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Problem-plagued HFA league drags on

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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HFA President Baddley Alaha

BY ROMULUS HUTA

HFA President Baddley Alaha

THE kick off date of the 2018 season league of the problem-plagued Honiara Football Association (HFA) is being dragged on for another week but still pending further confirmation.

The kick-off is being dragged on due to constant failures to sort out outstanding issues carried on from last season, forcing the Honiara football governing body to remain unsettle and so as yet to figure out a new possible kick-off date.

Speaking to SunSPORTS yesterday, HFA President Baddley Alaha said two meetings are scheduled to take place next week to discuss issues pertaining to the affairs of the league.

“One meeting will be held with the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Executive and the other meeting is with the clubs.

“After these two meetings are over then we can be able to announce the new kick off date,” Alaha stressed.

Initially, the league was scheduled to kick off last Saturday as announced in March by Alaha and his executive after carrying out strings of successive meetings in past months since the beginning of this year.

Last month, HFA was trying to address the issue of prizes for winners last season where to this point, nothing is said to have happened yet due to financial difficulty.

Registration for the 2018 season had closed earlier this month and Alaha admitted only few clubs came in to pay up their affiliation and competition registration fees.

“Only few clubs have paid in their affiliation and registration fees and we are still working on that.

“This will also be put on the table for discussion when we meet with the clubs next week.

“We hope to resolve some of the issues pertaining to the affairs of the league during the two upcoming meetings and get to announce the new kick off date after that,” Alaha expressed.

In gearing up for the new season since the announcement of the previous kick off date, most affiliated clubs have shaped up in their preparations and are now in ‘ready mode’.

Meanwhile, unlike the previous seasons, the HFA competition structure went under a review recently and this new season will see the introduction of the newly-adopted two-divisional leagues comprising 18 teams each for the premier division and second division, respectively. The restructure is to allow Honiara clubs to play more matches in one season.

Kooline maintains lead

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Koloale’s Lenson Bisili with possesion as George Steveson of Kooline sets up defense.

Futsal Solympics back in second

By Taromane Martin

Koloale’s Lenson Bisili with possesion as George Steveson of Kooline sets up defense.

KOOLINE futsal team remains top of the 2018 Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) national futsal league after their sixth win in the competition on Thursday.

Kooline defeated Koloale 2-1 in a pulsating match at the Multipurpose Hall to see them with 19 points on the competition table and also keep their undefeated run in the competition alive.

Atana Fa’arodo gave Kooline the lead after excellent team play with Dickson Ramo for their first goal.

Team captain Coleman Makau doubled the lead in the second half but saw Eddie Taevo pulling a goal back for Koloale from the set piece.

Taevo made matters worse for his after he was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Philip Maeta two minutes later.

The win puts Kooline back on top of the competition table after the Futsal Solympics temporarily jumped top of the table with 18 points, after defeating Mataks 5-2 in the 2pm match yesterday.

Futsal Solympics Head Coach Stanley Puirana was pleased with the three points but admitted his young side will need to work on their mental fitness and must learn to play as a unit.

“I’m pleased but not entirely. The boys played well together to set up our opening goals,” he told SunSPORTS yesterday.

“I think so far in this competition the concentration of the boys need to improve. Our discipline needs to also step up more.

“First half we dominated ball possession but attitude of selfishness and individuality let us down with our chances in the second half.

“But its good we identified this now than later so we can improve on it.

“With youth teams like this you not only have to work on their physicality but also on their mentality.

“I told the boys their mindset need to be focused and disciplined for our games because without discipline the results will eventually come out on the field.

“We’ll keep working and keep our head up for our remaining four matches,” he said.

Meanwhile Indo-Solo bagged their third SIPA Futsal League win after defeating a wasteful Real Kakamora side 4-2 yesterday.

Two goals from Iani and one each from Fred and John Indo-Solo was enough to cancel out Mona Sam first and second half goals for Real Kakamora.

The win Thursday sees Indo-Solo move up into sixth position with nine points after seven games played.

New school building for Santupaele

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITI

GIZO

The newly built school building of Santupaele, Ward 23, North Kolombangara.

