The Office of the Auditor General, OAG, has raised some serious questions about the way the commission of inquiry into the 2006 April riots spent more than SBD$4.1 Million dollars.
The OAG was requested in November 2007 to review the administration and management of finances allocated to the commission the amount at that time stood at SBD$3.8 Million dollars. At the end of the investigation however, the OAG has found that the commission had spent a total of SBD$4,179,800.95. The OAG also noted that several expenditure items were not related to the commission of inquiry. For example, the audit report has found that a total of SBD$209,857.97 in legal fees were paid to an Australian firm of solicitors for personal legal fees of two prominent government officials with no link to the inquiry. A further SBD$13,230.00 was paid as sitting allowances for other committees not connected to the commission of inquiry. The OAG has also found that SBD$31,753.48 was spent by the commission on stationeries although they should have been provided by the secretarial service which was paid SBD$50,000 a month to provide that service to the commission. Return airfares to PNG were paid in respect of commissioners in addition to the return airfares catered for in their contracts. There was also a return airfare to Gizo for the counsel assisting the commission for the same time period. Meals for the commissioners were paid in addition to their accommodation while their contracts clearly stated that accommodation would be provided but was silent on the provision of meals. The OAG report is also critical of the fact that two standing imprests totaling SBD$505,000 were issued, and required to be retired by 31 December 2007, was yet to be retired by June 2008 when the audit report was produced. The OAG strongly recommends the Prime Minister's Office to play a more active role in monitoring the financial and budgetary processes of the commission and effectively monitoring and assessments of contract performance. The OAG audit report also says that the Secretary to Cabinet has provided action plan to address all of the recommendations raised in the report. The Secretary to Cabinet also assured the OAG that matters raised would be investigated and disciplinary and legal action taken as required.
source: solomontimes
Friday, November 7, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Obama Wins US Election, Makes History
The United States Presidential candidate, the Democrats' Barack Obama, won the American presidency last night making history as the first African-American president
History has been made in one of the most powerful nations in the world when Barack Obama, the first African-American to ever be nominated by a major US political party, won the American Presidency last night beating rival, Republican John McCain with 349 - 147 electoral votes.270 votes are needed to win and Obama clearly won majority, 'the first Democrat to receive more than 50 percent of the popular vote since Jimmy Carter in 1976', according to the Associated Press.Celebrations are taking place around the world as various cities and communities celebrate this historic moment not just for the US, but for the rest of the world. Many shed tears that they lived to see this historical achievement and the thought of what it meant not just for Americans, but for the rest of the world.According to the Associated Press, in his speech to a victory rally of 125,000 people jammed into Chicago's Grant Park, Obama said, "It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America".Obama scored an Electoral College landslide that redrew America's political map. He won states that reliably voted Republican in presidential elections, like Indiana and Virginia, which hadn't supported the Democratic candidate in 44 years. Ohio and Florida, key to Bush's twin victories, also went for Obama, as did Pennsylvania, which McCain had deemed crucial for his election hopes.The son of a Kenyan father and a white mother from Kansas, the 47-year-old Obama has had a startlingly rapid rise, from lawyer and community organizer to state legislator and U.S. senator, now just four years into his first term. He is the first senator elected to the White House since John F. Kennedy in 1960.Also, Democrats expanded their majority in both houses of Congress. In the House, with fewer than a dozen races still undecided, Democrats captured Republican-held seats in the Northeast, South and West and were on a path to pick up as many as 20 seats.When Obama and running mate Joe Biden take their oath of office on Jan. 20, Democrats will control both the White House and Congress for the first time since 1994.After the longest and costliest campaign in U.S. history, Obama was propelled to victory by voters dismayed by eight years of George W. Bush's presidency and deeply anxious about rising unemployment and home foreclosures and a battered stock market that has erased trillions of dollars of savings for Americans.Obama acknowledged that repairing the economy and dealing with problems at home and overseas will not happen quickly. "We may not get there in one year or even in one term," he said. "But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there."
source: solomontimes
History has been made in one of the most powerful nations in the world when Barack Obama, the first African-American to ever be nominated by a major US political party, won the American Presidency last night beating rival, Republican John McCain with 349 - 147 electoral votes.270 votes are needed to win and Obama clearly won majority, 'the first Democrat to receive more than 50 percent of the popular vote since Jimmy Carter in 1976', according to the Associated Press.Celebrations are taking place around the world as various cities and communities celebrate this historic moment not just for the US, but for the rest of the world. Many shed tears that they lived to see this historical achievement and the thought of what it meant not just for Americans, but for the rest of the world.According to the Associated Press, in his speech to a victory rally of 125,000 people jammed into Chicago's Grant Park, Obama said, "It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America".Obama scored an Electoral College landslide that redrew America's political map. He won states that reliably voted Republican in presidential elections, like Indiana and Virginia, which hadn't supported the Democratic candidate in 44 years. Ohio and Florida, key to Bush's twin victories, also went for Obama, as did Pennsylvania, which McCain had deemed crucial for his election hopes.The son of a Kenyan father and a white mother from Kansas, the 47-year-old Obama has had a startlingly rapid rise, from lawyer and community organizer to state legislator and U.S. senator, now just four years into his first term. He is the first senator elected to the White House since John F. Kennedy in 1960.Also, Democrats expanded their majority in both houses of Congress. In the House, with fewer than a dozen races still undecided, Democrats captured Republican-held seats in the Northeast, South and West and were on a path to pick up as many as 20 seats.When Obama and running mate Joe Biden take their oath of office on Jan. 20, Democrats will control both the White House and Congress for the first time since 1994.After the longest and costliest campaign in U.S. history, Obama was propelled to victory by voters dismayed by eight years of George W. Bush's presidency and deeply anxious about rising unemployment and home foreclosures and a battered stock market that has erased trillions of dollars of savings for Americans.Obama acknowledged that repairing the economy and dealing with problems at home and overseas will not happen quickly. "We may not get there in one year or even in one term," he said. "But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there."
