated and pushed aside, the stable serious can still form a workable government. Because Bodo cannot work with many Members of Parliament, his group- together with the likes of Namson Tran, Gordon Darcy Lilo, and Matthew Wale-should be isolated and be forced to form the Opposition to allow those MPs that are serious to serve the country (rather than themselves and their vested interests) to form the government. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Solomon Island belongs to every single child, woman and man of this nation- not just the Members of Parliament. So if you (MPs) are to represent us the small people in Parliament then do it with the Grace of God- not the grace of dogs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Enemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00016932713400192563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-2286723290622608402011-11-11T13:00:00.005+13:002011-11-11T13:54:44.100+13:00Lobbying intensifies for New PMParliament was suspended for an hour to allow the Prime Minister to officially tender his resignation to the Governor General. At the same time, lobbying is said to be intensifying in Parliament as we speak as the Members of both the current government and the Opposition attempt to gain Member support on their side for the post of a new Prime Minister. This follows after the resignation of the former Prime Minister Danny Philip on the floor of Parliament this morning.<br /><br />Names of likely candidates for the Prime Minister is still unclear at this stage. Besides that, Prejudiced understands that the two sacked Ministers Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo and Hon. Rick Hou are sitting on the Opposition side when Parliament meets this morning.<br /><br />The former Prime Minister earlier asked Members of Parliament not to "destroy" NCRA, a statement that had a lot of meaning into it. Will there be a change of leadership or a new government, that remains a question. However, when Prejudiced asked the views of a number of ordinary citizens the respond is heavily sided for a new government.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the Governor General is yet to convene a date as according to Parliament Standing Orders for the election of a new Prime Minister.Enemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00016932713400192563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-53539257728112729742011-11-11T12:37:00.008+13:002011-11-11T13:56:40.694+13:00PM ResignsPrime Minister Danny Philip has resigned on the floor of Parliament this morning. He tendered his resignation after Opposition Leader Hon. Dr. Derek Sikua asked him to do following the Speaker of Parliaments ruling for the Prime Minister to consider relevant section of the constitution and Standing Orders. The scheduled motion of No Confidence was never moved.<br /><br />In a statement former Prime Minister Danny Philip <span dir="ltr" id=":1nw">blamed the media for his fall.</span><span dir="ltr" id=":1o1"> He however said that he has no regrets for the decision and appeals for the formation of a good government. In what is a last attempt to maintain the current government he was instrumental to establish, Mr. Philip pleaded to Members of Parliament not to destroy the NCRA government.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the likely scenario of a formation of a new government is still looming. Whether there will be a new government or a change in leadership is still the question. Prejudiced however understands that the Opposition commands the majority support when Parliament sits this morning.<br /></span>Enemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00016932713400192563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-7539477361806149762011-11-10T19:51:00.002+13:002011-11-10T20:21:17.783+13:00PM Faces Motion of No ConfidenceThe Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Hon. Danny Philip will face another motion of no confidence come Friday 11th of November 2011 when Parliament resume its Meeting. Prejudiced understands the political tug of war over who has the majority support still continues.<br /><br />This week the Prime Minister loses grip on three of his Ministers after they resigned and joined the Opposition. The trio former Agriculture Minister, Hon. Connelly Sandakabatu, former Police Minister, Hon. Clay Forau and former Mines and Energy Minister Hon. Moses Garu stated in their resignation submission that they no longer hold confidence on the leadership of the Prime Minister. The resignation follows revelation of the Prime Ministers alleged misuse of the Prime Minister's discretionary funds on family relatives, friends and cronies. The government numbers was further trimmed today following the sacking of two prominent Cabinet Ministers the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Public Service.<br /><br />Meanwhile the Prime Minister is still confident the motion of no confidence will be defeated on the floor of Parliament come Friday.Enemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00016932713400192563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-91122171211210877612011-11-10T18:30:00.002+13:002011-11-10T19:25:50.222+13:00PM sacked two prominent MinistersThe Solomon Islands government is again on the cross road. This follows the latest sacking of two prominent Ministers by the Prime Minister today. The Solomon Islands Broadcasting cooperation (SIBC) this afternoon stated that the Minister of Finance, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo and the Minister of Public Service, Hon. Rick Hou are victims of what might be an eleventh hour move by the Prime Minister to gain political favor from other sympathetic MPs.<br /><br />Few weeks ago the Leader of the Opposition alleges that the Prime Minister Hon. Danny Philip had used the Prime Minister's discretionary Fund on her family and other cronies. This led to a week long of political mud slinging between the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition. Last week the Opposition Leader filed a Motion of No Confidence on the PM. The proposed motion will be moved tomorrow.<br /><br />Prejudiced understand there is a tense situation in Honiara amid the motion of no confidence as last minute lobbying intensifies.Enemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00016932713400192563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-36194868774452297382011-06-24T21:01:00.001+12:002011-06-24T21:15:31.696+12:00SIBC News, 24th June 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>
GOVERNMENT SETS UP SCHOLARSHIP FUND</b></span><br />
The Government has set up a Constituency Scholarship Fund, effective immediately.<br />
<br />
Minister for Education and Human Resources Development, Dick Haamori,
confirmed this following Cabinet’s endorsement of the Fund last week.<br />
<br />
Announcing this today, Mr Haamori said Cabinet’s decision meant that
each year the Government would make available five million to the
Constituency Scholarship Fund.<br />
<br />
He said details of how the Scholarship Fund would be administered are being worked out. <br />
<br />
Mr Haamori said that funding will be restricted to students studying in
in-country tertiary education institutions meaning only students
undertaking studies in tertiary education institutions based in Solomon
Islands are eligible for scholarship award<br />
<br />
He said Constituency students attending foreign institutions operating out of Solomon Islands are also eligible.<br />
<br />
Minister Haamori said the Government felt the use of Grade Point
Average, as the main measurement or in many instances the only criteria
to determine who receive scholarship awards does not provide an
acceptable distribution of scholarships to all Solomon Islanders. <br />
<br />
He said by creating the Constituency Scholarship Scheme tertiary
education development opportunity is facilitated to be available to all
Constituencies of the country, instead of only a privileged few.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>FINANCE MINISTER ENDORSES REQUEST FOR LOAN</b></span><br />
Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has endorsed a National
Provident Fund request to make a major loan to Solomon Airlines to
purchase an aircraft to consolidate and expand the Airline's domestic
air services. <br />
<br />
Speaking this week during a seminar on State Owned Enterprise, S-O-E, Mr
Lilo said Solomon Airlines had received major support from the
Government and from donors in recent years. <br />
<br />
He said NPF is in a transition period to accessing normal commercial
lending, and is in a position to explore options for private equity
involvement as well.<br />
<br />
Mr Lilo challenged the staff of S-O-Es to rise up to the opportunities
and behave like a commercial business in a competitive market.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>SOLOMON AIRLINES SEEKS ALTERNATIVE AIRCRAFT</b></span><br />
The Solomon Airlines is seeking an alternative aircraft to serve it's international routes to Australia.<br />
<br />
A statement from the airlines says because of the ash cloud disruptions
in Australia and additional work by the current operators, Our Airlines,
Strategic Airlines and Alliance.<br />
<br />
Strategic Airlines has sent one of its planes for maintenance whilst Our
Airlines has taken on many ad-hoc charters thus preventing their
aircraft use this weekend and Alliance has no aircraft available in
Brisbane.<br />
<br />
Despite the set back, Solomon Airlines says the company has secured an
aircraft for Sunday evening which will only cater for today's flight
disruption.<br />
<br />
The Sunday flight will now be operated on Monday evening.<br />
<br />
The company also anticipates to operate from Our Airlines aircraft on
Wednesday and Friday next week, when the company completes it's charter
work.<br />
<br />
Solomon Airlines has also contacted various airlines all of whom have
indicated nothing available whilst they recover the Ashes flight
disruptions in Australia.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the company is trying to find a timely solution of operating its own Airbus A320.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>US DELEGATION TO VISIT HONIARA</b></span><br />
A United States delegation will arrive in Honiara for a short visit next Wednesday.<br />
<br />
The Assistant Secretary of State to South East Asia and Pacific Kurt
Campbell will lead the delegation for brief talks with the Prime
Minister Danny Philip and senior government officials.<br />
<br />
This will be the first time that a U.S. Assistant Secretary of State has visited the Solomon Islands. <br />
<br />
Mr Campbell will be accompanied by the Commander of the Pacific Fleet,
Admiral Patrick Walsh, Brigadier General Richard Simcock and U.S. Agency
for International Development Senior Administrator Nisha Biswal.<br />
<br />
The U-S Consul office in Honiara says the schedule for the high-level delegation in Honiara will be tight.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>UNION EXPLAINS REPORTS ALLEGING SACKING OF WORKERS</b></span><br />
The General Secretary of the Solomon Islands National Union of
workers says the 63 workers allegedly terminated by Soltai company are
still on the job while waiting for the Commissioner of Labour to deal
with the situation.<br />
<br />
A front page article in the Solomon Star newspaper today said the
workers had been terminated by Soltai Company because they refused to
renew their personal contracts with the company.<br />
<br />
The paper also stated that the Trade Disputes Panel has refused to handle the case because they did not have the legal rights.<br />
<br />
However, Tony Kangovai says the 63 workers are still working with the
rest of the employees and are waiting for the Labour Commissioner to
arrive to sort out the matter.<br />
<br />
Mr Kangovai says Josiah Manehia is expected to arrive in Noro on Sunday.<br />
<br />
He also confirms that the Trade Disputes Panel has refused to take up the case because they did not have the legal jurisdiction.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>MALAITA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM UPDATE</b></span><br />
The first part of the Malaita Development Program under the Israel assistance to the province will start next month.<br />
<br />
Honorary Consul of Israel to Solomon Islands says the Jewish Agency, TAG
International Development, is preparing logistics arrangements for its
work with the Malaita Chazon Authority. <br />
<br />
Both the Director and Deputy Director of the Authority, Patrick Taloboe
and David Toifai, have been undertaking training in Israel over the past
few weeks for the setting up of the Authority in Auki next month.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>SAVE THE CHILDREN COMMENDS THE MEDIA</b></span><br />
Save the Children Solomon Islands commends the local media for
