THE defence is still waiting on the prosecution to respond to the proposal given to them in regards to the charge against the accused Maraki Teururu.
Public Prosecutor John Zoze told the court that DPP will be arriving in the country this afternoon and prosecution seeks a shot adjournment to allow the DPP perused the memo that sent to him last week.
This is in relation to the case occurred at Whiteriver where police arrested a man for the charged of attempted murder.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea grants the adjournment to this Thursday to allow the DPP perused the file and also for prosecution to respond on the proposal made.
The defence lawyer representing Mr Maraki after viewing the file against the accused made a proposal to the Prosecution in regards to the charge.
Public Prosecutor John Zoze prosecutes the case in court.
SOLOMON Islands National University (SINU) is progressing well.
New Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic, Dr Jack Maebuta says the local university has just started and it has not been easy for them. Despite that, he said the local university is progressing well.
In an interview, Maebuta told Island Sun that Solomon Islanders need to have the vision and learn from past mistakes.
Maebuta said the local university has just started and it is still taking baby steps. He said people should not expect to see results overnight.
He said as Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic his role is to work with the Deans from the different schools to identify programs and courses for the students.
“SINU has a huge potential in terms of the needs out there. But we have do things in our own strength. It is the strength of all of us Solomon Islanders. Sometimes things do not work out because we as Solomon Islanders tend not to trust each other. Because we have this perception that in order for something to work out good, it has to come from outside then we will believe that it will work. Little did we realize that we can go forward by recognizing our own strength, appreciate our own strength, and appreciate who we are as Solomon Islanders and what we can do,” Maebuta said.
Maebuta an academic by profession has just joined SINU but not one new to a university’s function. He was a Senior Fellow in Educational Administration at the University of the South Pacific (USP) as well as had years of experience in academic leadership positions.
With his experience in the education sector, Maebuta says Solomon Islanders must try not to compare the local university to other regional universities. He said USP is turning 50 years this year while the local university is still learning along the way.
“We have to take one step at a time.”
He said with the inclusion of courses like post graduate certificate in leadership and management for health care workers in the School of Nursing, these are milestones and achievements for the local university.
“Recognising our own needs, where we as a local university believe in our self that we can do it, we will be able to do it.”
Maebuta continued to say that in order to progress, the university needs a collective effort from everyone. He said Solomon Islanders should appreciate the efforts and the progressive results that the university continue to deliver each time. He said Solomon Islanders should continue to build each other, instead of breaking each other.
He said in the long run, he hoped to see more students attending the local university instead of going to universities overseas for studies.
“This will help Government save money and the money spent for scholarships overseas can be utilised in development projects to help develop our country.”
The Solomon Islands National University was initiated after parliament passed a bill in 2012 for the establishment of a local university for the country. Before that it was known as the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE).
POLICE at Tulagi in the Central province have arrested and charged a 27-year-old man for alleged assault causing bodily harm following an incident which occurred at Soka Village, Sand-fly on the evening of September 10, 2018.
It is alleged that the suspect and his brothers were consuming alcohol at their home at Vatutaria Village not far from Soka Village when the suspect disappeared.
His brothers thought that he left for Soka Village so they shouted after him to return.
When the other party from Soka Village heard the shout they thought that they shouted at them. The group from Soka Village came and argued with the group from Vaturia Village during which the suspect allegedly used a bush knife to cut a 12-year-old boy who sustained a minor injury to his left upper shoulder.
The matter was reported to police and the suspect was apprehended on September 11, 2018.
The suspect is released on $500 bail to appear at the Tulagi Magistrates Court on October 22, 2018.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province, Superintendent Patricia Leta says, “I appeal to all the good people of Central Province not to take the law into your own hands.
“There are many ways to resolve problems in a more peaceful and meaningful way that will always unite us together. Consult your chiefs or village elders to resolve those issues rather than resorting to violence.”
The maximum penalty if found guilty of the charge of assault causing bodily harm is five years imprisonment.
FEAR from usual threats of asking money and causing nuisance to public buses along the Kobito and Borderline bus stops affect certain drivers to not drive legally along legal public bus routes.
This is according to a certain young public bus driver and his bus fare conductor when asked yesterday.
