Members of the Swimming Federation display the items donated on Monday
BY ROMULUS HUTA
THE Solomon Islands Swimming Federation (SISF) received new training gears yesterday.
The gears were donated by Okinawa Prefecture Swimming Federation from Japan.
The assistance was part of the relationship the swimming federation and the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) has with Okinawa Prefecture Swimming.
Facilitated through a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteer serving here as a teacher at Burns Creek School, Sho Yonahara, the assistance will help address the lack of proper training gear by the national swimming federation.
“I think swimmers here will be very pleased to receive the assistance.
“The assistance came about because the federation here really needs them.
“This is a new sport here and it needs more support,” Yonahara said.
As part of the relationship between the swimming federation and the NOCSI has with Okinawa Prefecture Swimming, last year three local swimmers also spent two weeks in Japan training under professional coaches.
The training in Japan was met by the Japanese Olympic Committee and it is part of the preparation toward the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
One Team Solomon Chef de Mission for Gold Coast Games Michael Chan.
First ever allowance for ‘One Team Solomon’ members
BY ROMULUS HUTA
One Team Solomon Chef de Mission for Gold Coast Games Michael Chan.
MEMBERS of ‘One Team Solomon’ to next month’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will receive allowances totaling up to more than $50,000.
‘One Team Solomon’ Chef de Mission (CdM) Michael Chan confirmed that all athletes and officials will each receive equal amounts of $2,285.47 for their participation in the Games.
In a briefing for the Solomon Islands contingent yesterday at the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) conference room, Mr Chan said this is first time ever for athletes and officials to be given such a treatment by the national governing Olympic body.
In the past, nothing like that has ever happened, especially to have come from NOCSI, according to Chan.
“Players often receive allowances in past trips but that don’t actually come from NOCSI but they are given by their various respective national federations,” he said.
A total of 14 athletes across five sports and 11 officials will represent Solomon Islands in the Games.
The five sports are athletics (four athletes), boxing (one athlete), table tennis (two athletes), swimming (two athletes) and weightlifting (three athletes).
Chan said each athlete and official will receive $500 of their allocated allowances a day or two prior to their departure for Australia on Sunday.
The remaining $1,785.47 (converted to Australian Dollar – AUD$300) will be paid out upon arrival in Gold Coast.
“The amounts could be small. But I must urge athletes and officials to appreciate the commitment shown by the team management.
“The $500 that will be given prior to departure is to ensure team members meet immediate needs before leaving for Australia.
“Some might want to use that money to give to their families before leaving. That serves one of the purposes of the first part to be paid out prior to departure.
“One Team Solomon members are our ambassadors to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and they deserve something in that regard,” Chan explained.
“Athletes might want to purchase souvenirs for their loved ones or family members back home upon their return from the Games.
“As a sport official since the past two decades, it is heartening to see athletes went to take part in overseas games and competitions with nothing in their pockets. As I reflected back, it’s a sad thing but that’s the sad truth.
“We hope the small amount of allowances which will be paid to athletes will make some difference,” he expressed.
As the Chef de Mission for Gold Coast, Chan stressed that one of his aims is to make ‘One Team Solomon’ operate on a new standard.
“It’s a standard which aims to motivate our athletes to perform to their best in international outings.”
The money that will be used to source the allowances is part of the $70,000 donated by South Pacific Oil yesterday, unveiling the locally-owned oil company as ‘One Team Solomon’ official sponsor for Gold Coast 2018.
South Pacific Oil Chief Executive Carson Korawa handed over the donation to Chan, witnessed by athletes and officials in a ceremony at the NOCSI office.
With the allowances totaling more than $50,000, the remaining part of that donated funds will be used to meet other necessities during the course of the Games in Gold Coast.
“The remaining part of the money is to cater for emergency and miscellaneous expenses while in Australia. Some will also go toward sporting equipment purchase for the athletes’ competitions.”
Chan assured members of the general public that the money given is being put to good use for the sake of the athletes’ welfare at the games.
“We will make sure that the spending of the donated funds is done in a transparent manner.”
The Solomon Islands contingent will leave for Gold Coast Sunday afternoon.