helping it disseminate children's rights and issues when all other
means seem difficult.<br />
<br />
Child Advocacy program manager, Emmanuel Maesua says, Save the Children
will seek to improve its relationship with the local media.<br />
<br />
He says without the influence of the media, the 2011advocacy program which ends today would not have been successful.<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>RESEARCH ON DISABILITY IN SOLOMON ISLANDS</b></span><br />
A research into the lives and daily experiences of people
living with disability in the Solomon Islands will soon be carried out
in communities on Guadalcanal.<br />
<br />
The project is titled 'The Social and Cultural Context of Disability in
the Solomon Islands' and will identify culturally appropriate solutions
to disadvantage.<br />
<br />
The research will jointly be carried out by the Monash University,
People With Disability Solomon Islands and will be supported by the
Australian Government and the Australian Research Council.<br />
<br />
Brooke Winterburn an Assistant Researcher with the Monash University who
is in the country to carry out the pilot stages of the research told
SIBC News in an interview that the research will be carried out over a
period of three months in communities in east and west Guadalcanal.<br />
<br />
Ms Winterburn says key questions will include the social cultural
beliefs and the attitude and behaviour towards disability, among others.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>PEOPLE SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY SOLOMON ISLANDS</b></span><br />
People of North Malaita support the efforts of Transparency Solomon Islands, TSI, in the country.<br />
<br />
SIBC's correspondent, John Kiri, reports that people of North Malaita
say the work of TSI in trying to ensure Solomon Islanders in all walks
of life are transparent, accountable and fair to assist develop the
country.<br />
<br />
He says since the country became independent more than 30 years ago,
corruption through nepotism, bribery and self-service had taken root
especially among leaders and government officials in decision making
positions, slowing down development in the country.<br />
<br />
Mr Kiri says the practice is continuing today and if nothing is done to
stop it, millions of dollars allocated to the people through the various
funding such as the Rural Support Constituency Development, Millennium
Development, the Micro Project, Livelihood Fund and Fishery Funds will
not reach the people.<br />
<br />
He says leaders must be transparent in how they distribute the aid money
and the services they are obliged to provide to the people.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>NARASIRATO IN EUROPE</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b></b></span>Narasirato pan pipers are playing at various musical festivals in Europe starting tonight.<br />
<br />
The 10-member band will at the Glastonbury Festival in England tonight and tomorrow night.<br />
<br />
Narasirato will perform at the Roots Festival in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on Monday and in Norway on July the 1st.<br />
<br />
In addition to the live performances, Narasirato will lead cultural workshops for Greenpeace and workshops in Europe.<br />
<br />
The traditional pan pipers group left Solomon Islands last Friday and will return after spending one month touring Europe. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-28162135177001652392011-06-24T20:48:00.000+12:002011-06-24T20:48:06.834+12:00Radio New Zealand International Pacific News, 24 June 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Tonga rejects Fiji bid to extradite former officer Mara</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The Tongan
government has advised Fiji that a former Fiji senior officer,
Lieutenant Col Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, won’t be extradited.<br />
<br />
Fiji requested his extradition last month after Col Mara escaped Fiji while being on bail on a sedition charge.<br />
<br />
A government statement issued in Nuku’alofa says a diplomatic note
sent to Fiji states that due to Tongan laws, the government is unable to
extradite him.<br />
<br />
Col Mara has been issued with a Tongan passport and he has visited Australia.<br />
<br />
As a former coup co-conspirator, he has denounced the human rights
abuses by the interim regime and called for a return to democracy.<br />
<br />
Fiji has said it will lodge an extradition request with every country which Col Mara may visit.<br />
<br />
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
PNG’s Somare intends to stand down this year</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The president
of the ruling Papua New Guinea National Alliance Party says it’s in the
interests of the party that a new leader emerges this year to take the
party into the 2012 elections.<br />
<br />
Papua New Guinea prime minister Sir Michael Somare, who’s been in the
top job since 2002, is in Singapore recovering from heart surgery.<br />
<br />
The party president Simon Kaiwi has confirmed that the 75-year-old intends to step down later this year.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“According to the
constitution it is an issue that can only be discussed at the party
caucus meeting and that caucus meeting is scheduled to be held in August
this year but the Prime Minister in his own mind, he made his intention
known, that he’d like to leave the leadership available for a younger
or for somebody else to take over some time this year.”</blockquote>
In Sir Michael Somare’s absence, the acting prime minister Sam Abal
has sacked Don Polye, who has had leadership asperations, prompting the
Highlands executive to ask for Mr Abal to be dismissed from the party.<br />
<br />
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Vanuatu top politicians faulted in China embassy audit</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
A report by
Vanuatu’s auditor general office into mismanagement and irregularities
within the diplomatic mission in China has faulted a number of prominent
political figures.<br />
<br />
The report details shoddy practices and makes allegations of
corruption, following the opening of the Embassy in Beijing five years
ago and its later offshoots, the consulate in Shanghai and travel office
in Shuhai.<br />
<br />
Don Wiseman reports:<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“The auditors say former
cabinet ministers, Sato Kilman, George Wells and Bakoa Kaltonga, had
released diplomatic passports without proper documentation and to people
in questionable positions. They say, Moana Carcasses, when he was
internal affairs minister, had failed to revoke visas despite being
informed that they shouldn’t have been issued. The report says another
MP Patrick Crowby, who returned to cabinet this week, had established
the Shuhai office without having any right to do so. The audit report
accuses leading government official, Jean Sese, of gross negligence for
failing to take action despite being aware of the illegal activities
undertaken by the China mission. And it says current ambassador and
former cabinet minister, Willie Jimmy, appointed staff without
authority, hasn’t filed his annual returns form and has failed to remit
revenue to Port Vila. It also accuses Mr Jimmy of corruption.”</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
US to consult Pacific amid unease over Fiji</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The United States says most Pacific Islands governments have quietly expressed growing unease about the situation in Fiji.<br />
<br />
The Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs
Kurt Campbell says he will consult further during next week’s tour which
will take him to Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New
Guinea, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall
Island.<br />
<br />
Fiji’s leader, who is accused of human rights abuses, has said he
will stay in power until at least 2014 despite calls since the last coup
to return the country to democratic rule.<br />
<br />
Mr Campbell says the US is looking to New Zealand and Australia to take the lead in dealing with Fiji.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“We are concerned by what
we’ve seen. We’ve maintained sanctions on Fiji and we would like very
much a civilian government return to power in a transparent, inclusive
and open process.”</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="plain">
Vanuatu TI says corruption worsening</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The president of Transparency International in Vanuatu says corruption at the political level in the country is getting worse.<br />
<br />
Marie Noelle Ferrieux Patterson says the current instability, which
has seen five changes of leadership in just over six months with another
possible this Sunday, is fomenting the corrupt behaviour.<br />
<br />
She says the politicians want power to have access to funds and
because they’re not sure how long they’ll retain power they rush into
obvious and terrible things to make as much money as possible.<br />
<br />
Mrs Ferrieux Patterson says in Vanuatu this often involves the controversial granting of land leases.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“What happens is that the
ministers basically grant leases to friends or to people who might be
paying them money. And that has happened. We have seen examples,
especially when Minister Iauko was there, but I think successive
ministers have done similar things.”</blockquote>
Marie Noelle Ferrieux Patterson.</div>
<div class="newsstory">
</div>
<div class="newsstory">
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Samoa PM dismissive of Fiji 2014 election pledge</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
Samoa’s prime
minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, says a promise by Fiji’s leader
to hold elections in 2014 is not taken seriously by Pacific Islands
Forum leaders.<br />
<br />
Tuileapa says this is because Commodore Frank Bainimarama has been
consistently dishonest in his dealings with the leaders and therefore
cannot be trusted.<br />
<br />
He says Commodore Bainimarama’s latest election promise is also not
consistent with his actions as he continues to fill up the top public
service ranks with his cronies in the military and elsewhere.<br />
<br />
Tuilaepa has invited him to Apia and says should his visit coincide
with that of the former Fiji military officer, Lieutenant Colonel Tevita
Mara, the three of them can enjoy cold Vailima beers under the swaying
coconut trees.<br />
<br />
He says perhaps what the situation in Fiji requires, is a cold Vailima solution.<br />
<br />
Alluding to Fiji’s military coups, Tuilaepa says Samoa doesn’t have coups, unless, as he puts it, it’s a chicken coop.<br />
<br />
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Pacific’s first private hospital in Samoa goes broke</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The first ever private hospital in the Pacific Islands has gone broke and its fate is now being decided by stakeholders.<br />
<br />
The MedCen Hospital in Vailima, Samoa, was set up in 1998 and
provides emergency care and essential health services by local
professionals and visiting specialists.<br />
<br />
Last month, the Chief Executive Officer of the Development Bank of
Samoa, Tuiasau Saumani WongSing, said the government might have to take
over MedCen’s assets and equipment.<br />
<br />
The Development Bank made an initial 850,000 US dollar investment in
the hospital and Saumani says he’s trying to recoup the funds.<br />
<br />
The hospital received international certification status in 2003.<br />
<br />
The hospital’s director Dr Emosi Puni says a committee has been set up to decide how the hosptial will continue to be financed.<br />
<br />
The government is in negotiations with the Development Bank and Dr Puni is hopeful the hospital’s future is secure.<br />
<br />
A decision is expected next week before the financial year ends.<br />
<br />
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Vanuatu chief says court system is foreign</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The chairman
of a council of chiefs in Vanuatu says more cases such as divorce
proceedings and land disputes should be resolved through custom not
through the court.<br />
<br />
Chief Claude Tabi, who is the head of the Pentecost Council of Chiefs
in Port Vila, says the court system is difficult to understand because
it’s foreign, whereas people are familiar with customary systems.<br />
<br />
He says in court there’s always a losing party but when a chief presides over a dispute there’s more room for compromise.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“If you go to the courthouse
100 percent one will win, and hundred percent the other one is loser.
