_{By Ronald F. Toito’ona}

It has been touted as a life-saving health facility.

News of its construction brought hope and excitement to the constituents of East Malaita.

But six years on, the proposed SBD$40 million mini-hospital project stands incomplete, and is becoming an eye-sore for the people of Malaita’s eastern region.

Built opposite the Tatali clinic on the outskirts of the provincial substation of Atori,  the mini-hospital is an initiative of the East Malaita constituency that started around 2017 under the leadership of four-time member of parliament, Manasseh Maelanga.

Once operational, it was announced then, the hospital would serve the Eastern Malaita Region, benefiting neighbouring constituencies as far as East Fataleka, East Kwaio, and East Are’are. 

As part of assistance to the constituency-led project, China allocated SBD$40 million funding support for the mini-hospital project in 2022, through its Embassy in Honiara. 

This was under the government’s Constituency Development Fund (CDF) program, administered by the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD).

But China is not the only funder. It was Taiwan, who first responded to the constituency’s call for support, when Solomon Islands was still enjoying diplomatic ties with the self-ruled democratic island.

How much money did Taiwan and China allocated for the project?

According to our investigation, the facility was initially funded by Taiwan in 2017, when the Taiwanese Government provided SBD$2 million for the first phase of the mini hospital project through Maelanga.

That same year, a groundbreaking ceremony was conducted at the site, graced by the presence of Maelanga, other officials, and local landowners.

Following the groundbreaking event, Maelanga said the constituency office would give the mini hospital its highest priority.

Local company, CHIEF Structures and Guess Network Target 57, were the first to be engaged, for assessment and survey work under Taiwanese government funding support.

Apart from the funding assistance by Taiwan, Maelanga said the project would also be supported by an annual constituency budget allocation of SBD$1million. This, he asserted, reflects his commitment to fulfilling his constituents’ needs and requests. 

But it now appeared, this was an empty promise.

The reality is there was no serious progress on the project works from the 2017-2018 period.

Maelanga’s promise for East Malaita constituency to lead Malaita Province with the construction of a business centre, mini hospital, wharf, road access, and market fell terribly short.

Taiwan abandoned project

Taiwan abandoned the project when Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition to China in September 2019. 

This resulted in further delays, until the East Malaita Constituency (EMC) office reached out to China for further financial assistance. 

On 13 June 2022, the East Malaita Constituency received building materials for the modern-style mini-hospital, in a small but significant handing over ceremony at the Alligator Creek, east of Honiara.

The then Chinese Ambassador, Li Ming handed over the materials to Maelanga, who at the time was the country’s Deputy Prime Minister.

At the event, Maelanga thanked China for the support, highlighting the medical challenges faced by residents in East Malaita.

He expressed hope for more assistance and training support from China, including hosting a Chinese medical team in the new mini-hospital in the future.

Ambassador Li Ming emphasised China’s commitment to friendship with the Solomon Islands based on respect, mutual benefit, openness, and transparency. 

During the handing over ceremony, he also highlighted China’s aid contributions to infrastructure, agriculture, health, and livelihood in Malaita and other provinces.

On 19th August 2022, building materials were delivered on site. These include gravels, bricks, steel rods, fuel and other materials – for phase 1 of the project, which is foundation works.

In receiving the support from China, Maelanga expressed the difficulty in getting the project off the ground but emphasised the importance of unity in achieving the community’s vision for better livelihoods. 

As per the co-funding arrangement for the mini-hospital project, PRC is responsible for the funding of hardware materials, Aggregates/mix gravels, and sand. 

The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) and East Malaita Constituency supported the project in Transportation/Shipping, Site workers, Harly Designs Consultancy (HDC) Ltd, and local/raw materials (timbers).

Contractor speaks out: Work falls behind schedule

Construction of the mini-hospital project began on 20 August 2022, aiming to address the challenge of accessing basic health services in the region. 

According to MRD, Harly Designs Consultancy (HDC) Ltd was engaged in the construction with assistance from local youths within the East Malaita Constituency. 

This was however denied by the company’s Managing Director, Harrison Oldom.

“HDC Ltd was engaged to do the design and the management of the project, not the construction. The construction is done by Constituency workers,” Oldom told In-depth Solomons.

“We were engaged by the Constituency after a Design Team originally engaged to do the design of the Mini-hospital did not meet the design requirements,” he explained.

“Moreover, our experience with the design and management of Buala Hospital Extension project gives the Constituency the confidence to engage us to assist in this project,” Oldom added.