A current practice many from the public have been victimised of in recent days is certain buses picking passengers at the SDA bus stop area behind off-shore the Hot Bread Kitchen shouting “Kobito, Kolaridge” end up not driving passengers up along the Vura road but between the Kukum SDA and old HCC labour-line road turning up the Kolaridge road and passing Florence Young Christian School (FYCS).
This adds problem for passengers as many in the public buses travelling live along the Fulisango, Zion, Green Valley and Borderline side of Honiara in which they will only be dropped along the Green Tank area at East Kolaridge causing difficult option for them either to walk or try waiting to stop another public transport that comes their way causing frustration.
Members of the public are now calling for the Honiara City Council (HCC) Law Enforcement and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to step-up in ensuring that such areas of high bad social behaviours in Honiara are usually monitored for the safety of the public as well as to check on certain formed short bus routes by public buses if or whether such practise is legal or not.
“It was frustrating seeing it already being dark and instead of heading straight up along the destiny of our homes at Borderline, we were driven back along the PORTS road past Mbua Valley road only to be dropped at East Kolaridge causing me and my family to walk for another kilometre and a half before finally reaching our home territory,” complained Thomas Ulu, a parent over the weekend at Borderline Bus Stop.
Similar concerns have been raised towards public buses taking such route in which some observe that certain public buses are only taking advantage of making more money by breaking the law in creating their own bus routes.
“These are situations that if the responsible authorities look after properly under the laws of the Crown then such would not occur causing problems and difficulty for us innocent people,” raised members of the general public.
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela (left) arriving for the 10th Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum in Brisbane. Photo by Priestley Habru
Fall in log exports & fishing expected to lower country’s GDP next year
BY PRIESTLEY HABRU
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela (left) arriving for the 10th Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum in Brisbane. Photo by Priestley Habru
SOLOMON Islands Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is expected to drop in 2019.
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela told participants of the 10th Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum in Brisbane last week, the GDP growth is projected to drop from 3.5 percent this year to 3.4 percent in 2019.
“The strong momentum experienced in 2017 is not expected to carry into 2018 and 2019, with GDP growth projected to be 3.5 percent in 2018 and 3.4 percent in 2019. This is primarily due to the expected fall in the value of log exports and fishing activities.”
PM Hou said of the 3.5 percent growth, the primary sector is expected to contribute to around 0.5 percentage points to growth.
Service and industrial are forecast to contribute 2.4 percent and 0.6 percent growth in 2018.
“Output in logging activities is anticipated to be stable (albeit at high level) in 2018-19 and expected to slowly decline in the medium term.
“Fishing activities is projected to drop in 2018, due to a reduction of number of fishing days and unfavourable weather pattern.”
The Prime Minister said a key challenge for Solomon Islands is therefore to seek alternatives for fishing and log exports.
“A key challenge we must start to contemplate is that the levels of both these resources will decline and with that decline, key parts of our revenue generation will also decline.
“We must start thinking of alternatives to round log exports to supplement future growth,” he added.
Meanwhile PM Hou stated that the Solomon Islands Current Account Deficit is expected to widen to around 5 to 6 percent of GDP in 2018- 2019 compared to 4 percent of GDP in 2017.
“This is in line with the expected stabilizations in the value of logs exports, stabilisation of donor inflows allied with the expected increase in the value of oil imports and associated with large project investments. Balance of trade fell by 0.6 percent of GDP in 2017 compared to 1.2 percent of GDP in 2016.”
A key economic risk for Solomon Islands according to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) now the PM; are the recent uncertain developments of logging activities and outbreaks of Coconut rhinoceros beetle.
Despite these challenges PM Hou believes the 2016-2035 National Development Strategy (NDS) is the country’s long-term national vision to improving the social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders.
“And I want to continue welcoming newcomers who bring the skills and experience that we need in Solomon Islands.
“We cannot, and must not, close our doors to the world around us. Our economy and our people can thrive on globalization. Our challenge is to ensure that all our people reap the benefits of development, modernisation and globalisation.”
The Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum, hosted by the Australia Pacific Islands Business Council in partnership with the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry, brings together senior Australian and Solomon Islands business and government representatives to hear and discuss information on current issues relating to doing business in the Solomon Islands.
Honiara will host the 11th Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum next year.
A man alleged to have pushed another man down the slope at the Skyline area on August 27, 2016 has been convicted by the court.
Allen Owen was charged with one count of grievous harm.
Magistrate Aulanga said the evidence established by the prosecution has overwhelmingly shown no issue at all in relation to all the elements.
