2023 Pacific Games stadium in doubt

BY BEN BILUA

THE Government may have to look for other source(s) to fund preparations for the 2023 South Pacific Games.

There was no discussion on Taiwan’s commitment to assist Solomon Islands host the 2023 South Pacific Games.

Even President Tsai Ing-wen did not mention a single word on Taiwan’s assistance towards the preparation of the games in all her speeches during her visit in Honiara.

Only one sentence in the bilateral talking points between the two leaders mentioned Solomon Islands counting on Taiwan’s assistance for a successful Pacific Games 2023.

The Solomon Islands government has approached Taiwan for funding to construct the main games venue for the 2023 Pacific Games to be held in Honiara.

Early this year (January 6, 2017), former deputy prime minister Manasseh Maelanga, who was also then the Minister for Home Affairs, said Taiwan will fund the main stadium for the 2023 Pacific Games.

He said the venue is expected to cost more than $US28 million.

Maelanga said a Taiwanese team had already look at the proposed sites for the games venues and have returned to Taipei to work out the full details of the project.