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Morgan into quarterfinal of Fiji Open

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Zorika Morgan is one of the Fiji-based netters named in the squad.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

SOLOMON Islands female tennis player Zorika Morgan has made it into quarterfinals of the open women’s category of the Fiji Tattslotto Open Tennis Championships currently underway in Fiji.

She will meet Mulan Kamoe of Fiji.

Morgan had a bye in the first round before taking on fellow country team mate Prudence Bird in the second round to win 6-3 and 6-0 in two easy straight sets.

Doreen Ningalo is the other female representative in the women’s open and she could not manage to get past the first round after losing 6-1 and 6-4 to Conatsu Kaga of Northern Marianas.

In the open men’s, no Solomon Islander managed to reach the quarterfinals after Benjamin Junior and Graham Mani experienced losses in second round.

Junior was the fourth seeded competitor and came up against Sebastian Tikaram in round one to win 6-3, 4-6 and 6-2.

In the second round, he could not come out strong by suffering two straight losses of 6-1, 6-1 against Victor Lopes of Vanuatu.

Mani came up against Ben Sonewa of Fiji and won the first round 6-1, 6-0. In the second round he lost 6-2, 6-4 against Larry Magalasin of American Samoa.

Selwyn Lam and Popai Leong were not able to get past the first round.

Lam lost 6-1, 6-1 against Kourabi Benjamin of Kiribati while Leong succumbed to a 6 -2 and 6-1 defeat against Raynal Singh of Fiji.

The losses in the open categories do not mean the end of campaign for Solomon Islanders currently taking part in the Fiji Open.

Morgan, apart from the open women’s singles, is also competing in the A Singles division where she and Bird have also earned places in the quarterfinals.

For Popai and Mani, their campaigns in the men’s A singles is also underway as well and are only a match shy of the semifinals.

In the under-16 boys singles Lachlan Guba will meet Shantani Shails of Fiji in the quarterfinal.

In the under-16 girls singles, Bird has qualified into the semifinals to meet Alison McGrath of Australia.

The championship continues today and will conclude on Sunday.

“We going to compete”.

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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National U-17 futsal squad Head Coach Stanley Puirana looks to his bench for substitution during their 5-2 win over Koloale yesterday. Coach Puirana has thanked NOCSI for giving them the green light to represent the country at the Youth Olympic Games in October. Photo Taromane Martin

Puirana thanks NOCSI for green light

By Taromane Martin

National U-17 futsal squad Head Coach Stanley Puirana looks to his bench for substitution during their 5-2 win over Koloale on Thursday. Photo Taromane Martin

HEAD Coach for the national Under-17 futsal team Mr Stanley Puirana has thanked the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) for confirming their participation at this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

NOCSI President Mr Martin Rara made the confirmation yesterday after there was uncertainty over the junior Kurukuru participation at the Youth Olympic Games.

“Hence, following the final deliberation by the NOCSI Executive Board in today’s meeting 23rd May 2018, the NOCSI Executive Board boldly agreed to send the Futsal men to compete at the Youth Olympic Games.

“The decision to pick futsal over hockey men’s is based on obvious reasons such as by merit and excellent performance, as a top number one ranked team in the Oceania, as a crowned championship in 2017 Oceania qualification event and as a competitive team at world or Olympic stage,” Mr Rara said in a statement.

Meanwhile Coach Puirana, whose side climbed back to the top of the SIPA National Futsal League yesterday, said they have been training a long time and the national futsal league has been very helpful in their preparation for the Olympic games.

“The league is really helpful towards our preparation for the YOG. Unlike previous years while I was still playing with the senior Kurukuru side where we just train, train, train and then travel to compete.

“Thank you to NOCSI for the decision they made for us to represent the country at the Youth Olympic Games,” he told SunSPORTS yesterday.

“Yes we are the champions but it is not for ourselves. It is for the nation and Oceania region as well. We will go out there and perform to a hundred and ten percent for the nation.

“We are not going to participate but we are going there to compete,” Puirana said.

Tanangada triumphs

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Lanelle Orlandrea Tanangada

Another female Member of Parliament for the round house

By Mike Puia

Gizo

GIZO/Kolombangara Constituency in the Western Province has a new Member of Parliament (MP). She is Mrs. Lanelle Orlandrea Tanangada.

Mrs. Tanangada is the wife of the former MP of the constituency, Mr. Jimson Tanangada, whom the high court disqualified last November.

The provisional result of the winning candidate was announced by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) Returning Officer, Christian Siale, at 9pm last night and later officially declared by the Governor General, Sir Frank Kabui via the National Broadcaster, SIBC.

Mrs. Tanangada, a teacher by profession, polled 2,580 votes out of the 5,201 valid votes casted. Six votes were spoilt.

Her strong rival and former Prime Minister, Gordo Darcy Lilo, polled 1,593 votes.

Peter Soqoilo polled 598. Kenneth Bulehite polled 243 votes while Ronald Dive polled 187 votes.

Out of the 12 polling stations counted, Mrs. Tanangada topped eight polling stations. Lilo and Soqoilo topped two polling stations each.

