PACIFIC Games Council President Vidhya Lakhan will meet Prime Minister Honorable Rick Hou and the members of the Solomon Islands 2023 Pacific Games Council task force this week.
Mr Lakhan who is in the country, told SunSPORTS yesterday his plan is to also visit the Minister for Sports, Honorable Commins Mewa, the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) and Task Force 2023 to get a feel of the country’s preparation in hosting the Games.
“I’m here until the next Friday. On Tuesday I will begin my Pacific Games Council work regarding 2023,” he said .
“The plan is to meet with the Prime Minister and Minister for Sports, the task force people, NOCSI Executive Board and get a feel of what is happening.
“That’s what we’re going to do in the next three or four days,” he said.
Mr Lahkan yesterday successfully conducted a two days’ workshop on good governance for the representatives from affiliated NOCSI National Sports Federations at the SIRUF Conference room at Town Ground over the weekend.
SOLOMON Islands international Benjamin Totori scored two second half goals to help Lautoka cruised to a 2-1 win over Suva in the Fiji Vodafone Premier League round match yesterday at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
Lautoka was trailing Suva by a goal deficit in the first half when defender Remeuru Takaita put the capital infront with a well-taken strike.
However, Lautoka regrouped in the second half and Totori stole the show by scoring two unanswered goals to give the Blues a perfect come back and claimed maximum points.
The win elevated Lautoka’s confidence ahead of this weekend’s Oceania Champions league Group C contest in Auckland, New Zealand.
Lautoka is expected to depart Fiji for New Zealand toward the end of the week.
Their first Oceania champions league hit-out is scheduled for this Sunday against PNG’s Madang FC at the Trusts Arena in Auckland before taking on AS Venus (Tahiti) and defending champions Auckland City on February 28 and March 3 respectively.
The two winners that will emerge out of the Group C contest progresses into the last eight with the leader earning advantage of hosting one of the quarterfinal matches at home.
Top Hill players hangs on to an Islanders player during their clash on Saturday.
By Taromane Martin
Top Hill players hangs on to an Islanders player during their clash on Saturday.
EXCITING, successful and peaceful was how the one day Samlinsan Islanders rugby 7s competition ended on Saturday at the Town Ground Rugby Stadium.
A total of eight teams took part in the 7s competition which serves as Islanders fundraising effort to attend next month’s Soltuna 7s and the Marist 7s in Fiji.
The competition saw Honiara Rugby Union Association (HRUA) champions Hill Top (Avaiki) squaring off with Malaita Rugby Union Association (MRUA) reps Auki Tigers in the grand finale.
Hill Top eliminated spirited Islanders 19-17 in the first semifinal while Malaita-based Auki Tigers overcame the National U-18s 19-12 in their other semifinal to make the final.
Tigers were hoping to cause an upset in the grand final.
However, splendid performances by player of the tournament recipient Eddie Moeava and the brilliant Roman Tongaka guided Top Hill to a 27-12 win and laid hands onto another 7s domestic title.
In the third and fourth position playoffs, Islanders came out victorious defeating the national U-18 rugby 7s training squad by a 19-14 margin.
Individual awards saw the tournament highest scorer going to Simon Faalimae of Auki Tigers, with six tries while Moeava claimed the player of the tournament award. Both of the players received $500 each.
Islanders Rugby Club meanwhile thanked their sponsors and clubs who provided assistance and took part in the 7s competition.
Teams that took part in the Samlinsan Islanders 7s competition were Tia Warriors (2 teams), Islanders, Top Hill (Avaiki), Realas, Auki Tigers and the national U-18 boys training squad (2 teams).
Final standings from the 2018 Samlinsan Islanders Rugby 7s competition are as follows:
1st Top Hill (Avaiki) $5000 sponsor Samlimsan(SI)Ltd
2nd Auki Tigers $3000 sponsor J.Kwaimani Building
3rd Islanders $2000 sponsor City Security
Consolations Prizes- $1000 sponsors J.Kwaimani Building
Judd Molea celebrates the winner by scoring from the spot and get Warriors to qualify into the quarterfinal with their
2-1 win over AS Dragons.
Molea’s winning strike earns win for Warriors and a place in the quarterfinals
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Judd Molea celebrates the winner by scoring from the spot and get Warriors to qualify into the quarterfinal with their 2-1 win over AS Dragons.
