THE country’s electoral commission (SIEC) has acknowledged the people and government of the Western province on accomplishing their biometric voters registration.
Mr Christian Siale, the Western Province Registration Manager on behalf of Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC), thanked the Premier and Executive and Admin of the Western provincial government for allowing their officers to be part of this very important three-month exercise.
“I would like to acknowledge the ongoing support from the SIEC Chief Electoral Officer (AG), Operations Team, Finance Team and Training team.
“Special appreciation to the former CEO, the late Alphonsus Buto who came down last year to initiate the first stage of the process.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the registration officers of the nine constituencies for their invaluable support and cooperation throughout the past three month period.”
He said the successful completion of the process is indebted to sheer commitment, leadership and sacrifices amidst difficulties and challenges encountered out in the field.
Siale also appreciates the families of the officers for their patience and understanding during the period and thanked the people from Shortlands to Marovo for welcoming the registration officers to their communities/homes and assisting them in their tasks.
Meanwhile, Speaking on behalf of the Western Provincial Government & Administration, the Principal Administration also the Registration Officer for West New Georgia/Vonavona Constituency acknowledged SIEC for the financial and technical support rendered towards this BVR exercise.
Mr Tuke noted that the importance of the registration exercise as an important task in the election process.
THE Western Province Biometric Voter Registration Update and Revision Exercise 2017 has successfully concluded in Gizo, Western province.
Western Province Registration Manager Christian Siale told Island Sun Gizo yesterday that the closing ceremony was held at the Imagination Island Resort on Saturday.
Mr Siale said handing over of the registration data and materials by the registration officials to the office of Revising Officer (RVO) and Registration Manager has concluded.
Siale said the Registration Exercise commenced with the Notice of Inviting Claims (Form A) and Submission of Claims to be registered voter (Form B) from December 4-17, 2017 according to Section 16(3)(B) & Section 17(1) of the National Parliamentary Entitlements Provisions Act (NPEPA).
“Followed by 30 days of Data Matching, Adjudication and De-duplication and compilation and printing of Provisional List of Voters according to Section 18(1)(B) & Section 19A (1)(2) of NPEPA.
“Then there was the Publication of the Provisional List of Voters for public Inspection as per Section 18 (3) (B) of NPEPA.
“Followed by Receiving of Claims of Omissions and Objections as per Section 19(3)(B) & Section 19A(3) of NPEPA; then from 1st to 16th February 2018 was the final field exercise that involved publication of Lists of Claims of Omissions & Objections and conduct of Public Inquiry into the Claims received according to Section 20 of NPEPA,” said Siale.
Siale explained that what is left now is the settlement and finalisation of the Voters List for the province as per Section 21 of NPEPA.
The PM shares a laughter with his PNG counterpart and PNG's Sports & APEC Minister Justin Tchachenko
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has assured the Melanesia Spearhead Group of Solomon Islands’ support to Papua New Guinea as the new chair of MSG.
In his statement at the plenary meeting last week, Prime Minister Houenipwela said his Government understands the challenges faced by the organisation but he is optimistic that the current chair will take MSG to new heights in its endeavours in political, cultural, social, trade and economic cooperation with his able leadership.
“Allow me to reiterate my government’s confidence and support to the Office of the Chair of the MSG. We will continue to offer our unwavering support to the chair and secretariat,” the Prime Minister told leaders at the plenary meeting.
The Prime Minister said his Government understands the issues affecting the MSG sub-region and acknowledge that it must be approached and dealt with in a delicate, respectable and collaborative manner.
“This is the fundamental principle laid down by our Melanesian forefathers and that is to live in peace, harmony and prosperity. My government will be focusing on enhancing cooperation on all issues with all members of MSG,” he said.
The Prime Minister also congratulated Papua New Guinea for being given the honour to host the upcoming APEC meeting in November.
He said it is an opportunity for PNG and other countries to showcase themselves to the world.
“We wish the government and the people of Papua New Guinea a successful outcome in promoting our region,” he said.
The Prime Minister also assured his fellow MSG leaders of his Government’s support to the MSG sub-regional organisation.
