BY RICHARD MENANOPO

Honiara’s Table Tennis Association (HTTA) has resumed training with renewed momentum and is now preparing for a major inter-club competition during the Easter break, according to Program Coordinator for Smash Down Barriers Disability Tennis and Honiara Table Tennis, President Kevin Olea.

Olea said the association made a positive start to the year after the launch of its 2026 activities on January 16, despite disruptions caused by persistent wet weather.

“We started quite good, but we regretted the bad weather sessions – the wet and rainy weather which spoiled us until we resumed late last week and this week,” he said.

He explained that regular technical training sessions are now underway, scheduled for Thursdays from 3pm to 4pm and Saturdays from 9am to 11am, with all sessions currently offered free of charge to schools, communities, churches, youth groups and disability centers.

“These sessions are free for program-delivering partners such as schools, communities, special interest groups such as churches, youth groups and disability centers”, Olea said.

Training is delivered across four categories—beginners, developing players, rehabilitation participants with disabilities, and advanced players—with coaches rotating to support each group.

Looking ahead, Olea confirmed the long-awaited return of the Honiara inter-club competition this April during the Easter long weekend, bringing together about 14 clubs.

“The last one we held was way back in 2019 and, due to COVID-19, it stopped until now when we resume back”, he said.

Friendly matches for clubs and students are expected to begin next month as part of preparations for the tournament.

Olea also acknowledges the support of Honiara City Council for providing training space, along with assistance from the Australian Government through local partners to support table tennis development in Honiara.

Meanwhile, the association’s Annual General Meeting is scheduled for March 31, with further details to be announced.

While current community sessions remain free, Olea noted that intensive training programs conducted over eight to ten sessions will carry a fee.

“Our training fees are $120 for six sessions and this covers six basic strokes of table tennis”, he said, adding that another intensive program costing $100 is planned for the June school holidays.

Saturday’s resumed session recorded a strong turnout, with Olea encouraging continued participation.

“Come back again on Thursday next week and Saturday again… all sessions free at the Multi-purpose Hall”, he said.

Interested youths, children or individuals wishing to join the Honiara Table Tennis Association can contact – 7201780 for further information.

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BY RICHARD MENANOPO

The National Sports Council (NSC) will extend governance and financial support to four national sporting federations, to strengthen their organizational capacity and international engagement while expanding access to elite training facilities.

According to NSC Media, the federations will have the opportunity to apply for grants that aim to improve governance structures and this includes assistance with international and Oceania affiliation fees, audit requirements and participation in Annual General Meetings at both regional and global levels.

“This support may contribute towards international and Oceania federation affiliation fees, audit requirements and participation in Annual General Meetings at both regional and international levels, ensuring Solomon Islands remains actively engaged in global sporting decision-making”, the statement from NSC said.

The initiative targets the Solomon Islands Cricket Federation, Solomon Islands Football Federation, Solomon Islands Hockey Federation and Solomon Islands Tennis Federation, aligning administrative development with athlete performance pathways.

NSC said the federations have also been granted immediate access to national sporting facilities, including the SINIS High Performance Centre, enabling them to nominate senior men’s and women’s squads as well as age-group teams for structured training and progression.

In addition to facility use, the nominated national squads will be able to train at the High-Performance Centre at no cost, a move that aims to strengthen long-term athlete development and competitive readiness.

The council noted that the initiative reflects its ongoing commitment to build sustainable athlete pathways and reinforce national sports governance, ensuring Solomon Islands sport continues to grow both on and off the field.

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BY RICHARD MENANOPO

Momentum is building for the Solomon Kings FC as the side prepares for its opening fixture of Round Three in Melbourne in the OFC Pro League, with frontman Jez Lofthouse expressing pride in the team’s early progress despite acknowledging room for improvement.

In a video interview shared on the club’s official Facebook page on Friday, Lofthouse reflected on the Kings’ performances across the first two rounds, describing them as encouraging while stressing the need to convert more chances in front of goal.

“I think our overall performances have been really strong. Obviously, we’ve still got a lot to improve; we need to start taking more of our chances.

“The Auckland game was good. We started clicking a little bit more and started finishing our chances, but overall, I’m really proud of the boys and how the team’s progressing. But it’s still a long way to go”, he said”.

Heading into the Melbourne leg, the Kings carry confidence drawn largely from their defensive solidity, having conceded just two goals so far—an achievement Lofthouse believes provides a strong platform for the campaign ahead.

“I think the big positive is the lack of goals we’ve conceded.

“I know that scoring goals has been a bit of an issue so far, but we’re more than capable of scoring a lot of goals and we all have complete belief in that. The defense, as a team, has been really resolute… to only have conceded two goals so far and be the best defense in the league, that’s a big positive and a good foundation to build off,” he added.