Despite challenges posed by the weather, Supervisor Walter Pado of Harly Designs Consultancy Ltd, expressed satisfaction with the progress during a visit by Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) officials to the project site in September 2022.

But their target was to complete phase one, including the foundation and slab, within three months, with adjustments expected if weather disruptions occur.

“The construction started in 2022 with the first phase of the project – the construction of the ‘Acute & Emergency and Outpatient Building’. The works completed include; the footing and the slab works which are 80% complete,” Oldom said.

He also confirmed that the original timeline for the project is 13 months  – start date 19 August 2022 and practical completion date 23 September 2023. 

However, this has not been the case. 

According to In-depth Solomons findings, there was no serious construction work being done from the October-December 2022 period and that construction work has gone behind the scheduled timeline.

In February 2023, the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) reported that the multi-million-dollar modern-style mini-hospital project is making significant progress, as it is set to be the largest health infrastructure project in the constituency’s history. 

The MRD statement claimed the Outpatient Section is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, with the shipment of building materials scheduled for February the same year.

That was the last update received from the MRD on the project.

In-depth Solomons investigations revealed that the mini-hospital project was halted for most of 2023 due to financial delays, as reported by local workers and constituents.

The MRD Communications team also stopped providing media updates on the project’s progress. When contacted, In-depth Solomons was directed to reach out to Gabriel Rockson, the former Constituency Development Officer (CDO) of East Malaita constituency.

Rockson did not respond to questions sent in April.

Besides, attempts to interview officials from the Chinese Embassy in Honiara since March have also been unsuccessful, as they have not replied to queries.

Maelanga, who also serves as the Minister for Infrastructure Development (MID), has not responded to questions sent to his Executive Personal Secretary (EPS) through the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) Press Secretariat on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Project’s construction delay

As part of our investigation to ascertain the delay of the construction works, In-depth Solomons made a visit to the site in February 2024. The visit came following reports received by constituents, questioning what is happening to the project.

In-depth Solomons was also told that since there was no active construction work being  done for about a year already, constituency workers are now frustrated and started to sell building materials to community members.

“In light of the construction pause at the mini-hospital, labourers find themselves compelled to sell off bricks, steel rods, fuel drums, and other materials,” said David Maepeza, a school teacher residing at Gwarimudu village, situated close to the project site.

“It seems they’re driven to do so to compensate for their labour,” Maepeza said.

Jack Ofasia, a resident of the constituency, told In-depth Solomons of the precarious state of affairs surrounding the mini-hospital project. 

“Even the gravels left at Atori wharf in 2022 have been taken away by nearby residents for their own purposes,” Ofasia said. 

“This serves as a clear indication of the project’s deterioration and impending failure,” he added.

In-depth Solomons also established that the remaining gravels at Atori wharf have just been transported to the project site only a few weeks prior to our visit. 

This was made by a local transport owner, and a political supporter of Maelanga, who also contested the provincial elections for Malaita’s Ward 16: Kwai-Faumamanu, in April.

Current state of construction – reasons for delay explained

According to the Harley Designs Consultancy (HDC) Ltd, work on the mini-hospital project has just reached 20%. Company owner, Harrison Oldom also testified that the project has fallen well behind schedule due to funding constraints.  

“In 2023 PRC (China), the funder concentrated on the SPG (Pacific Games), thus no construction works till after the games. 

“Out of the 13 months program, only 4 months of actual construction work was done,” Oldom told In-depth Solomons.

He added one of the challenges his company faced was funding limitations.

“In fact we don’t manage the funds,” he explained.  

“The entire project is over SBD$40 million and the A&E/OPD building is SBD$$7.8m. 

“As has been arranged by China and East Malaita Constituency the funding allocation each year is SBD$1 – $1.5-million, thus with this trend, we may not complete the building as per the timeline of 13 months,” said Oldom.

He reiterated that his company is not the contractor responsible for the project, and workers were recruited from nearby communities.

Oldom highlighted that “the Constituency should engage an established contractor in such a way that it will be easier to manage. At times the workers had their demands and expectations and when it is not in the best interest of the project it is quite a challenge to sort out.”

Another challenge, he said, was that the payment of site workers and his company was being made under the constituency and not PRC.

“…. the delay in payments is a challenge for all of us under the project,” Oldom revealed.

Project location not ideal for a mini-hospital

In light of recent revelations about the prolonged completion time of the mini-hospital project, In-depth Solomons was aware that the project was done without approval from the Malaita Province health division.

Fredrick Fa’abasua, the former Provincial Secretary of Malaita Province has raised concerns regarding the suitability of the identified land for constructing a mini-hospital.

