THE court has sentenced a man to two years and eight months for having sexual intercourse with his own daughter.
This is in relation to incidents in 2004 at Temotu province where the accused was alleged to have sexual intercourse with his daughter on unknown dates between July and November.
Prosecution said that the accused on five occasions had committed the offence to his own daughter.
Principal Magistrate Tearo Beneteti in sentencing the accused said after considering all the aggravating and mitigating features, a custodial sentence is proper as always said by the courts.
“I agree and it is binding on me to consider the same,” Ms Beneteti said.
She said such offending must be condemned as fathers blessed with having children should be responsible in carrying out their fatherly role with love, care and protection.
“They are the head of the family and to fall short in such manner as seen in this case is nothing more than being inhumane and selfish.
“To lash out on daughters the way the defendant had done using force and having a knife with him for the three counts and doing it continuously is just outrageous such fathers must be taken out from the society so they can spend time think in custody over all that they have done to come to understand the detriment effects on the victim of their crime,” Beneteti said.
“He has gravely breached the trust that the victim has on him as the father and that is not taken lightly by this court.
“This offence in my view calls for strong deterrence message and I must therefore have this on my mind as I deliberate over them. It also calls for retribution to a certain extent.”
She said this is a serious type of offending.
“They were pre-planned as well as the defendant takes the lead in taking the victim to the locations of where the offending took place.
“This is horrendous,” Beneteti added.
Therefore she imposed a following sentence for count one, two, three and four two years and six months for each count while count five two years and eight months. All sentences will be served concurrently to count five.
MORE than 100 Solomon Islands students studying at Emalus Campus in Vanuatu face the prospect of returning home unless the government sorts out the proposed cut in their allowances.
They are appealing to the government to assess their cost of living in Port Vila before cutting their allowances.
The students say in a letter to the Island Sun newspaper yesterday that the proposed cut is “unrealistic and unwelcomed”, adding a proper assessment of their cost of living would result in the increase of their allowances, rather than reduce it.
They said a National Training Unit (NTU) officer who visited them in recent weeks had failed to clarify the intended cut despite questions from the students.
“The students of Emalus Campus are shocked to hear from the visiting officer of the NTU that the SIG is proposing to make a sudden cut of the students’ allowances.
“However, the … officer did not clarify to the students what the percentage is to be cut. Up until now the students are still uncertain what the policy of the government is as the students have based their allowances on the scholarship award signed with the government,” one student wrote.
“We are very concerned that should the proposed cut in allowance proceed, we cannot sustain the cost of living in Port Vila,” they said. They said that in recent months the Vanuatu government had increased Value Added Tax (VAT) on goods of 15 percent.
“The government before imposing any cut should make proper assessment on the cost of living in Vanuatu, particularly in Port Vila,” adding the proposed action by the SIG is unrealistic and unwelcomed.
The students say they are rather concerned that while students at Laucala Campus had been given assurance by the director of NTU that their allowances would not be cut such assurance could not be extended to students in other regional campuses including Emalus.
”If that is so then that is unfair and unrealistic as proper assessment have to be made before any such cut is to be made. For us Emalus Students if proper assessment is made the student allowance should be increased in order to cope with the cost of living.
More than 100 students at Emalus Campus received half of their allowances four weeks ago.
“These students have to share their allowances with other students who did not receive anything at all.
“A week ago more than 50 students received half of their allowances and have to pay back the monies borrowed from other students. So far more than 20 students are yet to receive any allowance,” the student said.
“By now the student allowances have been exhausted and if the other half is not forthcoming then the students will not be able to sustain the cost of living and have to return home,” he said.
The students say when they contacted the Ministry of Education, Human Resources Development for an explanation, the acting Permanent Secretary of Education told them “the cut was due to the pressure (on the) scholarship budget”.
Others said it would appear there was misinterpretation of what the reduction in the scholarship budget.
“The reduction of scholarship budget does not mean the student allowance is cut,” one MP told the students.
“The students of Emalus Campus are calling on the proper authority to address the issue of student allowances without delay. This is so that the students can decide whether to return home or not … rather than incurring costs that we cannot meet,” the students said.
