Home Blog Page 1337

Tulaghi clinic needs more space

0

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

DEVELOPMENTS of new extension buildings and other areas are under plans for Tulaghi’s Clinic at Ngella but concern has it that its land size is small having limited space for such.

Because of facing such situation, it has raised concern suggesting that it is time to replan the clinics structure or relocate it to another land site area.

“Further developments will not be possible because residential houses are also now built all around the clinic,” said concern wishing for anonymity.

“The clinic area needs to be expanded so the provincial government and the medical team here in Tulaghi need to work together in addressing this issue.”

With this issue raised, concerns are hoping for the best solution to come up with concerning Tulaghi clinic’s land size area.

Again, one of the many issues the clinic is currently facing has been called on to for serious consideration.

Former CDO’s case adjourns

0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court has again adjourned the case against a former Constituency Development Officer (CDO) and his co-accused to June 19 to allow the presiding magistrate to return from overseas before a ruling can be made on the case.

The case was mentioned in the Honiara Magistrate Court yesterday for ruling on the application submitted by Prosecution to amend the particulars of the charge against former CDO for Gao-Bugotu.

This case has gone through a trial in which the prosecution called their witnesses and gave evidence however, after closing their case prosecution made an application to amend the particulars of the second charge against the defendant.

They are alleged of having stolen sheets of roofing iron from the Gao-Bugotu Constituency.

Jimmy Dikamana and Lonsdale Tana was charged in relation to incidents which occurred in 2015.

Prosecution alleged that the two stole roofing iron from the constituency and sold them to other people.

The Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown.

Case of Chinese BDM exporters adjourns

0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case against three Chinese Beche-de-mer exporters will be mentioned again in court on June 12.

The matter was mentioned in court yesterday and was adjourned to June 12 for mention and possible setting of date for plea.

This is in relation to the trio Zhangs Tongzhi, Xu Qiang and Sheng Song Frank, who were charged under the Fisheries Management Act.

Their case will be mentioned before Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea in the Honiara Magistrate Court.

The trio were facing four charges; count one, Artisanal Fishing in indirect association with a registered company without valid and applicable licence contrary to section 43(1)(a) (c) Fisheries Management Act 2015; Count two, Buy or otherwise trade in Fish taken in contravention of the Act contrary to section 27(1) Fisheries Management Act 2015; Count three, Engage in activities relating to fish processing for the purposes of export without valid and applicable license contrary to section 44(1)(a) as read with section 44(1)(b) and (c) Fisheries Management Act 2015; and Count four, cause or permit a person acting on his behalf to engage in activities of such a kind or type, at a time for which a valid license or authorisation is required contrary to section 56 (1) (a) as read with (b) Fisheries Management Act 2015.

The trio were charged in relation to the illegal harvesting of the sea cucumber species at Ontong Java atoll when the ban was still effective last year.

The defendants on the matter were the beche-de-mer licence export holders which government had issued them with licence when the beche-de-mer ban was lifted last year.

The office of the Director Public Prosecution appears on behalf of the crown.

“We aim to win it”: Ragomo

Skipper Elliot Ragomo talks to his team mates at half time during their match with Kooline FC on Tuesday. Ragomo’s second half goal saw Marist’s unbeaten run in the SIPA Futsal League still intact after eight games played...Photo Taromane Martin

Kooline denies Marist pole position

By Taromane Martin

Skipper Elliot Ragomo talks to his team mates at half time during their match with Kooline FC on Tuesday. Ragomo’s second half goal saw Marist’s unbeaten run in the SIPA Futsal League still intact after eight games played…Photo Taromane
Martin

MARIST futsal team is aiming to win the 2018 Solomon Islands Port Authority (SIPA) National Futsal League title, according to team captain Elliot Ragomo.

Marist who is still undefeated in the competition was held to a 1-1 draw by title contenders Kooline FC at the Multipurpose Hall yesterday.

The draw sees Marist with 22 points on the competition table behind Futsal Solympics who they will meet Thursday next week at the Multipurpose Hall.

