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Strike for what?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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SINU student on strike on April 4 at the Panatina campus

Malasa questions continued SINU student protest, Ngati refuses to stop

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SERIOUS questions are being asked regarding the reasons for SINU students to continue with their strike, now that pro-vice chancellor (corporate) Donald Malasa has finished his term.

The students, under the leadership of their student association (SINUSA) president Reginald Ngati, yesterday began their boycotting of classes and staging of peaceful protests, demanding the removal of Mr Malasa.

However, Malasa’s contract had already expired on March 31 – he did not renew it.

Malasa yesterday raised his doubts over the motives behind the strike, saying he had already vacated office during SINUSA’s 14-day strike notice, thus there is no reason why Ngati should go ahead with the strike.

“My contract with SINU lapsed on March 31, students and SINUSA should not go on strike, what is the use of taking the strike now?

“The student body wanted to strike often, what is their reason of striking because I’m no longer in office?

“It indicates they have other reasons behind their strike but I think the main reason is because I null-and-void their election.”

He also explained that he had only returned to office as a care-taker, as requested by the SINU council, while SINU finds a replacement.

Malasa said he had also informed the students and the SINUSA executive via letter of when his contract would lapse. He also told them his intention not to renew his contract.

“My decision not to re-new my contract is before the strike notice, and I discuss with my family that I will finish from SINU as it’s enough now because it’s been 24 years with government, 7 years with SICHE and 5 years with SINU.”

Regarding the students’ call for a representative in the SINU council, Malasa said they already have one – Mr Hudson Maenu, who is the supervisor for SINUSA.

Meanwhile, SINUSA president Ngati insists that Malasa’s removal from office was only one of their demands.

“Now that pro vice chancellor (corporate) move out from his position, we say it is not the only issue, we say he is one of the issues.”

He explains that there are a lot of other issues aside from the pro-vice chancellor which students feel are affecting their studies in SINU.

Ngati said to call of the strike now would mean the other issues affecting students will not be solved, hence they will press on with their strike.

“We are still available and open minded for further dialogue with authorities,” Ngati said.

It is understood that apart from the call for Malasa’s removal, other reasons for the student strike are; for SINUSA to be totally independent from the institution regarding decision making; students’ welfare issue such as internet, printing services, bedding in the hostels, improved diet in the mess menu, and improvement to the school’s clinic.

Marist name 16 players for quarterfinal

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Marist FC line-up during one of the matches in the group stage of the Oceania Champions League last week at Lawson Tama.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

MARIST has released its 16-man playing roster yesterday for the Oceania Champions League quarterfinal trip to Vanuatu.

This is ahead of their departure for Port Vila this afternoon.

The obvious omissions from the list are young defender John Aeta and Alwin Ray.

Aeta and Ray were part of the team during the Group D competition held at Lawson Tama during February and March.

The omissions of Aeta and Ray reduced the number of traveling players from 18 to 16.

Marist’s Oceania Champions league quarterfinal match up against Nalkutan is set for 3pm at the Korman Stadium in Port Vila this Saturday.

The winner will progress into the semifinal going against the winner of the other last-eight encounter between Lautoka and AS Dragon.

The two-legged semifinals will begin on April 21.

Meet the Marist squad below.

GOAL KEEPERS:

Anthony Talo and Harold NAUANIA

DEFENDERS:

Joachim Waroi, Michael Boso, Robert Laua, Koriak Upaiga and Natanela Mosese

MIDFIELDERS:

Henry Fa’arodo, Jeffery Bule, Timothy Bakale, Thomas Taloga, Joel Bakaliki, Atkin Kaua and Davidson Tome

FORWARDS:

Mathias Iani and Abraham Iniga

TEAM OFFICIALS:

Jerry Allen (coach), Jerry Sam (assistant coach), Muma WongSasa (Media), Augustine Omearo (Team Manager), Elliot Ragomo

Warriors name team for City clash

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Solomon Warriors FC players celebrate one of their goals against KOSSA.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

SOLOMON Warriors has named its 18-man travelling roster for this weekend’s quarterfinal match up of the Oceania Champions League in New Zealand.

Warriors will depart Honiara today to play reigning Oceania champions Auckland City at Kiwitea Street scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Coach Moses Toata has included a new face on this tour.

He is goalkeeper Loea Mani Taisara.

