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From bare foot to Rio 16

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Group photo of some of the local athletes and leaders who were inducted into the Hall of Fame yesterday. Picture Peter Zoleveke II

Olympians recognised

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

IT was in 1983 the governing International Olympic Committee (IOC) formally recognized Solomon Islands into the Olympic movement following its establishment – prior to that, local athletes competed bare footed and travelled on ships to regional competitions.

Thirty three years later, after the Rio 2016 Olympics, 20 local Olympians were finally recognized by NOCSI for their sporting feat as the country’s ambassadors. Also recognized were leaders during these nine Olympiads who were all inducted into NOCSI’s sporting Hall of Fame yesterday.

IOC initially supported then Solomon Islands National Olympic Committee (SINOC). In 1984 four athletes for the first time ever represented the country at the Los Angeles Olympics.

Four years earlier, SINOC founding father, Christian Suaga recalled the challenges in leading the country’s then contingent to the first South Pacific Mini Games and then to the International multi – sporting event when the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland opened its doors for the nation to be inaugurated.

“I remember in 1979 the first time leading a team we travelled by ship to Fiji and competed barefooted in soccer at the first Pacific Mini Games we attended. Upon our return that’s when we begin to connect, sending request to IOC. In 1983 the formation of SINOC came to fruition after our request was granted,” the softly spoken Mr. Suaga recalled.

Long – Distance runner Primo Higa received his award from NOCSI President Martin Rara

Thirty three years later after the Los Angeles, the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) through it Solomon Islands Athletes Commission (SIAC) recognized and inducted these Olympians into the sporting Hall of Fame in a brief unveiling ceremony.

“IOC has to take some time to consider the request of Solomon Islands and eventually it did approve under the captaincy of Mr. Suaga,” says NOCSI President Martin Rara.

“The country continues to enjoy the privilege offered by the mother body to this day. Today we recognize you athletes and leaders that had represented our country in these various Olympic Games hosted in different locations of the world.

“Each of you has a history and story to tell about your short stint at the world fiercest battle of sports rivalry ever experience in the past during your time. Your legacy will inspire our aspiring young talents to strive and raise the country’s flag at an Olympic podium,” Mr. Rara expresses.

“As the current President I continue to acknowledge you for the performances and sacrifices you all have done in ensuring the five stars continue to fly in various stadiums of the Olympic Games around the world.

Mr. Rara also saluted former Presidents and Secretaries of NOCSI and past executives who had served within SINOC and now NOCSI.

“I thank you all for your great effort in keeping the country afloat until now despite many tough challenges to lead,” he said.

Sports and National federations that had represented the Solomon Islands at the Olympic Games from 1984 to 2016 are; Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Judo and Weightlifting.

The Hall of Fame recognizes,

Presidents;

1 Christian SUAGA

2 Brown SAUA

3 David CAMPBELL

4 Charles DAUSABEA

5 Fred MAETOLOA

6 Martin Ba’ai RARA

Secretary Generals

1. John BAKEUA

2. Joseph PITU

3. Fox QWAINA

4. Martin ALUFURAI

5. Cecil ONO

6. Melinda AVOSA

Olympians;

1. Charlie OLIVER

2. Johnson KERE

3. Leslie ATA

4. Tommy BAURO

5. Benjamin FAFALE

6. John MAEKE

7. Derrick TENAI

8. Nester GENIWALA

9. Selwyn KOLE

10. Tonny ANALAU

11. Primo HIGA

12. Jeny KENI

13. Francis MANIORU

14. Wendy Hale BOSA

15. Pauline KWALEA

16. Chris Meke WALASI

17. Tony LOMO

18. Jenly Tegu WINI

19. Sharon Kikini FIRISUA

20. Rosifelo SIOSI

‘Not good enough’

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Member of Parliament for Aoke Langalanga and Opposition Leader Matthew Wale. Photo Credit; Pacificwin NZ Aus Pacific on LinkedIn.