Provincial Police Commander, Choiseul Province,
Superintendent Cedar Nevol.
Provincial Police Commander, Choiseul Province, Superintendent Cedar Nevol.
POLICE in Choiseul province are awaiting the appearance of a tribal chief in the Gizo Magistrates Court on charges of alleged malicious damage and resisting police arrest after the chief was arrested on March 20, 2018.
The suspect has since been remanded at the Gizo Correctional Centre in Western province to appear in Court to face the two charges against him.
Provincial Police Commander, Choiseul Province, Superintendent Cedar Nevol explains: “It is alleged that on March 3, 2018, the tribal chief damaged a 40 HP engine of the Taro Police Station when the police spent the night at Mondomondo in North West Choiseul after attending reports of unwanted behaviour in the area.
“When police went to arrest the suspect on 4 March 4 for the alleged offence, he resisted arrest.
“Police continued its investigation into the matter until the chief was arrested on March 20, 2018 after members of the community reported to police in Taro that the suspect was allegedly causing disturbance at the Mondomondo log pond.
“He was arrested and charged with alleged malicious damage and resisting police arrest. He was transported to Gizo and remanded at the Correctional Centre there awaiting his day in Court.
“I want to thank the members of the community at Mondomondo Village for working together with police which led to the successful arrest of the suspect.
“For a person with such a status in the community his actions of not respecting police property and resisting arrest must be condemned.”
GIZO Kolobangara nominations for the by-election will close on April 25.
Governor General Sir Frank Kabui said the by-election has been set for May 23, and the nominations, which has been opened on April 11, will close on April 25.
Notice of the by-election has been pinned up in each ward within the constituency in accordance with section 25 of the electoral act.
With this the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission advises people from Gizo Kolombangara constituency to be prepared to choose their representative and to listen to SIBC and Radio Happy Lagoon, as well as other media outlets for updates regarding important activities in the lead up to the by-Election.
Marist defender Michael Boso during a training session last week.
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Marist defender Michael Boso during a training session last week.
SOLOMON Islands Oceania Champions League representative Marist will depart Honiara on Friday.
Marist will travel to Fiji to take on Lautoka FC in the first leg of the Oceania Champions League semifinals set for Sunday afternoon at Churchill Park.
A team of 15 playing members and five officials were named for the tour but names will not be released until Friday this week due to other reasons, according to the club’s media officer Muma WongSasa.
WongSasa confirmed that some of their key players are nursing injuries at the moment and the club management is hoping for their quick recovery ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Key defender Koriak Upaiga is also in Papua New Guinea (PNG) at the moment and he will join the team prior to Sunday’s contest.
Marist qualified into the two-legged semi-final tie against Lautoka following a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Vanuatu champions Nalkutan at the Korman Stadium in Port Vila the previous weekend.
Goals from aging striker Abraham Iniga and Davidson Tome sealed a much-deserved qualification passage for the Jerry Allen-coached side to a debut last-four appearance.
For Lautoka, who boasts the inclusion of sensational Solomon Islands forward Benjamin Totori in its roster got their place in the semis after posting a 2-1 away quarterfinal win against AS Dragon at Stade Pater in Papeete the previous Sunday.
The Fijian side outplayed AS Dragon to claim their place in the semi-final for the first time in the club’s history.
The return leg will be played in Honiara on Sunday April 29 at the Lawson Tama Stadium.
Meanwhile, the other semifinal features Team Wellington and Auckland City in an all-New Zealand affair, ruling out the opportunity for a repeat of the final for the three previous editions.
Team Wellington hosts the first leg taking on domestic champions Auckland City, who took out the domestic Premiership grand final between the two sides with a 1-0 victory on April 1, at Dave Farrington Park on Sunday 22 April at 1pm.
As mentioned, the two teams have met in the final of the last three editions of the OFC Champions League with Auckland yet to drop a match to their domestic counterparts in this competition to date.
Auckland City will host the return leg at Kiwitea Street on Sunday 29 April from 12.30pm.
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.
