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Success of MACFest masks undercurrent of dissatisfaction

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Pan pipers from Malaita

By Alfred Sasako

Pan pipers from Malaita

AS the veil of success of the two-week Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival (MACFEST) lifted, undercurrents of dissatisfaction by some local artists have begun to emerge.

And one member of the Arts Association is calling on authorities to take onboard their concerns, which included being sidelined in terms of allocation of venues to display their wares throughout the two-week arts and crafts bonanza.

“We feel we were being ignored during the festival,” Mrs Rosina Esther Fa’arodo told Island Sun on Tueasday.

Mrs Fa’arodo, a seasoned artist, with the Arts Association said the intention of the Arts Association is to promote Solomon Islands through their art work. Instead, they were denied the opportunity.

“We were given, for example, venues that were either very expensive or were located away from the main venue of the Festival,” Fa’arodo (pictured) said.

Fa’arodo is a member of the Arts Association for seven years.

“I want to make it clear that this is not a complaint. It is a concern shared by our members because we too would like to put on display our products in the hope of making sales. That opportunity was denied the local artists.

“I am hoping that this concern would be addressed in future,” she said.

Fa’arodo said members of the Arts Association were also disappointed with authorities regarding allocation of space at the new Arts and Crafts Centre, funded by Taiwan.

“We asked whether we could start using it after MACFEST, but were told we have to wait until a new committee has sorted out allocation of spaces. As a result, we had to bring out our umbrellas and set up outside the new Arts and Craft Centre.

“In fact, the Ministry responsible simply asked us to go back home and wait for the decision of the new committee. This is totally unfair as we need to sell our products to earn a little money to help our families,” Fa’arodo said.

RSIPF commend public for peaceful MACFest

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) commends the public, participating countries and the organisers for a peaceful 6th Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival (MACFest) which ended in Honiara on Tuesday night.

More than 200 police officers from Honiara City and Guadalcanal province as well as the Police Response Team (PRT), the Close Personal Protection Unit (CPP), the National Criminal Investigation Department, the Traffic Department, the Maritime Department, the Fire and Rescue Service as well as the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit took part in the operation.

Officers were posted at the main venues of the MACFest and conducted visibility patrols throughout the city on a 24-hour basis.

Deputy Commissioner, Operations, Gabriel Manelusi, who was overall commander of the police operations during MACFest, said, “Despite the large number of people in Honiara moving from the various venues of the MACFest from July 1-10, there were no major disturbances to law and order in the capital city.

“The police congratulate our people living in Honiara and coming in from the provinces as well as the more than 1,000 participants from other MSG countries for respecting our laws and one another.

“This is a clear sign that Solomon Islands can now host such large events because our citizens respect law and order and want to live in a peaceful environment with one another.

“Also the success of the Festival proves that our various Government ministries and other organisations in the country are able to coordinate such big events as the MACFest.

“Police congratulates everyone for a job well done. I trust that our visitors are returning to their various countries with fond memories of the Hapi Isles.”

“At the same time, I want to publicly thank all the police officers who took part in the operation in the last two weeks for their tireless efforts in ensuring everyone was safe and were able to move around freely in Honiara and enjoy the MACFest. I salute you for an excellent job.

“Now with the MACFest over, our focus will be on the 2018 FIFA World Cup final over the next couple of days. I want to urge the sport loving people of this country to continue to enjoy the rest of the matches including the final early next week in a peaceful manner with respect for each other and our laws.”

–POLICE MEDIA

PM conveys condolences to Japanese flood victims

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PM Hou meets Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before the bilateral meeting.

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has conveyed condolences to the Government and people of Japan following the devastating floods and landslide that hit the country.

In a letter to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister Houenipwela expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Japanese people who lost loved ones as a result of this tragic event.

“On behalf of the Government, and the people of Solomon Islands I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to you and the people of Japan especially to families that have lost loved ones as a result of the flooding in your country,” Houenipwela said in his letter.

He said as a nation affected by climate change, Solomon Islands is fully aware of the vulnerabilities associated with unseasonal weather.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the flooding. We wish every success for the ongoing efforts to rescue the victims.

“I am confident that the people of Japan have the resilience, determination, and the drive to recover and rebuild their lives from these tragic events,” the Prime Minister stated in his letter.

Torrential rains unleashed floods and landslides in western Japan last week, their worst flooding in 36 years.

The landslides and flooding have killed at least 155 people, with more than 60 still missing.

Almost 2 million Japanese people have been advised to evacuate their homes.

–OPMC PRESS

No new agriculture project: MAL

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) will not issue out application forms for new agriculture projects.