Taisara replaced reserve goalkeeper Joseph Komu who sits this one out through injury.

Komu was a key member of the Warriors line-up during the Group B stage competition in Tahiti.

Following Abraham Izomo Bird’s dismissal in the first match, Komu stepped in to help propelled Warriors to a massive 6-1 win over AS Lossi of New Caledonia in the second match.

Toata confirmed yesterday that due to injury, Komu will be replaced by Taisara on this tour.

Warriors also acknowledge the presence of defender and Ni-Vanuatu international Jason Thomas on this trip.

Thomas missed out during the group stage competition due to visa issues, leaving Warriors to fly to Tahiti with only 17 players.

Meanwhile, Auckland have been crowned regional champions nine times and present a tough challenge for Warriors.

Toata knows Auckland will be tough but is also confident his side can upset if they manage their preparation well.

“First we need to get our mindset into a winning mindset,” Toata said.

“We need to forget that Auckland City is the champions.”

Toata said the team needs to work on their weaknesses before their April 8 match.

“I’ve picked up a few weaknesses we [have] and I think we need to step up on our fitness to compete at the next level,” he said.

Toata also said the Warriors will look to strengthen their defence

“Generally my players are a group of very attacking minded players but we need to balance our game.

“We need to balance the defensive aspect of our game so that we can avoid conceding goals if we are to beat a big team like Auckland City,” he said.

Solomon Warriors travelling squad:

1.Abraham Izomo Bird 2. Loea Mani Taisara 3.Hasddis Aengari Gagame 4.Fred Fakari 5.Milton Bata Furai 6.Allen Peter 7.Emmanuel Poila 8.John Alick 9.Judd Molea 10.Molea Tigi 11.Augustine Samani 12.Jerry Lou Donga 13.Gibson Samo Daudau 14.Albert Fakaia Witney 15.Kensi Tangis 16.Ian Hugh Paia 17.Gagame Feni. 18. Jason Thomas

Coach: Moses Toata

Venue problem postpone futsal league

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Marist FC Mathias Saru skips away from a challenge

BY ROMULUS HUTA

THE national futsal league has been postponed for Tuesday next week.

Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Futsal Development Officer Jerry Sam confirmed yesterday.

The league, which is being funded by the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) is supposed to kick off in Honiara today with the first three matches.

However, due to venue problem, the league will be postponed for next week, Tuesday April 10.

Being multipurpose hall the only futsal playing venue in Honiara, Sam was informed by Honiara City Council (HCC) this week that the venue is hired by the Solomon Islands Volleyball Federation (SIVF) for use today and tomorrow for the national easter volleyball championship.

Sam said they have no other alternative but had to resort to rescheduling the league’s kick off for next week.

Meanwhile, a total of 12 teams have been registered to take part in the league.

The competing teams are Marist, KOSSA, Koloale, Vania, G-Camp, Mataks, National under-17, Guntimak, Real Kakamora, Henderson Eels, Cool Line and Indo-Solo.

The league is expected to see flare of skills being displayed during the matches.

National futsal captain Elliott Ragomo will also be featuring for Marist alongside his fellow Kurukuru members such as Alwin Ray, Alwin Hou, Jeffery Bule and goalkeeper Anthony Talo.

Ragomo spent last season playing in the top flight Brazilian professional futsal league with Minas Tenis Futsal Clube of Belo Horizonte until his return to the country at the end of the season.

The injection of inspirational Ragomo is expected to bolster the Honiara outfit.

The national under-17 who are preparing for this year’s Youth Olympic Games taking place later this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina is one of the teams to watch in the league as their line-up features futsal latest prodigy Raphael Le’ai leading them in the attack upfront.

Medal prospects ready to go in Gold Coast

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Solomon Islands flag bearer during last night’s official opening of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Jenlyn Wini poses with distance runner Sharon Firisua

BY ROMULUS HUTA

The Solomon Islands flag bearer during last night’s official opening of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Jenlyn Wini poses with distance runner Sharon Firisua

OUR female weightlifting duo to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia Jenlyn Wini and Mary Lifu Kini will compete tomorrow.

Wini is the current Commonwealth champion in the women’s 58kg category. She will be faced by a total of 14 strong opponents.