A spirited last gasp effort by Solomon Warriors in their final Group B match saw them leaped into the last eight of the Oceania Champions League.
This follows a narrow 2-1 win over the Tahitian champions AS Dragon at the Stade Pater in Papeete, Tahiti yesterday.
A strike from veteran playmaker Judd Molea separated the two sides within seven minutes remaining on regulation time and guaranteed Warriors one of the eight spots in the quarterfinal.
Infact the three points earned from the win lifted Warriors above Erakor Golden Star who were held to a 2-2 draw by AS Lossi in the opening match, but the Honiara outfit couldn’t find an additional goal to leapfrog Dragon at the top of the table and claim home advantage when the quarterfinal draw is made.
Instead, Dragon claim that honour by merit of an additional goal scored throughout the group stage after finishing level on points and goal difference with the Solomon Islands champions.
Warriors had a slow start in their group phase campaign having succumbed to a 2-0 loss to Erakor of Vanuatu in their opening fixture earlier last week.
Warriors bounced from the loss to record a massive 6-1 drubbing of AS Lossi and set back on track in the race for the two qualification spots in Group B.
Meanwhile, in yesterday’s match Molea was brilliant throughout the contest against AS Dragon from the start.
Kensi Tangis scoring the first goal for Warriors through his glancing header.
Apart from his winning strike from the spot, he also played assist in their opener which was scored eight minutes from the first half hour mark in the first 45 minutes.
After winning a foul on the edge of the area, Molea stepped up to send in a curling free kick which met Kensi Tangi’s head with a perfect precision and enabled glancing header that lobbed over the Dragons defense and goalkeeper Gilbert Meriel to find the back of the net.
Warriors dominated and chances came begging, however, Meriel stood out well to prevent further damage.
Warriors held onto the 1-0 lead until halftime.
The second half resumed and the hosts managed to find equaliser in the 77th minute through Rainui Tze-Yu but Molea restored the lead from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute as Hennel Tehaamoana earned his marching orders for a second caution leaving his side a man short for the final stages.
Salomon Tevapauhu also joined him back in the dressing room after he too earned a red card for a second bookable offence in time added on.
Warriors coach Moses Toata was delighted with the result.
“We came into this game, we wanted to win because we needed to qualify,” said Toata.
“The boys played hard, they did what they needed to and got the win. They fought for every ball.”
AS Dragon coach Timiona Asen had mixed feelings with the result but was satisfied after learning about his club’s progression to the playoff stages as group winners.
“I’m a bit disappointed with this result because our first objective was to win tonight and to play right until the end,” Asen said.
“I think our players were a little bit thrown by the Solomons’ game. I’m happy to have qualified, and we’ve had confirmation that we will host the quarterfinal and I’ll try and rebuild the team for the next stage.”
The OFC Champions League now takes a week-long breather before resuming with Group D action from Honiara’s Lawson Tama Stadium on February 24 followed by Group C from Trusts Stadium in Auckland a day later.
Island Sun newspaper leads protest against alleged corruption and unfairness in local media body
BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
ISLAND Sun a financial member of the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) is taking the lead to question the process of the recent Special General Meeting (SGM) in which two new officers were announced over the weekend as MASI’s new President and Vice-president.
Island Sun who also claims a high number of MASI financial members were dissatisfied with the process and way in which MASI Executive members conducted the SGM on Saturday, February 17, 2018.
An Island Sun staff said on Saturday, she received a phone call from her colleague telling her to hurry to the meeting venue at St Barnabas Melanesia House because all votes from Honiara residents via email were disqualified.
Another financial member from a local TV station in Honiara says it is their Sabbath day and they are quite upset that the election of the two top positions has caught them in an awkward position especially when the SGM was held on a Saturday.
Meanwhile a staff from the national broadcaster says it is not fair that the notice didn’t specify that members who have not yet paid must bring their membership fee of $100 before they can cast their vote.
“They are driving us away when they disallow us to vote for our candidate. Why should I pay my membership fee now?” she said.
Island Sun’s staff and a member of the Executive committee who was also nominated for the presidency post but absent during the SGM said it was just so unfair how her fellow colleagues had agreed for the notice from MASI Secretariat be allowed to carry online voting as an arrangement for those that will not be able to attend the meeting in person and then only to recall the clause during the SGM proper saying it is unconstitutional and only for MASI financial members residing in the provinces.
