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‘A true mentor’

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Late Danny Waeta in a photo taken earlier this year by SIFF Executive Member Tommy Mana

‘Snake Man’ Kiriau pays tribute to fallen comrade Late Waeta

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Late Danny Waeta in a photo taken earlier this year by SIFF Executive Member Tommy Mana

FORMER national soccer striker George Kiriau famously known to many as ‘Snake Man’ has described his former national team mate, the late Danny Waeta as a true mentor.

Late Waeta, a former left wing forward for the Solomon Islands national men’s soccer team passed away in Honiara Monday evening.

In a tribute to his fallen comrade, Kiriau said Late Waeta was one of their senior players back then who always give him advice of confidence.

“He’s a man of good footballing character who always plays his hearts out on the left wing. He’s such an athletic footballer who never backs down whenever he loses possession

“When I first joined the national senior side in 1991 for the South Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Waeta was one of the senior players in the team.

“As a senior player, he gives me advice and helped moulded me to a better striker,” Kiriau explained.

Recalling the 1991 South Pacific Games, Kiriau said they partnered upfront together.

“Late Danny played on the left wing with his usual number nine jersey.

“We have a good combination upfront with me, Danny and Dudley Natei. Our movement patterns during attacking have a particular language where we speak which is the Kwara’ae language.

George Kiriau, a former national soccer rep famously known as Snake Man

“We have been practising our movements and at some points became perfect.

“During the semi-final match against New Caledonia, one of the moves in training worked according to plan when I met a through ball pass sent by Charles Ashley on the 22 meter line. Instead of stopping it there to attempt for a shot, Danny shouted to me in Kwara’ae language and I made a dummy. Danny didn’t wait upon receiving the ball but shoot to score from the long distance with his left foot.

“We won that semifinal match 4-1 and qualified into grandfinal where we eventually lost to Fiji on penalty shootout after drawing 1-1 in fulltime,” Kiriau, who used to play for Police FC in the domestic Honiara Super League back then expressed.

Kiriau added Waeta was a true leader when going on international assignments to represent Solomon Islands.

“Before the tournament began in PNG, Waeta told us to avoid fouls and play fairly according to the FIFA Laws of the Games targeting the Fair Play Award.

“We listened to his advice and somehow nailed it by the end of the tournament.

“Solomon Islands received the fair play award after receiving only one yellow card through striker Dudley Natei.

“I think overall we did well and thanks to people like Late Danny Waeta who played instrumental role in our silver medal won in PNG 1991.”

In concluding his tribute, Kiriau, who was the striker who scored the lone winning goal via a header in the victory match of the 1994 Melanesian Cup in Honiara against Fiji, said Solomon Islands need more footballers like Late Danny.

“We need more passionate footballers who have strong winning mentality like Danny. Back in those days, we played with passion with no big money involved and we managed to produce some of the best results ever,” Kiriau added.

Meanwhile, late Waeta represented Solomon Islands for 10 years and played club football for decades with home club Rangers before retiring in 2000.

“Still with West Papua”

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Members of the Solomon Islands delegation posing with caretaking Papua governor in his office. Photo supplied

Civil groups maintain support despite Indonesia-funded trip farce

By Gary Hatigeva

DESPITE reports of fear over a split or complete fall in the advocacy for West Papua through the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Solomon Islands assures that the support from the civil society organisations remains strong.

With confusion and concerns, much have also been said on the trip to Indonesia consisting of few civil society leaders and government officials.

In recent weeks, a lot was reported both in the local and international media, which saw the civil society networks disassociating themselves from what was widely described as a secret trip.

The Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) management and board and the Development Service Exchange (DSE), which is the umbrella body of the non-government organisations in the country, also shared similar sentiments, distancing themselves from the defiant trip.

In a joint statement, representatives from CSO and solidarity groups for West Papua rubbished the representation of the ‘Indonesia Trip’ reaffirming their strong commitment to stand with ULMWP, being the mandated body representing the West Papuan people.

“Now the civil society have spoken that the individuals that represent the civil society and the so-called government sanctioned trip might have been trapped for reasons only the coordinator is privy to,” the statement states.

The group however questioned the coordination of the trip, which they said, was never endorsed by the government or channelled through the formal process.

“Apparently, the coordinator must be blamed for tricking the Indonesian government and their West Papua Melanesian agents by selecting few civil society leaders in the pretext of civil society representation when actually it is not.