Her opponents are Tia-Clair Toomey (Australia), Fayema Akther (Bangladesh), Tali Darsigny (Canada), Laura Hewitt (England), Maria Mareta (Fiji), Saraswati Rout (India), Winny Langat (Kenya), Marceeta Marlyne Marcus (Malaysia), Ketty Lent (Mauritus), Alethea Boon (New Zealand), Jody Hughes (Scotland), Johanni Taljaard (Republic of South Africa), Nadeeshani Rajapaksha (Sri Lanka) and Christie Williams of Wales.

Wini is one of the medal contenders in this category.

Looking through the archives, no athlete from the Solomon Islands has ever won a Commonwealth medal.

Martin Rara, President of the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) said Wini is a medal prospect in Gold Coast.

“Being the current commonwealth champions in the women’s 58kg category, she stands a good chance of winning a medal at the Games.

“If she gets one, this could go down as a history for Solomon Islands. We have never won a medal in the Commonwealth Games.”

For Kini, who will be competing in the women’s 53kg division, will go up against 13 others including Pacific Games champion Dika Toua of Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Her other opponents are Tegan Napper (Australia), Fullapati Chakma (Bangadesh), Rachel Leblanc-Bazinet (Canada), Fraer Morrow (England), Ruth Baffoe (Ghana), Sanjita Chanu Khumukcham (India), Sharifah Inani Najwa Syd Anuar (Mauritas), Liebon Akua (Nauru), Philipa Patterson (New Zealand), Fatima Yakubu (Nigeria), Chamari Warnakulasuriya (Sri Lanka) and Catrin Jones (Wales).

Kini bagged a bronze in last year’s Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship and is also one of the medal contenders.

Wini and Kini have been training at the performance-enhancing Oceania Weightlifting Institute based in Noumea, New Caledonia.

Male weightlifter David Gorosi is the other member of the Solomon Islands three-member team to Gold Coast.

Gorosi competes in the 85kg category and his competition will be on Saturday.

The weightlifting competition of the Commonwealth Games stretches from April 5 to 9 at the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre in Gold Coast.

The Games was officially opened last night.

Kokegolo CHS celebrates annual religious day

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Kokegolo ECE students leading the school parade during the Religious Day opening ceremony at Kokegolo in Munda

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

IN MUNDA

KOKEGOLO Community High School (KCHS) yesterday held its third annual ‘Religious Day’ celebrations in Munda, Western province.

More than 800 students both secondary and primary, plus parents and guardians, teachers and visitors witnessed the opening ceremony at the Kokegolo Church building.

The theme for this year’s day is ‘Children are a gift from the lord’.

Guest of honour Fr Patterson Nibeo, parish priest at Noro Anglican Church of Melanesian (ACOM), in his speech said, “Wisdom comes from the lord and to fear God is the key foundation to develop our relationship with God.

“Through prayers nothing is impossible and word of God is our stand.

“Children you are a gift from the lord and I am honor and privilege to be part of this opening ceremony here at Kokegolo and as a parent this team reminds all of us to be responsible to protect you children.”

He said that teachers are role models responsible for teaching children to have reverence for God.

Deputy Principal Mrs Rewisi Teboruru Ian Liliu, reflecting the history of the event, said it was born two years ago, being the brainchild of the religious committee of the school under the guidance of Rev Kendrick Kasa.

“Today the chairman Rev Morris Tanapa and members of the committee continue to uphold the tradition.

“This programme was initiated to uphold Christian teaching in the school through interaction, fun, laughter, sharing and time out of classroom for both teachers and students.”

The opening programme was highlighted with a school parade and speech competition based on the day’s theme.

The programme will continue today with a singing competition, bible quizzes, action songs and other religious activities.

Invited guests who attended include chiefs and elders within Munda, Education Secretary United Church Education Authority Mrs Veronica Toben, (KCHS) Chaplain Rev Morris Tahapa, Principal Danarae Hitu, and religious committee members.

Solomon Islands in NCD crisis

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Dr Jason Diau speaking during an exclusive interview on Wednesday

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

Dr Jason Diau speaking during an exclusive interview on Wednesday

NON–communicable disease is a heavy burden on the health status of the country’s population. So much so that it is regarded as a crisis.

This is according to Dr Jason Diau, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of Atoifi Adventists Hospital.

He said this issue needs to be seriously considered and quickly addressed, “hence we need timely debases detection and a comprehensive treatment plan are vital to maintain healthier and longer lives to prevent premature deaths from NCDs”.