He said the defendant was well known to the victim. There is also no issue that his action was not justified in law and that it had rendered the victim suffered serious injuries that resulted in the permanent impairment to his right leg.
The evidence that was accepted shows that the defendant and the victim were both living at Choviri area and knew each other very well before the incident.
The allegation said on August 27, 2016, the victim, Joe Frazer Pitamama and his wife went to Girl-Guide area near the NPF Plaza. Whilst there, his father called his wife through mobile and advised her that if they return home, they should not drop at Skyline because some people from Shortland wanted to kill the victim. About 4pm of that day, they returned but dropped at Skyline.
After they got out from the bus, the victim went to pay cigarette whilst his wife was waiting for him at the roadside. That was the same side of the road that the US memorial was built. It was at that point that the defendant approached the victim and met him at the top of a slope.
Magistrate Aulanga said before the incident, he used to work as a carpenter. Now, his walking was imbalance and therefore no longer involved in carpentry works as used to before.
The medical doctor (Dr. Stephen Kodovaru) who examined the victim gave evidence on oath that the victim was x-rayed. He discovered that his right tibia bone that extended to his knee was broken. Being concerned for his blood vessels because of the swelling to his leg, he then inserted external fixtures/antenna/braces to support his broken leg. He was kept under close observation for about a month in the hospital. The reason for that long admission was for insertion of internal fixation of his right leg.
“Therefore, I find the prosecution has proven all the elements of this offence beyond reasonable doubt and therefore convict him as charged”.
The case is then adjourned to September 28 for sentencing submission.
THE trial into the case of Malia Katalake and other two accused has been adjourned for tomorrow for trial.
Public Prosecutor Freliz Fakari told the court yesterday that the lawyer representing one of the accused is at the High Court on another civil trial and will not be possible to attend the trial.
Therefore permission was sought if the trial could be moved for tomorrow (Wednesday).
This is the case which involves corruption related offences of fraudulent falsification, false pretences and embezzlement.
The allegation produced before the court says that the accused on the case, Ms Katalake, is a former employee of the Solomon Tropical Product who worked as a plant manager when the alleged incident occurred.
She was charged with two other co-accused her husband Peter Rockson, 30, of Lord Howe, Malaita Outer Island and 29-year-old Junior Morris Bolas from Choiseul.
Rockson faces four counts of receiving and soliciting while Bolas faces seven counts of receiving.
Katalake was responsible for receiving copra from local farmers, scaling and writing on receivable company document (copra inspections and payment forms) for farmers who came from the province.
The allegation said that between January 1, 2008 and June 21, 2008 Malia and Bolas made up false copra payments sheet under the ghost name Sisi David and fraudulently withdrawn a total of $152,570.80 from the company.
Police alleged Malia was the master mind of the company scandal and she at her own discretion before submitting to the office receptionist to have them calculate and raise the payment according to what names appear on the copra sheet.
Most payments were alleged to have been done on cheques at the National Bank of Solomon Islands now the Bank of South Pacific and Malia and Bolas were the ones who collected and cashed the cheques at the Bank.
The matter was reported to police by the complainant John Vollrat who is the general manager of the Solomon Tropical Products, a company that deals with local farms by purchasing, processing and exporting of copra.
Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the state.
A now or never circumstance faces the national under-16 side as they are about to take on Fiji in the first semi-final clash of the OFC Under-16 Championship this Wednesday.
The match is set for a 10am kick off at Lawson Tama Stadium and this encounter holds a lot of significance more than any of their run-in in this tournament. A victory would see Solomon Islands qualifying for the 2019 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru.
Solomon Islands made their way into the semi-final following a clean sweep against opponents in Group A which comprises New Zealand, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Vanuatu.
Solomon Islands Raphael Le’’ai beat two Vanuatu defender during the pool match clash.
The young side kept a clean sheet in all three pool matches and hauled in an overwhelming 15 goals in the process – five apiece against each of their opponents. The team’s poster boy Raphael Le’ai ‘Rafa’ was solely responsible for seven of them, putting himself into strong contention for the golden boot award.
With such an amazing run, the question we can always ask ourselves is, can the under-16 soccer boys break the curse and get Solomon Islands to its maiden world cup qualification in the conventional (11-asisde) code, after having excelled in the other two abbreviated forms, namely beach soccer and futsal? This question will be answered after the final whistle of the encounter against Fiji.
