PM Hou and the PG Council president after the signing of the MOU.
PM Hou and the PG Council president after the signing of the MOU.
PRIME Minister Rick Hou has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Pacific Games Council in Gold Coast last week.
The MOU was signed by the Prime Minister, President of Pacific Games Council Vidhya Lakhan and National Olympic Committee Solomon Islands (NOCSI) president Martin Rara.
The MOU is an addendum to the Host Agreement that outlines a set of timelines acting as guidelines for Solomon Islands as the host country to pursue leading up to the Pacific Games 2023.
The signing was witnessed by the Minister of Home Affairs Commins Mewa, Permanent Secretary George Palua and Pacific Games CEO Andrew Minoque.
Mr Lakhan during the signing has praised the Prime Minister and his Government for their commitment in seeing things progress quickly.
He said the political will and national support for the Games is overwhelming as he believes Solomon Islands will host the Games come 2023.
Prime Minister Hou during the signing has reassured the Pacific Games Council of his Government’s commitment and desire to host the 2023 Games.
From L to R, Ender Rence the Managing Director of Imperial Travel Service and friend Dave Drakopoulos during their return to Honiara from Ngella, Haroro Village, after the successful launching of the 2018 Imperial Islands Cruise that will be coinciding with the Pana festival to be presented by the local community at Haroro for the first time coming July 6. PHOTO BY MANEBONA BARNABAS
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
IT was only a brief stay at Haroro village over the weekend in Sandfly passage, Ngella Central Islands Province (CIP), but Dave Drakopoulos from Australia was impressed.
The warm welcome and hospitality by the Haroro community during the launching of the 2018 Imperial Islands Cruise blew the Aussie bloke away.
Dave who is a friend of Imperial Travel Service being part of the community launch for the 6th of July Island Cruise and the mini Pana Festival on April 14 has shared his humble gratitude towards the organising of the community and Imperial Travel Service in planning the event for July 6.
From L to R, Ender Rence the Managing Director of Imperial Travel Service and friend Dave Drakopoulos during their return to Honiara from Ngella, Haroro Village, after the successful launching of the 2018 Imperial Islands Cruise that will be coinciding with the Pana festival to be presented by the local community at Haroro for the first time coming July 6. PHOTO BY MANEBONA BARNABAS
Drakopoulos who considers himself as a Solomon Islander because of his love for the country said witnessing, listening and watching the event on Saturday the 14 at Haroro was most gratifying to see how much effort and support Haroro Community gave to the launch programme organised by Ender and Atkin Rence of Imperial Travel Service.
“This comes from so much hard work organised to help promote Ngella and its villages especially at Sandfly passage to take pride in the Pana Festival to enable them to generate some sustainable income for their families,” said Dave.
“I am happy to see wonderful Doctors, UNESCO representative and Australians who were there during the launching to provide medical and humanitarian support which again is a purely voluntary manner.
“I thank Haroro Community for the efforts to help themselves. As we were most warmly welcomed, I hope the Cruise and the Pana Festival organised will be a wonderful success.
“Ngella is only an hour and a half ride by banana boat which is easy travelling, so I want to encourage everyone to come and support the wonderful people of Haroro and Ngella to make the festival a great success.
“I believe this programme will encourage other islands as Ender reminded during the launching to ‘Own the future’.”
Dave is looking forward to returning for the Pana Festival on July 6 and wishes Imperial Travel Service and Haroro community all the best.
The Pana Festival has now ringed a bell for the people of Ngella looking forward for the historical event that will be to take place.
The 2018 Imperial Islands Cruise will coincide with the Pana festival, to be presented by the local community at Haroro for the first time.
PM Hou congratulated Solomon Island’s first ever Commonwealth Games medalist Jenly Wini
BY ROMULUS HUTA
PM Hou congratulated Solomon Island’s first ever Commonwealth Games medalist Jenly Wini
THE Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President, Louise Martin CBE, has congratulated Solomon Islands and the four other countries that have won their first ever Commonwealth medals during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Speaking during the official closing of the XXI Commonwealth Games Sunday night, Martin highlighted that the first ever medals won by Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, British Virgin Islands and Dominica demonstrated the fast-growing impact of Commonwealth sport.
