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Solomon Islander by blood

Written by
Taromane Martin
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Tarkyn Loloselo

Two touch-rugby world cups for New Zealand

By Taromane Martin & Peter Zoleveke II

THOUGH not many Solomon Islanders are known for playing rugby, there are some who have been paving and building their career in this sport overseas.

One of such players is 20-year-old Tarkyn Loloselo who moved with his father and mother to Auckland, New Zealand in 2003.

The second born of three children, Tarkyn’s father Lazarus Loloselo is from Savo Islands in the Central Province and his mother Benedict Loloselo is from the Lau region in Malaita Province. He has an elder brother and a young sister.

Unlike soccer players, which is the main sport in the Solomon Islands, 20 year old Loloselo young rugby career is already picking up colours having represented New Zealand in two touch rugby world cups and three transmans competition.

Despite still a current member of the New Zealand senior men’s national touch rugby team, Loloselo is now eyeing a new rugby league career after transitioning from rugby union to touch rugby in the last two years.

In November 2019, he returned home to give his services for the Solomon Islands national rugby 7s team that competed in Fiji at the Oceania national s championships. However, despite the colours in his young career it was a disappointed experience for the Loloselo who was made to feel as his services was not needed by the Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation (SIRUF) national 7s team.

SunSPORTS was fortunate enough to catch up with the focused minded and determined young Tarkyn Loloselo to talk about his rugby career, experiences and what he plans on doing in the near future.

“Hi my name is Tarkyn Loloselo. Currently I’m 20 years old. I’m currently working as a carpenter in New Zealand.

“My mother is from Malaita Province and my father is from Savo Island, Central Province. I started my rugby career in South Auckland, playing rugby union all throughout my high school years.

“I had a surgery on my left shoulder, which put me out from contact sports for almost two years. In those two year’s I wasn’t able to play contact sports so I invested my time in touch footy and I was fortunate enough to make it into the New Zealand national touch team. Since then I’ve transitioned over to rugby league, so a different code.

“I didn’t really have any role models I would say growing up. I just kind of knew what I wanted to do and just had this really big self-belief.

“So if you talk about who inspires me the most, I kind of self-inspired myself to be really honest. I see myself as self-inspired and driven.

“For the past two years, I’ve been living in Australia. The reason I’m back in Auckland is because they’ve cancelled the footy tournament there so I’m back here in NZ.

“But the most notable teams I’ve played for would be the New Zealand Rugby Touch Team and the Western Mustang team competing in the Queensland U20 Hastings Deering Colts competition, which is only a level below the NRL.

Tarkyn Loloselo (second left) while playing for the NZ national touch rugby team.

“I was fortunate enough to make my debut in the NZ U-18 rugby touch team in 2017, from that campaign I got invited to go trail for the national men’s team and the same year I ended up making my debut for the national team.

“It was crazy man. I was a kid growing up that was given an opportunity and I just like took it with both hands.

“As a 17year old playing against big boys obviously you don’t really think much about it but my mind set was not like oh I’m a boy.

“My mind set was like we’ll all a man, you’ve got two arms, two legs, one head, and one heart and I also have the same.

“I made my debut when I was 17 and been playing in the team (NZ touch footy) for the past two years now. I’ve had two transman tournaments and one U-20s World Cup which I was fortunate enough to be the team’s captain.

“We went over to Malaysia and it was a good experience for myself obviously leading a great bunch of boys. Though we lost by two points in the final it was a good learning experience for myself and definitely a situation that you have to move on from. But it was a really good experience for myself and thoroughly enjoyed it.

“After that I ended up joining the senior men’s team to go to another World Cup, which I was very stoked about.

“This time I was the youngest player in the team and we went back to Malaysia for the World Cup. It was a bit of change to how I felt but I managed to mix well with the boys because obviously I’ve been playing with some of the guys before.

