THE new Ambassador of Japan to Solomon Islands, His Excellency, Mr Shigeru Toyama has presented his credentials to the Governor General, Sir Frank Kabui at the Government House last Friday.

Ambassador Toyama replaces former Ambassador Kenichi Kimiya whose term ended recently.

The new Ambassador has pledged to maintain and promote the existing friendship and goodwill between Japan and Solomon Islands during his term in Office.

“It is my great pleasure that I have been appointed to serve in your country, located in the Pacific Ocean and with opportunities to improve and to expand excellent relations with Japan in many fields,” he said.

Sir Frank formally welcomed Ambassador Toyama, saying the friendship between Japan and Solomon Islands has been excellent over the years.

He noted that the bilateral assistance from Japan has been of great benefit to Solomon Islands, highlighting, projects such as the current Honiara Road Improvement Project as an example.

“We are sure that the friendship between Japan and Solomon Islands will continue into the future for the benefit of our two countries,” Sir Frank said.

Sir Frank also highlighted that Japan and Solomon Islands have historical connections dating back to the World War II during which Japanese soldiers fought and died in Solomon Islands.

“In this respect, we are happy to have been part of the Japanese effort to recover the remains of loved ones to be returned to Japan for their final rest,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sir Frank assured Ambassador Toyama of the Government’s ongoing support to the international desires of Japan saying Solomon Islands and her people look forward to working with the new Ambassador during his term in office.

–GCU

BY ALFRED SASAKO

A Cabinet sub-committee appointed by Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela to negotiate resources for hosting of the 2023 South Pacific by Solomon Islands has moved the multi-million project a step closer.

Insiders told Island Sun yesterday the sub-committee, headed by Steve Abana MP, was appointed last March after it was found the Ministry of Home Affairs has “done nothing in the last 10 months” to secure resources including land and financing for the Games.

“As a result of non-performance and non-productivity, the Office of the Prime Minister has taken over the responsibility for the Games. Consequently, Hon Abana was appointed to head the Cabinet sub-committee for the 2023 Games,” one insider told Island Sun.

“The Abana committee has moved mountains in the last two months in terms of securing resources for the Games. It has secured much of the funding as well as land for the two-week sporting bonanza,” Insiders said.

It has for example secured land from the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Panatina Campus as well as from King George VI School for the construction of a 7,000-seat national stadium as well as for field tracks.

The stakeholders (SIG, SINU and KGVI) were due to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Honiara yesterday. The MOU paves the way for the initial scoping and construction work to start.

The MOU signing will be followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement [MOA] between the SIG and each of the stakeholders, that is, SINU and KG VI.

The MOA will set out the parameters of responsibility as well as sealing the agreement that all the facilities would be retained by SINU and KG VI once the Games were over.

A scoping team from Taiwan is due to arrive later this month (May) to help do the preparatory work, Island Sun was told.

Meanwhile Indonesia is believed to have offered bridging funds for the infrastructure for the Games, estimated around USD14 million.

The funding offer is expected to be discussed between Prime Minister Houenipwela and the Indonesian President during bilateral talks later this year.

Prime Minister is believed to have accepted the offer but this could not be independently confirmed.

HONIARA City Council employees will be receiving an 8 percent pay increase.

This has been confirmed by the Chairman of Finance Eric Tema following a recommendation approved by the Finance Standing Committee.

“The increase of salary was an in depth deliberation by the members of the Standing Committee and the recommendation of 8 percent increase was a favourable percentage,” Tema said.

“After all the deliberation the committee has agreed on the 8 percent increase on the salaries and to be awarded and backdated to 1st January as part of the establishment,” he added.

Tema said they have seen the need to increase the salary for the employees as this has not been done for quite a long time.

This has come as a relief for the employees given the tough financial burdens faced with the increase of the high cost of living.

–HCC PRESS

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SOLOMON Airlines Airbus A320 aircraft is still in the Maintenance Hangar in Singapore.

According to Mr Colin Sigimanu the Manager Commercial for Solomon Airlines Ltd, the C-Check has taken a bit longer than expected basically because they have been waiting on spare parts for one of the engines.

“It is difficult to source the engine parts due to a global shortage but we are hoping to have the aircraft back in service by the end of May,” said Sigimanu.

In the meantime, Sigimanu said Nauru Airlines will continue to operate international schedules on Solomon Airlines’ behalf.

Early this year, it was reported that the down time for this maintenance period was four weeks but on seeing that it has already reached April had raised the query of the maintenance update over the A320 aircraft.