ULMWP 2018-2021 Spokesman Mr Jacob Rumbiak has been in the country for nine days purposely to talk with key people to raise the West Papua issue for
support. Mr Rumbiak leaves the country today. PHOTO BY MANEBONA BARNABAS
Solidarity group & ULMWP call for revival of support for West Papua
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
ULMWP 2018-2021 Spokesman Mr Jacob Rumbiak has been in the country for nine days purposely to talk with key people to raise the West Papua issue for support. Mr Rumbiak leaves the country today. PHOTO BY MANEBONA BARNABAS
SOLOMON Islands solidarity group for West Papua is calling on the national government to bring to parliament a bill supporting West Papua.
This call is in collaboration with the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), whose spokesperson, Mr Jacob Rumbiak, is here in Honiara to meet with community leaders over the issue of West Papua.
Mr Rumbiak has been in the country for nine days on his mission to revive the West Papua issue, which had been heightened by the Sogavare-led government two years ago.
He said they are to discuss and share on what exactly they will put together for the future of West Papua based on the United Nation (UN) mechanism.
ULMWP is pleading that Solomon Islands does not lose the vigour that it once had under former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, which showed the true Melanesian spirit.
“It is very clear that the former Sogavare Government’s policy, sovereignty, liberty and dignity are on the right track so it should continue,” said Rumbiak.
“Our message is we hope to stand together. All leaders of Solomon Islands should unite. Indonesia entering the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) is messing things up. It is the same thing we are experiencing for 56 years now.
“This type of leadership defying all rules and taking control of everything is the same in Indonesia.
“So I am here to meet with grassroots leaders, NGOs, church leaders, women leaders, students and youths because they are the right people who have the power to mandate their representative in Parliament to Bill support so that we solve West Papua’s political right at the UN.”
He said this includes the global community who are sympathetic of the West Papuan cause.
Rumbiak leaves the country today, but will be back after two weeks once receiving information for the exact time of Parliament sitting around mid-year July from the Solomon Solidarity for West Papua in the country.
THE 9th Kokonut Cup competition was successful held at the Coconut Café in Honiara yesterday.
Japanese International Cooperation Agency Volunteer Ms Yukie Miyano said the competition is aimed at encouraging Solomon Islanders to look after their health and also to communicate with other people from Pacific and other countries.
“Sho and I who are JICA Volunteer have held on the 9th Kokonut Cup successfully today. The Kokonut Cup has started in March last year,” Ms Miyano said.
“This event’s purposes are to give Solomon Islanders the opportunity to communicate with other pacific countries people during sports.
“To encourage Solomon people in health, to give them an opportunity to compete and hopefully see them making it become one of their aim in life.
“It was last event that Sho and I will do together because Sho is going back to Japan after completing his work in the country.
“Sho had swimming lesson first and we had swimming race for individual and then had the water polo game,” she said.
Meanwhile Ms Miyano said after yesterday’s competitions a good number of participants have now passed executing the freestyle, breast stroke and butterfly style swimming events.
“Many participants who from Solomon, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia have enjoyed and excited very much.
“We are very happy to many people has interest to this event and continue to participate and also cooperate us.
“I will effort to hold the Kokonut Cup again with locals and who will help me,” she said.
G-Camp FC Eddie Konde tries to go past Royals Charles during their opening
match of the SIFF Futsal Championship yesterday. G-Camp won 12-4.
By Taromane Martin
SOLOMON Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) will be the major sponsor for this year’s national futsal league competition.
The national futsal league will be completed by 12 teams and is set to kick off this Thursday at the Multipurpose Hall.
Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Development Officer Mr Jerry Sam said they are expecting all participating teams and players to be ready for the futsal league.
“I want to call on all team managers to hand in their Team Registration by at 5:00pm today. If any team are late with their team registration they will fined for being late,” Mr Sam said.
“I want to remind and urge all 12 teams for the competition to be prepared because futsal is a very, very fast and entertaining game.
“Players and officials must be mentally and physically ready for this championship. On this note I just want to wish teams and players all the best for the tournament.
“I also want to thank the Honiara City Council for understanding and allowing us the one and only venue the Multipurpose Hall to host the league,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 12 teams confirmed to take part in the competition are
John Aeta of Marist FC (Right) goes past a FC Guadalcanal player during their TSL Championship Round 2 clash at Lawson Tama. Marist FC are through to the competition semi final after defeating FC Guale 5-0 yesterday…Photo Taromane Martin
Four teams remaining
By Taromane Martin
SEMI-finalists for the Telekom S-League Championship are set after the completion of round two at Lawson Tama Stadium yesterday.