However, let’s take a look back at previous moments where Solomon Islands have gotten closer to qualifying to the world cup since FIFA’s approval of two qualification spots for Oceania toward the under-17 and the under-20 world cups.
The two-spot opportunity was approved in March 2015 by FIFA and was first applied during the 2016 OFC Under-20 Championship and the 2017 OFC Under-17 Championship, respectively.
Solomon Islands U-16 lineup.
2017 OFC Under-17 Championship
Doubled as a qualifier for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, the tournament was held in Tahiti between 11–24 February 2017. Solomon Islands was drawn in Pool B with New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa. The campaign got underway with a one-all draw against Fiji with the next one succumbing to a 2-1 loss against New Zealand. Solomon Islands had to come away with a 12-0 thrashing of Samoa to edge past Fiji on goal differences to join the junior All Whites in the semis. With a game away from the tournament in India, the young lads’ hopes ended in shattered dreams when they lost 3-2 against New Caledonia in the semis. New Caledonia and tournament winner New Zealand went on to represent Oceania.
2016 OFC Under-20 Championship
The 2016 OFC U-20 Championship was the 21st edition of the OFC U-20 Championship and Vanuatu becomes the host of the event that runs from 3–17 September. Two winners from this tournament would go on to represent Oceania in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea. Solomon Islands started their campaign in Pool B against New Zealand, Tahiti and Cook Islands. The national youth side went in to a 2-all draw in their first match against Tahiti and later cruised to a 3-0 thrashing of Cook Islands in the second fixture. The final pool game was against New Zealand and it ended in a 0-0 draw which had them qualified into the semifinals. Solomon Islands came up against Vanuatu in the semifinals but lost 2-1 and missed out on qualification for South Korea despite leading the match earlier on.
2018 OFC Under-19 Championship
This edition sprouts yet another sad outcome for a much determined Batram Suri-coached under-19 side. For this tournament, the age category was changed to under-19 instead of the formerly called Under-20. The changes were made in order to allow the winner of the competition plenty of time for preparation and player development for upcoming World Cups at Under 20 level. Hosted in Tahiti from August 5 to 18 in Tahiti, the two winners of the tournament would then qualify for the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Poland. Solomon Islands was placed in Group B along with New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu. The national reps made a bright start to their campaign with a 3-2 narrow victory over New Caledonia and followed by a 1-0 win over Fiji in the second match. The final match was against Vanuatu and Solomon Islands came away with another 1-0 victory which saw them shot to the top of the group on nine points at the back of an amazing clean sweep. Solomon Islands went up against the hosts Tahiti and lost 3-1 in the semifinals, missing out on what supposed to be another maiden qualification into the world cup in the conventional (11-aside) code. Tahiti and New Zealand ended up in the final and will represent Oceania in next year’s under-20 world cup.
Prior to these above events when there is only one qualification spot on offer for Oceania, Solomon Islands also went close on a numerous occasions but always fell short toward the end of their campaigns.
In the meantime, the wounds absorbed from the recent under-19 event in Tahiti is still fresh among football fans in Solomon Islands and renewed hopes are being entrusted onto shoulders of the young guns representing the country in the under-16 championship currently underway in Honiara.
Fiji under-16 side
Fiji currently stands in the way of Solomon Islands on their quest for a maiden qualification for the 2019 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
Unlike Solomon Islands, the Yogendra Dutt-coached side have had to dig deeper in their pool B campaign to eventually qualify alongside Tahiti for the semifinals.
A 1-0 victory over New Caledonia in the final pool play saw them clinched a second place finish behind Tahiti on the table tally.
Fiji had a shaky start on their campaign where they had to come back from a two-goal deficit to overcome Samoa 3-2 in their opening match with their winning goal coming through a penalty kick.
They lost their second match 3-0 against Tahiti before winning their final match to guarantee them a place in the semis.
In any competition, the semifinal stage often comes with a completely different atmosphere unlike the pool stage and tomorrow’s midmorning encounter will be an interesting to look out for.
Solomon Islands will be heavily relying on advantage they have with home support to get them to the final.
Can the under-16 boys break the curse and give Solomon Islands its maiden world cup qualification in the conventional (11-aside) code?
Pemberton Lele picks up the win from Ricky Benjamin of FOTE on Saturday..