“What they should have done was to differ the meeting to a weekday so that everyone will attend in person. Haven’t they considered the Sabbath keepers as well?” she said.
Meanwhile Island Sun understands that the nomination process for the Executive committee positions had been sidelined.
Section 11.4.8 of the MASI constitution stated that nominations for the executive committee shall be proposed in writing, seconded by another member and counter signed by the nominee.
However Island Sun has proof that there was no counter signature by a nominee who had won the election, meaning nomination for the candidate had been unconstitutional from the start and he shouldn’t have been allowed to stand as a candidate.
“During the SGM, time and time again it had been stressed that MASI members should read, know and understand the constitution,” said a staff from Island Sun.
“The MASI Executive committee members that controlled the SGM proper also lack the savvy on the MASI constitution. Now we have taken the time to understand the constitution, we have reasons to believe that one or both of the nominees should have been disqualified on the grounds that they didn’t meet the nomination criteria set out in the constitution.”
Island Sun has decided to come out with this issue through the media so that the Executive Committee will look into rectifying what had been publicly published as soon as possible.
THE country’s national provident fund stands by the Heritage Park Hotel as ‘one of its greatest investments’.
SINPF General Manager, Mr Mike Wate speaking on behalf of the SINPF Board confirmed that Heritage Park Hotel Limited had returned more than 60 percent of its original capital of $28 million for its 10 percent equity in Heritage Park Hotel and that the Heritage Park Hotel is one its best performing assets.
Wate added that SINPF has consistently since 2010 been receiving cash in dividends, interest on shareholder loan, plus continuing positive capital appreciation.
Meanwhile, he Chairman of the Board of Heritage Park Hotel Limited, Mr Mel Togolo MBE, said, “It is not my role to speak on behalf of Solomon Islands National Provident Fund, and I don’t purport to, but I am extremely disappointed that the good name and reputation of Heritage Park Hotel is being denigrated by negative press articles [Solomon Star] related to returns to SINPF.”
“I was appointed to the Board by Nasfund of Papua New Guinea, who are the majority shareholder in Heritage Park Hotel. I can advise that the Heritage Park Hotel is Nasfund’s second best investment in the 2016 Annual Report. The returns from Heritage Park Hotel are extremely good.
“Nasfund is very successful in Papua New Guinea with net assets of Kina 4.4 billion and over 575,000 members. The 2016 Nasfund Annual Report, which is available to the public, states that the return on shareholder equity and loans to Heritage Park Hotel in 2016 was 12.5 percent pa. SINPF get the same rate of return as Nasfund from its Heritage Park Investment.
“Statements made by Mr Dausabea in respect to Heritage Park Hotel Limited are incorrect, untrue, misleading and damaging to Heritage Park Hotel Limited and should be retracted.
“I believe that the analysis done initially by a Solomon Star journalist did not reflect the correct facts and the assumptions were totally incorrect. It is very important for journalists to check their facts before publishing, so as not to mislead the public. While I do not speak on behalf of any individual shareholder, I will protect the brand and reputation of Heritage Park Hotel for the good of all shareholders.”
SOLOMON Islands Government (SIG) sponsored students from institutions in Fiji have reportedly began this academic year with the all-too-familiar stress over allowance delays.
This was confirmed yesterday afternoon after an email from the office of the Solomon Islands Education Attaché in Fiji notified students of the delay of students’ February allowance and book allowance.
These allowances are supposed to be paid on the first week of this month but have not.
Solomon Islands Students Association (SISA) at the USP, Laucala Campus yesterday received an email from Solomon Islands Education Attaché in Fiji, Samantha Teitei informing them that funds for their allowances has not yet been received by her office.
She adds that this means that their allowances will not be paid until a further date.
Ms Teitei said the issue is beyond her office’s capacity, saying that all payment is still in the Solomon Islands’ Australian New Zealand (ANZ) Bank.
She instead advised all students to inform their parents and guardians from Solomons to send money over to their children in Fiji to sustain them while waiting for the allowances.
Meanwhile, local students studying at the Laucala Campus yesterday raised their frustration following the delay of their allowances.
SISA understand that it almost three weeks since students arrived in Fiji but still they have not received their allowances.