Extending SoPE is not the only answer: Wale

LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale says the government has to accept that covid-19 is going to be here for a while, and the country needs to adjust to it and return to normalcy, instead of relying on States of Public Emergency (SOPE) to deal with the effects brought about by the global pandemic.

Earlier, officials in a talkback show, warned that the government may have to release persons in quarantine if there was no extension of SoPE, an excuse which Mr Wale referred to as lame, and an action that would have been seen irresponsible on the government’s part, if they did so.

Wale points out that using limitations in current laws for the quarantining of persons suspected of carrying the Covid-19 virus is no longer a justifiable ground for the ongoing extension of the State of Public Emergency (SoPE).

“Indeed, Covid-19 poses a serious threat to the public at large, but there is therefore justification in Parliament making amendments or enacting a specific legislation for pandemics such as Covid-19.   

“We already have an Environment Health Act and a Quarantine Act in place.  Minor amendments to these laws can easily address the concerns raised by Dr Rodgers and so it does not make sense as to why government would want to continue relying on the state of emergency,” says the Opposition Leader.

Wale goes on to add, “The government also had eight months since the first declaration of the SoPE.  This is ample time for necessary steps to have been taken to come up with a spate law, or amend existing laws to address any shortfalls.  Instead, what we saw is, the government sat on this duty to the extent it once again, caught up with them.  This is simply not good enough”.

He says the fact Solomon Islands now have positive cases is regrettable and must not be taken lightly.

However, the Opposition Leader believes that stream lining all efforts is key to dealing with the current situation, especially in light of the scarce resource the country now has. 

He stresses that continuing the state of emergency only clouds any serious efforts to focus activities on covid-19, and rebuilding the economy.

“It is unfortunate that the government has resorted to the need for an extension of the emergency period. The government had so much time to set serious attention on completing the Health Emergency Bill, instead of focussing on what’s not important in this current situation,” the Opposition Leader adds.

–OPMC PRESS

Sports ‘Hall of Fame’ launch today

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Solomon Islands National Olympic Committee first President Chris Suaga left hands docs to chair and two time Olympica Francis Manioru..Picture ISN File

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

THE Solomon Islands Athletes Commission (SIAC) legacy project has finally reached its final phase for the unveiling of its induction of local Olympians into its ‘Hall of Fame’ today at the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) Conference room started at 10AM.

 According to the latest updated list, a total of 20 sportsmen and women who represented the country at an Olympic Games event since 1984 including past NOCSI Presidents.

SIAC Chairman confirmed that all the former athletes including then Solomon Islands National Olympic Committee (SINOC) now NOCSI, founding father, Christian Suaga currently in the capital will also attend this historic event.

SunSPORTS understands that during the launching Olympians and leaders were recognized with awards for their achievement for the development of sports in the Solomon Islands.

These finally came following all required collection of data of athletes have now completed.

“The project involves data collection, printing and framing of the photos and important details or stories about our local Olympians and then the final stage is the launching of the project,” Legacy team leader and two-time Olympian Francis Manioru revealed in a statement.

“The legacy project aims to display the images of these athletes, we are not only recognizing them, we also honor their achievements and contribution to sports,” Manioru adds.

By doing this he says it will capture the attention of aspiring young athletes and hopefully will motivate and inspire them to excel to achieve greater success in their respective sports.

He however admitted that apart from the COVID-19 pandemic there are also some issues holding back the project progress leading up.

 “The first hold up here is that people were slow or even do not respond to our calls or emails for them to come in our office so we get their information’s.

“Not only that, but also because some of these sports men, women and leaders have already passed on from this life. So their family members might still be searching for their pictures.

“The second one is the remoteness of islands because most of these people have already returned to their provinces and so we have to travel to them to get their details and pictures,” Manioru told SunSPORTS.

Sports and National federations that represent the Solomon Islands at the Olympic Games from 1984 to 2016 are; Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Judo and Weightlifting.