Martin said: “Athletes – 11 days ago I asked you to grasp this opportunity to create your own history and fulfill your dreams – and to become truly great Commonwealth athletes.
“I thank and congratulate you for rising so magnificently to this challenge.
“With 9 world and 83 commonwealth records broken, with first ever medals for 5 different countries Vanuatu, Solomon Island, the Cook Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Dominica.
“And with so many other firsts and personal bests ………… what a Games these have been!
“You have all written this new chapter of Commonwealth history. Giving us many inspirational memories that will last long after we leave Gold Coast.
“The strength of the Commonwealth Games is that all Games are different…with each host adding its own character, culture and identity to 11 days of wonderful sporting competition.”
The first ever medal won by Solomon Islands in Gold Coast was achieved by female weightlifter Jenlyn Wini.
Wini snatched the bronze medal in the women’s 58kg class of the weightlifting competition.
“Gold Coast 2018 will forever be remembered as ‘the Games of Firsts.
“The inspiring and impactful performances of our Commonwealth athletes have delivered on the promise of a historic collection of ‘firsts’ that were achieved in the run up to Games; whether that be the ground-breaking Reconciliation Action Plan, the equal number of medals for men and women for the first time, or the largest ever fully-integrated para-sport programme seen in Commonwealth and world sport,” highlighted Martin.
The 25-member One Team Solomon contigent to Gold Coast arrived in Honiara yesterday afternoon.
The next Commonwealth Games will take place in Birmingham in 2022.
No tinted vehicle by April 1st according to HCC Taskforce responsible for transportation
Internal backbiting in HCC management over dark-tint issue
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
HONIARA City Council (HCC) just might fall over its own ordinance, it seems.
Faced with the issue of heavy dark tinted public buses and taxis, HCC management are pointing the finger at each other.
HCC transportation service taskforce is blaming the Law Enforcement division for not enforcing the dark-tint law.
Public are voicing their concerns over dark-tinted public buses and taxis which are not removing their tints despite HCC’s law against dark tints.
HCC had implemented its dark-tint law on April Fool’s Day this year, but since then nothing has been seen or felt. Public buses and taxis are being driven around with their heavy dark tints on, and HCC is silent.
In an exclusive interview yesterday with taskforce chairman, Mr Eddie Ngava, he said HCC has already made the law against dark tints for public transport, and now it is up to the law enforcement arm of HCC to implement it.
But, they obviously aren’t doing their job.
Ngava says HCC expects that by now dark tints on public buses and taxis have been removed.
And, any found with dark tints still on should be apprehended by the law enforcement division.
Ngava admits that HCC still receives complaints over short bus routes along with dark tinted public buses and taxis.
He says this shows that the HCC’s Law Enforcement are not doing their work.
“I made the policy, and it’s our Law Enforcement to carry out the duties and work needs to be done and service providers must abide with this ordinance too,” Ngava said.
He adds there is no reason why Law Enforcement should not be doing its job, because they have been paid to do it.
“I cannot do everything but make decisions that are according to the HCC ordinance and Law Enforcement section to carry it forward,” he said.
Ngava said they will discuss the matter this week and revisit implementation process of the act to remove tinted vehicles, and why Law Enforcement have not carried out their duties since April 1.
He said it’s a sad situation and maybe it something to do with internal management issue.
Island Sun sought information from HCC’s legal office for further clarification but they said the matter has been forwarded for discussions this week.
World Rugby and Oceania Rugby Services Manager Mr Bruce Cook says SIRUF is heading in the right direction.
World Rugby and Oceania Rugby pleased
By Taromane Martin
World Rugby and Oceania Rugby Services Manager Mr Bruce Cook says SIRUF is heading in the right direction.
WORLD Rugby and Oceania Rugby Services Manager Mr Bruce Cook says they are pleased with the progress made by the Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation (SIRUF) in developing the sport in the country.
Mr Cook visited the country last week to carry out a union review on SIRUF’s governance, administrations, finance and commercial and rugby development.