“Been really pleased to go to two World Cups for New Zealand in touch footy and played in two transman and youth transmans and a good number of tests.

“At the moment the next transman is coming up. I’m still currently in the squad but I think I kind of want to pull back and focus on my rugby league career.

“I told the coaches about this and they’ve real supportive. But we’ll kind of see how things go in the next few months.

“So, my positions are I play on anywhere on the outside backs, I grew up playing on the wing and got moulded into kind of a full back role, playing the halves but mostly full back and wing. I prefer to play on the wing but I think I’m gaining confidence in playing at the back now.

“Its real difficult to build a rugby career here in New Zealand because there are a lot of competitions here.

“You’ve got players who have been playing this sport since their young, or players whose fathers are rugby players themselves so obviously they have the upper hands.

“But like I said my mentality is everyone has one head, two feet, two arms and one heart so anything is possible.

“For me personally I think I have a lot of people to thank who pointed me in the right direction to achieve the success and I’m very blessed to have them in my life.

“The opportunities I’ve been given and I’m lucky to have taken it with both hands and just perform. All glory to God for giving me these blessing. I’m happy, blessed and very lucky,” he said.

In November 2019, the 20-year-old had returned home to play for the Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation’s national rugby 7s team during the Oceania qualifiers. Sadly, it did not turn out the way he imagined it would be, he said.

Tarkyn Loloselo playing for the Western Mustangs in Australia.

“I don’t know much about SI rugby however I actually came back last November to play for the SI national rugby 7s team. We went over to Fiji but for some reason I didn’t play,” Loloselo said.

“I’m not trying to be big head or anything, but I just believed I had a lot to offer to the team with my skill set.

“To this day I don’t understand why they didn’t put me on the pitch. That is something you have to ask the coaches.

“At the moment I’m not really happy with the rugby guys in the Solomon’s because I came back offered my services, as I could have been playing in another tournament and earning money, but I told myself I wanted to go back and give back to the Solomon Islands people but I ended up not playing. To be honest it’s something to this day I’m still not really happy and how I was treated.

“I’m really not happy about that situation and I’m not really sure how I feel about coming back again with the way they treated me. I don’t know but yeah that’s just how I feel,” he adds.

Despite the bad experience with the national rugby 7s team, the Solomon Islands rugby League (SIRL) have said Loloselo is on their radar and that they will certainly be talking to him for possible inclusion if he is available for the emerging nations next year.

Huge information gap on TSM

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Mrs Ruth Maetala

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

WHILST women leaders in the country are battling to have reserved seats for women at the political level through Temporary Special Measures (TSM), a report revealed there is a large information gap on TSM with very limited awareness.

Research Coordinator Ruth Maetala revealed this June 15th at a local press conference organised by Women’s Right Action Movement (WRAM) in Honiara.

Maetala told local journalists that according to the first project to examine in-depth views on TSM called the Public Perceptions of Women as Political Leaders Project, it recorded a large information gap on TSM with limited awareness throughout the areas in which research was conducted.

“76 percent of survey respondents had heard nothing of TSM prior to the survey. Yet people – once informed about TSM –are generally supportive of its introduction.

“92 percent of survey respondents said they supported TSM in provincial assemblies, and the same proportion of respondents supported TSM in the national parliament.

“Even people who support TSM are wary of associated risks involved with its introduction.

“These include women representatives not being respected and facing hardship, family discord, women being unprepared for a political career and concern about making short-sighted changes to the political systems,” he said.

Anika Kingmele said TSM are measures or action taken to reduce inequality between men and women in different spheres and it could be within the education sector, it could be within the employment sector to name a few.

“Basically the aim is to increase the number of women within the particular space where there it is dominated by men and this case our focus enhanced the research is in political space.

“This is to reduce the inequality in the political space, inside political positions be it at the national level or provincial level.