The striker also highlighted the step-up in tempo and tactical variety encountered at Pro League level, noting that adapting to the competition’s intensity has been one of the biggest challenges for the squad.

“It’s just a different intensity. You face a lot of different teams and a lot of different styles of football”, Lofthouse said.

“Some teams like to play in behind a lot and the intensity is so high with high pressing. The speed of the game can be really quick or sometimes slow, but the overall intensity is a bit different—and I’m really enjoying it”, he explained.

With the Kings representing the Solomon Islands on the regional professional stage, Lofthouse said the coaching staff has centered its message on belief, pride and hard work as the competition unfolds.

“They’re trying to instill belief in what we’re practicing on the pitch and just to believe in ourselves.

“We have that confidence and pride that we’re playing for our whole country back in the Solomon Islands. We believe we can do something special, but we’ve got to work really hard if we want to do that,” he said.

Round Three in Melbourne is expected to be a defining stretch for the Kings as they push to convert promising performances into results and keep their Pro League ambitions alive.

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Kings defensive steel hailed as pro league foundation

BY RICHARD MENANOPO

Defensive resilience is emerging as a key strength for Solomon Kings FC in the early stages of the OFC Pro League, with striker Jez Lofthouse praising the team’s backline after conceding just two goals across the opening rounds.

Speaking in a recent interview shared on the club’s official Facebook page, Lofthouse described the Kings’ defensive organisation as a major positive in their campaign so far, saying it provides a strong platform to build on as the competition intensifies.

“The defense, as a team, has been really resolute and to only have conceded two goals so far and be the best defense in the league, that’s a big positive and a good foundation to build off”,  Lofthouse said.

While goal scoring has proven more difficult in the opening fixtures, the Kings forward stressed that belief within the squad remains high and that the defensive solidity gives confidence results will follow.

The early defensive record places the Solomon Islands representatives among the most disciplined sides in the regional professional competition, highlighting collective structure, teamwork and commitment across the pitch rather than reliance on individual brilliance.

For Lofthouse, that unity reflects the broader mindset within the squad as they continue their Pro League journey carrying the pride of the Solomon Islands.

With tougher tests looming in the upcoming rounds, the Kings will look to maintain their defensive strength while sharpening their finishing edge—an equation they hope will translate promising performances into crucial points on the Pro League stage.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology David Hiba Hiriasia, has acknowledged the ministry’s first meeting for this year.

The MECDM under the Climate Change Division held a roundtable discussion with the other line ministries, private sector representatives, donor partners, NGOs, CSOs and other tertiary institutions at the Heritage Park Hotel last week.

Hiriasia in a statement said the roundtable discussion is an important moment for them as outlined in the Solomon Islands National Climate Change Policy, climate action cannot and must not be carried out by government alone.

He said that the policy calls explicitly for ministries, the private sector, donor partners NGOs and communities to work together.

He said that the gathering is a practical expression of a call for collective action.

Hiriasia also noted that climate change is the defining threat to livelihoods, ecosystem and economy, thus, Pacific leaders, including Solomon Islands, have declared a climate change emergency because climate change is a risk multiplier magnifying every existing social and economic vulnerability.

“We are already observing its impacts like rising temperature, accelerating sea level rise, more extreme rainfall events, increasingly destructive cyclones, these trends directly threaten our low-lying islands, our food security, our infrastructure and indeed our way of life. Urgent, locally informed adaptation and mitigation are no longer optional they are essential for our survival,” he said.

The key outcomes of the roundtable meeting were;

-The establishment of two additional coordination bodies (Private Sector and Loss & Damage)

-The adoption of the development partners Terms of Reference (TOR)

-Participants delivered updates on their climate actions

The meeting concluded with the membership reaffirming their support for data sharing under the CCR coordination structure, the need for the inclusion of academia in the CCR and a call to finalize the National CCR TOR.

The meeting objectives are to recap on the roundtable structure and expectations, review the Climate Change Division’s strategic priorities and upcoming events, hear updates from each other and identify practical opportunities for coordination and to agree on next steps and meeting dates.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE Manager of Gizo Market acknowledges the recent leadership training conducted for market vendors, describing it as timely and essential for the future of the market.

Market Manager Moffat Maeta said the training is paramount as Gizo Market continues to provide essential services to both residents of Gizo and visiting customers.

He said participants have gained valuable knowledge and skills that will help strengthen the management and operations of the market.

“I’m planning to resign from being the Market Manager soon. I want to declare to you that this is my final year.

“I trust that you will take up the role,” Maeta said.

He encourages participants to step forward and apply what they have learned for the betterment of the market.

Maeta emphasized that Gizo Market plays a crucial role in the daily lives of people, as many families rely on it to purchase fresh produce and other essential goods.

“People rely on the market to buy fresh produce and it is important that as a market manager, we need to ensure products are fresh, in good quality and fit for human consumption,” he said.