You need to go to the customary court to make sure that you check the
case according to customary law, you’ve got some sort of understanding
about culture, tradition and custom.”</blockquote>
Claude Tabi says if cases were dealt with through a customary process it would save time and money.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-73701878873517737252011-06-24T20:32:00.000+12:002011-06-24T20:32:34.397+12:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Food shortage in Bougainville atolls</b><br />
<br />
More than 12,000 people living on atoll islands in Bougainville are in
urgent need of help to overcome food shortages, a Papua New Guinea MP
has told parliament.<br />
<br />
North Bougainville MP Lauta Atoi says rising sea levels and a prolonged drought have made growing food increasingly difficult.<br />
<br />
Affected atolls include Nissan, Mortlock, Tasman and the Carteret islands.<br />
<br />
The PNG government has authorised extra money and transport to get supplies to the atolls.<br />
<br />
But Mr Atoi says the islanders need access to mainland plantations to grow staple crops.<br />
<br />
"I don't like the atolls to be seen as beggars," he said.<br />
<br />
"That's why the way forward for the government is to look at purchasing
plantations from the mainland so that we can cultivate this land and
grow our own foodstuff."<br />
<br />
<br />
<div id=":1zg">
<b>$100m fine for logging company in PNG</b>
<br />
Malaysian logging company Concord Pacific has been fined $US100 million
after being found guilty of illegal logging and causing environmental
damage in Papua New Guinea.<br />
<br />
Four tribal communities in Papua New Guinea's Western Province stand to benefit from the National Court decision.<br />
<br />
The Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights, which represented
the tribal groups in court, has called the decision a major victory.<br />
<br />
Leading lawyer Damien Ase says it will serve as a powerful warning to other logging companies in PNG.</div>
<div id=":1zg">
<br />
<br /><b>Fiji health 'at crisis point'</b><br />
<br />
Eighty per cent of deaths in Fiji are the result of non-communicable and
often easily preventable diseases, the World Health Organisation says.<br />
<br />
The WHO's head of pacific support, Dr Dong-il Ahn, says half the Fijian population is overweight, and 40 per cent are smokers.<br />
<br />
Dr Ahn told a meeting in Suva that tobacco use is on the rise, and that just 16 per cent of Fijians survive past the age of 55.<br />
<br />
He says the situation is at crisis point and that Fiji's poorly
developed national health system means the situation will get worse.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Concerns remain for missing Northern Marianas girls</b><br />
<br />
America's Federal Bureau of investigation is scaling down the search for
two young sisters who disappeared in the Northern Marianas four weeks
ago.<br />
<br />
Ten-year-old Faloma Luhk and her nine-year-old sister Maleina have not
been seen since May 25, when they were waiting for a school bus on
Saipan.<br />
<br />
FBI Special Agent Tom Simon has returned to Honolulu and told Pacific
Beat 15 agents will continue the investigation with the Saipan police.<br />
<br />
The 15 to 20 agents that went to Saipan from Hawaii at the height of the search have returned.<br />
<br />
Special agent Simon says the leads are drying up.<br />
<br />
"The girls were clearly abducted, it's clear that they didn't run away,
but what became of them following the abduction is really anybody's
guess at this point," he said.<br />
<br />
"Yeah the locals are very shaken up - they're all keeping a very close
eye on their children because they just don't know what happened.<br />
<br />
"It's a real mystery there and folks are worried."<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Canoe fleet lands in Hawaii after long haul</b><br />
<br />
A fleet of seven traditional Polynesian double-hulled canoes has reached Hawaii after sailing from New Zealand.<br />
<br />
The vaka are crewed by people from a range of Pacific nations who set
sail in April, to recapture traditional sailing skills and also raise
awareness about the state of the Pacific Ocean.<br />
<br />
The President of the Fiji Island Voyaging Society, Colin Philp, went with them and has told Pacific Beat it was a tough sail.<br />
<br />
"What was really hard was just the constant rough weather after leaving New Zealand," he said.<br />
<br />
"A lot of storms along the way and there never seemed to be a break for
at least the first three weeks of the voyage and a lot of headwinds.<br />
<br />
"I think the best they did on a given day was about 230 nautical miles, usually averaging 120 to 140 miles a day."<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Australian mint a hit with Pacific nations</b><br />
<br />
The Crown Prince of Tonga says his country will join Samoa by having its coins made at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra.<br />
<br />
Samoan representatives attended the official launch of the production of Samoa's new coins on Thursday.<br />
<br />
Tonga's Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka says the new government will also be updating the country's national currency.<br />
<br />
"I wanted to come and see how the processes work and of course this is the new refurbished Royal Australian Mint," he said.<br />
<br />
"We, like Samoa, have our own coins. And we are looking in about two
years' time to look at renewing our currency. That's already in the
pipeline now."<br />
<br />
Mint magic<br />
At the mint's Canberra factory, Samoan Government representatives struck
their brand new coins, which will enter into circulation later this
year.<br />
<br />
Since the mint was upgraded in 2009, it has been able to accept contracts from other countries.<br />
<br />
The Samoan deal is one of the mint's first large-scale international jobs.<br />
<br />
Chief executive of the Royal Australian Mint, Ross MacDiarmid, has told
Pacific Beat the mint could provide similar services to other Pacific
nations.<br />
<br />
"The geographical proximity [of Samoa] provides us with an opportunity
to provide these sort of coins, hopefully to other Pacific island
countries as well," he said.<br />
<br />
"We can clearly provide the service - we have got the capacity - and we
are just next door. So hopefully this will be the start of other
opportunities for us in the Pacific."<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>PNG PM to leave intensive care</b><br />
<br />
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is expected leave intensive care next week.<br />
<br />
It has been more than two months since Sir Michael, 75, went to Singapore to have surgery to replace a valve in his heart.<br />
<br />
Few details have been released but on Thursday his son Arthur Somare
spoke publicly about his father's condition for the first time.<br />
<br />
He confirmed Sir Michael twice required corrective surgery and has
suffered from other issues including lung and kidney problems.<br />
<br />
"There is great uncertainty as to the period of time for his recovery,"
he said. "We anticipate by Tuesday next week that he will be out of
ICU."<br />
<br />
He says it is too soon to say if Sir Michael will return to work but there may be more news next week.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>PNG concerned about return of mining giant</b><br />
<br />
Papua New Guinea's mining minister says he is concerned at the return of mining giant BHP Billiton to the country.<br />
<br />
BHP Billiton left PNG in 2002 after divesting its stake in the Ok Tedi
mine, which caused widespread environmental damage in the 1990s.<br />
<br />
In response to a question, Mining Minister John Pundari told Parliament
the company has lodged applications for exploration tenements.<br />
<br />
"I personally find it very difficult to allow the return of BHP into this country again, given its past legacy," he said.<br />
<br />
The revelation prompted angry howls from MPs, especially those from areas near the Ok Tedi mine.<br />
<br />
Mr Pundari says he will take the matter to cabinet for consideration.<br />
<br />
BHP Billiton declined to comment.</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-39710855471614596002011-06-24T01:00:00.000+12:002011-06-24T01:00:43.510+12:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>
POLICE WANT PUBLIC SUPPORT TO CATCH PRISON ESCAPEE</b></span><br />
<br />
The local police head has appealed to members of the public to
support them locate their most wanted man after operation targeting him
over the weekend was unsuccessful.<br />
<br />
Escaped prisoner Stanley Gitoa, from Tetere, who has been on the run
since February 2007 and is wanted by the police for murder, armed
robbery and escaping lawful custody in 2008.<br />
<br />
He escaped from Tetere Prison while on a welfare visit to his family.<br />
<br />
Mr Gitoa was allegedly responsible for firing a semi-automatic rifle and murdering a woman in November 2001.<br />
<br />
He is also believed to have committed other firearm, rape, attempted rape, and theft offences.<br />
<br />
Acting Police Commissioner Walter Kola says a joint operation with PPF
targeting Mr Gitoa's seven associates was unsuccessful after he was last
seen with them at the Guadalcanal Plains area last Saturday.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>PROVINCIAL ELECTION RESULTS DECLARED</b></span><br />
<br />
Results for the three provincial wards who held bye elections yesterday have been declared.<br />
<br />
Kokota Ward in Isabel Province and South Kolombangara and Mbuini Tusu
ward in Western Province have declared the winners of yesterday's
polling.<br />
<br />
Returning Officer for Kokota Ward 3 in Isabel Province John Mark
Lokumana confirms to SIBC News that James Habu was this morning declared
as the new provincial ward member.<br />
<br />
Mr Lokumana says yesterday's voter turn out was 73 percent and that polling had gone smoothly.<br />
<br />
For Western Province's South Kolombangara ward 12, Sina Adrian from SIBC
Gizo confirmed that John Hopa has been declared the winner at the end
of counting this morning in Gizo.<br />
<br />
John Hopa polled 287 votes while runner-up Duncan Aurther got 182 votes.<br />
<br />
For Mbuini Tusu ward Evans Ralu was declared the new provincial member
after counting was completed this morning at Seghe, Marovo.<br />
<br />
Returning Officer for Mbuini Tusu ward Goldie Ringi confirmed to SIBC
News that Mr Ralu won the seat after polling a total of 362 votes while
his runner-up Vincent Vanguni polled 309 votes.<br />
<br />
Mr Ringi says out of the 1998 registered voters, one-thousand-333 people turned up to cast their ballots yesterday.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>GROUP WANTS CASE AGAINST THEIR MP STOPPED</b></span><br />
<br />
A group representing the North Malaita constituency has called
for a review case filed by member of Parliament Mathew Wale against
their M-P Jimmy Lusibaea and others to cease.<br />
<br />
The North Malaita Demonstration Council, NMDC, says it is concerned on
the conduct and the delay of the review towards their member.<br />
<br />
The group says the case had been filed for hearing with a sense of
urgency and seriousness for the Parliament session on April 30th.<br />
<br />
The outcome was to decide Mr Lusibaea's freedom to speak and represent his constituency in the House.<br />
<br />
The group says since then, the case has lost its seriousness and has been prolonged.<br />
<br />
The North Malaita Demonstration Council is calling for their M-P to be
cleared as soon as possible so that he can represent his people and the
Government freely.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the High Court Registry Office says the case will appear again for a hearing on the 28th of this month.<br />
<br />
The last time it went before the Court, Justice Chetwynd ruled that Mr Wale has a right to take up the case.<br />
<br />
The judgement also dismissed the Police Minister and the Parole Board as
defendants in the case and ordered an amendment to the claim.<br />
<br />
Mr Wale filed the case against Police Minister James Tora, the parole
board, Speaker of Parliament Sir Allan Kemakeza and Mr Lusibaea.<br />
<br />
He questioned the decision by the Police Minister and the parole board
on the validity of the release of Mr Lusibaea after his two year nine
month sentence imposed last year by the High Court was reduced to one
month one day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>MINISTER FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM VISITS TEMOTU PROVINCE </b></span><br />
<br />
The Minister for Culture and Tourism Samuel Manetoali is
visiting Temotu Province as part of a planned series of provincial
visits by the Minister this year.<br />
<br />
The aim of the visit is to meet and talk with provincial leaders and
local tourism operators as well as visiting potential areas for tourism
development in the Province.<br />
<br />
Temotu, although remote and inaccessible to many Solomon Islanders has
huge potential for tourism development due to its undisturbed natural
environment, rich history and some of the last unique arts and cultures
in the world.<br />
<br />
During a meeting with the Temotu Provincial executive on Wednesday,
Minister Manetoali said his visit is to discuss and listen to the views
of Provincial Leaders and Tourism Operators on how best tourism can be
developed in the Province.<br />
<br />
Members of the Provincial executive hailed the Minister’s visit and
noted that Mr Manetoali is the first Tourism Minister to visit the
Province after many years of government inattention.<br />
<br />
The meeting also discussed a proposed special arrangement between Temotu
Province and the Republic of Vanuatu to explore future partnership in
the tourism industry.<br />
<br />
