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Three more points for Warriors

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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FC Guadalcanal's Anderson Doke flies in for the intercept as Solomon Warriors Jerry Donga looks to counter

We’re still not there yet: Toata

By Taromane Martin

SOLOMON Warriors FC extended their lead on the Telekom Soccer League table to 27 points after beating FC Guadalcanal 6-0 at the Lawson Tama stadium.

Despite their seven points lead over second placed KOSSA FC on the table, Solomon Warriors Head Coach Moses Toata says they are not in a comfortable position yet to claim the title, with four more matches left to go.

“For me I’m happy with the win today. We won it very convincingly and it was a very exciting game,” Coach Toata said.

“Personally for me if you ask me if we are comfortable to win the title this season I’d say we are still not there yet.

“While we are sitting at the top of the table for me our remaining four matches are the important ones. We have to play some big teams in our remaining four games.

“If we win two then if you ask me I’d say yes, I’m comfortable and confident of claiming the title but for now I’m not yet that comfortable. Our game on Sunday will be treated as a final for us,” he said.

With the injury to Vanuatu import Kensy Tangis and the red card to defender Emmanuel Poila yesterday Toata said finding replacements for their next match will be easy.

“Some of the tackles my boys received today were unfair fouls and should have been punished. With the injury to Kensy (Tangis) today I’m a bit worried because I’m still without one of my main defenders Jason (Thomas). Now I have to go back with the team medical and check on our injury list.

“Gagame (Feni) is slowly making recovery after picking up an injury. He is slowly ticking the boxes and will likely be ready for Sunday’s match.

“There are lots of good players in the team and finding a replacement for Poila in defense won’t be that difficult.” Toata said.

Meanwhile FC Guadalcanal Head Coach Luke Eroi said it was a huge loss for them adding his players just did not execute their game plan.

“It’s a great loss. We knew they will be tough because if you want to beat a quality side like that you have to have structure in your game which we did not have,” Coach Eroi said.

“We wanted to keep the score margin low but unfortunately conceded six which is very hurtful for us. We had no presence in our attack because of injury to our key players,” he said.

Neglected in Manila

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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AMA-university

Solo students in the Philippines without allowance since July, NTU remains silent

 

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

 

SECOND-year government-sponsored students in the Philippines have been reduced to begging the DCC Government to give them their allowance.

They have been living without allowance since July, it is reported.

And, the National Training Unit (NTU) is being silent over the matter.

Statement from the students says their level of frustration is reaching critical, with many admitting that their academic performance is being adversely affected.

They claim that their problem with allowance began in January this year and has been persisting since, this time reaching an unprecedented peak.

Clement Tito, the director of NTU, declined to comment when contacted yesterday, saying that he is under a lot of pressure and will only comment once those ‘pressures’ are cleared.

A student representative from Manila, requesting anonymity, says they are barely surviving through handouts from fellow first-year students, and help from back home in the Solomons, for those whose families can afford to send money over.

The student says among the problems faced, food, accumulating water, electricity and rental bills are the most worrying – ‘not to mention education side’.

Adding that the issue is taking its toll on few students who are ‘psychologically affected and disturbed in studies programmes’.

The student says they go to bed each night worrying what tomorrow brings, what they will eat, who they will seek help from, how to get to school, etc.

They are calling on the government to seriously consider their plight immediately.

King George VI 2017 merit awards

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Students with their merit awards

BY ALICE NANTARA

Students with their merit awards

KING George Sixth National Secondary School yesterday held a low-profile event to award its scholars merit awards.

More than 400 students crowded the school assembly hall yesterday to receive their merit awards according to their classes.

Purpose for hosting a separate event for the merit awards instead of collaborating event with the upcoming graduation is because of the huge number of students that are entitled to receive merits.

As stated by the Deputy School Principal Mr Johnny Tasa, a separate event had to be organised just so to lighten the load on Thursday.

Merit awards were given to students that perform well in both academic and non-academic categories.

For the academic category, School Principal Mr Fangata said that it is not an easy job to secure A and B grades and so his administration wants to acknowledge these students’ achievements.