Mrs. Tanangada contested along four male candidates. This is the first time a female won the Gizo/Kolombangara parliamentary seat.

Despite having only seven months remaining before parliament dissolved, Mrs. Tanangada has created history for the current parliament for being the first house to have two female MPs in one term.

There was tenseness when the results were announced to the crowd that waited eagerly outside the police compound.

When the announcement of the winning candidate was made, the crowd dispersed peacefully.

SIEC’s Chief Electoral Officer, Moses Saitala thanked staff of SIEC officers who completed the task despite the delay.

Saitala said he hope everyone will accept the result as it is almost like a landslide.

SIEC’s chairman and speaker of parliament Ajilon Nasiu, SIEC’s Commissioner Taeasi Sanga, the SIEC advisor and overseas observers also preside at the 12-hour counting.

Women with special needs showcasing their creativity 

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Women with special needs during workshop.

BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

Women with special needs during workshop.

WOMEN with special needs attended a workshop at YWCA showcasing their talents.

The women, in their late teens and early 20s, were busy putting the finishing touches to clothes colouring that were to go on show before a select audience at the YWCA.

While all of these young people have special needs, not even the closest examination of their work would give a potential buyer the slightest inkling of this fact.

From the selection of material and accessories to the mixing and colouring, everything about their creations look extremely professional.

Participants said that they are all excited as they gently touched their lovely embellishment.

After all, it was the product of many hours of their own work although anyone looking at it would not imagine that it was created by other person.

“All our children love art, it’s a way of expressing themselves. The colourful clothes displayed are all done by our students,” says a representative.

This the second time that the YWCA hosts such a workshop training for those that with special needing ability.

One of the women showcasing her creativity.

The students’ approach is very collaborative, a comment from the YWCA staff said.

“The finished products are not the work of one person. Before starting on a project we task-analyse. If we take a product, a handbag for instance, there are certain steps that are simple, certain steps that require more skill, and there are certain steps that require a high degree of skill.

“But all these steps are necessary to ensure that the final product is good. After we task-analyse, we then see which children are capable of doing what, and they are assigned their jobs. So, it is a collective effort.”

Jocelyn says she was impressed with their teamwork.

“I wanted to do something together that would really focus the children’s learning and also help to bring about awareness of their abilities, because they are so talented. I wanted to involve them in a business programme, either working in our head office or in retail, to make them independent.”

PM Abe committed to extend humanitarian support across Pacific

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe at the opening of the Leaders Summit.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

JAPAN’S Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he is committed to continue extending humanitarian assistance/disaster relief in times of crisis triggered by natural hazards across the Pacific Islands countries (PIC).

This was highlighted in response to the shared views of the Pacific Island leaders on the vulnerability of the Pacific region to natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods and typhoons/ cyclones

Leaders said it is important to share lessons learned from past experiences in disasters, and the need for continued collaboration, welcoming initiatives such as the gender-based training on women in disaster management.

They also mentioned the necessity of enhancing cooperation on disaster risk reduction, especially for building resilience.

Moreover, in reaffirming the importance of sustainable development, management and conservation of environment, the leaders expressed their commitment to comprehensive and integrated efforts to address environmental issues, including promotion of environmentally sound waste management and 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) policies, conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development of natural resources.

Pacific Islands leaders praise efforts towards North Korea

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

PACIFC Island leaders (PIL) have appreciated the efforts to date by the international community towards the current development surrounding North Korea.

This was highlighted at the recent 8th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM8) at Iwaki city, Fukushima Prefecture in Japan.

The leaders welcomed the “Panmunjeom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula” issued at the Inter-Korean Summit in late April 2018, which confirmed their common goal of the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and expressed hope that the planned US-North Korea Summit in June would deliver North Korea’s concrete actions for such goal.

The leaders strongly called on North Korea to immediately take concrete actions in accordance with UNSC resolutions.

In particular, they (PIL) expressed deep concerns about North Korea’s sanctions evading tactics including “ship-to-ship transfers” and emphasised the need to accelerate their own efforts in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions, including deregistering North Korean trading or fishing vessels currently flagged on their shipping registers, with development partners supporting FICs in their efforts.

The leaders stressed the importance of seeking a peaceful and diplomatic resolution towards complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including biological and chemical weapons, and ballistic missiles as well as related facilities of North Korea.

They expected that the announcement by North Korea to discontinue nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) test fires and dismantle its nuclear testing facility would soon lead to its concrete actions in this regard.

Pacific Islands leaders affirm vision to PALM process

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Pacific Island Leaders at the Forum

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

PACIFIC Island leaders to the eighth Pacific Islands Leaders meeting in Japan have affirmed long-term efforts to shape their partnership through the PALM process, will be guided by some shered vision.

The visions include maintaining stability through rules –based order, commitment to the respect for serenity, rule of law and peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law and pursuit of enduring prosperity, self-sustained and sustainable economic development underpinned by open markets and facilitation of trade and investment, strengthened connectivity and enhanced resilience of societies;

Also strengthening the flow of and exchanges between peoples: active people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding assist development and invigorate economic activities; and supporting regional cooperation and integration: advancement of robust regional institutions, with a view to greater regional cooperation and integration.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his acknowledgment to the commitment of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members to regional cooperative and collective action as articulated in the “Frame work for Pacific Regionalism” to realise the visions of the PIF leaders for a region of peace, harmony, security , social inclusion and prosperity.