Vanuatu is a leading Melanesian country in terms of tourism development in the region.<br />
<br />
Minister Manetoali said there are plans to send Provincial Tourism
Officials around the country to visit Vanuatu and to learn from its
experience in tourism development.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN APPLAUDS PRIME MINISTER</b></span><br />
<br />
The National Council of Women applauds Prime Minister Danny
Phillip through the Ministry of Home Affairs, for enabling the
appointment of one of its members to the Honiara City Council's highest
decision making body.<br />
<br />
Serah Dyer is the Coordinator of the Women in Shared Decision Making a
project of the National Council of Women, N-C-W, that aims to increase
the participation of women in all forms of decision making especially at
the provincial and the national levels.<br />
<br />
In a statement the Vice President of N-CW, Ella Kauhue, says for a woman
to be appointed to this highest decision making body of the Honiara
City Council reflects the Prime Minister's support to advance women's
leadership alongside their male counterparts.<br />
<br />
Ms Kauhue says Ms Dyer's appointment provides the opportunity for women
in Honiara to raise their concerns with her so she in turn can raise
these in the Honiara City Council decision making process.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>TRANSPARENCY SOLOMON ISLANDS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING </b></span><br />
<br />
Transparency Solomon Islands - TSI has held one of its best
Annual General Meeting with a big turn-out of young people. <br />
<br />
Chairman of TSI Bob Pollard told SIBC News the eight AGM meeting
yesterday was the best so far since the establishment of TSI in 2003.<br />
<br />
He says it was exciting because with the attendance of young people, he
could see a very strong interest in the work against corruption.<br />
<br />
Reports of the last financial year were presented to members at the meeting and a new board was elected.<br />
<br />
Bob Pollard was retained as Chairman and Calvin Ziru was elected as Vice-Chair.<br />
<br />
Joseph Walenesia was elected as secretary and Lester Soakia as Treasurer.<br />
<br />
Nine other old and new office bearers completed the board.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>SCIENTISTS STUDY MAROVO FISH DEATH</b></span><br />
<br />
Scientists say the chances of Marovo lagoon in the Western
Province achieving World Heritage status are diminishing because of
events such as the recent widespread fish deaths.<br />
<br />
Radio New Zealand International reports, scientists say natural factors
are the main cause of the deaths but that logging is likely to have
contributed.<br />
<br />
Marovo Lagoon, which surrounds Vangunu Island in Western Province, is
the largest double barrier reef in the world and has been considered for
UNESCO world heritage status.<br />
<br />
But Simon Albert, from the University of Queensland, who was part of a
team sent to investigate the fish deaths says that listing is looking
fragile.<br />
<br />
Mr Albert says there’s concern about the diets and incomes of those who rely on the lagoon’s sea life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>PLAN FOR PEACE AND ORDER</b></span><br />
<br />
A framework for working with local groups for peace and order
in the Solomon Islands was launched in Honiara yesterday.<br />
<br />
The framework was developed as part of a research project - 'Working
with local strengths: supporting states to build capacity to protect.'<br />
<br />
It was conducted by researchers form the University of Queensland based
on fieldwork in the Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, and
Vanuatu.<br />
<br />
The team had been working with the Solomon Development Trust, S-I-D-T,
since 2010 and conducted interviews and group discussions with local
chiefs, church leaders, women and youth representatives, local police,
RAMSI and community officers.<br />
<br />
Speaking to SIBC News, SIDT's Project Officer Catherine Sanga says the
field research focused on communities hard hit by the recent ethnic
tension including Malu'u in North Malaita, Savo in Central Province, Avu
Avu and Kakabona on Guadalcanal, and Sigana in Isabel province.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>MELANESIAN SPEARHEAD GROUP POLICE COOPERATION MEETING RECOMMENDATIONS</b></span><br />
<br />
The outcome of the recent Melanesian Spearhead Group Police
cooperation meeting chaired by Solomon Islands, highly recommends
training, exchange of information and staff amongst the MSG block. <br />
<br />
Deputy Police Commissioner operations, Edmond Sikua says this is
exciting because for a long time, such meetings were merely on talks
about cooperation without much practical recommendations.<br />
<br />
Mr Sikua says, security will be a major challenge for the MSG to tackle
but it is the police officers within the MSG forces who will move things
forward to ensure equal contribution, and that benefits are derived
from such cooperation.<br />
<br />
He adds, like other MSG member countries, Solomon Islands stands to benefit under this new arrangement.<br />
<br />
But Simon Albert, from the University of Queensland, who was part of a
team sent to investigate the fish deaths says that listing is looking
fragile.<br />
<br />
Mr Albert says there’s concern about the diets and incomes of those who rely on the lagoon’s sea life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAMMES START</b></span><br />
<br />
Save the Children Solomon Islands is hosting a child advocacy
program for children from Honiara and Western province this week.<br />
<br />
Child Advocacy program manager, Emmanuel Maesua says, the three days
program sums up a gathering of children, stakeholders and decision
makers to promote children's rights.<br />
<br />
He explains, the program which started yesterday, will run until tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Mr Maesua says, the aim of the event is to ensure children's rights are upheld, realised and respected by Solomon Islanders.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>NEW ZEALAND TO WITHDRAW ITS MISSION PERSONNEL</b></span><br />
<br />
New Zealand is starting to gradually withdraw police and
soldiers in the Solomon Islands who are here as part of RAMSI.<br />
<br />
The Regional Assistance Mission, RAMSI, was bought in eight years ago to restore stability following civil conflict.<br />
<br />
Made up of Australian, New Zealand and Pacific personnel, RAMSI has been in the Solomon islands to help restore law and order.<br />
<br />
Special coordinator for RAMSI Nicholas Coppel said the team, which has
more than 70 New Zealand members, is here to support local law
enforcement, "but the Royal Solomon Police Force takes the lead".<br />
<br />
Television New Zealand reports that over the next two years, 40 per cent
of New Zealand police in the Solomon Islands will pull out. <br />
<br />
They have already stepped away from the frontline and are training their local counterparts to take over.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>PLANS TO WORK WITH LOCAL GROUPS FOR PEACE AND ORDER</b></span><br />
<br />
A framework for working with local groups for peace and order
in the Solomon Islands was launched in Honiara yesterday.<br />
<br />
The framework was developed as part of a research project - 'Working
with local strengths: supporting states to build capacity to protect.'<br />
<br />
It was conducted by researchers form the University of Queensland based
on fieldwork in the Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, and
Vanuatu.<br />
<br />
The team had been working with the Solomon Development Trust, S-I-D-T,
since 2010 and conducted interviews and group discussions with local
chiefs, church leaders, women and youth representatives, local police,
RAMSI and community officers.<br />
<br />
Speaking to SIBC News, SIDT's Project Officer Catherine Sanga says the
field research focused on communities hard hit by the recent ethnic
tension including Malu'u in North Malaita, Savo in Central Province, Avu
Avu and Kakabona on Guadalcanal, and Sigana in Isabel province.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>SERVICES POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH</b></span><br />
<br />
A large Australian bank says the services sector has
significant potential as a source of economic growth in the Pacific
islands.<br />
<br />
ANZ Bank's Pacific managing director, Michael Rowland says services could become the Pacific's second engine of growth.<br />
<br />
He told a business conference in Nadi, Fiji, this would go beyond the existing surge in natural resources and commodities. <br />
<br />
He identified financial services, tourism, back-office processing, telecommunications and labour hire as the top prospects.<br />
<br />
But he said the Pacific needs to be more investor friendly if it is to attract investment. <br />
<br />
Rowland said investors need consistent and transparent legal systems,
certainty on government policy, particularly taxation and profit
remittance, and constructive dialogue with government.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>SOLOMON ISLANDS STUDENTS TO GET SOCCER UNIFORMS</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b><br /></b></span>The closure of the Burnett Heads United Soccer Club in
Australia was a tough decision for members to make, but students in the
Solomon Islands will soon benefit from the club’s demise.<br />
<br />
Australia's News Mail Online reports due to lack of players, the
18-year-old club was forced to hang up its boots, but members would not
let their sporting equipment go to waste.<br />
<br />
They have donated 27 brand-new soccer balls and two sets of team shirts
to 14 students at Shalom College, who are embarking tomorrow on a trip
to the Solomon Islands to build a hospital.<br />
<br />
Burnett Heads United Soccer Club life member Femia Eizema said the
soccer equipment will be given to Solomon Islands children so they can
get the same enjoyment out of the sport.<br />
<br />
Ms Eizema said an Under-14 team from the Solomon Islands went to Australia last year, and they didn't have much to play in.<br />
<br />
There are enough uniforms for a junior and senior soccer team and Ms
Eizema said she was excited to see the equipment go to the students.<br />
<br />
She said even with the club closing, something good has come out of it.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-16533312047181671152011-06-24T00:51:00.000+12:002011-06-24T00:51:12.462+12:00ABC Radio Australia Asia Pacific News, 23 June 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Vanuatu parliamentary elections delayed</b><br />
<br />
Parliamentary elections in Vanuatu have been postponed till Sunday,
after members of the Edward Natapei camp boycotted the polls.<br />
<br />
Parliament was due sit Thursday but members of the Edward Natapei camp
were absent, saying their opponents under Sato Kilman have been
accepting bribes from foreign businessmen, and bribing ministers to
switch camps.<br />
<br />
Sato Kilman says the allegations are unfounded.<br />
<br />
"I am not aware of businesses that are paying our bills," Mr Kilman said.<br />
<br />
In return, the Kilman camp is accusing the Natapei group of trying
orchestrate the arrest of members of parliament to try to tip the vote
on Sunday.<br />
<br />
Edward Natapei also denies the accusations.<br />
<br />
"We are not going to do any arrests of the members of parliament," Mr Natapei said.<br />
<br />
"What we are trying to investigate are foreign nationals here giving out money to the MPs."<br />
<br />
<div id=":1s8">
<b><br />
Questions raised over PNG government reshuffle</b><br />
<br />
There has been a major reshuffle of Papua New Guinea's government after two senior ministers were sacked a fortnight ago.<br />
<br />
Ano Pala is now in charge of foreign affairs and immigration after his predecessor, Don Polye, was sacked.<br />
<br />
Francis Potape replaces William Duma as the petroleum and energy minister.<br />
<br />
Two other new ministers, Charles Abel and Philip Kikala, were sworn in by the Governor-General on Wednesday afternoon.<br />
<br />
But there are concerns about the reappointment of Patrick Pruaitch, who is now the treasurer and finance minister.<br />
<br />
PNG's Ombudsman Commission has referred Mr Pruaitch to prosecutors over
several allegations of misconduct including the improper use of
electoral allowances.<br />
<br />
Dr Ray Anere, from the National Research Institute, says the appointment sends a message of "double standards".<br />
<br />
"It also sends out the message that certain leaders in the community do
not really care much about principles of good governance and the
integrity of parliament," he said.<br />
<br />
The reshuffle is also seen as a move by the National Alliance party to
strengthen its grip on key ministerial portfolios ahead of next year's
national election.</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-84941240067049951422011-06-23T01:56:00.000+12:002011-06-23T01:56:51.112+12:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>
YANDINA REDEVELOPMENT TO FOLLOW BEST MODEL</b></span><br />
<br />
The government will make sure Russell Islands redevelopment is
done in a model best suited for the rest of the country to copy cut.<br />
<br />
Prime Minister Danny Philip confirms that the infrastructure planned for
the development will be such that people can only dream of.<br />
<br />
He says the government is developing the Russell on two fronts, one is
to organise the indigenous people of Russells, and make sure the
commercial aspect of Yandina springs to life again.<br />
<br />
Mr Philip says the government is trying to revive Russell into a
national asset that is beneficial to the Central Province, the
indigenous people, investors and the people of Solomon Islands.<br />
<br />