“TSM as the name for itself it is temporary in nature as soon as the outcome is achieved, the measures or actions will be taken out or removed because the outcomes have become natural,” said Mrs Kingmele

Moreover, this research project is led by the Women’s Right Action Movement and supported by International Women’s Agencies (IWDA) it aims to deepen understanding on public perception of the qualities and qualifications for political leadership and gender norms associated with these perceptions.

The intention of the research was to generate findings that would assist and advocates for gender equality to support the meaningful participation of women leaders.

Repetition of accusations could have repercussions: City Mayor warns

Written by
Alfred Sasako
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Elections would be held to replace the Lord Mayor of Honiara City Council Wilson Mamae.

By Alfred Sasako

HONIARA City Council Mayor Wilson Mamae yesterday warned that accusations against the Council’s governance and administration being repeatedly published by Solomon Star newspaper could have repercussions.

“They know the accusations they are repeating are false. And they know that repeating false accusations against someone could have repercussions because we live in a tightly-knit community,” Mayor Mamae said.

His comments follow yet another article published in yesterday’s Solomon Star newspaper calling for the removal of Mayor Mamae and the Clerk, Rence Sore

According to the paper, the call was made by a Honiara citizen named Elward Hiru.

But Mayor Mamae has hit back saying false and baseless accusations does not add anything to the image of the newspaper, adding those using Solomon Star could be using false names to hide their real identity.

“Whether Mr. Hiru exists or not I do not know. What I do know is that the information that Mr. Hiru has provided is all misleading, wrong and baseless. For example, he questioned the legality of the 4Cs – a body set up to coordinate all Honiara City Council infrastructure development activities.

“The 4Cs is a legal entity, endorsed by the full Council and subsequently gazetted. It is a legal body. The Chair of each of the Committees in the Council are Members of the 4Cs,” he said.

“The second matter which I wish to clarify is the figure $1.8 million, which the Council has been accused of paying to an individual businessman without tender. Again, this is misleading, false and baseless.

“The Council did put out a restricted tender for the vehicles in question. Four companies, including Ela Motors, JQy and Golden Pacific Motors Co Limited, put in bids for the supply of the vehicles. Ela Motors won the tender at $1.9 million, not $1.8 million as reported by Solomon Star newspaper,” Mayor Mamae said.

“Unfortunately, the supplier insisted that the amount of $1.5 million be paid as a down payment. Our problem then was that the Council did not have that kind of money and this is where Appointed Councilor John Szetu came in,” the Mayor said.

“He offered and paid Ela Motors $1 million and the Council paid $500, 000. This is because the company demanded the payment of $1.5 million on the spot before releasing the vehicles. The good news is that the Council has since fully repaid Councilor Szetu the $1 million.

“We also paid direct to Ela Motors $500, 000. So the total payment made to Ela Motors is $1.5 million. What is owing to Ela Motors is $400, 000 after we have made a part payment,” the Mayor said.

Mayor Mamae said rushing into conclusion as the Solomon Star has done in the false and misleading accusations against the Honiara City Council simply tarnishes the image of the newspaper.

“It is my hope the newspaper thinks twice before engaging in such futile exercise in the future,” he said.

‘We’re with Pal

Written by
Alfred Sasako
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USP Laucala Campus

USP student association Solomon Islands throw support behind Prof Ahluwalia

By Alfred Sasako

SOLOMON Islands students studying at the University of the South Pacific (USP) Solomon Islands Campus in Honiara have thrown their support behind Prof Pal Ahluwalia, urging regional authorities to investigate allegations he has raised.

The students yesterday staged a peaceful protest outside the USP Solomon Islands Campus at Lawson Tama to show solidarity with other student bodies in other campuses around the region.

“We the USPSA-SI executive and council are rendering our support with other regional campus student bodies towards Prof. Pal Ahluwalia. Our support for Prof. Pal is not based on our legitimacy to our USPSA body and its Federal (body) but to put a clear message that we do not entertain corruption within the shores of the University of the South Pacific.

