Additional 25 Solomon Island dolphins destined for Singapore?

Makili blasts Government
Solomon Star 29 Nov 11;

25 Solomon dolphins were caught illegally in the country were shipped silently overseas last week. They are reportedly destined for China or Hong Kong but Mr Makili said he is certain they were on their way to the Philippians and then to Singapore.

OUTSPOKEN environmental campaigner and regional director of Earth Islands Institute (EII) Lawrence Makili fires the first shot at newly elected Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo.

Mr Makili said an “illegal” shipment of dolphin had left the country last week without knowledge of responsible officers within the Ministry of Fisheries.

“Twenty-five bottlenose dolphins caught illegally in the country were shipped silently overseas last week,” he claimed.

He said according to officials within the Ministry of fisheries, they have no knowledge of the export.

“There should be an inspection carried out by fisheries officials, but that did not happen.”

The dolphins were reportedly destined for China or Hong Kong but Mr Makili said he is certain they were on their way to the Philippians and then to Singapore.

He claimed the dolphins were caught by Dr Baddley Anita in the seas of Malaita and Central Islands Province without license to hunt and catch in those areas.

Mr Makili said this was the shipment scheduled to happen in September this year but was impeded because he rang the alarm of controversial circumstances surrounding the export.

He pointed fingers at the Minister for Environment Moffat Fugui and his director for allowing the export to continue.

“They must have taken advantage of the recent political situation and give green light for the export.”

He said the announcement made by Mr Fugui when he raised the alarm during September’s hampered export, that the government will ban dolphin export by January 2012 was hopeless.

“There is no instrument in place to show that is going to happen – meaning a mere cover up when they were caught red handed.”

Mr Makili switched to the new Prime Minister saying the export happen when he was in power.

“Where is the transparency the Prime Minister talked about when he came into power?

“Is this what you call transparency when responsible authorities within the Fisheries Ministry have no knowledge of the export?”

Mr Makili also accused the church of Melanesia for allowing its property (Bungana Island) for the controversial and barbaric act against the friendly animals to happen.

“Does the church have any charters on environmental issues in place?”

He said he will dig up the facts surrounding the export and expose the whole saga for the public to know.

Attempts to talk to Dr Anita and the Minister of Environment last night were unsuccessful.

By EDNAL PALMER

Claims of Illegal Dolphin Shipment
Solomon Times 30 Nov 11;

Solomon Islands environmental campaigner, Lawrence Makili, says an illegal shipment of at least 50 dolphins has been smuggled out of the country bound for China.

The regional director of Earth Islands Institute said Ministry of Fisheries officials have no knowledge of the 50 dolphins.

He's blaming unnamed ministers who he said took advantage of the recent political uncertainty in Solomons and gave the green light to the export.

On November 11 Prime Minister Danny Philip resigned ahead of a parliamentary no-confidence vote.

Former Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has since been elected to the top job.

Mr Makili told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat it's too late to have the shipment recalled.

"The shipment was already done and left last week, last Wednesday, without anyone knowing about it," he said.

"So I called up the Fisheries Department and they didn't know anything about the shipment and the department should have done the inspection and to make sure documentation were proper.

"They have no knowledge about the shipment and that is a shock to me".

EII illuminates Bita’ama people’s dreams
Solomon Star 29 Nov 11;

THEY have nothing to lose apart from it being a cultural activity, but the Bita’ama community had made a choice that would benefit them in a long run.

The North Malaita community had agreed not to hunt dolphins and have new permanent homes instead, to substitute the ‘unsustainable’ act against the friendly sea fish.

Yesterday members of the community witnessed a dream of owning permanent homes illuminate when they observed Earth Island Institute (EII) regional director Lawrence Makili trawls out one Lucas sawmill for the community.

Earth Island Institute (EII) last year reached a deal with dolphin hunting communities in Malaita in a bid to stop the communities from hunting dolphins.

These communities Bita’ama, Fanalei and Walande normally hunt dolphins – a cultural practice they enjoyed for decades now.

EII in its continuous efforts to save mammals including dolphins throughout the world, work vigorously to see this heartless activity against dolphins stopped thus made a breakthrough.

The communities reached an agreement with EII last year, whereby dolphin hunting will stop and beneficial activities introduced to the communities by EII instead.

Bita’ama community agreed on a number of proposals but resorted to a housing scheme project as their priority reward in agreement for a stop hunt.

Mr Makili yesterday took delivery of the latest model Lucas sawmill (10 inch/30hp) from Fair-trade as EII puts the deal into reality for the community.

Mr Makili said he will transport the Lucas sawmill to Bita’ama community to officially deliver it to the community in the presence of everyone on a date yet to be set.

“The Lucas Sawmill cost more than SBD$225,000.

“Two more complete sets of 090 chainsaws will be delivered today to accompany the Lucas sawmill.

“The two chainsaws costs SBD$58, 000,” he said

More than a dozen excited members of the community were at the delivery scene to witness the happening.

“Four members of the community will undergo training with the supplier on how to operate the machine,” Mr Makili said.

He said Fanalei community will receive their share under the same deal sometimes this week.

“More than SBD$400,000 will be given to the community.”

The EII regional director said Walande will get theirs when arrangements are completed.

A member of the Bita’ama community yesterday said they could not express in words the joy of seeing their long time dreams of owning permanent homes fulfilling.

“This machine will be used to build more than 700 homes for villagers.”

Mr Makili said another choice of Bita’ama community was for small income generating projects.

EII is an NGO working to make oceans safe for marine mammals worldwide. They have been very active in the Solomon Islands because of the continuous export of dolphins overseas sometimes under controversial circumstances. Last week, another batch of dolphins was mutely whisked from the country to an overseas destination.

By EDNAL PALMER