THOUSANDS witnessed the handover ceremony of Santupaele’s new school building in north Kolombangara Ward 26, Western province.

The handover and dedication of the building was held at Santupaele Village on Wednesday.

The building was dedicated by SDA pastor Kele Hana.

Cutting of ribbon was done by guest of honour former PM Gordon Darcy Lilo, RDP team leader John Paranga Labere, SDA education Director Machline Jilini and Western education authority officer Liliati Pitakaji.

Santupaele school building sub-project is proudly funded by the Rural Development Programme (RDP) with financial aid from SIG, European Union (EU), World Bank (WB), DFAD, administered by the Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination (MDPAC), implemented under the auspices of the Western Provincial government.

Santupaele school building cost RDP $200,000 and it cost Santupaele Community contribution $390,000 worth of in-kind contributions totaling up the full project cost to $590,000.

RDP Western province team leader John Paranga Labere said Santupaele marks a milestone achievement in the development and this is not just an achievement that suddenly springs-up but track record of a journey in development for the community.

“You now own a good looking school building that will help to provide helpful leaning environment for your children, now and in future.

“This building is one of the 26 projects implemented under RDP since 2015, unfortunately one was terminated, so we left with 25.

“17 were completed by now including Santupaele, 8 are still ongoing, this means Santupaele community contributes more than RDP.”

He said since 2009, RDP implemented 101 projects in Western province. Unfortunately, 7 projects were terminated due to disputes and poor community efforts. This leaves with 94 projects in full implementation.

The ceremony was witnessed and attended by guest of honour, Gordon Darcy Lilo and community elders, men, women, youth and children of Santupaele, MPA for ward 26 North Kolombangara Michael Aquila, Western province education authority officer Liliata Pitakagi, SDA education authority Director Machline Jilini, community leaders and people of Ward 26.

Santupaele school building construction began on August 8, 2016.

The school will now accommodate more than 50 students, expecting to commence their academic next year.

United Church centenary brings reconciliation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Mike Puia

Gizo

THE centenary celebration held at Nazareth Village, Marovo lagoon, in the Western province on Sunday has brought about reconciliation among disputing families.

Former Member of Parliament for North New Georgia Constituency, Job Tausinga, stood at the celebration and declared that he is dropping a court case against his relatives.

Tausinga, who served 26 years as an MP, said the action he is proposing serves to fulfil the purpose of the centenary.

United Church members in the province and in Choiseul province and Honiara attended the event.

The event commemorates the day the gospel reached the Choe people who now live in Nazareth village. Tausinga is also a man from Choe.

Tausinga and his relatives have been in dispute over an island call Ngaringari.

According to people living in the Marovo lagoon, the Ngaringari dispute is a long time dispute between Tausinga and his relatives.

Tausinga said they desire peace and this is why he has decided to cancel the court case.

The declaration received a round of applaud, with much enthusiastic loud shouting and clapping of admiration.

According to Tausinga, the dispute is a family dispute but it had reached a point where it separated them.

Rural women in micro-business recognised

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The five women award winners in micro-business with their certificates.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

The five women award winners in micro business with their certificates.

“SOMETIMES I feel that I have been neglecting my children and I try to balance work with family and it is quite difficult trying to maintain that balance. But when I won this award, I feel as if my hard work had paid off.”

Mrs Jesca Theokheranga was the woman who won the Gold plaque or first prize of the CBSI award for Women in micro-business 2018 that also includes a cash of $10,000.

Initiated in 2015, the Women in Micro-business awards was endorsed by the National Financial Inclusion Taskforce (NFIT) to support the financial inclusion of rural women’s participation in financial services. NFIT consists of representatives from the government, private sector, non-government, civil societies, women’s groups and donors and is chaired by the Governor of CBSI.

The awards this year is the second biennial award ceremony for women in micro-business.

Held yesterday in a simple ceremony in Honiara, the micro-business award recognises women micro businesses that have potential to impact lives and contribute to economic growth in the Solomon Islands.

Speaking to Island Sun, Financial Inclusion Manager of CBSI, Linda Folia says the process to select the awardees had not been easy. She says the process began in October 2017 and includes site visits to the businesses establishment.

“It had been grueling but full filling.”

