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“It looks good but not easy as it seems”

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Marist FC’s coach Jerry Allen

Allen says having a winning mentality will be key to their campaign

BY ROMULUS HUTA

MARIST coach Jerry Allen says the quarterfinal draws of the Oceania Champions League may have turned out to their favour but admits the road ahead is not easy as it seems.

Allen was sharing his thoughts with SunSPORTS yesterday on the outcome of the draws made on Monday by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).

With the one-off showdown expected to be an all Melanesian affairs, Marist will take on Vanuatu champions Nalkutan in the second quarterfinal at Korman Stadium 4pm local time in Port Vila on April 7.

Looking at how the draws rolled out, a victory by the Solomon Islands representative may see them take on the winner of the match between Lautoka and AS Dragon in the semifinal on April 21.

The pathway outlined in the draw shows that Marist will avoid favourites Auckland City and Team Wellington in the knock out stages.

But Allen stated that this is not going to be easy despite avoiding Auckland City and Team Wellington in the last eight and the semifinal stages.

“The road looks alright. But looking at the composition of teams in our pathway, they are all good teams. AS Dragons is Tahiti’s champion and so as Lautoka and Nalkutan who are the respective champions of Fiji and Vanuatu.

“The avoiding of Team Wellington and Auckland City might open up things in the pathway to the final but it’s not an easy road as it may seem,” the former O-league winning coach with Hekari United of PNG in 2010 said.

Allen expressed that their aim is to reach the final and create another piece of new history.

“Like in the previous games in the pool competition, they were all tough matches.

“The Oceania Champions League only has one chance for participating teams.

“If we want to win matches then we must believe in ourselves. The final is just a few games away and already within our reach. If we perform well, score goals and win the next matches then we can possibly reach the final.

“The focus now is to remind the players to continue to step up and maintain the good attitude of winning they have been displaying so far,” Allen added.

The quarterfinal is a month away from kick off and this Saturday will see them heading into their first game of the Telekom S-League championship series to take on Guadalcanal FC 4pm at Lawson Tama.

Allen said the participation in the TSL championship is a key factor to their preparation ahead of the Oceania champions League quarterfinal.

“Since we will have no friendlies in the lead-up to the big match-up next month, the TSL championship series participation must be put to good use.

“Our need players need more game time. The more matches they play, the better.”

Women boost workforce

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Participant of the training from Premier Real Estate having a chat with Civil trainer Howard Berndt and Australian High Commission first secretary Skye Bale.

Ministry of infrastructure development says more women are joining the construction sector

By Mike Puia

MORE women are joining the construction sector, it has been revealed.

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) confirms that the number of women in the sector is increasing.

This was also highlighted at the opening of certificate III in civil construction plant operations and certificate IV in civil construction operation workshop at the SIBC yesterday.

Newly graduated engineers of the Ministry and representatives of private construction companies are attending the workshop.

Participant of the training from Premier Real Estate having a chat with Civil trainer Howard Berndt and Australian High Commission first secretary Skye Bale.

Of the 35 from nine construction firms that are attending the workshop, which is promised to be very practical, five are women.

Some of the women are engaged by the Ministry to supervise contractors that are working on roads, bridges and wharves.

MID’s training programme coordinator, Michael Wairamo, confirmed in 2017 they organised a training and was attended by four females.

Central Project Implementation Unit (CPIU) team leader, Patrick Mannix, said it is pleasing to note an increased number of women getting qualification in the construction sector.

Mannix said they hope to see 10 women in their pool of qualified people.

Australian High Communion’s First Secretary for Economic Infrastructure, Skye Bale, said for the Solomon Islands to have a transport infrastructure sector that is capable of high-quality works, it requires a competitive, highly-skilled private sector workforce.

Ms Bale said she is pleased that at least five of the trainees are women.

“For courses like Certificate III in Mobile Plant Operations and Certificate IV in Civil Construction Operations, this is a very positive element indeed, and demonstrates the growing capacity of women as professionals in this sector,” Bale said.

She told participants that obtaining certificates in these areas puts them in a strong position within the civil construction sector.

And, Bale said it also gives them an opportunity to advance their careers.

She reminded participants that they are the ones who will help shape and grow the sector, being an important sector in the country.

A female participant of the workshop who is representing Azimuth Survey, Veronica Faith, said they look forward to learning new things and to utilise them in their work.

Ms Faith said they are engaged by the Ministry sometimes to supervise road construction, support engineers and show how contractors should work.

She said they are enjoying their work.