He stressed that human health must remain a top priority in market management.

While vendors operate to earn an income, Maeta reminds vendors that selling quality and safe products is equally important.

“As a market manager, your role is to ensure there is unity between vendors and the products are healthy,” he said.

Maeta also highlighted that managing a market requires dealing with people from different backgrounds and addressing issues responsibly and fairly.

The leadership training is expected to empower vendors with stronger management capabilities and foster unity among sellers, ensuring that Gizo Market continues to serve the community effectively.

It was facilitated by UN-Women through the M4C program.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

LODUMAHO Market has officially opened its doors last week, providing vendors in Ward 15, Western Province, with a more comfortable and secure place to sell their produce.

The new market facility is part of Ward 15’s broader community development plans and is expected to boost small-scale economic activities within the area.

Member of Provincial Assembly for Ward 15, Palin Veo, describes the market house as a milestone achievement for the Lodumaho community.

He said the community had gone without any major development from the Ward Development Committee (WDC), making the completion of the market a significant accomplishment.

“This is a huge achievement for this community and I must commend the Ward Development Committee for their tireless effort.

“Market vendors in this area have been without a proper market facility and this is something that this community wants,” Veo said.

He said the market’s catchment area includes Helena Goldie Hospital and nearby schools, making it a convenient location for vendors to serve workers, students and surrounding communities.

Veo also acknowledged the support and commitment of Ward 15 WDC in ensuring the project was successfully delivered.

Chairman of Ward 15 WDC also acknowledged Veo for his leadership and support towards the project and encourages the community to take ownership of the new facility.

He urges vendors and residents to look after the market house so it can continue to serve future generations.

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Leader of the Official Parliamentary Opposition Group, Matthew Wale, says free education needs focus and reprioritization of priority, should the government want to pursue it.

Speaking on the second episode of Insight recently, Wale emphasized the need to shift government priorities in response to comments made last year by the education minister regarding free education, a policy adopted by CARE – a coalition of political parties headed by Wale. 

Wale warns that in the years ahead, the country’s population is expected to surpass one million, with nearly half a million children projected to be in the school system.

“We don’t have enough classrooms for all those children, and the dropout rate remains high and could worsen. It may increase at a faster rate than we are building classrooms and training teachers,” he said.

He stressed that urgent action is needed to expand infrastructure and increase the supply of qualified teachers to meet current and future demands.

“Something must be done to boost both infrastructure and teacher supply to where we should already be.

“Then we can build annually according to growth rates. At the moment, the government does not have that plan,” he said.

Wale described the Education Minister’s views on free education as outdated and lacking foresight.

He suggested the minister is maintaining the status quo because the challenge appears too difficult, rather than exploring what is possible.

He added that both the minister and the government must ask themselves whether free education can be achieved, and be willing to make tough decisions by reprioritizing government expenditure to deliver on it.

Wale noted that this issue is not limited to the current administration, but also previous governments, which viewed education largely as a consumption sector rather than a strategic investment.

“When you see education only as an expense, that is where such statements come from. Education is certainly a public good, but it is also a strategic resource for the country and the economy.

“Only when we see it in that light will we understand what real investment in education looks like,” he said.

Drawing an analogy, Wale referred to the experience of KFPL in Western province, where more than a decade of tree planting eventually led to harvesting returns. He said free education should be viewed in the same way.

“If you invest in a child’s education over many years, when that person contributes to GDP, that is when the harvest comes.

“When we see it in that light, it makes sense to invest in it, even to borrow money for it because it will repay that borrowing in many ways,” he said.

He reiterated that free education is achievable but requires strong government commitment and public support to become a reality.

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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

THE World Bank Joint Country Representative for Solomon Islands and Vanuatu acknowledges the strong collaboration among partners that led to the successful completion of the Noro Road project.

Speaking during the official handing over ceremony on Friday last week, Mr. Bernard Harborne said the completion of Noro Road exemplifies the power of collaboration, dedication and shared vision.

He commends the commitment and leadership demonstrated by the Solomon Islands Government through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and the Western Provincial Government.

Harborne said the project stands as a testament to the strength of partnership and cooperation among all stakeholders, including the Solomon Islands Government, engineers, workers and local communities.

“Your leadership has paved the way for SIRAP 2,” he said.

Harborne said the newly completed road will significantly boost tourism activities, unlock trade potential and improve connectivity within Western Province.

He adds that the road also strengthens the link to Munda International Airport through the Noro/Munda Road.

Harborne said the road represents a pathway to future opportunities and improved economic growth.

“This road is critical for the transportation of fishery and agricultural products, as well as improving access to employment, health, education and other essential social services,” he said.

Harborne said the World Bank has forged a strong working relationship with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and expressed hope that the partnership will continue in future development initiatives.

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