Andrew Fanasia Jr
North Malaita MP and Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Jimmy Lusibaea might loses his parliament seat yesterday after Presiding Judge, Justice David Cameron sentence him to 2 years and 9 months imprisonment.
Justice Cameron said Lusibaea’s 2 years and nine months is dim to commence on the 11th of March 2010.
The North Malaita MP was sentence following his guilty plea to one count of unlawful wounding (2 years) and one count of assaulting Police Officer in execution of his duty (9 months).
According to the evidence in the High Court, Justice Cameron said Mr. Robert Solo; a police officer was shot by Lusibaea on both knees when he was beaten and was unconscious and for assaulting Officer Sam Manakeha on the head with the butt of the pistol, when he was on duty at that time.
This was during the height of the civil unrest period on September 1, 2000 at the National Referral Hospital.
Meanwhile, Justice Cameron said the element of Lusibaea’s aggravating factor has overweight the mitigation factors presented in the court.
He said Lusibaea has carried a weapon (pistol) in the NRH area and shoot the victim in both knees, “Solo was helpless when Lusibaea shot him in the X-ray room.”
Justice Cameron added that Lusibaea did not respect the NRH at that time he committed the offence, and also he brought with him some of the members of the Malaita Eagle Force in the NRH premises.
“Lusibaea has also demand the police officer on duty, Manakeha and hit his head with the butt of his pistol,” Justice Cameron said.
Justice Cameron affirmed in court that Lusibaea’s mitigation factors did not justify the seriousness of the offence he committed.
Meanwhile, the courts decisions did not go well with his supporters from his constitution which resulted in Honiara being ‘stand still’
However, it is likely that Lusibaea will make an appeal against the decision to the court of appeal within the given 30 days.
This was done to protect his parliament seat if he wins the appeal in the court of appeal.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Opposition Bid to overthrow NCRA.
By Andrew Fanasia Jr.
Since the formation of the NCRA Government, the Opposition side has been throwing criticisms to destabilize and seeking ways to overthrow Prime Minister Danny Philip led Coalition.
Source within the Government said that this sort of on going actions by the Opposition group can best describe as ‘political scoring tactics’.
Government source revealed that NCRA Government has pledge to serve the interest of this nation and want to see the country is heading on the right direction.
Express news understands that, the Opposition leader, Mr. Steve Abana and his Deputy Mr. Matthew Wale also claimed in some of their media statements that members of the Government have involved in acts that are illegal and disrespectful.
“Such claims do not have any prove but only aim to discredit the hard work of the NCRA members,” the Source said.
The Source added that the Opposition will continue to misinform the public about what NCRA is preparing to advance this country.
The Minister for Finance and Treasury in the past week told the local media that NCRA is serious about its plan reforms, “the reforms will certainly put this country in the right direction.”
However, the Opposition side is keeping an eye on these reform agendas which was stated in NCRA policy statement.
On Monday this week, Express news received from a Source close to the Opposition group that they (Opposition) is planning ahead for the first parliament sitting next year to push a ‘vote of no confidence’.
Meanwhile, in the most recent issue, Opposition group claimed that the NCRA Government has already used the Ministry of Fisheries as bait to pull in any interested member from the Opposition side.
This was after the Minister for Fisheries; Mr. Jimmy Lusibaea was arrested to face the court and waits his sentencing today.
Recently, the newly proposed body, Bureau for Social and Economic Reform (BSER) is another issue which the Opposition verbally attacked mercilessly.
The BSER came under attack after the local media published the 2010 budget which the BSER was included in the past recent week.
However, the Permanent Secretary Special Duties for reforms and projects, Mr. Luma Darcy on Monday this week said that the newly established Bureau of Social and Economic Reform is yet to be approved.
Meanwhile, the country is yet to see tangible development after NCRA took the office.
Express news understands that the on going battle between the Government and Opposition regarding different political issues have already distort the trust of the Solomon Islands citizens towards their national leaders.
Since the formation of the NCRA Government, the Opposition side has been throwing criticisms to destabilize and seeking ways to overthrow Prime Minister Danny Philip led Coalition.
Source within the Government said that this sort of on going actions by the Opposition group can best describe as ‘political scoring tactics’.
Government source revealed that NCRA Government has pledge to serve the interest of this nation and want to see the country is heading on the right direction.
Express news understands that, the Opposition leader, Mr. Steve Abana and his Deputy Mr. Matthew Wale also claimed in some of their media statements that members of the Government have involved in acts that are illegal and disrespectful.
“Such claims do not have any prove but only aim to discredit the hard work of the NCRA members,” the Source said.
The Source added that the Opposition will continue to misinform the public about what NCRA is preparing to advance this country.
The Minister for Finance and Treasury in the past week told the local media that NCRA is serious about its plan reforms, “the reforms will certainly put this country in the right direction.”
However, the Opposition side is keeping an eye on these reform agendas which was stated in NCRA policy statement.
