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PRT probed

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PC Mathew Varley

Allegations against officers of RSIPF elite unit investigated

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE Commissioner Matthew Varley says the speculation in social media against Police Response Team officers will be thoroughly investigated.

Mr Varley said they are aware of the issue and his senior officers will be conducting an enquiry on the allegation and are urging those involved to give information about the incident, rather than speculate.

He said they welcome any reports from the occupants of the vehicle, adding that if they want to report to the Police Professional Standard unit of the RSIPF, they are welcome to do so.

Varley also confirmed the use of the capsicum spray on the driver, the spray is part of the equipment of the PRT.

“Take a balanced approach to the facts and people should not jump to conclusion. We the senior leaders of the organisation take a lot of pride in making sure the RSIPF is well disciplined and well trained and we want to make sure that the community have trust and confidence in that,” Varley said.

Sometimes policing is a difficult job and sometimes it is hard and dangerous job when our officers are out there on the streets in the middle of the night sometimes things can get ugly, Varley said.

The commissioner made the comments following an incident that occurred on the early hours of April 8 around 2am where the driver of the vehicle raised in the social media about the alleged attack accusing the RSIPF PRT officers of unprofessionally dealing with him.

Varley said that he will be briefed on the issue as the matter is before the court.

He said on the early hours around 2am the PRT officers were on patrol around Lawson Tama area, the PRT officers are routinely tasked on Friday and Saturday nights as part of the operation in support of the general duty officers and to also act on high visibility patrols.

He said around 2am the PRT officers observed a hilux travelling westward at high speed of 80km/hr towards the city, and they attempted to follow and at some point it was alleged that one of the hilux passengers made an offensive gesture towards the police officers.

The officers were following the vehicle as it was travelling on high speed and also to check on whether or not the driver of the vehicle was under the influence of alcohol given the driving conditions and the speed.

The vehicle then came to a stop at the old Mataniko Bridge and it was at that location the alleged incident occurred.

After minutes of struggle and argument the officers managed to take the driver to the Central watch house in which he underwent a decontamination procedure which include fresh water, and he was placed in the cell for investigation.

He was later charged for obstructing police and that allegation will be taken to court, but he (driver) is still under investigation for other matters including traffic matters, registration of vehicle because at this stage the vehicle itself the registration date did not match the vehicle attached to and also vehicle licence was not displayed.

Kaua misses first leg

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Atkin Kaua playing for Marist against Team Wellington during the Oceania Champions League Group D competition at Lawson Tama in February.

Marist releases 15-man travelling roster for semi’s away leg

BY ROMULUS HUTA

MARIST midifelder Atkin Kaua will sit out the first leg away encounter of the Oceania Champions League semi-final against Lautoka this weekend, it was revealed.

Kaua will miss this Sunday’s clash through a hamstring injury sustained during the Telekom S-League championship series semi-final against Malaita Kingz last month.

The first leg tie against the Fijian champions is scheduled for a 2.30pm (Solomon Islands time) kick off at Lautoka’s Churchill Park.

The decision to sideline Kaua on this tour is to give him ample recovery time ahead of the home leg tie which will take place at Lawson Tama on Sunday April 29, according to the club’s media officer Muma WongSasa.

WongSasa said: “Kaua is not part of the travelling team because he is still not 100% fit (still recovering from hamstring injury) and we don’t want to risk him. But definitely he will start in our second leg (home game) against Lautoka.”

Kaua, a natural left footer, is dubbed as one of the hottest properties in Oceania at the moment.

Being a key midfield aspect in Jerry Allen’s game plan, his injury comes as a blow for Marist as they head into the crucial first leg away encounter.

Kaua’s absence will certainly prompt Allen to make amends to his usual competitive line-up by handing down the opportunity to the other bench-warming midfielders.

Marist released their 15-man playing squad yesterday for the tour to Fiji this weekend with a new name emerging on the list. He is Joachim Kairi.

