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SIG students in Fiji threatened with eviction

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Director of NTU, Mr Clement Tito

By Alfred Sasako

THREE weeks ago SIG-sponsored students at Laucala campus in Fiji were told their allowances would not be touched. They would get their full monthly allowance in two equal instalments.

According to the students, it was the director of the National Training Unit (NTU) Clement Tito, who gave them the assurance in his meeting with the students about three weeks ago.

But yesterday the students numbering in their hundreds got the shock of their lives when they were told they would receive by today only F$240, instead of F$800 a fortnight.

Many are now faced with eviction if their rentals are not paid by this week.

The news in the huge cut in the students’ allowances was broken in an email by none other than Samantha Tetei Bob, the Education Attaché at the Solomon Islands High Commission in Suva, Fiji.

Island Sun has obtained a copy of the email.

In it, she wrote,

“Dear All,

This email serves to confirm that all students will be receiving $240 by Thursday. With the funds available in the Scholarship account students are able to be paid the above amount.”

One student told Island Sun, some landlords have threatened students with eviction if their rentals are not paid by this week.

“Some Landlords have told us if this week there is no allowance then we have to move out from their houses. This causes a lot of disturbance as we have only a few weeks left for class before we sit the final exams for the semester,” the student who requested anonymity told Island Sun.

“This is not a joke. It is a serious problem that we face here as SIG students,” the student said.

“How can we live on F$240 after paying our rentals? We have not even received the full allowance for the month of April, the student said.

Other students said the Solomon Islands’ government is breaching its duty of care to the hundreds of students it is sponsoring at Laucala Campus in Suva, Fiji.

Solomon Islands students at Emalus Campus in Port Vila, Vanuatu, also raised similar concerns last week.

Authority steps in over discipline-lack

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE reported plunge in student discipline in the Central province’s premier school, McMahon Community High, has forced the provincial government to hold an open forum on Monday this week, it is reported.

Classes were suspended after 9am to allow students and staff to join the day-long conference with members of the Central Islands provincial (CIP) government and concerned parents to discuss the issue and find resolutions.

CIP’s Minister of Education and Deputy Premier Selwyn Luga had to chair the forum in response to recent report of Police in Tulagi arresting an 18-year-old male secondary student on April 13 after being found in possession of Marijuana drug.

The recent issue over the arrest has now drawn the line in no tolerance over lack of discipline by students of the school being experienced since the beginning of this year, said the provincial Minister of Education.

“This issue of arrest has become a National report because it was released on social media and on radio after the Provincial Police Commander (PPC) of the province released its news item.

“There are only two things, students discipline and at the same time, school leaders should show good examples too. This mainly goes for school teachers.

“Since January and now in April from observation, nothing has been done or changed in certain student’s attitudes usually involving themselves in bad and illegal activities.”

Mr Luga said the blame cannot be on teachers alone too as parents are also responsible for their children’s behaviour.

Regarding the open forum held, the Minister of Education said it was successful on the understanding that they will be addressing the issue.

“A lot of the teachers, parents and guardians did not have much time to talk because of the limited time we had but discussions will be continued in a Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meeting to be held this coming Sunday as there are around ten resolutions that were gathered after collecting decisions from teachers, students and parents,” said Luga.

During the Open Forum, parents, teachers and students had openly stressed and discussed their concerns through many areas they were not happy with and also that are beneficial for the improvement of the school.

School teachers speaking to Island Sun expressed their appreciation for having the chance to openly discuss with the education authority, provincial government, stakeholders, students and parents of the school in which they said they are looking forward for the continuance of their meeting.

Luga also added yesterday that the decisions on student’s discipline after their compilations in meeting must also be carried in all the other schools of CIP.

Resolutions will be completed during the upcoming PTA meeting this coming Sunday at Tulaghi.

Meanwhile, it is alleged that smoking of marijuana by youths within Tulaghi is raising great concern for parents and leaders of the former Capital Town.