“In fact, we see Prof. Pal working ethics differently from … past Vice Chancellors in (that) he serves the interest of our USPSA body and other regional student association to fight against corruption.

“Thus, Prof Pal (does) really stand out when he has discovered financial and salary (rorting) underway and has compiled a paper, “Issues, concern and breaches of past management and financial decisions,” the Solomon Islands’ Student body said in a statement issued yesterday.

They said the paper was presented to the USP Council in one of their recent meetings in Vanuatu.

“Prior to this paper, these allegations investigated by a consultancy firm, BDO Auckland but the report has (been) kept in secret since then,” the statement said.

“Lately, the contents of the report have emerged on social media and this has given an opportunity for Pro Vice Chancellor Winston Thompson and his associates to file an allegation against Prof. Pal for misconduct.

Prof Pal, based at the Laucala Campus in Suva, is suspended on full pay.

“With that, he called an urgent meeting for (the) USP Council to suspend Prof. Pal. “However, the move and process taken by PVC Winston has raised eyebrows (amongst)  USPSA and other regional campus student bodies including us, USPSA-SI.

“In fact for us USPSA-SI, this is conflict of interest strategically (taken) to cover up the mess Winston and his associates have caused, hence, we see this as an act of corruption at its best. (We) therefore condemn it,” the students’ statement said.

They said the issue does not speak well for the good of the governance of USP and we the USPSA-SI want to pose questions of our concern to whoever is concerned.

“Why not deal with the allegation put forward by Prof. Pal first before moving on to such allegation which resulted in the suspension of Prof. Pal? What is the motive behind the allegation which resulted in the suspension of Prof. Pal?

“Therefore, our stand here is plain and crystal clear … we say “No to Corruption” and yes to good governance and integrity. In (this regard), we support Prof. Pal and call on the USP Council to reconsider their decision (in suspending him).

“Also, we are calling for the allegation made by Prof. Pal to be considered as genuine because we the USPSI students support it and deserve to know the truth about the result of the investigation by BDO Auckland.

“Moreover, knowing that USP is owned by twelve (12) member countries including us, Solomon Island, we the USPSA-SI, call on the Solomon Islands Government to support us in the good (cause) to fight against such act of corruption so that good governance does prevail in the University of the South Pacific.

“On that note, we call (on) the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) (to make its stand known) with regards to this issue because (while) other member countries have shown their support and have their say on this issue so far, SIG has not done so,” the statement said.

Conservation groups learn on PA Act 2010

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI


REPRESENTATIVE members of various conservation groups in Are Are and Kwaio were privileged to learn the Protected Areas Act 2010.
This was during a meeting held with two lawyers from Landowners’ Advisory Legal Support Unit (LALSU) under Public Solicitor and Solomon Islands Environmental Law Association last Friday at Waisurione in West Are Are.
The lawyers were part of a team led by Po’otori Araata People’s Foundation (PAPF) from Honiara holding general awareness in Hauhui village that was blocked by villagers.
After encountered with the challenge the team met with conservation group members of Mai Maasina Green Belt gathered at Waisurione village.
The lawyers are Mr Steneth Kaniki from SIELA and Mr William Kadi from LALSU who brought some insight of Protected Areas act 2010 to the groups.
The two young lawyers and Malaita provincial Environment Officer, Mr Allen Kisi presented talk mainly on processes to pursue resources/lands to be protected under PA act.
This is however the ultimate goal of the conservation groups together with Mai Maasina Green Belt as they are working towards protecting their resources under the act.
The lawyers said the PA act is a legal tool and has processes to follow before resources can be protected.
They said it’s not easy to pursue steps (processes) required by the act as a lot of challenges can be met.
“One area the act advocates for amongst others especially during process to pursue the act is to provide proper consultation with resource owners on the idea.
“The important thing here is to press on despite challenge and work together with resource owners to achieve it.
“To conserve your resources under the act is a benefit for your communities, resource owners and the government.
“Who knows the initiative might encourage scientific studies, eco-tourism and other green developments,” one lawyer said.
The lawyer said the purpose of the act is to protect resources from destructive developments like logging and mining that can ruin the resources.
He reiterated that the act provided legal processes to follow in going after it in a passive way to the best interest of resource owners.