“He needs to explain to the civil society why he has organised the mission behind back door, knowing very well that the civil society has a strong stance on the West Papua issue.

“The fact that he by-passed the civil society groups and selected only few leaders without gracing the management and board of key CSOs and their network, is an act total ignorance; let alone fishy in all nature,” the group stressed.

They however clarified and reiterated that the civil society organisations and its network has nothing to do with the Indonesian-funded trip.

“All these strategies and tactics have not influenced us the solidarity group and CSOs in anyway to be pro Indonesia and we have not or will not be deviated from our strong stance behind ULMWP.”

The group further reminds the Indonesian government and the world that the Solomon Islands solidarity group remains intact and united in the cause for the people of West Papua.

“We are rock solid behind our Melanesian brothers, despite the mission’s intentions and ulterior motives to break us apart, and also for financial benefits, which was orchestrated by one man with the backing of his Indonesia networks,” the group says.

“Let the people of Solomon Islands know, so as the government of Indonesia that the civil society in Solomon Islands will never change its stance on the issue of West Papuans fight for political freedom.”

The government-led delegation to Indonesia returned yesterday afternoon and, according to Mr Rence Sore, a member of the delegation, will brief the Office of the Prime Minister on the trip and members of both solidarity groups and CSOs.

Not slippery enough

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Raphael Lea'i of Solympic Futsal Club

Henderson Eels suffer third consecutive loss

By Taromane Martin

Raphael Lea’i of Solympic Futsal Club

HENDERSON Eels futsal team yesterday suffered another harrowing defeat at the hands of the young U-17 Futsal Solympic side at the Multipurpose Hall yesterday.

They were beaten 9-2 to see them suffer their third consecutive loss in the 2018 Solomon Islands Ports Authority national futsal league.

Eels trailed the national U-17 side 4-1 in the first half, a gaol each from Ronaldo Cromwell, Calvin Do’oro and a double by the impressive Raphael Lea’i giving the Futsal Solympics the lead.

Lea’i netted two more goals in the second half while Cromwell, Junior Mana, Do’oro and Frankster Rukumana back from injury scored a goal each to dry up Eels defence.

Harry T pulled a goal back for Eels in the second half to compliment James Do’oro first half goal.

Henderson Eels Head Coach Victor Waia was disappointed with the result but is pleased with the improvement and progress shown by his boys.

“This year there a lot of new players joining the club apart from our goal keeper who was part of our team last year for the SIFF futsal top eight challenge,” he told SunSPORTS yesterday.

“For us it will take a bit more time to get the boys into the rhythm of futsal. The national U-17 side is a good team. They beat us today because their fitness level is above ours.

“Despite today’s result I really appreciate the boys for their performance today. Our first goal was well executed because they stuck to our game plan.

“Although these boys are still new to futsal I though our counter attacking has improved today, however, it is our defence which still needs a lot of work in order to cope with the pace of the other much fitter teams.

“But we’ll work on it and I see my main task for our remaining matches is to get the boys to fully understand playing futsal,” he adds.

The win yesterday sees the national U-17 futsal team jump into first position on the competition table with 12 points after four matches played while Henderson Eels are still without a point after three matches played.

SIFF pays tribute to late footballer

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Late Danny Waeta in a photo taken earlier this year by SIFF Executive Member Tommy Mana

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Late Danny Waeta in a photo taken earlier this year by SIFF Executive Member Tommy Mana

SOLOMON Islands Football Federation (SIFF) has offered a condolence message on the passing away of former national rep Late Danny Waeta.

Late Waeta passed away at his Honiara Monday this week.

According to a statement released by the national governing football yesterday, Late Waeta has left behind a legacy as one of the best left wingers the country has ever produced.

“On behalf of the football community and Solomon Islands Football Federation, we offer our deepest condolences on the passing of former Solomon Islands national player Danny Waita.

“Waita steadfastly steered Solomon Islands during his playing days. His legacy will stay with us as one of the best left fleet footed winger the country has ever produced.

“We honour his legacy and mourn his loss alongside his family and our friends, the people of Solomon Islands,” the statement from SIFF said.

Late Waeta represented Solomon Islands during the 1980s and the 1990s in several regional competitions.

At the club level, the famous blonde afro midfielder played for Rangers, a former champion in the Honiara Football Association (HFA) league.