Photo Taromane Martin.
By Taromane Martin
Pemberton Lele picks up the win from Ricky Benjamin of FOTE on Saturday.. Photo Taromane Martin.
IT was a memorable win for 18 year old Pemberton Lele from Western Province after his win over FOTE boxing club’s Ricky Benjamin in their light welter weight (64kg) fight on Saturday.
Despite receiving of a couple of low blows from Benjamin in the first and second rounds, Lele was able to keep his head in the fight, forcing Benjamin’s corner to throw in the towel to stop the match in the third round.
The 18 year old told SunSPORTS he was pleased with the win on Saturday and credited his coaches encouragements for his win.
“I feel proud; I’m happy and want to thank my trainers at Elite Bombers for always encouraging us to keep going even if we are tired and that is what paid off for me,” Lele told SunSPORTS after his win.
Benjamin said he was disappointed with his performance but vows to train more and improve his game plan for his fourth bout.
“I’m discouraged with the loss but that is ok, I will go back train and work extra harder for my next fight.
“I need to improve on my guard and foot work which my Coach and I will go back work on and get ready for the next HABA bouts.
“I felt there were a lot of weakness in my game plan but like I said these are areas I will go back and work on,” he said.
It was a good night in the bantam weight (56kg) division for Diesel Viti’s Henry Pua.
Pua maintained his winning form on Saturday defeating last year’s Pacific Mini Games representative, Scorpion boxing club’s Alex Micah after picking up a judges split points decision win.
Pua who one day hopes to represent Solomon Islands in boxing said he was pleased and looks forward to establishing himself as one of bantam weight’s best.
Meanwhile other results from the 7th HABA amateur tournament on Saturday are as follows:
Bantam weight (56kg)
Nicholson Donga (Hatanga) losing to Criswell Otuana (Scorpion) via judges split points decision
Alex Micah (Scorpion) losing to Henry Pua (Diesel Viti) via judges split points decision
Light Welterweight (64kg)
Ricky Benjamin (FOTE) losing to Pemberton Lele (Elite Bombers) after referee stopped the contest in round three.
John Goe (Diesel Viti) losing to Danny Ruel (Solomon Pride) via judges split points decision
Welterweight (69kg)
Richard Setty (Elite Bombers) losing to Peter Jack (Hatanga) via judges split points decision
John Tosia (Solomon Pride) losing to Hudson Ratu (Covenant) via judges split points decision
Bronson Tanagu (Diesel Viti) losing to Sam Ledi Jnr (FOTE) via judges split points decision
Middleweight (75kg)
Joshua O’oku (Covenant) defeated Jimmy Bennett (Solomon Pride) via judges split points decision.
Jeff Nyieda (Hatanga)lost to Francis Nuisaru (Elite Bombers) via judges split points decision.
Jnr Kuma (Diesel Viti) lost to Jay Jay Reo (Solomon Pride) via judges split points decision
Lemmuel Silisia (Hatanga) lost to Hansel Ramo (Solomon Pride) via judges split points decision
Light Weight (81kg)
Johnathan Dusu (Hatanga) defeated Peter Howard (Elite Bombers) via judges split points decision
MAIN EVENT
Light welterweight (64kg)
Petsy Seka (Solomon Pride) lost to Henry Kia (Covenant) via judges split points decision
LOCAL futsal club Kooline have been crowned champions for the 2018 Vodafone International Futsal Championship in Suva, Fiji.
Kooline with the likes of Kurukuru stars Coleman Makau, George Stevenson, Alwin Hou, Anthony Talo and Atana Faarodo proved too much for the local USP students after eliminating Fiji Southern 7-2 in the semifinals.
They were crowned champions after defeating USP Solo team 5-0 in the grand final match of the competition yesterday at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.
Kooline led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Coleman Makau and Ellis Mana before adding three more in the second half via, two more Makau goals and a goal each from Mana and Junior Atana Fa’arodo.
The victory means the Coleman Makau captained side are now three thousand Fijian dollars richer while USP Solo are a thousand dollars richer.
Kooline futsal team are expected to arrive in the country on Tuesday.
Final standings from the 2018 Vodafone International Futsal Championship in Suva, Fiji is as follows:
First place- Kooline FC (Solomon Islands), Second place- USP Solo, Third place- Hula FC( Vanuatu), fourth place Fiji Southern.
