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You may now vote in Honiara for your constituency candidate: Official

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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NGE 2014

By Alfred Sasako

THOUSANDS of Honiara residents can now vote for their Constituency candidate without having to travel to the Constituency to do so, the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, has confirmed.

At the same time pre-poll voting will be introduced for the first time in the 2019 National General Election, which could fall in either February or March next year.

An Electoral Commission official told Island Sun this week that each of the 47 Constituencies outside Honiara would have a secret ballot box at three polling stations in Honiara.

The three polling stations would be located at the Maranatha Hall in East Honiara, Lawson Tama Stadium in Central Honiara and Rove Playground in West Honiara, the Electoral Commission, said.

The official said the new arrangement should help ease travels for an estimated 14, 000 Constituency voters who otherwise had to travel long distances to cast their votes in their Constituency of choice. In the past, many were disappointed as they found they could not vote for one reason or another.

“The new arrangement should help address the problem as well as ease the travel costs on intending candidates,” the official said.

In another development, the Electoral Commission said pre-poll voting is to be introduced for the first time at next year’s national general elections in a bid to help police and electoral officers cast their votes early as they would be busy conducting the actual election.

The Commission said pre-poll voting would be conducted a few days earlier than the actual Election Day, adding all the normal election rules would apply. Election scrutineers would be involved in the counting.

It said specific provisions dealing with the conduct of pre-poll voting have been included in the Electoral Bill 2018. The Bill is due to be debated in Parliament when it resumes on 18th July this year.

Meanwhile a member of the public has called on authorities to ensure intending candidates publicise their profiles, including their educational background so that voters have an informed decision to make on who to vote for.

“We are sick and tired of any tom, dick and harry nominating for this important office. I am saying this because some in Honiara, for example are already promising voters parcels of land when we know that they are simply doing so in the interest of foreign land speculators,” the man who wished to remain anonymous, told Island Sun yesterday.

“As a Solomon Islander, I want to see a free and fair election being contested by individuals who can provide quality leadership for this country,” the man said.

The man said the current House had a lot to answer for in terms of providing a fair and just leadership when it comes to disbursements of financial resources.

Former MP arrested over corruption offence

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

FORMER Member of Parliament and current Deputy Premier of the Makira Ulawa constituency has been arrested for allegation of misappropriation of fund in 2011 and 2013.

Yesterday Assistant Commissioner Crime Ian Vaevaso confirmed that Mr Hypolite Taremae has been arrested for misappropriation of $ 474, 872.00. This was the Reforestation and Out Growers Subsidy funds granted to Central Makira Constituency in 2011 – 2013.

He was arrested and charged with two counts of conversion and will be appearing in the Honiara Magistrate Court on June 4.

Mr Taremae was elected into politics in 2010.

Meanwhile Police Commissioner Mathew Varley said police will always continue to investigate corruption cases and due to those investigations are complex and takes time to complete police will arrest people when the time is right.

He said several cases were already before the court and police investigators are busy in preparing evidence and witnesses for the courts.

More commitment on environmental issues by Pacific Island Countries

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela sitting amongst other Pacific Islands leaders yesterday during the economic seminar regarding the Pacific Islands Countries at the Economic Forum at Captiol Hotel, Tokyo.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

PACIFIC Islands Leaders have expressed their commitment to comprehensive and integrated efforts to address environmental issues across the Pacific Island Countries (PIC).

This was highlighted during PALM8 in Japan. During the reaffirmation, importance of sustainable development, management and conservation of environment has been highlighted.

The issues expressed includes promotion of environmentally sound waste management and the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) policies, conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development of natural resources, the need for all Pacific Rim countries to take active steps to conserve the marine environment including through prevention and reduction of marine litter, in particular plastics, in the Pacific Ocean

Also further to it is the recognition of the importance of addressing the increasingly serious problems associated with shipwrecks and particularly Forum country Members affected by shipwrecks and unexploded ordnance from World War II.

Japan leaders and PIC leaders are committed to address these issues.

Facebook causes havoc during counting, journos checked

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Counting of votes in Gizo/Kolombangara.

By Mike Puia

Gizo

GIZO/Kolombangara constituency by-election counting in Gizo (Western Province), yesterday, was disrupted by posts on social media, particularly on Facebook.

When counting reached polling station seven (Hunda polling station), staff from Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) called for a halt in the process when a post was spotted on a facebook page.

The post revealed the votes. However the counting station was secured. Only SIEC staffs, observers, police officers and journalists were the only ones allowed to access the center.

Police has to be called for assistance to find out who had leaked the information.

Police then searched the journalists who have already surrendered their mobile phones before they entered the counting station.

None of the Journalists were with a mobile phone and they have not left the counting center leading up to the time the post appeared.

The SIEC Returning Officer, Christian Siale then call for counting to resume.

SIEC’s Chief Electoral Officer, Moses Saitala, told those present to refrain from sending information out.

Saitala said “this might lead to bad thing.”

However when counting reached polling station eight (Ringi Cove polling station), another post was spotted on facebook revealing the votes.

There was uncertainty over this post but SIEC staff decided to proceed until 9pm when the provisional result was made declaring Mrs. Lanelle Orlandrea Tanangada as the winner.