He anticipates that the employment number in Russell will increase
significantly in management, technical and other disciplines while
investment sprout from the area. <br />
<br /><span style="color: #0000cc;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>PM PLEDGES </b></span><span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>SUPPORT FOR </b></span><span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>KIBCA </b></span><br />
<br />
Prime Minister Danny Philip has backed Kolombangara
landholders at the Kolombangara Festival last week, as he pledged to
support the island’s conservation area.<br />
<br />
In the first visit by a Prime Minister to Kolombangara Island, Danny
Philip joined the fourth day of the Kolombangara Island Biodiversity and
Conservation Festival on Thursday last week. <br />
<br />
A special ceremony was held at Ringgi to mark the occasion.<br />
<br />
Prime Minister spoke before a crowd of about one thousand people and
officially dedicated the 20-thousand hectares conservation area, the
largest in Solomon Islands.<br />
<br />
Prime Minister Philip said, it is a wonderful idea to put aside a
special area for conservation adding that in the midst of logging and
environmental destruction the people have the courage to have a
conservation area.<br />
<br />
At Imbu Rano Lodge the Prime Minister heard from international and local
scientists, including local ecologist Patrick Pikacha and botanist
Myknee Sirikolo, about the important biodiversity found in the
conservation area. <br />
<br /><span style="color: #0000cc;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>NZ ON SEASONAL WORKERS SCHEME
</b></span>
<span style="color: forestgreen;">
<i><br />
</i></span>
<br />
New Zealand is ready to employ about 200 Solomon Islanders this year under the Seasonal Workers Scheme. <br />
<br />
New Zealand Foreign Minister, Murray McCully revealed this in his recent visit to the Solomon Islands.<br />
<br />
He says, New Zealand and Solomon Islands governments are working on how to expand this scheme to the benefit of both countries.<br />
<br />
Mr McCully adds that opportunities to focus on key development areas
such as tourism, agriculture and horticulture, fisheries will be looked
at during the coming Pacific Islands Forum later this year.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #0000cc;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>MINISTER DARCY SAID NCRA STILL NOT SATISFIED WITH S-O-E REFORM
</b></span>
<span style="color: forestgreen;">
<i><br />
</i></span>
<br />
The Minister of Finance and Treasury says despite recognition
by regional forums and bodies on the government's good progress with
state owned enterprise, S-O-E, reform, the government is not yet
satisfied.<br />
<br />
Speaking this morning to the members of the Economic Association of
Solomon Islands, Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo said that there is still
room for improvement both in general and specific reforms for the
country's S-O-Es.<br />
<br />
He said that the country must continue to explore innovative ways to
engage with the private sector both through S-O-Es and alongside them.<br />
<br />
Mr Lilo explained that there is a need to recognise the impacts of
S-O-Es in the country, be honest about unsatisfactory performance and
face it because improving S-O-E performance is a challenge.<br />
<br />
The Finance Minister reiterated that its time to speed up State Owned Enterprises reform in Solomon Islands.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #0000cc;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>DARCY ON S-O-E BOARDS</b></span><br />
<br />
Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has acknowledged that the
past year or so has been a turning point for key governance provision of
the S-O-E act. <br />
<br />
Speaking to members of the Economic Association of Solomon Islands this
morning, Mr Lilo stated that a major step in implementing the 2007 S-O-E
act was the passing of the S-O-E regulations 2010 which detailed how
S-O-E board appointments must be done.<br />
<br />
He said that future board members are to be chosen for the contribution
they can make to ensuring the commercial success of the S-O-E and not
for personal or political gains.<br />
<br />
He said the country must apply standard international good practices to the process of making S-O-E board appointments.<br />
<br />
He cited an Asian Development Bank report which stated that Solomon
Islands is leading the way in this part of S-O-E governance resulting in
other pacific countries planning to follow.<br />
<br />
The finance minister stated that over the past 10 months, Solomon
Islands has for the first time no politicians serving in S-O-E boards.<br />
<br />
He reiterated that this is a big change, so much from mistakes that were made in the early stages.<br />
<br />
The finance minister explained that weather these mistakes were made by
previous government, they have now been identified and fixed.<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>MAN RECOVERING AFTER CROC ATTAC K</b></span><br />
<br />
A 35 year old seaweed farmer is recovering in the Cookson
Village clinic on Wagina Island, Choiseul Province, following a
crocodile attack on Monday this week.<br />
<br />
Manioru Laufilu reports from Wagina that the man went out diving for trouchus when the incident happened. <br />
<br />
He says the crocodile bit the man's right hand and started to pull him
into the sea, but the man thrashed his left hand into the mouth of the
crocodile, forcing sea to go into the mouth of the crocodile and
drowning the reptile.<br />
<br />
Laufilu says this is the first crocodile attack since the people settle on Wagina Islands many years ago.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>NEW CITY CLERK OUTLINES PRIORITIES </b></span><br />
<br />
The new Acting City Clerk Paul Coffey says construction of
toilet blocks, completion of the Kukum market project and providing
rubbish collections on a weekly basis are some of the main issues he
will be addressing while in office.<br />
<br />
Mr Coffey was appointed Monday by the Honiara City Council following the
untimely death of the previous clerk John Leigh last month.<br />
<br />
He told SIBC News that the upcoming Pacific Arts Festival will put a
number of demands on the council at this time but they are ready to
assist.<br />
<br />
Mr Coffey said he is very honored to take up the appointment.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>SCHOOLS MISS OUT ON SOLAR PROJECT
</b></span>
<span style="color: forestgreen;">
<i><br />
</i></span>
<br />
North Guadalcanal Plains schools have missed out on the
Republic of China solar projects intended for schools channeled through
their constituency MP earlier this year. <br />
<br />
Nguvia Community High School chairman, Batholomew Vavanga says this is depriving their children of their education facilities.<br />
<br />
Mr Vavanga says, while most of the schools around the country are
enjoying such services, Nguvia, Gaobata and Kaotave school students are
under privileged because they cannot do extra classes in the evenings.<br />
<br />
Chairmen from Gaobata Nguvia and Kaotave schools are very concerned
because major exams for grade six and forms three and five are coming up
later this year.<br />
<br />
The school chairmen therefore call on the North Guadalcanal MP, Martin
Sopage to explain why he has not distributed the solar sets to schools
on Guadalcanal Plains.<br />
<br />
He says parents and guardians demands that their MP explain.<br />
<br />
Mr Vavanga however, appreciates Goldridge's assistance in providing a new generator set for Nguvia school.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-68158354173836583742011-06-22T15:47:00.001+12:002011-06-22T15:50:35.466+12:00Radio New Zealand International Pacific News, 22 June 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="newsstory">
<div class="newsstory">
<div class="newsstory">
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Solomons lagoon’s world heritage listing looking fragile</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
Scientists
say the chances of Marovo lagoon in Solomon Islands achieving World
Heritage status are diminishing because of events such as the recent
widespread fish deaths.<br />
<br />
Scientists say natural factors are the main cause of the deaths but that logging is likely to have contributed.<br />
<br />
Marovo Lagoon, which surrounds Vangunu Island in Western Province, is
the largest double barrier reef in the world and has been considered
for UNESCO world heritage status.<br />
<br />
But Simon Albert, from the University of Queensland, who was part of a
team sent to investigate the fish deaths says that listing is looking
fragile.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“Pre-logging 15 years ago was
one of the most intact places on the planet and there’s still despite
the logging activities, there’s still strong interest from UNESCO but as
the years tick by and the resources become more and more depleted and
events like this occur obviously the chances of that world heritage
listing are slipping away.”</blockquote>
Simon Albert says there’s concern about the diets and incomes of those who rely on the lagoon’s sea life.<br />
<br />
</div>
<h2 class="plain">
Solomon Islands dollar revaluing promising sign to business community</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The Solomon
Islands Chamber of Commerce is welcoming the revaluing of the currency
as a sign of the government’s willingness to make regulatory changes.<br />
<br />
A five percent rise in the value of the Solomon Islands dollar took effect last week.<br />
<br />
The finance minister says the appreciation was a result of
discussions with the International Monetary Fund and the country’s
Central Bank about how to combat inflationary pressures.<br />
<br />
The chamber’s chief executive, Calvin Ziru, says five percent is
probably not enough to make a real difference to people struggling with
the cost of living but the chamber is viewing the move positively.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“This is an indication of
government and the Central Bank making decisions to make some changes
regulation wise to sort of improve not only the way that we do business
but also primarily to buffer the effects of external influences on the
cost of living in the Solomon Islands.”</blockquote>
Calvin Ziru says what the chamber wants to see next are measures to sustain economic growth.<br />
<br />
</div>
<h2 class="plain">
Audit finds mismanagement at Vanuatu’s China embassy</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The Vanuatu auditor general’s office has found serious irregularities and mismanagement at the country’s Embassy in China.<br />
<br />
It says grave allegations of mismanagement over the period of several
years prompted it to send a team to the Chinese capital in late 2009.<br />
<br />
Don Wiseman has more:<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“Vanuatu opened an Embassy in
Beijing just over five years ago, installing naturalised citizen Lo Chi
Wai as the first ambassador, a post now held by former cabinet
minister, Willie Jimmy. The audit team says the accusations of
mismanagement are verified and that the Embassy’s internal control
system is weak and needs to be substantially strengthened. The auditors
found fault with the processing of visas, the issuing of diplomatic
passports and the appointing of foreign nationals to staff the Embassy,
the consular office in Shanghai and a travel office in Shubai . It says
the Shubai office was set up illegally and directed it be shut down. It
says this office and Shanghai have issued visas worth more than two
million US dollars but this money hasn’t been accounted for. The
auditors put much of the blame on the ministry of foreign affairs and
call for it to lay out clear parameters for diplomatic staff. But they
also say there’re similar failings within the ministry itself and say
additional investigation is needed into possible fraud and corruption
there.”</blockquote>
</div>
<h2 class="plain">
PNG’s Abal names replacements for Polye and Duma</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
Replacements have been named for the two ministers sacked by Papua New Guinea’s acting prime minister Sam Abal two weeks ago.<br />
<br />
The appointments have been made as part of a major cabinet reshuffle.<br />
<br />
The former Foreign Minister Don Polye has been replaced by Ano Pala,
while Francis Potape has replaced William Duma as Petroleum and Energy
Minister.<br />
<br />
The new cabinet line-up also includes Patrick Pruaitch as Finance
Minister, Peter O’Neil as Minister of Works, Philip Kikala as
Agriculture Minister, and Charles Abel as Minister assisting the Prime
Minister.<br />
<br />
Post Courier reporter Peter Korugl says Mr Pruaitch’s appointment
comes despite his suspension as finance minister last year after he was
referred to a leadership tribunal over allegations of double-dipping,
improper receipts and misappropriation of grants.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“The surprise appointment is
Patrick Pruaitch. Patrick has made his intention known that he wants to
come back into government as Minister for Finance and Treasury. Now who
doesn’t want to be the Minister for Finance and Treasury when we are
getting into an election year.”</blockquote>
Peter Korugl says the Supreme Court has since overruled Mr Pruaitch’s
suspension, and Mr Abal is trying to shore up support by reappointing
him.</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-25058710379241365622011-06-21T22:32:00.001+12:002011-06-21T22:34:16.381+12:00SIBC News, 21 June 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>
DR. KUMAR ON APPRECIATION OF SOLOMON DOLLAR</b></span><br />
<br />
A Professor from the University of the South Pacific, School
of Economics, warns that Solomon Islands could be harmed by the 5%
