Friday, February 17th, 2017
Authoritative issues questioned in welfare Bill
HONOURABLE Rick Hou thinks the Child and Family Welfare Bill 2016 gives too much authority to the Director. The Member of Parliament for Small Malaita made the statement in his contribution to the Bill on the floor of Parliament yesterday. “While I appreciate this is handling and proper management, I fear that this could result by neglect of the law. “Firstly, if we have to have everything, and every decision having to be made by one person, the likelihood of this one person not being able to deal with theseRead More
Financial resources may hamper legislation implementation
FINANCIAL resources to thoroughly implement the Child and Family Welfare Bill 2016 have been questioned. The Member of Parliament for Small Malaita, Hon Rick Hou told Parliament yesterday that this is questionable as what is expected of the Government is always beyond what should be sustainable and manageable at a certain level to implement legislations. “It demands significant financial resources to implement this Bill when it comes to law. There should be no doubt where ‘the buck stops’: the proposed law puts the onus directly on the government to provide,Read More
Police free of retired officers: Varley
POLICE Commissioner Mathew Varley has brushed aside claims that there are certain retired officers refusing to accept retirement and are continuing to serve in the Royal Solomon Island Police Force. Mr Varley said they have checked with their records but there are no instances as claimed. He said there is only one officer who was supposed to retire but was given a fixed term appointment for two years, and that was part of executive planning and recognition of her senior role in the force. Mr Varley also said there areRead More
Pacific Tsunami exercise today
THE National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) will today conduct the Pacific Tsunami Exercise starting at 12pm to 1pm at the NDMO headquarters. NDMO said the Overall Objectives of the Exercise are; (1) To evaluate the format and content of experimental NWPTAC/PTWC enhanced products. (2) Determine whether countries are prepared to officially receive and utilise the NWPTAC enhanced products. (3) Determine whether agencies and private business house with specific roles and responsibilities knows and understand the Solomon Islands NTWA/NDMA. “The exercise will allow everybody to test their communications plans including the StandardRead More
Roles in child welfare Bill not clear
ROLES of stakeholders in the Child and Family Welfare Bill 2016 are not properly articulated. The Member of Parliament for Small Malaita Hon Rick Hou told Parliament yesterday that some representatives of existing operators dealing with children and family affairs have raised the question why everything regarding the Bill would fall on the Director of Social Welfare. “This is again another unreasonable expectation given the geographical scattered of our country, not to mention the transportation and communications challenges we have. “If it was only Honiara-based children and families that weRead More
Consultation on Child Welfare Bill narrow
MEMBER of Parliament for Small Malaita, Hon Rick Hou expressed his utter dismay that the Child and Family Welfare Bill 2016 is deprived of sound advice and input from many groups that are already dealing with the matter. The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Member of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) made the statement on the floor of Parliament. He made the statement in his contribution to the Child and Family Welfare Bill 2016. “During the BLC inquiries, it was revealed that faith-based organisations were notRead More
Motel pursues $188k bill from Malaita province gov’t
THE FE Travellers Motel in Auki is asking the Malaita provincial government for its outstanding bill of $188,000. The outstanding bill is said to have been incurred during the period of electing a premier for Malaita province. Speaking to Island Sun, the motel’s management said that members of Premier Ramohia’s executive had rented rooms while the premier-seeking process was on. Further information says that after Premier Ramohia’s successful election, members of his executive continued to stay on for an unspecified period of time. Some members checked out without informing motelRead More
Former Sri Lankan SIG law secretary dies
JOHN Paul, a former Secretary of Solomon Islands Law Revision Commission, who was actively involved in the preparation of the revised law of Solomon Islands from 1990 to 1996, passed away in his home in Canada this week. Late Paul of Sri Lankan origin was 90 years old. Late Paul spent six years working in the Attorney General’s Chamber as secretary of the Revised Laws of Solomon Islands prepared under the authority of the revised edition of the Laws Act, 1995. The revised edition of the laws was published inRead More
Police Commissioner to visit Tulagi
POLICE Commissioner Mathew Varley will be visiting Tulagi police on Wednesday next week. He revealed this during a press conference yesterday that the visit is part of his provincial tours and is looking forward to meeting the Provincial Commander and the officers in Tulagi with the communities there. Mr Varley also did church visits in Honiara and has so far visited the St Barnabas Cathedral of the Anglican Church and the Holy Cross Cathedral of the Catholic Church. This Sunday he will be visiting the United Church in Honiara. HeRead More
Social welfare office questioned
SPONSORING Ministries of the Child and Family Welfare Bill 2016 have been questioned over offices to cater for the proposed legislation. The social welfare office was made reference to in particular to the Bill. The Member of Parliament for Small Malaita, Hon Rick Hou raised the concern on the floor of Parliament yesterday in his contribution to the Bill. “The issue I wish to raise is the question as to where the Social Welfare Division is currently located – that is in the Ministry of Health & Medical Services. “IRead More