Police still investigate MPs cases

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE Commissioner Mathew Varley confirmed that a number of cases in regards to former and current Members of Parliament are still with police for investigation.

During the weekly media conference Mr Varley said police have some files for both former and current MPs for alleged corruption cases and they are still under investigation.

“As we have said before I don’t want to comment on exactly who we are looking for, last year we charged a current MP who is currently before the court and this is a former MP so far to say. You can expect that we have other files involving both former MPS and current MPS but those are still under investigation”, Mr Varley said.

Mr Varley said police are still on their investigations but will take in due process, consultation with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

“But the point is former MP or current MP or a public servant it doesn’t matter the fact that everyone has responsibility to use public fund properly and when there is evidence that public funds have been misused then police will investigate and this is another example of the determination to follow cases through it takes some time”, Mr Varley said.

“Obviously we have many files to work on and the Assistant Commissioner Crime and his team is progressing on those files”.

Only female MP welcomes MP elect

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Minister for Women Youth Children and Family Affairs Freda Rotutafi Rangirei.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

THE Minister of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA), Hon. Freda Tuki Soriacomua welcomes the announcement made by the Governor General H.E. Frank Kabui last night of the win by Lanelle Tanangada, as MP elect for Gizo/Kolombangara.

History is made, as for the first time since Independence, two women are in the same Parliament.

Western Province also made history by being the third province to vote in a female Member of Parliament.

Hon Tuki, says the result has demonstrated the trust and confidence of the people of Gizo/Kolombangara in Mrs Tanangada.

Hon. Tuki Soriacomua congratulates the women, men, and youths of Gizo/Kolombangara.

Fled accused on displaced ATM arrested

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE has arrested a man Sunday morning, following a warrant of arrest issued by the Court on the accused. This is in relation to the alleged armed robbery incident where the ANZ ATM at the Kwaimani building was uprooted in 2014.

Police Commissioner Mathew Varley said the accused Dilo Faiga was arrested on Sunday around 4am at his home village in Manakwai.

Following an intelligent information, police went to Manakwai by boat and were shown his place. Police then surrounded the house before calling on him to come out of the house.

Commissioner Varley said Mr Faiga came out from the house with an axe in his hand and when police called out for him to drop the axe he did so as instructed. He was then arrested and transported to Auki before coming to Honiara.

Commissioner Varley said Faiga is currently in custody in relation to the case against him and his co-accused. Their cases were already been dealt with by the court and only Faiga’s case is pending because he absconds bail condition.

This is the case where police alleged that Dilo Faiga and the other co-accused were involved in the use of crow bars to lift the ATM into the waiting car and drove off to Henderson.

It was alleged that more than $400,000 was in that machine and they allegedly took more than $200,000 from the top tray as they cannot open the bottom tray.

According to police the men arrived at the building and threatened security guards by gun point and uprooted the machine.

After successfully uprooting the machine they dragged it to the waiting car and drove off to Henderson where they allegedly opened and stole the money from the top tray.

Police also alleged that the security guard who followed them on that night received $30,000 and that the money has not yet been recovered.

Solympics back on top

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Koloale's Albert Wetney tries to skip past Raphael Lea'i

By Taromane Martin

Koloale’s Albert Wetney tries to skip past Raphael Lea’i

FUTSAL Solympics are back on top of the 2018 Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) national futsal league after defeating Koloale at the Multipurpose Hall.

The national U-17 futsal team defeated Koloale 5-2 to pick up their seventh win and see them leading with 21 points in the national futsal league.

First half goals from Raphael Leai and a double from Leon Kofana saw the Stanley Puirana side leading Koloale 3-0 at the break.

Frankster Rukumana extended his sides lead with a header in the second half but saw Koloale pulling a goal back to trail 4-1.

Futsal Solympics Team Captain Junior Mana made it 5-1 after nut-megging Koloale goal keeper. Koloale had chances to level the scores but could not penetrate the national U-17 defence led by Leon Kofana.

Koloale managed to score their second goal in the final two minutes of the game but could not find enough spirit to fight back in the final seconds of the game.

Koloale Head Coach Junior Corey accepted the defeat saying their opponents were much more prepared and was much fitter.

“There’s not a lot to say. What I can only say is that the National U-17s have been in training for quite some time now.

“They are well prepared unlike our team which has been facing a lot of problems in training because of the lack of facilities.

“However, despite the problems I’m pleased the boys made it hard for the national U-17s today. I thought we should have won with the experience in the squad.

“But like I said we have not been getting enough training time due to the lack of training facilities. But that does not mean we are giving up.

“We’ll continue to work on areas that need to be improved for our remaining matches,” Corey said.

Solympics Head Coach Stanley Puirana was pleased with the three points but stressed his players mental fitness still needs improvement.

“The boys are improving a lot. Last week we’ve been working on our defence and today the boys understand it.

“But there are areas we still need to improve on such as their mindset and decision making. Physically they are okay but the mental fitness is what we’ll need to improve on.

“Yes we have three months left and is still a long time for our management to work on this area.

“It’s not only me who is working with the team. We have an experienced management whom we are always working together to help the players improve on these areas mentioned,” he said.

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.

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