THE Ministry of foreign affairs (MFAET) has explained the ‘Russian visit’ which was reported in yesterday’s Island Sun Newspaper front page.
In a media statement, the MFAET said, “A six-member delegation from the Russian Federation “Bid Committee EXPO 2025” arrived in Honiara on the evening of Monday, February 19, 2018.
The visit is part of the delegation’s Pacific campaign tour to rally support for the bid by the Russian city of Ekaterinburg to host the World Expo in 2025.
Prior to arriving in Honiara the delegation had visited Samoa, Fiji, and Vanuatu. They will be visiting Nauru next.
The delegation is led by the Russian Resident Ambassador in Australia and are in the country to meet with senior Government officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
During the visit the delegation showcased their bid under the theme “Changing the World: Innovations and Better Life for Future Generations”. The Expo is schedule to be held from March to November 2025.
Elections for the hosting of the Expo are due to be held in November this year in Paris, France at the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) headquarters. Solomon Islands is a member of the Bureau International des Expositions.
The approval for the visit was granted by the Office of the Prime Minister and was conveyed to the Russian Embassy in Canberra through the Solomon Islands High Commission in Canberra.
Solomon Islands and Russia are yet to establish formal diplomatic relations.
THREE unexploded ordnance (UXO) were reportedly unearthed by an excavator digging at an area in Henderson yesterday.
In a telephone conversation to Island Sun yesterday, owner of the machine said it was in the morning when his boy found the three UXOs.
He said upon sighting the bombs, they called the police to dispatch a team to check and remove the bombs from the site.
“But since I am in the business of digging up area where UXOs are rife, we were already cautioned by the bomb disposal team on what we should do in the event our team come across a bomb,” he person who wants to remain anonymous said.
He said that his boys are well aware of the standard procedures in place and this is not the first occurrence for them.
“What we were advised to do was to cover the bombs and not to tamper with them but to keep them away from exposure to heat or the sun and only allow the bomb disposal team to have access to the bombs. At this stage, no one else will be allowed to come close or to touch the bombs except the bomb disposal team,” he said.
Upon Island Sun’s arrival at the site where the UXO was sighted, the excavator operator was already continuing into his task at hand as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Reports reaching this paper said the bomb disposal team had already moved in to remove the bombs.
Island Sun has not been able to get verification from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Media Unit on these UXO.
LUPE Ole Soaga coach Paul Ualesi says they will take one game at a time in the Oceania Champions League Group B competition that will get underway this Saturday at Lawson Tama Stadium.
Ualesi and his boys landed in Honiara and admit that they are drawn in a very tough pool where they will come up against AS Magenta, Team Wellington and hosts Marist starting this weekend.
“This is our first time here. The boys are really happy to be here, especially for the tournament
“This is a really tough pool for us. We’ll take one at a time. It’s a really tough one,” Ualesi said.
Lupe Ole Soaga is a four-time champion in the Samoan national soccer league and they are the last to qualify into the Oceania Champions League group stage.
This came after they finished as runner-up behind Cook Islands’ Tupapa Maraerenga in the preliminary qualifiers held in American Samoa last month.
Lupe Ole Soaga will open their campaign 1pm this Saturday at Lawson Tama taking on AS Magenta of New Caledonia.
“AS Magenta is one of the top clubs in New Caledonia.
“We played against them last year coming out with a narrow loss but this time will be different.
“It’s a good challenge for the boys to play against magenta.”
Following the encounter this Saturday, four-time grandfinalist Team Wellington awaits them on Tuesday 1pm for their second match.
Their final match is against hosts Marist on Friday 4pm at Lawson Tama.
Peace Boat also conducts activities with 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) around the world, and the ICAN logo is also featured on the ship
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
A Japanese boat which promotes global peace will arrive in Honiara tomorrow.
The visit of Japan-based International NGO Peace Boat, also known as MV Ocean Dream, is part of 56-day Oceania voyage to promote grassroots exchange and education about global issues.
According to Japan Grace Co Ltd, passengers will visit WWII memorial sites such as Bloody Ridge and Mt Austin, while others will visit tourist attractions including Bonegi Beach, National Museum and National Parliament.
One group will visit Kakabona Village to experience Solomon culture and tradition, where they also hope to impart a few Japanese cultural norms to the villagers in return.
These activities will be carried out with cooperation from many local partners from both public and private sectors.
“The passengers look forward to meeting warm and hospitable people of Solomon Islands,” the Japan Grace Co Ltd said.
Moreover, a delegation from Peace Boat, on behalf of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and including Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor Mr Miyake Nobuo and ICAN Ambassador / former Australian Senator Scott Ludlam, will meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Solomon Islands, Hon Mr George Milner Tozaka.