She says for the women, this award will assist them in gaining recognition from businesses and stakeholders which will be a boost for them.

Also speaking to Island Sun, first prize winner, Mrs Theokheranga, says the win was quite a surprise for her.

“I am really encouraged and it has given me a reason to continue to work hard in my business. I encourage young girls and women not to give up but must continue to work hard. We must be determined, disciplined and must be willing to work and be honest in order for us to be successful,” Theokheranga says.

Meanwhile, third prize award winner, Esther Tali Suti, a honey producer from Simbo says it only comes back to people’s attitude. She says everyone alike need to change how they portray government’s assistance.

“So many times we think that government has not been supportive. But for me, I believe government has been supportive. Most times we rely on government for handouts. This is not the only support from government,” Mrs Suti says.

She says women should make use of the constituency funds available and not only ask for handout assistance. She says government play a crucial role in ensuring programs like the one witnessed now benefitted people in rural areas.

The five award winners for the CBSI Women in micro business 2018 are selected from 112 nominations.

They are Mrs Ruth Lolo, poultry producer from Guadalcanal, Mrs Jemimah Ellen, Cocoa producer from Guadalcanal, Mrs Esther Tali Suti, honey producer from Simbo, Mrs Lucy Kasimwane, cocoa producer from Makira and Mrs Jesca Theokheranga, copra and cocoa producer from Vella la Vella.

LEAP training for EOs successfully ends in Auki

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Education Officers (EOs), representatives from Malaita Education Authority and LEAP who attending the LEAP training which successfully ends in Auki on Thursday.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

Education Officers (EOs), representatives from Malaita Education Authority and LEAP who attending the LEAP training which successfully ends in Auki on Thursday.

A three-day training under LEAP project for education officers from the four regions of Malaita province successfully ended in Auki yesterday.

The training covered an introductory to the LEAP project, seeking solutions to challenges faced by literacy in the province and creation of an improvement plan on the programme in the education authority Level.

LEAP Malaita Provincial Education Authority Mentor, Mr Fred Ramoli said the first day of the workshop helped participants to have a clear understanding on the programme.

He said it enclosed the reason for LEAP in Malaita, the importance of the programme and areas requiring work to be implemented under the project.

Ramoli said the second component of the workshop looked at challenges Malaita province faced that affects the literacy or the learning of school pupils.

He said under the component they did what known as “sense making” which looked at seeking solutions or alternatives to challenges faced in schools in the province.

Ramoli said LEAP referred to sense making as “talk stories” which looked at consultation among community elders to seek solution to issues in communities affecting schools.

He said the other area the training also focussed on is core creation or improvement plan that looks at improving situations in the Education Authority (EA) level.

Ramoli said that mainly refer to improving plans on administration and management of EA level that affects schools leaders and also learning of school pupils.

Meanwhile, he said one of the highlights during the training was the inception of a vision and mission statement for Malaita province.

“It is a milestone since the province doesn’t have any statement and work is currently on it as it will forward to provincial level for approval.

“Once it approved the vision will be the directive of thoughts for all education stakeholders in the province to work closely towards it,” he said.

Ramoli said the Leadership Education Authority Programme (LEAP) is a programme under MEHRD which focusses on working in a holistic approach of literacy for schools in the country

He said LEAP operates under a joint venture of Auckland University, USP and Institute of Education (IOE) under MEHRD.

Youth groups make milestone visit to MWYCFA

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Group photo of the community youth groups during their visit to the MWYCFA

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Group photo of the community youth groups during their visit to the MWYCFA

COMMUNITY youth groups within Honiara were given insights to the national government framework for youth development in a visit to the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA).

On Wednesday May 16, community youth groups registered under the Honiara City Council as part of their HCC Community Youth Orientation workshop visited the MWYCFA.

The trip was designed for youth groups in Honiara to be educated about the government’s framework targeting youth development programmes in Solomon Islands.

MWYCFA’s Youth Development Officer for Honiara and Renbel, Mr Alfred Kiva said young people need to understand the role of MWYCFA and HCC as agents of the national government youth development framework.

He said the learning trip was successful with young people clearly understanding government’s concern for youth and the position of community youth groups in the legal framework.