Covid-19 focus returns to Honiara as zone most at risk

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Passengers arriving from Australia at the Honiara International airport go through thermal sensors as workers check for coronavirus symptoms on Thursday 29th January.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE government Oversight Committee work focus on preparedness and response plans against covid-19 has been again on Honiara because that is the most likely point of entry of any infection.

Jimmy Rodgers Special Secretary to Prime Minister said the Oversight Committee is again focusing their work in the country’s capital as it is the most likely the entry of the virus,

“All the provinces they are now ready but the focus has been on Honiara because that is the most likely point of entry of any infection,” he said.

Rodgers said apart from Honiara the other focus is Western Boarder because it’s a big border that is not easy to police,

“With this the oversight committees has discussed and planned to set up  quarantine facilities at Western Province because if we have border crossers coming in there, there is no  capability to hold them  on border area so that is one of the things that we are stilling focusing our discussions on,” he said.

Rodgers adds New Zealand and Australian government have committed plans to improve provincial health facilities so work is now moving on and there is sort of a clear focus of Gizo Hospital

“This is because Gizo Hospital is close to the border incase anything comes in there the plan is to contain them at Gizo hospital. So there is a preparatory work going on,” he said.

Rodgers said it is also crucial for every provincial committee must come into action if they have community transmission.

“Now they are ready to act but they don’t actually go into operation yet, but if we have community transmission in any of the provinces they will be active.

So the important thing is to get them into state of readiness so that if and when we need them to respond at community level at provincial level they will then kick into action because it has adopted the NDMO policy,” he said.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management Melchior Mataki said there is really need to support provincial operations to battle covid-19       

“So we have seen there is a need for us to really support our provincial operations.

With this covid19 battle there is a need for us to really work together not only with in government agencies but also the support of public to that will enable all operations that government has undertaken will work,” said Mataki.

SIG ‘stand’ on USP Saga to be made known today

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, Dr Franco Rodie.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SOLOMON Islands Government (SIG) ‘position’ on the University of the South Pacific (USP) saga will be made known today.

Towards call made by the USP Staff and students requesting leaders from the USP member countries to remove Mr Winston Thompson from the position of Pro Chancellor (PC) due to bullying and workplace harassment against the USP Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia, SIG’s earlier response on this issue this week was that the government can only make its decision based on the outcome of the USP Council, which is regrettable.

From PS Rodie’s response, having confirmation later on Tuesday this week that the USP Vice-Chancellor and President was suspended had got him responding to media inquiry again yesterday over their ‘stand’ on this issue, saying a media statement will be known today.

“Will send media statement first thing tomorrow [today] morning,” said PS Dr Rodie.

It is understood that Nauru and Samoa as two member countries of the USP Council are amongst the first to have earlier shown their support to end the USP saga, having Nauru’s President Lionel Aingimea calling for a special council meeting to be convened after the VC/P was suspended.

The Pacific owned university (USP) has been reported facing a year-long leadership tussle with the latest reports of fresh attempts to dismiss the Vice Chancellor and President of the USP, a report said to resemble as a desperate bid to sabotage Professor Ahluwalia’s position and authority as the Chief Executive officer of USP.

This has led the staff and students of Laucala Campus staging a peaceful protest in support of Professor Ahluwalia to remain and call for Pro Chancellor Mr Thompson to resign instead.

The Chair and President of USPSA Federal Body Mr Joseph Sua had also on behalf of the student council, issued their demand for the resignation of the Pro- Chancellor, Deputy Pro-Chancellor and Chair Audit and Risk Committee.