Tourists fall in love with Gizo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Mrs Barbra pose for a group photo with locals at Saeragi Village at Urilolo Lodge on Friday

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

Mrs Barbra pose for a group photo with locals at Saeragi Village at Urilolo Lodge on Friday

VISITING tourists onboard Crystal Serenity have expressed their admiration for Gizo Island as very beautiful and one of the most peaceful places to visit in the world.

A Ms Barbra from the United States of America (USA) told Island Sun Gizo on Friday that she believes Gizo Island is very beautiful and people are very peaceful and kind.

“I really enjoy my day at Gizo as it is the first time for me to visit Solomon Islands. The environment here is very peaceful and I am amazed.

“While local carvers and the general public are enjoying their day, I just love to visit the small town and other historical sites.

“I am happy to visit Gizo main market with lots of natural vegetables and fruits sold at the market. I am hoping that one day I will visit Gizo again to see the beautiful and colorful lagoons, reefs and many Island with different cultures.”

She said that she really enjoyed the day with lots of entertainment, traditional bamboo bands and she just loved the natural sound of panpine made from bamboo that locals were playing during the arrival of the cruise ship.

Tourists from Greece, Mexico and the USA also shared the same sentiments. They hope to visit Gizo again especially Saeragi Village in West Gizo.

Governance training for communities held in Auki

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Some of the participants during the day 1 of training on Monday

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

COMMUNITY groups around Malaita province are undergoing governance training in Auki.

The two-day training is facilitated by the development service exchange (DSE) at the Diocese of Malaita conference room.

DSE’s Jennifer Wate said, “DSE mission is for a vibrant and robust civil society organisation that works together to empower peaceful, prosperous and sustainable communities to promote good governance among development partners towards improved quality of life for the people of Solomon Islands.

DSE Mrs Jennifer Wate during the NGO board governance training in Aukion Monday

“Our mission is also to strengthen effective NGO coordination through advocacy, information sharing, capacity building and collaboration to ensure a credible, accountable and transparent civil society sector working towards equal and sustainable development in the Solomon Islands.

“Our values and beliefs are through relationship, leadership and management excellence, good governance and stewardship, social justice and interdependence and self-reliance empowerment.”

She said the aim of the training is to provide knowledge through understanding the concept of governance and management and the key factors of NGOs and their roles.

The workshop ends today.

Some of the participants during the day 1 of training on Monday

Sogavare stands by decision on MSG Director General

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare

By Gary Hatigeva

FORMER Prime Minister and former Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), Manasseh Sogavare says he stands by his decision back then as chair to appoint the new Director General of the Secretariat.

The Director General was at the centre of talks amongst members of parliament yesterday, when the current Prime Minister, Rick Hounipwela revealed that the purpose for his apology statement at the recent MSG meeting was based on what he said caused disunity amongst member countries.

In his presentation, Prime Minister Hou outlined a number of reasons for his apology statement, most of which were directed at the appointment of MSG’s Director General and the way he has been managing the secretariat’s Head Quarter.

But in a strong statement, the former Prime Minister now Deputy, stressed that he did nothing wrong as Chair then and that all his decisions were based on the MSG Charter and procedures.

He said the Secretariat was in urgent need of a Director General then and because of that, he as Chair had to exhaust other avenues which are also provided for under MSG charter and guidelines to recruit and fill in the important post.

Sogavare explained that when his government took over the organisation, they took over a pretty much bankrupt organisation (MSG) as it didn’t have money.

“So one of the things we had to come up with was to recruit someone who can run the organsiation and sad to say that our own Solomon Islander who was in charge of that organisation then resigned half way because there were questions raised on his competency.

“He ran the organisation down so much so that it ran out of money,” the former MSG Chair claimed when stressing his points on the appointment of the Fijian National as Director General of the Secretariat.

He said because of the situation, Solomon Islands during its term as chairmanship in the organisation has done all its best to revive the organisation.

“We have handed over an organization that is now fully functional,” Sogavare added.

Meanwhile, the former Prime Minister stressed that on the engagement of the Director General at the COP 23, him as chair then made a decision under the charter of MSG, which allows for the chair to second an officer of MSG to an organisation or some other activities or programmes that would also benefit MSG.

“Now COP 23 is to do with environment where all island nations are singing the same tune and our Director General is an expert and has experience in this area.

“…and so we second him for that and then later circulate a memo to get consensus of members

But to his surprise, Sogavare said PNG was not happy with what came up.