During the visit, Director for Youth Development Division, MWYCFA Mr Andrew Tipoki explained young people are part of the legal framework to youth development in Solomon Islands.

He said the Ministry has worked with other legal partners and stakeholders to implement its priority areas related to the national government policy goals.

Tipoki said at the moment National Youth Council is still in transition period.

He also explained the Ministry has been working a youth strategy to address high unemployment youth rate in the Solomon Islands.

The look and learn trip was organised by Honiara City Council-Youth Division, Youth Development Division-MWYCFA and Honiara Youth Council (HYC).

HCC-YD, YDD-MWYCFA particularly Youth Desk for Honiara and Renbel and HYC has been a close partner since 2012.

West Kwara’ae chief calls for understanding

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

A call was made by a concerned chief from Central Kwara’ae for chiefs who attended a consultation meeting on land reform draft held at Buma in West Kwara’ae earlier this week.

Chief Ashley Mae said the consultation meeting on draft land reform conducted on Tuesday this week is very important for tribes and people in their communities.

“But I appeal to our local chiefs that attended the consultation to understand well the draft so that we may implement it in a rightful and a proper way.

“I notice that some of the chiefs that attended the consultation this week were so calm and silenced when the draft has been tabled.

“In my observation most land issues has been ruled unfairly by our chiefs when it comes to corruption dealing.

“We need chiefs with wisdom mindsets when dealing with land settlements.

“I understand that only chiefs from ward 29 in central Kwara’ae, west Kwara’ae and Langalanga attended the consultation.”

The meeting was conducted by the ministry of national unity reconciliation and peace (MNURP) including Peter Boyers and Francis Waleanisia.

The same consultation was also conducted at Malu’u on Wednesday this week.

Fiji thanks Nazareth for cyclone Winston help

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Mike Puia

Gizo

A representative of the Fijian community in Honiara, Matai Vave, has conveyed Fiji’s appreciation to the people of Nazareth village, Marovo lagoon, in the Western province for lending a hand during Fiji’s darkest time.

This was during the cyclone Winston disaster that hit Fiji in 2016. Nazareth village had organised a fundraising to raise money towards Fiji’s recovery effort.

Nazareth village was able to raise about $15,000. The village gave the money to the former moderator of the United Church, Philemon Riti. He handed the money to Matai Vave in Honiara.

Vave also attended Nazareth village’s celebration to mark the 100th year since the gospel reached them.

He broke down in tears when he presented the token of love from the Fiji community in Honiara to the Nazareth church on its special occasion.

Vave said the token they want to present to the village is small but it comes from their heart.

He said they are very thankful for the love and concern shown by the people of Nazareth.

Cyclone Winston, the worst storm recorded in the southern hemisphere, left 42 people dead in Fiji.

Congratulatory messages, gifts for Nazareth

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Mike Puia

Gizo

NAZARETH village in the Western province’s Marovo lagoon received a lot of congratulatory messages and gifts when it celebrated the 100th years since the United Church mission reached its people on Sunday.

The messages and gifts come from representatives of the United Church in the province and in Choiseul province and Honiara circuits.

Nazareth’s sister churches conveyed and presented messages and tokens of love to the village during its centenary celebration.

Member of Parliament for Marovo Constituency, Snyder Rini, conveyed his acknowledgement to the community and send a token of love worth about $30,000 to the village.

The provincial government also handed cash as token of love to the church.

Circuit ministers, assistant ministers and superintendents from other region and circuits also presented congratulatory messages and token of love to the church.

Former moderator of the United Church of Solomon Islands and current moderator, Philemone Riti and David Garanu, graced the occasion.

This is the first huge occasion held in Nazareth village to mark the arrival of the gospel since May 13, 1918. In fact, civilisation reached the people of Nazareth first before the gospel.

Paul Chite, a 73-year-old from Nazareth village, said they are lucky to have been born at the time the gospel had already arrived to their people.

Chite said had they been born during the heathen times, they would have died already.

He said this is because head hunting and fighting between different tribes and even within tribes was the way of life in the past.

Chite provided a glimpse of the important emphasis the people of Nazareth village place on the church in its role in saving the people of the village and tribe.

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