CIP’s PPC, Superintendent Patricia Leta said the arrest of the student was possible through information from the public, alleging the student was using the dangerous drug.

Community members of CIP are now asked by the PPC to pass any information about the transactions of the illicit drug, where it is grown and who uses it, so that the police may bring those involving in such activity to face the law.

Leta added that Marijuana is illegal in all aspect in the country and everyone must work together to ensure this drug is ridded from communities.

Tulagi Police and Yandina Police Stations can be contacted on phone numbers 32117, 32999 and 7652044.

Border crossers warned

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Police patrol boats have been monitoring the border in the Western Province

By Mike Puia

Gizo

THOSE traveling in and out of the country’s common border with Papua New Guinea have been warned of ‘potentially facing charges’.

The immigration office has advised travelers to call into the office within 24 hours before crossing for PNG or on arrival in the country.

An officer within the immigration officer confirmed crossing the border without calling in their office is a breach to section 6 (1) of the immigration act.

The office made this warning following a recent arrest to a local popular musician, Sharzy.

Sharzy was arrested in Gizo by an immigration officer who is aware of the singer’s coming.

Sharzy failed to report his entry resulting in the immigration officer charging the three-time award winning musician.

The immigration office confirmed there is no proper monitoring on the border and as a result people on both sides of the border are freely moving in and out.

The office confirmed Sharzy’s case was different in that the office was aware of the trip and when Sharzy failed to show up and surrender his passport the office acted by pressing charges on him.

A spokesman for the office, who prefers to have his name withheld, said anyone who has detail of someone entering or leaving the country through the border without reporting to their office can provide the office with such information and the immigration office can act on.

This enables the office to produce solid evidence that warrant an arrest by the police.

SIPA National Futsal League race continues

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

By Taromane Martin

THE SIPA national futsal league continues today at the Multipurpose Hall with three more exciting matches.

Matches for today will kick off at 2pm this afternoon as Vania FC takes on Mataks. After two matches played in the competition both teams are yet to claim their first points in the national futsal league.

Vania Head Coach Paul Muia knows his team is the underdogs in the competition but is confident his side can prove a point in the competition.

“This is a good competition especially for my players who are all from Sikaiana,” Coach Muia told SunSPORTS.

“For us competing at this league is like part of our preparations in developing players because we strongly believe that Polynesians also have some great players in futsal and football.

“This is what we believe in and therefore want to show that yes Polynesians in Solomon Islands also have a lot of excellent football and futsal players,” he adds.

Their opponents Mataks FC has also lost twice, losing to Marist 4-3 in their opening match and suffered a 5-2 defeat to Guntimac last week, will also be eager to claim their first three points today.

In action in the 3pm match today will see current competition leaders Kooline FC taking on Guntimac FC in what promises to be an action packed match.

With nine points on the competition so far, the start studded Kooline side led by Coleman Makau will be eager to claim their fourth win and maintain their three points cushion over Marist FC who are in second place with six points.

But with Guntimac lurking close behind Kooline and Marist with six points, Marist knows they will be a force to reckon with the Mana brothers (Ellis and Benjamin) leading their attack.

Happening at 4pm will be the final match of the today as another star studded side Marist FC takes on Indo-Solo.

Indo-Solo who has one win and a loss in the competition will be eager to pick up their second three points this afternoon.

Led by Dennis Ifunaoa, the 2017 Suva National Hire/Pasifika Tents International Futsal champions’ biggest test yet will be against Elliot Ragomo and last year’s Top 8 futsal champions, Marist FC.

But with just three points behind competition leaders Kooline FC, the Caleb Fox Marist coached side will be hunting for their third win at the Multipurpose Hall this afternoon.

Fletcher Kwaimani Man-Up rugby challenge set

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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RECAP: HHH Sharks Correy Chapman tries to fend off a Relas player during the 2016 Fletcher Kwaimani Man-Up rugby challenge at the DC Park rugby field, Henderson…Photo Taromane Martin.

