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PREPPING AHEAD

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Squad blend signals new era for volleyball ahead of Guam qualifiers

BY RICHARD MENANOPO

The Solomon Islands Volleyball Federation has named an extended national training squad blending experienced players with a new wave of youth talent, as preparations begin for the Oceania Indoor Volleyball Qualifiers for the 2027 Pacific Games.

In a letter circulated to media and stakeholders, Federation President Morris Maitaki said the selections are part of a broader rebuilding effort following the country’s absence from the 2025 Pacific Mini Games.

“This selection was based on our national team group that unfortunately did not participate in Palau, while also bringing in juniors identified through our development programmes,” Maitaki said.

The squads, which include men’s and women’s senior and under-19 teams as well as a beach volleyball unit, are expected to form the backbone of Solomon Islands’ campaign when the qualifiers are staged in Guam in August 2026.

A notable feature of the selection is the strong inclusion of youth players, many of whom were identified during an international coaching programme and later featured in the Oceania Under-18 tournament hosted in Honiara in April last year.

“Our juniors were identified by an international coach engaged by the federation and were part of the wider squads that competed in the Under-18 competition,” Maitaki explained.

He stressed that immediate access to high-performance training facilities will be crucial if the squads are to be competitive at the regional level, calling on relevant authorities to support preparations at the SINIS High Performance Centre.

“It is important that our national squads are allowed to do daily training at SINIS as we have very limited time to prepare for the Oceania Qualifiers,” he said.

Maitaki also revealed that the current squad could be expanded following the National Provincial Volleyball Championships in April, with additional under-19 prospects and senior players under consideration.

The men’s senior squad will be guided by head coach Jeffery Pasio and features players such as Chris Abba Andrew, Jeremia Amba, Hamilton Kasi and Ray Quan, alongside others named in the extended list.

In the women’s division, head coach Marina Baiabe leads a squad including Sussie Teno, Hannah Donga, Kersten Baimasi and Lorraine Osifela, with an emerging group of junior players also identified for long-term development.

The federation has also maintained a focused beach volleyball programme under head coach Fred Songeika, naming a compact squad drawn from both senior and junior ranks.

The upcoming qualifiers in Guam will determine qualification pathways to the Tahiti 2027 Pacific Games, making the next few months critical for team cohesion and conditioning.

With limited preparation time and a renewed emphasis on youth development, the federation’s latest selections signal a strategic shift aimed at rebuilding competitiveness on the regional stage.

The inclusion of junior players alongside experienced campaigners highlights a long-term vision — one that not only targets qualification for 2027 but also aims to strengthen the foundation of volleyball in the Solomon Islands.

Photo credit: Elton Lonaratha Jr

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Taekwondo athletes sharpen skills

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BY TONY IROGA

Athletes from Solomon Islands Taekwondo Federation (SITF) are working on their technical skills through structured training sessions focused on improving accuracy, timing and scoring techniques.

During an evening session yesterday at Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS), athletes carried out target kicking drills using handheld kicking pads, where one athlete holds the pad while the other executes kicks designed to simulate scoring situations in competition.

Head Coach Junior Maetia explained that this exercise helps athletes learn how to apply their techniques effectively while managing pressure during a match.

“The athletes are working on target pad drills where one partner holds the kicking pads and the other practices scoring techniques,” he said.

He said this exercise helps them improve their timing, accuracy and decision-making under pressure.

He said the training forms part of the federation’s ongoing efforts to strengthen athlete performance and prepare competitors for upcoming national, regional and international competitions.

“Through regular technical drills and conditioning sessions, the federation continues to develop athletes and promote the growth of Taekwondo in Solomon Islands,” he said.

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OFC pro league circuit 4 continues today

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BY TONY IROGA

The OFC Pro League round 4 continued today.

The first game today between Vanuatu United and Auckland FC kicked off at 3pm and will be followed by PNG’s Hekari and Tahiti United at 7pm at the National Stadium.

Vanuatu United is sitting with 9 points as Auckland FC is leading the circuit 4 table with 22 points.

PNG Hekari is at the bottom of the table with 4 points while Tahiti United is in the 7th spot in OFC Pro League table standings.

According to OFC Pro League table standing, Auckland FC is sitting comfortable on top with 22 points with five wins and 1 loss in consecutive round matches so far.

South Melbourne FC is in the second spot with 18 points after 5 wins and 1 loss so far.

The third spot run up is Solomon Kings FC with 14 points after 4 wins and 4 losses so far and the team is looking forward to meet South Melbourne in final wrapping up of OFC Pro League round 4 on March 19th in Honiara.

South Island United is in 4th spot with 13 points, very close to Solomon Kings FC and is eyeing to meet Bula FC on March 19 at 3 pm at the national stadium.