This measure is necessary to allow the Ministry to deal with a huge number of outstanding projects it had received dated back to 2015.

This year there has been a huge cut to the Ministry’s budget. That is the main issue that prompted this measure.

The Agriculture Planning & Management Department confirmed having a huge pile of projects in its possession.

The Department’s Chief Planning Officer, Franklyn Wasi, said they have a pile of outstanding projects dating back to 2015 therefore they will cease issuing forms for new ones.

No date was given as to when forms for new projects will be re-opened to farmers.

Wasi confirmed for this year their department received $1.5million for their cocoa programme and no funding for the coconut programme.

He said this funding is small as $1m will be used up by administration related work leaving only $0.5m for its activities.

Other departments face the same issue. Their budgets have also seen huge shrink.

The Agriculture Extension Services department, for instance, gets only $1m for its food security programme, $2m for its livelihood programme and $1m for its extension infrastructure programme.

Wasi confirmed at present they are dealing with past projects that have been approved by the ministry.

Most farmers whom their projects were approved are now collecting materials from suppliers in Honiara.

MAL rejects ‘funds diversion’ claim

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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By Mike Puia

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) has rejected claims it has diverted funds.

The Ministry was responding to claims made by local farmers.

Some cocoa farmers told Island Sun that their cocoa projects were approved by the Ministry in 2016 but they later found out funds for their projects were diverted to other farmers and for other use.

MALD’s Agriculture Planning & Management Department Chief Planning Officer, Franklyn Wasi, refuted this claim.

Wasi said they have not divert any funds as claimed as there is a process in place when receiving, screening and paying out projects.

He said recently cocoa farmers flooded their office when they began paying out approved projects.

Wasi said he talked to many farmers telling them that there are no funds available.

He said they went back to their records and started to sort out farmers whose projects were approved starting in 2015 but have yet to collect their materials.

Some of the projects have seen a cut to the original amount requested in their project proposals.

The huge cut to the Ministry’s budget would help explain these cuts.

Wasi said information about farmers the Ministry is paying out their project have been communicated to their offices in the provinces so farmers should go to these offices and find out.

He was responding to complaints from farmers saying they spend money to come to Honiara only to be told funds for their projects have been diverted.

Not ready yet?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Munda Internationa airstrip runway

Munda airport under the spotlight on compliance with international

By Alfred Sasako

WESTERN Province’s Munda Airport, destined to become the nation’s second international Airport, may have failed the prescribed operational requirements under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules, it was revealed on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela this week highlighted the importance of Munda Airport, which he said was critical to the growth of the tourism industry and the nation’s economy as a whole.

But sources told Island Sun the Airport has many issues in terms of compliance with international requirements.

“The aerodrome, built with New Zealand funding, does not even have an emergency plan, nor does it have an Air Traffic Control Tower,” sources told Island Sun yesterday.

“Among other things the emergency plan must have appropriate level of fire fighting service, the number of hospital emergency standby beds and an effective Air Traffic Control Management regime,” one source said.

“Air Traffic Control Management is the body that would coordinate these different functions to ensure safe operations of aircraft in and out of the Airport. Unfortunately, this body does not even exist today,” the source said.

The source said Munda Airport runway is 1, 950metres long – the same in terms of length of Nausori Airport in Suva, Fiji. To comply with international requirements, Munda Airport should have two fire-fighting units.

“The number of fire fighting units to be stationed at Munda Airport is determined by the type of aircraft and the fuselage of such aircraft that would be using the Airport.

“For example, if a Boeing 737-800 is the type of aircraft that would be using the Airfield, there must be two fire fighting units. The nearby hospital too must always have an x-number of standby beds for emergency,” the sources said.

The source said this is part of a safety management system, which is critical to the issue of safety.

The source said the absence of an Air Traffic Control Management body has increased the vulnerability of the Airport.

“It must be addressed immediately before Munda is qualified as a designated international Airport,” the source said.

Asked whether it was government to blame for this, the source said the government was not responsible.

“The problem lies with the fact that non-technical people are put in charge of Ministries responsible for coordinating safety compliance measures required by ICAO. As a result, the government is ill-advised about safety compliance requirements,” the source said.

Archers undergoes first day of competition

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Solomon Islands national archery team.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

MEMBERS of the Solomon Islands archery team to the Oceania Archery Championship currently underway in New Caledonia have begun their competition yesterday.

The total of six archers have been given 144 arrows to shoot from different distances namely 90m, 70m, 50m and 30m.

The archers would be aiming toward a total possible score of 1440.

