Politics Archive April 2021

Corruption Index in Solomon Islands remained unchanged at 42 Points in 2020 from 42 Points in 2019. A country or territory’s score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

Anti-Corruption Commission Rolls Out Recruitment Plan

The newly established Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC) office is now rolling out its recruitment Plan.
“The people of Wagina in Choiseul Province have been longing to see the ground-breaking for the Wagina Police Station as it is the first of its kind in their community,” Police Commissioner Mangau says.

Police Station Established in Wagina

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) was part of the ground-breaking ceremony to start construction of the new police station at Wagina Island in Choiseul Province on 26 April 2021.
“I look around next to me and I realized some people were missing, I took my bag out and just prepared to jump if it got worse. I just held onto the rail and it felt like a long time.”

MV Taimareho Passenger Recalls Tragic Incident

By Jimmy Nolan
It’s been a year since the MV Taimareho boat tragedy shocked citizens in the country. 27 people died when they were washed overboard when it encountered Cyclone Harold enroute to Malaita.
He said the remaining four, including those still in isolation will continue with their follow-up within the 90 days after their first release into the community.

PM Says Solomon Islands Has Reclaimed its COVID-19 Free Status

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare stated in his nationwide address on Monday this week that the 20th case has now tested negative and will be released after 3 consecutive negative tests.
Prime Minister Sogavare during the launching says the Govt has made significant reforms to construct an inclusive economy for all.

DCGA Government Committed in Building Inclusive Economy

The DCGA Government is committed in building a more equitable and inclusive economy by improving the social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders.
The world is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 infection that is worse than before.

Sogavare Impose Travel Restrictions From High Risk Countries

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has directed the Government’s Covid-19 Oversight Committee to consider imposing travel restrictions from very high-risk countries in view of the current worsening global covid-19 situation.
“They need to come and sit down and talk with us. Or you go and see what is happening in the constituencies. You will be amazed”, Sogavare said.

Sogavare Take Aim at Transparency Solomon Islands

By Georgina Kekea
“People in glass houses must not throw stones,” Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told parliament.
Several sources complain that the government was pressured by China to accept the donation of the Sinopharm vaccine well ahead of approval for emergency use by the WHO.

“Vaccine Diplomacy” Pushed in Solomon Islands?

By Samson Sade
The hastily prepared press statement released by the ministry of health this week shows something is amiss. What the Prime Minister has been saying seems clear, that the Solomon Islands will wait for the approval of the Sinopharm vaccine by the World Health Organization (WHO) before it will be administered to the public.
“We are looking at USD50 million to USD60 million for the cost of the project”, Agovaka says.

200 Broadband Tower Project Progresses

By Georgina Kekea
Five constituencies are yet to identify sites and locations for broadband towers under the Government’s Telecommunication plan for the 200 broadband tower project.
“Statement made by Health advisor is merely a possibility of rolling out the vaccine in Solomon Islands that can be considered in the event of a community transmission and depending on the epidemiological situation and what the country is trying to achieve,” the MHMS says in a prepared statement.

Ministry of Health Clarifies Statements Made by Health Advisor Regarding Sinopharm

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) says it is aware of concerns raised on social media regarding contradictory statements made by the Prime Minister on his national addresses and health advisor Dr Yogesh Choudhri on the recent Sunday talk back show on SIBC, regarding use or roll out of the Sinopharm Vaccines.
The Prime Minister said the Ministry of Health is working with the vessel’s agent to swab and test all the remaining crewmembers.

MV Cheefo Under Strict Quarantine: PM

The cargo vessel (MV Cheefo) that the latest COVID 19 case was detected on-board has now come under strict quarantine.
“If through consultations the extension of the life of parliament is accepted by the people, then, in my view, it should be implemented during the 12th Parliament. Not during this current 11th parliament”, Kenilorea wrote in his statement.

Extension on Life of Parliament Passed?

By Georgina Kekea
The Member of Parliament for East Are’are, Hon. Peter Kenilorea Jr, says secret documents supposedly cabinet papers have shown that a decision on the extension of parliament was already made.
"Criminality in every form, but especially those that a brazen enough to attack ordinary hard-working people without consideration of their family and lives must be condemned by all of us."

SICCI Condemns Brutal Attack on Business Owner

The Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) strongly condemns the brutal attack on a member of the business community this week in the capital, Honiara.
In a recently released statement the National Disaster Council (NDC) says that the Response Plan was developed to step-up government’s capacity to respond to border incursions following the surge of COVID-19 cases in PNG.

Western Broder Response Plan Developed as COVID-19 Cases in PNG Surge

PNG’s National Pandemic Controller Office says as of this week 170 new cases of COVID-19 cases were recorded, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in PNG to 8,984. 2 deaths were also recorded during the same period. The Autonomous Region of Bougainville also recorded 2 new COVID-19 cases, bringing their total to 149.
“COVID-19 is real. It is spreading very quickly across the border. Please, all of you above 18 years old are vaccinated. Protect yourselves, your families, your communities, your province, and your country by being vaccinated,” Sogavare said on Monday.

Sogavare Urges Border Communities to Get Vaccinated

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has repeated his call on people over eighteen years living in border communities to be vaccinated when the Government’s vaccination programme reaches them.
Crowd gathers outside the scene of the crime.

Chinese Shop Owner Found Dead

By Jimmy Nolan
A Chinese women was found dead this morning inside her shop at Point Cruz.
“The Ministry has put conditions that the vaccine will only be rolled out or distributed in the country, upon approval from WHO and the Emergency Used Listing (EUL)," Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry, Pauline McNeil says.

China’s Sinopharm Vaccine Arrives

By Georgina Kekea
50,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine arrived in Honiara Sunday night from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The Sinopharm vaccine is yet to be approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), government says it will be closely monitoring the approval process by WHO.
The CEO of DBSI Tukana Borovo (centre) with two other senior managers appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

PAC Calls For An Independent DBSI Board

By Georgina Kekea
The public accounts committee (PAC) has presented its report to parliament, with one of the key recommendations being the need to have an independent DBSI board.
The CEO urges all eligible voter to check the electoral notices at polling venue for detailed information on the polling day, voting procedures, campaign offenses and penalties, and most importantly to confirm that their names are on the voter list before the Election Day.

Six Candidates Nominated for South Choiseul By-Election

Six Candidates nominated to contest in the upcoming poll for South Choiseul National By-Election on the 19th May, 2021.
Virivolomo clarified that while Facebook has its own internal policies to deal with such fake accounts it is important that the government develop its own policies.

Facebook Working with Government to Monitor Fake Accounts

The Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) has confirmed that the government is currently working with Social Media tech giant Facebook to explore ways to better monitor fake accounts.

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