“We will remain committed to advance the goals of the MSG,” he said.
Prime Minister Houenipwela also took the opportunity to congratulate Fiji for taking the leadership at COP23.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has also joined the MSG chair and PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neil in conveying and expressing sincere sympathies to the people of the Kingdom of Tonga following the recent Cyclone Gita that devastated their country.
PACIFIC Games Council President Vidhya Lakhan will meet Prime Minister Honorable Rick Hou and the members of the Solomon Islands 2023 Pacific Games Council task force this week.
Mr Lakhan who is in the country, told SunSPORTS yesterday his plan is to also visit the Minister for Sports, Honorable Commins Mewa, the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) and Task Force 2023 to get a feel of the country’s preparation in hosting the Games.
“I’m here until the next Friday. On Tuesday I will begin my Pacific Games Council work regarding 2023,” he said .
“The plan is to meet with the Prime Minister and Minister for Sports, the task force people, NOCSI Executive Board and get a feel of what is happening.
“That’s what we’re going to do in the next three or four days,” he said.
Mr Lahkan yesterday successfully conducted a two days’ workshop on good governance for the representatives from affiliated NOCSI National Sports Federations at the SIRUF Conference room at Town Ground over the weekend.
SOLOMON Islands international Benjamin Totori scored two second half goals to help Lautoka cruised to a 2-1 win over Suva in the Fiji Vodafone Premier League round match yesterday at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
Lautoka was trailing Suva by a goal deficit in the first half when defender Remeuru Takaita put the capital infront with a well-taken strike.
However, Lautoka regrouped in the second half and Totori stole the show by scoring two unanswered goals to give the Blues a perfect come back and claimed maximum points.
The win elevated Lautoka’s confidence ahead of this weekend’s Oceania Champions league Group C contest in Auckland, New Zealand.
Lautoka is expected to depart Fiji for New Zealand toward the end of the week.
Their first Oceania champions league hit-out is scheduled for this Sunday against PNG’s Madang FC at the Trusts Arena in Auckland before taking on AS Venus (Tahiti) and defending champions Auckland City on February 28 and March 3 respectively.
The two winners that will emerge out of the Group C contest progresses into the last eight with the leader earning advantage of hosting one of the quarterfinal matches at home.
Top Hill players hangs on to an Islanders player during their clash on Saturday.
By Taromane Martin
Top Hill players hangs on to an Islanders player during their clash on Saturday.
EXCITING, successful and peaceful was how the one day Samlinsan Islanders rugby 7s competition ended on Saturday at the Town Ground Rugby Stadium.
A total of eight teams took part in the 7s competition which serves as Islanders fundraising effort to attend next month’s Soltuna 7s and the Marist 7s in Fiji.
The competition saw Honiara Rugby Union Association (HRUA) champions Hill Top (Avaiki) squaring off with Malaita Rugby Union Association (MRUA) reps Auki Tigers in the grand finale.
Hill Top eliminated spirited Islanders 19-17 in the first semifinal while Malaita-based Auki Tigers overcame the National U-18s 19-12 in their other semifinal to make the final.
Tigers were hoping to cause an upset in the grand final.
However, splendid performances by player of the tournament recipient Eddie Moeava and the brilliant Roman Tongaka guided Top Hill to a 27-12 win and laid hands onto another 7s domestic title.
In the third and fourth position playoffs, Islanders came out victorious defeating the national U-18 rugby 7s training squad by a 19-14 margin.
Individual awards saw the tournament highest scorer going to Simon Faalimae of Auki Tigers, with six tries while Moeava claimed the player of the tournament award. Both of the players received $500 each.
Islanders Rugby Club meanwhile thanked their sponsors and clubs who provided assistance and took part in the 7s competition.
Teams that took part in the Samlinsan Islanders 7s competition were Tia Warriors (2 teams), Islanders, Top Hill (Avaiki), Realas, Auki Tigers and the national U-18 boys training squad (2 teams).