appreciation if not handled properly.<br />
<br />
Speaking to S-I-B-C news from Suva, Fiji, this afternoon, Professor
Sunil Kumar says while the decision to appreciate the Solomon Islands
currency reflects the confidence of the government and Central Bank of
Solomon Islands in the country's international reserves, mineral and
agricultural sector, such a move could be harmful.<br />
<br />
He explains, apart from negative export if not guided properly, the
capital inflow into the country could decline which is a serious problem
as the country needs more capital inflow to improve its infrastructure,
which may then diminish investor confidence in the country.<br />
<br />
In an earlier media conference, Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo said
that the appreciation will also maintain consumer spending keeping it
firm and robust.<br />
<br />
But Professor Kumar argued that if consumption increases significantly
because of the appreciation, import bills could further increase.<br />
<br />
The head of U-S-P school of economics said that in such situations the
government needs to assist the supply side of the economy and boost
production.<br />
<br />
He adds that monitoring prices of imported goods must be strengthened so
as to ensure that the benefits of low prices imported overseas are
trickled down to the rural populace and not translated by importers to
make huge profits.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>PM - RUSSEL ISLANS PLANTATION TO BE REBUILD BY END OF YEAR</b></span><br />
<br />
Prime Minister Danny Phillip says he believes the disabled
Russell Islands Plantations will be up and running again before the end
of this year.<br />
<br />
Speaking to local media in a press conference yesterday, Mr Phillip
said that it is always good to set higher aims and work hard towards it.<br />
<br />
He said the government will ensure that genuine investors for Russell
islands will be taken on board and relevant incentives for these
investors will be provided.<br />
<br />
He explained that the most difficult part of the issue was getting all the stakeholders together to agree on an exit package.<br />
<br />
He said a resolution has already been achieved and therefore work from here on would not be difficult.<br />
<br />
Prime Minister Danny Phillip also said that he wants Russell Islands to
be an example of what can be done in other provinces throughout the
country.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>CIP PREMIER ACKNOWLEDGES CNRA'S ACTION ON RIPEL </b></span><br />
<br />
Premier of Central Islands Province Patterson Mae has
acknowledge the progress made by the Danny Phillip led government to
address the RIPEL issue.<br />
<br />
Last week, all major stakeholders of the Russell Islands Plantation
Estate limited successfully agreed on a resolution and an exit package
for the former investor.<br />
<br />
Speaking yesterday at a joint press conference with the prime minister
and heads of the R-I-P-E-L management and stakeholders, Premier Mae said
his people had suffered much over the past eight years.<br />
<br />
He however says that with the recent positive developments, his people are now hopeful for a better future.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile the Mr. Mae conveyed gratitude of the people of central
islands province who also had shares in RIPEL towards the management of
RIPEL for their efforts in assisting the government and people in
resolving the problem to where it is now.<br />
<br />
He also thanked the three man negotiating team appointed by the prime
minister to negotiate with the mortgagee for their efforts and hard
work.<br />
<br />
Premier Patterson Mae stated that without them the work to resolve the dispute would not be where it is today.<br />
<br />
He assured the prime minister that the central islands provincial
government and people will work closely with the national government to
rebuild the Yandina plantation.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>POLLING SET FOR TOMMORROW'S BY-ELECTIONS<br />
</b></span>
<span style="color: forestgreen;">
<i><br />
</i></span>
<br />
Voting in by-elections for three wards in the Western and Isabel Provinces are set to take place tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Two wards in the western province, South Kolombangara and Mbuini Tusu
and Isabel Province's Kokota ward are going to the polls tomorrow to
choose their new provincial assembly members.<br />
<br />
Preparations for each ward have gone smoothly with final briefings for
presiding officers, polling assistants and police officers done
yesterday and this morning for the three wards.<br />
<br />
Returning Officer for Isabel Province's Kokota ward, John Mark Lokumana
says briefing for polling officials was carried out this morning before
officials were deployed to the five polling stations.<br />
<br />
581 voters have been registered to cast their ballots tomorrow for the two candidates who are vying for the Kokota ward seat.<br />
<br />
In the Western Province, Returning Officer for Mbuini Tusu Ward Goldie
Ringi says polling officials have been deployed to the four polling
stations where 1998 voters have been registered. Six candidates are
contesting the ward.<br />
<br />
And Returning Officer for South Kolombangara Ward Jonathan Bana says
briefing for his polling officials were done last week and they have
been deployed to the four polling stations to prepare for polling day
tomorrow.<br />
<br />
South Kolombangara Provincial ward has more than 3400 registered voters and 7 candidates are contesting the seat.<br />
<br />
Results for all three wards are expected to be declared on Thursday
after counting which will be held in Buala, Gizo and Seghe respectively.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>SHORTLAND CONSTITUENCT LATEST TO BENEFIT FROM SOLAR PROJECT</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b><br /></b></span>Shortland Islands constituents were the latest beneficiaries of the government's rural livelihood program.<br />
<br />
Constituency development officer for the constituency Michael Kalanuma
says, he has taken delivery of more than four-hundred and fifty thousand
dollars worth of Solar equipment from the livelihood program for the
people of shortlands.<br />
<br />
Mr Kalanuma says this will bring the biggest improvement in the
livelihood of the people of shortlands as families will now be able to
use electrical appliances for lighting, among others. <br />
<br />
He says, the 300 solar sets will be transported to the constituency at
the end of this month and distributed to the first recipients.<br />
<br />
Mr Kalanuma says that by the end of this year, all households in the Shortlands constituency will have a solar set each.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-4179555114173786262011-06-21T22:20:00.000+12:002011-06-21T22:20:17.974+12:00ABC Radio Australia Asia Pacific News, 21 June 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Banker predicts Pacific commercial boom</b><br />
<br />
A large Australian bank says the services sector has significant
potential as a source of economic growth in the Pacific islands.<br />
<br />
Jemima Garrett reports that ANZ Bank's Pacific managing director,
Michael Rowland, says services could become the Pacific's second engine
of growth.<br />
<br />
He told a business conference in Nadi, Fiji, this would go beyond the existing surge in natural resources and commodities.<br />
<br />
He identified financial services, tourism, back-office processing, telecommunications and labour hire as the top prospects.<br />
<br />
But he said the Pacific needs to be more investor friendly if it is to attract investment.<br />
<br />
Mr Rowland said investors need consistent and transparent legal systems,
certainty on government policy, particularly taxation and profit
remittance, and contructive dialogue with government.<br />
<br /><div id=":1va">
<b><br />
Fiji tourist numbers up</b><br />
<br />
Fiji's Tourism Minister says there has been another increase in the number of tourists visiting his country.<br />
<br />
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says Fiji welcomed 4,500 more visitors in the first
quarter of the year, compared to the same period last year.<br />
<br />
He says most of the visitors were from Australia, the United States, China and Canada.<br />
<br />
The increase comes despite economic sanctions imposed by Australia and New Zealand in the wake of the military coup in Fiji.<br />
<br />
Fiji Live says there has been a reduction in arrivals from Korea, Japan, New Zealand and India.<br />
<br />
MandarinThe news comes with a call for Fiji to boost Mandarin language
instruction, to boost the country's attractiveness to Chinese tourists.<br />
<br />
Dixon Seeto, president of the Fiji Hotel Association, says the tourism
market from Australia and New Zealand is strong and stable, but China
and India are likely to provide the greatest possibility for growth in
visitor numbers.<br />
<br />
He told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat Chinese tourists are looking for
the same things other visitors are: such as diving, snorkelling and
cultural experiences.<br />
<br />
But they usually do not speak English and that can be a challenge for tourism operators who want to make them feel comfortable.<br />
<br />
Previously there was a campaign to teach Japanese, he said, "and that
was quite successful. And I think that we should be heading that way
with the Mandarin, because you need to make them, the Chinese visitors,
very comfortable."<br />
<br />
<br /><b>Delays expected in Guam military switch</b><br />
<br />
American officials say Japan and the United States will delay their planned military build-up on Guam.<br />
<br />
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Robert Gates will meet Japan's Defence Minister, Toshimi Kitazawa.<br />
<br />
They are expected to discuss a delay to the planned relocation of the military base in Okinawa.<br />
<br />
Before leaving Tokyo, Mr Kitazawa told The New York Times there was no
point in dragging out something that cannot be done just because of a
previous agreement.<br />
<br />
The American officials say it is difficult to complete the base plan by the 2014 goal.<br />
<br />
The realignment plan from 2006 calls for the closing of the Futenma air
base - which lies in a crowded urban area of subtropical Okinawa island -
and the transfer of 8,000 marines to the US Pacific territory of Guam.<br />
<br />
Last week, a US Senate Committee agreed to cut off funding for the 2014
shift until the Marine Corps comes up with a new study on Guam.<br />
<br /><b>
<br />
Australian 'spy' welcome in Vanuatu</b><br />
<br />
Vanuatu's interim government says an Australian lawyer expelled last
month for alleged espionage will be welcome back if the government
comprehensively changes hands.<br />
<br />
Ari Jenshel was given 24 hours to leave Vanuatu or else face arrest under charges of espionage.<br />
<br />
Mr Jenshel had been working in Vanutu as an adviser for the Australian
aid agency, Ausaid, when he was expelled by the government of former
prime minister Sato Kilman.<br />
<br />
The incident raised diplomatic tensions between Vanuatu and Australia.<br />
<br />
Joe Natuman, interim foreign minister under under the Edward Natape
interim government, says there was no basis to the accusations of
espionage.<br />
<br />
"We would welcome him back. We don't see any evidence of whatever those charges were."<br />
<br />
Mr Jenshel would give no further details on his expulsion but said he is
open to returning to Vanuatu if he is invited by the government.<br />
<br /><b>
<br />
Kokoda trekkers warned of violence</b><br />
<br />
Fighting in a remote Papua New Guinea town has prompted the Australian Government to reissue travel advice.<br />
<br />
The murder of a young man in Popondetta last Friday sparked the fighting that left another man dead.<br />
<br />
Local reports say schools and businesses are closed and the situation remains tense.<br />
<br />
Australia's Foreign Affairs Department says there is potential for more
violence and traveling on the road between Popondetta and Kokoda may be
dangerous.<br />
<br />
A small number of Australian tourists who come to PNG to walk the Kokoda Track visit Popondetta.<br />
<br />
The Kokoda Track Authority says there are no trekking groups in the area at present.<br />
<br />
A spokesman for the authority says most trekkers avoid Popondetta altogether and fly in and out of the village of Kokoda.<br />
<br /><b>
<br />
Flooding hits Philippines</b><br />
<br />
At least 11 people have died and two people are missing in floods in the southern and northern Philippines.<br />
<br />
Two southern provinces - North Cotabato and Maguindanao - remain flooded
due to rains brought by a tropical depression that has affected the
southern Philippines since last week.<br />
<br />
Four areas in the south have been placed under a state of calamity and
more than 500,000 people have been affected by the floods.<br />
<br />
Cotabato city has received the brunt of the tropical depression -
160,000 residents have been displaced and are packed in evacuation
centers.<br />
<br />
Soldiers and engineers, using heavy equipment, have been working double
time to dredge and clear the Rio Grande de Mindanao - the longest river
in the south - of lilies that have blocked the waterway and caused it to
overflow.<br />
<br />
In the north, floods and landslides have occurred in three provinces.</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-69090991492966152232011-06-21T15:17:00.002+12:002011-06-21T17:14:52.995+12:00Radio New Zealand International Pacific News, 21 June 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="newsstory">
<div class="newsstory">
<div class="newsstory">
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
</h2>
<div class="newsstory">