Meanwhile, apart from our local Olympians and NOC Presidents, the Legacy Project soon will also focus on team sports that have also taken their game to the next level, one of which is the national Kurukuru Futsal Team.

Athlete                              Sports          Event                         Olympic Games                 Province   

Charlie Oliver                 Athletics      800m                     1984                             Western province

Johnson Kere                 Athletics      100m                    1984                           Makira/Ulawa province

Leslie Ata                        Weightlifting     75kg              1984/1992                 Malaita province

Tomy Bauro (Deceased)   Boxing            Light Heavyweight     1984/1988      Honiara

Ben Fafale                           Weightlifting    Men’s middleweight    1988            Malaita province

John Maeke                        Athletics            10000m                          1988          Guadalcanal province

Derrick Tenai                      Archery            Men’s individual            1988           Malaita Outer Islands

Nester Geniwala                Athletics          100m                               1996           Guadalcanal province

Selwyn Kole                   Athletics         1500m       1996                      Guadalcanal province

Tonny Analau                Weightlifting   64kg         1996                        Isabel province

Primo Higa                    Athletics            3000msc   1996/2000          Makira Ulawa province

Jeny Keni                       Athletics            100m         2000/2004            Malaita province

Francis Manioru           Athletics            100m           2004/2008          Malaita province

Wendy Hale                  Weightlifting     58kg            2008                   Malaita province

Pauline Kwalea             Athletics            100m           2008/2012        Malaita province

Chris Meke Walasi       Athletics            100m             2012                Malaita province

Tony Lomo                    Judo                   60kg              2012                 Malaita province

Jenly Tegu Wini            Weightlifting    58kg             2012/2016        Malaita province

Sharon Kikini Firisua     Athletics           5000m        2016                  Malaita province

Rosefelo Siosi                 Athletics           5000m        2016                  Malaita province

SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP OPENS

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USP Laucala Campus

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE II

SOLOMON Islands are among the University of South Pacific (USP) member countries that are eligible to apply as candidates for the Pacific Regional Sports Research Scholarship (PRSRS) which currently is now open.

According to USP, the scholarship is a collaboration between the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) and USP.

“These scholarships are for full-time study only. Awardees are not permitted to be in paid employment during the tenure of their awards.

“Scholarship holders will be expected to contribute a maximum of eight hours per week to ongoing teaching in their respective faculties for one semester and for another semester at an industry placement, terms of which will be discussed upon confirmation of award,” the statement said.

The two partners are keen to fund interdisciplinary projects that fall within the following research themes with a focus on sports, Economics, Social Impact and Physical Education.

“The awards are tenable from early 2021 and maybe held in any member country of the USP. There will be three scholarships awarded for the 2021 academic year,” the USP website stated on their website.

Benefits and Conditions if a candidate is successful in obtaining the PRSRS award in 2021 will comprise of the following: Tuition fees (paid directly), Book allowance of up to FJD750/year, General Service’s fees paid directly, Health Services fees paid directly, Living allowance of FJD21, 600, Dependents Allowance of FJD10, 883 for qualifying awardees and Establishment Allowance of FJD 1, 942 for qualifying awardees.

“Research grant – only after the research plan and budget have been approved by the appropriate Research Committee.

“One return airfare when the person receiving the award has to travel to a USP campus in another country to take up the offer,” it stated.

The application can be obtain on; https://research.usp.ac.fj/pacific-regional-sports-research-scholarship

Deadline for applications is 30th November, 2020

With the country at its building up stage to play host for the 2023 Pacific Games, the national government has already established the Solomon Islands National Institution of Sports (SINIS) under its Talent Pathways course is for athletes, coaches creating opportunities for them through a process for elite and emerging scholarships.