Kairi was not part of the team which travelled to Vanuatu earlier this month for the quarterfinal against Nalkutan. The former youth international was called in to replace fellow teammate Joel Pakaliki.

Marist will depart for Nadi 1pm today and will return to Honiara on Monday.

See below is Marist’s travelling list.

GOAL KEEPERS:

Anthony Talo and Harold NAUANIA

DEFENDERS:

Joachim Waroi, Michael Boso, Robert Laua, Koriak Upaiga and Natanela Mosese

MIDFIELDERS:

Henry Fa’arodo, Jeffery Bule, Timothy Bakale, Thomas Taloga, Joachim Kairi and Davidson Tome

FORWARDS:

Mathias Iani and Abraham Iniga

TEAM MANAGEMENT

Jerry Allen (Head Coach), Jerry Sam (Assistant Coach), Muma WongSasa (Media Liaison) and Elliot Ragomo.

‘We can compete’: Tabua

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Members of the national U-18 rugby 7s squad.

By Taromane Martin

Members of the national U-18 rugby 7s squad.

HEAD Coach for the Solomon Islands national U-18 rugby 7s team llivasi Tabua says they are travelling to compete at the Oceania U-18 rugby 7s competition in Sydney.

The junior national rugby 7s squad left the country on Tuesday for the competition, which features rugby powerhouses, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa, for qualification for this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Mr Tabua, a former rugby international player for the Australia Wallabies and Fiji, says while they have respect for the big names in rugby, his side is heading into the competition knowing they can compete.

“Sometimes we wrongly say to ourselves that because our size is small we cannot compete,” he told SunSPORTS.

“But I guess we have to work on our strength and how best we can play the game to our physique and to our knowledge.

“We have the bigger rugby nations in the Pacific such as New Zealand, Fiji and Australia competing. We respect them for who they are but we are not going in there saying we cannot compete.

“We just got to learn how to play the game based on who we are and not on the record of those things, and take it as a positive step for us to develop not only the players but also rugby for tomorrow,” Tabua said.

Tabua who is also known as the Human Skewer on and off the pitch, said competing at the tournament is all about getting exposure for his players and as part of his commitment as mentor to SIRUF in developing rugby in the country.

“It’s not only about me. It’s about how we can pass on the knowledge to empower Solomon Islands coaches and players to enable them to become a positive influence in their community, schools, families, country and the rugby community as well.

“These guys in two years’ time could be in the senior national squad and that is why we want to develop and identify the path way system.

“We know we have a current Solomon team but we need to adapt so the next generation of Solomon players can take us to the next level.

“By competing we can test our level and come back and say, okay what do we need to do. Is it the development plan, is it the skill capacity.

“How can we develop ourselves to be competitive in the region? And that’s why we are taking this as an experience and exposure for our young players so come the 2023 Honiara Pacific Games, they’ll be ready for the level,” he said.

The Oceania U-18 rugby 7s championship will kick off this Saturday finishing on Sunday. Solomon Islands are bye in the opening matches for Saturday.

HRUA league set for May 12

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ROMULUS HUTA’

THE Honiara Rugby Union Association (HRUA) will kick off the 2018 league on May 12.

HRUA President Carlwyn Tengemoana confirmed yesterday.

A total of eight teams have already confirmed their participation.

They are Avaiki, Luapel, Matangiki, Realas, Diesel Services, Henderson Hammerheads (HHH), Islanders and TIA Warriors.

Marist, SOSA and Police are yet to confirm their participations.

According to the HRUA technical team, matches for the HRUA league will be played the Panatina Oval.

HRUA stated that the 2018 competition will be conducted in a pool format.

Teams drawn into Pool A are Avaiki, Luapel, Matangiki and Realas while Pool B consists of Diesel Services, HHH, Islanders and TIA Warriors.

Once SOSA, Marist and Police confirm their participations, they will be slotted into each of the two pools, according to the HRUA technical team.

