SIBC News,
25 January 2011
THE OPPOSITION PETITIONS GOVERNMENT
HOUSE TO SUMMON PARLIAMENT
The Danny
Philip led-government is about to fall with the resignation of Police Minister
James Tora.
Tora's resignation means the Opposition now has 25 MPs, while the Government has 23 MPs.
Government House Private Secretary Nigel Maezama confirms that NCRA government's police minister, Tora's resignation letter was submitted to the Governor General's Office today.
Mr Tora is the fifth NCRA cabinet minister to have resigned so far, citing in local reports that he no longer had confidence in the government.
On the question of what options the Prime Minister has, Mr Maezama says there are two options open for Mr Philip to take.
"There are two options that are opened, that the Prime Minister resigns if he knows that he does not have the numbers, which I think it is not possible for him to do. The next option is for him to call a Parliament meeting so that Parliamentarians go through the budget or a vote of no confidence. That's up to them. But they should know the government controls Parliament business. The Government House is monitoring the situation closely."
Meanwhile, Government House Private Secretary Nigel Maezama says the Parliamentary Opposition also submitted a petition to the Government General to summon parliament.
The Opposition plans to hold a media conference tomorrow to explain the details of the petition it submitted to Government House.
Tora's resignation means the Opposition now has 25 MPs, while the Government has 23 MPs.
Government House Private Secretary Nigel Maezama confirms that NCRA government's police minister, Tora's resignation letter was submitted to the Governor General's Office today.
Mr Tora is the fifth NCRA cabinet minister to have resigned so far, citing in local reports that he no longer had confidence in the government.
On the question of what options the Prime Minister has, Mr Maezama says there are two options open for Mr Philip to take.
"There are two options that are opened, that the Prime Minister resigns if he knows that he does not have the numbers, which I think it is not possible for him to do. The next option is for him to call a Parliament meeting so that Parliamentarians go through the budget or a vote of no confidence. That's up to them. But they should know the government controls Parliament business. The Government House is monitoring the situation closely."
Meanwhile, Government House Private Secretary Nigel Maezama says the Parliamentary Opposition also submitted a petition to the Government General to summon parliament.
The Opposition plans to hold a media conference tomorrow to explain the details of the petition it submitted to Government House.
MINISTER GRANTS MP LUSIBA'EA FURTHER
REMISSION
The Member
of Parliament for North Malaita's two year nine month sentence imposed last
year by the High Court has been reduced to one month one day, after being
granted a 95 percent remission by the Minister for Police and National
Security.
The sentence was reduced when he was released on licence on the 14th of this month.
Speaker of Parliament Sir Allan Kemakeza explains in a statement that the Minister granted Mr Lusiba'ea further remission through powers vested on him under Section 38 of the Correctional Service Act and Regulation 198 of the Correctional Service Regulation.
Sir Allan says this is in addition to a one third remission to the sentence imposed by the High Court, granted to every prisoner under section 37 of the Correctional Services act.
He says the Correctional Service Act defines effective sentence as the term of imprisonment that a prisoner is to serve after taking into account remission granted under the Act, thus it is this effective sentence of one month one day that Mr Lusiba'ea is released on licence to serve outside prison.
Sir Allan says because the effective sentence is now one month and one day, Mr Lusiba'ea can still perform functions and responsibilities as a Parliament member as the sentence is less than 6 months.
The Speakers says under the constitution, an MP is required to vacant his or her seat if the sentence imposed by court is six months or more.
Meanwhile, Sir Allan says the Police Minister exercised his powers under relevant laws and that he as the Speaker does not have the legal mandate to decide otherwise.
On the question of whether the Minister had exercised his discretionary power in a lawful manner, Sir Allan says this is for the courts to decide and that only the courts have jurisdiction to make a decision on such matters.
The sentence was reduced when he was released on licence on the 14th of this month.
Speaker of Parliament Sir Allan Kemakeza explains in a statement that the Minister granted Mr Lusiba'ea further remission through powers vested on him under Section 38 of the Correctional Service Act and Regulation 198 of the Correctional Service Regulation.
Sir Allan says this is in addition to a one third remission to the sentence imposed by the High Court, granted to every prisoner under section 37 of the Correctional Services act.