Ragomo said the team has been working very hard towards achieving their aim of winning the futsal league and is happy with the direction futsal in the country is heading.

“Our aim is simple and that is to win the league. We’ve been working hard every single day for every single game and opponents,” he said.

“We do this so when the time comes we know what to do in order to counter attack whoever we play.

“I’m really happy with the boys, they are improving every single day and game by game, and I think to be still unbeaten is very impressive for us and is a good result for our boys.

“I think this national futsal league really shows where the standard of futsal is in Solomon Islands and even in the Pacific.

“I’m really, really happy about it because it shows futsal in the country is heading in the right direction and this is good for the growth of the sport here.

“This year we have a very young team combined with a lot of experience players.

“Through our experiences we always try to show in all of our games good sportsmanship, what kind and type of futsal we all should be playing in the country.

“But again for us, we always try to train and work hard towards achieving our aims and goals as a club and team,” he adds.

Marist had to wait until the second half to find the equaliser after Atana Fa’arodo Jnr gave Kooline the lead in the first half.

A wasteful first half saw Marist trailing a goal down at the break but saw Ragomo levelling the scores in the second half with a thunderous right foot shot to keep Marist unbeaten run in the competition alive.

Meanwhile, other results from the 2018 SIPA futsal league yesterday saw Indo-Solo defeating Henderson Eels FC 6-2 while Vania FC suffered a humiliating 16-0 defeat at the hands of Guntimac FC.

One step too far

ULMWP spokesman Jacob Rumbiak

SIDCCG disapproves Rumbiak’s attempts to meddle in SI’s national affairs

 

THE Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (SIDCCG) strongly disapproves the blatant attempts by a foreigner, Mr Jacob Rumbiak, to interfere and meddle in the country’s national affairs.

An official statement from the Government on Tuesday disrepute the allegations, opinions, and interference by Rumbiak in the national affairs, politics and foreign policies of Solomon Islands, a sovereign State, through the media.

Rumbiak’s comments were purposely made to incite division in the leadership of the SIDCCG that is based on the issue of West Papua.

“This misguided intent by a foreigner to attempt to divide and undermine the standing and solidarity of a legitimate government through the media will not succeed,” the statement said.

“Mr Rumbiak has no right to tell the people of Solomon Islands who should be their Prime Minister, nor does he has the right to determine who the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands should be.”

The statement said Solomon Islands is a sovereign nation and only Solomon Islanders can determine who should be their Prime Minister and that can only happen through the democratic election process.

“If he thinks that he can come secretly into Solomon Islands when the Prime Minister is out of the country, purposely to create division and disharmony in the Government and amongst Solomon Islanders, then he better think again,” it said.

The statement adds, Solomon Islands has diplomatic relations with the Republic of Indonesia which was formalised in July 1983.

A Solomon Islands Diplomatic Mission was established in Jakarta on August 5, 2014.

This Mission was operational during the previous DCCG government, continuing on with the present SIDCCG government.

It added that as an upstanding member of the United Nations, Solomon Islands upholds the tenets of international relations enshrined in the United Nations Charter, including those on respect of sovereignty and non-interference.

“Solomon Islands has always acknowledged that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia. Solomon Islands also acknowledges that West Papua is one of five Melanesian regions in Indonesia. Solomon Islands will continue to pursue issues concerning West Papua through both the relevant national mechanisms in Indonesia as well as at the relevant international institutions and forums, as and when appropriate,” he said.

The statement said SIDCCG’s foreign policies will continue to be guided and determined by Solomon Islands’ own national interest and those of its peoples.

“As a sovereign nation, Solomon Islands will continue to vigorously protect these interests. The Solomon Islands Government will not allow these interests to be usurped and dictated by foreign individuals like Jacob Rumbiak,” it said.

–GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT

KGVI School named as ‘ACOMSIC Games Village’

0
Saint Nicholas College netball team in training for the 4th acomsic games this month.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Saint Nicholas College netball team in training for the 4th acomsic games this month.