“It is a bad start of our students’ 2018 academic year as the situation is quite disturbing to their study as their book allowances are also yet to be paid and most worrying is their cost of living in the foreign country.”
SISA urges responsible authorities to quickly address students’ issues. SISA is also appealing to all students to look after and care for each other at this time of hardship and struggle for future endeavours of their family and country.
Health ministry refutes media rumours and assures nurses will return when contracts expire
By Gary Hatigeva
THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has played down rumours about local nurses signing up to migrate abroad under what is thought to be an independent nursing recruitment scheme.
Earlier media reports had suggested that a mass number of registered nurses within Solomon Islands system have signed up to leave Solomon Islands and serve abroad.
The Ministry further confirmed there are nurses confirmed to leave the country to serve in Vanuatu but clarified that there is no ‘exodus’ and that their going comes as part of an established arrangement between the governments of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
They said someone from the Vanuatu ministry of health is currently in Honiara under the arrangement, to interview nurses who are interested to try out this working exchange programme but denied working with any independent recruiter.
Vanuatu is currently experiencing nurse shortage therefore looks to Solomon Islands for short term assistance to fill the gap.
The Ministry further added that those accepted to work in Vanuatu will go to replace nurses who were placed under early retirement by their Public Service commission.
Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands Nursing Association (SINA) General Secretary, Mr Steven Maitani also confirmed that a total of 100 nurses who are former hospital ward managers, clinic heads or supervisors have been selected to try out the opportunity
When contacted, Maitani also clarified that these nurses are going under contracts, meaning they are out there for work and are expected to return to the country once their contracts expire.
He said based on their backgrounds, all stakeholders involved in this work opportunity programme are convinced they (nurses) will perform extremely well when serving the government especially the people of Vanuatu.
However, concerns were raised on the status of impact these departing number will create, which they think threatens to produce a gap in the country’s health services.
But when responding to these concerns, Maitani explained that the departure of these nurses should not affect our health services in the country because a lot of nurse probationers are still waiting to come into the field.
He said the departure of these senior nurses is welcomed as it will also give an opportunity for the young ones to take over and experience the challenges.
According to data, Solomon Islands produce more nurses than the system can accommodate and around 20 on averages retire annually, while more nurses graduate from SINU and Atoifi almost every year.
“As far remittance is concerned, this is foreign income opportunity for the country,” Maitani stressed.
He added that the general public should appreciate this program and see it from an economic and development perspective.
Meanwhile, insiders revealed that over the past 3 years there have been around 230 nurses who graduated from the Solomon Islands National University’s School of Nursing but are still without jobs and that should indicated that the country will not experience shortage as feared.
SOLOMON Warriors has its last eight qualification hopes kicked back to life as they romped to a 6-1 thrashing of New Caledonia’s AS Lossi in their second Group B match of the Oceania Champions League at Stade Pater in Papeete, Tahiti yesterday.
A hat-trick to Gagame Feni and a brace from Kensi Tangis coupled with a strike from John Alick aided the Moses Toata-coached side to victory.
Morgan Mathelon scored AS Lossi’s consolation goal.
The win is crucial for Toata and his boys whom earlier in the week succumbed to a 2-0 loss against Vanuatu’s Erakor Golden Star.
Warriors needed the win, preferably a big margin one to keep them in contention for a place in the quarterfinals.
In the other Group B match, hosts AS Dragons edged Erakor in a seven goal thriller to remain at the top of the group with six points.
Dragons play their final match against Warriors and that will come as a decider for Warriors, who trails behind with three points.
Warriors can only progress into the last eight given the results in their match against AS Dragons and the match between Erakor and AS Lossi favours them.
Warriors got their match well started and it did not take long for them to get the first goal as Kensi Tangis slotted home the opener in the first two minutes.
Played under a slippery condition, Warriors maintained composure throughout the first half and came away with another two goals via Feni and Ni-Vanuatu importJohn Alick before the break.
The second half resumed and Tangis doubled his name on the scoresheet, giving Warriors a comfortable 4-0 lead cushion before AS Lossi pulled one back with a strike from Mathelon.
In the 78th minute Feni added his second in what could be dubbed as a spectacular goal where he chipped the ball into the back of the net past the AS Lossi goalkeeper who had already advanced off his mark.
Feni completed his hat-trick in the 90th minute unleashing a shot from the edge of the area past the AS Lossi shot-stopper.