“All in all it was a good review. A few things to work on, which are normal for any growing union, but Oceania Rugby and World Rugby very much, support the efforts of the SIRUF and their executives who are doing a tremendous job as well,” Mr Cook told local media last Friday at a press conference.
“The review is a normal review we carry out with any union in the Pacific and therefore across the world about every once in two to three years as part and parcel of our ability and ways of means in helping unions get better and to see where their pitch points are, where they need some support and we can put some resources in that.
“So there are four major areas where we have been looking at during the week, governance, administrations, finance and commercial, and rugby development.
“In the area of governance it’s running very well indeed. There was a new constitution put in place back in 2010-2011 which has been followed.
“We’ll be doing an update of that constitution just to cut off a few rough edges within the next couple of months,” he said.
As far as the SIRUF’s administration side is concern the Oceania and World Rugby Rugby Services Manager said they got good administration which is led by Gerald Oiaka and has a tremendous support from the Development Officer Mocelutu Aliverete.
“So that’s been running very well and the planning that goes into that has been going very well.
“But perhaps we need more human resources the organisation because the organisation is growing very quickly and sometimes you tend to leave things behind and there’s a few gap might appears.
“But that is normal to any organisation that has a growth spurt so we’ll be looking at in conjunction with the Solomon Islands perhaps getting additional human resources to assist with the increase in workload especially in the get into rugby, the coaching and match officiating areas,” he said.
“In the finance and commercial area the union has made great strides in their commercial efforts and partnership.
“As far as the commercial things go, there’s additional funding coming in and there’s quite a bit of Value in Kind (VIK) as well which also helps the union get through the amount of work they’ve got to do with their national teams and development.
“World Rugby cannot fund everything to any union worldwide but we are certainly looking at the great work Solomon Islands rugby is doing in the area of finance and commercial.
“We will be having a financial update with the union sometimes in the next couple of months when we do the constitution review just to make the union is keeping up with all the things that are tied up.
In the rugby development area there are still some issues faced in the recruitment retention area which is a common problem with any union in the world he said.
“The challenge faced by almost all the unions is getting a good number of match officials and a good number of coaches.
“The task for Solomon Islands rugby is to come up with an idea on how to get more of those match officials and coaches in the system.
“It’s not an easy matter and is a matter which is endemic worldwide, not having enough officials and referees.
“But I think the some of the work done in the judicial area in the Solomon Islands a little while ago has seen one thing occur one thing may indeed be a tipping point for people wanting to referee.
“And that is SIRUF will now not tolerate match referee or official abuse in any way. Whether it is verbal abuse or physical abuse it is not on.
“There have been some hefty sanctions handed down through the World Rugby regulations on that. So you would hope that would attract more young people to come along and referee in what is a beautiful game,” Cook adds.
“Competitions are gaining ground all the time. GIR festivals all around country there is also women’s competition and high schools competitions being run and SIRUF is doing a great job in promoting those competitions and we see a growth.
“Training and education still runs along well and this organisation does an appropriate amount of training and education across coaching, match officiating, training educators, the player well fare, medical areas and strength and conditioning.
“The women’s game is also gaining some attraction here which is tremendous and as usual the union is very compliant and very timely with their applications for the World Rugby Development investment program where they get some money from us to do their work.
“All in all a good review, a few things to work on which is normal for a growing union and Oceania Rugby and World Rugby very much support the efforts of the SIRUF and their executives who are doing a tremendous job as well,” he said.
Enjoying Pana, Ngella’s significant custom food that is harvested more than one time in a year on Ngella soil.
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
IMPERIAL Travel Service successfully launched their plans on Saturday, April 14, with the Haroro community at Central West Ngella to host the 2018 Imperial Islands Cruise on Friday, July 6.
the 2018 Imperial Islands Cruise which is part of celebrating the coming 40th Anniversary Independence will be coinciding with an inaugural Pana festival to be presented by the local community at Haroro (Ngella) which will be the first for such festival to take place in the history of Ngella.
Enjoying Pana, Ngella’s significant custom food that is harvested more than one time in a year on Ngella soil.