KGVI School has been named as the ‘official games village’ for the 2018 Association of the Church of Melanesia Schools and Institutions and Communities (ACOMSIC) Games this month.

The ACOMSIC Games head of the organising committee Desmond Waita announced the location of the games village via social media on the event’s facebook page last week.

The ACOMSIC Games will see all students of the Anglican Church of Melanesia schools and institutions converging in Honiara to take part in a weeklong festival of sports, entertainment and educational awareness from Saturday 23rd June to Saturday 30th June.

Waita said the games village will open on Saturday June 23.

Waita stated the event will open with a church service at the Saint Barnabas Cathedral on Sunday June 24 while the grand official opening ceremony will be held on Monday June 25.

Waita thanked the management of KGVI School for allowing the use of their facilities during the course of the event.

“Thank you KGVI school management for allowing your wonderful venue to be used to host the games.”

Registration for interested schools is still open and will close on Monday June 18.

A total of 17 Anglican Church of Melanesia Schools and Institutions are vying to take part.

Waita urged schools that are yet to pay up their registration fees to come forward and commit to this important requirement.

The theme for this month’s ACOMSIC Games is ‘Oneness through Sports’.

A total of five main sports are expected to be featured. They are soccer, futsal, netball, volleyball, rugby and athletics.

According to Waita, apart from playing sports, other activities will also be organized and they include night activities for students such as educational and health talks, speech contest, choir competition, cultural dancing and a beauty pageant show.

As the calendar pages unfold closer to the opening date, hosts of sponsors have already raised their hands to support through sponsoring of prizes and other items pertaining to the running of the event.

The latest to have come on board last week are the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs.

Other sponsors are the Ministry of Home Affairs, Coral Sea Resort, Solomon Airlines, Provincial Press, King-George Sixth school and the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM).

“I want to appeal to the general public, business organizations, sporting federations and other sports stakeholders to come and support the students in their sporting activities as sports create a healthy and discipline society.

“It is expected that about one thousand students and teachers are expected to take part in the week long sports event,” Waita said.

The ACOMSIC Games was used to an annual event in the past with the known last edition to be held was in 2006.

After nine years of absence, it saw revival in 2015 and Selwyn College came out on top as the overall winner while second and the third placing went to Saint Stephen Pamua and C E Fox Sa’a, respectively.

Meanwhile, schools vying to participate are said to be in full swing with their preparations for the upcoming event.

Basic referees’ course underway

0
Solomon Islands Football Federation Referee RDO, Justin Mutukera welcomes the participants.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Solomon Islands Football Federation Referee RDO, Justin Mutukera welcomes the participants.

A basic referees’ course is underway following its official opening in Honiara yesterday afternoon.

The one week workshop is being organized by the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Referees department and is held at the SIFF Academy conference room.

More than 50 participants are taking part.

The course was intended for aspiring referees in Honiara, according to SIFF Referee Development Officer Justin Mutukera.

The brief opening ceremony yesterday was graced by the presence of Honiara Football Association (HFA) President Baddley Alaha.

Alaha was pleased to see many young people both male and female taking up the course.

“I am so happy to see young people both male and female have shown interest in taking up this basic refereeing course.

“Referees are very important just like players because without referees there will be no football match.

“I hope most of you will become top refs in the future because we need more refs as we move forward in our football development aspirations.

“Our past and current refs have taken us to the World Cup and I want to encourage all of you to one day follow their footsteps.

“I want to officially open the HFA basic refereeing course and wish you all the best during the week long programme,” Alaha said.

Speaking on behalf of the SIFF Technical department during the opening was Youth Development officer, Henry Fa’arodo.

“It’s an honour to welcome you to this very informative training on behalf of the technical team.

“Remember referees have very important role in football so I want to encourage all of you to make the most of this opportunity.

“Refs are part of the technical department and I would like to wish you all the best as you undertake the basic refereeing course.

“Please don’t stop here but have the passion to learn more about the laws of the game,” Fa’arodo said.

The workshop will conclude at the end of the week.