“The east Malaita mini-hospital is a failed project from the beginning,” Fa’abasua said.

“It was initiated outside the Malaita Provincial Government Health Division’s plans to develop and upgrade clinics and health centers,” he added.

He told In-depth Solomons that from what he understands, Nafinua Clinic should be the health facility needing upgrading, adding the east Malaita mini-hospital project was never discussed with the Malaita Provincial government, nor the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MHMS).

Head of the Malaita Provincial Health Services, Dr David Danitofea, confirmed Fa’abasua’s statement.

Danitofea said there was no consultation held with the Malaita Health authority about the mini-hospital.

While he acknowledged the positive trend of donors and communities building clinics in the province to address the growing population’s needs, he stressed that the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has specific criteria for determining clinic locations.

“Population density and distance between clinics are two important factors that must be taken into consideration when determining the location of a clinic or hospital.

“The east Malaita mini-hospital was planned and built without MHMS consent. It’s important for donors, politicians and communities to respect MHMS’s guidelines and criteria.

“The MHMS only uses Area Health Center 1 and 2, provincial and national referral hospitals.”

Danitofea said although these terms might not just mean anything, it needs to be put right according to the language used by the MHMS.

He stated that while donors and communities contribute to building facilities, the MHMS is the body  responsible for operations and staff deployment.

Ugaiabu Tribe: Possible land dispute might cause further delay

The Ungaiabu tribe in East Malaita is said to be the owner of the land the hospital was built. 

This was part of the constituency project that will include staff residences, a secondary school, a Rural Training Center (RTC), as well as zones allocated for tourism, markets, fisheries, and various economic activities. 

Furthermore, landowners across East Malaita have registered their land through the government’s Customary Land Recording initiative, which is supervised by the Ungaiabu Trust Board.

However, documents obtained by In-depth Solomons show that Ugaiabu Tribe is not the legal land owning tribe responsible for the land on which the mini-hospital was built.

This makes constituents wonder if Maelanga, through the constituency office, had been dealing with genuine land owners in developing the multi-million dollar project.

According to documents, the customary land was purchased by one late Joel Ledia Sipolo of Atori, in 1956 from John Maelimani of the Ugaiabu Tribe. 

The document said the ownership status of late Sipolo and his family was substantiated by the Malaita Local Court determination, dated 20th November 1992. 

The ruling was maintained in the Malaita Customary Land Appeal Court decision on 3rd May 1994, and further in the High Court Land Appeal Case Number 6 of 1994, judgement dated 13th October 1994.

Despite not being the rightful landowners of the land, the tribe has been receiving payments from the East Malaita Constituency Office. 

In early 2022, one of the payments made to the Ugaiabu Tribe amounted to SBD$200,000.00 as a token of appreciation from the National Government, MRD and East Malaita constituency office for allowing their land to be developed as the Constituency Development Center (CDC).

Relatives of late Sipolo were deeply upset by this payment, as they knew that someone else had taken the payment for the use of their land, legally acquired from the Maelimanis.

They were under the impression that before the mini-hospital project commences, they were the ones who should be consulted by the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD).

However, they feel they have been left uninformed and excluded from the decision-making process. 

This has led to them seeking legal action, where a letter was sent to Maelanga, the Permanent Secretary of MRD, and the Chinese Embassy around August 2022.

In the letter, Late Sipolo’s relatives proposed two approaches to help address their grievances. 

1. The constituency to immediately pay a settlement of SBD$100,000.00, and or
2. Pay a settlement of $200,000.00, which was also paid to the purported Ungaiabu Trust Board.

They insisted that failure to meet their demands would result in further legal actions.

During a verbal meeting with Maelanga, the constituency has agreed to make installment payments of land fees as requested in option 1 above. But the MP has failed to live up to his promise.

In-depth Solomons was aware that the MP only paid SBD$13,000 to the concerned party, promising to make further installments.

The Sipolo family also went as far as restricting the entry of any vessel carrying materials for the mini-hospital project into the Kwai Harbour.

It seems that the demand was seriously considered, since no vessels carrying materials for the hospital project has reached Atori Wharf over the last year.

Our investigation also discovered that this incomplete hospital project overshadows the hopes of people in east Malaita in accessing improved health services as promised to them by Maelanga.

Will this mini-hospital project, which offers much hope for the people of Malaita’s eastern region, be revived and completed?

That’s a question the MP for East Malaita Constituency, who is now serving his fourth term in parliament, will need to answer.

 ENDS//