He says the Correctional Service Act defines effective sentence as the term of imprisonment that a prisoner is to serve after taking into account remission granted under the Act, thus it is this effective sentence of one month one day that Mr Lusiba'ea is released on licence to serve outside prison.
Sir Allan says because the effective sentence is now one month and one day, Mr Lusiba'ea can still perform functions and responsibilities as a Parliament member as the sentence is less than 6 months.
The Speakers says under the constitution, an MP is required to vacant his or her seat if the sentence imposed by court is six months or more.
Meanwhile, Sir Allan says the Police Minister exercised his powers under relevant laws and that he as the Speaker does not have the legal mandate to decide otherwise.
On the question of whether the Minister had exercised his discretionary power in a lawful manner, Sir Allan says this is for the courts to decide and that only the courts have jurisdiction to make a decision on such matters.
WITNESS TESTIFIES IN ELECTION PETITION
CASE
A witness
has testified this morning in Court that three thousand dollars was promised to
him if he voted for the M-P for Central Kwara'ae during the National General
Elections last year.
John Isu from Gwaisalia village of Central Kwara'ae told the Court a campaign agent for Jackson Fiulaua went to his house on the 3rd of August before Election day and told him he was going around with a list of registered voters in the constituency.
Mr Isu said the agent, Philip Ragi told him that if he and members of his family put their names as supporters of Mr Fiulaua and voted for him, they would received three thousand dollars each from the Rarasu Motel Fiulaua owns at Auki.
However, he said said after voting took place he went down to Rarasu Motel at Auki to check for the promised money but was told there was no such thing and that Mr Fiulaua had gone back to Honiara.
Mr Isu was one of three new witnesses who testified before the Court this morning during the trial of the election petition against Mr Fiulaua.
Former Deputy Prime Minister in the last Government and former M-P for Central Kwara'ae Fred Fono lodged the petition case again his successor and the Electoral Commission after the National General Elections last year.
Mr Fono is claiming that the Minister for Infrastructure and Development used bribery, undue influence and particulars of treating to induce voters of various villages in the constituency for votes.
John Isu from Gwaisalia village of Central Kwara'ae told the Court a campaign agent for Jackson Fiulaua went to his house on the 3rd of August before Election day and told him he was going around with a list of registered voters in the constituency.
Mr Isu said the agent, Philip Ragi told him that if he and members of his family put their names as supporters of Mr Fiulaua and voted for him, they would received three thousand dollars each from the Rarasu Motel Fiulaua owns at Auki.
However, he said said after voting took place he went down to Rarasu Motel at Auki to check for the promised money but was told there was no such thing and that Mr Fiulaua had gone back to Honiara.
Mr Isu was one of three new witnesses who testified before the Court this morning during the trial of the election petition against Mr Fiulaua.
Former Deputy Prime Minister in the last Government and former M-P for Central Kwara'ae Fred Fono lodged the petition case again his successor and the Electoral Commission after the National General Elections last year.
Mr Fono is claiming that the Minister for Infrastructure and Development used bribery, undue influence and particulars of treating to induce voters of various villages in the constituency for votes.
WITNESS TESTIFIES IN ELECTION PETITION
CASE
A witness
has testified this morning in Court that three thousand dollars was promised to
him if he voted for the M-P for Central Kwara'ae during the National General
Elections last year.
John Isu from Gwaisalia village of Central Kwara'ae told the Court a campaign agent for Jackson Fiulaua went to his house on the 3rd of August before Election day and told him he was going around with a list of registered voters in the constituency.
Mr Isu said the agent, Philip Ragi told him that if he and members of his family put their names as supporters of Mr Fiulaua and voted for him, they would received three thousand dollars each from the Rarasu Motel Fiulaua owns at Auki.
However, he said said after voting took place he went down to Rarasu Motel at Auki to check for the promised money but was told there was no such thing and that Mr Fiulaua had gone back to Honiara.
Mr Isu was one of three new witnesses who testified before the Court this morning during the trial of the election petition against Mr Fiulaua.
Former Deputy Prime Minister in the last Government and former M-P for Central Kwara'ae Fred Fono lodged the petition case again his successor and the Electoral Commission after the National General Elections last year.