The competition is being conducted on match plays for individuals and teams.

Reports gathered by SunSPORTS from Noumea indicated that the team is very excited to be competing against other regional countries.

Competition time for Solomon Islands.

“Australia and New Zealand have fielded large teams and we will learn a lot from watching them.

“SI is the largest team from Pacific countries.

“David Craig had been helping the team to train since October last year and they have made great progress and will benefit enormously from their competing in the Oceania Games.

“Helen Craig has come on board to assist in the management of the team while in New Caledonia.”

The six archers representing Solomon Islands are Andrew Lano, Piper Soper, Kelly Baedonga, Janet Siru, Nancy Pize and Doris Laula.

The six archers were selected from last month’s national archery championship sponsored by C & I Distributors.

Solomon Islands national archery team.

The national championship was held at the Town Ground Rugby Stadium and attracted up to 20 competitors.

The Oceania Archery Championship is expected to bring together archers from 12 Oceania countries namely Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Following the completion of the championship, the Oceania Archery Congress will also be convened for top officials as well as a Level Two Olympic Solidarity Coaching Course from July 16 to 24 to be conducted by Pascal Colmaire of World Archery.

Solomon Islands will be represented in the coaching course by Lano and Laula while Archery Federation President Nihal Seneviratne will represent the country in the Oceania Congress.

A national archer takes an aim for the bulls eye.

World Championship next up for Wini

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Jenlyn Wini will leave for overseas next month to prepare for this year’s World Championship taking place in November in Turkmenistan.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

AFTER successfully defending her Oceania title in the women’s 58kg class last month in New Caledonia, national weightlifting icon Jenly Wini is eyeing a shot at the upcoming World Championship happening toward the end of the year.

The 2018 World Weightlifting Championship will be held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and will run from November 1 to 10.

Ashgabat is no strange place for Wini having competed there last year to represent the country at the Asian Indoor Games.

Being a bronze medallist at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast held in April, Wini is expected to take on familiar faces in the world championship.

“I will go to Noumea probably next month to train for the World Championship.

“The plan is to atleast spend two months training at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute before leaving to compete in the world championship,” Wini told SunSPORTS yesterday.

During the Oceania Championship last month, Wini successfully lifted 82kg in snatch and 110 kg in clean and jerk, making it a total of 192kg and four kilograms short of her personal best of 196kg.

Kids league to kick off July 28

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY ROMULUS HUTA

A soccer league for children aged between seven and 14 year olds will commence on July 28.

The competition is organized by Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF).

Called the SIFF Kid’s League, it’s a grassroots league featuring children between 7 to 14-year-old in two categories of Under-14 and Under-10.

According to a statement issued by the national governing football body, SIFF Technical Director, Felipe Vega-Arango said the primary objectives of the league is to develop grassroots football, kids must play, and they are the future of the game and at the same time develop the coaches and the referees.

“We need to start playing the kids now because if we want to see football in this nation improved, we need to start with the current generation,” he said.

“It will be amazing football festival because parents could come out to have fun with their children”.

The structure of the league will see 13, 12, 11 year-old mix teams boys and girls playing in the U-14 league with 14 players in each team.

In the U-10 category, children range from 10-7 year-old will play in teams of boys and girls. In this age group they will play 5-a-side in a field size of a futsal court with 10 players in a team.

Meanwhile, SIFF through its Just Play department is opening up registration for interested clubs, community teams and registration closes on Friday 27th July.

Timely support for kid’s league

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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SIFF rep, Gabriel Riotarau receives the donation from BSP staff in Honiara.
SIFF rep, Gabriel Riotarau receives the donation from BSP staff in Honiara.

THE Bank of South Pacific (BSP) has jump on board to sponsor the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) kid’s league set to kick-off end of this month.

An official handover of a cheque of two thousand five hundred dollars, training wears and caps was held yesterday at BSP headquarter, in Honiara.

BSP Manager retail sales and customer services, Joyce Nukumuna said BSP is proud to support the kid’s league.

“On behalf of BSP, we are happy to support the Solomon Islands Football Federation and support football in the country” she said.

“As we all know football is the biggest sport in our country so we’re excited to help our kids enjoy and make the full use of our kind donation”.

Kid’s league coordinator, Gabriel Riotarau lauds BSP for its well-timed sponsorship.

“As the league’s coordinator, I would like to acknowledge BSP for helping us to start the first ever kid’s league,” he said.

“I believe this donation will help us in a big way to organize the competition.

“We will send in return a report of the event to show our appreciation towards BSP.”

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