“We hope to congratulate the Solomon Islands for being among the 122 states that voted last year to adopt the historic UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and share our message encouraging signing and ratification of the treaty.”
Peace Boat, a unique non-profit organisation, was founded 35 years ago by university students in Tokyo.
Since then it developed into an international NGO with United Nations consultative status with an influential presence in Japanese civil society and the global peace movement.
It organises three global voyages and two regional voyages each year, and to date has carried more than 60,000 participants to over 100 countries onboard a total of 95 voyages.
As a committed campaigner for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Peace Boat’s ship has since 2016 been sailing with the Global Goals logo on its hull, and conducting activities related to the SDGs in each of the ports it visits.
Peace Boat also conducts activities with 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) around the world, and the ICAN logo is also featured on the ship.
Jodanna Molea greets his dad Judd Molea at the Honiara International Airport on Tuesday
By Taromane Martin
Jodanna Molea greets his dad Judd Molea at the Honiara International Airport on Tuesday
GROUP B runner-ups Solomon Warriors FC yesterday arrived back in the country after qualifying for the quarterfinal of the 2018 Oceania Champions League.
After losing 2-0 to Erakor Golden Stars in their opening match, Warriors fought their way back to finish second in their group with six points – thanks to victories over AS Lossi of New Caledonia and AS Dragons of Tahiti.
Head Coach Moses Toata told SunSPORTS yesterday the secret to their victory was because they had the opportunity to analyze Lossi and Dragons games after their loss.
“After our first loss we went back and had the opportunity to watch AS Dragons and AS Lossi play,” he said.
“That enabled us to identify their weaknesses and the good thing is that we had a convincing win over Lossi which placed us on the right path.
Coach Toata adds with the Telekom Soccer League (TSL) knockout championship set to kick off March 11 his side will switch focus for the domestic competition
“At the moment we will concentrate on the knockout which is also important and we will use it as our build up for the next stage of the Champions League.
“We are yet to confirm who we will play against so I will need to gather the boys back and prepare for the knockout and the next stage that is our immediate priority,” he said.
Solomon Warriors FC arrived 2pm yesterday on board Virgin Airlines.
AS Magenta coach Alan Moizan has rated hosts Marist as the team to beat in the Group D actions of the Oceania Champions League here in Honiara.
Moizan, who is not new to Solomon Islands having led the senior New Caledonia side as head coach to reach the grandfinal of the 2012 OFC Nations Cup in Honiara, said they have a lot of respect for Marist in this upcoming competition.
“Marist will be backed by the home crowd and we expect them to be tough.
“We have a lot of respect for them and they are the team to beat.”
The Frenchman stressed that the competition is going to be tough but he is looking forward to a good performance from his team.
“We’ll play three matches and we are looking forward to them.”
AS Magenta will open their Oceania Champions League campaign on Saturday against Lupe Ole Soaga of Samoa at 1pm, Lawson Tama.
The match will be a rematch of their last year’s Oceania Champions League meeting where AS Magenta only managed to win by 2-1.
Moizan added that Lupe Ole Soaga is a good team and they fought very hard to beat them during their last meeting.
After taking on the Samoan outfit in the opener, hosts Marist awaits them next Tuesday at 4pm while their final match will be against Team Wellington next Friday.
Moizan outlined that they played three matches against Team Wellington in the past seasons losing twice and drew one.
Their last meeting was last year’s Oceania Champions League semifinal second leg where the NZ outfit won 7-1.
“We’ll remain focussed and that is what we are here for. We are hoping to win matches to qualify us into the quarterfinals.”
Police patrol boats have been monitoring the border in the Western Province
Police intercept group of Bougainvilleans in 3 high-powered boats outside Gizo
BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
GIZO
POLICE response team (PRT) yesterday intercepted and arrested about 30 Bougainvilleans who had reportedly crossed border in response to the recent death of a man in Noro, Western province.
PRT, acting on intel that a group of Bougainvillean men had entered our waters in three ray boats, moved in with Gizo officers onboard the patrol boat Auki (04) and intercepted them between Gizo and Vella la Vella yesterday afternoon.
It is reported that the group of men includes former militants from the Bougainville crisis, and were on their way to Noro following the recent death of one of their kinsmen there.
RSIPF SWIFT ACTION ON BORDER CROSSERS: Accurate intel and quick action by the RSIPF led to the intercept and capture of about 30 Bougainvilleans travelling in three high-powered ray boats reportedly on their way to Noro town. (Pictured) RSIPF patrol boat Auki arrives in Gizo with the Bouganvilleans yesterday late afternoon. Photo by Alfred Pagepitu
The men are said to be from the Siwai region in Bougainville.
On February 6 this year, a man died in Noro. He was part Bougainville and Shortland islands. Police have been intensely investigating this case since.