SIFF Executive Member Tommy Mana also took it to the social media to pay a tribute to the late midfielder.

“Sad to hear the sudden passing away of one of Solomon Islands’ football legends, late Danny Waeta.

“Brother the last time I met you was beginning of this year.

“You were still in your soccer sports gears. A pride you always carry along with you wherever you go. You were truly a soccer ambassador of this football mad country.

“I still remember the days you were transferred from Su’u to join us at KGVI school to represent the SI National Team.

“You played for Rangers FC while joining SI National Team.

“You were the smallest in the squad but irreplaceable on the wings.

“We only have few wizards on the wings, and you are one of them in your days.

“You have mentored a lot of players in the next generation, the likes of late Jack Samani and Agustine Peli.

“Today you leave your football family and go rest higher. Your legacy in Football will live on. Rest in Peace my brother Danny,” Mana said.

Palua pledges Ministry’s continuous support to hockey

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary George Palua and Solomon Islands Hockey President Nihal Seneviratne gestures as means of congratulating the latter upon his election into the Oceania Hockey Executive Board.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

PERMANENT Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has pledged continuous support to the development aspirations of the Solomon Islands Hockey Federation (SIHF).

This follows the bronze medal won by the men’s under-18 hockey team during last week’s Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey Qualifiers in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

MHA, which is the government’s ministry responsible for sports, assisted the team financially during the qualifiers.

MHA Permanent Secretary George Palua thanked the hockey team for making the country proud.

“I’m delightful with the result. This shows the potential we have in the sport despite having limited resources and no facilities at home.

“The results showed that we have the potential to do better in future international hockey competitions.

“Hockey is a newly revived sport in Solomon Islands and does not have a home at the moment. Currently, hockey is being played on borrowed land.

“I’m thrilled by the fact that the hockey went to PNG with both the men’s and the women’s teams. This reflects gender balance.

“Such result like this gives me hope as we are ready to host the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara,” Palua expressed.

“This shows that we can compete in Hockey at top level in Oceania.”

Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary George Palua and Solomon Islands Hockey President Nihal Seneviratne
gestures as means of congratulating the latter upon his election into the Oceania Hockey Executive Board.

The qualifying tournament in PNG was part of the qualification pathway for this year’s Youth Olympic Games which will be held in Argentina in October.

The bronze medal won by the men’s team was enough for them to earn a spot for the event scheduled to run from October 6 to 18 in Buenos Aires.

The women’s under-18 team finished in fourth place and missed out on qualification.

The spot won by the men’s under-18 will be confirmed by the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) when they lodge their final submission to the Organisers of the Summer Youth Games come August 31 deadline.

Pledging further assistances on behalf of the government to hockey and the under-18 team, Palua stressed they will continue to assist hockey with its development aspirations.

“I want to assure you all that you have made us proud and onbehalf of the government, I will continue to assist you,” he reiterated in his assurance.

Palua also congratulated national hockey president Nihal Seneviratne upon his election into the executive board of the Oceania Hockey Federation (OHF) as the new Vice-President.

The election was held during the OHF Annual General Meeting last Friday in Port Moresby.

“Such opportunity is a positive step for Solomon Islands hockey. I would like to congratulate Nihal for the successful outcome of the election,” Palua said.

Oceania hockey boss admires raw talents

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Oceania hockey boss admires raw talents

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Oceania Hockey President Pam Elgar

THE head of the Oceania Hockey Federation has admired the drive and the passion Solomon Islands has in the newly-revived sport of hockey.

This follows the bronze medal won by the men’s under-18 hockey team during last week’s Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey Qualifiers in PNG.

Speaking to SunSPORTS in Port Moresby on Saturday, OHC President Pam Elgar said Solomon Islands have natural talents and skills in hockey.

“This was evident during the qualifiers this week (last week).

“I heard that Solomon Islands have no proper training facility.

“I cannot promise anything but it’s a must that the Solomon Islands government must assist the national hockey federation in Honiara to build proper facility.

“Looking at how the two young teams from Solomon Islands teams fared out, they have competed well against their opponents during the qualifiers. And it appeared that there is not much difference in the tactical aspects of their game. The only difference I can see now is facility where other countries have quality hockey turfs and Solomon Islands has nothing. Almost all countries participating in the qualifiers have world-class hockey facilities except for Solomon Islands,” Elgar said.