Mr Fono is claiming that the Minister for Infrastructure and Development used bribery, undue influence and particulars of treating to induce voters of various villages in the constituency for votes.
John Isu from Gwaisalia village of Central Kwara'ae told the Court a campaign agent for Jackson Fiulaua went to his house on the 3rd of August before Election day and told him he was going around with a list of registered voters in the constituency.
Mr Isu said the agent, Philip Ragi told him that if he and members of his family put their names as supporters of Mr Fiulaua and voted for him, they would received three thousand dollars each from the Rarasu Motel Fiulaua owns at Auki.
However, he said said after voting took place he went down to Rarasu Motel at Auki to check for the promised money but was told there was no such thing and that Mr Fiulaua had gone back to Honiara.
Mr Isu was one of three new witnesses who testified before the Court this morning during the trial of the election petition against Mr Fiulaua.
Former Deputy Prime Minister in the last Government and former M-P for Central Kwara'ae Fred Fono lodged the petition case again his successor and the Electoral Commission after the National General Elections last year.
Mr Fono is claiming that the Minister for Infrastructure and Development used bribery, undue influence and particulars of treating to induce voters of various villages in the constituency for votes.
ELECTORAL COMMISSION AWAITS MONEY FOR
BYE-ELECTIONS
The only
thing delaying the Electoral Commission to conduct bye-elections for Shortland Islands
and Baegu/Asifola constituencies is funding from the government through the
Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
Constituents from these two constituencies have called on the Electoral Commission to quickly schedule a time for elections as they need a leader to represent them in parliament.
Speaking to SIBC News today, Chief Electoral Officer Polycarp Haununu says preparations are well underway to hold elections for both constituencies.
However, he says they are awaiting response from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury following their budget submissions requesting more than two-million dollars to hold bye-elections.
"We depend very much on funding and as soon as the Treasury releases funding to us we should plan what time to conduct election awareness in the Shortland Islands Constituency".
Constituents from these two constituencies have called on the Electoral Commission to quickly schedule a time for elections as they need a leader to represent them in parliament.
Speaking to SIBC News today, Chief Electoral Officer Polycarp Haununu says preparations are well underway to hold elections for both constituencies.
However, he says they are awaiting response from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury following their budget submissions requesting more than two-million dollars to hold bye-elections.
"We depend very much on funding and as soon as the Treasury releases funding to us we should plan what time to conduct election awareness in the Shortland Islands Constituency".
WESTERN PROVINCE GOES INTO SPORT TOURISM
The Western
Provincial government has launched a new football club called the Western
United Football Club at the King Solomon hotel this morning.
This is part of the provincial governments' initiative to diversify its tourism sector, especially in combining sports and tourism.
Speaking at the launching today, Western Provincial Premier George Solingi Lilo said the province needs to diversify its tourism sector as it is part of the provinces' developmental initiative for 2011.
"One of the areas within this sector is sports tourism. It is already an endorsed policy of the Western Province government to diversify our tourism base. And as you know one of the key strategic areas of the Western Province is tourism. As such it is important for us not to look into beach tourism or accommodation tourism only, we must also diversify if we have to move tourism in this country we need to diversify tourism."
Meanwhile, on the provinces' initiative to combine sports and tourism Premier Lilo said after the ethnic unrest, sports is an avenue that can bring people together.
"After the tension, the only thing that pulled us together is soccer. We all went for Solomon Islands. That was the only time we declare that we are all Solomon Islanders. I am not a man from the West, Guadalcanal or Malaita. All of us said we are Solomon Islanders and the Western Province and I believe that rather than talking about it let's do it practically through sports tourism."
This is part of the provincial governments' initiative to diversify its tourism sector, especially in combining sports and tourism.
Speaking at the launching today, Western Provincial Premier George Solingi Lilo said the province needs to diversify its tourism sector as it is part of the provinces' developmental initiative for 2011.
"One of the areas within this sector is sports tourism. It is already an endorsed policy of the Western Province government to diversify our tourism base. And as you know one of the key strategic areas of the Western Province is tourism. As such it is important for us not to look into beach tourism or accommodation tourism only, we must also diversify if we have to move tourism in this country we need to diversify tourism."