Prince Charles congratulates Solomon Islands

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Prince Charles has congratulated Solomon Islands for the first ever Commonwealth Games medal.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

PRINCE Charles has congratulated Solomon Islands for winning the first ever medal at the Commonwealth Games which came to a close on Sunday in Gold Coast, Australia.

Prince Charles conveyed the congratulatory message to Prime Minister Rick Hou during a meeting at Sir James Palace in London, United Kingdom yesterday.

Hou was in London this week to attend the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) – a biennial summit meeting of the heads of government from all Commonwealth nations.

The country’s first Commonwealth Medal, a bronze, was won by female lifter Jenlyn Wini in the women’s 58kg class of the weightlifting competition.

The 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games ran from April 4 to 15 in Gold Coast and was officially opened by Prince Charles and wife Camilla.

Charles, the Prince of Wales is the heir apparent to the British throne as the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II. He has been Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay since 1952, and is the oldest and longest-serving heir apparent in British history.

High chance for youth hockey sides

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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A young member of the national women’s hockey 5s team in action during last year’s third and fourth playoff against Tonga won by Solomon Islands.

New Zealand and Fiji withdraws from Youth Olympic Games qualifiers

BY ROMULUS HUTA

A young member of the national women’s hockey 5s team in action during last year’s third and fourth playoff against Tonga won by Solomon Islands.

THE national youth hockey sides participating in next week’s Oceania youth hockey 5s qualifiers have high chances to qualify for this year’s Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Argentina.

Solomon Islands will be heading into the Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey 5s Qualifiers with entries for both men and women.

The Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey 5s Qualifiers will take place in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG) from April 25 to 29.

Solomon Islands will come up against hosts PNG, Vanuatu, Tonga and Australia.

New Zealand and Fiji withdrew from taking part in the qualifiers.

Solomon Islands Hockey Federation (SIHF) President Nihal Seneviratne said the withdrawal of Fiji and New Zealand poses higher chance for Solomon Islands to qualify into the YOG.

“Fiji and New Zealand are very good hockey playing countries.

“Their withdrawal from the qualifiers reduces the number of the competitive countries participating in the qualifiers.

“Now, the onus is on us to try and beat the remaining countries and qualify,” said Seneviratne.

Oceania has five YOG qualification spots for hockey 5s. Two spots are allocated for the men’s category while the women’s category has three sports.

This means that the top two winners in the men’s and the top three winners in the women’s categories earn automatic qualifications into the YOG.

Tonga is not sending their men’s team for the qualifiers as they registered only their women’s team unlike the other four participating countries who are fielding in teams for both categories.

This leaves the men’s two spots to be battled out by only four countries namely Solomon Islands, PNG, Vanuatu and Australia.

The national youth hockey 5s sides will depart Honiara for the Port Moresby qualifiers Monday next week.

“Hockey is very fortunate that we have more team quotas than the other team sports.

“The YOG qualifier is a huge opportunity for the under-18 hockey players to experience playing in a great event and if our team qualifies to go to the YOG, they will have an experience of a life time.”

This year’s Summer Youth Olympic Games in Argentina known as the Buenos Aires 2018 will run from October 6 to 18.

Crown of Thorns threat in West

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Coral-eating crown of thorns starfish

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

VILLAGERS in the Western province are worried about the imminent threat that the growing population of the Crown of Thorns starfish I having on the environment.

NGOs, business partners, tourism operators, communities together with provincial government have been urged to dig deep in their effort to eradicate the spread of Crown of Thorns within the islands.

It is reported that already there is an outbreak in the Shortland Islands and in parts of Marovo Lagoon of the deadly coral predator.

“At the moment the crown of thorns are still ramping up in numbers,” said a Mr Duddley from Vella la Vella Island yesterday.

Duddley said the growing numbers of the pest is steadily moving all over Western province with the ocean current and that they want to know what authorities are doing to counter the threat.

“I think we’re going to lose our beautiful reefs now. What can we do in the future or does the government and NGOs have any plans to fight against crown of thorn?

“I’m a local diver and I am concern over the spreading, because there is evidence that these starfish outbreaks are partly a natural phenomenon that continues to affecting our reefs.