He said the Government of Japan will continue an unwavering determination of support to Forum Island countries in areas that best reflect their needs, utilising means of Japan’s strength.

Breaking the silence, let the conversation begin

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY GEORGINA KEKEA

A global day to break the silence and build awareness will be held on Monday 28th May at the Maranatha Hall.

Menstrual hygiene day aims to bring awareness about the fundamental role that good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) plays in enabling women and girls to reach their full potential.

MH Day raises awareness of the challenges women and girls worldwide face due to their menstruation and highlights solutions that address these challenges, including through media work.

Many of those challenges faced by girls and women globally is said to be faced by our girls in the country as well.

In Solomon Islands, a study on MHM found that girls face multiple challenges from menstruation in a school setting, including lack of water and adequate ablution facilities, barriers to accessing absorbent materials, inaccurate information on menstruation and menstrual hygiene, beside cultural barriers.

The impacts of these challenges were absenteeism, feelings of shame or embarrassment and lack of concentration and reduced participation in class.

The determinants’ of these menstruation-related challenges in schools that were identified by girls and their teachers includes quality of school WASH facilities, availability of hygiene materials, access to accurate information about menstruation and support from school managers and teachers.

From the study, based on biggest barriers identified, recommendations were to improve school policies, facilities and resources available to manage menstruation at schools, give girls knowledge and skills to maintain their menstrual hygiene safely and effectively at school and to improve national policies and monitoring of MHM in schools.

“While we need to work towards targeted solutions to address the multiple barriers, one of the first steps required is to start a conversation around the issue, to break the silence and the secrecy that surrounds the topic,” a statement from the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) says.

Mr Ambrose Malefoasi the programme is hoped to provide a platform for greater inter-sectoral collaboration and partnerships to advance the agenda of MHM in the country.

MEHRD in partnership with UNICEF, will mark the day with an advocacy event involving government officials, NGOs, Church leaders and other practitioners to reflect on solutions and actions.

Schools soon expected to lift standards in water, sanitation and hygiene

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

Young students from Western province enjoying their new water supply.

A study on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) in Solomon Islands revealed that lack of proper WASH facilities have impacted greatly on girls. Girls are particularly vulnerable to dropping out of school partly because many are reluctant to continue their education when toilets and handwashing facilities are not private, not safe or simply not available.

When schools have proper, gender-separated facilities, an obstacle to attendance is removed. Adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities and MHM intervention improves the quality of education experience for both female students and teachers. Where pads and education were provided, shame, lack of confidence, insecurity and difficulty in concentrating were improved by approximately 25 percent.

Though there is no specific goal, target or indicator on MHM in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 5 speaks of gender equality whilst SDG 4 is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all and SDG 6 is about ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Based on one of the study’s recommendations, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) in partnership with UNICEF will soon launch a National Standards for WASH in Schools.

MEHRD’s Under Secretary, Ambrose Malefoasi in a statement says, WASH is schools is globally recognized as a key intervention to promote children’s right to health, education and clean environment and to influence a generational change in health promotion behavior and attitudes.

“If school have access to clean and appropriate toilets, functioning handwashing facilities with soap, sufficient and safe drinking water and have developed adequate hygiene skills, they will be healthier, perform better in school and positively influence the hygiene practices among their family members and the wider community”.

The National Standards for WASH in schools will guide infrastructure and hygiene improvements across all schools of the country.

After the launch of the WASH standards, schools will start receiving this standards to improve their overall water, sanitation and hygiene status.

The National Standards for WASH in schools will be launched on June 5, 2018.

US training ship, Golden Bear hosts reception

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PS Foreign Affairs, Peter Kenilorea Jnr & Fisheries Minister, John Maneniaru pose for a photo with an officer on board the Golden Bear.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

A reception was held last night on board the United States Training Ship (USTS), Golden Bear.

USTS Golden Bear is currently berthing in Honiara after it arrived from Samoa on Wednesday. USTS Golden Bear is operated by the California State University Maritime Academy (CSUM) in Vallejo, California which is a four-year accredited university dedicated to education seafaring professionals for maritime careers.

Cadets from CSUM routinely participate in summer cruises in various regions aboard TS Golden Bear.

Their training on board the vessle is is to develop their leadership skills and making practical application of classroom knowledge in all areas of demanding shipboard operations, while simultaneously experiencing new cultures and building relationships throughout the global community.

Last night a number of dignitaries and diplomats attended the function hosted by Captain Harry Bolton USMS, Commanding officer on board the USTS Golden Bear.

Director Institute of Maritime Studies SINU, Starling Daefa & Deputy Head of Mission, British High Commission, Paul
Dryden & an officer on board the Golden Bear.
PS Foreign Affairs, Peter Kenilorea Jnr & Fisheries Minister, John Maneniaru pose for a photo with an officer on board
the Golden Bear.

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