Following the death, police had also stepped up surveillance and fast-craft patrols of the waters in the Western region.
Following the arrest, the men were brought over to Gizo in the late afternoon. Their arrival was received by a packed Gizo wharf with curious public wanting to take a glimpse of the border crossers.
Meanwhile, police have again reiterated the call on relatives of the deceased to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and allow police investigations to continue.
Police also warns that inviting outsiders to come and aggravate the issue is illegal and will be dealt with.
Public in Gizo have praised the RSIPF for the swift action taken, and also appeal to the province’s and national leaders to address this matter immediately.
Yesterday’s events have come as a shock for members of public in Gizo, many reliving the old days during the Bougainville crisis when everyone was living with uncertainty and fear.
Mr Amila Salgado Head of SI ADB unit and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of
Finance and Treasury on yesterday’s State Owned Enterprises website launching.
BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
Mr Amila Salgado Head of SI ADB unit and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on yesterday’s State Owned Enterprises website launching.
SOLOMON Islands is the first Melanesian country and second in the Pacific to launch a State Owned Enterprises (SOE) website which contains information regarding SOE portfolio, financial statements and annual reports.
The website was launched yesterday by the Government of Solomon Islands at the Mendana Kitano hotel in Honiara.
It will now provide profiles of each of the country’s eight SOEs featuring their financial performance, board members and links to relevant legislation, as well as overall performance of SI’s SOE portfolio.
Asian Development Bank (ADB), in a press statement, said the initiative carried out is part of a continuing programme to improve SI SOE’s portfolios which has seen it become one of the best performing in the region.
Also it demonstrates the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability to making key information about the public enterprises available online.
Head of Solomon Islands ADB unit Mr Amila Salgado adds, the launching marks another important milestone in Solomon Islands SOE reform programme.
A programme which ADB has been privileged of being closely involved with since the inception of the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI) in 2018.
Moreover it was developed to make information readily accessible for public to obtain.
Present in the launching were heads of the SOEs and donor partners.
World Bank Group’s Senior Payment Systems & Remittances Specialist, Carlo Corazza
who is part of the collaborative representatives in the drafting of the Payment System
Bill 2018.
By Gary Hatigeva
World Bank Group’s Senior Payment Systems & Remittances Specialist, Carlo Corazza who is part of the collaborative representatives in the drafting of the Payment System Bill 2018.
THE National Government through the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) and development partners is now working to adopt and introduce an internationally recognised and standardised Payment System law, which experts say will help the country’s economy.
Consultations and discussions were held yesterday on a drafted National Payment System (NPS) Bill 2018 that looks to strengthen areas of the national payment system in the country, involving major financial institutions, both local and international.
This came following an approved cabinet conclusion that agreed to have a new law on the country’s Payment System, which saw successful collaboration between the office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and CBSI.
When approved, the group was tasked with an objective to provide the country with modern and efficient payment systems, to ensure the financial stability of the market and increase the level of access to finance of the population.
In his overview presentation on the NPS, facilitator and World Bank Group’s Senior Payment Systems & Remittances Specialist, Mr Carlo Corazza explained that the new legal framework will extend the supervisory responsibilities of CBSI, in line to the recommendations of the international standards, in its securities clearing and settlement systems; retail payments and money payment service providers.
The draft bill pretty much looks into giving Central Bank the necessary and appropriate mandates to regulate and manage the Payment System.
“The NPS policy paper formulated in 2016 with the assistance of the WBG Payments System Development Group and IFC explains the next step in this process, which ideally is to reform the legal and regulatory framework in the area of payment systems and allow the CBSI to have the necessary and relevant mandate to regulate, oversee and manage the NPS.”
Participating Stakeholders were told that Payment and Settlement System plays crucial role in effective and efficient circulation of money in the economy thus giving boost to trade & business.
Corazza further explained that this system is recognised worldwide that an efficient and secure payment system is an enabler of economic activity.
He said this system provides the important channels for effective payments and transmission of monetary policy.
“And the role and functionality of Payment systems have been changing gradually with advancement in products and technologies”, something the Central Bank Governor highlighted when giving his remarks at the official opening of the consultations.
Meanwhile, the overview statement explained that a country-wide consultation on the Policy Note was carried out in 2017, and in the same year, the World Bank Payments System Development Group and International Financial Cooperation engaged a legal expert to draft Solomon Islands Payments System Bill.
“CBSI is working in partnership with Solomon Islands Government, the World Bank Payments System Development Group, the International Financial Cooperation (IFC) in advancing the country’s payment reform agenda, and are eager to complete this round of consultation on the draft NPS Bill with major stakeholders and the public,” the statement adds.
If passed, it will be called the Payment System Act 2018.