On Monday this week, Express news received from a Source close to the Opposition group that they (Opposition) is planning ahead for the first parliament sitting next year to push a ‘vote of no confidence’.
Meanwhile, in the most recent issue, Opposition group claimed that the NCRA Government has already used the Ministry of Fisheries as bait to pull in any interested member from the Opposition side.
This was after the Minister for Fisheries; Mr. Jimmy Lusibaea was arrested to face the court and waits his sentencing today.
Recently, the newly proposed body, Bureau for Social and Economic Reform (BSER) is another issue which the Opposition verbally attacked mercilessly.
The BSER came under attack after the local media published the 2010 budget which the BSER was included in the past recent week.
However, the Permanent Secretary Special Duties for reforms and projects, Mr. Luma Darcy on Monday this week said that the newly established Bureau of Social and Economic Reform is yet to be approved.
Meanwhile, the country is yet to see tangible development after NCRA took the office.
Express news understands that the on going battle between the Government and Opposition regarding different political issues have already distort the trust of the Solomon Islands citizens towards their national leaders.
OPPOSITION SUPPORTS TRC EXTENSION REQUEST
Editor's Desk.
The Opposition urges the Danny Phillip-led National Coalition for Rural Advancement Government (NCRA) to extend the term of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission mandated to establish the truth about the ethnic tension and foster reconciliation between the aggressors and the victims.
Opposition Leader, Steve Abana made the call following the announcement by the National Unity, Peace and Reconciliation Minister, Hon. Hypolite Taremae in the media yesterday of a possible extension of the term of the TRC by the NCRA Government.
Mr Abana said the Opposition supports the commission’s request to the government for the extension to ensure it completes the challenging task of bringing together the victims and the aggressors to tell their accounts of the petrifying experiences they suffered and had inflicted.
He said he understands that some victims are holding back due to fear of retaliation by the aggressors or their relatives and on the other hand, some aggressors are reluctant to come forward for fear of prosecution and this challenging task cannot be accomplished within a span of only two years.
The Opposition Leader said Solomon Islands must establish the truth behind the tension and reconcile those that suffered from the violence then and their perpetrators if it wants to restore national peace and unity.
Mr Abana said the NCRA Government must demonstrate its commitment to ensuring the return of lasting peace and unity in the country by approving the request by the TRC and also providing sufficient budgetary allocation to the Ministry for National Unity, Peace and Reconciliation for the work of the TRC in the 2011 budget.
The Opposition urges the Danny Phillip-led National Coalition for Rural Advancement Government (NCRA) to extend the term of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission mandated to establish the truth about the ethnic tension and foster reconciliation between the aggressors and the victims.
Opposition Leader, Steve Abana made the call following the announcement by the National Unity, Peace and Reconciliation Minister, Hon. Hypolite Taremae in the media yesterday of a possible extension of the term of the TRC by the NCRA Government.
Mr Abana said the Opposition supports the commission’s request to the government for the extension to ensure it completes the challenging task of bringing together the victims and the aggressors to tell their accounts of the petrifying experiences they suffered and had inflicted.
He said he understands that some victims are holding back due to fear of retaliation by the aggressors or their relatives and on the other hand, some aggressors are reluctant to come forward for fear of prosecution and this challenging task cannot be accomplished within a span of only two years.
The Opposition Leader said Solomon Islands must establish the truth behind the tension and reconcile those that suffered from the violence then and their perpetrators if it wants to restore national peace and unity.
Mr Abana said the NCRA Government must demonstrate its commitment to ensuring the return of lasting peace and unity in the country by approving the request by the TRC and also providing sufficient budgetary allocation to the Ministry for National Unity, Peace and Reconciliation for the work of the TRC in the 2011 budget.
BUDGET CLARIFICATION LEAVES MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS: WALE
By Andrew Fanasia Jr.
Deputy Opposition Leader Mathew Wale has commended the Permanent Secretary Special Duties for reforms and projects and the Director of the Policy and Evaluation Unit of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Luma Darcy and Mr Peter Boyers for their efforts in trying to clarify the budget submission for the newly established Bureau for Social and Economic Reform.
However, Mr Wale said the clarifications have left more questions than answers to the valid concerns raised by the Opposition over this matter.
“ If the statement by Mr Darcy is true that the final costing for the newly established Bureau of Social and Economic Reform is yet to be approved, why did the Prime Minister’s Office submit it to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury for inclusion in the 2011 budget?
“The Office of the Leader of Opposition has confirmed with relevant officials from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury that the $4.8-million budget submission for the bureau’s 13 officers published by the local print media was final and not a mere discussion material.”
“If the bureau is not part of the Prime Minister’s Private Political Office, would the 13 posts in it be advertised by the Ministry of Public Service as required under the conventional public service recruitment regulation? The Opposition will be closely monitoring the government to ensure it abides by this regulation if indeed the bureau is not part of the Prime Minister’s Private Political Office,” he said.
The Deputy Opposition Leader said it was interesting to read Mr Boyers trying to defend the hefty budget for the Bureau of Social and Economic Reform by blaming the Sogavare and Dr Sikua regimes for the recruitment of some political appointees of the NCRA Government.