“I thought this is right within the charter as it allows me to do it, it ticks every box. For the appointment of a very experienced MSG officer to go to this COP23 thing to help out because it is in the interest of MSG.

The former PM however added that because of the differences highlighted, a decision was made for the Director General to go on unpaid leave.

It is understood that in the recent MSG meeting in PNG, the Director General presented his report back to leaders of the Spearhead Group on his special mission to the COP23.

Gizo market temporary fencing begins

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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MIG local contractors installing temporally fencing at the main Gizo market area on Monday

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

THE Gizo market has been fenced, a temporary measure while it undergoes renovations.

MIG supervisor yesterday said the fence has been erected starting from the D-Max shop to the Gizo Hotel jetty.

Meanwhile, the old market building is being demolished, ready to be cleared before the new facility can be constructed.

“We are now taking over from where GPP left and we are responsible to install the temporally fencing for Gizo market area.

“We are calling on the general public to keep away from the construction area while we are work on the temporally fencing.

“We are hoping to complete the fencing sometimes this week to allow the construction of a new re-develop market house funded by the Australian Government this month.”

The re-development of the market house is funded by the Australian Government, and is set to begin construction this month, to finish by November this year.

MIG local contractors installing temporally fencing at the main Gizo market area on Monday

Divine Mercy Lent programme at Northwest Choiseul

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

DIVINE Mercy groups of Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru Northwest Choiseul started their Lent spiritual programme surrounding the three pillars called prayer, words and deeds.

Under the three pillars of Divine Mercy, the groups committed themselves in praying the chaplet of Divine Mercy, Rosary and most importantly attending the Holy Mass, doing charity works by visiting the sick, participating in community works and sharing God’s words to others.

As part of their spiritual preparedness for Easter, the Divine Mercy members also engaged in fasting for spiritual strength.

Spiritual talks and confession day will also be part of the Lent season programme according to Mr Nerio Ulemiki the media coordinator for Christ the King Parish.

“Starting on Good Friday, Divine Mercy members will embark on a nine days Novena Prayer which will end on Saturday after Easter,” said Mr Ulemiki.

“The final activity will be the celebration of the feast of Divine Mercy on Sunday after Easter.”

 

Gizo public lauded for good behaviour

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

WESTERN Provincial Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu has praised the Gizo public for good behaviour during Crystal Serenity’s visit.

Mr Lenialu also acknowledged his officers who carried out operations during the day, and the public for their pacific and welcoming behaviour towards the tourists.

“I would like to thank the general public in Gizo and other surrounding Islands for your cooperation together with the work of the Gizo Police.

“Most people have been friendly to our tourists and we are happy with the general behavior of the public.”

Carvers, crafts producers, women, children, market venders and visitors from islands as far as Marovo Lagoon enjoyed their day when the cruise ship made its stop at Gizo on Friday.

Malaita ward 20 MPA questioned on ward grant

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

MEMBER of the Provincial Assembly for Ward 20 in Malaita Province is being questioned by voters in his ward on the ward grant and its disbursement for the last eight years during his tenure.

A voter makes the media call, citing non-assistance as a reason.

The voter, who requests anonymity, said many members of ward 20 claim they have not received any assistance from the said MPA.

“I cannot deny the fact that his families or cronies can benefit from his leadership.

“But to be true, people in Ward 20 of East Are Are know nothing about the ward grant he enjoy for the last eight years.

“So with that we are still asking his leadership that to what extend did he can help in development to his people with the ward grant,” the voter said.

People in ward 20 are demanding that their MPA comes clear with how he has spent the ward grant in his eight years of being member.

The voter said ward grant for each MPAs is $50,000 per quarter (three months), whilst $200,000 per year.

The voter said that means the MPA has received about $1.6 million in ward grant for the eight years he’s in been in the Malaita Provincial Assembly.

PM’s statement applauded

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

A resource owner has applauded Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela’s statement calling on resource owners to stop being spectators of their resources.

In an interview, Mr Peter Waikiri says the statement tells the truth about situation faced with resource owners in the country.

However, he said the pace needed to address the situation should be the focus here.

“It is so good that PM identified the difficulty face with resource owners and summed that with the statement made.

“My question to Prime Minister Hon Rick Houenipwela is, what will your government do about the statement you said, so that “resource owners to stop being spectators of their own resource?” Waikiri said.

He said the reason is they have never been recognised as a major key player in any business involving their resource in the country.

Waikiri said if they were to stop being spectator of their resource, they should be given recognition over their resource and businesses involve.

He said government should put in place mechanisms to enable resource owners to equally be part of any development in the country.

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