Final standings from the 2018 Samlinsan Islanders Rugby 7s competition are as follows:
1st Top Hill (Avaiki) $5000 sponsor Samlimsan(SI)Ltd
2nd Auki Tigers $3000 sponsor J.Kwaimani Building
3rd Islanders $2000 sponsor City Security
Consolations Prizes- $1000 sponsors J.Kwaimani Building
Judd Molea celebrates the winner by scoring from the spot and get Warriors to qualify into the quarterfinal with their
2-1 win over AS Dragons.
Molea’s winning strike earns win for Warriors and a place in the quarterfinals
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Judd Molea celebrates the winner by scoring from the spot and get Warriors to qualify into the quarterfinal with their 2-1 win over AS Dragons.
A spirited last gasp effort by Solomon Warriors in their final Group B match saw them leaped into the last eight of the Oceania Champions League.
This follows a narrow 2-1 win over the Tahitian champions AS Dragon at the Stade Pater in Papeete, Tahiti yesterday.
A strike from veteran playmaker Judd Molea separated the two sides within seven minutes remaining on regulation time and guaranteed Warriors one of the eight spots in the quarterfinal.
Infact the three points earned from the win lifted Warriors above Erakor Golden Star who were held to a 2-2 draw by AS Lossi in the opening match, but the Honiara outfit couldn’t find an additional goal to leapfrog Dragon at the top of the table and claim home advantage when the quarterfinal draw is made.
Instead, Dragon claim that honour by merit of an additional goal scored throughout the group stage after finishing level on points and goal difference with the Solomon Islands champions.
Warriors had a slow start in their group phase campaign having succumbed to a 2-0 loss to Erakor of Vanuatu in their opening fixture earlier last week.
Warriors bounced from the loss to record a massive 6-1 drubbing of AS Lossi and set back on track in the race for the two qualification spots in Group B.
Meanwhile, in yesterday’s match Molea was brilliant throughout the contest against AS Dragon from the start.
Kensi Tangis scoring the first goal for Warriors through his glancing header.
Apart from his winning strike from the spot, he also played assist in their opener which was scored eight minutes from the first half hour mark in the first 45 minutes.
After winning a foul on the edge of the area, Molea stepped up to send in a curling free kick which met Kensi Tangi’s head with a perfect precision and enabled glancing header that lobbed over the Dragons defense and goalkeeper Gilbert Meriel to find the back of the net.
Warriors dominated and chances came begging, however, Meriel stood out well to prevent further damage.
Warriors held onto the 1-0 lead until halftime.
The second half resumed and the hosts managed to find equaliser in the 77th minute through Rainui Tze-Yu but Molea restored the lead from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute as Hennel Tehaamoana earned his marching orders for a second caution leaving his side a man short for the final stages.
Salomon Tevapauhu also joined him back in the dressing room after he too earned a red card for a second bookable offence in time added on.
Warriors coach Moses Toata was delighted with the result.
“We came into this game, we wanted to win because we needed to qualify,” said Toata.
“The boys played hard, they did what they needed to and got the win. They fought for every ball.”
AS Dragon coach Timiona Asen had mixed feelings with the result but was satisfied after learning about his club’s progression to the playoff stages as group winners.
“I’m a bit disappointed with this result because our first objective was to win tonight and to play right until the end,” Asen said.
“I think our players were a little bit thrown by the Solomons’ game. I’m happy to have qualified, and we’ve had confirmation that we will host the quarterfinal and I’ll try and rebuild the team for the next stage.”
The OFC Champions League now takes a week-long breather before resuming with Group D action from Honiara’s Lawson Tama Stadium on February 24 followed by Group C from Trusts Stadium in Auckland a day later.
Island Sun newspaper leads protest against alleged corruption and unfairness in local media body
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
ISLAND Sun a financial member of the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) is taking the lead to question the process of the recent Special General Meeting (SGM) in which two new officers were announced over the weekend as MASI’s new President and Vice-president.
Island Sun who also claims a high number of MASI financial members were dissatisfied with the process and way in which MASI Executive members conducted the SGM on Saturday, February 17, 2018.