source: solomontimes
New step for Bina Harbour
A CONSENT order that will pave the way for development to take place at Bina Harbour in Malaita, will be signed this Friday. Landowners of Bina Talifu land will sign the order.
This became possible after discussions between landowners and government officials last Friday in Auki.Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Rural Development Dr Judson Leafasia said the consent will pave the way for the development of Bina Harbour International Seaport. “Bina Talifu land is the core area of the Bina Harbour Seaports development,” Dr Leafasia said.“The signing of the consent order will pave the way for development to take place there,” he added.He said the landowners agreed to set up an interim committee to deal with the government on acquisition while they sort out their differences.Dr Leafasia said the Bina Harbour Seaport Project is a big development that needs a big area of land. “This proposed development did not take place because of differences between landowners and the ethnic tension.“Both the government and the landowners are now happy with the agreement and want development to proceed once it is signed,” he said.Dr Leafasia said developing Bina Harbour will open up way for other developments. The Bina Harbour Project is subject to a development agreement signed on 23rd July 1999 but was shelved because of the ethnic tension and land disputes.The Sikua Government says it is committed, under its rural development policy, to implement the project in the next two years.The Government had allocated $5 million for Bina Harbour in its 2008 budget.Two other projects in Malaita, which the national government wanted to start, are Auluta Basin Palm Oil Project and Suava Bay township
source: solomonstar
This became possible after discussions between landowners and government officials last Friday in Auki.Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Rural Development Dr Judson Leafasia said the consent will pave the way for the development of Bina Harbour International Seaport. “Bina Talifu land is the core area of the Bina Harbour Seaports development,” Dr Leafasia said.“The signing of the consent order will pave the way for development to take place there,” he added.He said the landowners agreed to set up an interim committee to deal with the government on acquisition while they sort out their differences.Dr Leafasia said the Bina Harbour Seaport Project is a big development that needs a big area of land. “This proposed development did not take place because of differences between landowners and the ethnic tension.“Both the government and the landowners are now happy with the agreement and want development to proceed once it is signed,” he said.Dr Leafasia said developing Bina Harbour will open up way for other developments. The Bina Harbour Project is subject to a development agreement signed on 23rd July 1999 but was shelved because of the ethnic tension and land disputes.The Sikua Government says it is committed, under its rural development policy, to implement the project in the next two years.The Government had allocated $5 million for Bina Harbour in its 2008 budget.Two other projects in Malaita, which the national government wanted to start, are Auluta Basin Palm Oil Project and Suava Bay township
source: solomonstar
PM Sikua to Deal With Ganate's Case Soon
The Prime Minister, Dr. Derek Sikua is expected to deal soon with the fate of the suspended Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Provincial Government Fred Ganate
Mr. Ganate was suspended by the Prime Minister on half pay after strong protests from provincial premiers against the accidental screening of some pornographic materials during a presentation at the Lata Premiers Conference in September of this year.Following Mr. Ganate's suspension the Prime Minister set up an investigative committee headed by his Special Secretary John Keniapisia to look into the matter.Mr. Keniapisia told the Express that his group had finished its investigations and forwarded it to the Secretary to Cabinet Ms Ruth Liloqula and it is understood that the report has already been forwarded to the Prime Minister.Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Mr. Edmund Andresen, has told the National Express that disciplinary matters in relation to Permanent Secretaries had been delegated to the Secretary to Cabinet.Mr. Andresen said that permanent secretaries have also been recruited under contracts and their employment terms and conditions are also subject to the terms of their contracts.He said that due to these reasons the Public Service would not directly deal with Mr. Ganate's case.
source: solomontimes
Mr. Ganate was suspended by the Prime Minister on half pay after strong protests from provincial premiers against the accidental screening of some pornographic materials during a presentation at the Lata Premiers Conference in September of this year.Following Mr. Ganate's suspension the Prime Minister set up an investigative committee headed by his Special Secretary John Keniapisia to look into the matter.Mr. Keniapisia told the Express that his group had finished its investigations and forwarded it to the Secretary to Cabinet Ms Ruth Liloqula and it is understood that the report has already been forwarded to the Prime Minister.Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Mr. Edmund Andresen, has told the National Express that disciplinary matters in relation to Permanent Secretaries had been delegated to the Secretary to Cabinet.Mr. Andresen said that permanent secretaries have also been recruited under contracts and their employment terms and conditions are also subject to the terms of their contracts.He said that due to these reasons the Public Service would not directly deal with Mr. Ganate's case.
source: solomontimes
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