However, it is yet at its formation stages. The construction work on the $13 million SI government funded SINIS has been progressing steadily despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to China Engineering and Construction Company’s SINIS site Manager Rongbao Qi, phase two of the construction has been underway since the completion of the mezzanine floor slab, Phase one.

The current phase includes aligning of steel frames for the roofing to be followed by the actual raising of roofs and interior work on the bottom floors.

The SINIS building is expected to be completed end of next month after construction kicked off on May 25th this year.

Businesses picking up: Kuma

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Minister of Finance and Treasury Harry Kuma

By EDDIE OSIFELO

BUSINESS activities have slowly picked up in the third quarter this year as economy reopens.

Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma revealed this in Parliament on Monday when he tabled the resolution in absence of the 2021 National Budget.

The resolution gave the Finance Minister to allow Government spending for the period of four months before the 2021 budget is tabled in Parliament in the first quarter next year.

Kuma said the improvement from the trough in April was most evident, in retail sales, where discretionary consumer spending rose.

“Firms, however, remained cautious despite the improvement, industrial production is still well below December levels.

“Thus, there is a broad based aggregate demand shock, compounding near term supply disruption due to uncertainty,” he said.

Furthermore, Kuma said as the number of global and domestic cases of covid-19 increases, its impact in the construction sector is expected to evolve over the coming months.

He said construction sector is expected to contract in 2020 given the delays to activity early in the year.

“Many infrastructure projects have been delayed until 2021, as the mobilization of technical expertise is constrained in the current environment.

“There are many large infrastructure projects expected to commence in 2021 and construction activity is expected to rebound quickly,” he said.

Moreover, Kuma said the covid-19 has left many manufacturers with a number of concerns.

He said so far, effects have largely been felt by business with very lean supply chains and in recent months there has been a pick up in domestic wholesale and retail activity.

He said manufacturing is expected to contract by around 12.2 percent in 2020, with key manufacturers facing depressed demand or supply side issues throughout 2020.

The hospitality and tourism business has been hit hard, with a number of jobs significantly reduced in one of the most labour intensive sectors of the economy.

Kuma said since March, visitor arrival dropped to zero except select repatriation of select approved expatriates and repatriation of nationals.

He said Solomon Airlines has recently announced further delays to their commercial fights, which are now not expected to recommence until early January 2021.

Kuma said recovery in tourism sector is still uncertain given the poor global outlook.

He said tourism is unlikely to return to pre-COVID 19 levels until beyond 2021 and this will be highly dependent on the covid-19 outlook, as tourists will not feel safe to travel and lifting travel restrictions many be enough to induce an appetite for tourism in the heightened risk environment.

Kuma said overall domestically funded year to date fiscal performance over the 8 months at 30th September, 2020, showed an overall deficit of $265.1 million.

More space needed for covid-19 patients

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Chengs Quarantine Station

BY MAVIS Nishimura PODOKOLO

MORE space is needed to segregate covid-19 patients, says Acting Incident Controller Dr Gregory Jilini.

Jilini during the covid-19 talkback show said due to the demand of more space to segregate, work on the multi-purpose hall is progressing and also work to renovate and upgrade the Tuberculosis ward will commence soon.

“We need more space not only in terms of number but in terms of this spaces need to be separated so that we do not mix all the positive cases as there is need to segregate the positives.

Jilini said therefore because of this need, the work on the multi-purpose hall is progressing well and that space should be ready later this week.

“We need this multipurpose hall for to be completed as soon as possible because the capacity we have at the National Referral Hospital is limited and so we need that one so that we can accommodate all positive cases.

“We are also going to renovate and upgrade the Tubercules (TB) ward, NRH so that we can also keep positive cases because we have cases that positive but within the positive cases there are different groups and not all of them should stay together,” he said.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Monday this week said “I am pleased to inform you all that our Field hospital will most likely become operational this week. Once it is opened, all our existing Covid-19 positive cases will be transferred to the new field hospital.