By Taromane Martin

ORGANIZERS for the 2018 Fletcher Kwaimani rugby 15s Man-Up challenge has confirmed the competition is all set to kick off next month.

Two more teams TIA Warriors and Diesel rugby clubs have been confirmed yesterday to join Henderson Hammerhead Sharks and Islanders for the challenge.

The Man-Up challenge is set to kick off on Saturday May 12 at the DC Park rugby field at Henderson.

“The challenge has been accepted,” organizers for the competition said in a statement yesterday.

“The other two teams that have accepted the 2018 Fletcher Kwaimani Man- Up Rugby Challenge are Diesel Rugby Club and TIA Warriors Rugby Club

“Thank you to the main sponsor Fletcher Kwaimani Joint Venutre Group, for Supporting Community Rugby in Solomon Islands,” the statement adds.

Competition format for the challenge will see the four teams playing three games in a round robin format over three weekends.

Format for the finals will see the first and second placed teams playing each other while the third and fourth placed team will battle each other for the final rankings.

Prizes for this year’s Fletcher Kwaimani Rugby 15s Man-Up challenge are first prize – $5,000, second place prize of $3,000-00, Third position – $1,500 and fourth prize of $500.

Other individual and team prizes will also be handed out for throughout the tournament. Due dates for all team lists to be submitted is on May 4.

Meanwhile, the organizers also confirmed ladies rugby matches will also take place during competition days.

“Ladies don’t miss out now, it’s your turn to accept the challenge,” the organizers said. “Ladies rugby matches to take place every Saturday as well throughout the man up tournament.

Girls hockey go down fighting in day one

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Solomon Islands U-18 hockey women’s squad line up for the national anthem.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

In Port Moresby, PNG

Solomon Islands U-18 hockey women’s squad line up for the national anthem.

THE under-18 girls’ hockey team succumbed to two defeats in day one of the Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey currently underway in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The qualifiers are being held at the Sir John Guise Hockey Pavilion.

In the first match, Solomon Islands went up against Australia and were thrashed with a 30-1 hiding.

Their second match was against Vanuatu. Despite taking up a 2-1 lead in the second third, a last gasp comeback by Vanuatu in the final third saw them off with a 3-2 margin.

The match could have ended up in a share of spoils, only for a goal which was scored by Solomon Islands toward the end been ruled out by match officials.

The girls learnt a lot from the first two matches despite the outcome of the results.

Head coach Lyn Basii said they were nervous in the first match and it’s just unfortunate that they have to concede many goals.

“The tournament is not yet over and we are looking forward to some good results in the remaining matches.”

The tournament is being conducted in a round robin format. Participating teams will play two rounds. The top three winners in the women’s competition will qualify for this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October.

The women’s team will head into round three going against hosts PNG 9am this morning.

Meanwhile, Australia is currently leading with the women’s competition with six points from three wins so far.

Temoa aims to go defensive against mighty Aussie

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Solomon Islands in action in day one of the competition on Wednesday

BY ROMULUS HUTA

In Port Moresby, PNG

Solomon Islands in action in day one of the competition on Wednesday

THE head coach of the national under-18 boys’ hockey team has vowed to put a lot of emphasis on defence prior to taking on Australia in match day two of the Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey Qualifiers currently underway in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Solomon Islands will match onto the playing turf at the Sir John Guise Hockey Pavilion in Port Moresby 12 noon today for their third match scheduled against competition favourites Australia.

Australia is currently leading the tally with six points from two matches ahead of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and PNG, respectively.

Solomon Islands boys head coach Allen Temoa said Australia is the favourites and the plan is to go out withna defensive approach.

“We’ll have to defend.

“That is the strategy I’m working on at the moment.

“We are hoping to give them a good run. Australia have won their first two matches with two big margins.

“Our aim is to try and match them. If things turn out wrong, we’ll continue to defend to avoid as many goals.

“Player positioning is one of the areas that we need to strengthen.