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
PNG Supreme Court to hear challenge to Abal and Amet appointment</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The Supreme
Court challenge mounted over the validity of the appointment of Papua
New Guinea’s Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal, the Justice Minister and
Attorney General, Sir Arnold Amet, and Paul Tiensten as Acting
Governor-General will go to trial.<br />
<br />
The Post Courier says this follows after a former acting judge and
lawyer Nemo Yalo won the first hurdle in his challenging of their
appointments in December last year.<br />
<br />
Mr Yalo claimed it was unconstitutional for the Governor-General Sir
Paulias Matane to have made these appointments in Kokopo or his village
in East New Britain Province while he was effectively on leave of
absence or otherwise whilst on leave from duty.<br />
<br />
The first, second and third defendants in the matter, Mr Abal, Sir
Arnold the National Executive Council, instructed their lawyer not to
take any position on the issue while the Speaker, Jeffery Nape, opposed
the application.<br />
<br />
</div>
<h2 class="plain">
NZ government seeks legal advice on Fiji’s Mara extradition request</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The New
Zealand government is seeking legal advice on Fiji’s request for the
extradition of former Fiji military officer Lieutenant Colonel Ratu
Tevita Uluilakeba Mara.<br />
<br />
Colonel Mara is now in Australia after fleeing from Fiji where he is
accused of sedition and he is also planning a New Zealand trip.<br />
<br />
The Manager of the International Criminal Law team at New Zealand’s
Ministry of Justice, Bill Peoples, has confirmed the Ministry’s received
the extradition request.<br />
<br />
He says it’s now checking with government lawyers on whether there is
enough evidence in the request and whether it complies with legal
process.<br />
<br />
New Zealand does not have an extradition treaty with Fiji, but a
spokesman for the Ministry says the lack of a treaty is not necessarily
an obstacle.<br />
<br />
Under New Zealand law extradition can only be considered if a person
is committed an offence punishable by 12 months or more in prison but a
range of other considerations must also be met.<br />
<br />
</div>
<h2 class="plain">
Penalty for Solomons businesses which don’t pass on effects of currency upgrade</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The Solomon
Islands finance minister says businesses which fail to pass on the
effects of the recent revaluing of the currency will be penalised.<br />
<br />
Gordon Darcy Lilo says the five percent rise in the value of the
country’s dollar was the result of discussions with the International
Monetary Fund and the country’s Central Bank about how to combat
inflationary pressures.<br />
<br />
Mr Lilo says inflation was forecast to hit five percent by the end of
the year but by the end of April it had already reached four precent.<br />
<br />
He says people in rural parts of the country have suffered most from
the rise in commodity prices and so they stand to benefit most from the
dollar’s appreciation.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“Authorities of the
government can effectively enforce tools like price control to ensure
that business houses must pass on the effects of the price reduction to
the people. So we have already tasked the price control office to must
do that.”</blockquote>
Gordon Darcy Lilo says the weakness of the US dollar makes it timely to appreciate the Solomon Islands currency.<br />
<br /></div>
<h2 class="plain">
Vanuatu’s caretaker PM confirms he won’t stand in election</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The caretaker
leader of Vanuatu’s government has confirmed he won’t be standing for
prime minister when parliament sits on Thursday to elect a new
administration.<br />
<br />
Edward Natapei was installed as caretaker prime minister last week
after the chief justice Vincent Lunabek ruled that Sato Kilman’s
appointment last December was null and void.<br />
<br />
Our correspondent in Vanuatu says the contest for prime minister is
now between Serge Vohor and Mr Kilman, who’s due in court later this
week on perjury charges initiated by Mr Natapei.<br />
<br />
Last month Mr Kilman succeeded in a court action which removed Mr
Vohor from office and that suit prompted Mr Natapei to seek legal
redress over his earlier loss of the prime ministership.<br />
<br /></div>
<h2 class="plain">
Col Mara expected to visit Samoa</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The former
Fiji army colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara is expected to visit Samoa
after the prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, issued a
statement welcoming him.<br />
<br />
In a release, Tuilaepa has congratulated Col Mara for admitting his
guilt over his involvement in the 2006 coup and has called for the
interim Fiji leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, to do the same.<br />
<br />
Col Mara escaped to Tonga and has visited Australia at the start of
an international campaign against the Fiji regime and for a return to
democracy.<br />
<br />
Meawhile, it is not known if he will visit Solomon Islands whose
prime minister Danny Philip has denied media reports last week that he
declared Col Mara unwelcome.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“No I didn’t say that; I didn’t say he is not allowed to come to Solomon Islands.”</blockquote>
Danny Philip says his government’s policy is to be all-embracing to Fiji.<br />
<br /></div>
<h2 class="plain">
Leading scientists shocked at state of world oceans</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
Leading ocean
scientists have expressed shock at the state of the world’s seas and
fear another significant extinction event could be around the corner.<br />
<br />
27 experts from different disciplines have been meeting in the United
Kingdom to collate data and discuss changes in the world’s oceans.<br />
<br />
One of the experts, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg of the Global Change
Institute at the University of Queensland, says many of the measurement
stations which are reporting rapidly dropping ocean oxygen levels are
in the Pacific.<br />
<br />
He says worrying large scale changes are happening which have the
hallmarks of some of the previous periods on earth when ecosystems have
collapsed.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“If we are on that road, then
we need to get off it as soon as possible because that type of scenario
is something that once you’ve triggered it there’s no turning back.”</blockquote>
Professor Hoegh-Guldberg says the scientists’ report will be presented to the United Nations.</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-58934881486681917952011-06-20T22:57:00.000+12:002011-06-20T22:57:01.165+12:00SIBC News, 20 June 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>
GOVERNMENT CLOSE TO RESOLVING COMPANY DISPUTE</b></span><br />
<br />
Prime Minister Danny Philip announces, his government is a
step closer to resolving the 8 year old Russell Islands Plantation
Estate Limited which was forcefully shut down as a result of a dispute
in 2004.<br />
<br />
In a media conference today, Mr Philip said government took up the
initiative to address the RIPEL dispute following his visit to Yandina
earlier this year.<br />
<br />
Mr Philip expressed the government's gratitude to stakeholders, Lavukal,
Central Islands Provincial government the Solomon Islands National
Union of Workers for supporting NCRA's proposal.<br />
<br />
He said, the outcome so far has been positive.<br />
<br />
He said, the government formed a three member committee which led a
process of consultations and negotiations with all stakeholders
resulting in a settlement proposal with RIPEL mortgagees that will
essentially enable the company clear outstanding debts. <br />
<br />
The Prime Minister said that because the proposal is still subject to
the signing of a formal legal agreement between the government and
RIPEL, he would not elaborate on the details.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>SOLOMON FISH AND PROCESSING COMPANY STRIKE UPDATE<br />
</b></span>
<span style="color: forestgreen;">
<i><br />
</i></span>
<br />
The best way to resolve issues resulting from Solomon Fish and
Processing company worker's sit-in protest last week is best left to
the Trade Disputes Panel.<br />
<br />
Workers of the company in Noro, Western province went on strike on
Friday as a result of various issues relating to their alleged unfair
treatment by the company management.<br />
<br />
Speaking to SIBC News the National Union of Workers' General Secretary,
Tony Kangovai, says these issues relate to unfair working conditions
provided by the company management.<br />
<br />
The Union's General Secretary sayss that the best way forward is to let
workers resume work while the matter is before the Trade Disputes Panel.<br />
<br />
SIBC News understands that the more than 600 workers affected are expected to resume normal duties tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>GOVERNMENT TO HELP RE-DEVELOP YANDINA PLANTATION</b></span><br />
<br />
The N-C-R-A government is planning to pour in a sizable amount
of money for the redevelopment of the Yandina Plantation in Russel
Islands.<br />
<br />
Speaking to local media this afternoon, Prime Minister Danny Phillip
said that N-C-R-A is planning to redevelop the disabled plantation to be
the flagship area for many more developments yet to come in other
provinces as well.<br />
<br />
He said that funds for the redevelopment will come from private-public
partnership arrangements while stating that talks have already been made
with European Union and other donor partners.<br />
<br />
Prime Minister Danny Phillip said that his government plans to increase
the number of investors in Russell unlike before where there is only one
investor and sub divide Yandina into commercial blocks.<br />
<br />
He said with these blocks the government will try to improve necessary
services from health, education and communication as well as other
commercial services such as gold coast.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>SOLOMON ISLANDS GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGES THE MELANESIAN SPEARHEAD GROUP </b></span><br />
<br />
The Solomon Islands Government encourages the Melanesian Spearhead Group to be ready to cooperate.<br />
<br />
Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional service, Clay
Forau says the the group must engage in exchange programmes and for
every members to voice their concerns in a more comfortable forum that
is apolitical, unbiased and not easily influenced by external players in
the Melanesian way. <br />
<br />
He says the Melanesian region must take ownership of any process to
resolve its own problems and do not let external forces to drive what is
unique in Melanesia.<br />
<br />
Speaking this morning during the opening of the Melanesian Spearhead
group Police Commissioners forum in Honiara, Mr Forau called on the
Melanesian block to join hands to prevent future security threats.<br />
<br />
He said, the strength of the MSG success are the unique cultures,
traditions, natural resources and the common ancestral heritage.<br />
<br />
Reciprocating the welcome extended by the Police Minister, PNG Police
Commissioner, Anthony Wagambie reiterated that Melanesian problems are
best left for Melanesians themselves to solve.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>URBANISATION IN SOLOMON ISLANDS</b></span><br />
<br />
If urbanisation reaches 50 percent by 2050, at least
half-a-million people will be residing in Honiara which almost equals
the current total population of the country.<br />
<br />
Speaking to SIBC news New Zealand based researcher Professor David Craig
says 50 years ago during the first census in Solomon Islands, the total
population stood at 125-thousand.<br />
<br />
He says that this is equivalent to the current population in Honiara
which means that urbanisation has grown to 125 thousand approximately
the total population 50 years ago.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Professor Craig who has long term interests in cities,
migration and opportunities in the Pacific says that urbanisation does
not come free but also with a huge cost to the country's environment,
economy and even people's lifestyles.<br />
<br />
He says many countries around the world have dealt with urbanisation
successfully while others are struggling to cope with its negative
impacts.<br />
<br />
Professor Craig says to avoid the negative effects of urbanisation politicians need to come up with good and effective policies.<br />
<br />
He says whilst the economic growth centres proposed by the government
will help in alleviating the rate of urbanisation it takes more than the
growth centres to influence the rate of urbanisation.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>FINANCE MINISTER TO ADDRESS CONFERENCE ON STATE OWNED ENTERPRISES<br />
</b></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<br />
<br />
Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo will be delivering a speech
to the members of the Economics Association of Solomon Islands this
Wednesday.<br />
<br />
A press statement from the Economics Association says that Mr Lilo had
recently attended an Asian Development Bank Pacific Leaders Conference
on S-O-E reforms in which he invited Richard Prebble, a lead speaker in
the conference to come to Solomon Islands and address chairman and
General managers of SOEs in the country.<br />
<br />
It is expected that in his speech the finance minister will draw on the
Solomon Islands experience, the lessons learnt from other pacific
islands state owned enterprise reforms and the lessons from other
leaders.<br />
<br />