The community at Haroro wishes to celebrate the local food crop for the first time (Pana) being culturally significant to the custom of Ngella people. It is a chance for them to showcase Pana’s significant value of life in how it is planted, harvested and being eaten similar to how other food crop festivals usually take place around the country.
Ender Rence the Managing Director of Imperial Travel Service during the launching thanked the community of Haroro for allowing their resources too so that they can carry out their activities in which she believes will be a two-way bonus for them.
“It is important to engage resources owners and pass the right information when doing business with them,” reminded Ender.
“So let us not get carried away by all sorts of things because we need to work together in being united to contribute helping the development of our country too.”
Guests of Roderick Bay eco-lodge.
Owner of Roderick Bay lodge Mr Patrick Sara on behalf of the community at Haroro welcomed the launching and assured Imperial Travel Service of their support and that they are looking forward for the great events to take place coming July.
“This programme is for all of us to benefit from so let us embrace it and take part together with our visitors that will be coming on the 6th of July,” advised Patrick for their community.
Different styles of processes on cooked Pana’s were also introduced by locals during the launching in which members of the Imperial Travel Service and guests of Roderick Bay Lodge had the chance to taste from different dishes too enjoying them.
The Gela Community partnering with the local Travel Company (Imperial Travel Service) is part of supporting tourism in Ngella to create attractive products for visitors.
Ender Rence the Managing Director of Imperial Travel Service during Imperial Travel Service launching on Saturday with the Haroro community at Central West Ngella to host the 2018 Imperial Islands Cruise on the 6th of July that will coincide with an inaugural Pana festival to be presented by the local community at Haroro (Ngella) which will be the first for such festival to take place in the history of Ngella.
Imperial Island cruise will run from Honiara to Roderick Bay, Anuha Island and then back to Honiara over the period of a day. It will include entertainment, food, beverages and a variety of activities for people of all ages.
Support for this community initiative on the Pana Festival by Imperial Travel Service is understood to help send a powerful message for other communities in not to wait for government support for sustainability.
Ms Erica, one of the guests of Roderick Bay eco-lodge taking part in burning fish that were to be eaten with the different cooked processes of Pana (local food crop) presented during the launching at Haroro
The theme for July’s 2018 Imperial Islands Cruise coinciding with the Pana Festival is “Own your future embrace it”.
People from Gela were seeking support from relevant authorities for the Pana Festival in which authorities failed to listen to the community request. This is where Imperial Travel Service has stepped in to support the people of Ngella.
Imperial Travel Service was born in 2004 and is locally owned.
Dave Drakopoulos, a friend of Imperial Travel Service enjoying his time to roast fish as well that were to be eaten with the different cooked processes of Pana presented during the launching
Clarence Loe (Chairperson) sitting Center flanked by members of Ghaobata parish.
BY GEORGINA KEKEA
Clarence Loe (Chairperson) sitting Center flanked by members of Ghaobata parish.
THE Diocesan Bishop of Guadalcanal, Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) yesterday celebrated Sunday Eucharist with congregation of St John the Baptist in Koli.
Koli, a village in the Guadalcanal plains, was host to hundreds of parish members from as far as Lunga to Metapono. The visit by Bishop Nathan Tome is his first for this year to Ghaobata parish, one of the large parishes in Guadalcanal with 24 churches.
Ghaobata parish covers the eastern side of Lunga river to the eastern end of the Metapono river and is divided into four zones. Each zone has its own groupings and often congregate together on such occasions.
Meanwhile speaking to Island Sun, Chairman of Ghaobata Parish Committee, Clarence Loe says they are pleased to have the Diocesan Bishop visit their parish, the first official one for 2018.
Mr Loe says Ghaobata parish covers a big portion of the Diocese of Guadalcanal and this visit means a lot to them.
“The highlight of the day is the confirmation of approximately 99 children that were brought before the Diocesan Bishop to be confirmed.”
Bishop Tome handshake with a vestry member.
The confirmed children came as far as Lunga and all of them spent the night at Koli before their first Eucharist yesterday.
Confirmation is a sacrament practiced by ACOM that marks the point in the Christian journey of a person to affirm his/her faith. To confirm means to strengthen or deepen one’s relationship with God.