“We found out after reviewing the first two matches that most of the goals we conceded were through dispositioning.

“We will work on that this evening (yesterday) for the game against Australia,” Temoa added.

Solomon Islands recorded a 2-all draw against PNG and lost 5-2 to Vanuatu in their first two matches yesterday in the boys’ competition and leaves them to sit at the third position of the points table behind Australia and Vanuatu, respectively.

Commenting on the first two match rounds, Temoa stressed that Vanuatu and PNG are two formidable opponents.

“The margins are close. We just need to step up in our remaining matches to try and aim for the top two spots of the table.”

The two top teams emerging from the boys’ competition will earn automatic qualification into this year’s Youth Olympic Games due to take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October.

Solomon Islands buys Indonesia’s olive branch

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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The Solomon Islands delegation arrives at Sentani Airport in Indonesia’s Papua province, April 24, 2018. Photo from RNZI/ Supplied

By Alfred Sasako

The Solomon Islands delegation arrives at Sentani Airport in Indonesia’s Papua province, April 24, 2018. Photo from RNZI/ Supplied

THE Solomon Islands’ Government appears to have accepted an olive branch extended by Indonesia over the controversial status of West Papua by sending senior officials to the capital, Jayapura, this week

Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) reported the week-long visit is headed by Solomon Islands’ Ambassador to Indonesia, Salana Kalu, who is joined by the Secretary to the Office of the former Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), Rence Sore and the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office, John Usuramo.

Mr Usuramo is the President of the Democratic Alliance Party (DAP), whose parliamentary leader is Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela.

The visit is the first by senior officials from Solomon Islands since the leadership change in Honiara last December. It follows a visit by Indonesian officials to Honiara two weeks earlier.

Other members on the delegation are drawn from five civil society groups, including the West Papua Solidarity Network, represented by Lily Chekana.

Civil society groups have long been known for accusing Jakarta of committing human rights abuses against the indigenous Melanesian people of West Papua. The visit provides an opportunity for the delegates to see for themselves what is happening on the ground.

Another civil society member on the delegation is former Honiara City Council councillor, Lawrence Makili, an outspoken critic of Indonesia on the West Papua issue.

The Indonesia-funded trip is certain to re-ignite internal government squabbling particularly over Solomon Islands position on West Papua.

Others have criticised Solomon Islands for keeping quiet about the visit, prompting a small protest by West Papuans in Jayapura on Tuesday.

Nine West Papuans were reportedly arrested by Indonesian police in Jayapura but were later released.

Those demonstrating included students, activists and some staff from the secretariat of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

A spokesman for the demonstrators said their public action was a way of questioning why the Solomon Islands delegation came to Papua “silently”, but also of conveying thanks to Solomon Islands for its support for West Papuan self-determination and human rights.

RNZI reported that the Solomon Islands delegation had been invited by Wiranto, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

Speaking from his home in the US, the vice-chairman of the Liberation Movement, Octo Mote, expressed disappointment that Honiara had not told them about the visit, according to RNZI.

“They didn’t inform us at all, so I’m just predicting that one of the conditions of the visit from the Indonesian government was, don’t tell the Papuans,” he said.

Mr Mote suggested it would have been culturally appropriate for the Solomon Islanders to consult with representatives of the indigenous Papuans before they came to Papua.

According to the Indonesian government spokesman, the Solomon Islands delegation would be discussing potential infrastructure development that Indonesia could assist with in the Solomons, particularly ahead of the upcoming Pacific Games.

He said health sector cooperation was also up for discussion, in particular the need of Solomon Islands hospitals for medical equipment such as CT Scanners.

The delegation’s movements in Papua are being facilitated, at least in part, by Jakarta’s Papuan envoys, Frans Albert Joku and Nicolas Messet.

Former Papuan independence advocates, Mr Joku and Mr Messet both returned to Papua from exile around a decade ago and have been advocating for West Papuans to accept Indonesian rule.