Bula FC has tried its best and is in the 6th spot with 12 points after encountering 4 losses and 3 wins and will meet South Island United on March 19th at 3pm in the national stadium.

The round 5 matches is scheduled for April 11th to 18th 2026 and will be hosted in Ba and Suva, Fiji.

This will be the final round before the league splits into the “Leaders” and “Challengers” playoff groups.

The 4 top teams will qualify for leader’s playoff group while the bottom 5 teams will qualify for challenger’s playoff group on May 6 to 13 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Photo credit: Tony Iroga

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Solomon Islands advocates for women’s justice at UN session

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BY JUNELYN KELLY

The Government of Solomon Islands is actively participating in the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monday this week said Solomon Islands is representing both itself and the Pacific Islands Forum by delivering a joint statement.

Minister for Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, Cathy Nori, emphasised the importance of this year’s CSW70 theme: “Access to Justice for Women and Girls.”

She described access to justice as fundamental to achieving gender equality and empowerment, a commitment consistently reaffirmed by Pacific Islands Forum leaders.

Minister Nori highlighted that this commitment is central to the region’s collective progress towards a resilient, inclusive, and peaceful Pacific, a sentiment echoed during the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit in Honiara.

She noted that governments across the Pacific have strengthened legal protections and improved access to justice through legislative, policy, and practice reforms, including the enactment of family protection and domestic violence laws in many Forum member countries.

Nori also spoke on the complex realities affecting access to justice for women in the Pacific, citing challenges such as geographic isolation, dispersed populations, limited legal services, linguistic and cultural diversity, and the interplay between formal and customary justice systems. She emphasized the need for context-specific, culturally grounded, and respectful approaches that honor Pacific customs.

The statement also said that according to the importance of gender-transformative and socially inclusive strategies, Minister Nori stressed the need to focus on women and girls residing in rural and remote areas.

In terms of significant development, the Solomon Islands is also piloting Gender-Responsive Budgeting.

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More than one regulator for telecommunications industry vital: PS MCA

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BY LORETTA B MANELE

The country should have more than one regulator in the telecommunications industry says Alwyn Danitofea, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA).

He raised the above during a recent interview with the paper.

Danitofea said the Telecommunications Act was enacted back in 2009 with the intention to liberalise the telecommunications industry, hence the establishment of an independent regulatory body that very much regulates the telecommunications industry.

He said since then, it has been more than 10 years now and the rate of evolution the telecommunications industry has undergone is fast compared to other industries.

Danitofea said with the arrival of digital transformation and the increased changes in technology, the review of the telecommunications Act for the telecommunications industry and ICT is important.

“To keep it up to date with the current state of play in the industry,” he said.

Danitofea said the government also sees that certain practices need to change, pointing out regulatory function as one of them.

He said, the country has one single regulator in the telecommunications industry that determines practices, ensures that there is stability in the market, that decisions made to operators are made in the best interest of Solomon Islanders and to ensure that the management of spectrum and frequency usage in Solomon Islands is in the best practices for the sake of the industry.

Danitofea said the government sees that there are some weaknesses in the system so the government intends to change the governance structure from single regulatory to multiple regulators.

He pointed out that one of the intentions of the ongoing review of the telecommunications act is to see if we can have more than one regulatory function.

Danitofea said it is important to have more than one regulator.

“During decision making, one man cannot be specialists in different things for example, marketing, technology, legal aspect of the industry and the list goes on, so it is better to have a represented view when we are making decisions,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary said they are aware of the fact that having more than one regulator will mean an increased number when it comes to bureaucracy and it will be timely and there will be an expected increase response time for them to address solutions.

However, he said the country’s experience with the industry and with certain issues that have arisen as a result of the legal framework, has led them to decide to improve good governance along with the pressing thought that the country should have more than one regulator.

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SI democratic party policy dialogues series this week

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands Democratic Party will begin their Policy Dialogues Series this week.

A statement from the SI Democratic Party yesterday said these policy dialogues have long been part of the party’s practice.

The Policy Dialogue will take place on Thursday March 19 and will focus on a very important sector, telecommunications.

The statement further adds that this dialogue aims to bring together party members, practitioners, and field experts come together to critically review, refine, and reimagine policy across key national sectors.

The SI Democratic Party said that party members will discuss ideas, test perspective, and shape the policies that define the direction of the party.

“At our policy dialogues, party members bring forward ideas, test perspectives, and help shape the policies that ultimately define the direction of our party. If you wonder where policy ideas such as fee-free education come from, this is it,” SIDP said.

The SIDP invites individuals who are willing to share their expertise to join the dialogue.

“If you would like to contribute your ideas, your expertise, and your voice to meaningful national conversations and policy, we warmly invite you to become a member, if you are still not a member. This is our opportunity to help build the future direction of our Solomon Islands, together,” the SIDP statement said.