“Western Province is trying to do its marketing overseas in relation to tourism but what can we do next to stop those spreading.”

Duddley is among those who have come out and appealed to Western provincial culture and tourism division, NGOs, stakeholders, business houses, provincial government, schools and communities to step in and act to prevent the spreading of the starfish.

He explained that those creatures are slowly eating away the people’s livelihoods.

Western Province Culture and Tourism Division Chief Officer Jeffson Patovaki said his division will work closely with other partners, NGOs, communities and business houses in carrying out awareness and will seek funds to eradicate the spread of the creature.

St Peter the Rock youths hold Bring and Buy fundraising

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

ST PETER the Rock youths at Voruvoru, Northwest Choiseul, held a “Bring and Buy” fundraising at their Mission Station last week being part of their programs for this year.

According to Mr Nerio Ulemiki the media coordinator for Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru reporting, cooked and uncooked foods were on sale including playing card games and doing music requests.

“The amount of money raised was more than a thousand dollars in which the youths thanked their parents and the Voruvoru Zone community for their support towards their programs for this year,” said Ulemiki.

St Peter the Rock Voruvoru Youths had held their first weekend activity for this year earlier on this month covering topics for debate on logging activities and alcohol consumption.

PMU steering committee updates on solar project implementation

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Group photo of the Steering Committee after their meeting yesterday.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

STEERING Committee of the Project Management Unit (PMU) funded under the European Union-GIZ yesterday convened at SINU for updates regarding the solar project targeting Selwyn College and Solomon Islands National University.

A team of environmental specialists met yesterday at SINU for project officers to provide updates and reports regarding the progress under the Adaption Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (ACSE).

Report highlighted there is a positive ground work going on with Selwyn College and SINU; there is hope that the project will be fully implemented this year and next year.

Chairperson for Steering Committee and Under Secretary for Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology Mr Chanel Iroi said yesterday’s meeting basically looked at the progress of the EU-GIZ project funded on climate change adaptation and energy programme.

Iroi said currently progress is good in terms of implementation of activities for this solar diesel power generation mini grid in a large boarding school at Selwyn College.

He hopes installation is done before the end of this year; currently project officers are working on designing ways for its sustainability.

With regards to SINU, Iroi said hopefully by first semester next year diploma courses of solar engineering will be offered.

“Progress is really good and exciting for this project because as we look at it, student will benefit from this project,” Iroi said.

Meanwhile, the steering committee meeting is aimed for the Committee to be informed around focusing and identifying risks and timeline issues that affect successful project implementation.

Also, for members to keep updating each other on key developments, policy changes or new legislation that affects ACSE projects and provide advice or clarification to PMU on the implementation, and review minutes from previous steering committee meetings.

Most importantly to ensure cross cutting issues and project implementation status are communicated within ministries and institution represented at the steering committee.

Attending the meeting are members from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology and Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development.

Representative from Solomon Islands National University, Selco, Solomon Power and few observers were also present.

Gizo/ Kolombangara in tight race as by-election looms

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

POLITICAL rivals in the Gizo/ Kolombangara are encouraging voters to think wisely before they vote as the by-election date approaches for the constituency.

People living around Gizo urban and rural areas are in a tight race with their intending candidates, meaning the by-election political race will affect human activities within families, communities, churches and tribes.

A Mr Andrew Koke told Island Sun Gizo yesterday that a lot of doubts are going on as some voters are still in a tight race among candidates as the by-election looms closer.

Koke encourages people to think for themselves and not to vote according to other people’s whims.

“There are few people that never participate in any community development plans who start to jump up and down trying to be a leader in this upcoming by-election political battle.

“We should do away with those candidates who influence voters with money.

“We people are to decide who should be in power to be our voice, ear and mouth in parliament to lead Gizo/Kolombangara Constituency.”

Koke said voters must look for the right leader or person who will lead Gizo/Kolombangara constituency.

He urges everyone to at least try and make this by-election as clean as possible.

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