Hockey was played previously in Solomon Islands decades ago and only saw its revival in 2015.

In the last three years, much work has been by the Solomon Islands Hockey Federation.

Moving forward, Elgar said the good work done by the Solomon Islands must continue.

“It must not stop here. The good work must go on and continue. Very soon some of the pacific islands countries will look up to Solomon Islands interms of their competitiveness,” she expressed.

The OHF also held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last week and Elgar has retained her position as the President.

SIHF President Nihal Seneviratne was voted in as the new Oceania Vice-President.

Seneviratne replaces former Vice-President Kaluwin Potuan of PNG.

The AGM and the election of new office bearers took place last Friday at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby.

Elgar also took the opportunity to welcome Seneviratne into the newly elected Oceania Hockey Board.

“This is a good opportunity for Solomon Islands.

“It’s time that Solomon Islands take up its turn to serve the Oceania hockey board.

“Whilst Seneviratne will take up his position to serve the entire interest of Oceania, he must also push the country’s development agenda in the sport forward.

“I see this as a very positive step for Solomon Islands going forward. I believe Solomon Islands has the right people in place at the moment to take the sport forward,” Elgar.

Meanwhile the Oceania Youth Olympic Qualfiers ended on Saturday and Solomon Islands men’s under-18 has been offered a spot in this year’s Youth Olympic Games pending further confirmation by the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI).

The women’s under-18 finished on fourth place.

Rennell celebrates new area health centre

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Front elevation of the Togoa Area Health Centre

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

THE Rennell community on Thursday 26 April 26 held celebrations to mark the completion of the new Area Health Centre in Tigoa.

Main highlights of the event include giving of traditional gifts to 18 construction workers carpenters, plumbers, labourers, supervisors and contractor Bako Dua.

Elders of Tigoa agree that the new health centre is built to standard which shows quality of workmanship.

“We are sure now this hospital is finished and a new doctor’s house built, that many lives will be saved here.

“We are looking forward a doctor joining our community and working from this new hospital shortly.”

View of the new Tigoa Area Health Centre

The Rennell and Bellona Director of Nursing said, “I would like to sincerely thank the contractor Bako and his team for completing this Health Centre.

“Rennell has patiently waited for this investment in health in our community and it is great to see this project completed.

“I would also like to thank Mr Jonathan Bisili from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services who project managed this health centre from the beginning to the end.”

Mr Bako Dua said, “On behalf of my team at Bako Constructions we would like to thank the community for their continued support of this project.

Front elevation of the Togoa Area Health Centre

“There were number of times when payments were slow and food was low and local community of Tigoa feed boys so they could continue with the hospital and doctors house.”

He said such project was a community project, and he was proud for the workforce who has done a great job.

“It was a team effort and we are very proud to provide this hospital and doctors house to the Solomon Islands Government for the communities of Rennell and Bellona.”

“Finishing a new health centre and doctor’s house in less than 10 months is an amazing achievement,” he said.

The buildings was completed ahead of schedule and the agreement to include a new doctor’s house achieved significant cost savings.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is planning to have an official opening later in the year after the installation of the new medical equipment and designated health staff, including a permanent doctor arrives.

The completion of Tigoa AHC is constructed under workforce of Bako Constructions.

Presenting gifts to contractors of the Tigoa Area Health Centre

Fast deteriorating roads due many factors

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE current fast deteriorating of roads experienced in Honiara is due to a lot of factors, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID).

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, MID’s Central Project Implementation Unit (CPIU) Director, Civil Engineering, Harry Rini explained that roads when usually designed for infrastructure have a design life.

“Our tar sealed roads design life is already over having when they reach the end of their design life then we need to reconstruct or rehabilitate them up,” said the CPIU Director.

“Patching only potholes will not solve the road problem as more potholes will only be created being a similar scene to what we are currently experiencing.

“Another factor is the weather or climate change you might say as our weather pattern is quite different. It is quite difficult for the current roads to survive through such weather experienced when they are already in their failure state.

“Building through these current adverse weathers is difficult in really constructing a good road.”

The CPIU Director elaborated that there are issues as well on the drainages in which is one of the contributing factors in Honiara because most of the drainages going out to sea are being blocked by developments along the seaside.

“It is quite difficult for us to put out drainages to where we want because we will then have to pay some hefty cost to the developers to push out the drainages systems. It is one big problem we have.” said the CPIU Director.