Apart from the distinction and diligence merits, KGSNS School also give out nonacademic merits to those who perform well in sports, entertainment, media, boarding, work line and repair & maintenance.

Graduation and Prize giving ceremony will commence on Thursday alongside with the presentation of merits to students in Form 1-5 with more than three merits and those in Form 6-7 with more than four merits.

This is the 2nd year that KGSNSS has hosted this event in honour of all the hard work that students dedicated throughout the year.

Anti-Corruption Bill is a blessing not a curse: Kaea

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BEN BILUA

FORMER Speaker of Makira/Ulawa province says the Anti-Corruption Bill is not a curse but a blessing that will transform Solomon Islands once it becomes a law.

In an interview with this paper Mr Goldie Kaea said the Bill is for the good of Solomon Islands and that members of Parliament must throw their support without fear so that the progress of the Bill runs smoothly.

He said the Bill is a trademark of the current government and all members of parliament and dropping the Bill for the second time will cause disappointment nationwide.

“Our members of Parliament must understand that the Bill is not a threat to them but a significant piece of legislation that would put across a strong message to all sectors in the country that corruption is bad and not good for Solomon Islands and its development aspirations,” Kaea said.

He said the continual adjournment of Parliament this week to next week plants doubt to many Solomon Islanders with questions whether the Bill will made it through to the Parliament this year.

Kaea said the Bill has a long way to go and he fears that Members of Parliament will play with people ignorance to slip the Bill away.

He adds that there is fear that the Bill (once it become Act) will going to remain inactive like other Acts the government and responsible authority are yet to enforce though the act were passed in parliament.

“I want to make reference to the Tobacco Act and the CDF Act. These two acts have never been enforced for unknown reasons.

“If the enforcement of these two acts are politicised, I fear this Anti-Corruption Bill will fall on the same road,” Kaea said.

He acknowledged the civil society organisations for taking the lead in making sure public views are presented to the leaders.

On the same note, Kaea called on the government to support the return of the Anti-Corruption Bill in the next meeting.

PIF Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor to deliver keynote address at Business Excellence Awards 2017

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Pacific Oceans Commissioner Dame Meg Taylor

PACIFIC Islands Forum (PIF) Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor will be the keynote speaker at the Business Excellence Awards (BEA) 2017 set to take place on Saturday, November 4, at the Coral Sea Resort & Casino.

Dame Taylor, a Papua New Guinean lawyer and diplomat who became a figure of inspiration for Pacific Islanders since taking up the PIF Secretary General position in 2014 and being the first woman to do so, has accepted an invitation by the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) to deliver the keynote address for the BEA 2017.

The Secretary General will join Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and SICCI Chair Jay Bartlett in delivering official remarks at the BEA under this year’s theme “Unity in Leadership”.

“This is quite a unique and historic honour for us to be able to exclusively host the PIF Secretary General, particularly Dame Meg Taylor, at the Business Excellence Awards that only started four years ago,” said SICCI CEO Dennis Meone.

“The BEA theme is on leadership and to have a high calibre regional leader to speak on the theme is very important to us.”

Dame Meg in a statement responded to the BEA invitation: “I had the privilege of participating at the de-commissioning ceremony for the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands in June. The development strides made by this nation to re-build and reinvigorate its economy is a testament to the resilience of its people.

“It is an honour to be invited to share my insights on Leadership, however, I also look forward to learning from the experiences to be shared by your private sector.”

SICCI Chair, Jay Bartlett acknowledges Dame Meg’s attendance noting that leadership remains critical in the country’s journey and quest for growth and economic development.

“The theme reflects the pressing need for us as a country to unite at all levels of society to work together towards our common goals involving stakeholders in the process,” added Mr Bartlett.

This is also not the first time for Taylor to find herself on SICCI’s guest list.

In June Dame Meg attended a SICCI Luncheon when she was in Honiara for the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) farewell celebration.