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Growing interest in Japan language learning at SINU

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BY ALICE T CAMPBELL

Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is seeing growing interest in its Japanese language programme, with 229 students currently enrolled this semester in Japanese Introductory 1 and 2.

The classes, introduced in August last year through a partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), were initially offered only to SINU staff and student, a statement from Solomon Islands National University (SINU) this week said.

The statement said the language program since opened to the public has been free of charge, giving more people the opportunity to learn conversational Japanese and explore Japanese culture.

The programme provides participants with the opportunity to learn conversational Japanese, while also gaining insight into Japanese culture, manners, and ways of thinking.

While the classes do not carry university academic credit, successful students who complete the required coursework will receive a certificate of completion issued by JICA, the statement said.

Japanese language instructor Mrs. Naomi Shinagawa said the programme’s goal is to encourage cultural exchange while creating important opportunities for students and the wider society.

“I hope these classes will give students a chance to explore Japanese language and culture, support the tourism industry, and open opportunities for study, work, or training in Japan,” Mrs. Shinagawa said.

Although enrolment for this semester has closed, the classes will continue, and she looks forward to welcoming more students in the future.

Plans are also underway to introduce a new course titled “Japanese for Tourism” next semester, focusing on practical Japanese language skills for the hospitality and tourism industry.

The statement said learning Japanese provides students and the public with valuable skills that can support career opportunities in tourism, hospitality, education, and international exchange.

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Manemahaga hails growth in tourism

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management, (MECDM) Trevor Manemahaga, has praised the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) for the recent growth in the tourism sector.

In the past weeks, the MCT in collaboration with private partners, has overseen the opening of several new accommodations, particularly in the Western, Central, and Guadalcanal provinces.

Ranging from lodges to hotels, these establishments are expected to boost tourism and reflect the government’s commitment to developing the sector.

Speaking at the official opening of Raiders Hotel in Tulagi, Central Islands Province last weekend, Manemahaga commended the MCT for advancing tourism and fostering partnerships with private investors.

He emphasized that expanding tourism investment and partnerships is a key policy priority for the GNUT government.

“Such partnerships are very important if we are to realise our national development goals,” Manemahaga said.

The minister added that tourism has the potential to create jobs, support local businesses, and stimulate economic activity across the country.

“Investments at the Raiders Hotel will help create opportunities for our people and contribute to the broader development of the Central province and Solomon Islands as a whole,” he said.

Manemahaga also congratulated the investors and owners of Raiders Hotel for their vision and commitment.

“Your decision, based on your time, resources, and confidence in our tourism sector, is truly commendable,” he said.

He urges all stakeholders to continue supporting tourism development, stressing that the sector provides long-term, sustainable benefits and through collective effort, we can unlock its full potential.

Photo credit: Samie Waikori

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HCC law enforcement officers participate in policing training

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BY ALICE T CAMPBELL

Honiara City Council (HCC) law enforcement officers participated in a three-day Community Policing Training, at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Honiara which started on Monday, March 16.

A statement from HHC said the training is facilitated by the New Zealand Police in partnership with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).

HCC said the training aims to strengthen officers’ knowledge and skills in community policing, with focus on building stronger cooperation and communication between authorities and societies in maintaining law and order within the country.

Chairman of the HCC Law Enforcement Division, Councillor Rolland Konai, expressed appreciation to the New Zealand Police and the RSIPF for facilitating the training and sharing their professional expertise with HCC officers.

He said HCC law enforcement officers are fortunate to have experienced facilitators, noting that their knowledge and dedication will help strengthen the officers’ ability to better serve the people of Honiara.

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Opposition leader to engage schools on civic programme

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Matthew Wale, is scheduled to host a public talk for staff and students of King George VI Senior Secondary School this Friday.

The event forms part of the opposition’s civic awareness program and aims to engage students and staff on key issues related to the roles of the opposition and parliamentary processes.

The talk will take place at the school’s Lecture Hall from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, covering topics including:

  • The constitutional role of the opposition in Parliament
  • Key policies of the Solomon Islands Democratic Party, of which Matthew Wale is the party leader
  • An overview of the parliamentary process
  • How students can engage with the opposition office on national issues and matters affecting them

In addition to King George VI School, Matthew Wale will also visit White River Secondary School and the University of the South Pacific campus in Honiara.

According to the Opposition’s press secretary, Douglas Marau, the visits will allow the leader to learn about the concerns and challenges facing schools, including infrastructure, teacher welfare, administration, scholarships, and other areas critical to improving education as a national investment.

While the program provides students with the opportunity to learn about the opposition’s role in Parliament, it also allows the opposition to communicate its policy positions and incorporate feedback from schools into national discussions on education policy.

And one of the key objectives of the initiative is to ensure that concerns raised by schools are brought into broader national dialogue, shaping policies that enhance the quality of education across the country.

Photo: Supplied

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