HCC MAYOR PAYS COURTESY VISITATION TO MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS

The Lord Mayor of Honiara City Council (HCC), Councilor (Cr.) Eddie Kasuteé Siapu has made a courtesy visitation to meet with the Minister of Home Affairs, Honorable (Hon.) Isikeli Vave Jr at the Ministry of Home Affairs office today 27^th May 2024.

The main focus of the meeting was the appointment of the Standing Committee of the Honiara City Council.

During the meeting, Mayor Siapu took the opportunity to officially congratulate Minister Vave on his recent victory and subsequent appointment as the Minister responsible for the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Mayor Siapu emphasized the significance of the Ministry of Home Affairs, noting that Minister Vave’s appointment reflects the Prime Minister’s (PM) high level of confidence and trust in him, despite his young age.

He highlighted during his remark that the Council’s Legal office has already submitted the necessary instruments to the Ministry of Home Affairs, whilst awaiting approval from the Ministry so that these instruments can be gazetted. However, the Council has expressed its willingness to consider the views of the Minister on these appointments.

The Honiara City Council has also submitted priority projects and activities that the Council wants the Ministry, as the mother or parent Ministry to bring up to the national government, and it is for inclusion in the Social Sector 100 Days Plan and programs. These priority projects and activities are;

• Review of Honiara City Act 1999. The Council wants to see a major review of the Honiara City Act 1999. This is very important to make the Council more proactive, meaningful, and responsive to the demands of the increasing population of Honiara.

• Finalize and implement the HCC Financial Management Ordinance. The last Council has passed or approved the Financial Management Ordinance. We need to submit it to your office for final approval and then to the gazette before the Council implements it.

• Develop a new cemetery for Honiara City. Obviously, this cannot be achieved or completed within 100 days. However, the Ministry can take off from where the work stopped in 2022. This will require close collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Housing for the Cemetery Master Plan.

• Continue to implement Honiara City Act Amendment 1999 Amendment 2 of 2023. This amendment strengthens the HCC Law Enforcement Division. There is a need to resource the Law Enforcement Division with new vehicles and other equipment so that it can carry out its functions more effectively. The support of the national government is required here.

Cr. Siapu explained as the Council goes beyond the 100 Days and as part of the review of the Honiara City Act 1999, the Council will again request the good office of the Minister to take on board the salary and entitlements of Councilors. Similar to the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening having responsibility for the salary and entitlements of Members of Provincial Assemblies, the Council is requesting the Ministry of Home Affairs to be responsible for salaries and entitlements of Councilors. This will free up Council funds for service deliveries.

The Lord Mayor uttered that his government will continue to engage with the Minister’s office for the development and growth of Honiara City. The Council is facing mounting challenges in terms of funding and service delivery. However, we continue to provide and deliver services using the limited resources we have available, said the City Mayor.

The meeting was attended by several key officials, including Minister of Home Affairs Hon. Isikeli Vave Jr., Lord Mayor Cr. Eddie Kasuteé Siapu, Permanent Secretary Jeffrey D. Sade, City Clerk Justus Denni, and Deputy City Clerk Jefferson Patovaki.