Dame Meg received her LLB degree from Melbourne University, Australia, and her LLM degree from Harvard University, United States. She was an active law practitioner in Papua New Guinea and was closely involved in Papua New Guinea’s independence process.

From 1989-94, she was Ambassador of Papua New Guinea to the United States, Mexico and Canada in Washington DC.

She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002.

Until 2014, Taylor was Vice President, Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of the World Bank Group.

Dame Meg held Directorships on a number of Papua New Guinean companies, including companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

The Business Excellence Awards (BEA), hosted by SICCI in partnership with the Solomon Islands Government, is the only event which recognises the contribution of the business community to the development and sustainability of the Solomon Islands.

Preparations of the BEA is well underway while nominations have closed this week.

SICCI would like to thank 2017 BEA sponsors; Island Sun, RICOH Solomons, Solomon Star, Sullivans, Solomon Breweries, Strongim Bisnis, Szeba and Bred Bank.

–SICCI PRESS

SI and UAE sign visa waiver arrangement

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Foreign Minister Milner Tozaka (left) and Her Royal Highness Reem Al Hashimy, the Minister of State and International Cooperation for the UAE. Photo from GCU

THE Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, George Milner Tozaka and his counterpart, His Royal Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that paves the way for visa-free entry into each other’s countries by the respective passport holders of the two countries.

The MoU was signed at the end of a fruitful four-day visit to Dubai, UAE, by Minister Tozaka on the invitation from Her Royal Highness Reem Al Hashimy, the Minister of State and International Cooperation for the UAE.

Minister Tozaka was invited to attend the preparatory meeting for the Expo 2020 to be hosted in Dubai, UAE, from October 2020 to April 2021. The Meeting, which was convened from 19-20 October, was organized to inform the International Community on the progress that the UAE has accomplished so far in preparation for the Expo.

Minister Tozaka presented to Her Royal Highness Reem Al Hashimy, who is also the UAE’s Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau Director General, a letter of acceptance by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare confirming Solomon Islands participation in the forthcoming Expo 2020.

Solomon Islands was invited to participate at the Expo by His Royal Highness Sheik Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.

In line with the letter of acceptance, Minister Tozaka also signed an agreement for Solomon Islands’ participation at the Expo in 2020. UAE organisers of the Expo have consistently promoted the ‘one nation, one pavilion’ concept that would allow all nations participating at the Expo to ‘tell their own story’.

The UAE will support Solomon Islands’ participation and ensuring that the Solomon Islands pavilion meets the standards expected of the hosts. Minister Tozaka is confident that the platform provided by UAE for Solomon Islands to tell its story, share its culture, and build partnerships through development cooperation and attract business investments has the potential to boost Solomon Islands’ sustainable development and economic growth prospects.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade will soon convene a national committee to begin preparations for the Expo. The theme of the Expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’

The visa waiver arrangement will allow for Solomon Islands passport holders to enter UAE on a visa free basis. Likewise, passport holders of the UAE will also enter Solomon Islands in visa free as well.

Minister Tozaka stated that ‘the basis of this arrangement is to enhance closer development cooperation between the two countries that could potentially promote Solomon Islands to interested UAE investors looking to invest in Solomon Islands. Also the people to people connections that such arrangements encourage is equally important. This arrangement also contributes to increasing the value of the Solomon Islands passport internationally, which is in the interest of our nation’.

Unlike similar arrangements between UAE and other Pacific Island Countries which are restrictive in their application, the arrangement with Solomon Islands includes all classifications of Solomon Islands passports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, together with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration, will now initiate the domestic processes to effect this arrangement.

UAE and Solomon Islands signed diplomatic relations in 2010. Since then the UAE has made substantial assistance to the Pacific Islands Countries including Solomon Islands in the Energy sector. Solomon Islands is now well positioned to reap the benefits of new initiatives through the enhancement of its relations and cooperation with the Gulf oil-rich country.

–GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT

Hograno resource owners support Isabel Tripod decision

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Group Photo of Isabel Tripod leadership and members of the government delegations

BY BEN BILUA

RESOURCE owners of Hograno have thrown their collective support behind the Government and Isabel Tripod resolution.