At the same time, Loe revealed some of the plans that Ghaobata parish wishes to carry out this year.
He said one of them is for the existing churches in the Ghaobata Parish to have rest houses so that they can be able to house ministry groups that often have community programmes and tours to their individual churches.
“This includes priests, mother’s union groups, so that when they come to our communities, already they have a place to stay.”
Another plan for the committee is to organise more programmes for youths so as to minimise criminal activities in the communities. Loe says empowering youths by involving them in youth oriented activities will reduce influence from outside activities like use of illicit drugs and alcohol.
Members of Ghaobata parish meet up after church service.
Currently Ghaobata parish has a high number of youths and children. Work on finding the actual population is still ongoing and the committee hopes to have this information available as soon as possible for future planning.
Despite operating without an administrative office, dedication and commitment by the members to attend to meetings in their various communities had helped them to achieve some of their goals.
“For transport logistics, we normally give two weeks’ notice and during the two weeks that’s when we organize transport for our members. We usually arrange pickups with the Companions of the Melanesian Brotherhood that owns a truck,” Loe said.
He then encouraged unity amongst vestry committees in the Ghaobata parish and called on them to work in harmony with members of their community.
Loe said only by working together in unity will they be able to move Ghaobata parish forward.
PEACE and forgiveness was highlighted in the sermon at St John the Baptist church in Koli village yesterday.
In an area where disharmony often arises from land dispute and other family matters, this message couldn’t have come at a better time.
Being Easter season in the church calendar of the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM), peace and forgiveness was highlighted as crucial.
In his sermon, the preacher said peace is not present in the homes and communities because family members do not allow God to into their hearts.
He said problems in the communities continue to rise because people have distanced themselves from God.
Only by allowing God into our hearts will we have peace within ourselves and in our communities, he said.
“Suppose you had a fight with your sister or brother, mom or dad and you are not on speaking terms yet, than you had not really celebrated Easter.”
He said some had been fasting this Lenten season and probably shed some kilos but if they still hold a grudge against someone, than it doesn’t mean anything.
Procession into church.
“Because Easter is about forgiveness. Easter is about change of mind.”
He also encouraged everyone to look to the future with a positive mindset and not to dwell on the negatives of the past and also challenged the congregation to have faith.
He said faith drives us forward daily even through hardship.
“Never back down by the problems of the day. Remember Romans 5.”
Romans 5 speaks of peace with God through faith.
He said only by having faith and having a positive mindset can one rise above the challenges of life.
Members of congregation sitting outside during church service.
DEAR EDITOR, generally, public properties are those amenities that the public has access to and that it belongs equally to the members of the society.
There are numerous properties that have been established by the government or the NGOs and private entities, through various sectors of the government.
These services are purposely to be enjoyed by the general public.
Although we may fully understand the purpose and usage of such goods and services, we still lack the care and concern for the protection of such properties especially here in Honiara.
The newly built road rails, footpaths and bridges are few of the many facilities that we take for granted.
There is always the misconception that it does not belong to anyone and therefore gives rise to the no-care-attitude towards the public properties where the commonly used phrase is, “ino blo daddy blo u fo u warim”.
In fact, it’s everybody’s business to care for public properties. Not only because it is paid for by tax payers money, but it resembles our living environment.
If we look after these facilities, in return they’ll take care of our needs for the services we require of them.
Therefore, the public should take ownership in looking after these properties.
DEAR EDITOR, as a citizen of Solomon Islands, I respectfully request all our Honorable Members of Parliament of the fifty constituencies to provide RCDF report of each constituency for this four year term.
It has been a concern for most constituents that there is no evidence of tangible developments in their constituencies.
They expect infrastructures such as proper roads, bridges, wharves including sanitation ie. toilets and water supplies plus other economic generating activities in their constituencies because they think funds received in the four year term are sufficient for these developments.
Providing RCDF reports from the fifty members of parliament is transparency and would clear many doubts.
As well, it is their right to know how and where these funds have been spent.
I once again urge all our Honorable Members of the Parliament to disclose reports of the constituency development funds received in the four year term to the people.
This is a call for transparency and accountability.