Semi-finals for the competition will start on Wednesday with Marist FC taking on an improved Malaita Kingz FC followed by the second semi-final match between Solomon Warriors FC and KOSSA FC on Thursday.
This was after KOSSA FC eliminated Western United FC despite a 3-3 draw while Malaita Kingz FC had to come from behind to eliminate Henderson Eels FC 2-1 on Saturday.
Marist FC secured their semi-final spot after defeating FC Guadalcanal 5-0 while Solomon Warriors FC defeated Real Kakamora FC 3-1 yesterday.
“They performed well today than last weekend. Like I told them the result does not matter getting organised is what matters because we have two weeks to prepare for the OFC Champions League quarterfinals,” Marist FC Head Coach Jerry Allen told SunSPORTS yesterday.
“It’s good because we gave our young ones match time. I’m happy we got five goals. It shows the boys are doing what we’ve been practising on this area which has been a real issue for us.
“Hard work will be the key for us. Each day we must work hard if we want to get the result we want, hard work that is the key,” Coach Allen said.
FC Guadalcanal Head Coach Martin Hiti was disappointed with the number of wasted opportunities but says he is happy with what he has seen from his young side so far.
“I’m happy with what I’ve seen from our two games so far and I’m optimistic for the new season of the TSL which we will now focus for,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaita Kingz FC Head Coach Rence Talo was pleased with his boy’s performance on Saturday adding their club is trying to give their young players the experience of playing in the highest football competition in the country.
“Most of our players are in the U-19 training squad so we want to give them exposure and experience so they can be ready to represent the country with the squad.
“I’m pleased with the result. We stuck and played together as a team. We are ready and look forward to meet whoever we will play in the semi-finals,” Coach Talo said.
Henderson Eels FC Team Captain Freddy Kini accepted the loss saying some of their players lacked concentration but hopes to do better in the new TSL Season.
“We knew we had to win but unfortunately we lost focus and conceded those two goals in the second half.
“I think the missed penalty and the red card discouraged us as a team but that is football,” Kini said.
The PILP participant in group photo with leaders from Taiwan and East West Centre at the Taiwan Technical Mission farm at KGVI School
BY LYNTON AARON FILIS
The PILP participant in group photo with leaders from Taiwan and East West Centre at the Taiwan Technical Mission farm at KGVI School
TAIWAN and East West Centre (EWC) is extending the Pacific Islands Leadership Programme (PILP) for another five years.
A new MOU was signed earlier this year between Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EWC after seeing strong positive feedbacks from the PILP participants that the arrangement has been benefitting for the participating countries for the last six years.
The new agreement extends the PILP initiative until 2022; with the aim to empower a further 102 young leaders over the five years.
Following the PILP’s successful visit to Solomon Islands last week, EWC President PhD Richard R Vuylsteke said said EWC wants to support the programme because there is positive feedback from participants and successful stories about individuals’ development in their respective countries and workplaces.
Mr Vuylsteke also adds, Taiwan has been doing this programme for more than 20 years now particularly in South America, Central America, Africa and Pacific, and they are totally dedicated to helping people.
“I think Taiwan is doing a great job here and other places and I’m excited EWC can partner with them to do more,” Vuylsteke said.
Deputy Counsellor for Taiwan Embassy in Solomon Islands Mr Oliver Weng said the PILP has impacted many Pacific islands young leaders thus has impressed MOFA to extend the programme to 2022.
Taiwan’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands His Excellency Roger Luo said 23 applicants from Solomon Islands are applying for the training this year.
He also adds, interest to apply for the PILP training is growing each year.
“We wish PILP programme will facilitate cordial corporation links among our Pacific allies, USA, and Taiwan which could benefit development of the pacific countries and their people,” Mr Luo said.
Luo said the PILP is a good initiative and useful programme which built capacity building of many young leaders and envisions new generation’s future across the pacific nation.
PILP was proposed by Kurt Campbell, then assistant secretary for the US Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, in November 2011.
Later the same year Rajiv Shah, then administrator of the US Agency for International Development negotiated to run this programme.
The programme comprises courses spanning such topics as education, green energy, health care, industrial development and international cooperation.
A series of articles as told by Loretta Manele about life in Taiwan
I first visited Taiwan in 2015. My visit there was purposely for studies. In August of 2015 when I headed to Taiwan under the Taiwan MOFA scholarship, I could tell that the country was filled with people who were always busy. Even the pedestrian crossing was always filled with people and at the traffic crossing whenever the green light came on, crossing paths would be crowded with university students, working class people, families and a few foreigners. The most popular transport in Taiwan is by scooter.
Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan. Picture by PAC TAIWAN
The main road would also be crowded with scooters that hurriedly scrambled off when it was their turn to move along the road. In Taipei alone, the capital city of Taiwan, it is estimated that there are more than 1 million motorcycles on the road. The constant buzz of scooters can be heard everywhere and the expression of seriousness on their faces told me that they were people who wasted no time in going about their business when they set their mind to it. They are serious in how they use their time.
Another thing I noticed was how friendly they were. From 7-11am shops, shopping areas, restaurants to bus and train stations, they served customers well and are very kind. They are also very respectful.
Chinese NY dance.
As a foreigner and a first time student, it is a must that we must learn Mandarin. Mandarin is the basic Chinese language. I started Mandarin classes at Fu Jen Catholic University which is located in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei in September of 2015. The Taiwanese teachers are very nice and some are strict. During my one year of Mandarin study at Fu Jen, we performed a cultural item.
Because the university has many foreign students from different nationalities, during the year there was a programme where each country would showcase their tradition, usually by performing a dance item. For the people of Taiwan, culture and tradition plays a very important part in their society and they expect us to know about our own culture and traditions as well.
2015 MOFA scholarship recipients ready to perform a cultural dance item at the school.
As part of our orientation, we also travelled to a place called “Sun Moon Lake” which was a very nice experience. Sun Moon Lake is a lake in Yuchi Township and is the largest body of water in Taiwan. The area around the lake is home to one of the native tribes of Taiwan, called the Thao tribe. Sun Moon Lake surrounds a tiny island called Lalu. The east side of the lake resembles a sun while the west side resembles a moon, hence the name. The bus ride to Sun Moon Lake was quiet long but worth it.
Thereon, I slowly adjust and adapt to the Taiwanese culture and lifestyle. I came to find out that Taiwan has four seasons. Summer begins in June and ends in August. During this period, it is very hot and humid and it is when most people enjoy bubble tea, a popular drink in Taiwan that comes in different flavours. By September, fall arrives and this time it is less humid and a great time to visit different places in Taiwan.
When fall ends in November, winter approaches in December and it is when the weather will be much cooler, mainly at night than during the day. It also rains from time to time in winter. The winter season is when people will be prompted to purchase more clothing until the season ends in February.
Spring arrives in March and at this time of the year the city will be filled with beautiful flowers and plants decorating parks and urban areas. I also noticed that flowers or plants are situated in balconies of most apartments in and around the city.
ON the second day of the next month, White River’s St Francis Parish will host a cruise trip to Gela purposely to raise funds for their new church building.
Chairlady and member of the Parish committee organising the trip, Mrs Joycelyn Manele expressed this to the paper yesterday.
She said that as a first time around initiative, the aim of the trip is to help them raise money that will go towards establishing a new church building.
Moreover, Manele explained that for those who wish to join the cruise, tickets can be purchased at the Parish assistant rector’s house at White River.
She added that for those aged 12 and older are tickets $250, for those under 12 years, tickets are $100 and 4 year olds can get on board for free.
Manele noted that food will also be on sale during the cruise.
Furthermore, she advises that people who have already paid for their tickets or are planning to should arrive around 5 or 6am to board Anavon that will kick off the cruise at 8am and return around 5pm or earlier.
THE workshop to report on the progress of the present constitutional reform process on federal government system in Solomon Islands will be held in Gizo, Western province.
The two-day workshop will be held this week, beginning on Thursday, March 22, 2018.
Following the change of leadership by the Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (DCCG), SIDCCG recently, no clear mandate has been given in terms of policy direction by the Government pertaining to the present constitution reform which have led to this important national agenda being silenced and relegated a peripheral standing in terms of public policy.
Western province principal administrator Gideon Tuke told Island Sun Gizo yesterday that this raises eyebrows especially by leaders of Western province, whose aspiration and determination for an autonomous system of government remain uncompromised.
Mr Tuke said there is a need for collaborative effort through this workshop to help rekindle and reignite its significance as a national agenda by leaders and people of Western province.
Tuke said the purpose of this workshop is to inform and update leaders of the Western province of the need to demand of the national government its policy position on this important national obligation.