He said unless the political appointees referred to by Mr Boyers continue to serve the new Danny Phillip-led government under their contracts with the previous governments, then he is either naïve or trying to mislead the public on the matter.
“As far as political appointments are concerned, employment contracts of political appointees of any ruling political government are terminated at the end of its term in office and the next political government makes political appointments at its own discretion.
“It is apparent that the appointees referred to are supporters of certain politicians in the NCRA Government and their appointments with the two previous governments were through these same connections.”
Mr Wale said as with this budget submission, the Opposition will need as much time as the NCRA Government to discover its own mind as to what the bureau is and its logistical implication adding the NCRA Government will have been in power for eight months when the 2011 National Budget will be presented to Parliament next April.
The Deputy Opposition Leader said the Opposition is concerned that NCRA has a habit of making proposals it has no idea about and referred to the proposed Forgiveness Bill as another classic example.
Deputy Opposition Leader Mathew Wale has commended the Permanent Secretary Special Duties for reforms and projects and the Director of the Policy and Evaluation Unit of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Luma Darcy and Mr Peter Boyers for their efforts in trying to clarify the budget submission for the newly established Bureau for Social and Economic Reform.
However, Mr Wale said the clarifications have left more questions than answers to the valid concerns raised by the Opposition over this matter.
“ If the statement by Mr Darcy is true that the final costing for the newly established Bureau of Social and Economic Reform is yet to be approved, why did the Prime Minister’s Office submit it to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury for inclusion in the 2011 budget?
“The Office of the Leader of Opposition has confirmed with relevant officials from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury that the $4.8-million budget submission for the bureau’s 13 officers published by the local print media was final and not a mere discussion material.”
“If the bureau is not part of the Prime Minister’s Private Political Office, would the 13 posts in it be advertised by the Ministry of Public Service as required under the conventional public service recruitment regulation? The Opposition will be closely monitoring the government to ensure it abides by this regulation if indeed the bureau is not part of the Prime Minister’s Private Political Office,” he said.
The Deputy Opposition Leader said it was interesting to read Mr Boyers trying to defend the hefty budget for the Bureau of Social and Economic Reform by blaming the Sogavare and Dr Sikua regimes for the recruitment of some political appointees of the NCRA Government.
He said unless the political appointees referred to by Mr Boyers continue to serve the new Danny Phillip-led government under their contracts with the previous governments, then he is either naïve or trying to mislead the public on the matter.
“As far as political appointments are concerned, employment contracts of political appointees of any ruling political government are terminated at the end of its term in office and the next political government makes political appointments at its own discretion.
“It is apparent that the appointees referred to are supporters of certain politicians in the NCRA Government and their appointments with the two previous governments were through these same connections.”
Mr Wale said as with this budget submission, the Opposition will need as much time as the NCRA Government to discover its own mind as to what the bureau is and its logistical implication adding the NCRA Government will have been in power for eight months when the 2011 National Budget will be presented to Parliament next April.
The Deputy Opposition Leader said the Opposition is concerned that NCRA has a habit of making proposals it has no idea about and referred to the proposed Forgiveness Bill as another classic example.
OPPOSITION SLAMS TORA’S QATAR TRIP
Editor's Desk
Opposition Spokesman for Police and National Security, Walter Folotalu has expressed grave concern over the recent trip by the Minister for Police and National Security, Mr James Tora for an Interpol meeting in Doha, Qatar.
The trip is believed to have cost the state around one million dollars.
Mr Folotalu said according to information obtained from the Ministry of Police and National Security most of the money for the trip had to be taken from the police’s operational budget.
He said Minister Tora himself on many occasions said the police lack logistical support by way of equipment, vehicles and Out Board Motor powered canoes.
He said despite Mr Tora’s seemingly concern about the lack of logistics in the Police Force, he managed to squeeze funds allocated for such purposes to attend a meeting though important, is not as vital as the force’s operational requirements.
Mr Folotalu believes the availability of logistic equipment will enable the Royal Solomon Islands Police to carry out its operations more effectively and efficiently.
Opposition Spokesman for Police and National Security, Walter Folotalu has expressed grave concern over the recent trip by the Minister for Police and National Security, Mr James Tora for an Interpol meeting in Doha, Qatar.
The trip is believed to have cost the state around one million dollars.
Mr Folotalu said according to information obtained from the Ministry of Police and National Security most of the money for the trip had to be taken from the police’s operational budget.
He said Minister Tora himself on many occasions said the police lack logistical support by way of equipment, vehicles and Out Board Motor powered canoes.
He said despite Mr Tora’s seemingly concern about the lack of logistics in the Police Force, he managed to squeeze funds allocated for such purposes to attend a meeting though important, is not as vital as the force’s operational requirements.
Mr Folotalu believes the availability of logistic equipment will enable the Royal Solomon Islands Police to carry out its operations more effectively and efficiently.
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