Six archers selected for Oceania Champs

0
Winners of the national archery championship on Sunday with their prizes.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Winners of the national archery championship on Sunday with their prizes.

A total of six archers will don the national jumper in next month’s Oceania Archery Championship.

The championship is scheduled to run from July 9 to 13 in Noumea, New Caledonia.

The six archers were selected from last Sunday’s national archery championship sponsored by C & I Distributors.

The national championship was held at the Town Ground Rugby Stadium and attracted up to 20 competitors.

Archers selected to represent Solomon Islands in the Oceania event includes three male and three female namely Andrew Lano, Piper Soper, Kelly Baedonga, Janet Siru, Nancy Pize and Doris Laula.

The Oceania Archery Championship is expected to bring together archers from 12 Oceania countries namely Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Following the completion of the championship, the Oceania Archery Congress will also be convened for top officials as well as a coaching course scheduled from July 16 to 24 to be conducted by Pascal Colmaire of World Archery.

HammerHeads heading the right way: Campbell

0
Henderson HammerHeads Head Coach Philip Campbell talks to his players during the Fletcher Kwaimani Man-Up Challenge...Photo Taromane Martin.

By Taromane Martin

Henderson HammerHeads Head Coach Philip Campbell talks to his players during the Fletcher Kwaimani Man-Up Challenge…Photo Taromane Martin.

HEAD Coach for the Henderson HammerHead Sharks rugby club, Mr Philip Campbell says they are heading in the right path in terms of development within their club.

Campbell who led HammerHeads to their third Fletcher Kwaimani Man Up rugby challenge title on Saturday, said with more young players coming into their club development is starting to pick up.

“We’ve been building our squad now over the past six years. We have some fresh bloods coming in from last year and this year,” he told SunSPORTS.

“Certainly where HammerHeads rugby is going its heading in the right direction to where we want it to be going.

“We have more young players coming into the team which is good for the club’s development because some of our experienced and senior players are getting old and hanging up their boots.

“Development within the club is certainly starting to pick up now.

“Defending the title obviously it is a big achievement for us and it certainly goes to show that it can be possible, only if you work hard for it and it’s good to see things paying off for us,” he said.

Campbell said with more rugby competitions coming up they are looking forward to compete in them but are keeping a keen eye on the 2018 Honiara Rugby Union Association (HRUA) rugby 15s competition.

“We’re looking forward for more competition. This Friday we’re having the PAC 7s competition and then there’s another rugby 7s series competition which Islanders rugby club will be hosting.

“And then the big one is the Honiara Rugby Union Association (HRUA) 15s competition which kicks off in six weeks’ time.

“We are looking forward and excited to competing in this HRUA 15s competition.

“Lots of rugby for everyone but for now HammerHeads is looking forward for the PAC 7s competition here at the DC Park rugby field,” he said.

Meanwhile HRUA has confirmed that the 2018 15s competition is set to kick off next month on the 14th.

Archery champs a success

0
Archers in action

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Officials taking a pose infront of archers during the national championship on Sunday.

THE one-day 2018 National Archery Championship was completed successfully on Sunday.

The event was sponsored by Honiara-based electrical company C & I Distributors and held at the Town Ground Rugby Stadium.

The opening ceremony of the championship was graced by the presence of the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) President Martin Rara.

Other top sporting officials were also there to witness the official opening.

They include Casper Pule, Acting Director Sports within the Ministry of Home Affairs; Chairman of Pacific Games 2023 Taskforce, Gabriel Suri and the visiting Director of PNG High Sports Performance Aaron Alsop who is currently here in the country.

The Archery Federation of Solomon Islands President Nihal Seneviratne thanked the officials who attended the official opening of this important event despite a short notice.

The championship served as a selection pathway for next month’s Oceania Championship in New Caledonia.

Seneviratne said: “Thanks to the NOCSI, SIG and Pacific Games 2023 Task Force officials who managed to attend the event despite the short nice.

“This is a very important event because this shows that we are on the right track and are ready to host a successful Pacific Games in 2023.”