It was no surprise when the Solomon Islands Government approached Taiwan to help the country host the 2023 South Pacific Games and build the main stadium at a proposed sports arena in Honiara.

The estimated cost of the stadium was given as $US23 million.

During the recent visit of the Taiwanese President and her 100 strong delegation to Honiara last week it was reported in the local media that no mention was made by the President during the visit of any funding by Taiwan for the stadium and many are left wondering if the idea to host the South Pacific Games in 6 years time will have to be shelved.

A sporting venue of the kind needed to host the South Pacific Games could not be built by the Solomon Islands Government alone being economically wounded and perhaps one might now pause to reflect whether, even if major donor funding can still be obtained, it would be practical to build a stadium that could very well become a white elephant like so many have turned out to be in South Africa, Brazil and in other countries that hosted international sporting events costing millions and where the supposed benefits of tourism following the grand events did not materialize.

As soon as the World Cup events ended in Brazil, the brand new arenas went largely unused and had to be adapted to other uses to recuperate losses. The stadium in Cuiaba is now used as a high school and its car park used as a parking lot for the city’s buses.

If the Solomon Islands were to eventually manage to organize the Games there would have to be value for money spent long after the final medal ceremony.

What would happen to the physical infrastructure after the Games for surely maintenance and proper usage of such things as the stadia, arenas, dining halls, sleeping quarters and so on would be a long term legacy?

Could such facilities be effectively re-purposed, reused and beneficial to the community?

A magnificent stadium lying empty and unused following the expensive legacy left by hosting the 2023 South Pacific Games is a situation too concerning to contemplate giving what $US23 million could do to help the prevailing drastic situation in providing medical care and health services in the Solomon Islands.

Hosting the grandest sporting event in the Pacific is one thing but surely if thereafter all one sees is a white elephant, given the outcomes in other countries as I have outlined, then there are other priorities that must be taken into consideration.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR Editor,

Quoting the SIBC news last night, 6 November 2017, businesses large and small, including those tech-focused and those agriculturally based, were recognized at the recent Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 4^th annual Business Excellence Awards.

“Kokonut Pacific Solomon Islands received the Bred Bank Business Contribution to the Community Award and the Prime Minister’s Business Excellence Award.

“After accepting the Prime Minister’s award, KPSI Managing Director Bob Pollard highlighted the contribution of rural families to the company’s operations.

“We receive the award on behalf all our hardworking families that are living in different parts of some of the far corners of the country who don’t enjoy some of the privileges of Honiara life,” he said. “This is really their award.”

“KPSI aims to improve village livelihoods through the production of virgin coconut oil and other coconut products. Local workers collect the coconuts, and the company’s invention of Direct Micro Expelling technology to extract the oil allows the process to take place on a small scale in local communities.

“Mr. Pollard said the Prime Minister’s award will bring the company recognition as it continues to expand.

“Our big challenge in the future if we’re going to scale is just to be able to sell overseas, and so there’s a lot of work to be done to be able to do that,” he said.

“QBE Insurance was the runner-up for the Prime Minister’s Business Excellence Award.

“Other winners included Mathias Loji, managing director of the Island Sun, as Entrepreneur of the Year; Pacific Tenders as New Business of the Year; and Solagro as the Strongim Bisnis Agribusiness of the Year. GPPOL was named Large Business of the Year, and Tower Insurance took the award for Small Business of the Year. Kramer Ausenco received the Innovation & Technology Award.

“In his speech, during the Award Ceremony, the SICCI’s Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Meone, described the private sector as a beacon of hope as well as an engine of growth.

“He talked about the need for the business community and all other levels of society to work together to advance the nation.

“In order to face our challenges and work towards a better Solomon Islands, we must be willing to learn, unlearn, and relearn,” Mr. Meone said. “We must show leadership and demand leadership. Knowing that things could be worse should not stop using from striving to make them better.”

 Congratulations to all the award winners.

 Yours sincerely

 Frank Short

Dear Editor,

THE National Referral Hospital (NRH) last Friday, 3 November 2017, held a graduation ceremony for 26 new medical doctors who are soon to begin their work as registrars.

News of the graduation was given in an article in the Solomon Star newspaper, from which I quote:

“Nineteen of the group began their journey to become doctors in 2008, when they went to Cuba to study medicine for seven years. Since arriving home in 2014, they have spent a further three years – including a bridging year – as interns increasing their knowledge and learning clinical skills to meet the particular health needs of the Solomon Islands.

“The other seven graduates studied in Fiji, and began their internship at the NRH in 2015.

“All medical graduates , whether trained in the Pacific Region or outside it ( except University of PNG graduates), are required to do an intern training program in the Solomon Islands before they are fully registered by the Solomon Islands Medical & Dental Board to practice medicine in Solomon Islands.

“All interns undertook a 14-week rotation each in Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and Paediatrics, while they learned the required skills and professional practices. Shorter rotations were spent in Orthopaedics, Anaesthetics, Ophthalmology, Medical Imaging, Emergency Medicine as well as a placement in a rural or regional healthcare facility.

“With these skills, the new registrars are set to begin their careers working as medical officers in provincial hospitals and health clinics, or to undertake further study to become consultants in specialist areas, such as Paediatrics or Surgery.

“The Chief Executive Officer of the NRH, Dr Steve Aumanu, said:

“The large numbers of trainees has placed significant pressure on the National Referral Hospital, mainly through the limited number of supervisors available to support the interns. However, the variety and number of patients makes the NRH an ideal training facility for junior doctors.”