Repatriation flights depends on quarantine spaces

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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A NERT officer at one of the quarnatine sites

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THIRD repatriation flight is likely scheduled for end of this month (June) but this depends on the availability of spaces at the Institutional Quarantine Facilities (IQF).

This was echoed by Jimmy Rodgers, Secretary to Prime Minister

 “At the moment scheduling of repatriation flights depends on availability of quarantine spaces.

There is quite a lot of nationals out their so we look at our capability on quarantine space.

So, the next flight for repatriation is likely to be at the end of the month tentatively we are looking at 28th of June for Brisbane Solomon Islands and we are hoping to do a Fiji straight after that 1st of July.

I think it’s planning together with our capacity at the quarantine centers,” said Rodgers.

He said currently the country have a 28 quarantine policy which will come to an end on 23rd and 24th of this month.

“We still have many stranded nationals still out there

For seasonal workers in New Zealand there are 164 ready to come and for graduates in USP there is more than a hundreds,” said Rodgers.

On this matter Special Secretary to Prime Minister Albert Kabui said “In terms of reparation the government will continue to repatriate our citizens overseas.

Since we have in country testing capacity so we able to repatriate our citizens of course under the health protocols.”

Meanwhile, two repatriated flights have been successfully executed by the Solomon Islands governments.

These flights included one for nationals and foreigners stranded in New Zealand and Australia and one flight for Fiji and Vanuatu.

Manele warns Suidani

Written by
Press Release
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Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani.

FOREIGN Minister urges Malaita Premier to be ‘mindful’ of government’s foreign relations with China

Foreign Affairs Minister, Jeremiah Manele, has reacted to Malaita Premier’s pro-Taiwan statements earlier this week acknowledging Taiwan for its support of the province in preparedness against covid-19.

In a media statement on 9th June, Government Communications reports that Mr Manele cautions Premier Daniel Suidani to be ‘mindful’ of the country’s foreign relations with mainland China.

Manele calls for unity of the country in response to Malaita Provincial Premier’s statement that challenges Solomon Islands recognition of the “One China Policy”.

Manele condemns the statement issued by Premier Daniel Suidani yesterday when the Premier made reference to the Republic of China (ROC) as a state rather than a province of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Solomon Islands recognise the one China policy as of September 21, 2019 when it signed diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan is an integral part of the People’s Republic of China’s territory.

“Such divisive statement from a Provincial Premier threatens the unity of the country at a time when we need to work together in keeping COVID-19 from entering our borders and not politicize the virus,” Manele said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade is also investigating possible external interference into Solomon Islands domestic affairs.  This was after the Ministry received a call from DHL seeking confirmation whether a certain private citizen is a member of staff of the MFAET.

There are three DHL consignments supposedly sent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan to an individual at Kaibia Settlement, Central Honiara.

All packages remain unclaimed, items include medical masks, infrared Thermal Imaging Camera and other equipment.

Minister Manele calls for respect for government’s foreign policy and urge those who continue to make provocative and inflammatory statements to stop and work towards building a strong united country.

–GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT

Gov’t to continue its repatriation flights

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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0
Solomon Airlines airbus

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands government will continue its reparation flights, says Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

“This government will continue to repatriate our stranded citizens under strictest of conditions,” said Mr Sogavare.

He said lately a flight was allowed to fly into the country from Papua New Guinea and this flight flew in with covid-19 supplies that will assist the country in its fight against covid-19.

On this matter Special Secretary to Prime Minister,Mr Albert Kabui reiterated, “In terms of reparation the government will continue to repatriate our citizens overseas.

“Since we have in country testing capacity so we able to repatriate our citizens of course under the health protocols.”

Meanwhile, two repatriated flights have been successfully executed by the Solomon Islands governments.

These flights included one for nationals and foreigners stranded in New Zealand and Australia and one flight for Fiji and Vanuatu.

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