During the presentation, the Minister Lilo will also be inducted as a honorary life member of the association.<br />
<br />
Mr Lilo has been a very strong advocate of discussion of major economic
issues and a strong supporter of the economic association since he
entered politics in 2002.<br />
<br />
With the induction on Wednesday, Finance Minister Lilo will be the
second national economist to be conferred honorary life membership.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>TRANSPARENCY SOLOMON ISLANDS CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY IN AID MONEY</b></span><br />
<br />
Transparency Solomon Islands, TSI, says citizens of the
country have the right to the information of how aid money is being used
and on what it is being used for. <br />
<br />
It says the people need to know and see whether aid money is used to
improve their livelihood because that is the main reason of it being
given to the people.<br />
<br />
TSI says recent media reports that the Taiwanese government the Rural Community Development Fund 2011 funding support is good.<br />
<br />
But it says the report said that only 46 Constituencies have returned
their 2010 acquittal reports with four still to be received. <br />
<br />
Transparency Solomon Islands it will be very interested in see these reports. <br />
<br />
TSI says it believes that the Republic of China and the Ministry of Rural Development are transparent with these reports. <br />
<br />
It says this is the only way people can be able to hold their leaders
accountable and make sure that the money is used for the right reasons. <br />
<br />
TSI says receiving money is a good thing but putting it to use in the
best interest of everyone is a big problem for the country.<br />
<br />
It says people want to see the funding bring genuine benefits to the
majority of Solomon Islands in rural areas and enhance their welfare.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><span style="color: #0000cc;"><b>CENTRAL HONIARA CONSTITUENCY AWARENESS TALKS</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0000cc;"><b><br /></b></span>The Central Honiara Constituency Office has embarked on a
series of awareness meetings to communities in the constituency.<br />
<br />
A worker from the Central Honiara Constituency Office, Isaac Kiriau,
told SIBC News that the awareness programme is to tell the people in the
constituency about the work of the office and what the member of
Parliament wants to do for the constituency.<br />
<br />
Mr Kiriau also says the visits to communities is to explain to the
people how they can access the various fundings that the government has
allocated for the Central Honiara Constituency.<br />
<br />
They are the Rural Support Constituency Development, Millennium
Development, the Micro Project, Livelihood Fund and Fishery Funds.<br />
<br />
He says people in Central Honiara who want to apply for help under the
various funding must process their applications through established
committees in their respective zones.<br />
<br />
Mr Kiriau says officers from the Constituency Office have already held
awareness talks in four out of the five zones in Central Honiara.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5482934973064429445.post-71970112181925825282011-06-20T22:50:00.001+12:002011-06-20T22:52:59.766+12:00Radio New Zealand International Pacific News, 20 June 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="newsstory">
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Solomons govt allocates money for 2012 Pacific Arts Festival preparation</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The Solomon
Islands government has allocated five million US dollars this year for
preparations toward hosting the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts next year.<br />
<br />
The Solomon Times reports that a third of the money has been given by Taiwan.<br />
<br />
The funding will reportedly be used for preparatory work on
performance and accommodation facilities, as well as public amenities,
for the July 2012 event in Honiara.<br />
<br />
More than 3,000 artists and cultural practitioners from 27 Pacific
Countries are expected to converge on Honiara to showcase their work.<br />
<br />
The national organising committee is hoping to obtain extra direct
funding for 2011 from the government in the upcoming supplementary
budget. <br />
<br />
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Scientists have theory for marine deaths in Solomons’ lagoon</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
Scientists
believe low oxygen levels are the most likely cause of the large number
of deaths among marine animals in Marovo lagoon in Solomon Islands.<br />
<br />
From early this month locals reported seeing dead creatures including fish and crocodiles in the lagoon.<br />
<br />
The co-ordinator of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community office,
Mia Rimon, says scientists are still on the ground but have a good idea
what caused the deaths.<br />
<br />
She says they think there’s been a process of algal blooms dying-off, resulting in oxygen depletion.<br />
<br />
She says her office and the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme have offered assistance.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“Scientific technical
assistance, for some resources with immediate relief, things of that
nature, putting in fads to help to secure food security for the people
who have lost their fishing grounds.”</blockquote>
Mia Rimon says recent mangrove culling could have contributed to the algal bloom crash.<br />
<br />
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Vanuatu annuls recognition of Abkhazia - report</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
Reports from
Georgia say Vanuatu’s new government has annulled last month’s decision
of the former government to recognize Abkhazia’s independence.<br />
<br />
A Georgian foreign ministry official Zurab Aleksidze has told media
in Tbilisi that the administration of Edward Natapei has reversed the
decision by his predecessor, Sato Kilman, to recognise the
Russian-backed breakaway region of Georgia.<br />
<br />
Mr Aleksidze says this means that Vanuatu supports the territorial
integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.<br />
<br />
Apart from Russia, only three other countries, including Nauru, recognise Abkhazia’s sovereignty. </div>
</div>
<br /></div>
<h2 class="plain">
Bougainville rebel group lays out demands before mining will be given go-ahead</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The leader of
a Bougainvillean group that claims the backing of most people in the
Papua New Guinea province, says there’s no chance of the huge Panguna
mine re-opening until demands for reparation first made more than 20
years ago, are met.<br />
<br />
The Me’ekamui Tribal Nation and its self styled president, Philip
Miriori, says before any development will be allowed a monument to the
island’s civil war dead must be built and outstanding human rights
issues addressed.<br />
<br />
He says, in addition, the longstanding demands for financial redress
from the mining giant Rio Tinto for the destruction caused by the mine
must be satisfied.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“Those demands were being put
in place 20 years ago, and nobody made any response then on those
demands. Ten billion kina, that was for environmental damage and the
other issue is the compensation issue.”</blockquote>
The Me’ekamui Tribal Nation’s Philip Miriori.<br />
<br />
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Bishops in PNG want end to MPs abuse of slush funds</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The Catholic
Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea has called for an end to the
current system of allocating constituency development funds for MPs to
distribute.<br />
<br />
The Conference has decided to take a stand against corruption among
parliamentarians who the Bishops largely blame for the misuse of
millions of kina of public funds.<br />
<br />
It warns that there are increasing signs of the so-called slush funds being used by MPs for electioneering and personal profit.<br />
<br />
The general secretary of the Conference, Father Victor Roche, says
that leaving the distribution of the funds to an MP’s discretion has
become a massive waste of public money.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“We not only do not support
these slush funds, we also do not ask any of the parliamentarians to
give us any of these handouts. And we will go for proper accounting,
proper budgeted projects that will help the electorates, is transparent
and accounted for.”</blockquote>
Father Victor Roche<br />
<br />
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Businesspeople told PACER Plus trade deal without Fiji has no validity</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
Fiji’s interim regime says any agreement which excludes Fiji will be ineffective for the region’s trade and development.<br />
<br />
The interim minister for Trade and Industry was speaking to business
people in Nadi who’d gathered to look at the regions’s Pacer Plus
agreement currently being negotiated.<br />
<br />
Sally Round reports.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“Fiji has been excluded from
formal talks between Pacific Island Forum countries on the PACER Plus
trade and economic treaty, but member countries have committed to
keeping Fiji informed. Fiji’s interim Trade and Industry Minister Aiyaz
Sayed Khaiyum told the Australia Pacific Islands Business Council
meeting that because Fiji hasn’t been involved in the negotiations it’s
safe to assume it won’t serve the interests of Fijians. He says Fiji
can’t accept it would be asked to join the talks at an advanced stage
without having a a say on all aspects of the package. Mr Sayed Khaiyum
says the focus should first be on implementing regional and sub-regional
treaties like the Melanesian Spearhead Group Trade Agreement instead of
new agreements with what he called dubious benefits.” </blockquote>
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Report finds Tonga government ill-advised in claims that city rebuild funds misused</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
A report has
found that the prime minister and cabinet in Tonga have been ill-advised
over the progress of the Nuku’alofa rebuild.<br />
<br />
Economic development consultant Melino Maka and academic Dr Teena
Brown Pulu were commissioned by the government to investigate the
handling of the reconstruction.<br />
<br />
Mr Maka says they found the rebuild itself is being well managed and remains on schedule.<br />
<br />
But he says advisors to the prime minister and cabinet have made
inaccurate claims against the previous government over missing funds and
criticised the Project Management Unit, and construction company.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“All they had to do is to ask
for information that was already there. There is a contractor who
actually managed the project, they kept very good records of progress -
you can’t go and make allegations without asking for information first.”</blockquote>
The report singled out the Nuku’alofa project director - Tukua Tonga,
the Foreign Affairs advisor Noble Akau’ola, and prime minister’s
communication advisor - Ahongalu Fusimalohi.<br />
<br />
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Prize-winning Pacific history book reframes traditional view</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
The author of
a new account of the Pacific’s 19th century history says it deviates
from the traditional approach by focusing on the lives of specific
historical figures.<br />
<br />
Islanders: the Pacific in the Age of Empire, which came out at the
end of last year, was recently awarded the internationally prestigious
Wolfson History Prize.<br />
<br />
Nicholas Thomas says his book highlights how much more cosmopolitan
the Pacific was at that time than historians generally acknowledge.<br />
<br />
He says Pacific people took advantage of as well as suffered from the effects of European colonisation.<br />
<blockquote title="transcription of audio">
“This was an extraordinary
process of interaction that had all sorts of consequences I think for
the ways islanders imagined who they were, what they were engaged in,
what their political projects were, what their possible futures might
be.”</blockquote>
Nicholas Thomas says his book tries to give a sense of the complexity of movement within the Pacific.<br />
<br />
<div class="newsstory">
<h2 class="plain">
Vanuatu interim leader appoints cabinet ministers ahead of prime ministerial vote Thursday</h2>
<div class="time">
</div>
Vanuatu’s caretaker Prime Minister, Edward Natapei, has appointed six new ministers to his cabinet.<br />
<br />
The changes come after Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek last week ruled
that the election of Sato Kilman as prime minister in December last year
was null and void and Mr Natapei was restored as interim prime
minister.<br />
<br />
The six ministers are Samson Samsen, the new agriculture, forestry
and fisheries minister, Patrick Crowby the minister for internal
affairs, the new minister for youth and sports is Eta Rori, Dominique
Morin becomes lands minister, Joshua Kalsakau is the new minister for
infrastructure and public utilities and Paul Telukluk becomes minister
for ni-Vanuatu business.<br />
<br />
The VBTC reports that those retaining their posts from the previous
Natapei government are foreign affairs minister Joe Natuman, finance
minister Sela Molisa, Bakoa Kaltongga as minister of justice and
education minister Charlot Salwai.<br />
<br />
Mr Natapei says all ministers will remain in their caretaker role
until Parliament meets on Thursday to elect a new prime minister.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br /></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3