“With our current drainage system in Honiara, once there is a big flood then we will really have a hard time and on top of that, a lot of people throw rubbish along the drainages causing debris to fill up at culverts.

“It is beyond our control over the drainages systems.”

The other factor area touched on also is the current budget cut experienced from the National Government.

“As there are other pressing needs of the government, we can only work with what the government has given us though there is really a big part for us to work on,” said Rini.

CPIU’s Director said that there are also a lot of complains from the public over contractors covering soils onto potholes in which he said is also a challenge for MID.

“This kind of approach is new to us. During the past, the government usually did maintenance on the roads but very recently, we have gone out to outsourcing. We are trying to develop the construction industry and we have been trying to put most of the contractors to the level expected.

“Sometimes they make mistakes and I correct them as this is an ongoing process. Hopefully in the years to come, we will see that our contractors will have a good capacity to really manage well our contracts.

“But then being a developing country, much cannot be said as these are some of the challenges where we ourselves face.”

Through bigger projects, CPIU’s Director said international companies will come and do construction.

“We now just hope that after we have the highway completed, we assure that there will be improvement in terms of roads conditions,” said the CPIU Director.

MID & donors to fix roads

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

WITH what is usually shared financially to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) from the National Government, they only have constraints to work on roads in Honiara.

But with from ongoing donors support, MID is sure that they can put the capital city’s roads back to the standards wanted and what the public expects.

MID’s Central Project Implementation Unit (CPIU)Director, Civil Engineering, Harry Rini said with the current budget cut has really affected them in which they can only go in and do a couple of maintenance on the roads and that’s it.

“In terms of really fixing the problems of the roads starts at their bottom. We cannot only do maintenance all the time on potholes as the roads won’t be fixed that way. Signs of potholes means the road itself is failed from the bottom,” said the CPIU Director.

“The intervention JICA is currently doing along the city’s highway is the medicine of the roads.

“On feeder roads, we have some maintenance programs coming up in which we will need the similar treatment along the highway currently to be applied on them as well because the feeder roads themselves are failed.”

He also added that with the short bus routes recently enforced by the Honiara City Council (HCC), they are looking forward for the conditions of the roads to be good to go along with the initiatives of HCC.

“If we have good roads then the developments HCC would like to establish in terms of transportation in Honiara might work well,” said the CPIU Director.

Health ministry set pathway to achieve SDGs

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MHMS Permanent Secretary Dr Dalipanda

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

MHMS Permanent Secretary Dr Dalipanda

THE Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 comprises 17 goals that will guide development efforts for the next 15 years.

The SDGs include 169 targets over 200 global indicators with 24 targets under health specific goals (SDG3) and more than 20 targets related to health under other goals.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a separate target in the SDGs as well as the platform that brings together programmes and actions for health and development.

Adhering to the guiding principle of UHC, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services is pursuing integrated care with the goal of improving range and quality of services available to population in line with concept of primary health care and overall vision of “Health for All”.

MHMS Permanent Secretary Dr Dalipanda said the integrated services deliver packages have become a key tool to drive changes made necessary by Solomon Islands Government’s adoption of the Role Delineation Policy.

He said the definition of service roles will enable equitable allocation of resources and adequate support and supervision of lower levels of care.

The packages of services have become a key tool in operationalisation of a change in Solomon Islands’ primary healthcare policy and such experience has provided valuable lessons to learn for integrated care initiatives in similar settings such as Solomon Islands, Dalipanda adds.

Meanwhile, the National Health Strategy Plan 2016-2020 is focused on four key areas to improve service provision for all people of Solomon Islands and support, in particular those most vulnerable and hard to reach.

The enabling driver in the strategy is the Role Delineation Policy (RDP); ensuring that the right services and resources are at the right level of healthcare provision for the population.

With that Dalipanda said this year is a year of action which set them to actualise the RDP to meet the needs of Solomon Islands’ people.

The reform of health sets platform for the RDP; setting standards for what services and resources to be used at different levels of healthcare and services, he said.

“This is about us as an organisation reforming, reconfiguring, and changing how we can practice or do things in the best possible way that enables us to improve the well-being and health of all,” Dalipanda said.

With the implementation of the RDP, Dalipanda said it is a major undertaking which requires huge commitment of MHMS and development partners.

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