A joint consultation meeting in Honiara was organised by representatives of tribes who own lands in coastal and highlands of Hograno District where Sumitomo currently holds a PL and San Jorge Island identified as SIG Tendered Area 2011 and others.

The meeting endorsed all resolutions agreed by Tripod and SIG.

They further resolved that the following must be also included in any future consultations, discussions and agreements;

“Landowning tribes must be fully engaged and participate in the development of Nickel, Bauxite and any other mineral resources identified in our respective lands.

“Land identification must be done with accordance to Isabel customs and culture as advocated and applied by the Isabel Council of Chiefs.

“Landowning tribes must be supported by a legal advisor, economist and mining expert with the support of the SIG and/or Tripod.

“SIG through Tripod must promptly allocate funds for purposes of reconciliation and minerals policy awareness with the support of Landowners and landowning tribes;

“SIG must inform Landowners/ landowning tribes of the specific types of mineral resources that are identified and found in their respective lands and all members of the tribe have the right to know and be involved in the identification of genuine Developers and the Tender process in consultation with Tripod.

“In conclusion, Hograno landowners confidently notify the SIG, developers, investors and others that Tripod is a legitimate institution that represents us and our interests, let alone the interest of ALL Isabelians.

“We all agreed that our strength is in our collective understanding and concern on the way forward in terms of Nickel/ Bauxite Resource development in our respective lands, let alone the Isabel Province,” the landowners say.

The meeting was held in conjunction with the Landowners Resolution in support of (Vunivalu thaba) Tripod consultation with the Solomon Islands government earlier.

Winners of COP23 Pacific photo competition announced

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

 

THIRTY-NINE images of local amateur photographers across the Pacific region have been selected as winners to be exhibited at COP23, Bonn, Germany next month.

The images are winners of a photo competition from more than 200 submissions of amateur photographers in 10 Pacific island countries depicting impacts and threats of climate change.

The winning photos are each accompanied by a supporting statement highlighting threats island nations face as a result of climate change, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events and changes to agriculture.

Meanwhile, in selecting the images, panel of judges at the COP23 Secretariat are looking for creativity, quality, relevance and overall impact.

At the closing of the Pre-COP event held in Nadi, Fiji’s Prime Minister and COP23 Chair, Frank Bainimarama said he hopes the images will catch global attention on the urgency of tackling impacts and threats of climate change.

Currently, the selected photographs are displayed online on COP23 with names of each winning amateur photographer.

Police probe fatal stabbing of 10-yr boy

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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POLICE in Honiara have arrested a 35-year-old male in connection with the death of a 10-year-old boy in the West Kola Ridge area of the city yesterday.

It is alleged that the deceased was playing with other kids of his age outside his parents’ home between 9am to 10am yesterday morning when the male suspect appeared with a knife and allegedly stabbed the deceased.

Police responded to a report on the incident and after enquiries the 35-year-old male suspect was arrested and placed in custody

Supervising Provincial Police Commander, Honiara City, Barry Saukiu says, “Police are investigating the incident and our sympathies go out to the family and relatives of the deceased.”

–POLICE MEDIA

SI students threatened over FB post

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BEN BILUA

SOME Solomon Islands students had received threats over a Facebook post which had provoked users from Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

A recent post on Facebook had attracted hundreds of comments from SI and PNG nationals.

The trend in comments turned nasty after heated exchanges between FB users from both countries.

Certain FB users from PNG threatened to harm students from Solomon Islands studying in PNG in retaliation to provocative remarks by SI users.

It is reported that SI students studying at the University of PNG had actually received threats thereafter.

In an interview with this paper, one of the students Ms Brenda Atani said the situation has died down but Solomon Islands students especially women and girls are still traumatised over the affair.

“We heard some of the students from PNG mentioned something similar to the post and start threatening us.

“This is very bad as most of us are innocent and have no connection with what is going on Facebook,” she said.

Atani strongly recommends Solomon Islanders to be mindful when commenting on social media.

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