HCC waiting on AG to gazette ordinances

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
No tinted vehicle by April 1st according to HCC Taskforce responsible for transportation

By Gary Hatigeva

HONIARA City Mayor, Andrew Mua says the council has completed tasks to finalize and enforce its ordinances on the nature of public transportation and related areas including tinted windows, but are waiting on the Attorney General’s Chamber to gazette it.

The HCC Mayor revealed this when interviewed yesterday over the highlighted issues, which made headlines over the past few weeks.

Last month, the Honiara City Council made announcements and gave strong warnings to public transportation operators of new programmes to crackdown on illegal buses as well as a thorough check for tinted windows of both buses and taxis, operating under HCC business licences.

Following these announcements, the issue was closely being monitored by the general public of Honiara city and made widespread discussions and debates after the projected timeframe for enforcement of the revealed programmes were said to have been forgotten or faded away.

Some concerned Honiara residents also took the matter to various local online forums, questioning why nothing was seen to have been done despite the lapsed timeframe.

Mua however assured that the enforcement exercise will still go ahead despite the delays.

“We want to make arrests and press penalties that are legalised as part of our by-laws,” Mua added.

He further stressed that by having the ordinances gazetted will allow for the enforcement programmes to apply full forces of the laws including relevant sections that imply the penalties to correspond with each other.

As part of the legislation there have also been works conducted to further strengthened and give maximum benefits to the penalties as a result of breaches to the HCC laws.

He said once all that is done then the council’s enforcement unit will start mobilising and vehicles especially public transportations are reminded to start adhering to authority calls and ensure tints and other related areas prohibited under relevant laws are followed.

He said with the laws gazetted and become legal, those caught will be penalized with hefty fines and that there is no turning back if people are caught.

“Therefore public transportation operators and owners again reminded to comply with the council’s earlier warnings and calls,” the Mayor stressed.

Slow start for hockey boys

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Action from Day 1 of the Oceania Youth Hockey competition underway in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

In Port Moresby, PNG

THE national under-18 hockey boys have recorded a draw and a loss in the opening day of the Oceania Youth Olympic qualifiers currently underway in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The Allen Temoa-coached side got into the tournament taking on hosts PNG in the opener yesterday morning at the Sir John Guise Hockey Pavilion.

Buoyed by a strong support of the home crowd, the home side went in with a lot of determination and was evident with their dominance of the first two thirds.

Two blatant defensive blunders committed by the Solomon Islanders in the defence allowed the hosts to slot home a goal each in the first two thirds and led 2-0 at first breather.

Trailing by a two-goal deficit, Solomon Islands regrouped after the final interval and bagged two goals for a great comeback settling the score line at 2-all before fulltime whistle.

Action from Day 1 of the Oceania Youth Hockey competition underway in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Solomon Islands went in for the second match in the boy’s competition taking on Melanesian neighbours Vanuatu and unfortunately succumbed to a 5-2 defeat.

Despite a strong start, Vanuatu capitalised on hesitant defending to take out the first third leading by a goal to nil.

Solomon Islands managed to pull one back as the match resumed into the second third but Vanuatu extended lead to 3-1 by the interval.

The national youth hockey side appeared to have lost their focus in the final third and squandered a couple of scoring opportunities infront of the goal area. Vanuatu pressured and scored another two goals to make it 5-1 before a long range stunner from the Solomon Islands playmaker Ralph Masae pulled one back to reduce the deficit to three goals with the 5-2 scoreline by fulltime.

Meanwhile, Australia is currently leading the boys’ competition with six points following two wins in two matches during the opening day.

Vanuatu is currently second on the table with three points. Solomon Islands is currently placed third with one point while PNG occupies the fourth spot.

The competition continues today and Solomon Islands will take on favourites Australia in the fourth match at 12noon.

The Oceania Youth Hockey competition is the qualification pathway toward this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Argentina in October where the top two winners in the boys’ category will earn automatic qualifications.

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