Diau stressed that treating patients diagnosed with NCDs and experiencing severe symptoms puts an exponential burden on the country’s health system.

“Therefore I suggest two measures to undertake to prevent and control of non-communicable diseases which could be regarded as back to the basics and this are ensure daily physical exercise to be done and reduce salt and fat intake inside food,” he said.

He is pleased with the national government’s approach in tackling this issue in collaboration with health authorities and churches.

Gender and social inclusion on climate change imperative

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Report on CCDR Finance Assessment

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

WOMEN, men, young people and people with disabilities all experience climate change and disasters differently. In the recently launched Climate Change and Disaster Risk Finance Assessment Report, a part of the assessment was on gender and social inclusion analysis.

This analysis cover four areas namely, gender and social inclusion (gsi), mainstreaming gender and inclusion of other marginalised groups, opportunities for integration of gender and social inclusion into climate change and disaster risk management (CCDRM) and role of ministry of women, youth, children, children and family affairs (MWYCA) advancing the gender agenda in the CCDRM programme of Solomon Islands.

Based on the GSI analysis, six key recommendations had been made by the report. In a nutshell the recommendations are; capacity, coordination, gender equality awareness, build on investments already made, designate allocations within existing resources and new funding to support integration in the social sector and mainstream gender and social inclusion across central government sector planning and budgeting processes.

In gender equality awareness the report stresses that gender awareness is critical for addressing the perception that gender equality is unachievable in the Solomon Islands context.

“There is good precedent to demonstrate that well-integrated gender-sensitive programmes with shared governance and shared benefits are possible and accepted in the social and cultural landscape”.

This includes to support efforts to raise awareness on gender equality and its policy and regulatory framework at all levels.

“This awareness is targeted for decision makers in both national and provincial levels, communities to address dominance of male leadership and specifically for the selected National Implementing Entity (NIE),” the report says.

For Solomon Islands, the engagement of indigenous people, community representatives and cultural custodians in climate change responses and disaster risk management is equally important to make sure cultural integrity and traditional knowledge around survival and adaptation remains intact.

The gendered division of labour, different physical and health needs and vulnerabilities, older male dominance in decision making and governance, lower incomes and lesser livelihood opportunities of women and youth all lead to increased inequalities in the context of climate change and disasters. A gender-sensitive and inclusive approach is reported to be part of a paradigm shift.

This pillar on GSI has only been added to the Pacific climate change finance assessment framework with one other Pacific Island country, Tonga including it as part of its assessment.

By carrying out this GSI analysis, government is committed to its position as a good international citizen, recognising that progressing gender equality advances progress and benefits for all.

Western Province commended for peaceful Easter celebrations

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE Provincial Police Commander, Western province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu has commended the people of the province for their good behaviour resulting in very peaceful Easter celebrations.

“I want to thank the church leaders, community leaders, elders and chiefs, for making sure that this Easter season was celebrated in peace and unity,” says Lenialu.

“I also want to extend my words of thanks to men, women, young people, children and every one for celebrating Easter responsibly reflecting on the meaning of the occasion.”

“I want to acknowledge the good people of Western Province for celebrating this Easter festive season in the true spirit of Easter. There were no major incidents reported during the long weekend.”

–POLICE MEDIA

Who is the rightful authority?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

NORTH Guadalcanal’s Paramount Chief of Thimbo tribe is calling on Gaobata, Malango and Baohomea Houses of Chiefs to work together with Guadalcanal provincial office and Levers to address land issue in Lungga and Tenaru areas.

Chief Benedict Garimane stressed that while there is plain view of people clearing the land or engaged in some activities or development, this can be problematic because they don’t know who the rightful authority is that is giving people the green light to carry out such activities.

He added that he raises the concern of authority because people settling in Lungga and Tenaru are divided into three sets of people which include those who claimed to be original landowners, those who claimed land from Patrick Wong and those who claimed land from Guadalcanal provincial office.

Henceforth, Garimane emphasised that he fears this will somehow result in rivalry which may possibly lead to arguments and result in things we don’t want to see happening in North Guadalcanal.

“Maybe what should happen at this stage is that RIPEL must stop in continuing to sell the land, G-Province must stop allocating the land and look at a way forward that will bring us peace and unity amongst people who live there,” he said.

Garimane of Ngaliamera village reiterates his call for the three parties to work together to find a solution that will help address this issue of land authority in Lungga and Tenaru area.

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