An Island Sun staff said on Saturday, she received a phone call from her colleague telling her to hurry to the meeting venue at St Barnabas Melanesia House because all votes from Honiara residents via email were disqualified.
Another financial member from a local TV station in Honiara says it is their Sabbath day and they are quite upset that the election of the two top positions has caught them in an awkward position especially when the SGM was held on a Saturday.
Meanwhile a staff from the national broadcaster says it is not fair that the notice didn’t specify that members who have not yet paid must bring their membership fee of $100 before they can cast their vote.
“They are driving us away when they disallow us to vote for our candidate. Why should I pay my membership fee now?” she said.
Island Sun’s staff and a member of the Executive committee who was also nominated for the presidency post but absent during the SGM said it was just so unfair how her fellow colleagues had agreed for the notice from MASI Secretariat be allowed to carry online voting as an arrangement for those that will not be able to attend the meeting in person and then only to recall the clause during the SGM proper saying it is unconstitutional and only for MASI financial members residing in the provinces.
“What they should have done was to differ the meeting to a weekday so that everyone will attend in person. Haven’t they considered the Sabbath keepers as well?” she said.
Meanwhile Island Sun understands that the nomination process for the Executive committee positions had been sidelined.
Section 11.4.8 of the MASI constitution stated that nominations for the executive committee shall be proposed in writing, seconded by another member and counter signed by the nominee.
However Island Sun has proof that there was no counter signature by a nominee who had won the election, meaning nomination for the candidate had been unconstitutional from the start and he shouldn’t have been allowed to stand as a candidate.
“During the SGM, time and time again it had been stressed that MASI members should read, know and understand the constitution,” said a staff from Island Sun.
“The MASI Executive committee members that controlled the SGM proper also lack the savvy on the MASI constitution. Now we have taken the time to understand the constitution, we have reasons to believe that one or both of the nominees should have been disqualified on the grounds that they didn’t meet the nomination criteria set out in the constitution.”
Island Sun has decided to come out with this issue through the media so that the Executive Committee will look into rectifying what had been publicly published as soon as possible.
THE country’s national provident fund stands by the Heritage Park Hotel as ‘one of its greatest investments’.
SINPF General Manager, Mr Mike Wate speaking on behalf of the SINPF Board confirmed that Heritage Park Hotel Limited had returned more than 60 percent of its original capital of $28 million for its 10 percent equity in Heritage Park Hotel and that the Heritage Park Hotel is one its best performing assets.
Wate added that SINPF has consistently since 2010 been receiving cash in dividends, interest on shareholder loan, plus continuing positive capital appreciation.
Meanwhile, he Chairman of the Board of Heritage Park Hotel Limited, Mr Mel Togolo MBE, said, “It is not my role to speak on behalf of Solomon Islands National Provident Fund, and I don’t purport to, but I am extremely disappointed that the good name and reputation of Heritage Park Hotel is being denigrated by negative press articles [Solomon Star] related to returns to SINPF.”
“I was appointed to the Board by Nasfund of Papua New Guinea, who are the majority shareholder in Heritage Park Hotel. I can advise that the Heritage Park Hotel is Nasfund’s second best investment in the 2016 Annual Report. The returns from Heritage Park Hotel are extremely good.
“Nasfund is very successful in Papua New Guinea with net assets of Kina 4.4 billion and over 575,000 members. The 2016 Nasfund Annual Report, which is available to the public, states that the return on shareholder equity and loans to Heritage Park Hotel in 2016 was 12.5 percent pa. SINPF get the same rate of return as Nasfund from its Heritage Park Investment.
“Statements made by Mr Dausabea in respect to Heritage Park Hotel Limited are incorrect, untrue, misleading and damaging to Heritage Park Hotel Limited and should be retracted.
“I believe that the analysis done initially by a Solomon Star journalist did not reflect the correct facts and the assumptions were totally incorrect. It is very important for journalists to check their facts before publishing, so as not to mislead the public. While I do not speak on behalf of any individual shareholder, I will protect the brand and reputation of Heritage Park Hotel for the good of all shareholders.”