Meanwhile, on the provinces' initiative to combine sports and tourism Premier Lilo said after the ethnic unrest, sports is an avenue that can bring people together.
"After the tension, the only thing that pulled us together is soccer. We all went for Solomon Islands. That was the only time we declare that we are all Solomon Islanders. I am not a man from the West, Guadalcanal or Malaita. All of us said we are Solomon Islanders and the Western Province and I believe that rather than talking about it let's do it practically through sports tourism."
PM PHILIP REMINDS OVERSEAS FRIEND TO
KEEP OUT OF POLITICAL SITUATION
Prime
Minister Danny Philip has called on Solomon Islands' overseas friends to stay
out of the current political situation that the country is going through.
Speaking in a press conference attended by government ministers and media personnel, Mr Philip reminded the country's overseas friends that they should remain aloof from the political situation that is happening in the country.
He said this is not to say that the NCRA government refrains from its overseas friends but wants them not to meddle in the country's politics.
Meanwhile, Mr Philip said that parliament will meet in March this year.
He said government has came with a budget framework, aims and objectives and should finalise it in two weeks.
Mr Philip said Parliament can pass the budget if members of parliament support it.
He appeals to opposition MPs not to engage in cheap politics and invites them to join the government to advance the interest of the nation.
Parliament last year passed a resolution for government to continue to spend money till the end of April during which it has to pass a budget.
Speaking in a press conference attended by government ministers and media personnel, Mr Philip reminded the country's overseas friends that they should remain aloof from the political situation that is happening in the country.
He said this is not to say that the NCRA government refrains from its overseas friends but wants them not to meddle in the country's politics.
Meanwhile, Mr Philip said that parliament will meet in March this year.
He said government has came with a budget framework, aims and objectives and should finalise it in two weeks.
Mr Philip said Parliament can pass the budget if members of parliament support it.
He appeals to opposition MPs not to engage in cheap politics and invites them to join the government to advance the interest of the nation.
Parliament last year passed a resolution for government to continue to spend money till the end of April during which it has to pass a budget.
POLICE APPREHEND FOREIGN FISHING VESSELS
The Police
Force Maritime Unit has apprehended two foreign fishing vessels that were
suspected of illegal fishing in the Solomon Islands waters.
Police and the National Fisheries Department have been monitoring the two foreign long-line fishing vessels and suspected them of fishing illegally in the country's waters for more than a week.
Police say the vessels were easily located and monitored by the the Police Maritime Unit through the Vessel Monitoring System which is linked with the Forum Fisheries Agency regional monitoring system.
Patrol boat Auki last Thursday intercepted and apprehend the two foreign fishing vessels illegal fishing in the northern part of Solomon Islands Exclusive Economic Zone.
The vessels are now in police custody at the Police Maritime Base in Honiara pending further investigation and advice from the Fisheries Department.
Police and the National Fisheries Department have been monitoring the two foreign long-line fishing vessels and suspected them of fishing illegally in the country's waters for more than a week.
Police say the vessels were easily located and monitored by the the Police Maritime Unit through the Vessel Monitoring System which is linked with the Forum Fisheries Agency regional monitoring system.
Patrol boat Auki last Thursday intercepted and apprehend the two foreign fishing vessels illegal fishing in the northern part of Solomon Islands Exclusive Economic Zone.
The vessels are now in police custody at the Police Maritime Base in Honiara pending further investigation and advice from the Fisheries Department.
JAPAN VOLUNTEERS TO TEACH IN SCHOOLS
Four
Japanese volunteers are in the country to help teach in various schools as part
of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA's, volunteer program.
The four will spend two years each in the country.
Speaking to SIBC Japanese Volunteer Program Coordinator Naka Hara says JICA will meet the volunteers' living allowances while requesting organizations provide accommodation.
The four will teach in three community high schools and a rural training center.
The four will spend two years each in the country.
Speaking to SIBC Japanese Volunteer Program Coordinator Naka Hara says JICA will meet the volunteers' living allowances while requesting organizations provide accommodation.
The four will teach in three community high schools and a rural training center.
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