“Work will also start soon on the refurbishment of the current TB ward at the National referral hospital to convert it into a 16-bed isolation facility. Once completed this facility will enhance the Ministry of Health’s capacity to manage patients requiring isolation facilities.”

4 + 4 + 4

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Governor General Sir David Vunagi

State of public emergency extended again

GOVERNOR General Sir David Vunagi extended the State of Public Emergency (SOPE) last night for a further four months following the expiry of the country’s second SOPE yesterday, November 24, 2020.

The extension has been made upon recommendation from the Prime Minister following a Cabinet endorsement last week.

One of the key reasons for the extension is to protect the country from any community spread of covid-19 by containing the virus in quarantine centres.

Currently the Government is caring for our repatriated citizens and residents in quarantine stations and they cannot remain there without a state of public emergency.

Government cannot also carry out testing on perfectly healthy persons without their consent, but under a State of Public Emergency, testing can be done.

Furthermore, Cabinet had approved the deferment of the Public Health Emergency Bill, which should replace the SOPE due to resource constraints.

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 16(2) of the Constitution, the Governor General by a Proclamation has declared last night that a state of public emergency exists in Solomon Islands on and from November 24, 2020 on the grounds that:

The World Health Organisation has declared that the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (“covid-19”) is a public health emergency of international concern and is a pandemic.

Furthermore, covid-19 can easily transmit from person to person and is capable of causing a severe respiratory illness, which may lead to death.

The proclamation further states that it is necessary to take measures to ensure that covid-19 is not transmitted from person to person within Solomon Islands (including by controlling the entry of persons into Solomon Islands and requiring the quarantining and testing of persons).

It also added that it is necessary to preserve public health, safety, order and security during the global outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic.

The first SOPE was declared on March 25, 2020.

This declaration was further extended by Parliament by way of a resolution for a period of four months, which ceased on July 24 and the Governor General issued another proclamation on the same by entering Solomon Island into its second SOPE period.

Solomon Islands recorded its first covid-19 positive case on October 3, 2020 and since then the SOPE has enabled the Government to act decisively and swiftly.

It has also assisted in the preparedness and response planning by the government authorities.

The extension of the SOPE will end on March 24, 2021.

–GCU

Half of ESP funds gone

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Minister Hurry Kuma

By EDDIE OSIFELO

THE Government has spent $184.5 million of the $309 million under the Economic Stimulus Package.

Minister of Finance and Treasury, Harry Kuma confirmed this in Parliament yesterday during the motion on resolution to authorise spending under the Consolidated Funds from January to April 2021.

The resolution came about because the Government could not table the 2021 National Budget due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kuma said all Committee’s formal approval process is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month, and notification to the successful recipient, formalities towards formalisation of contract and disbursement of funds will continue.

He assured Parliament that initial monitoring of the early implementation of the Economic Stimulus Package is progressing.

“The process will also include proper auditing on the implementation of the policy and Parliament will be formally presented with a final audit report,” he said.

Furthermore, Kuma said early results on the implementation of the Stimulus Package proves significant positive impact of the package in our economy as figures from the exports of major commodities include copra, kava, and timber proves the achievement of this underlying policy objective of the stimulus package.

He said the three biggest achievers include record production in copra, kava and timber export from June, 2020 to the end of October 2020, despite the covid-19 pandemic.

“Copra production during this period for example reached over 4,000 metric tonnes of copra valued at $3.7 million, and an annual increase of 3,444 tonnes of copra compare to the same period in 2019 despite covid-19.

On kava, Kuma said over 13 thousand metric tonnes of kava was produced and valued at over $4 million.

Furthermore, Kuma said the forestry sectors also revealed early positive impact on the implementation of the stimulus package, as more than four thousand metric tonnes of sawn timbers valued at $12 million were exported since June to October 2020.

He said other preliminary results also comes through from our cocoa trading as almost 700 metric tonnes of cocoa dry beans exported valued at $7 million falls right into the hands of more than 2000 local farmers.

Moreover, Kuma said the ESP also benefited State Owned Enterprises like Solomon Airlines, Solomon Water and Soltuna Company Limited.

He said under the infrastructure component of ESP, three major contracts to be executed are Kirakira ramp, Maluú wharf and Tabaá bridge in Malaita, which work expected to start in December.

Kuma said tender process should commence soon for Fiu Bridge and Segeh airport.

FB will be temporarily suspended: PM

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PM Sogavare

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

PRIME minister Manasseh Sogavare has elaborated in parliament his decision, backed by cabinet, to ban facebook.

“Facebook needs to be suspended so that relevant regulations can be brought to Parliament to regulate the use of facebook,” he said.

He told Parliament that his Cabinet agreed to suspended facebook on Thursday, November 12, 2020.

“This was a not spur of the moment deliberation. In fact, concerns over use of Facebook has always been there.

“Today I will make a statement on the Cabinet decision to temporary suspend access to Facebook.

“Since then, there has been a lot of commentary and publication on Facebook on the decision of Cabinet to temporarily suspend access to Facebook,” he said.

Sogavare explained that a lot has been said about the reason why Cabinet has made this decision.

He said the Leader of Opposition, Leader of the Independent and the Member for East Are Are have also waded in on the debate media as well.

PM said he appreciates their comments, after all they are simply exercising their freedom of expression, a fundamental freedom that is provided for and protected by our Constitution.

Sogavare assured all that the decision to temporarily suspend access to Facebook was not at any time made with the intention to gag the media or the people who are constructively raising issues against the Government on social media.

“We are all politicians and getting criticised by the public comes with the territory. This is normal and is never a reason to suspend access to any social media platform.

“The decision to suspend access to Facebook is not a brazen attack on the freedom of expression as most have made it out to be.”

He said, on the outset, it is important to state that there is no legislation in Solomon Islands to govern and regulate the use of such social media platforms such as Facebook.

“In short the use of social media platforms such as Facebook in Solomon Islands is unregulated.

“We have always relied on the moral and ethical predisposition of users to use Facebook responsibly. However, sadly this has failed.”

He said the Government has always held the position that the unregulated use of Facebook in the Solomon Islands is a potential threat to public security, public safety and public morality.

Dentana, when? Opposition leader asks

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MoFT Permanent Secretary McKinnie Dentana. Photo by SBM

THE Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale, has called on the Permanent Secretary of Finance to state when he will publish the list of Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) beneficiaries.

In a media statement last week, responding to PS Finance’s statements during a talkback show on Sunday (Nov 15), Wale said Dentana’s statements were evasive.

He stressed that what would be most useful is that PS Finance simply tell the country the date these lists will be published.

On the ESP 600k payment to Northeast Guadalcanal Constituency, Wale said the PS Finance’s statements were confusing.

“First there was denial that such a payment was made. This was followed by an admission that the payment was made, but was withheld. Now the former MP has confirmed that the payment actually went into the constituency account,” says the Opposition Leader.

Wale said, “These are constituency funds meant for constituents, and the timing of this payment made close to a bye election makes it appear sinister. Nobody with a vested interest in the election outcome should be making allocation decisions to constituents during a by-election.

“The fact that no similar payments were made to the other two constituencies with vacant parliamentary seats points to the fact that it appears the government was flirting with allowing the former MP to distribute these funds.”

“Or is it just sheer incompetence?” asked Wale.

The Opposition Leader however expressed gratitude to the PS Finance for finally announcing that ESP $600,000 due to the three constituencies with vacant parliamentary seats will be paid after the by-elections, adding that this is common sense and a good decision.

Wale further called on the PS Finance to be more efficient in deciding the rest of the ESP beneficiaries.

Whilst understanding the complexity of the tasks involved and the need to safeguard public funds, Wale points out that it has taken too long to decide these ESP allocations.

–OPPOSITION PRESS

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